Jerath's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
"System."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then a soft glow appeared before him, spreading until a thin, transparent panel hovered in the air. It didn't feel mechanical it felt alive, as if it had waited for him to call it.
"So… this is you?" he whispered.
Words formed on the panel.
[Status Display Initialized]
Jerath leaned closer, hands shaking not from fear, but from disbelief. He was still human, still weak… yet something had chosen him.
[Name: Jerath]
[Race: Human]
[Bloodline: None]
[Strength: 3]
[Agility: 4]
[Endurance: 2]
[Vitality: 3]
[Arcane Affinity: 0]
[Status: Ordinary Human]
"These numbers… they're so low," he muttered.
[You are at the beginning, Host. Your potential has not awakened.]
"For now," the system added.
Jerath frowned. "Arcane Affinity… zero? What's that?"
[It measures your connection to supernatural evolution. You have none yet, but your path can change.]
He stared at the screen. Human. Weak. Powerless. A small spark of hope flickered inside him.
"So… I can get stronger?"
[Yes, Host. Strength can be earned. Bloodlines can awaken. Nothing is fixed.]
Jerath exhaled slowly. Still fragile, but at least there was a path forward.
"What exactly are you? Why am I tied to you?"
[This is not a game, Host. If you die, you die permanently. If you fall, I disappear too.]
Jerath stiffened. "So we're linked?"
[Yes. With me, you can grow stronger over time. Even invincible.]
[Look at the injury on this body. It is fully healed.]
He lifted his shirt. The stab wound was gone. No scar. No pain.
"That's… real. But how can I grow stronger?"
[Through daily sign-ins and rewards.]
"Like… a game?"
[Location affects the reward.]
Jerath nodded slowly. "Do I have a sign-in today?"
[Yes.]
He confirmed. A pulse of light rippled across the panel.
[Reward: Bottle of Primordial Vampire Blood]
Jerath froze. "System… what is this? What do I do with it?"
[It contains the essence of an ancient vampire. Powerful. Rare. Consume it.]
He hesitated. Drinking blood had always repulsed him. But survival—and revenge left no choice. The blood tasted normal, safe, diluted by the system for a human body. Warmth spread through him as he drank. His vision swirled. Dizziness washed over him. He collapsed.
He slept. Twenty four hours passed before he woke, heart racing.
"System… what happened? How long was I out?"
[You slept a full day. The blood needed time to settle.]
Jerath listened to the world around him. He could hear everything: the soft crawl of ants, the flutter of wings. His vision sharpened. Even in darkness, he could see every detail. Reflexes and senses improved dramatically.
"System… all this from one vial?"
[Yes, Host. And this is only the beginning.]
The panel pulsed.
[Status Updating…]
New numbers appeared:
[Name: Jerath]
[Race: Human (Mutating)]
[Bloodline: Primordial Vampire – Incomplete]
[Strength: 3 → 7]
[Agility: 4 → 9]
[Endurance: 2 → 6]
[Vitality: 3 → 10]
[Arcane Affinity: 0 → 4]
[Status: Evolving]
[Transformation Result: Partial Vampiric Enhancement Achieved]
Jerath blinked. He was stronger than an ordinary human, but how did he compare to a vampire, werewolf, or witch?
[Every being with supernatural power has a realm that measures strength, Host. Fledgling, Nightborne, Bloodlord… each stage grows stronger. Your stage is Fledgling. Breakthrough comes when your core resonates and energy surges.]
Jerath nodded slowly. "And this core… it's inside me now?"
[Ding.]
[Yes. You have awakened your human core with this blood. Call it, feed it, train it. Only then can you reach the next stage.]
He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the vampire blood. Slowly, he whispered to his core. And for the first time, he felt something stir—as if moving toward the place where his core resided. The more energy he absorbed, the brighter it glowed.
Before he forgot, he remembered the sign-in.
[Ding.]
[Congratulations, you are awarded: Essence Key]
Essence Key
Type: Rare Sign-In Gift
Rarity: Legendary / Unique
Effect: Unlocks hidden potential in the user's core, granting mini-breakthroughs or accelerating cultivation.
Usage: Focus while meditating or calling the core. Reveals dormant abilities and improves energy absorption.
Appearance: Small glowing crystal that pulses near the core. Glows brighter when the core is ready to awaken.
Limitations: Can only be used once per realm cycle or after a set cultivation period.
Jerath held the Key. It pulsed softly.
"System… now?"
[Ding.]
[Yes. Focus on your core and let the Key resonate.]
He pressed the Key to his chest. Energy surged through him, warm and sharp. It stirred the dormant core.
When he opened his eyes, everything was clearer. He could hear the faintest sounds, see in the dark, and sense the presence of others. His reflexes were faster, movements sharper. A subtle control over the vampire blood in his veins made power flow through him.
[Ding.]
[Core enhancement complete. New abilities unlocked.]
Jerath's stats updated:
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 14]
[Endurance: 10]
[Vitality: 15]
[Arcane Affinity: 8]
[Status: Core Awakened]
[Abilities: Heightened Senses, Refined Reflexes, Core Awareness, Partial Blood Manipulation]
He took a deep breath. Still human, but no longer weak. The Essence Key had awakened something inside him, giving a spark of power he had never known.