10:22 PM — Abandoned Parking Garage
Zack chose the location carefully.
No cameras.
Concrete pillars.
Multiple levels.
Good acoustics.
He stood alone in the center of Level 3.
Kael's words replayed in his head.
You allow damage.
He flexed his hands.
Steel rolled over his knuckles smoothly.
He didn't attack anything.
He stood still.
And listened.
Drip.
Distant engine.
Wind through broken glass.
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
There.
Three heartbeats.
Lower level.
Two human.
One different.
Vampire.
Zack didn't rush.
He walked.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Stealth Test
He moved down the ramp without sound.
No heavy landings.
No dramatic speed bursts.
He kept his breathing low.
The vampire was feeding on a man near a parked van.
Zack didn't charge.
He circled behind a pillar.
Waited.
Watched the vampire's movement pattern.
Shoulder shift before bite.
Left foot always anchors first.
Head tilts right before lunging.
He memorized it.
Then he moved.
Not fast.
Exact.
He grabbed the vampire's head from behind and snapped its neck before it reacted.
No drawn-out fight.
No struggle.
Clean kill.
The human victim fell but was still alive.
Zack checked his pulse.
Weak.
But alive.
He stepped back.
Message appeared.
ENEMY DEFEATED
EFFICIENCY BONUS +40 EXP
LEVEL UP
LEVEL 8
He stared at that word.
Efficiency.
So that matters.
Not just power.
Execution.
Good.
Speed Training
Zack moved to the far side of the garage.
He marked two pillars in his mind.
Distance: about 40 feet.
He took a breath.
Exploded forward.
Too loud.
He reset.
Again.
Smoother.
Again.
Faster.
He began cutting corners tighter.
Landing softer.
Reducing foot impact.
After twenty repetitions—
His movements felt different.
Cleaner.
Less wasted motion.
Notification flickered.
TRAIT ENHANCED
MOVEMENT CONTROL +5%
No level up.
But better.
Regeneration Discipline
Next—
He tested restraint.
He pulled a small switchblade from his pocket.
Pressed it against his forearm.
Cut lightly.
Watched it heal.
Then—
He didn't let it.
He focused.
Tried to slow the healing.
It resisted.
His body wanted to auto-repair.
He forced it down.
Pain lingered longer.
Then slowly sealed.
Message appeared.
REGENERATION CONTROL PARTIAL
OVER-RELIANCE PENALTY REDUCED
Good.
Hunters can't analyze instant healing if he can delay it.
Unexpected Interruption
Clap.
Slow.
From the top level of the garage.
Zack turned immediately.
Kael stood leaning on a railing.
Watching.
"You're learning," Kael said.
Zack didn't smirk this time.
"Efficiency bonus," Zack replied.
Kael's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Interesting."
He jumped down to the lower level.
Landed silently.
"Speed improved," Kael observed.
"Still too loud."
Zack's jaw tightened.
"Show me."
Kael stepped forward.
"No steel."
Zack hesitated.
Then nodded.
They sparred.
No powers.
No full strength.
Just movement.
Kael's attacks were precise.
Zack dodged more than before.
Still got clipped.
But less.
Kael stopped after two minutes.
"You are adapting faster than normal," Kael said.
"But your emotion still spikes your movement."
Zack exhaled slowly.
"I'm working on it."
Kael nodded once.
Then he turned toward the exit.
"The Hunters are closer than you think."
Pause.
"Two are already in the city."
Zack's body stiffened.
"How do you know?"
Kael didn't turn back.
"Because they contacted the Circle."
Then he disappeared into the night.
System Notification
As Zack stood alone—
A message appeared.
ALERT
HUMAN THREAT LEVEL INCREASED
STEALTH PRIORITY RECOMMENDED
Zack looked up at the dark sky.
Level 8.
Hunters in the city.
Now it's real.
End of Episode 8.