The awakening was less brutal than the day before. Do-hyun opened his eyes before his alarm sounded, his body having already adapted to a new rhythm. Fatigue persisted, but it was different - less exhausting, more... productive.
[Hello, Host]
[PV: 25/25]
[Blood Energy: 10/10]
New Moon: 5 days 22 hours
Five days. The countdown continued.
His first action was to verify the Daily Missions. The list had been updated.
[Daily Missions - DAY 2]
Objectives: Objectives: _: _:_:.
[- TRAVEL 5 KM (0/5) ]
[- MAIN VAMPIRE SENSE FOR 1 HOURS (0/60) ]
[- Improving a competence of 2% (0/2) ]
[- RECT 3 samples of vampire data (0/3) ]
[REWARD: 30 EXP + REGENATION POTION]
"Vampiric data samples?" asked Do-hyun, stretching.
[OBSERVE VAMPIRES IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT BEING DETECTED.]
[Analyze their behaviors, their habits, their interactions.]
[DANGER: DO NOT physically interact.]
Do-hyun understood. It was a reconnaissance mission. Intelligent, and potentially less dangerous than direct combat.
His morning followed the new routine: physical training at the park, while keeping [Vampire Sense] on. The double task was mentally demanding. Following your race while monitoring the multiple red auras around required intense concentration.
[ENDURANCE +0.3%]
[ENERGY CONTROL +0.5%]
[VAMPIRE SENSE +1.2%]
Progress was slightly better. The System was right - regular practice accelerated learning.
It was on his way back from training that he saw her.
Park Soo-ah.
She was sitting on a bench near her building, seeming to be reading a book. Dressed civilly - jeans, sneakers, light jacket - she could have passed for an ordinary student. But his aura... different from vampires, but also distinct from normal humans. A silver glow, stable and controlled.
Do-hyun stopped dead, his heart racing. What was she doing here? How did she find him?
[Detection: PARK SOO-AH]
[INTENTION: UNKNOWN - PACIFIC WAIT]
[RECOMMANDATION: PRUDENT APPROACH]
She looked up from her book as if she had just noticed it, although it was certain that she had spotted it for a long time.
"Do-hyun, isn't it?" she said, closing her book. His voice was calm, neutral.
"How... how do you know where I live?"
A slight smile touched his lips. "You're not very discreet. Bloody clothes, a panicked run through the neighborhood, and now intensive early morning training. It's not hard to follow."
Do-hyun felt stupid. Of course he had left traces.
"What do you want?"
"Talking to you. And maybe help you." She pointed to the bench next to her. "Sit down."
He hesitated, glancing around. No suspicious red aura nearby.
"If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it already," she said, guessing her thoughts.
He sat down, keeping a careful distance.
"First, explain one thing to me," she began, her eyes piercing. "How did you survive that bite? And how did you heal so quickly?"
Do-hyun felt the panic rise. What was he supposed to say? The truth? Lying?
[ANALYSIS: PARK SOO-AH SEEMS GENERICLY INTERESTED, NOT HOSTILE.]
[TIP: Partially Revealing the Truth to Establish Trust.]
"I have... a system," he finally said, choosing his words carefully. "He helps me to heal. To defend myself."
Soo-ah slowly nodded, as if confirming his suspicions." Like video games?"
"Something like that."
"Interesting." She stared at him for a moment. "Most Bloodline users develop natural abilities. But a system - it's rare. Very rare."
"Are you a Bloodline user?"
"Yes. Since she was a teenager. "She looked into the distance, her expression becoming slightly darker." My family has served as protectors for generations. We are monitoring vampiric activities in Seoul."
"And you work alone?"
"Mainly. Real Bloodline users are rare, and trust is even rarer." His gaze returned to him. You've gotten the attention of the wrong people."
Do-hyun shuddered. "The Level 4 Vampire?"
