chapter 3
1272 Words
Drip… drip… drip.
Matt stared at his fingers, slick with blood, horror etched across his face. All around him lay shriveled corpses, the alley silent except for the faint echo of dripping blood. The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive, and utterly gory.
{Mission Completed}
{You have received +10 Blood Drachma}
{You have devoured 35 l****s of blood}
“W-what have I become?!” Matt’s voice broke as tears streamed down his cheeks. The thrill, the hunger, the sheer violence… it all collided inside him, leaving him shaken and trembling.
.
.
.
Camelot Academy.
It was the most prestigious school for breeding young Kai, the number-one institution in all of Lisle City. Nestled in the bustling first-tier metropolis of M. City, it stood as one of the most formidable powers in the region—second only to the Viscount Manor.
Today, the gates of the academy were wide open, welcoming a torrent of visitors. It was the day of admissions, an event that happened only once a year.
The campus itself was colossal. Towering buildings, sprawling courtyards, and immaculate gardens made it feel almost unreal. Like any elite Kai academy, admission was technically free—but only for those who passed the rigorous entrance test.
Failing the test meant losing the chance to become a student—and, for aspiring Kai, that was a devastating blow.
The entrance test happens in big open field inside academy. Around it, many seats, like stadium, look really big.
Hundreds of teenagers gather there, voices loud, mix of excitement and nervous. All come for same reason—to enter Camelot Academy.
If pass… they become students.
“Decorum, please.”
A calm voice suddenly echo everywhere, like it speaking inside everyone head.
At same time, a figure slowly come down from sky.
Middle-aged man, dress neat, just floating in air like nothing.
“That Teacher Kean!”
“You mean the Kai with Sound Qi?”
“Ah… no wonder his voice inside my head!”
“So strong…”
Crowd start whisper, talk low but excited.
“Tsk. Sound Qi, huh? Nothing special,” Kade mutter, small smirk on face.
Qi abilities are powers of Kai. Everyone know each Kai only awaken one Qi in whole life.
Teacher Kean raise hand little… noise stop almost instantly.
“I welcome you all to academy 25th entrance exam,” he say calm. Even voice soft, everyone still hear clear.
“For this exam, I be your supervisor.”
He pause, look across the crowd.
“This test have two stage—Qi test and combat.”
Tension spread fast among students.
“Now… I explain first stage.”
Snap!
Suddenly, a blue glowing orb appear in front of him, floating quiet in air. About the size of human head, give off soft but strong light.
“By placing your hand on this orb…”
“It show your Qi… and also talent of that Qi,” Teacher Kean continue calm.
“But remember this—talent not same as potential. Even if your Qi low grade, don’t lose heart. With effort, you can still surpass others.”
Silence for little moment.
“Now begin. One by one, step forward and put hand on Qi orb.”
After that, Teacher Kean move to side, just watch quiet.
“Heh… my turn.”
A boy with a baseball cap stepped forward, smiling confident. He no hesitated, put his hand on the glowing orb.
The moment he touch it—
Buzz!
Light burst out, words form in air:
{QI: Metal Manipulation}
{Talent: Ashborn Tier}
For moment… whole place quiet.
Then—
“Tch. What trash!”
“Ashborn Tier? You serious?”
“He really think he can make it?”
“Get out, loser!”
The crowd burst into laughter, mocking loud.
Boy face freeze. A small bitter smile show. He pull back hand slow, step away from orb.
He no argue.
No complain.
After all… Ashborn Tier lowest of low. Nobody cares.
“Hope this goes well…”
A girl with two ponytails mumble low, step forward. Her fingers shake little before she reaches for the orb.
Minutes pass, people keep going one by one, put hand on orb to show Qi and talent.
Results start piling fast.
From whole crowd—
Almost Four hundred get Ashborn Tier.
Three hundred reach Ember Tier.
Around one hundred at Iron Tier.
Only like thirty reach Crest Tier.
Each result makes people react, but nothing too shocking yet.
Then—
“Finally… my turn.”
Kaden step forward, smiles confidently.
“This is easy.”
He put hand on the orb.
Buzz—!
Bright light explode, way stronger than before. Energy shake around, some students step back.
Then words appear in air—
(QIs: Ability Intuition & Time Manipulation)
(Talent: Sovereign Tier)
Silence.
Complete silence.
Everyone freeze.
Even Teacher Kean face change little.
“Two… QIs?”
“And both crazy abilities…”
“S-Sovereign Tier?!”
This not just genius anymore…
This monster.
Meanwhile…
Matt returns to his room, takes a cold bath, try clear head.
But no matter how he tries…
Image of blood on his fingers…
Taste still in his mouth…
It not go away.
Stick to him like a curse.
“Just… what I turn into?” he mutter, hold sink tight.
(Host successfully evolve into Nightwalker.)
Words appear on the system panel.
“Nightwalker…?” Matt say slow. “What does that even mean?”
(Nightwalker are one of the most dangerous predators in world. As Nightwalker, the host grow stronger by devour Essence.)
“Essence?”
(Essence is core energy inside all living beings. By consuming blood, you absorb Essence, increase strength.)
Matt frown, clench fist.
“Grow stronger? Then why don't I feel anything different?”
For moment, screen flicker.
Then—
New words appear.
A transparent screen show in front of Matt eyes, glowing soft, almost like alive.
[HOST PROFILE]
Name: Matt Johnson
Alias: — — —
Lineage: Primordial Noctaryn (Progenitor)
Class: Adaptive
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength — Level 1
Speed — Level 1
Agility — Level 1
Physique — Level 1
Vital Energy — 10 / 10
[BLOOD AFFINITY]
AB → Boost Physique
B → Boost Strength
O → Boost Charm
A → Balanced
[QI CORE]
Essence Assimilation (Innate)
[ABILITIES]
• Blood Essence Absorption
[RESERVES] (Blood Tanks)
AB — 15 Litres
B — 10 Litres
O — 5 Litres
A — 5 Litres
[MISSIONS]
None
[CURRENCY]
Blood Drachma — 10
[INVENTORY]
Empty
[EXCHANGE]
Buy | Sell
Matt blink slow, staring at it.
“This… like game system or something,” he mutter low.
He look at Strength stat.
Suddenly—
[Upgrade Strength?]
Cost: 1 litre (Type B Blood Recommended)
Matt pause little.
Then—Proceed.
[Upgrade Successful]
Strength now Level 2
Another message pop—
[Continue Upgrade?]
Next Cost: 2 litres
“Let’s keep going…”
Proceed.
[Upgrade Successful]
Strength now Level 3
[Continue Upgrade?]
Next Cost: 4 litres
“Again.”
[Upgrade Successful]
Strength now Level 4
[Continue Upgrade?]
Next Cost: 8 litres
“Don’t stop now…”
[Upgrade Successful]
Strength now Level 5
[Continue Upgrade?]
Next Cost: 15 litres
Matt stop.
Then—
[Insufficient Blood Reserves]
“Hm…”
Matt let out small whistle, clench fist slow.
Something feel different.
Power… strong one… moving inside his muscles, like it about burst out.
“So… it real…”
Small grin show on his face.
“Let’s test it.”
He step out of apartment.
Not far, one tree stand alone.
Perfect.
Matt walk to it, roll shoulder little. Pull fist back, muscles tight like spring.
For one second… everything quiet.
Then—
BAAM!
- Writer
