Kite sat in silence.
The crypt was long behind him, the stone halls and blood-carved symbols already fading from his sight. But in his mind, they echoed louder than ever. His system felt... different now.
Alive.
The interface pulsed in the air above his palm like a heartbeat, sharper than before.
[Crimson Ascension System – Sovereign Thread Initiated]
Legacy Recognition Confirmed
Host: Kite Nocturne
Species: Lesser Vampire (Primordial Bloodline)
Class: Unassigned
Rank: F
Bloodline Status: 1.2% Awakened
STATISTICS – Viewable (Veilbreaker Enabled)
The system unfolded like glass panels rotating in the void, displaying what it had previously hidden.
[Core Attributes]
Strength – 5
Agility – 6
Vitality – 5
Intellect – 6
Charisma – 4
Qi Control – 6
Bloodlust – 2
Bloodline Depth – 1.2%
Unspent Stat Points: 3
(Gained through Blood XP milestones, evolution events, and unique system triggers)
Bloodlust.
Kite stared at the word for a long time. It wasn't something anyone ever talked about, even in the theory lectures.
"What the hell is it?"
[Bloodlust – Governs your affinity for blood-based combat, predatory instinct, and resonance with bloodline skills. Increases passive pressure against enemies, chance to unlock advanced skills, and ritual synergy. Excessive growth may induce violent behavior.]
Warning: Currently stable.
Stable. For now.
The air felt colder as he processed the implications. Was that why Lilith sensed something in him? Was this what the bloodline echoes warned about?
He swiped to the next panel.
[Traits]
Veilbreaker (Passive) – Allows the host to see through sealed interfaces, illusions, and incomplete data.Fledgling of the Crimson Pact – Title that unlocks growth scaling unique to Primordial vampires.One Who Defies the Script – Passive boost to resistance against system interference and fate-aligned events.
[Titles Available]
Survivor of the Fang TrialFirst Blood TakerObserver of the CryptOne Who Defies the Script
[Crimson Evolution: Locked]
Next Trial at 5.0% Bloodline
Class Selection Available at Evolution Trial (Choose 1):
Blood ReaverCrimson ShadeBloodforged Ascendant
He sat quietly, letting the glow of the system cast shifting red shadows against the dormitory wall. Outside, the moon was a pale smear behind clouds.
He breathed slowly.
"...I'm building something no one else can see."
He remembered what the echo said: "Only those who devour their fate can ascend."
And Lilith's words, sharp and cutting: "When it breaks you, I want to be there to see who crawls back."
He clenched his fists.
"I won't break."
[Would you like to allocate Stat Points now?]
Kite nodded. "Yeah."
He placed 1 point into Strength, 1 into Qi Control, and—after a long pause—1 into Bloodlust.
[Stat Allocation Confirmed]
Strength: 6
Qi Control: 7
Bloodlust: 3
New Threshold Reached – Passive Effect Unlocked:
Predator's Glare Lv.1 – Minor suppression effect on weaker beings. Resistance against fear-based attacks increased.
A strange warmth pulsed through his spine. His heart beat once—louder than usual.
And for a moment, his reflection on the glass of the dorm window… wasn't him. Not exactly.
Something older stared back.
Then it was gone.
The next morning, Kite arrived at class early.
The others filed in slowly. Some bruised. Some still arrogant. The atmosphere had shifted since the simulation trial. There were fewer jokes now. More guarded glances.
He sat in his usual middle seat.
Valen entered with a small entourage and offered him a glance. Calculated. Measuring.
Lilith came in next.
Their eyes met.
No words passed between them. But the tension was unmistakable.
She felt it, too.
Professor Veyron entered with the same predatory silence as always. His crimson robes whispered across the stone floor.
"Tomorrow," he said. "Your first group battle trial begins."
The class went dead silent.
He waved a black-gloved hand.
A floating crystalline tablet spun into view above the class, glowing with names.
[PAIRINGS ASSIGNED]
KITE NOCTURNE — LILITH NOIRE
Gasps. Murmurs. Even Valen's eyes widened—just briefly—before narrowing with rage.
Lilith didn't react.
But her gaze turned to Kite. Brief. Focused.
As if to say: Be ready.
[New Link Event Registered: Dual Trial Initiation – Lilith Noire & Kite Nocturne]
Bloodline Echo Probability: 17%
Affinity Link Strength: Moderate
Outcome: Unknown