The Crimson Dawn Alliance members grappled with the choking effects of the bloody steam, their movements hampered and their voices struggling to break through the confusion.
Amidst the chaos, a sharp, resonating crash cut through the haze like a clarion call.
"What was that?!"
"I can't see!"
"Get rid of this fog!"
As the obscuring mist dissipated and the shop's interior regained visibility, the members of the Crimson Dawn Alliance cast frantic glances around. Their eyes, filled with irritation and anxiety, scanned the now-revealed battlefield.
Elliot, however, had vanished. Not a trace remained of the young man who had seemingly been cornered in the fray.
"Where's the rat?!"
"Ross! He took Ross!"
Devlin, the leader of the Crimson Dawn Alliance, seethed with unrestrained fury. His fiery eyes smoldered as he bellowed, "Find him!"
The Crimson Dawn Alliance members, driven by their leader's rage, spread throughout the shop, their movements tense and their eyes sharp. They combed through every corner, searching for any sign of their elusive prey, Elliot, determined to exact revenge for their humiliation.
Elliot's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit alleys of District O52 as he carried the Crimson Dawn Alliance Rookie over his shoulder. He sprinted with a clear purpose, his agile form weaving through the labyrinthine streets, heading toward District O51. In his grasp, the struggling Crimson Dawn member was powerless, gasping for breath as he clung to consciousness.
As he fled, Elliot battled an internal conflict that had been festering for some time now.
"Consume him," the voice urged, its insistence echoing within his mind.
"He has done nothing wrong," Elliot countered, his voice resolute and matter-of-fact.
"Are you serious, a young man like him, with such a gifted ability? A tier fire creation and control? He has probably murdered hundreds and had his way with thousands of women," the voice replied, its tone laced with disdain and judgment.
Elliot's brow furrowed in contemplation, and he continued to race through the shadows, torn between the weight of his actions and the voice's relentless prodding. The fate of the Crimson Dawn Alliance Rookie hung in the balance, and the path he chose would have profound consequences.
"Tell you what," the voice started, "you must have some way to increase your strength with a thought, some energy distribution or increasing some aspects through your system,"
Elliot listened to the voice, intrigued by its suggestion. It seemed like there might be another facet of his abilities that he hadn't fully explored yet.
"You mean my free stat points?" he questioned, seeking clarification.
"Yeah, sure, put your 'free stat points' into your charm. Until the minute milestone," the voice proposed.
Elliot considered the idea for a moment, then decided to comply. "System, put my free stat points into charm until the minute milestone," he requested. As he did, he watched his Charisma stat receive a boost, with three free stat points now allocated to it.
"Host has reached minute milestone with charm, minute charm ability unlocked. Ability: Charm - host has a chance to charm the target, making them perform small actions and answer questions. Due to the skill's weakness, the target may snap out of it at any time," the system chimed in.
Elliot's eyes widened at the revelation. He had unlocked a new ability – Charm. This intriguing skill had the potential to open up unique possibilities and provide him with an advantage in his future encounters.
Elliot, now in District O51, continued to feel the voice urging him to take action. It was clear that the voice was getting impatient with the situation.
"Enough," the voice commanded firmly. "Find an alley, wake that human up, smack him around, and charm him. Then see if he is innocent."
Elliot sighed internally but chose to follow the voice's instructions. He quickly located an alley, then grabbed the Crimson Dawn Alliance Rookie and roughly shoved him to the ground. A couple of slaps across the face brought the young man back to consciousness.
"Huh, wh-where am I? P-please, let me live, man," the terrified man whimpered. In his transformation, Elliot must have appeared even more menacing. He couldn't help but slap the guy again to emphasize his seriousness.
Ross, still trembling, gazed at Elliot, his voice trembling as he uttered, "D-d-demon!"
Elliot focused his newfound Charm ability on Ross, and a beautiful red glow emanated from his eyes. Ross's eyes, once filled with fear and distress, widened and soon glazed over as a foolish, dreamy smile spread across his face. It was a mesmerizing sight for Elliot.
"Tell me," Elliot inquired, his tone demanding, "have you killed innocents?"
Ross, still under the influence of Elliot's charm, responded with a disturbing nonchalance, "I have not. I have killed hundreds, but never an innocent. The poor aren't innocent; they are guilty of stinking up the city. The ugly aren't innocent; they are guilty of hurting my eyes. The weak are not innocent; they are guilty of being a waste of space."
As Ross's words sank in, Elliot's expression contorted, his rage building with each word. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Why don't you ask how he has treated women, huh?" the voice chimed in, sounding almost amused.
Elliot, fueled by a mix of anger, frustration, and confusion, chose to ignore the voice for now and continued to look at Ross with a deep sense of disgust.
Elliot's transformation had fully taken hold, and his elongated canines glistened in the dim alley. With a predatory grace, he lunged at Ross, sinking his fangs into the man's neck. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, and the rush of power surged through his veins. He began to drink deeply, savoring every drop, fully intending to absorb all of Ross's strength and abilities.
Ross's screams echoed through the alley, a desperate and agonized symphony. He struggled against Elliot's unyielding grip, but it was a futile endeavor. The hybrid's superior strength, speed, and resolve left him with no chance.
A satisfied look washed over Elliot's face as he withdrew from the husk that Ross had become. His elongated canines receded, and a sense of fulfillment coursed through him. The flavor of blood still lingered on his tongue, and he could feel the newfound strength and vitality flowing within him. The encounter had been a dark necessity, a grim reminder of the path he was walking. With a heavy sigh, he glanced down at the lifeless form of Ross, knowing that this was the price of power in this unforgiving world.
"Host has drunk the blood of Ross Vanaheim to completion. Conversion rate - 80%, Absorbed 26 points of Intelligence and 10 points in strength. Total Intelligence now 48, host's Blood Energy points capacity has increased to 480. Absorbed target's ability: Pyrokinesis A Tier, converting ability to match Host's constitution. Option to create Crimson Pyrokinesis or Dark Pyrokinesis. Host's Demon rank insufficient for Dark Pyrokinesis, Creating Crimson Pyrokinesis - B tier. Success."
The system's robotic voice echoed in Elliot's mind, detailing the impact of his actions. The choice he had made carried a cost, and Elliot was well aware of the darkness that came with his newfound power. The blood of Ross had been absorbed, granting him not only strength but also the powerful ability known as Crimson Pyrokinesis. As the system spoke, he felt the changes within him, a mix of trepidation and exhilaration.
"New ability: Crimson Pyrokinesis - B tier," the voice continued, "Crimson Flame creation - minimum 25 BE points to conjure fire, more energy input will create a larger flame; 1 BE per second for flame manipulation."
Elliot couldn't help but marvel at the potential of this new power, though it came at a heavy cost. He knew he had taken a dark step forward on his path, one that would lead him into even murkier territories. With the lingering taste of Ross's blood in his mouth and the weight of his decision pressing upon him, Elliot had a daunting realization - the world he had entered was one of unforgiving choices and ruthless power struggles. And he intended to thrive in it.