CHAPTER 16 — A Monster
ELION — POV
Darkness vanished.
Replaced by—
Cold.
Not the gentle cold of Frostwill, not the soothing chill of mana, but a deep, primal cold that felt carved from depths and shadows.
My eyes snapped open.
White flooded my vision.
I inhaled sharply.
Air rushed into lungs that should've been shredded, collapsed, useless.
My chest no longer burned.
No blood bubbled in my throat.
My heart should've been silent—but instead, it beat once.
BOOM.
Slow.
Heavy.
Like a deep bass drum. The start of something waking up.
I stared at the ceiling of the armory, vision too sharp, too clear as everything came into focus. Every crack in the drywall looked magnified. Dust motes drifted like falling stars, each one detailed enough to count.
Sound crashed back next.
Alexiy's sobbing.
Her breathing shattered, desperate, broken.
"Elion… Elion please—please don't be gone—please—"
Her hands were on my shirt, my cheek, my shoulder—gripping me like she could anchor my soul by sheer force of will.
I blinked.
"…Alexiy."
She froze.
Her head jerked up.
Her pink eyes widened so abruptly it looked painful.
"Elion—?!"
She gasped sharply when she saw my eyes.
I could feel them—burning, glowing, wrong.
Her hands trembled as she cupped my face.
"Elion… your eyes… they're—"
I could sense it even without seeing them.
As I stared into Alexiy's eyes my own face reflected in her pupils I saw what she ment.
They were red.
Not bright like a rose or dull like dried rot. But a deep, predatory crimson—like embers at the bottom of a dying fire.
I sat up slowly. The pain was gone as if it didn't exist. The bullet wound was simply nonexistent. the only sign of damage was to my shirt and hoodie all covered in blood. and I mean completely.
More blood was on the floor was still warm, still mine—yet the hole in my chest had vanished like it never happened.
My fingers pressed over the spot.
Smooth skin.
Heartbeat steady.
Alive.
More than alive.
A new screen flickered before me.
[BLOODLINE — VRYKOLAKAS] Status: Awakened
New text bled into existence like carved sigils:
[NEW STAT UNLOCKED — CHARM] Charm: +15
Next line:
[NEW PASSIVE: EXSANGUINE NATURE]
Your body regenerates rapidly.
Grants 'Enhanced Physique'
Vitality no longer depletes in a natural human pattern instead Vitality Pool has changed form into a 'BloodCore' allowing for absorption, restoration, and storage.
Severe injuries require blood to restore
Next line:
[NEW ACTIVE SKILL: HEMOVORE]
You gain enhanced strength, vitality, and temporary mana by drinking fresh blood.
Next:
[NEW PASSIVE SKILL: BLOODLINE AUTHORITY – "FLEDGLING MARK"]
Those who ingest your blood may undergo mutation.
They become part of your 'Blood Family'.
Blood Family Trait grants: Strength, agility, senses, and mana tolerance increase.
Effects vary depending on compatibility and will.
My stomach twisted—not in nausea, but In hunger. A deep, instinctual hunger that coiled around my ribs like a serpent.
But It wasn't for food, or for water. No It was for blood.
I swallowed.
It didn't help.
Alexiy watched me, breath shuddering in her throat.
"You… you're alive," she whispered.
She touched my cheek like she expected her hand to pass through me.
"Elion… I saw you die. I heard your heart stop."
"I did die," I said quietly.
My voice sounded different—lower, smoother, colder. Like the words dragged faint echoes with them.
"But something brought me back."
Her hands were still on my face.
"Your eyes," she whispered again, trembling. "They're glowing. And your skin—your wound is gone—your body is—Elion, what happened to you?"
I didn't answer.
Not yet.
Because something else was moving. Behind her. Darius.
The bastard was staring at me—shock finally cracking through his arrogance.
"You— what— no—NO," he stuttered. "You were dead! I killed you! I put that bullet—"
His brain seemed to be restarting as the shock of seeing the impossible happen before his eyes was being replaced by— fear. I could smell it, he reeked of fear. Of Terror
He raised his hand and shot again.
I didn't need to think. I didn't brace from my postion. I simply push up with all the muscled in my body and twisted my body to the side.
One instant I lay on the ground beside me, Alexiy crouching over me.
The next—
I was now on top of Alexiy, my hands on either side of her of her head. With Alexiy staring straight into my eyes.
The bullet passed through the empty space where my head had just been and hit the wall behind me.
Alexiy gasped, blinking, unable to process what she'd seen, and how our position how just changed so fast. I gave her quick kiss on the cheek—a simple way to let her know that I'll handle this and she's safe.
Whether she understood that much or not I didn't know as I turned to face my killer turned prey.
Darius stumbled backward, hand shaking, breath choking out in panic.
"STAY BACK! YOU—YOU MONSTER—"
Monster.
There it was again. I've been called so many names, but he loved to call me his little master as he beat the shit out of me. But maybe he was right after all. As my fingers curled, I felt my hunger surged. My instincts screamed one thing:
HUNT. PREY.
Before he could fire again, I flicked my wrist.
Not with telekinesis.
With something colder. Sharper. Heavier.
