Chapter 10 — The First Vampire
1652 Words
The sky above the Vampire Capital turned black.
Not dark.
Black.
As if something had swallowed the moon itself.
Crimson lightning spread across the clouds.
Buildings trembled.
Glass shattered throughout the city.
And beneath the streets—
Something ancient continued to wake.
THUMP.
The sound echoed through the entire capital.
THUMP.
Noah stood inside the Crimson Cathedral, staring upward.
His father stood beside him.
Elara was holding her sword tightly.
Kael watched the ceiling.
Nobody spoke.
Then the system appeared.
[WORLD EVENT: THE FIRST VAMPIRE]
Awakening Progress: 53%
Estimated completion: Unknown
Warning: All vampire bloodlines are being affected.
Noah looked at his father.
“How do we stop it?”
His father answered immediately.
“We don't.”
Noah frowned.
“What?”
“We can't stop the awakening.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
His father looked at the Blood Crown fragment.
“We can only control what happens after it awakens.”
Noah stared at him.
“That sounds worse.”
“It is.”
---
THE CITY FALLS
A scream echoed from outside.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Noah rushed toward the cathedral entrance.
The streets were chaos.
Vampires were attacking one another.
Some were screaming while holding their heads.
Others stood motionless, their eyes completely black.
Noah activated Blood Sense.
[Blood corruption spreading.]
[Affected population: 38%.]
[Current rate of increase: 4% per minute.]
Noah's expression hardened.
“How do we stop the corruption?”
His father shook his head.
“We can't.”
Noah turned toward him.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because the First Vampire's blood is entering the entire city.”
Elara stepped forward.
“Then we evacuate the people who aren't affected.”
Her father nodded.
“Exactly.”
Noah looked toward the streets.
“Then let's move.”
---
They left the cathedral.
Kael remained behind.
Noah noticed.
“You're not coming?”
Kael shook his head.
“Someone has to hold the eastern gate.”
Noah stared at him.
“Can you?”
Kael smiled.
“Probably not.”
Then he drew his sword.
“But I'll make them work for it.”
Noah nodded.
“Don't die.”
Kael laughed.
“That's an order?”
“No.”
Noah looked at him.
“A request.”
Kael smiled.
“Then I'll try.”
---
THE CORRUPTED
Noah and Elara ran through the streets.
Their father followed behind.
Vampires attacked from every direction.
But these weren't ordinary vampires.
Their eyes were black.
Their veins glowed crimson.
Their movements were wild.
[Corrupted vampire detected.]
[Level: 17.]
Noah rushed forward.
BOOM!
He punched the creature through a wall.
[Enemy defeated.]
[Experience gained: 240.]
Another attacked.
Elara's sword cut through its claws.
Noah finished it.
[Experience gained: 260.]
[LEVEL UP.]
[LEVEL 8]
Noah smiled.
His father looked at him.
“You're growing quickly.”
“I don't have time to grow slowly.”
His father nodded.
“That's exactly what I was afraid of.”
Noah looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
His father didn't answer.
Suddenly—
A massive explosion erupted at the eastern gate.
BOOOOM!
Kael's blood signature disappeared.
Noah froze.
“Kael.”
Elara looked at him.
“Go.”
Noah ran.
---
THE EASTERN GATE
The gate was destroyed.
Bodies covered the streets.
Kael stood in the center.
His black coat was torn.
Blood covered his face.
He was surrounded by dozens of corrupted vampires.
Noah rushed toward him.
“Kael!”
Kael looked up.
He smiled.
“Took you long enough.”
Noah stepped beside him.
“How many?”
“Too many.”
Elara joined them.
Their father stood behind.
Kael stared at him.
“You're alive.”
Noah's father nodded.
“You look terrible.”
Kael laughed.
“You always were bad at comforting people.”
A corrupted vampire charged.
Noah raised his hand.
[BLOOD BARRIER.]
A crimson shield appeared.
The vampire slammed into it.
BOOM!
Noah pushed his hand forward.
The barrier exploded outward.
Several vampires were thrown backward.
[Blood Barrier proficiency increased.]
Noah smiled.
“That's useful.”
Kael stared at him.
“You've learned quickly.”
Noah looked at his system.
[LEVEL 8.]
[Blood Energy: 80/80.]
Then—
The sky cracked.
Everyone looked upward.
A massive crimson eye opened above the city.
The eye was larger than the castle itself.
Every vampire stopped.
Noah felt something enter his mind.
A voice.
Ancient.
Cold.
“Blood.”
Noah froze.
“My blood.”
His vision blurred.
He saw a massive throne beneath an endless ocean.
A creature sat upon it.
Its body was humanoid, but impossibly tall.
Its skin was pale.
Its hair was white.
Its eyes were crimson.
Chains surrounded its body.
And behind it stood thousands of vampires.
The creature looked directly at Noah.
“You carry his blood.”
Noah whispered:
“Who are you?”
The creature smiled.
“You know me.”
Noah shook his head.
“No.”
