'Yep, he's crazy. I shouldn't have followed him into this forest!'
There were too many variables in what the pale man wanted Kai to do. Destroy the Starla family; why not go straight for the royal family?
'Actually, they didn't go against Enta Starla from what this Vampire said. Maybe, but I don't plan to show myself either, so they can't offer me a noble position.'
If Kai showed himself, he would be opening his arms and welcoming death, yet if he didn't, it could potentially cause even more panic throughout the continent. How would the other noble families react if word got out that the Starla family was destroyed in a single night?
At best, they would pretend it didn't happen and deny it, or they could put a lockdown on their cities and towns, causing even more panic.
Although Kai didn't care about the aftermath, it would be troublesome if the higher-tier dungeons were locked up because of it.
"Three questions. Why do you want me to destroy the Starla family? How exactly do you plan on making me a hybrid? And lastly, why don't you do it yourself?"
If the Vampire wouldn't even answer these questions, there was no way Kai could go along with his plan.
Jumping off a rock, the Vampire sighed, "It's only natural you want some answers. Your first and last questions are tied together. You see, long ago, when I was young, I fell in love with a girl. Her kindness knew no bounds; her smile melted the ice around my heart. Her name was Alice Monglate."
His reasoning shocked Kai; he didn't think the old Vampire knew love and certainly didn't believe that was the reason he hated the Starla family. But he knew that wasn't all.
"Back then, I wasn't what I am today. Believe it or not, I was quite the ladies' man, haha." He chuckled.
"We were in love, and everything seemed perfect, but it didn't last long. Enta Starla was an up-and-coming adventurer, and I, too, was known for my strength. One day Enta used dark magic to control Alice and made her ask me to make a soul pact. I thought it was weird, but I couldn't deny her, so I did it. I made a soul pact to never harm the Starla family. I was young and a fool."
...
The two walked through the dense, green forest in silence. Kai was processing everything he was told.
'Love really does make one blind, huh?'
'To think he had such a past.'
But one part didn't make sense to Kai.
"What is a soul pact?"
The Vampire was slightly caught off guard, "You really lack common knowledge."
Feeling Kai's unwavering gaze on his back, the Vampire coughed.
"A soul pact binds your soul to a certain thing. In my case, my soul is bound to 'Never harm a member of the Starla family.' If I even think of laying a finger on a member of the Starla family with bad intentions, I'll get dizzy and have an excruciating pain in my stomach, like I'm going to explode. If, for some reason, I can fight through the deathly pain and touch a member of the Starla family with bad intentions, my soul will explode, killing me. This works with almost anything, so never make a soul pact, no matter who tells you to."
Nodding, Kai seemed to understand it; although he would never know if the Vampire in front of him was lying, his gut told him he wasn't. He didn't trust the Vampire, but if he could get something from this, he reasoned it wouldn't be that bad.
If he could become a hybrid beast, then who knows how strong he would be. Not only would he become the first known hybrid but also get a harvesting ground, the Starla family. He had nothing against them, but the thought of 'Why didn't they help Nightmare City' kept popping up.
If nobles were there to protect and govern their respective cities and towns, then who was supposed to be taking care of Nightmare City? Perhaps the Vampire would know.
"So let me see if I have it right. After Enta made Alice get you to make a soul pact, he killed her and the Monglate family. But why didn't he just kill you? Why go through the trouble of making you create a soul pact?"
The Vampire's shoulders slumped, "He couldn't; I was stronger. But that's not all. Enta and I were childhood friends, but he grew jealous of me, saying, 'I have everything.' Eventually, his jealousy and hatred grew to the point where he swore; 'I'll take everything from you'.
"So that's how it is. Anyway, I know why you want me to destroy the Starla family, but what tier do I need to be to do that? Also, how exactly are you planning on making me a hybrid?"
"That depends on how the hybrid evolution goes. Enta was a beginner tier:3 when he overtook the Monglate family. It's only because he attacked from the inside he was able to win. Although most middle-class noble families have at least one tier:4, the Starla family doesn't. Enta, the strongest is a late-tier:3. After he became a noble, all the power went to his head, and he stopped going into dungeons and leveling up."
"If the evolution goes as I plan, then you'll only need to be around mid-tier:3 to completely crush them."
