"You ever bite someone and feel like you just downloaded their entire life?"
That was the second weirdest thing Kite learned today. The first? That he now craved blood more than ramen.
The rogue beast hunter groaned beneath him—barely alive.
Kite's fangs dripped with fresh crimson. His breath came out cold, steady, controlled.
He didn't feel regret.
Didn't feel guilt.
Only clarity.
And power.
[Quest Complete: First Blood]
Reward Unlocked: Skill – Blood Rebirth Lv.1
Skill Description: Absorb life force from freshly killed targets to restore minor injuries and stamina.
Blood XP Gained: +37Attribute Point Gained: +1 [Strength]
Bloodline Evolution Progress: 0.3% → 0.5%
He sat back, hand wiping the edge of his mouth. "Okay. That was... intense."
A voice came from behind him—low, unimpressed.
"You hesitated less than I expected."
Lilith stood under the moonlight, arms folded, cloak fluttering around her like shadow-stained silk. Her white hair glowed faintly in the darkness, and her crimson eyes studied him—measuring, maybe even pleased.
Kite stood slowly, feeling stronger than before. "I didn't enjoy it."
"But you didn't flinch," she replied. "That matters."
"I only bit him 'cause he tried to kill me first."
"You think morality counts in a world where eighty percent of the population was eaten alive?"
Kite frowned.
Fair point.
Flashback – Earlier That Night
The pain had returned. Fast. Brutal. Like fire crawling beneath his skin.
"Lilith—!" he gasped, stumbling. "It's happening again."
His vision blurred. His jaw ached. The hunger… it wasn't hunger.
It was need.
"Blood frenzy," she said, tossing him a small vial filled with thick, dark red liquid. "Low-grade beast blood. Won't taste great, but it'll hold you over."
He sniffed it. "Smells like old bandages soaked in beef broth."
"Drink it. Or tear out your own throat."
He downed it in one go.
A rush of heat surged through him. His mind cleared. His limbs stopped twitching.
[Blood XP Acquired: +12]
[Blood Saturation: 3%]
Status: Stable.
"Okay," he gasped. "Still disgusting. But less dead."
"You'll need stronger blood soon," she warned. "That beast hunter you drained? He was better."
"Right," he muttered. "Murder smoothies it is."
Present
The rogue's body lay still now. Drained. Broken.
Kite flexed his hands. The strength lingering in his arms wasn't just physical—it was Qi-infused, enhanced by something deeper.
Something crimson.
He opened his system interface with a thought.
[STATUS – Kite Nocturne]
Species: Vampire (Primordial Fledgling)
Bloodline: 0.5% Awakened
Rank: F
Class: Locked
[Attributes (Hidden)]
Strength: 5 (+1)
Agility: 4
Vitality: 5
Bloodlust: 3
Charisma: 2
Intellect: 4
Qi Control: 2
[Skills]– Vampire Physiology Lv.1– Blood Sense Lv.1– Blood Rebirth Lv.1– Passive: Night Vision
[Titles]– Fledgling of the Crimson Pact
[Class Slot]Locked – Requires Evolution Trial
His fingers hovered over the "Class Slot" line.
Locked.
But not forever.
"What's the 'Evolution Trial'?" he asked aloud.
Lilith's voice answered without turning. "You'll face it when your bloodline reaches five percent. Until then, you're just a fledgling."
"And after?"
"Then... you'll choose what kind of monster you want to become."
Kite's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"I was already a monster when the world abandoned me."
Setting Out
Far off in the distance, a tall black spire rose against the moonlit forest. A fortress of stone, iron, and ancient banners—each marked with a fang and a sword.
Kite followed Lilith's gaze. "That Banter's Academy?"
"Yes," she said. "Where you'll be trained. Watched. Feared."
"Sounds warm and cozy."
"Only if you survive."
"Survive what?"
"The other students."