Chapter 2
1006 Words
Matt sat on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts. Thanks to the doctor, he now understood the full story of what had happened.
Apparently, a Vigilant had been chasing the notorious “night phantom”, a mysterious figure who had fled after injuring him. Feeling guilty, the Vigilante had brought Matt to the hospital and even paid for all the medical bills.
“Tch… but what’s up with that phantom?” Matt muttered, touching his neck where the bite still tingled. “Why did she bite me? Is she… some kind of Kai or something else?”
He shook his head.
“But the real problem is… I missed my exams. I’ll have to retake the session. Tch… shouldn’t have gone out that night,” he gritted his teeth, regret biting at him.
Then…
Ping!
A sudden notification appeared before his eyes—a floating screen shimmering like liquid starlight, hovering in the middle of his vision.
[“Congratulations! Host has bonded with the Super Nightwalker System!”]
Matt blinked rapidly. “What… the hell…”
The screen didn’t vanish. Its words shifted, updating themselves in a cascade of glowing letters:
[“Host has spent seven days unconscious, converting metabolism to that of a Nightwalker.”]
[“All features of the Super Nightwalker System have been updated successfully. Check your stars now!”]
Matt froze, disbelief and joy warring inside him.
“Geez… is this for real? Did I… awaken my Qi while I was unconscious?” His heart thumped in excitement, a surge of power already tingling faintly in his veins.
The world around him full of Kai. For Matt… just a normal human, no Qi in veins, it should be easy to pretend he don’t care about becoming one. But now… everything change.
“Looks like fate finally shine light on me,” Matt mutters, stare at the wall. Mind still buzz from weird words of system. “But… what this ‘Nightwalker’ mean? Is it… my superpower?”
He shake head, try focus. “Alright… let’s see what I got!”
Clench fist, swing at wall.
Nothing. No boom, no crater… just loud, miserable howl somewhere behind him.
“W-why?! How… how possible?!” Matt stare at bloodied knuckles, panic and disbelief claw at him.
Then…
Ping!
Notifications pop right in front of eyes.
[New Quest Unlocked!]
[Quest Name: Take Your First Nutrient
Description: You weak before… now you find hidden power. Want rise to top? Take time, consume first nutrient, feel surge of strength!
[NUTRIENT: Blood
Volume: 1 litre
Time Frame: 24 hours. Tick… tock…]
Matt eyes go wide. “B-Blood?!” he stammered, stare quest panel. Heart race. This… real. This… power.
(Your bloodlust grow)
(34/100)
“Damn… I about lose it!” Matt mutter through teeth grit, walking down dark street. He pick quiet path, less people, know well what System warn him.
Good thing he expert trekker. Years exploring neighborhood teach secret shortcuts, hidden alleys. Whatever this “bloodlust” thing, he no treat like joke.
Few minutes ago… almost jump on little girl. Lucky… years of humiliation from Kade make willpower strong, almost unbreakable.
Pass narrow alley, night air chill on skin. Matt shiver as memory of attack and weird encounter with Viviennie flash in head.
“Owww!!”
Miserable howl break silence, follow by smell that make head dizzy.
(Your bloodlust grow)
(51/100)
“Ngh!!”
Vision sharp. Eyes glint deep crimson, reflect dim streetlights. No think… he sprint to smell, heart hammer hard.
.
.
.
“You bastard! How dare you people enter our territory, huh?!”
“Yeah! You Bulldog g**g fools get bold, think you can fight us!”
Matt skid stop, see rough-looking guys block alley. Air thick, tense. Every instinct scream fight… but something darker, hungrier, whisper under all.
Seven thugs, all wear red bandana, surround man with eye patch and head band with snarling wolf symbol. He hold bleeding arm, struggle stand.
“This area belong to Iron Fang g**g! We no accept intruders!” one thug bark.
Gang guy hold bloodied dagger, grin mean as he stab left arm of man on ground.
“Uwaah!” man scream, blood spill like little river.
“Muhahaha! Serves you right trash!” first thug laugh cruel, kick him while he writhe.
“Grr… Grr… Grr… gr…”
Low beast growl come from behind, make air cold.
“And who you supposed be?” thug ask, spin to face sound.
Matt stay still behind group. Ignore question. All eyes on blood from wounded guy.
“Brat! How dare ignore me huh?” thug frown, sound annoyed.
Matt head bend down, hide eyes glow deep red.
“Not say anything? Then I just beat it out of you!” thug snarl, raise fist.
Thug’s left arm twist, turn into sharp curved claw of eagle, aim straight at Matt head. Talons shine under dim streetlight, deadly. He look like he want kill.
“S… scram!” Matt shout, swing clawed hand with all strength. Thug stumble back, skid almost three meter down alley.
“You mine… food!” Matt growl, jump forward before thug recover. Teeth turn sharp fangs. He bite thug neck without think.
“Aiiish!” man scream, body shrivel like trash.
Matt lick blood from fangs, feel weird satisfaction inside. Don’t know why… but feel amazing. He wants more.
{Ping! New Quest Unlocked!}
{PREDATOR: Nightwalkers are most ruthless predators in world.}
{Your prey cower before you. Finish all!}
{Quest Reward: 10 Blood Drachma}
Matt's eyes glow crimson. Take deep breath, feel power surge in veins. Hunger, thrill… so intoxicating.
“Whoosh!”
He dash to nearest thug.
“He’s fast!” one hiss, heart pound as Matt appear like shadow, fangs sink in neck.
“Kill that monster!” First thug shout, try get comrades ready.
“Monster! Die!” another throw punch at Matt head.
“Hm?”
Matt toss shriveled corpse aside, meet punch head-on.
Bang!
- Writer
