Chapter 14: The Initiation of Power
The penthouse rooftop was quiet. The city lights stretched below in a glittering, distant grid. Jeremy held a set of neatly folded clothes in his hands and extended them toward Alfred.
"Here. Change into this," Jeremy said. His tone was matter-of-fact, calm. "We'll talk once you're ready."
Alfred took the clothing without hesitation. He moved with precision, slipping into the fitted black shirt and dark trousers, adjusting the jacket over his shoulders. Every movement was deliberate, measured—professional. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness, only competence.
Once dressed, he stood straight, hands at his sides. "I am ready," he said, his voice steady, controlled. There was a quiet authority in the words, a presence that demanded acknowledgment rather than begged for it.
Jeremy nodded. "Good. Sit." He gestured toward the low chairs on the rooftop patio, where the wind was gentle but the air carried the faint tang of ozone. Alfred seated himself without prompting, posture impeccable.
"Tell me what you remember," Jeremy said.
Alfred's eyes were calm, analytical. "I was in a war and almost died, you saved me," he replied. "And that I am to assist you. Beyond that… nothing. My memory prior to that is… absent."
So this is what the system is talking about.
Jeremy leaned back slightly, resting his elbows on the chair's arms. "Fine. Listen carefully to I am about to say. The world isn't simple as you know it. There are people—creatures—things with abilities beyond ordinary humans. To operate effectively here, you need to be stronger than you are."
Alfred tilted his head slightly, considering. "I see. And how do I become stronger?"
Jeremy pulled a small tray toward him. It held two vials of liquid, each labeled with precise symbols. "These are enhancement serums. Each has a different purpose—physical strength, reflex enhancement, cognitive optimization, regenerative capability. Oh I almost forgot."
System, how much is the Upgraded vampire serum?
[The Enhanced vampire serum is 10000 system points.]
Costly but still affordable with the amount of system I have raked in clearing Chicago. Buy it.
[Confirmed. Item can be retrieved from the inventory.]
Jeremy checked his inventory and saw a black vial there.
Seriously, just one vial? You are stingy.
He pulled out the vial from the inventory and Alfred was intrigued.
"Is that magic?" Alfred asked calmly. Jeremy shooked his head as he leaned.
"It is not magic. It is a type of skill I have which makes me grant an independent space only I could access. Besides only witches can do magic but I am a human. A very special human." Jeremy said smiling with satisfaction.
"Anyway the first serum raise your abilities to the peak of human limits, the second one gives you superhuman strength, Regenerative abilities and Endothermic abilities. And this one is a little special." He said holding the black vial.
Alfred's gaze remained steady. "Go on."
Jeremy selected a single vial from the tray, dark red, nearly black. "This is an upgraded vampire serum. I've engineered it to maximize a vampire abilities.. It will make you faster, stronger, more resilient than any vampire that ever existed. But it is potent. The effects will be immediate and extreme."
Alfred leaned forward slightly, studying the vial as if evaluating its chemical composition. He raised his head to face Jeremy."Did you say vampires?"
"Yes, Vampires, Werewolves, witches and many other creatures that are trapped somewhere for one." Jeremy replied. "You just have to choose one of the serums."
Alfred paused, then nodded. "Then I choose the upgraded vampire serum."
Jeremy nodded, then handed him two small, secondary vial —one was containing vampire blood and the other a poison.
"I don't think this will work on humans. So you have to become a vampire first then take the serum. This is vampire blood and the other one is poison to make painless. If you die with vampire blood in your system, you will turn into a vampire. So think carefully about your choice."
Alfred took both with precise movements, positioning them carefully before consuming the liquids in one coordinated motion.
Almost immediately, his body went rigid, then collapsed onto the patio floor. His eyes closed, breathing shallow, measured then stopped. Jeremy observed him for a while before standing up.
Two hours later, Alfred stirred. He opened his eyes calmly, scanning the environment before noticing Jeremy across from him, studying combat techniques on a laptop. Without a word, he rose, fluid and exact, completely aware of his body.
Jeremy looked up from the screen. "Drink this," he said, placing a blood bag on the table. Alfred accepted it without hesitation, consuming it in a single motion.
When he finished, Alfred stood fully, the transformation complete. Jeremy gave him the black vial.
"Drink this" he said.
Alfred took the vial and gulped the content in a single motion. Before he could understand what was going on he saw Jeremy pulled out a golden desert eagle and shot at him.