"Do you plan on helping me go through tier:2 completely?"
"Of course, and your tier:3 evolution will be even more extraordinary! But let's focus on tier:2 first."
Kai nodded, with how the Vampire spoke, Kai thought at least 50 years had passed since the rise of the Starla family. If that's the case, he couldn't imagine not going up a tier in 50 years!
'Maybe this Enta is that crazy.'
"As to how I'll make you a hybrid, well, that's a bit tricky. Once you reach the level required, we'll have to find an isolated cave and bring certain items. Items that resemble Werewolves and Vampires, like their teeth, pelt, and so on. We'll both have to [Shapeshift] into our beast forms before you look at your evolutions. The system takes in your surroundings, so if it's filled with materials of Werewolves and Vampires, and your desire is strong enough, you should get the hybrid option."
Nodding, it made some sense to him. After all, he desired strength and evolved next to a wolf boss, so he was given the option of 'Werewolf.'
Even if he didn't get a hybrid option, whatever he gets should be extraordinary. And with his mutated ability [Death's Embrace], even if Enta is a max tier:3, Kai still had a good chance at winning.
"If it's that simple, how come others haven't done it?"
If that was all it took, then Kai couldn't believe he would be the only hybrid.
"They do."
'?'
'I mean, it makes sense that others can do it, but what makes this Vampire think I could take on the entire Starla family? They've probably done these multiple times.
"How do you think high-class families stay at the top? Why do you think all the nobles fear the royal family? It's because they all do this, just to different degrees. The presence of a tier:4 would significantly boost the evolution options of a tier:1, yet it mostly depends on the individual. The system knows you better than you know yourself; it won't give you an option that surpasses what you can do. The system wouldn't give you wings if it didn't believe you could fly. Yes, you could have all the resources at your disposal, but if your talent wasn't good enough, if your will and desire wasn't strong enough, then it would all be for not."
'..'
'Wow, he really does know how to use his words.'
'But he does bring up a good point; after all, what is a sword to a Caterpillar with no arms to use it?'
~Crunch~
Stepping on a yellow bush, it brought Kai out of his thoughts.
The forest was pitch black, yet he could still see.
'Is this part of my racial abilities?'
"Do you now believe me?"
"I can't say for sure, but I believe some of what you've told me."
"Haha, that's what I expected."
"So, do you still want my blood?"
"..."
The Vampire stopped walking and turned around, staring into Kai's eyes.
"Are you offering?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sigh, never mind, we should head back."
Turning around, Kai started walking the path back toward the camp. He didn't want to be in this forest with the Vampire any longer.
With a defeated look, the Vampire followed Kai.
"You never answered me. Will you accept and become the first ever hybrid and crush the Starla family."
Kai chose not to answer right away but instead thought about it. If he said yes, he could potentially gain unfathomable power, but at the cost of an entire family. Or say no, and risk angering the Vampire and having no plan to grow stronger besides fighting in dungeons.
"You're pretty old, right? Do you know about hand-to-hand combat?"
~Thud~
Kicking the bark of a tree, the Vampire responded, "Aged! Not old. Like a fine wine, got it? And yes, I do know some martial arts."
Smirking, Kai noted not to call him old again, "I'll agree, but you'll have to teach me some martial arts."
"Haha. Did you think I wouldn't teach you? I'll tortu- I mean train you till I'm satisfied, haha." The ol- aged vampire cackled.
'Oh, I should have guessed that.'
30 minutes later, the Werewolf and Vampire duo arrived back at the little campfire to see the small family had already gone to bed inside the carriage.
"What was it like, talking to a Vampire? Did he suck your blood? Where did he suck your blood at?!"
Instantly, Kai was bombarded with questions from Rathal, while the others only smiled wryly.
Atar, the Vampire, went inside the carriage, only leaving Kai, 'Dream Walkers', and the two coachmen.
Sitting down, Kai decided to answer some of their questions, yet not truthfully.
"No, he didn't suck my blood. And it was kinda cool talking to him; he mostly just wanted to know how I became a tier:1. He only said I looked tasty to scare me; it seems like he likes playing jokes, so be careful."
Rathal had stars in his eyes and wanted to ask another set of questions, while the rest of 'Dream Walkers' nodded, listening.
'This is gonna be a long night.'