Chương 504: The Beast Awakens

[Vampiric Bite II (Ancient)]: Your Vampiric Bite grows stronger. When you sink your fangs into a living target, the bite stabilizes with predatory precision: the fangs pierce more easily, allowing you to drain blood faster and more efficiently while simultaneously converting it into vitality to restore your body. The enhanced bite also allows you to absorb 10% more Blood Energy than the previous version. (Warning: This skill advances you along the Path of the Vampire.) [Vampiric Beast Devour (Ancient)]: The Beast within you begins to awaken, granting the power of Beast Devouring. Your Bloodline expands your capacity to feed. Now, when you drain the blood of Magical Beasts, that vital fluid is converted into Blood Energy, strengthening your Blood Core and easing your Vampiric Hunger even more efficiently than Vampiric Bite. In addition, the ferocity inside you answers the call.

By devouring parts of living enemies, your Beast extracts fragments of vitality and essence, which also generate Blood Energy. Beast Devour not only nourishes your body, it sharpens your instincts, fuels your predatory nature, and pushes your Vampiric Bloodline into a wilder state. Let the Beast within you grow stronger. Answer the call of your blood and walk the path of ferocity. (Warning: This skill is required to advance along the Path of the Vampiric Beast.) Luke studied her for a moment before speaking.

"The skills already hint at it. Choosing between them will shape your path as a vampire. So… what kind of vampire do you want to be?"

"A vampire who can help you in battle."

"It's still not exactly your own goal," he murmured, thoughtful.

"And these skills are less about combat and more about feeding habits." Even so, a bite was still a weapon.

"If I choose Vampiric Beast Devour, I'll be able to expand the ways I feed," she said quietly.

"Master Luke… I know there will come a time when you won't be able to keep making potions. And when that happens, relying only on your blood could become dangerous. Maybe even fatal." Luke glanced back at the skill window. Right now, he spent a thousand HP to give Charlie ten points of Blood Energy. With this upgrade, that value would increase to eleven. A real improvement, but not a dramatic one. That limitation came from his nature, from the fact that he was only half human.

His mind drifted through theories about Blood Energy, Blood Cores, and vampirism itself. Maybe a normal human produced ten Blood Energy for every hundred HP. Maybe, in some cases, the ratio was one to one.

"You're right. This skill might end up solving our problem," he said.

"But if you'd rather not take that path, I can keep relying on potions. Worst case, I buy a farm and grow nothing but healing plants." He reached out and gently tapped her nose.

"If you don't want this, you're free to choose, Charlie."

"I've already made my choice, Master Luke." Her fingertip hovered over the option.

"Are you sure?"

"I am." [Charlotte Vespertilio has acquired the Race Skill: Vampiric Beast Devour] Luke opened Charlie's status interface.

