Sera was the first to step forward, her eyes wide but steady. "Cid... you sound... different. Stronger. More... everything," she said, her voice a mix of awe and curiosity. Her hand reached out instinctively, brushing his arm as if to confirm he was still real.
Cid chuckled, the deep rumble of his laughter filling the room. "I feel different," he admitted, flexing his fingers and feeling the raw power thrumming beneath his skin. He glanced down at his hands, where faint shadows coiled and writhed like living things, responding to his unspoken command. "But I'm still me. Just... more."
Aria stepped forward next, her usual playful demeanor replaced by something softer, almost reverent. "You look like a walking danger zone," she teased, though her voice wavered slightly. "I mean, seriously, Cid. You're practically radiating 'final boss' vibes right now."
Cindy and Zeph exchanged a glance, their shared bond with Cid humming with new energy. Cindy spoke first, her voice steady but laced with wonder. "We felt it too—the surge in our strength when you evolved. It's like... you're amplifying us just by being here."
Zeph nodded, his quiet demeanor breaking into a rare smile. "You've always been strong, Cid. But this? This is on another level entirely."
Lucy hovered at the edge of the group, her arms crossed but her gaze unwavering. "So what now?" she asked bluntly, cutting through the tension with her usual pragmatism. "You're some kind of super vampire now. What does that even mean?"
Cid turned to her, his new voice carrying an edge of determination that was impossible to ignore. "It means I've got a target now," he said simply. His eyes flickered to the system interface still hovering in the corner of his vision—a reminder of the message about the other Ascendant waiting on the vampire planet.
Cid took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before addressing the group about the mission the System had given him regarding the other Vampire Ascendant and his newfound status as an Ascendant Halfling. "So, the System informed me that there's another Vampire Ascendant out there — an agent of the God of Death, Bazar. To fully evolve into a Full Ascendant, I must defeat him. This is no small task, and it won't just affect me; it'll have profound consequences for all of us."
As he explained the stakes of the mission and his new status, Sera's expression shifted. A jolt of recognition sparked in her eyes as memories from her younger years flooded back. "Ah, I remember now," she spoke, her voice carrying an excited tone. "There were whispers of an extra original vampire created by the God of Death, Bazar, who is the brother of the God of Darkness, Balzura. Apparently, he tried to eliminate the original vampire lords but failed and was severely wounded, forcing him into hiding to grow stronger."
She paused, her gaze drifting momentarily as she gathered her thoughts. "The vampires gave up on pursing him relentlessly, believing that nothing could surpass a Vampire Lord. If he has become an Ascendant, that changes everything. He must have gathered an extraordinary amount of power to reach this level, especially if he managed to evade us for so long. This is not just another enemy; he represents a significant threat and an intriguing puzzle for us to unravel."
The group fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Cid felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation swelling within him. This new opponent would not only test his strength but also challenge everything he believed about the hierarchy of power among vampires.
Sera stepped closer, her brow furrowed in thought. "That other Ascendant—the one controlled by Bazar... You really think you can take him on?"
Cid's lips curled into a faint smile, shadows dancing at the edges of his vision as if answering his unspoken confidence. "I don't think I can," he said calmly, his gravelly voice resonating with quiet certainty. "I know I can."
The room fell silent for a moment as his words sank in. Then Aria broke the tension with a dramatic sigh and a grin. "Well, there goes any chance of us keeping up with you," she said with a wink.
Cid laughed again, the sound like thunder rolling in the distance. "You've always kept up," he replied warmly.
Looking at Lucy Again Cid noticed her Eyes still looked tired and he said let us rest for a bit is there a canteen on this ship we can all go to. Everyone Agreed and left training room and headed for tthe canteen while walking there Cid Decided to check his new system Stats. checking his new stats there were now as follows:
Points Remaining
0 Points Remaining: Indicates that the player has three attribute points left to allocate to various stats.
Attributes
Strength (500): A measure of physical power; affects melee damage and carrying capacity.
Dexterity (500): Influences agility, accuracy, and evasion; higher dexterity may improve critical hit chances.
Magic (MAX+): Represents the character's ability to use magical abilities; affects spell power and effectiveness.
Cunning (500): Relates to stealth and tactical awareness; may enhance critical damage and effectiveness in certain skills.
