The overpowering stench of blood, so thick it stung deep into his nostrils, assaulted him violently.
Agonizing screams still pierced his eardrums relentlessly, interspersed with the roars of demons and the periodic rumble of collapsing structures, shattering the dreadful silence of the narrow alley—now no different from a slaughterhouse.
Murky gray smoke billowed, obscuring his vision, revealing only faint silhouettes of crumbled ruins and gruesome piles of human corpses. Severed limbs lay scattered about, intestines spilled from crushed torsos, and eyes, wide with pre-mortal terror, stared blankly at the dim, overcast sky.
A young, black-haired boy in clothes stained with blood and mud leaned against a cold stone wall. His chest heaved violently as if every breath required immense effort.
One small hand clutched his side, where the twisted flesh revealed the sharp edges of broken ribs. His pale, slender face was contorted in extreme pain, but even more surprising was the look of utter bewilderment in his eyes.
His fine brows furrowed tightly, unsure if it was from the pain searing through his body or the sheer shock of the situation he had awakened to.
"Where… where am I…" James mumbled, the voice that escaped his lips was hoarse and high-pitched, completely alien to him. He tried to lift his other hand to look at it. It was a small hand… far too small, pale and scraped, not the calloused, muscular hand of a thirty-year-old man like himself.
This body… whose is it? This is clearly the body of a teenager! The thought shot through his mind, a chilling cold gripping his heart.
His last memory was of a noisy pub, dim lights mingling with thundering music. He was celebrating a major project's success with his colleagues—laughing, having fun, drinking… drinking until he was completely wasted. And after that… there was only darkness. When he opened his eyes again, he had woken up in this living hell.
Suddenly, a flood of memories not his own burst through his mind like a breaking dam. It was violent and agonizing, like having his soul ripped out. Images of a young boy… no, images of himself in this body…
Lime… a fourteen-year-old boy. His once bright, dark eyes were now dimmed by loss. The image of his warm family—father, mother, and little sister—being torn to shreds before his very eyes by a horrifying demon.
James saw only a glimpse of blood-soaked black claws and crimson eyes blazing with madness. The stench of blood and Lime's overwhelming sense of loss exploded within James's mind, nearly driving him insane. An unventable rage erupted.
The final image was of a desperate Lime, grabbing a sword from a dead soldier's body before everything went black, a searing pain at his side… the exact same spot where he was feeling excruciating pain right now.
"What the hell is this…" James cursed, his voice trembling. Lime's memories were packed into his head as if they were his own. He wasn't just dreaming… he had truly become this boy named Lime. A boy who had just died from recklessness and vengeance.
The pain from his ribs and the headache from the overwhelming influx of information nearly made James pass out again. He struggled to focus, to make sense of what was happening.
"Did I… get transported to another world?" The thought popped into his head. As unbelievable as a plot from a fantasy novel he'd read to pass the time, the situation before him was too cruel and surreal to be just a nightmare.
BOOM!
A violent impact shook the ground again, not far from him. Debris and dust flew everywhere. James flinched, his survival instincts screaming at him to drag his weary body into the recess of a half-demolished building.
The pain from his side made him let out a soft groan, but right now, the physical agony seemed insignificant compared to the horrifying scene he witnessed through a small crack.
People were running for their lives in chaos. Screams of terror and despair echoed all around. The cause of the turmoil was a horde of disgusting demons.
They weren't just "ugly and scary" as he had initially thought; they were the very embodiment of nightmares crawled out from the depths of hell.
Some were emaciated like walking skeletons, their skin scorched black, their hollow eye sockets glowing with a sinister red light. They moved on four twisted limbs with unnatural speed, pouncing on fallen villagers. Their maws, stretching to their ears and lined with multiple rows of sharp teeth, tore human bodies apart with ease.
The sound of flesh and bone being crunched was sickening. Others were bloated, their skin a slimy, dark green, with sharp spines protruding from their backs. They used long tongues to snatch victims, dragging them into their mouths and swallowing them whole, ignoring their pitiful cries for mercy.
James turned his face away in utter disgust, but the image was seared into his memory. He looked in another direction and saw the hopeless struggle of a group of human soldiers. They were vastly outnumbered.
A disproportionately twisted demon, over three meters tall, its skin as coarse as blackened bark, flexed muscles that bulged with immense power. Its two arms were so long they dragged on the ground, the ends sharpened into massive blades. With a single sweep of its arm, the soldiers' steel shields and swords were shattered like dry twigs.
The bodies of those brave soldiers were flung in every direction, becoming nothing but piles of meat on the ground, utterly defenseless.
"Fuck… what kind of hell is this?" James blurted out, unable to control himself. His stomach churned, and he felt the urge to vomit, but he could only hold it back. The death and brutality he was witnessing were far beyond what any ordinary person could bear.
As James was sinking into horror and despair at the scene before him, a voice suddenly sounded in his head. It wasn't an external sound, but one that resonated directly in his consciousness. The voice was cold, devoid of any emotion, like that of a machine.
