The cold air of the castle grounds cut against Oban's skin as he stepped outside. The black tall stone walls stretched endlessly, vanishing into the mist that coiled across the horizon. He took a deep breath, feeling the Misty winds. He took a deep breath, feeling the stillness. No birds, no wind, no sound of life—only silence. The kind of silence that presses on your chest, reminding you that you don't belong here.
Oban looked down at his hand. His fingers trembled slightly. The taste of blood still lingered on his tongue. Warm, heavy, metallic—it wasn't water, it wasn't wine. It was something far more dangerous. And yet, deep inside, his body screamed for more.
What am I turning into?
Before he could answer himself, a sharp electronic chime echoed in his ears. Not from outside—but inside.
[System Integration Complete]
User: Oban NightshadeRace: Vampire (Tier 0)Energy Core: Crimson VesselHealth: 30/30 HPBlood Energy: 10 BE (out of 50)Status: Stable
Oban blinked. His jaw nearly dropped. But this time, the system wasn't old-fashioned text or vague words like he had seen in other stories. A glowing holographic panel floated in front of him, lines of data scrolling like futuristic code, with soft neon red and silver accents. It looked like something out of modern tech, not ancient magic.
"...Holy crap," he muttered. "It looks like a damn computer interface."
The screen pulsed again, and a small sphere rotated in the corner, almost like an AI assistant waiting to speak.
[Tutorial: As a newborn vampire, your survival depends on three cores—Health, Blood Energy, and Power Growth. Monitor them carefully.]
Health (HP): Your life essence. Damage from wounds, fire, sunlight, or divine energy will reduce it.
Blood Energy (BE): Required to activate vampire skills, regenerate, and evolve. Blood is your currency.
Power Growth: Every action—training, battle, blood consumption—pushes you toward evolution. Vampires rise in tiers.
Oban stared at the floating panel, his heart racing. It felt too real, too advanced. Almost… intrusive.
"So this is my system… upgraded," he whispered.
"Talking to yourself already? Typical rookie."
A voice sliced through the silence. Oban turned his head sharply. A tall woman leaned lazily against a pillar. She had long silver hair tied into a high ponytail, sharp crimson eyes glowing faintly, and black armor that hugged her form yet allowed quick movement. A long blade hung at her hip.
She smirked. "You must be the new one Amrin brought. What's your name?"
"...Oban," he said cautiously.
"Mira." She pushed off the pillar and walked toward him, boots clicking against the stone. "Knight of the outer court. I train the newbies before they get themselves killed. And you, Oban, look like someone who's never thrown a proper punch in his life."
Oban scowled. "I can fight."
Mira raised a brow. "Oh? Then show me."
Before he could react, she vanished. In the blink of an eye, she appeared in front of him, her hand snapping up to his throat. Oban barely flinched back in time, stumbling as her claws scraped his collar.
She grinned. "Slow. Weak. You wouldn't last a minute outside this castle."
Oban clenched his fists. His pride screamed at him. "Then fight me properly!"
"Gladly."
The training ground shifted into chaos.
Mira moved like a blur, her blade slicing through the air, forcing Oban to dodge wildly. He had no weapon, no real skill. All he could do was backstep, duck, and throw clumsy punches that she deflected with ease.
Damn it… I can't even touch her…!
Then the system lit up again.
[Battle Assistance Engaged]
Warning: Opponent vastly stronger. Calculating survival strategy…Tip: Analyze movement. Focus on reaction speed.Temporary Skill Activated → "Blood Instinct (Lv.1)"Effect: For 60 seconds, body will auto-adjust to predict enemy attacks.
Oban gasped as his vision sharpened. Mira swung at his ribs, but this time, his body moved on its own, twisting aside at the last second. Her blade missed by a hair.
She smirked. "Not bad."
Oban struck back, fist aimed at her chest. She blocked easily, but his speed had improved. His body felt lighter, sharper. Like something had awakened.
They clashed for minutes. Mira pushed him harder, her blows fast and merciless. Oban stumbled, bled, fell, but kept standing. Every time he moved, the system gave subtle nudges, guiding his body.
Finally, Mira kicked him in the stomach, sending him sprawling into the dirt. Oban coughed, clutching his side.
The system chimed again.
[Skill Growth: Blood Instinct upgraded → Lv.2]
Reaction time increased by 10%.
Mira stood over him, blade resting casually against her shoulder. "Not bad, rookie. You learn faster than most. Still weak though. A rat wouldn't fear you yet."
Oban groaned, forcing himself to sit up. Sweat and blood streaked his face, but his eyes burned with stubborn fire. "Then I'll keep training until they do."
Mira chuckled. "Good. I hate cowards. You've got spirit. Don't lose it."
She offered a hand. Reluctantly, Oban took it, pulling himself up.
Hours passed. Mira pushed him through drills—punches, strikes, dodges, footwork. Oban fell more than he stood, but every time, he rose again. His body screamed in pain, but deep inside, he felt something awaken.
The System kept glowing, feeding him tiny bursts of data.
[Progress Recorded]
Endurance +1
Agility +1
Blood Instinct proficiency: 15%
As the night deepened, Mira finally sheathed her blade. "That's enough for today. You'll collapse if I keep going. Rest, rookie. Tomorrow, you will bleed again."
Oban smirked weakly. "Sounds fun."
Mira laughed—a sharp, genuine laugh. "You might actually survive here."
Oban staggered to the edge of the training grounds, breathing heavily. The crimson moon above cast eerie light across the castle walls. He stared at his trembling hands.
The hunger inside him still burned. The thirst for blood. The thirst for strength.
But this time, he wasn't afraid of it. He wanted to master it.
The system glowed softly before his eyes, like a silent companion.
[Quest Unlocked → "Path of the Vampire"]
Objective: Train, fight, evolve.Reward: Unlock next Vampire ability
Oban exhaled slowly. "This is just the beginning."
But then—
The ground shook.
A deep roar split the silence, echoing across the dark dimension. Mira froze, her hand instantly on her blade. Her eyes narrowed as shadows rippled near the outer wall.
"Damn it," she muttered. "Not now."
Oban looked toward the disturbance. From the mist, a massive figure emerged—jagged wings, glowing red eyes, claws scraping against stone. Its scream ripped through the air, vibrating in his chest.
The system flashed urgently.
[Warning: Night Beast detected!]
Threat Level: HighRecommendation: Survive.
Oban's heart pounded. His first real enemy. His first real test.
Mira drew her sword, her eyes blazing. "Stay sharp, rookie. If you slip now, you die."
The Night Beast roared again, charging forward.
And Oban felt his blood ignite.
This is it. My first battle…