Willpower (500): Affects mental resilience and stamina; can influence magic resistance and other mental attributes.
Constitution (500): Represents health and endurance; impacts overall health and stamina.
Derived Stats
Fortitude (503): A defensive stat that significantly reduces damage taken.
Critical Chance (503%): The likelihood of landing a critical hit, which deals substantial extra damage.
Magic Resistance (500%): Indicates the character's enhanced ability to resist magical attacks.
Critical Damage (552%): The additional damage dealt when a critical hit occurs, greatly amplifying damage output.
Combat Stats
Damage (570 DPS): Damage per second output, indicating the character's exceptional effectiveness in dealing damage over time.
Attack (611%): Represents the character's overall attack effectiveness or accuracy in hitting targets, ensuring high hit rates.
Defense (570%): Indicates the character's ability to significantly reduce incoming damage, enhancing survivability.
Armor (567): Represents the character's exceptional physical protection from attacks, providing robust defense.
Seeing This shocked Cid he had come such a long way from the frail person he used to be and he had better start acting like it more often. he
opened his magic tab to see if there were any changes. When it opened, a loading-like screen appeared. After it loaded,
The screen flickered, bathing the chamber in a crimson-tinged purple glow that pulsed with raw power. Runes, ancient and unknowable, seemed to writhe just beneath the surface of the display, a testament to the Ascendant's evolution – a half-vampire now utterly consumed by shadow magic. The familiar system font resolved itself, sharper and more menacing than before.
SYSTEM UPDATE: ASCENDANT CLASS - HALF-VAMPIRE EVOLUTION DETECTED
A surge of energy coursed through him, an acknowledgment of his mastery, his descent into the heart of darkness. The words on the screen burned with arcane fire.
SHADOW MAGIC MASTERY CONFIRMED
Then, the inevitable transformation, the culmination of his journey.
VISUAL INTERFACE RECALIBRATION INITIATED...
The wait was almost unbearable, a symphony of crackling energy and whispered promises. Then, finality.
SHADOW MAGIC ABILITIES UNLOCKED:
The list unfolded, each entry a weapon honed to a razor's edge, a reflection of the power he now wielded.
SHADOWFIRE ERUPTION: Engulf the battlefield in void-infused black flames! Silent incineration awaits!
VOID EMBER ORBS: Unleash explosive shadowy projectiles! Disorientation and darkness are your allies!
VEIL OF SHADOWS: Become the shadow! Enhanced stealth and agility, maximum infiltration!
PHANTOM MANIPULATION: Weave illusions from the darkness! Confuse, terrify, and control your enemies!
CHAINS OF THE ABYSS: Bind your foes with dark fire! Escape is impossible!
VOID WINGS: Soar through shadows and void!
SHADOW GLIDE: Phase through reality!
VOID SURGE: Break the sound barrier!
ECLIPSE CLOAK: Vanish mid-flight! Blend into any environment!
MATTER ABSORPTION: Consume projectiles and objects into the void! Impenetrable defense!
RIFTS OF SHADOWS: Teleport through the darkness! Instantaneous movement!
REALITY BENDER: Warp the senses of your enemies! Chaos reigns!
SPECTRAL SUMMONING: Call forth shadow allies! Unleash dark fire upon your foes!
A final warning, etched in ominous red, pulsed with a silent threat.
WARNING: ECLIPSE VEIL POWER CONSUMPTION HIGH. OVERUSE MAY LEAD TO FATIGUE AND REDUCED CONTROL TO CANCEL THIS BECOME A FULL ASCENDANT.
VISUAL INTERFACE COMPLETE: RED-PURPLE GLOW OPTIMIZED.
The system screen shifted to a transparent purplish-red glow, highlighting Cid's Qi and Blood Vampire traits.
Flashback to the day Dee was taken back to the Vampire world.
When Dee was taken back by her older brother, a chilling dread settled in her stomach. It wasn't the prospect of returning to the rigid, ancient society of vampires that terrified her, but the thought of leaving Cid. She had fallen for him, an unregistered vampire, with a fierce, unexpected intensity. Leaving the settlement without a word, she knew, would paint her as a potential traitor in the eyes of the Vampire Council. Those who already resented her, particularly the old guard who bristled at her modern sensibilities, would seize this opportunity to condemn her, despite her royal status as princess.
