Silas finally opened his eyes. His body felt better than it ever had before, even though his thoughts were still a mess. He sat up slowly and looked at himself.
His skin was covered in a dark layer of dried goo that clung to him like old tar, and the veins in his arms stood out more than he remembered.
They looked like they belonged to someone who had spent years training instead of someone who had been lying in a hospital bed.
He lifted his hand and flexed his fingers. Every movement felt strong and controlled. He leaned back slightly and took a breath as a thought crossed his mind.
He felt hot, not from temperature but from the way his body now looked and moved. He snorted at himself. "I feel hot," he said under his breath, trying not to laugh at how ridiculous that sounded in a situation like this.
A screen flickered into view.
[Congratulations. Sanguine Origin Vampyr transformation complete.]
A small smile formed on his face. He wasn't completely sure he had made the right decision, but it felt like the best choice out of all the ones he had been given.
The weaknesses bothered him, yet they also seemed manageable. Gold wasn't exactly something people carried around for weapon use.
In an apocalypse where survival meant grabbing whatever was in reach, the chance of someone attacking him with gold felt extremely low.
He wiped more of the sticky residue from his arm and stood up. The floor was cold under his feet, but his body didn't react to the chill.
He considered the rule about entering owned property. Most people had died or fled.
Abandoning a home had to count as giving up ownership, and even if it didn't, there were plenty of places in the world now that had no owner at all. It wasn't as crippling as it could have been.
He paused and looked at his hands again. His nails had a darker tint now, almost black when the light caught them.
The changes felt real, and he couldn't ignore the fact that he liked some of it. His strength, speed, and senses were only going to get better.
He didn't know what would come next, but since waking in the hospital,only now did he feel prepared to face it.
Silas glanced at his reflection again and chuckled quietly. He actually looked like a goth now.
He had gone through that phase in high school, with dark clothes and heavy boots, it was a fun one... he wasn't the emo type though.
College changed that when he became obsessed with medicine, especially blood.
He had always found it interesting how something so simple decided life or death. Getting a job at the hospital made sense. It was probably the only thing he had ever been passionate about.
'Coincidence? Maybe,' he thought while running his hand across his jawline.
He opened his status again to see what had changed.
[
NAME: Silas Creed
AGE: 28
RACE: Sanguine
VARIANT: ORIGIN VAMPYR [New-Born]
HUNGER: 10%
POWER: Mid Rank 1 (0%)
]
"Variant," he repeated under his breath. It meant there were others like him, different breeds or categories of the same species. The "New-Born" label made it clear he was just at the start.
He noticed his power rank had increased. Before, it said Low Rank 1. Now it showed Mid. He thought about how games and novels worked.
There were usually small steps inside each rank. The obvious breakdown was Low, Mid, High, and maybe Peak. It wasn't confirmed, but it made sense.
'So I got stronger just from choosing my type,' he thought. That wasn't a bad deal.
He stared at the percentage next to his rank. It was zero now despite the increase.
That meant he would need to earn the next breakthrough through action, training, or blood. He wondered how many ranks there were in total and where the ceiling of something like him would be.
Silas scrolled further until he reached the tab labeled Abilities.
[Abilities]
[Innate Abilities / Trait]
• Supreme Immortal Body
• Apex Physicality
• Sanguine Sense
• Sanguine Form [Locked]
• Familiar Form
• Blood Manipulation
• Mesmeric Presence
• Ability Scribe
• Blood Bank
Blood Abilities(Skills): N/A
Abilities Scribed: N/A
[Skills/Profession]
[Curses / Weaknesses]
He read through everything and allowed himself a small smile. The abilities were unlocked now. Before, the list had been sealed, and seeing them available made this transformation finally feel real.
He didn't want to wait. He tapped the first ability.
[Supreme Immortal Body: You do not age and are immune to all mortal diseases and poisons. Your flesh knits together with terrifying speed. Superficial wounds close in seconds; deeper injuries require the expenditure of Vitae.]
He exhaled with a grin. "So not one apple a day keeps the doctor away… but one bag of blood a day does," he muttered. Then he shook his head. "That needs work."
The benefit was clear. He could still die if someone killed him directly, but illness and natural decay were out of the picture. That alone put him above anything human.
Well… it does say mortal illness and poison, he thought. If there's immortal poison or disease, I'm screwed.
He checked the next ability.
[Apex Physicality: Your strength, speed, and reflexes are superhuman. You can lift a carriage, outrun a galloping horse, and perceive the flutter of a moth's wings in a pitch-black room. (Can hold your own against those two minor realms higher than you.)]
He nodded as he read. This matched exactly how he felt. And the additional comment made his mind spin.
"So there are others out there who are strong like me," he said quietly. The existence of "realms" suggested his power wasn't unique. Someone, somewhere, could be stronger.
He scrolled down.
[Sanguine Sense: You can hear the heartbeat of a mortal across a crowded plaza and smell the unique scent of their blood, discerning their health, lineage, and emotional state (fear, lust, anger).]
He paused. "Lineage?" he whispered.
He pictured himself walking up to someone and saying 'Hey, your parents were related.' He snorted.
The ability was impressive, but it came with some wierd abilities... not that he was complaining.
The next one was frustrating.
[Sanguine Form: Locked.]
There was no description or hint attached. It had to be powerful. Transformations always were. He wondered what shape it would take, and what "unlocking" required.
He kept reading.
[Familiar Form: Choose an animal. This animal you will be able to shapeshift into at will, and that animal will always feel familiarity toward you. For example: choose a wolf, you can transform into one, and wolves naturally accept your presence. (You can only choose one animal forever.)]
Now this opened possibilities. If he was ever cornered or needed to disappear fast, turning into something small and quick could save him. Or something deadly if he needed a fight. It wasn't urgent, so he decided to think hard before choosing.
Then came the one that immediately caught his interest.
[Blood Manipulation: You have innate and reflexive control over blood and the vitae within your own body. You can cause blood to boil, harden, or move like a living creature. Your blood is a weapon. The only limits are your control and creativity.]
His fingers twitched with excitement as he read.
This was his field. Blood had been his job, his interest, and now his power. He didn't care if that sounded weird before, now it was his survival. The idea that his creativity shaped his combat ability sent a rush of anticipation through him.
He continued.
[Mesmeric Presence: Your existence is compelling and unnerving. Mortals find you difficult to ignore. Their will weakens around you, making them more likely to follow your suggestions.]
He blinked slowly. That explained why vampires in stories could lure people in. Did that mean he looked better now? Maybe not unbelievably attractive, but enough to draw attention without trying.
It also meant he could influence people if needed.
He opened his mouth and then closed it. He knew exactly where his thoughts were going. Using this to convince people to let him feed…
He rubbed his forehead. "I'm not that kind of person," he whispered.
But the thought had come naturally. Too naturally.
'Is this transformation changing me?'he wondered.
He sighed and rested his head against the wall for a moment. He would have to watch himself. Power was only dangerous when someone forgot why they needed it.
He scrolled down to the next ability.