For a long beat Donny just stared, searching Yukon's face like he was trying to catch a lie. They'd grown up together, he knew the difference between a prank and something real. This wasn't a joke.
"Fuck," Donny finally blurted. "How is that even possible, bro? We're eighteen. Nobody's supposed to awaken at this age."
Yukon said nothing, watching Donny process. He saw the pale shock cross his friend's face, the same look Donny'd worn the first time he'd seen a dungeon beast on TV.
"You sure you ain't winding me?" Donny went on, voice high. "But… I know that look. You wouldn't pull my leg like that. Damn....this is huge. Bigger than the Big Bang or Mrs. Alveria's ass."
Yukon couldn't help it, he laughed. Relief washed through him. Donny wasn't mad. He wasn't jealous. He was stunned, and for now, that was enough.
"So, bro," Donny said, leaning forward, eyes bright with equal parts fear and excitement. "What talent did you awaken? What can you do?"
"You wouldn't believe me," Yukon warned, still fighting a grin.
"Try me. At this point I'll believe anything."
Yukon inhaled, the weight of the secret loosening as the words left him. "I awakened as a vampire."
Donny's mouth fell open, then closed, then opened again. For a second there was silence, then a burst of incredulous laughter that turned into something else: awe. "A vampire? No way. Seriously? You..me, our Yukon...a vampire?" He shook his head, half laughing, half terrified. "Bro… that changes everything."
Yukon met his friend's eyes. "Yeah. It does."
Then the laughter in Donny's eyes died, replaced by something sharper. His senses finally caught up to what Yukon had said.
"Holy fuck…" Donny whispered, his grin fading. "You mean a vampire… an actual bloodsucker. What the fuck, Yuk?"
The weight of the word hung between them, heavier than anything they'd ever shared before. Donny's fork clattered against his empty plate, forgotten. His voice lowered, urgent. "Do you realize what that means? You're not just awakened… you're something people hunt."
Yukon leaned back, calm, almost smug. "I know. That's why I'm telling you. I need someone who's got my back."
Donny rubbed his face, still shaking his head. "A vampire. Fucking hell, bro… out of all the talentd, that's what you pulled." He looked up again, a strange mix of fear and admiration burning in his eyes. "Shit. No wonder you've been walking around like you own the place."
Instead of recoiling, Donny leaned in closer, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"A system? That actually sounds interesting. So what, it just helps you suck people dry like a mosquito on steroids? Creepy as fuck, bro."
Yukon shook his head, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "There's more to it than blood. It's not just feeding...it's tied to sex."
Donny blinked twice, his fork hanging midair. "The fuck you mean?"
Yukon smirked, lowering his voice so only Donny could hear. "It's a vampire sex system. Every time I'm with a girl, every time we go all the way...my attributes grow stronger. Faster, stronger, sharper… everything."
Donny dropped his fork completely, his jaw hanging open. Then he slapped the table, grinning like a maniac. "No way! That's the best cheat I've ever heard of. You mean to tell me all you gotta do to level up is fuck?"
Yukon shrugged, but his grin widened. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
Donny's laughter boomed through the dining hall, drawing glances. He didn't care. "Holy shit, man. I take it back, forget hunters, forget marketing. You just hit the goddamn jackpot."
"It's not as cool as it sounds," Yukon muttered, eyes on his tray. "The system's demanding as hell. Feels like I'm...what, a sex slave? It wants me to hit Level 10 before the semester ends. I don't even know how many bodies that'll take."
Donny snorted. "And what's wrong with that? Just fuck your way to the top, man."
Yukon rolled his eyes. "If only it were that simple. The rewards aren't just horny little perks, there's upgrades, charms, even weapons. With this kind of power...."
"You could switch courses and become a hunter," Donny finished, cutting in like he'd been waiting for the line.
Yukon stared at him. This was the hard part , telling Donny he was changing the plan. He braced for whatever came next.
Donny blinked, then grinned. "You know what? Do it. Imagine how much money we'd make pimping you out." He laughed, then clapped Yukon on the shoulder. "Nah, I'm joking. Mostly. But seriously.... that could work."
Yukon laughed, unable to keep the smile off his face. "You'd sell me to the highest bidder for cash?"
"Not your cum, idiot, your money," Donny said, wiping his mouth. He leaned in, eyes bright with scheming energy. "Here's the plan: you take Hunter classes. I stick to marketing. When you're the baddest sex machine-slash-hunter out there, we open our own guild. We'll run raids, collect cores, and cash in. You fuck the dungeons. I build the brand."
Yukon's grin went feral. "So I fuck the hottest women in the world and become the strongest hunter? Then the strongest hunter becomes the world's greatest pornstar?"
They both burst out laughing, loud, ridiculous, and suddenly in love with the idea.
"Well then, let's do it, boy," Donny smirked. "Let's show the world that dick power."
Yukon laughed, but the fire in his chest burned hotter. No more waiting. That same afternoon, he marched straight to the Head of Department's office.
The HOD, an older man with graying stubble and hunter's eyes dulled by years of paperwork, barely looked up when Yukon explained.
"I've had a change of heart," Yukon said, standing firm. "I awakened when I was fifteen. Kept it hidden… but I want to transfer to the Hunter Department."
The HOD leaned back, measuring him. For a moment Yukon thought he'd press harder, ask questions, dig into the lie. Instead, the man just sighed.
"Don't care how late you bloomed or when you awakened," he said, rifling through some forms. "All I care about is whether you survive. Trials are in two days. You want in, you show up. You pass, you're a Hunter. You fail, you go back to your marketing classes and forget this ever happened."
Yukon felt a grin tugging at his lips. Two days. That's all it would take to flip his whole life upside down.