The creature leaned forward.
“I am the beginning.”
The vision shattered.
Noah fell to his knees.
Elara caught him.
“Noah!”
He gasped.
His father looked terrified.
“What did you see?”
“The First Vampire.”
His father closed his eyes.
“It spoke to you.”
Noah nodded.
“What did it say?”
Noah looked at him.
“It said I carry his blood.”
His father went silent.
Elara stared at him.
“Father?”
He didn't answer.
Noah stood.
“You knew.”
His father finally looked at him.
“Yes.”
“What did you know?”
His father hesitated.
“The First Vampire is not simply an ancestor.”
Noah waited.
“He is your ancestor.”
Silence.
Noah's eyes widened.
“My blood comes from him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you fight him?”
“Because I discovered what he planned.”
“What?”
His father looked toward the crimson eye in the sky.
“To use you.”
Noah froze.
“To use me for what?”
His father whispered:
“To create the next Blood King.”
---
THE SYSTEM'S SECRET
The system suddenly appeared.
[Major bloodline connection confirmed.]
[Ancient Origin: First Vampire.]
[Bloodline compatibility: 100%.]
[Bloodline evolution available.]
Noah stared.
[EVOLUTION CONDITION]
Accept the First Blood.
Noah's expression hardened.
“No.”
The system paused.
[Confirmation required.]
“I said no.”
[Evolution rejected.]
[Alternative evolution path detected.]
Noah's eyes widened.
“There is another?”
[Yes.]
[Create your own bloodline.]
Noah stared at the words.
His father looked at him.
“What did you see?”
Noah smiled.
“An option.”
His father immediately became serious.
“What option?”
Noah looked at the crimson eye above the city.
“I don't have to become the Blood King.”
He looked at his hands.
“I can become something else.”
---
THE CHOICE
The First Vampire's voice echoed through the sky.
“COME TO ME.”
The entire city shook.
“ACCEPT YOUR TRUE BLOOD.”
Noah felt the pull.
His body wanted to obey.
His blood screamed for it.
[Bloodline resonance: 58% → 71%.]
Noah fell to one knee.
Elara grabbed him.
“Noah!”
His father shouted:
“Fight it!”
Noah gritted his teeth.
“I am!”
[Bloodline resonance: 76%.]
His eyes turned completely crimson.
[Warning.]
[Host consciousness decreasing.]
Noah heard the First Vampire whisper inside his mind.
“You were born for me.”
Noah's hands trembled.
“No.”
“Your blood belongs to me.”
“No.”
“Your power belongs to me.”
Noah slowly stood.
His eyes burned.
“My blood is mine.”
The system flashed.
[Host willpower exceeding bloodline control.]
[Mind of the Mortal — Level Up.]
[MIND OF THE MORTAL — LEVEL 2]
Noah screamed.
A crimson shockwave exploded from his body.
The First Vampire's voice disappeared.
[Bloodline resonance stabilized.]
[Current resonance: 62%.]
Noah breathed heavily.
His father stared at him.
“You resisted him.”
Noah looked at his hands.
“I told you.”
His eyes became calm.
“I'm not becoming his servant.”
---
THE FIRST VAMPIRE DESCENDS
The massive eye above the city began closing.
For a moment, everything became silent.
Then the clouds split.
Something descended.
A gigantic shadow emerged from the sky.
The Vampire Capital's floating castle began collapsing.
Buildings shook.
The ground cracked.
A figure slowly descended toward the city.
The First Vampire had arrived.
The system displayed:
[ENTITY FULLY MANIFESTING.]
[Name: Unknown.]
[Title: First Vampire.]
[Level: ???]
[Rank: ???]
[Danger: UNMEASURABLE.]
Noah stared upward.
Even his system couldn't determine its strength.
His father drew his sword.
Elara stood beside him.
Kael raised his weapon.
Noah looked at them.
“Can we win?”
His father smiled.
“No.”
Noah laughed.
“At least you're honest.”
His father looked at him.
“But we don't have to win.”
“What?”
“We only need to survive.”
The First Vampire finally touched the ground.
The impact sent a shockwave through the city.
Vampires everywhere fell to their knees.
The creature looked directly at Noah.
Then it spoke.
“My child.”
Noah stepped forward.
“I am not your child.”
The First Vampire smiled.
“Not yet.”
The system suddenly flashed.
[FINAL WARNING.]
[External entity attempting system synchronization.]
[System defense failing.]
Noah's eyes widened.
“What's happening?”
His father shouted:
“RUN!”
The First Vampire raised one hand.
The entire world went black.
[SYSTEM OVERRIDE.]
[UNKNOWN COMMAND RECEIVED.]
[VAMPIRE SYSTEM LOCKED.]
Noah stared at the final message.
His system disappeared.
For the first time since his resurrection—
Noah was alone.
No powers.
No status.
No skills.
Nothing.
The First Vampire smiled.
“Now, my son...”
The darkness swallowed everything.
“...let us see who you really are.”
To be continued...
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