[Primeval Blood Craft System has been bound]
A strange message appeared in his mind, not as visible text, but as an understanding forced directly into his brain.
[New host detected. Bloodline: Common Human] [Bestowing Origin Bloodline: The Void-Born Apex Bloodline]
"Primeval Blood Craft System ? Void-Born Apex Bloodline? What the hell is this now!?" James thought in a panic. Before he could even process or ask any questions, the cold, emotionless voice sounded in his head again, accompanied by a feeling of being scanned by something invisible.
[Warning: Bloodline transition process will commence in 120 seconds. Please prepare.] [Transition Duration: 10 minutes] [Pain Level: Beyond Death]
"What!? No! I don't want it! What kind of damn craft is this? Deny!" James screamed in his mind. He tried to move, to escape this unseen thing, but his body was heavy and still wracked with pain from his wounds. The thought of a bloodline transition…
This is insane! Pros? Cons? And that pain level… beyond death? In a hellscape like this!
But the only response in his head was the same cold indifference.
[Denial not possible. Host, please prepare. Bloodline transition process will begin in 110 seconds.]
No choice! James gritted his teeth in frustration and fear. He glanced at his hiding spot. It was too narrow, too stuffy, and more importantly, too close to the fighting. If those crazy demons came back, or if he screamed in pain during the "process," he would surely die a miserable death.
[Transition will begin in 90 seconds.]
The emotionless countdown in his head made James's heart pound. His breathing became shallow. "I need to find a better place to hide, a safer one!" he muttered to himself, pushing his weak and injured body to stand. A sharp pain shot through his side, nearly causing him to collapse, but he forced himself to endure.
Suddenly! A violent tremor from the street nearly stopped his heart. It came with a stronger stench of blood and a low, familiar-sounding roar…
It's that three-meter-tall demon! It's coming this way!
James had no more time to hesitate. He turned in the other direction, took a deep breath, and with all his might, burst from the crevice, trying to move as quietly as possible.
He ran into the ruins of a large building whose structure was on the verge of total collapse. From the remnants of its architecture and decorations, it was clear this place had once been luxurious.
A large, once-stately oak door now hung ajar, warped and decaying. James paused, listening intently. Hearing no suspicious movements inside, he quickly squeezed through the gap.
[Transition will begin in 10 seconds.]
The voice in his head continued its merciless countdown. Inside, only dim light filtered through holes in the broken roof. He quickly scanned his surroundings, seeing only piles of shattered furniture and rubble. He had no more time to scrutinize anything!
"There!" He saw a recess behind a thick, still-standing wall. It looked dark and safe enough to hide in for a while.
[Countdown complete. Bloodline transition process initiating.]
As the cold voice faded, an unimaginable pain erupted from every cell of his body.
James collapsed to his knees. The agony shot up his spine as if a thousand red-hot needles were being hammered into every vertebra simultaneously. It spread rapidly to his brain, brutally tearing at his consciousness until he could no longer control any part of his body.
"ARGHHHHHHH!!"
A scream ripped from his throat, impossible to suppress. His body convulsed violently as if being shocked by a high-voltage current.
His blood boiled like lava coursing through every vessel, every tendon, every muscle, as if they were being torn apart piece by piece and then mercilessly stitched back together, over and over again.
He tried to bite down to stifle his screams, but the pain was beyond what any human could endure. It wasn't just physical; it was a pain that pierced his very soul.
One minute passed. James started to suffocate. His heart beat erratically, threatening to burst from his chest. He could feel the changes happening within his bone marrow, in every organ, in the very structure of his being. It was being reforged, remade.
Two minutes… three minutes…
Sweat drenched his body like he'd been submerged in water. His body temperature soared, his skin turning red, yet he felt an icy chill from within as if he were being frozen solid. James clenched his teeth so hard that the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. His thoughts began to blur, his consciousness on the verge of fading completely.
"Better… to be dead…" a barely audible whisper escaped his bloodied lips.
Four minutes… something started to change. He felt a strange pull from within, as if his blood vessels were no longer just conduits for fluid but had become "alive," silently and hungrily consuming his original human blood.
Five minutes…
Thump… scrape… thud… thud…
The heavy footsteps of a massive demon drew closer, accompanied by the sound of something being dragged across the ground and a foul, nauseating stench of rotting blood.
James's eyes shot open, even as he lay curled on the floor in agony. His screams instantly fell silent. A raw, primal survival instinct had awakened, surprisingly overpowering the pain.
His body still trembled, but no longer just from the pain. It was from the fear now creeping into his heart.
A demon…!
He tried to hold his breath, to be as silent as possible, pressing his hand against the floor, struggling to wipe the sweat from his eyes.
[Time remaining: 4 minutes 59 seconds]
The voice in his head continued its impassive countdown. The half-broken main door of the building creaked as the demon's massive head slowly squeezed through.
Its head was covered in hard, black scales. A pair of large, crimson eyes glowed like embers, darting around, filled with an undisguised bloodlust. Its nose was wide and flat, twitching as if trying to sniff out hidden prey.