"He, and others." She pulled out her phone and posted a blurry photo taken at night. There were several silhouettes moving on the roofs. "They are looking for you. Apparently, eliminating one of their own, even a novice, is an insult that cannot go unpunished."
[DAILY MISSION UPDATE: RECT 3 VAMPIRIC DATA SAMPS (1/3) ]
[DATA OBJECTED: CONFIRMATION OF ACTIVE RESEARCH BY CLANS]
"What should I do?" asked Do-hyun, feeling fear gripping his chest.
"First, stop being obvious." His tone was direct, almost professorial. "Your training in broad daylight, your predictable comings and goings - you might as well send them an invitation."
But I have to practice! I have... a deadline."
She looked at him, intrigued. "A delay?"
"The new moon. I have to be ready."
Soo-ah widened his eyes slightly, surprised. "You know about the new moons? Did your system inform you?"
He nodded.
"Good. At least you're not completely ignorant." She seemed to think for a moment. "Listen, I can help you. Show you how to train without being spotted. But in exchange, I need information."
"What information?"
"How your system works. What he tells you about vampires. Your observations. "She looked him straight in the eye." Knowledge is a bargaining chip, Do-hyun. And right now, you have one that I want."
[NOGAL pending negotiation]
[OFFER: TRAINING AND PROTECTION]
[DEMAND: SYSTEM INFORMATION SHARE]
[Risk: EXPOSURE OF PERSONAL CAPACITIES]
[BEFICT: ACCELERATED PROGRESS AND SURVIVAL]
Do-hyun weighed the pros and cons. Alone, his chances were slim. With his help...
"Okay," he finally said. "Concluded deal."
Soo-ah smiled, a real smile this time. First course: how to move around without being followed."
The next two hours were a revelation for Do-hyun. Soo-ah showed him how to use crowds as a cover, how to vary his routes, how to spot vampires" favorite vantage points. Practical knowledge that the System could not teach him.
"Vampires rely on human predictability," she explained as they moved through a bustling market. "They spot routines and exploit habits. Break your patterns, and you become much harder to track."
[UNBLOCKED COMPETENCE: URBAN DISCREATION]
[level: ★]
[EFFECT: -20% chance of being spotted by urban vampires]
"Good," she said, seeing her expression satisfied. "You learn quickly. Now, show me what your system can do. Where are the closest ones?"
Do-hyun active [Vampire Sense]. The red auras appeared immediately.
"Two to our left, in the cafe. Another one that follows us from a distance, three steps away. And... several others scattered around the market."
Soo-ah hocha, impressed. "Precision?"
"Levels 1 and 2. No immediate threat."
"Excellent. This ability alone is worth its weight in gold." She glanced discreetly at the vampire who was following them. A scout from the Purple Dawn Clan. If he follows us, they have identified your importance."
[DAILY MISSION UPDATE: RECT 3 VAMPIRIC DATA SAMPS (3/3 - TERMINATED) ]
[REWARD: 30 EXP + REGENATION POTION ADDED TO INVENTORY]
"Now, let's disappear," said Soo-ah, taking his arm.
She guided him through a series of secret alleys and passages that he did not know, easily losing their pursuer. Within ten minutes, they were back near his building, but by a totally different path.
"First lesson over," she announced. "Tomorrow, I'll show you the basics of fighting vampires. Not simulations - real."
"You want me to fight a real vampire?"
"No. I want you to watch me fight one. Observation is the first step in learning." She handed him a blank business card with only one number. "Call me when you're ready for tomorrow. What about Do-hyun?"
"Yes?"
"Keep up your daily chores. Your system is right - regularity is key. But do it wisely."
She left as quietly as she had appeared, leaving Do-hyun with more questions than answers, but also with a glimmer of hope that he had not felt from the beginning.
[QUEST: Mastery of the basics - accelerated progress]
[Estimate: Level 3 Achievable in 3-4 Days]
[NEW RELATION: PARK SOO-AH (MENTOR/ALLY) ]
For the first time, Do-hyun felt that he could actually survive until the new moon.