Name: Charlotte Vespertilio Level: 55 Race: Vampire Rank: E Class: [Blood Death Knight (Lvl 65)] 2nd Class: [Black Ash Fighter (Lvl 62] Title: [Servant of the Dark Lord] Bloodline: [Bloodline of Vespertilio] Health Points (HP): 6100/6100 Mana Points (MP): 5110/5110 Stamina: 5290/5290 Blood Core: 6/100 Stats: Strength: 1064 Lethality: 411 Agility: 400 Dexterity: 200 Endurance: 529 Vitality: 610 Toughness: 510 Perception: 335 Wisdom: 511 Intelligence: 210 Willpower: 412 Free Points: 0 Class Skills: [Basic Weapon Handling (Common)], [Heavy Strike (Common)], [Basic Spectral Charge (Rare)], [Crescent Slash (Uncommon)], [Whirlwind Strike (Uncommon)], [Spectral Barrier (Rare)], [Doomblade (Rare)], [Mark of Doom (Rare)], [Force Infusion (Rare)], [Doom Explosion (Rare)], [Spectral Soldier (Ultra-Rare)], [Blood Bat I (Epic)], [Vampire Drain (Ancient)] Second Class Skills: [Advanced Hand-to-Hand (Uncommon)], [Steel Fist (Rare)], [Stunning Punch (Uncommon)], [Battle Roar (Uncommon)], [Concentrated Kick (Uncommon)], [Power Punch (Uncommon)], [Pugilist's Leap (Uncommon)], [Muscle Reading (Uncommon)], [Movement Echo (Uncommon)], [Flame (Common)], [Flame Fist (Rare)], [Flame Aura (Rare)], [Basic Levitation (Ultra-Rare], [Berserker Ashen Flames I (Ultra-Rare)], [Twin Meteor Fists (Epic)] Race Skills: [Demonic Servant Perception (Uncommon)], [Basic Bone Regeneration (Rare)], [Bone Endurance (Rare)], [Iron Bones (Ultra-Rare)], [Night Eyes (Uncommon)], [Blood Sensitivity (Uncommon)], [Enhanced Senses (Uncommon)], [Disease Immunity (Ancient)], [Poison Immunity (Ancient)], [Vampiric Reflexes I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Aura I (Ancient)], [Weak Vampiric Charm I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Leap I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Softfall I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Strength I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Regeneration I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Bite I (Ancient)], [Vampiric Beast Devour (Ancient)] Bloodline Skill: [Path of the Vampiric Beast (Ancient)] Charlie stood stronger than ever, her arsenal of skills pushing her to a level that bordered on overwhelming. And now, she was about to take the next step, crossing into a new kind of power. The Path of the Vampiric Beast carried the potential to raise her above every other vampire bloodline in existence. The group had moved beyond the Spore Forest, stopping in an open stretch near the cave where Layla had once made her camp. They were hunting for beasts, not creatures like ghouls or onis, but the kind classified as Magical Beasts." An oni," Angie murmured. She lifted her spear and hurled it. The weapon punched through the creature's stomach and pinned it in place. Angie sprinted toward it, yanked the spear free, and before the oni could reach for the club lying at its feet, she triggered [Weak Wrath]. Her strikes came faster, heavier, driving the creature back. Channeling [Force Infusion], she thrust upward, the spear piercing beneath its jaw and tearing through bone. [Angie has slain an Oni Soldier – Lvl 36] Luke opened her system interface. Name: Angie Level: 14 Race: Stone Angel Rank: F Class: Valkyrie (Lvl 28) Title: Servant of the Dark Lord Health Points (HP): 1381/1510 Mana Points (MP): 787/1030 Stamina: 1263/1710 Stats: This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Strength: 202 Lethality: 52 Agility: 33 Dexterity: 39 Endurance: 171 Vitality: 151 Toughness: 124 Perception: 46 Wisdom: 103 Intelligence: 35 Willpower: 36 Free Points: 0 Class Skills: [Basic Polearm Handling (Common)], [Spear Throw (Common)], [Battle Roar (Uncommon)], [Battle Instinct (Uncommon)], [Critical Pierce (Uncommon)], [Weak Wrath (Uncommon)], [Valkyrie Charge (Rare)], [Force Infusion (Rare)], [Lesser Valkyrie Healing (Common)] Race Skills: [Demonic Servant Perception (Uncommon)], [Conceal Wings (Ancient)], [Celestial Wings I (Ancient)], [Winged Defense (Ancient)]"There's another one," Charlie said. Angie sprinted across the clearing, weaving between arrows as two oni archers took aim at her. She hurled her spear at one of them, the weapon cutting through the air before burying itself in his chest. The second fired again, but she slipped past the shot, closed the distance, and drove her fist into his jaw. She caught him by the arm, beat her wings, and lifted him off the ground. Once she'd climbed high enough, she spun midair and flung the oni away like dead weight. A heartbeat later, she dropped, letting gravity pull her straight toward the second archer. Just before impact, she triggered [Valkyrie Charge]. The oni was blasted backward and slammed into a tree. Angie retrieved her spear and finished the job. [Angie has slain an Oni Soldier – Lvl 37] [Angie has slain an Oni Soldier – Lvl 37] The [Valkyrie] class of Angie has reached Level 29!" I cleared the trash out of the way," she said as she approached." I'm getting stronger, my lord. Soon I'll be able to stand at the front during the harder battles."" You are. You're far stronger than most class level twenty-nines, especially with the attribute boosts you've been getting." Charlie stood with her eyes closed for a moment. When she opened them, they glowed crimson. She's using Vampiric Aura. I've barely seen her tap into that. [Vampiric Aura I (Ancient)]: In moments of pursuit, the vampire releases a predatory aura capable of intimidating