-----
Vampire Eater.
It was a completely new Class discovered by Brunhild's father after he consumed Dhampir and Blood Thrall cores and meat until he felt like puking and dying. Even then he kept fighting, forcing his body to adapt to those poisonous, dark, and cursed energies until he finally synthesized them into usable power.
Similar to the Demon Class, Brunhild theorized that this one had been earned through the large-scale consumption of Vampire meat instead of Demon meat. Vampires themselves were a branch descending from Demons, so it was entirely possible that this new Class was closely related to the Demon Eater Class.
From what she could recall, Demon Eaters specialized in devouring Demons and randomly gaining some of their abilities. In addition they received increased strength, durability, speed, and even magic power. The trade-off was that they needed to keep consuming demon meat to maintain those powers, or else they would gradually grow weak over time.
However, those penalties did not seem present in her father. He had internalized the power completely and kept it permanently. She could not feel any kind of energy leaking out of him.
This was likely because of the many unique factors that existed in this world but not in the game, such as Bloodlines and Spirit Beast Tattoos. Those variables could change a great number of the usual rules, and among them they had helped her father survive the absolute insanity he had put his body through.
She had already analyzed that her father had obtained some Vampiric Traits, but none of their weaknesses. He had not become a Vampire. He had simply stolen their power. It was similar to what she herself had done.
"Dad, I think you can grow stronger by eating Vampires and other similar creatures," Brunhild explained. "How about you try eating some more? We've got plenty of corpses."
"Eugh! I don't want to eat those disgusting things again, Brunhild!" he said angrily. "I am not a savage who eats humanoids. What happened before was just a little mistake, okay?" He crossed his arms tightly, clearly trying to save some face.
"Daaaad, you should stop being like this and just embrace it! I mean, isn't this better? You're stronger now," Brunhild insisted.
"Haaa…" He let out a long, heavy sigh. "I guess for you it seems easy, but… it also means I am letting go of our traditions and absorbing, assimilating, and embracing a strange dark power. If the Elders ever learn what I've become, what will they say?"
"Nothing," Brunhild answered firmly. "You've got me, dad. I'll tell them it was an accident… Besides, I also gained their power."
"YOU DID?!"
Her father screamed so loudly that Brunhild rolled her eyes.
So much for keeping things quiet. He simply could not stop screaming like a madman.
"Yeah, now stop screaming," Brunhild said. "Show me what powers you got!"
"Uuuhh…" He was still hesitating. "Fine… I feel strangely energetic. Like I slept for a whole month and now I don't feel tired at all."
"That must be part of the Vampiric Abilities you inherited," Brunhild explained. "Vampires can sleep for long periods and then remain awake for months or even years. They're weird like that."
"A-Am I weird now?!" he screamed once more.
"No, I'm just saying!" Brunhild sighed. "Anyway, just do it."
Her father remained silent for a moment, then nodded. He walked a short distance away, stood still, and closed his eyes, trying to tap into this new and mysterious power he had obtained.
It did not take long for him to channel it.
FLUOSH!
"?!"
Brunhild gasped as a sinister aura surged from her father's body. The energy turned completely black and red, roaring toward her with a pair of giant crimson eyes. Then the Spirit Beast power of his tattoo merged with the new energy, transforming the ox into a massive, burning minotaur.
She realized her father had grown much stronger than she had imagined.
"Nnnggghh…! I think… I think I got some new kind of power!" he roared, his aura suddenly exploding outward. "My Spirit Beast Tattoo… it changed, didn't it?"
"It did. It mutated…!" Brunhild said, eyes wide. "Wow, this is insane, dad! Come at me!"
"Heh…" He grinned, revealing a sharp fang as his eyes glowed bright red. "Don't mind if I do!"
RUMBLE!
The ground shattered beneath his footsteps. Brunhild felt her father growing tens of times stronger than before. He swung his bare fists forward, and the giant minotaur spirit above him mirrored the motion with a gigantic blazing fist.
BOOOM!!!
A massive explosion of mixed energies erupted, burning a deep crater into the dungeon floor. Brunhild felt by pure instinct that she should not take that blow head-on and dodged at the last moment, shocking even herself.
"I avoided it?!" She was completely flabbergasted. "Hah, dad, that was amazing… once more!"
"This time don't run away like a chicken though!" he teased, his fists blazing as he swung them again. "UAAAAH!"
His massive fist struck toward her once more. Brunhild placed both hands forward and attempted to block.
"Ngh?!"
She could barely keep up. The immense crackling power exploded with red and black thunder. Her arms burned from the force, and she also felt her own vitality being drained. Her father had gained some kind of Life Drain ability.
It did not seem like he could manipulate blood so far. Her father had never been skilled with magic, so the vampiric powers he obtained had instead gone toward reinforcing and enhancing his physical might to ridiculous, herculean levels.
CRAAASH!
"Gaaaah!"
Brunhild was sent flying away. She crashed through several trees, rolled across the snow, and finally landed head-first with her legs splayed out.
"B-BRUNHILD!"
Her father looked completely shocked. He ran toward his daughter and carefully helped pull her head out of the snow.
"S-Sorry! I'm so sorry, I didn't think…! I thought you could take anything so…"
"Hahaha, that was tough, daddy!"
Brunhild laughed as she stood up and reinforced her body. Scales rapidly grew across her arms, legs, and neck. A long-scaled tail surged into existence, and four horns manifested above her head.
Her eyes turned fully draconic.
"It's my turn now!"
She did not hesitate. Knowing her father could now withstand it, she punched him right in the gut with full force. He groaned in pain and was sent flying into the air.
"Kuaaaagh?!"
As he coughed up saliva, he realized his internal organs had not been crushed by one of Brunhild's full-power, bloodline-boosted punches.
"E-Eh? Wait…"
As he processed what was happening, Brunhild appeared above him, spreading her blazing phoenix wings.
Her talons descended into his chest and stomach, sending him plummeting downward.
"Let's continue the endurance test, daddy!"
"B-Brunhild, wait a second—AAAAAHHHHH…!"
BOOOMMM!!!
Brunhild was excited. She had finally found a new training partner who could take her full power.
-----
