The night that followed was different from the previous ones. Do-hyun didn't just sleep or practice. He planned. Every piece of data collected during his confrontation at the market was analyzed, every move by Kael was dissected, every weakness observed in vampires was catalogued.
New Moon: 1 DAY 18 HOUR
[SYSTEM IN Tactical ANALYSIS MODE]
[COMPILILATION OF COMBAT DATA...]
By early morning, a new interface had opened in his mind - a tactical logbook that automatically recorded his observations and drew predictive patterns.
[NEW FUNCTIONALITY UNlocked: TACTIC JOURNAL]
[CAPACITIES:]
[- Automatic recording of meetings]
[- ANALYSIS OF ADVERSE SCHEMAS]
[- GENERATION OF AGAINST MEASURES]
[- PREDICTIVE SIMULATIONS]
Do-hyun spent the first few hours of the day exploring this new feature. The System had recorded every micro-expression of Kael on the surveillance footage, every subtle reaction of the vampires he had fought.
[KAEL ANALYSIS TERMINED]
[Schemas identified:]
[- PATIENT OBSERVTOR (prefers to STUDY BEFORE ENGAGE) ]
Weakness: Underestimating the new threats
[- PREVIOUS REACTION TO Luminous Attacks]
This information was worth gold. Kael still underestimated him, viewing him as a lucky novice rather than a strategic opponent.
His Daily Missions reflected this development.
[Daily Missions - DAY 6]
Objectives: Objectives: _: _:_:.
[- TEST 3 KAEL-SPECIFIC countermeasures (0/3) ]
[- Improving the activation speed of [LIGHT LAME] (0/50%) ]
[- Spot 1 CLAN outpost (0/1) ]
[- PREPARE THE FINAL CONfrontation ZONE (0/1) ]
[REWARD: 70 EXP + TEMPORARY CLOKING]
Do-hyun felt a shiver of excitement mixed with apprehension. The System no longer planned only survival, but final confrontation.
His first action was to locate an outpost of the Purple Dawn Clan. The real-time map showed several possibilities, but one in particular caught his attention: a seemingly abandoned warehouse in the industrial district of Mapo-gu, which showed regular but discreet vampire traffic.
"System, analyzes the target's security patterns."
[ANSIS ANISTALY IN CURRENT...]
[POST IDENTIFIED: B-7, MAPO-GU]
[GARNISON: 4-6 VAMPIRES (2-3 levels) ]
[Patroilla diagram: ROTATION EVERY 4 HOURS]
[LOW Point: Obsolete Surveillance System]
Right, then. Defended enough to be instructive, not enough to be suicidal.
Do-hyun spent the morning perfecting his activation speed. The Blade of Light now appeared in less than a second, moving from a diffuse glow to a fully formed weapon in a flash of will.
[LIGHT LAMES - ACTIVATION SPEED: 68%]
[NEW CAPACITY Unlocked: DOUBLE LAME]
[COST: 6 BLOOD ENERGY/MINUTE]
The ability to create two blades simultaneously changed everything. It could now parry and attack at the same time, or focus two blades on a single target for a devastating impact.
When evening fell, Do-hyun set out for Mapo-gu's warehouse. It was not a combat mission, but a thorough reconnaissance mission - and a test of the countermeasures he had developed against Kael's likely tactics.
The approach was methodical. He used the shadows of industrial buildings, moving with a fluidity that would have impressed Soo-ah herself.
[URBANIUM DISCREATION: 87%]
[Aura control: 92%]
The warehouse was larger than he had imagined. Three floors, several entrances, few windows. But the surveillance system was indeed rudimentary - analog cameras with obvious blind spots.
Do-hyun chooses an observation point on the roof of a nearby building, activating [Vampire Sense] in passive mode.
[DETECTION: 5 Vampiric Signatures]
[Levels: 2, 2, 3, 3, 4]
Level 4. Unexpected, but manageable.
For two hours, he watched the comings and goings, noting the patterns of the guards, the hours of change, the security gaps.
[MISSION: Spot 1 CLAN POST (100% - TERMINATED) ]
[DATA collected:]
[- PATROUILLE CHEMINS]
[- HOURS OF CHANGE OF GUARD]
[- VULNERABLE ACCESS POINTS]
[- estimation of forces]
That's when his alert system went off.
