The sun had barely begun its ascent when the earth-shaking boom jolted the soldiers of the Terra Federation from their slumber. Alarms blared across the field base, red lights flashing as soldiers tumbled out of bunks and tents in hurried disarray. Dray Ballack, eyes heavy with sleep but nerves wired, sprang to his feet and rushed outside, his heart thudding in his chest.
Above the base, a massive ship broke through the early morning haze, its dark silhouette ascending into the sky. The emblem of Zanork-5 gleamed on the side of the battleship. The enemy was retreating.
Captain Rhal Merik stood tall near the command tower, his trench coat fluttering slightly in the breeze. Lieutenant Drahm and Lieutenant Joran Vekk joined him as the troops gathered. Their faces were grim but watchful.
"It seems... they've forfeited the war," Captain Merik stated quietly, a glint of disbelief in his eyes. He turned to the lieutenants. "Gather all the troops. Both artillery and auxiliary. Everyone needs to hear this."
Within thirty minutes, the entire military detachment was assembled in the open field. The sight of hundreds of soldiers—many wounded, some bruised, and all battle-hardened—was a humbling one.
Captain Merik stepped forward and raised a hand.
"Men and women of the Terra Federation," he began, his voice strong and unwavering, "today, you have made history. The Zanork-5 invaders have withdrawn. This is your victory!"
A wave of cheers erupted through the crowd. Some soldiers threw their helmets in the air. Others dropped to their knees in relief. A few quietly wept—mourning their fallen comrades. Though triumphant, the cost had been real.
"We lost 10% of our soldiers," the captain continued, his voice softer, "and 5% of our recruits. While their loss is heavy on our hearts, by the standard of war—we survived with minimal casualties. Honor their memory, but celebrate your strength. You earned it."
The troops stood in salute, a solemn moment of silence hanging in the air.
By afternoon, Lieutenant Drahm led the auxiliary troops back to Fort Echelon Depot. The journey was long but peaceful. The military transport buses rumbled across the reinforced roads, three hours of quiet allowing the recruits to process what they had endured.
When they arrived at Fort Echelon, the depot was already buzzing. Other recruits—those who had remained behind—lined the gates to welcome their comrades. Some clapped, some saluted, others simply watched in silent admiration.
Lieutenant Drahm stepped out first, his expression unreadable. Two senior instructors came out to greet him.
"Welcome back," one said, saluting. "You brought them home."
Lieutenant Drahm nodded. "Gather the recruits in thirty minutes. We need to speak to them."
Thirty minutes later, the training ground echoed with disciplined steps as the recruits fell into formation. The instructors stood at attention, forming a semicircle around the assembled troops. Lieutenant Drahm strode forward, flanked by the two senior instructors.
"Recruits," he began, his voice cutting through the evening air, "you have returned from the battlefield. Some of you witnessed death for the first time. Some of you fought back fear. And all of you came back standing."
He paused.
"But not all returned. We lost good people. Let us honor them. One minute of silence—now."
The base fell into stillness.
After the silence, Lieutenant Drahm looked across the recruits again. "You've earned your place here. As of now, those who participated in the war are granted five days of leave. Use it wisely. Heal. Rest. Reflect. Dismissed."
The crowd slowly dispersed. Dray packed his few belongings and left the temporary quarters he'd been assigned at the depot. A warm familiarity greeted him at the entrance of Unit 47-C—his home camp.
Waiting there were two familiar faces: Tyro Venn and Kessa Holt.
"Dray!" Tyro was the first to reach him, wrapping him in a rough embrace. "About time, man."
Kessa followed with a grin. "You look like hell. That means you saw real action."
Dray chuckled. "You've got no idea."
They accompanied him to his old room. His bed, though made, looked like a relic from another life. His roommates greeted him with wide eyes and handshakes. That night, Dray sat with Tyro and Kessa, recounting everything—the brutal training, the battlefield chaos, the retreat of Zanork-5.
They talked well into the evening, laughter and disbelief echoing through the halls. Eventually, Dray insisted they return to their rooms.
Once alone, he stepped into the toilet, closing the door behind him but forgetting to lock it.
"System," he whispered, opening the interface, "how many hours until the bloodline awakens?"
—System Notification: Awakening in 1 hour.
"Start the process now," Dray said.
—Initiating Bloodline Awakening...
Instantly, pain ripped through his body. His veins felt like molten fire, his muscles spasmed uncontrollably. He clutched the wall for support as his vision blurred.
His well-toned body began to thin slightly, but his muscles became denser. His skin lost its healthy tan and turned ghostly pale, a cold sheen coating it. His dark hair slowly shifted in color, bleeding into a chilling white.
His eyes, once determined and human, now shimmered faintly with crimson light.
He collapsed onto his knees as the system began to speak.
—System Notification:
Congratulations! You have triggered the hidden bloodline.
Bloodline: Vampiric
Race: Nightwalker
Class: Vampire
Level: 11 (Auto-leveled)
Skill Unlocked: Assassination Technique (Middle Tier)
System Shop Access: Granted
Stat Boost: +10 to all stats
Main Quest Progress: 50% Complete
Bonus Reward: Healing Potion (1)
Dray, barely able to breathe but smiling, whispered, "I did it."
Then suddenly—
—System Warning: ERROR: CRITICAL BLOOD DEFICIENCY DETECTED.
—You require blood.
"What? Where am I going to get blood from?" Dray asked, his voice faint.
—If you do not take action, the system will be forced to take action.
"What happens if I don't?"
—You will lose control. Your mind will become feral. Anything with blood will become prey.
Panic flickered in Dray's chest. He groaned as another wave of pain crashed through him. His vision dimmed. He was losing consciousness.
That was when the toilet door burst open.
He had forgotten to lock it.
A figure rushed inside, alarmed by the sounds.
"Dray?!"
But Dray couldn't answer.
The hunger had begun.v