The city of Seoul had transformed before Do-hyun's eyes. Thanks to [Vampire Sense], the ordinary world he knew had given way to a parallel reality populated by scarlet auras. The colors had faded, replaced by shades of gray, but each living being now emitted a distinctive glow.
The aura of humans: soft bluish lights, some more intense than others - probably Bloodline users.
The aura of vampires: sinister red pulses, some weak as candles, others as bright as headlights.
[System: Confirmed target]
[Low level vampire - distance: 200 meters]
[Recommendation: A FURTIVE approach]
Do-hyun clenched his fists, feeling his heart beating at a break. "Furtive... easy to say," he whispered as he slipped into the shadow of a building.
It followed the red aura through the alleys of Jongno-gu, its system interface projecting a luminous path to the ground. Each step seemed amplified in the nocturnal silence. He passed bustling bars, couples hand in hand, office workers coming home late - all unaware of the predator hiding among them.
[Distance: 100 meters]
[Blood energy: 9/10]
"Blood energy is already falling?" Do-hyun worried.
[Affirmative]. Vampire SENSE CONSUMES 1 point EVERY 10 minutes
[Tip: Complete the hunt quickly]
Do-hyun turned to the corner of a dark alley and saw him.
The vampire was younger than he had imagined - perhaps in his twenties. Dressed in jeans and a blazer, he could have passed for an ordinary student if it weren't for his barely visible red eyes in the dark and the scarlet aura that enveloped him.
The creature was bent over a young woman who was half unconscious, her fangs already stuck in her neck.
"Let her go!" Do-hyun shouted, emerging from the shadows.
The vampire raised his head, surprised. A trickle of blood flowed down his chin. "What is...? An ordinary human?" He laughed, a hoarse and unpleasant sound. "Are you trying to die?"
[System: Target Analysis]
[Name: Unknown]
[Vampire level: 2]
[threat: moderate]
[Weakness detected: Heart]
Do-hyun felt his legs tremble, but a calm voice in his mind guided him.
[Use element of surprise]
[Attack now]
"I'm not ordinary," Do-hyun replied, taking a defensive stance. His hands began to shine with a faint golden glow as the system activated its basic combat abilities.
The vampire dropped the woman and rushed to Do-hyun with supernatural speed. "You're going to regret meddling in my business!"
Time seemed to slow down. The system interface became brighter, plotting the vampire's attack trajectory in real time.
[Recommended esquive: LEFT]
[Counterattack: weak right-hand side]
Do-hyun dived to the side at the precise moment, narrowly avoiding the claws that lacerated the air where his head was a second earlier. He pivoted and struck with all his might, feeling his joints hit the vampire's ribs.
The shock was more intense than he had anticipated. The vampire grunted in pain and stepped back in shock.
"Impossible!" The creature exclaimed. "Your strength... you don't have a Bloodline!"
[Target: Slightly injured]
[Blood energy: 8/10]
The battle intensified. Do-hyun discovered that the system provided him with much more than just an interface - he improved his reflexes, anticipated his opponent's movements, and provided him with real-time combat patterns.
[New skill unblocked: fighting instinct]
[Level: ★]
[Effect: +10% accuracy in combat]
"Concentrate, host," warns the system. "The vampire becomes more dangerous when he is injured."
The creature had actually changed. His red eyes were now shining with a deadly glow, and his nails had lengthened in sharp claws.
"No matter what you are," the vampire scolded, "you're going to die!"
He charged again, but this time, Do-hyun was prepared. The system projected several possible attack trajectories, highlighting the most likely one in gold.
[REDACTIVE: ROUMENT ON THE RIGHT]
[Counterattack: Target neck]
Do-hyun performed the movements with a precision he did not know he possessed. He rolled under the vampire's attack and stood up behind him, hitting the creature's neck with the edge of his hand.
The vampire collapsed while coughing, temporarily disoriented.
[Target: stunned]
[Recommendation: Final attack]
"Now!" The voice of the system cried in his mind.
But Do-hyun hesitated. Killing a creature that looked so much like a human... even a vampire...
This hesitation cost him dearly. The vampire took advantage of his uncertainty to launch a surprise attack, his claws tearing Do-hyun's arm.
[Injury received!]
[PV: 18/25]
[Statute: light bleeding]
The pain was intense, but it also brought a strange clarity. Do-hyun suddenly understood - there was no room for hesitation in this new world.
With a cry of determination, Do-hyun rushed forward. The system had detected an opening in the vampire's defense, highlighting the creature's heart.
[TEMPORARY COMPETENCE UNBlocked: Light Strike]
[Cost: 5 Blood Energy]
[Effect: Double against Vampires]
His hands shone with an intense golden light as he struck the vampire in the chest. The impact was followed by a blinding glow and the creature's piercing cry.
[Target: eliminated]
[EXP +100]
[Higher level]! Level 2 unblocked
The vampire disintegrated into scarlet dust, leaving only his clothes behind.
Do-hyun collapsed on his knees, panting. The pain in his arm was now excruciating, and the adrenaline was beginning to drop.
[New skill unlocked: Lame of Light]
[Quest accomplished: first hunt]
[Reward: Blood Edge now unblocked]
As he looked at the vampire's empty clothes, Do-hyun realized the truth: his life before was over. He was now a hunter, and that first hunt would be just the beginning.
[new quest: Surviving the Night]
[OBJECTIVE: Return to safety at home]
[threat: other vampires detected in the area]
Do-hyun stood up with difficulty, holding his wounded arm. Somewhere in the darkness, he felt other red auras approaching - attracted by the fight or death of their fellow man.
The hunt was over, but the night of terror was just beginning.