[ALERT: Level 5 SIGNATURE DETECTION]
[Distancing: 200 metres]
[CATE: KAEL]
[Behavioural: DIRECT APPROACH]
Do-hyun froze. Kael was there. And he knew exactly where to find it.
"System, options."
[OPTION 1: IMMEDIATE FLEED (SUCCESS: 45%) ]
[OPTION 2: LIMITED CONfrontation (SUCCESS: 32%) ]
[OPTION 3: USE OF THE TERRAIN (SUCCES: 68%) ]
He chose the third option.
When Kael appeared on the roof, he looked almost flippant, as if visiting an old friend.
"Do-hyun," said the vampire, his scarlet aura pulsating gently in the darkness. "I appreciate that you chose such a... discreet place."
Do-hyun did not respond, keeping his senses as alert as possible. It was time to test his countermeasures.
"You showed talent to the market," Kael continued, taking a few steps. "Brutal, inefficient, but talent nonetheless."
First test: reaction to a sudden light attack.
Do-hyun projected a blinding burst of his Light Blade, much more intense than necessary. Kael squinted his eyes and slightly turned his head away - confirming his sensitivity to light.
[Countermeasure 1: CONFIRMED EFFICIENCY]
"Childhood," Kael scolded, but Do-hyun noted the slight delay in his recovery.
Second test: exploiting its tendency to underestimate.
Do-hyun feigned a panicked retreat to the edge of the roof, simulating an error of judgment. Kael smiled and moved forward faster, confidently.
When the vampire was within range, Do-hyun pivoted abruptly, with the two Blades of Light appearing simultaneously.
The surprise was complete. Kael barely had time to dodge, his blades brushing his chest and leaving trails of smoke on his coat.
[Countermeasure 2: CONFIRMED Efficiency]
"Interesting," Kael admitted, his smile disappeared. "You learn quickly."
Third test: use of his observation pattern.
Do-hyun stopped all direct attack, just moving in circles, forcing Kael to observe him, to analyze - exactly what he preferred to do. But whenever the vampire seemed about to draw a conclusion, Do-hyun would change his pattern.
Kael became visibly frustrated. His pattern of observation, usually a strength, became a weakness against an unpredictable opponent.
[countermeasures 3: CONFIRMED EFFICIENCY]
"Enough played," Kael finally announced, his aura becoming more intense.
Do-hyun felt the change. The testing time was over.
"System, retirement."
[WAY OF RETRACTING GENERATED]
[Estimate: 92% success]
He threw a last burst of light combined with a projection of energy that created a temporary screen, then disappeared into the shadows, using the knowledge of the terrain he had acquired earlier.
When Kael found his vision, Do-hyun was gone.
Back in his apartment, the analysis began immediately.
[MISSION: TEST 3 KAEL SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (3/3 - TERMINATED) ]
[Results:]
[- Luminous sensibility confirmed]
[- TENDANCE TO UNDEREST EXPLOIABLE]
[- OBSERVATION PATTERN MAY be RETURNED]
[REWARD: 70 EXP + TEMPORARY CLOKING UNlocked]
The new temporary camouflage capability was more valuable than all the gold in the world. For thirty minutes, it could completely mask its presence, becoming invisible to the vampiric senses.
But the tactical victory was overshadowed by an achievement: Kael no longer underestimated him. The next meeting would be different.
His phone vibrated - Soo-ah.
[Soo-ah]: Kael reported your escape. The Clan now ranks you as a priority threat. The new moon will be their opportunity to solve the problem. Be prepared.
Do-hyun looked out the window. The night was deep, but the moon was already beginning its waning phase.
In less than two days, it would disappear completely. And with it, all restraint of vampires.
New Moon: 1 DAY 14 hours
[Progress: LEVEL 3 (230/300 EXP) ]
[Status: PRIORITY THREAT FOR THE POURBAE CLAN]
He had gained skills, knowledge, abilities. But the prize had been to attract the full attention of his enemies.
The new moon would not be a survival test.
It would be a war.
And Do-hyun had just realized that he was now a general without an army, preparing for his battlefield.