Jeremy watched Alfred as he dessicated. Alfred body fell to the ground stiff and almost stone like.
Five seconds later, he stood up feeling full of energy. His eyes glowing blue, vein spreading across his pale face. Four fangs sprang out from his upper gum and another four sprang out of his lower gum.
"Well that's new." Jeremy watched Alfred with curiosity"Marcel and Lucien only has six fangs when they took the serum. Why do you have eight?" Jeremy muttered to himself trying to figure out what happened.
As Jeremy was about to ask the system about Alfred, the sky darken, the air grew heavier. It was as if a storm was brewing and was about to destroy the planet.
Jeremy could sense immense energy in the sky. He activated his Aura perception, subtle, precise. The energy in the air was different—electric, charged, alive in a way that resonated with his senses. Vast swaths of green energy moved across the sky, not random, not chaotic, but deliberate. Something in the natural world had changed—he could feel it.
System what is going on? Why did the atmosphere change.
[It is nature. It is trying to restore balance.]
What do you mean? Jeremy questioned.
[Nature has taken notice Alfred presence. He is an abomination. An Alien who is more powerful than it own inhabitants. It is empowering it own children. The supernatural world is getting stronger.]
What you are saying is that nature noticed that Alfred is stronger than all the supernaturals alive, so it is trying to level the field by empowering the supernatural world. Why didn't this happen when Marcel and Lucien took the serum. Wait... don't tell me it is because Alfred isn't from this universe.
[You are right. It is because Alfred is an alien to it.]
Ok things are getting intense. How strong are we talking about now.?
[The process hasn't end now but they are already as strong as they were in the novel universe.]
What the ..... fuck. So you're saying that the supernaturals are already as strong as they were in the novel and they are still getting stronger. What about Klaus and the others. And I hope they are not getting the abilities they have in novel.
[Klaus and the other originals are actually becoming stronger than the others especially Klaus because of his werewolf part.]
Is Klaus as strong as his novel counterpart? Although I didn't read the novel I knew that moterfucker is as strong as fuck. He was basically the strongest in the universe.
[He is stronger because of his werewolf side.]
That's cheating. Is mother nature crazy. What about humanity. Doesn't she care about them at all. And that moterfucker doesn't die in the novel. He is always coming back. Does white oak stake still work on him? .
[Yes. But it won't truly kill him. It will just destroy his body and he will wake up somewhere else after some time.]
So he is basically a bug now. What about the other originals?
[It will kill them but they can be brought back by another original.]
What kind of bug existence are this? What other abilities do they have now?
[You are have to find that out on your own. Host.]
Jeremy paused then thought That make sense. Anyway what about the other vampires and supernatural?
[I do not know. You have to find out yourself.]
Ok how strong is Alfred to the Originals?
[Extremely weak than them. But still a little stronger than the other vampires.]
That's unacceptable. I gave Alfred the serum to make him stronger than the Originals. But you are it achieve the opposite effect. I indirectly made Klaus and his family stronger they are suspose to be. That's just ridiculous. I guess I have to redouble my efforts.
[In case you will like to know, Alfred can get stronger just like you. The people he kills the more stronger he becomes. And whoever he kills, you will receive the system points for it.]
Well that's better, he will catch up to those freak later. Why am I getting excited about this new change. It is almost like I am becoming a battle maniac.
[That you are.]
Jeremy took a steadying breath. "This energy… it is strengthening the supernatural world because of you." Jeremy said facing Alfred.
Alfred's eyes narrowed slightly, measuring, calculating. "Then it is a response. To me."
Jeremy nodded. "Correct. Your sudden augmentation has pushed the balance beyond normal thresholds. The world—its inhabitants—are adjusting accordingly. Supernatural entities, previously dormant or moderate, are now being empowered to counterbalance your potential."
Alfred considered this. "I understand. This changes operational priorities. We must account for the changes."
Jeremy inclined his head. "Exactly. But we must first know what has changed in this world. We are going an adventure tonight."
Alfred inclined his head slightly once more, calm, precise. "Understood, Master. I am prepared."
The wind swept across the rooftop, carrying the faint electric charge of the storm above. Green energy crackled across the skyline in measured pulses, the world adjusting. Jeremy watched silently, aware that the balance of everything had just shifted.
He glance at Alfred was surprised when a status interface appeared in front of him showing him Alfred stats.