The screams came first
Some Beast enter on the stone walls of Riven City like waves crashing, drowning out the morning bells. Merchants dropped their wares, children ran from the streets, and the once-bustling square turned into chaos.
Massive, freakshow monsters hurled themselves over what used to be a gate. Bodies all contorted—like someone's worst fever dream clawing its way out from under the bed. Their eyes glowed, just straight-up starving, hunting for something to rip apart. Those claws? Yeah, they shredded the stone street, sparks flying everywhere while people scattered like ants under a boot.
Panic spread like fire. People run away in every direction, pushing, shoving, desperate to escape. A woman fell, her child screaming at her side as the shadow-beast lunged.
But before its claws struck, a circle of blue light expanded across the air. A dome snapped into place, shimmering like glass. The beast slammed against it and was hurled backward with a shriek.
From the center of the square, three figures stood.
The first was a woman with flowing silver hair, her hands glowing faint green. She whispered incantations under her breath, and light spread out like waves in water. Wherever it touched, wounds closed. Everyone gets Healing By her magic
"Heal them all," she said softly, her voice steady even in the chaos.
Beside her, a broad-shouldered man with a staff raised his hand, opening a glowing path in the air. "This way! Move quickly!" he shouted. The path shimmered, guiding people toward safety. He caught a falling child with one hand, passed him back to his mother, then pushed them forward.
And then, between them, the third mage smiled.
His dark cloak flapped in the wind, his eyes sharp with boredom. He raised one hand lazily, watching the beasts circle them.
"Kinda boring, isn't it?" he said, voice cold. "Every day, the same. Beasts pour in, we kill them. Over and over. I almost wish for something else. Something that doesn't die so easily."
A beast roared, charging him. His grin widened.
"Guess you'll do for now."
He lifted his staff, and the air froze. White mist spiraled around his arm, spiraling outward in a sudden burst.
"Frost Nova."
The words cut like a blade.
From his hand exploded a storm of ice. Shards of frost spread in a circle, rushing out across the square in a wave. The air dropped in an instant, the ground whitening as ice crawled outward.
The beasts shrieked, their legs freezing mid-stride. Ice encased their bodies, climbing over their twisted limbs. One tried to leap, but its body shattered mid-air into shards. Another roared as the frost spread through its veins, freezing it from the inside out.
Within seconds, the square was silent. A field of ice statues stood where the beasts had been. Cracks spread, and then they collapsed into glittering shards.
The people stared in awe, whispers spreading.
The silver-haired healer frowned. "Yuji… you didn't have to—"
Yuji chuckled, lowering his staff. His breath came out as frost, but his expression was calm.
"I did. Otherwise, we'd still be chasing them all day." He looked at the broken gate, eyes narrowing. "No… this isn't enough anymore. These things are pests. What I want is something stronger."
He paused, his grin twisting into something darker.
"A vampire, maybe. It's been years since I had a real fight. Wonder how one would taste against frost?"
The healer's expression tightened, but she said nothing. The people continued to flee through the shimmering path, too grateful to question the words of their protectors.
But in Yuji's eyes burned a hunger that was not for glory, nor for gratitude. It was for challenge. For battle.
The Castle of Fangs
Far from the chaos of the city, the vampire castle loomed. Shadows draped its towers like cloaks, and within its grand hall, the council gathered.
Torches flickered on walls and All the elders sit around the Table
Aijack sat near the center, his golden eyes steady. Around him, elders whispered, their words sharp as knives.
Klein, one of the eldest, leaned forward. His long cloak dragged across the floor as he spoke. "We face a problem. The new generation—these hybrids—do not carry the same purity. They were not born from the blood of the Seven."
Murmurs spread across the chamber.
He continued, his voice colder. "An actual vampire… is born from the dark bloodline. The Seven Vampire Knights, created from Knull's own essence, were true children of the void. But these… these new ones? They're made differently. Tainted by humanity. Do they even deserve the name?"
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Aijack.
For a long time, he said nothing. His fingers tapped against the arm of his chair, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he spoke.
"Whether you like it or not," Aijack said slowly, "they exist. And they carry our instincts, even if imperfectly. The world has changed. Bloodlines shift. You call them hybrid—fine. But hybrids may be the key to survival. Perhaps they will perfect what we cannot."
Klein's lips curled. "You defend them?"
"I defend potential," Aijack replied simply.
The hall buzzed again, voices rising. Some nodded. Others scowled. The question of purity was not one that could be easily silenced.
But Aijack's eyes were firm. In his silence was a warning: reject them if you want, but do not underestimate them.
The Void Training
While the council argued, Oban was elsewhere.
The void stretched around him, endless darkness swirling like smoke. Yet within it, beasts came one after another — fangs, claws, shadows given form.
He moved among them, blade flashing.
The Vampiric Nightblade pulsed in his grip, drinking deep with every cut. Shadows split apart as his blade carved them, their bodies dissolving into streams of dark energy. His body dripped with sweat, his lungs burning, but he didn't stop.
The system's voice echoed inside him.
[ Kill Count: 142 ]
[ Points Gained: 120 ]
[ Processing Upgrade… ]
His vision blurred for a moment as the text appeared before his eyes, sharp and bright.
[ Skill Upgrade Unlocked. ]
Skill 1: Sound Ultra → Detect sound within 1km radius. Locate heartbeat, footsteps, whispers.
Skill 2: Blood Manipulation → Pending Activation. Requires greater control.
Skill 3: Chaos Darkness → Phase into shadow. Blend with reality itself for 5 seconds. Cooldown required.
The words burned into his mind, and he tightened his grip on his blade.
New power. New weapons. Each one another step toward strength.
He raised the Nightblade again, his eyes narrowing as fresh beasts rose from the void.
The system spoke once more.
[ New Quest Available. ]
[ Objective: Advance into the Shadow Depths. Survive. Adapt. Evolve. ]
Oban smiled faintly, blood running down his cheek. His blade pulsed, eager, alive.
"Good," he whispered. "Let's see how far I can go."
And with that, he charged forward into the darkness, the Nightblade cutting a line of crimson through the void.