Startled, Elliot looked up to see a towering 7-foot Lizardman standing on the rooftop of a nearby building. This Lizardman was unlike any he had ever encountered—extremely muscular, with a massive frame that resembled a tank more than a typical reptilian creature. With a swiftness that defied his size, the Lizardman vanished from the rooftop and reappeared beside Elliot, his imposing aura radiating power and authority.
Despite the intimidating presence of the Lizardman, Elliot, still in his Semi Demonic Vampire Transformation, did not waver. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and he awaited an explanation for the sudden appearance of the lizardwoman's formidable guardian.
Elliot maintained his composure in the face of the towering Lizardman's imposing presence, his crimson eyes locked onto the creature's gaze.
"Elliot this Lizardkin can squash you like a bug," the voice warned, but Elliot remained composed.
"Impressive composure, young man," the Lizardman remarked, acknowledging Elliot's poise.
Elliot chose his words carefully, showing respect while asserting his stance. "It was your daughter who attacked me, Senior. I am merely defending myself," he explained, his voice steady and respectful. Beneath his Semi Demonic Vampire Transformation, a sense of pride swelled within him, making him reluctant to back down. With a sense of control and strength, Elliot released his grip on the lizardwoman's neck, allowing her to fall to the ground. She gasped for breath, struggling to regain her composure, while Elliot's unwavering gaze remained fixed on the towering Lizardman before him.
The lizardwoman's voice reverberated through the dimly lit alley, filled with anger and accusation. "Father! It was him! He killed Narth."
The massive lizardman, Tanya's father, met her furious gaze with a stoic expression. His voice carried the weight of experience and reason. "Narth left our nest a long time ago, Tanya. He chose to abandon his family and join that unruly gang. It has nothing to do with me."
Tanya's eyes glistened with a mix of anger and sorrow as she vehemently protested, "But he is our flesh and blood!" The deep-rooted bonds of kinship clashed with the unforgiving reality of Narth's choices, casting a somber shadow over their strained family ties.
The towering lizardman's voice remained unyielding, firm in his conviction. "And yet, he chose to leave still, did he not?"
Tanya's frustration boiled over as she lunged at Elliot with a primal snarl, fueled by a sister's anger and a daughter's grief. But before Elliot could react to her attack, the lizardman, her father, acted swiftly. With a single, calculated strike, he delivered a forceful blow to the back of Tanya's neck, rendering her unconscious and ending the confrontation. The alley fell silent once more, the tension palpable in the dimly lit surroundings.
"I apologize about that, young man," the lizardman said to Elliot with a courteous smile.
Elliot nodded in understanding, realizing the complexities of the situation.
"Thank you, but you did hurt my daughter, even if it was self-defense," the lizardman's demeanor shifted, and Elliot sensed the looming presence of impending danger. The atmosphere grew heavy as a sense of foreboding settled in the air.
"So I shall let you off this one time, please point towards the direction of your home, and don't lie, because I already know where it is," the lizardman said with a dangerous smile.
Elliot frowned but complied, pointing roughly in the direction of his apartment. He remained on high alert, ready for any sudden changes in the situation, and picked up Lily from the ground, holding his twin swords tightly in preparation for any unexpected turns of events.
As Elliot began to ask, "What do you wa—" he was abruptly cut off. The lizardman disappeared in the blink of an eye, only to reappear right in front of Elliot within a second. In that split moment, the massive lizardman delivered a devastating punch.
To Elliot, it felt like a freight train had collided with him. The punch struck him squarely in the gut, forcing the contents of his stomach to spew out as he was sent hurtling through the sky, the world spinning around him.
The system's urgent notification pierced through his disoriented state: "Critical Damage. Using blood energy points to initiate regeneration."
Elliot's blood energy points rapidly drained as his body attempted to heal the severe damage inflicted upon him.
If a third person had been watching, they would have witnessed Elliot's body soaring through the air, headed in the direction of his apartment building. Within seconds, he crashed violently into the exterior wall of his building, his body sliding down the rough surface before coming to a rest in a crumpled heap.
His body, a mass of broken bones and shattered organs, bore the brunt of the impact. However, his transformation-induced regeneration worked tirelessly to mend the extensive damage. As time passed, Elliot lay there, broken and battered, but his body slowly began to knit itself back together.
Amidst the pain and disorientation, the System's voice cut through the haze: "Quest complete, rewarding 2 points in strength and agility. Host is level 12 now. Adding 2 Free stat points. Hidden Quest: Survive Agnaroth's punch succeeded, refilling blood energy points to 200."
Despite the excruciating ordeal he had just endured, Elliot couldn't help but feel a glimmer of triumph at his newfound strength and resilience.
With every drop of blood energy spent, Elliot's body steadily pieced itself back together. The pain that had wracked him moments before began to recede, replaced by a renewed sense of vitality. After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a matter of minutes, he rose to his feet, his clothes still bearing the dust and dirt from the collision.
"System, show me my status,"
"Race: Demonic Dhampir (Part Demon, Part Vampire, Part Human)
Level: 12 Experience Points: 45/150
Free Stat Points: 8 (1 per level)
Strength: 34 (+8.5)
Agility: 74 (+18.5)
Endurance: 47
Intelligence: 22
Health: 200
Charisma: 7
Luck: 6
Blood Energy (BE): 200/200
Abilities:
1. Crimson Acceleration - C tier (100 BE)
2. Lesser Blood Control - D tier (growth) - (1 BE/second) (Previously was Minute Blood Control - F tier)
Titles: None
Adventurer Rank: None
Weapons:
• Arth and Lily (Twin Swords)
• Boosts: +25% Strength, +25% Agility
Abilities:
• Crimson Cross Slash: Use 75 BE to execute a ranged cross-slash attack by channeling your blood energy through the swords."
"If transformation gives me a boost of 20 stat points, that makes me faster than a Planar Adventurer, I'm one step closer in finding mum and dad," Elliot muttered clenching his fist.
Elliot retrieved his twin swords, Arth and Lily, from where they had fallen during his airborne journey. He carefully wiped them on his coat, ensuring they were free of any lingering grime, and then sheathed them securely. Despite the brutal punch he had endured, he couldn't help but mutter to himself with a touch of nonchalance, "That was just another Tuesday to me, old man."
Resilience and determination coursed through him, his recent trial serving as a stark reminder of the challenges he would encounter on his path to greatness. With newfound strength and a heightened sense of purpose, Elliot walked into his building.