Its signature foul odor was so strong it stung James's nose. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to explode, as the creature's massive shadow moved past the crack in the wall he was using for cover.
Don't… don't come in here… James prayed silently. In his current state of transformation and extreme weakness, if it found him, death was the only thing awaiting him.
As if by a miracle, or perhaps because the scent of blood and corpses outside was stronger, the demon retracted its head. It let out a low, frustrated growl before its heavy footsteps slowly passed by the front of the building. Its foul stench lingered in the air long after it was gone.
[Time remaining: 3 minutes]
James nearly collapsed again as the tension eased. A second wave of pain crashed over him like a tidal wave. The feeling of his entire body being pulled apart continued relentlessly. His body twitched from the indescribable torment. He was on the brink of unconsciousness with every passing second.
[60 seconds remaining]
And then, everything began to calm… The intense pain slowly subsided. It didn't disappear instantly but seemed to be absorbed into the depths of the newly born bloodline.
[Bloodline transition complete.]
It was as if the world stood still for a moment. James gasped for breath, his body soaked in sweat, his lips still crusted with blood. And yet… everything had changed.
He slowly opened his eyes. His jet-black irises reflected the dim light filtering through the roof with superhuman clarity.
The world around him, once murky, now revealed details even in the darkest shadows. His senses were astonishingly sharp. He could hear the faint breathing of a demon still lingering a dozen meters away, even the distant buzzing of an insect was as clear as if it were right next to him.
He raised a hand to his side, where his ribs had been shattered… The wound was gone. Not even a bruise or a trace of pain remained, as if it had never happened.
"This is…" James murmured to himself, an incredible feeling welling up in his chest. His body was not only healed from its severe injuries but also felt lighter, more agile, and steadier than ever before.
It wasn't just his physical strength that had increased. Deep within his bloodstream, in every fiber of his being, he could perceive something foreign yet powerful. It was an energy that lay dormant… but he could feel that it was "real" and ready to be awakened.
Suddenly, a sound cut through the clamor of destruction from outside. It was closer… and more unsettling. A low, bestial growl, followed by the sound of desperate scrabbling.
And then… a short scream, abruptly cut off.
James's heart skipped a beat. Some instinct urged him to find out what was happening. Despite his terror, the need to assess the threats around him was greater.
He moved slowly, as silently as possible, inching his head towards a large crack in the wall that offered a view of the main hall outside.
The sight before him sent a chill colder than the air outside down his spine. An unfortunate villager, thin and dressed in rags, was being pinned to the floor by a demon.
It wasn't the three-meter-tall demon he had seen earlier, but a human-sized one. Its body was so emaciated that its ribs protruded. Its skin was a dry, dark green, like a toad's. Its large, round, murky-yellow eyes were fixed on its prey with a crazed bloodlust. Its limbs were disproportionately long, with sharp black claws extending from its fingertips.
Most horrifying was its gaping maw, revealing a long, flexible, dark purple tongue. It was flicking its tongue, greedily licking the blood seeping from the man's wounds. Then, it opened its mouth wider… and sank its teeth into the victim's neck.
As the demon tore at the poor man's flesh, its claws scrabbling wildly and its body trembling with the ecstasy of tasting fresh blood, an unseen but palpable malevolent energy radiated from it. James stared, his eyes wide. Panic, disgust, and fear crashed into him, and in that very second, the Void-Born Apex Bloodline within him erupted!
A strange overlay of information superimposed itself upon his vision, clearer than ever before:
[Bloodline Detected] Name: Gourmand-Tongue Demon Bloodline Sequence: Special Bloodline – Demonic Servant Awakening Level: 1 – Fused Strengths: Powerful Tongue, High-Speed Melee Attack, Excellent Blood Scent Weaknesses: Low Durability, Vulnerable to Direct Sunlight, Low Intelligence Evolution Potential: Very Low ::
James's eyes widened even further in stunned disbelief. This… this is the power of the Void-Born Apex Bloodline?
The ability to see information about other living beings!
Awe at his newfound power mixed with the horror of the brutal slaughter before him, and a chill ran down his spine as he saw the "data" of the Gourmand-Tongue Demon. It clearly spelled out its danger.
Despite its weaknesses, its strengths were terrifying enough to kill a person with ease.
He knew instantly that this power was invaluable for survival in this cruel world. But at the same time, the information reinforced a frightening truth… he was still too weak, even compared to this low-level demon. The feeling that his newfound power might not be enough to save him from everything was clearer than ever.
James's feeling at this moment was one of extreme caution and alarm at the unfamiliar environment.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the fear that still gripped his heart. He felt like he was standing in a dense forest on a moonless night, surrounded by the unseen eyes of predators staring at him with greedy hunger.
This new power he had received might guide him to survival in some situations, but it was definitely not enough to help him escape everything in this brutal world.
And this world—it was nothing like the one he had known.
His path of blood had just begun, amidst the ruins and a terror that still clutched at his heart.
:End of Prologue: