"Now for the part about the powers you'll have—got any ideas for what you want to manifest?"
"I got nothing specific, but make sure I keep my human form. Transforming and shifting are cool though. Can you add those?"
The being stayed quiet for a moment.
"To avoid giving you a bad deal, let's take advantage of your body's adaptability and the spiritual heart's energy purification you'll gain. I'll make it so that some beings from the Chaos Dimension slipped through the protection barriers and tried to merge with you, only to be purified—and in the process, become your power. Hmm… let's call them Beast Avatars."
He paused before continuing.
"I can give you five options for the rest of your wishes—or two strong avatars, each with overpowered but versatile abilities. And as a bonus, I'll make sure you can take their full or partial form. Got any requests for your base form?"
Wow, isn't he excited? He seems more into this than I am, and it's my future life on the line. But hey, works for me.
I nodded. "As long as they're strong. Also, make it so I can use their abilities without summoning them. Just two OP avatars will do. The rest—make them powerful or at least useful. And no disgusting bugs, please."
He nodded again."Now, for your body. I'll make you a looker. Any specs you want?"
Specs? Are we building an engine now? I chuckled at the thought.
"Healthy tanned skin, black hair with yellow-red tips, max height around 2 meters. I'll build up the rest with training."
He stepped forward."The last part will serve as your training—and a trial, to see what you can do with your beasts, so you don't go berserk later."Placing his palm on my head, he added, "Don't worry, you won't die. Go and earn your power."
The moment he said that, I felt a cold sensation crawl up my neck. Before I could react, I was already on the side of a cliff… surrounded by volcanoes and rivers of magma.
Then, out of nowhere—I got eaten.Yup. Eaten. Everything went black. And when I came to, I was lying on the same cliff, just in a different spot.
"So I got eaten on my first try..."
How do I know? I caught a glimpse of a bear-shaped shadow just before blacking out. And the 'information' I received beforehand? Helped a lot.
Apparently, I'm in a space where I must 'meet'—or more accurately, fight—one of my future avatars.
The deal's simple: the moment I enter this place, I get information about the beast and its abilities. I have to defeat it. If I die, I get revived in a random spot. Thankfully, while I'm here, all pain and negative emotions are dulled.
The good news? I already got the abilities I'll eventually have, and I instinctively know how to use them. I can even sense the surrounding area using mana—it feels... natural. Does my adaptability include instant learning?
Anyway, time to hunt.That ass*** actually ate me... I need to pay him back.*I ran toward the massive mana signature I felt.
—— Time Skip ——
Remember how I ran toward that huge mana signature?
Bad idea.
A very bad idea.
That bastard of a bear is a living furnace. The heat it gives off could melt most metals. I got fried in under a second. The second time, I got stabbed before I even realized what was happening.
After a couple more deaths, I had to face the facts:I didn't know how to fight. At all.
So I shifted gears and started training.If I have one useful trait, it's what I like to call tunnel vision. When I fixate on something, I don't let go until I get it.
I began by learning to control the mana inside me. Then I layered that knowledge—building new techniques over time. I lost track of how much time passed. The only way I could count the days was by keeping track of how many times I died.
The bear—probably bored or annoyed—started actively hunting me. Which, honestly, helped. I didn't need to look for him anymore. Some people would call this torture, but for me? It was a thrill.
I used to chase thrills: mountain climbing, high-rise parkour, deep-sea diving, skydiving... You name it, I did it.Until my thirties, when a freak accident left me paralyzed and working a dull job.Fiction became my only escape.
Now? Now I'm fighting a lava bear in a realm with no consequences, no rules, and no limits.If I don't enjoy this, maybe I should start questioning my sanity.
After 276 deaths, I can finally fight him on equal terms.
Let's finish this shit.With a grin, I charged into battle.
—— 3rd Person POV ——
After numerous deaths at the hands of the bear, our MC pulled back from the mindless brawling and began training. From basic mana manipulation to elemental control, then finally to his shapeshifting powers, he evolved.
At first, he just mimicked fighting moves and techniques he remembered. But once the lava bear began hunting him, survival instincts took over. He sharpened his focus, refined his combat, and forged his style.
Every death taught him something new.Hand-to-hand combat.Half and full transformations.Elemental usage.Body reinforcement.
Each fight became a mirror—revealing a flaw to correct.
Eventually, he became a living weapon. His body, forged through pain and repetition, could deliver deadly blows in close and mid-range combat. His magic was no less fearsome—his self-made spells and raw mana techniques rivaled master magicians.
Unbeknownst to him, nearly eight years had passed inside that realm. Eight years of training and fighting.
His power now? Comparable to an Elder-level vampire.
And the beast he's trying to defeat?It could easily pass for one of Primogenitor Vasal's legendary familiars.
Author's Note:
Hey there!This is an older fanfic of mine. I wrote it while playing around with some ideas and testing concepts. I always felt Strike the Blood lacked something like a werebeast faction—natural enemies to vampires, like classic lore.
So I started this fic!
The power system blends vampiric evolution with werebeast dynamics and a bit of Campione!-style power acquisition (you'll see more of that later).
Not a huge STB fan, so expect heavy AU.If you've got ideas, throw them in the comments—I'll try to work them in if I can.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you did, please support it.See you next time!