FrostWill. Power surge around me as the air seemed to chill to below 60 degrees.
Darius's gun was shaking in his hand with such force he couldn't aim properly. From the cold or the fear, I didn't know.
He turned and tried to run away, but an icicle formed in front of my palm and shot out like a bullet piercing him in the back. He screamed and fell face first. He turned around to face me, maybe to confront me again?
I stepped forward. And I saw the fear in his eyes as he tried crawl away.
"Don't—don't come any closer—"
I wanted to end this so I walked up to him and knelt beside him.
His eyes met mine.
Terror froze him entirely.
"W-What… are you?"
I didn't know yet.
But I knew one thing: He had shot me. He had killed me. He had threatened Alexiy. So I leaned in—not for theatrics. But to show him true fear. His fear smelt stronger as my lips nearly brushed his ear.
"You should've aimed for my head."
Then I snapped his neck. His head turned around, like twisting a bottle cap. It was a clean, effortless kill. I didn't find enjoyment from torture— unlike my best friend.
His body fell limp.
Silence swallowed the room.
I exhaled, steady and slow, Trying not to think about how Meso would be reacting to the apocalypse. Deciding to try to get in touch with her later, I stoped thinking about that sociopath. Instead I focused on pushing the hunger back with sheer will.
My new instincts quieted.
For now.
Behind me, Alexiy's voice trembled.
"…Elion?"
I turned.
And saw Alexiy standing there. She wasn't running or screaming. She wasn't even hiding. She held her ground—eyes wide, terrified, confused, but still rooted to me.
"Is… is that really you?"
I heard myself answer.
"Yes. It's me Alexiy" I gave a smile that felt more tired than reassuring.
She hesitated. But then she walked closer.
Step by step.
She touched my face again—gentler this time. It felt almost like was reverent, or maybe terrified? But I could see in her eyes that she was grateful.
She whispered:
"You came back… for me."
I didn't deny it.
Because even in the dark haze of death, her voice had been the only thing that mattered. Instead I just wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her close to me.
Her fingers trembled as they traced the place the bullet had pierced.
"…you're warm," she breathed. I was sure I smelt like sweat and blood and death but she inhaled as if she would only smell me from now.
She let out a shaky laugh—half relief, half hysteria.
"You're actually warm. I thought… I thought you'd be cold like a corpse."
"…Not yet," I murmured. Feeling the weight of everything finally hit me. I mean I did die. the system even said so. that was another thing to look at tonight.
She swallowed, as if she was determined to say the next words, but needed to prepare herself.
"I don't care what you are," she whispered. "Just don't… don't leave me again."
She looks up at me with those pink eyes, wet with tears that made them shine like gems. Up close, I notice everything—her long pink hair spilling over her shoulders, her white skin without a single mark or blemish, her small perfect nose, and those soft lips. Even covered in dust and blood, she looks like she walked out of some goddess convention, not the end of the world.
She reached her hands up and wrapped them around the back of my head and pulled me down. Her forehead pressed to mine, as her breath ghosted across my lips.
I felt something within me twist again—but this time differently.
It felt protective, more claiming. But still alive. Still a predator, just one of a different kind.
I closed my eyes for a moment. As we stood there holding each other.
"I won't."
Not now. Not ever. I made a vow. Alexiy said she didn't care. I knew she had a past, I could see it in the caution, the hesitation. The way her family acted I could only imagine. But if she didn't care. If she was still willing to hold me. To show me this gentle care that I've only ever received from my mother... Then I wouldn't care about her past.
And I would protect this girl in this hell. She deserved only best after the hell she's been through. As we stood there holding each other for the moment, I slowly exhaled, and slowly released Alexiy from my arms, breaking the moment.
I stepped away, scanning the room.
Darius lay dead.
Five other corpses sprawled across the floor. The girl in the corner looking at Darius with blank eyes.
And shimmering faintly near them—
four orbs.
Three of the wanna be henchmen had a single red now shining right next to them. Then there was one violet making its self known. I felt a grin stretch on my face as I looked at the loot.
Skill drops.
It was a confirmation of a theory I had. I still had more and I doubt I would ever find all the answers but this was one question answered. and it was a game changer. This changes everything.
Everything. How many drop? is it only the best/highest skill? More thoughts ran through my head as I focused on the next steps.
I exhaled once, steadying the monster inside my veins.
"Let's gather the guns," I said softly.
Alexiy nodded, wiping her cheeks.
She was still shaken, I wasn't surprised, she was still emotional. But she had a strong will. and she was alive and safe for now. Alive because of me. Safe with me.
And I was no longer human. I hand't told her but it was obvious.
I didn't know what I was yet. I didn't have time to check the system as I grabbed the orbs and put them in my Inventory. I then stood and walked to the girl. I wasn't sure what kind of mental state she was in. if she was completely broken then death might be the best. I didn't mind, I knew this world would only get crueler. My worry was about alexiy.
I could hope for the best as Alexiy focused on the guns as I went to check on the girl.
But I knew one thing for certain:
The world should start being afraid, because I will either set order to the chaos. Or die trying like today. And since I didn't die yet... The world would start to worry,