weaker foes or anyone with low mental resistance." I found a beast. It's close," Charlie said. Lulie chirped in agreement. They followed as Charlie broke into a run. Up ahead, a wolf crouched over the half-eaten corpse of a ghoul, lifting its head when it sensed them. [Anomalous Howler - Lvl 15] The creature snarled." All right, Charlie, I'll pin the wolf and—" He didn't finish." Do not stand in my husband's way." Her voice came out rougher, edged with something feral. She shot forward before the wolf could react, seized it by the throat, and smashed it against a tree." You're going to die." Luke watched, stunned. Is it just me… or is she more savage than before? He had never seen her truly slip into hunting mode. [Blood Core: 3/100] The wolf hit the ground hard, dazed. Charlie pinned it beneath both hands, lowered her head, and bared her fangs. For a strange moment, Luke found himself staring at a beautiful blonde woman, graceful, composed, tearing into a throat with the raw brutality of a lion ripping apart a zebra. [+15 Blood Energy] [Blood Core: 18/100] No way. He could hardly believe it. [Charlotte Vespertilio has slain an Anomalous Howler - Lvl 15] The Blood Core counter updated. She had really gained +15 Blood Energy." Charlie, it worked."" Yes." She looked back at him, her face streaked with blood. The scene could have come straight out of a horror film, but he kept that thought to himself." This is incredible."" It's an excellent way for her to feed," Angie said." It's unique to her bloodline, isn't it?"" Yes." A level fifteen wolf had given her more Blood Energy than he ever could. Six more like that, and she'd fill an entire Blood Core, enough to last ten days without feeding. The advantage of the Vespertilio vampires over the others was absurd." Charlie, we need to hunt more beasts," he said. Charlie kept leading them through the forest until they came across a beast around level eighteen. When she fed on it, her Blood Energy rose by twenty-one. [Blood Core: 39/100] They pressed deeper into the woods. Before long, they spotted two monstrous beasts that looked like dogs, only their bodies burned red like raw ember. Luke activated [Corrupted Plant Growth], and twisted roots burst from the ground, coiling around the creatures and locking them in place. [+17 Blood Energy] [+18 Blood Energy] [Blood Core: 74/100] They continued searching, but Luke soon realized Charlie was… selective about what she fed on. He didn't blame her. He would have been too. She refused to drink from worms because she thought they were disgusting. When Luke captured a rabbit for her, she shook her head and said it was too cute to kill. That changed the moment the rabbit lunged forward and bit Luke's finger. Carnivorous rabbit. Charlie's expression shifted instantly. She grabbed the animal, crushed it in her grip, and fed slowly, almost deliberately. When she finished, she hunted down every rabbit in that part of the forest and crushed them one by one beneath her heel until none remained. They moved on, finding only weak beasts for a while, until they finally spotted a wolf. [Blood Core: 93/100]"Charlie, feeding on this one will definitely fill your Blood Core completely."" I… I'd rather not," she whispered." H-husband, I mean… Master Luke." He blinked at her." Why not?"" I'm embarrassed…" She kept her eyes on the ground." Embarrassed?" That only confused him more." When you saw me feeding before… when I lost control… I felt so ashamed. I don't want you to see me like that again."" Charlie, we've gone through life-and-death situations together. You don't have to feel embarrassed."" I still do…"" But you never felt embarrassed drinking my blood. You were practically happy about it." Her cheeks flushed a deep red." T-that's different. Feeding on beasts makes me look like a monster… it isn't… feminine. A wife shouldn't let her husband see her like that." I've watched her decapitate enemies and punch monsters into paste… and this is what she's worried about?" If you turn around, it's fine," she added softly." A-and I want a towel from your storage item. And water… to wash my face afterward."" So, as long as I don't look, there's no problem?" She nodded." What about me?" Angie asked." You can watch."" This is very confusing," Luke muttered." Let the girl have her dignity. Or are you a pervert?" Artemis chimed, mock-serious. You're the last person who should accuse anyone of that. In the end, Charlie fed on the wolf. Luke checked her status. [Blood Core: 100/100]"Ten days. With just a few hours of hunting, you've gathered enough Blood Energy to go ten days without feeding."" I feel different too, Master Luke. I'm completely satisfied. No hunger at all. And my senses… they're sharper." That was what a full Blood Core could do." The power of a Vespertilio really is insane. You can feed on beasts. No other vampire bloodline can." A thought struck him. That meant this was the only vampire lineage capable of living alongside humans. And ironically, it was the one the other bloodlines considered a threat." I have a plan for the next few days," he said." I want to know if you two agree." Before he could explain, a heavy warmth pulsed inside his pocket. He quickly reached in, and an object dropped to the ground. The Tsukumogami no Me. The orb swelled, its shape unfolding as black stone cracked open. Blades emerged. The kukris were finished. And now, his weapon had a living spirit.