I clenched my fists and stared at the numbers. A part of me, a small, voice whispered that this was wrong. That I should feel scared.
But I didn't. I felt the power coursing through my veins
Still, I had to wait. The sun had not yet dipped beyond the horizon. So I sat in silence. Listening to the slow beat of my new heart. Watching the light fade.
Then finally… darkness.
The instant the last sliver of sunlight vanished, I sprinted out from the cave and the world exploded around me.
Trees blurred. The wind howled like a hurricane in my ears. My legs moved without effort, propelling me forward at a speed no human should possess.
I grinned wildly. "Hell yeah!" I shouted, staring down at my hands.
I rushed toward the nearest tree and slammed my fist into its trunk.
CRACK!
The tree splintered in a heartbeat and groaned as it toppled to the forest floor with a thunderous crash. My breath came quick, excited, not strained.
I leapt, bounding forward one, two, three strides and soared up the side of a massive tree like a jungle cat. In seconds, I was perched at the very top.
From there, I saw it. Smoke. Thick, black, curling into the night sky above my village. My heart dropped. Or something in me did.
Large fires are never left burning after dusk. Ever. Not in our village. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. I didn't think. I jumped.
The world blurred again, my body cutting through the air and rushing through trees like a wraith. Branches snapped and wind whistled in my ears.
And then I arrived.
The village… was burning.
People screamed. Huts collapsed in flames. Shadows darted between the firelight, some running in terror, others chasing them. Warriors with red-painted skulls on their heads.
The Skull Tribe.
"No… no no no!" I cried, running toward the chaos.
I screamed for her.
"Mom!"
I ran straight to our hut.
Or what was left of it.
Ash and char. The air choked me with its heaviness. In the center of the ruin… a blackened corpse.
I staggered forward. Fell to my knees. My hand reached out and touched the burned remains.
So small. So frail now.
A sob tore from my throat, raw, primal and pained. My fingers dug into the ashes as hot tears streaked down my face.
Then, the system voice returned.
[Status Effect: RAGED. You have been afflicted by overwhelming emotion. Will stat temporarily suppressed.]
My vision flickered and then turned red. A low growl built in my throat. I smelled them. The scent of blood. Of paint. Of smoke. And steel.
I turned, instinct taking over. My body moved before I even gave it thought.
The world snapped.
And I was in front of one of the Skull Warriors. His jaw dropped in confusion, he hadn't even seen me move. I shaped my hand like a blade and drove it into his chest. My fingers slid through ribs like paper.
His heart beat once, twice in my hand. Then I yanked it free. He dropped like a sack of meat. I let the heart fall and even licked some of the blood from my fingers.
Another blink, and I was behind a second warrior. My fist crashed into his head, sending his skull flying into the flames.
Blur. Kill. Blur. Kill.
One warrior tried to flee. I sank my fangs into his neck. His scream died in a gurgle as I drank deep, the blood warm and delectable.
A moan escaped my lips, involuntary. Power surged through me, pure and blinding. My body trembled in ecstasy. My heart, dead for days began to beat with a thunderous rhythm.
A wave of pleasure rolled through me, so intense I nearly collapsed. My main member also grew stiff under my leopard regalia.
I didn't care. I wanted more. I hunted them one by one. They never had a chance.
Ripping. Tearing. Drinking.
One tried to fight back. I tore his arm off before he could lift his spear.
Another screamed when he saw me feeding on his friend.
"MONSTER!" he shrieked.
Yes. I was. And I loved it.
I dashed toward him, pinned him to the ground, and drained the last drop of life from his twitching body.
Then, silence. The fire crackled. And a soft ding echoed in my head.
[You have leveled up.]
I stood there. Breath ragged. Covered in blood. My body humming like it held the sun itself.
I looked up.
The stars blinked above me, endless. I smiled. A twisted, broken smile. And laughed.
"Hahaha hahaha hahaha"
The laughter faded from my lips, hollow and sharp, until it was gone completely. The red in my eyes dimmed, and slowly the world returned to normal. I exhaled. My hands trembled slightly, not from fear… not anymore, but from something far worse.
I stood there for a moment, chest rising and falling, then whispered,
"System… show me my status."
The air shimmered and the words flickered into existence before me, clear as moonlight.
[Name: Azizi / Max]
[Level: 2]
[Age: 13 / 27]
[Race: Vampire]
[Attributes:]
Body: 43 – Represents all physical parameters like strength, agility, vitality, and stamina. A normal human ranks at 7. An athlete, 10. A trained warrior, 13.]
Spirit: 40 – Represents the quantity and potential of arcana possessed innately.]
Will: 50 – Represents control over the self, the body, and arcana. The system recommends that Will always remain above Body.]
[Skills Tab:](New)
Vampire Strength – Level 0 (43%)
Vampire Speed – Level 0 (43%)
Telekinesis – Level 0 (0%)
Hypnosis – Level 0 (0%)
My brow furrowed. "Wait, why the hell didn't I see Vampire Strength and Speed last time?"
[Some abilities exist innately within the Host. They require experience or situational triggers to be revealed.]
"Oh," I muttered, clenching my fists, "so now you decide to talk to me."
The system stayed quiet for a moment. Then, ignoring my jab completely, it continued with its cold voice.
[You have gained three stat points. Please allocate them now.]
I looked at the numbers, the empty box blinking. I could've made myself stronger. Faster. But none of that mattered.
"Put them all into Will," I muttered. I needed control. I needed… to hold myself together.
[Will increased to 53.]
With a sigh, I turned, walking through the ash-covered ground. My eyes fell upon the heap of scorched cinders that was once our home. My knees buckled slowly as I knelt beside the blackened corpse lying at its heart.
"...Mama."
I lowered my head and placed my hands on my knees, the smoke from the embers rising like spirits. I whispered the song, the ones my father taught me long ago. Words meant to guide a soul into the spirit world, words laced with hope and farewell. My voice cracked halfway through, but I finished them anyway.
When I stood, I wiped my face, though I knew the tears were already long dried into my skin. My eyes lifted to the edge of the village. I started walking, slowly. Each step forward felt like dragging chains, but I had to move. I had to find the Skull Tribe's village. I had to return the pain they gave me… tenfold.
But then, a cough, wet and strained broke the silence behind me. I turned fast, eyes narrowing.
There, slumped against the side of a half-burned hut, was one of our warriors. He was clutching a bleeding hole in his stomach, gasping weakly. His eyes widened in fear the moment they met mine. He pushed himself back, but the hut wall blocked his retreat.
I stepped forward, slow and silent.
"Do you want to live?" I asked him.
He stared at me, lips trembling, before nodding quickly, fear etched in every feature.
Another step. My fangs ached as they slid down, sharp and hungry. I bit into my wrist without flinching. A line of dark crimson blood welled up and trailed slowly down to my palm.
I held it out to him.
"Drink."
He recoiled slightly, eyes darting between my face and the blood. "What… what is this?" he muttered in disgust.
"If this wound closes before you drink" I said softly, "you'll die. I won't give you a second chance."
His lips parted again. For a long moment he just stared… then, with a breath that sounded like surrender, he leaned forward and drank deeply.
He choked on the thick taste, coughing, then slumped back, gasping against the hut wall. He looked up at me.
"Are you… are you a spirit warrior?"
I tilted my head slightly. "Perhaps."
The man let out another shuddering cough. His body twisted once, then twice. He tried to sit upright, but collapsed forward, face-first into the dirt.
His heartbeat stopped. I heard it. I watched him in silence. Then, a minute passed. Another then another.
when Suddenly, he coughed violently and sat upright. His eyes locked onto mine, glowing faintly blue. I looked down at his wound. It was stitching itself together rapidly, flesh and muscle knitting like time was being rewound.
Congratulations. You have sired a new child. You have leveled up.]
I smiled, just barely. My voice came out low. "Drake," I said, giving the man a name. He would need one now. "That's what you'll be called."
He looked dazed, confused. I turned slowly toward the moon hanging over the smoking remains of my world. My shoulders still felt heavy with grief, but something cold and quiet burned inside me now.
"Follow," I told him.
And he did.