Back in his room, Aiden collapsed on his bed, his body still vibrating with the adrenaline of the fight. His sore muscles and torn clothes testified to the intensity of the battle they had just experienced.
His friends, exhausted, had retired to their own rooms, quickly falling into a restorative sleep. But Aiden was still too excited to find rest. His mind replayed the scenes of the battle on loop, analyzing every move, every decision.
That's when he noticed the blinking notifications floating before his eyes. In the heat of the action, he had completely ignored them, focused solely on his and his companions' survival.
With a mental gesture, he opened the first notification. And there, his eyes widened in amazement.
"Congratulations! Thanks to your exploits in the dungeon, you have reached level 10!"
Level 10. A significant milestone, he knew. With the various quests in recent times, as well as all the dungeon fights, he had accumulated a lot of experience points. But what followed left him speechless.
"You have met the conditions for evolution. Do you want to evolve?"
It didn't specify what he was going to evolve into, and that troubled him.
"System, what am I going to evolve into?"
"You can't know. Evolutions depend on your character, actions, thoughts, behavior, state of mind, etc. It's not possible to predict in advance."
For a long moment, Aiden remained still, weighing the implications of this choice. Evolving meant becoming stronger, faster, more lethal. Exactly what he needed to achieve his goal.
But it also meant delving deeper into the darkness, fully embracing his predatory nature. Especially since he was venturing into the unknown.
"What do you think?" he asked aloud, addressing the System.
"Evolution is a rare and precious opportunity," replied the disembodied voice. "It will allow you to reach new heights of power. But like all things, it has a price. It's up to you to decide if you're ready to pay it."
Aiden nodded, his decision made. He wasn't going to think about it any longer. "I'm ready. I accept the evolution."
"Very well. Prepare yourself, the process can be... uncomfortable."
Hardly had these words resonated when Aiden felt an excruciating pain shoot through him. It was as if his entire body was on fire, every cell, every fiber of his being screaming in agony.
He fell to his knees, his hands clawing at the ground in a vain attempt to anchor himself in reality. He could feel his bones cracking, his muscles tearing, his skin stretching. His body was rebuilding itself, reshaping itself, adapting to its new nature.
The pain was such that he wanted to scream, to let out that primal cry rising in his throat. But he couldn't, he mustn't. His friends were sleeping next door, exhausted from the fight. He couldn't alarm them, worry them.
So he gritted his teeth, swallowing his screams, letting the tears flow silently down his cheeks. Every second was an eternity of suffering, every heartbeat a symphony of agony.
But gradually, as suddenly as it had appeared, the pain subsided. Aiden slowly stood up, each movement deliberate, almost cautious. He felt different. Stronger, sharper. His senses were heightened, the world around him seemed more colorful, richer in information.
"Congratulations," announced the System. "You are now a Blood Dhampir. A Blood Dhampir has enhanced characteristics and enhanced senses. In bestial mode, its power is further increased. But beware, your need for blood is also increased. Be sure to feed regularly, or risk... unpleasant consequences."
Aiden nodded, taking note of the warning. Everything was balance. He had gained in power, but the counterpart was blood. Moreover, he wondered if the reason he became a Blood Dhampir, a Dhampir focused on raw power but more dependent on blood, was not due to his rather bestial way of fighting, but also the fact that he fed very little on blood.
"Even though the system was pushing me to do it, until now I've consumed very little blood, and always because I had no choice. Is this evolution there to push me to consume more, and force me to fully assume what I am?"
Then, with a mental gesture, he opened his characteristics panel, eager to see the changes.
And what he saw left him speechless.
Name : Aiden
Species : Blood Dhampir
Level : 10
Exp : 0/3000
Health : 350/350
- Strength : 30
- Agility : 28
- Intelligence : 20
- Endurance : 30
Skills :
- Enhanced Night Vision
- Close Combat: Level 2
- Regeneration (basic) (New)
Points to allocate : 0
His characteristics had leapt, reaching heights he never thought possible. His strength, his agility, his endurance, everything had been increased tenfold. Even his intelligence had benefited from this evolution, albeit to a lesser extent.
And this new skill, Regeneration, promised to give him a definite advantage in combat. Being able to heal his wounds at a faster rate was an invaluable asset.
Aiden smiled, satisfied. He felt stronger, more confident than ever. With these new abilities, he could accomplish great things. He could change things, make a difference.
But as he was about to close his characteristics panel, a thought suddenly struck him. A thought that birthed in him a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
With this increased power came a hunger that was also increased tenfold. A thirst for blood that could only be quenched by the hunt, by the chase.
He would need to feed more often, and more copiously. Which meant more risks, more secrets to keep. Would he be able to maintain this double life?
"One thing at a time," he corrected himself. "Focus on the present moment. The rest, you'll face when the time comes."
With a sigh, Aiden lay down on his bed, finally letting the fatigue of the transformation overwhelm him. Tomorrow would be another day, with its share of challenges and opportunities. But for now, he needed rest.
As he slowly drifted off to sleep, one last thought floated in his mind, both a promise and a warning.
"I can't wait to see what this evolution is worth."