And then there was Zeph. The werewolf. His scent, lingering on her clothes from their shared time with Cid, would be twisted into evidence of collusion. The accusation of consorting with werewolves, a crime punishable by death, hung heavy in the air.
Her mother, the Queen, a woman of immense power and even greater love, was bound by the very laws she upheld. Protocol demanded Dee's execution on suspicion of treason. The thought of it was a physical blow. Dee clung to the hope that Cid, somehow, would come for her. But the last time she saw him, he was merely a noble, an unregistered one at that, seemingly no match for her brother, a formidable Lord.
Imprisoned, Dee marked the agonizing crawl of days toward her execution. The weight of her fate crushed her. Her mother retreated into seclusion, grief a palpable shroud around her. Her brother, torn between duty and love, visited her every day. He confessed his unease, a nagging feeling that the connection Dee shared with Cid ran deeper than she let on. He pressed her, day after day, until finally, she relented. She told him everything: the adventures, the laughter, the quiet moments of understanding, and the undeniable truth – she had fallen deeply in love. As she spoke, a flicker of something akin to hope ignited within her. She felt a Blink coming with him.
A Blink. The ancient, almost mythical phenomenon of vampire imprinting. A love at first sight, a soul-deep connection forged when a vampire gazes into the eyes of their destined partner. But it was more than that. A Vampire Lord, upon finding his destined Queen, would experience a Blink of unparalleled intensity. A bond that would reshape their world.
Her brother's face transformed as she described the Blink, his eyes widening with realization. "A Blink? You're certain?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Dee nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "I felt it the moment our eyes met. It was like nothing I've ever experienced – as if the universe itself shifted to align us."
Her brother paced the small confines of her cell, running his hands through his hair. "This changes everything, Dee. If he truly experienced a Blink with you, then he's no ordinary vampire. The Council cannot ignore such a sacred bond."
Hope flickered in Dee's chest, but she tampered it down. "He didn't know what it was. He's unregistered, remember? And even if he did, he's just one vampire against the entire settlement."
Her brother stopped pacing, a calculating look crossing his features. "Perhaps. But if what you say is true, if he truly loves you as you love him, he will come for you. And when he does..." He trailed off, lost in thought.
"When he does, what?" Dee pressed.
"When he does, he may surprise us all."
---
In the canteen of the military ship, Cid and his friends gathered around a large table, trays of food before them. The space buzzed with the excited chatter of other students, all discussing the upcoming tournament and speculating about the challenges that awaited them on planet Barrow.
Lucy, despite her exhaustion, managed a small smile as she picked at her food. "The time manipulation in that training room took more out of me than I expected," she admitted. "But it was worth it to see the progress everyone's made."
Aria nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the crowded canteen. "The other students have no idea what they're up against. Our team has had centuries of training in just a few hours."
Zeph, wolfing down his third plate of food, grinned. "I feel like I could take on an army right now. That time in the VR pods was... intense."
Cindy, sitting close to Cid, nodded. "I've mastered techniques that would have taken me years to perfect otherwise. Lucy, you're a genius."
Lucy blushed at the praise, but her tired eyes betrayed her exhaustion. "Just don't push yourselves too hard. The body might not age in those rooms, but the mind still experiences the strain."
Cid, who had been quietly observing his friends, finally spoke, his new voice drawing curious glances from nearby tables. "After we rescue Dee, we need to find this other Ascendant. If what Sera says is true, he could pose a threat to everything we've been working toward."
Sera, disguised in her human form, leaned forward. "The agent of Bazar will not be easily defeated, Cid. He has had millennia to hone his skills…
"I will defeat him!" Cid declared, his voice resonating with a newfound confidence and authority that compelled Sera to fall silent. As they conversed, Cid discreetly employed his inspect skill on the gang. Now that he was a half-ascendant, this skill had leveled up significantly, allowing him to perceive their strengths and weaknesses with greater clarity and detail. He could discern not only their current capabilities but also the potential paths for their improvement. Determined to aid them, he resolved to share his insights with each member. When they returned to the room after their rest, they would have a clear understanding of what to focus on to enhance their skills