I stared at the transparent screen in front of me, trying to process the information displayed:
[STATUS]
Name: Vas
Bloodline: Unknown
Attributes: Strength: 9 / Agility: 7 / Health: ??? / Mana: 10 / Intelligence: 10 / Charm: 73
Gifts: None
God's Essence: None
"To think I might actually have a chance to obtain a bloodline…" I muttered to myself, pondering the connection between my blood powers and that mysterious man I encountered after entering the portal.
I reviewed the information again and turned my attention to the quests displayed on my system.
[QUESTS]
CREATE OR JOIN A CLAN WITHIN 5 DAYS.
Reward: A random God's essence
Time Remaining: 5 days
Failure: Won't be able to obtain the God's essence through the system and will have to search for it oneself.
-CREATE CLAN-
-JOIN CLAN-
Considering my situation, I decided against joining a clan due to the risk of my identity being exposed. Instead, I resolved to create my own clan—though that would have to wait for now.
"This is frustrating! Even my vision is clouded by the fog, and these wet leaves are sticking to me…" I grumbled, feeling the discomfort of being a 13-year-old kid in such a dire situation.
After a few futile attempts to brush the leaves off my body, I made my decision. "I need to find civilization, but first, I need blood."
An intense, primal urge told me that if I didn't get blood soon, I'd lose my sanity. Just as I closed the system, a new quest appeared. Too tired from the influx of information, I chose to not see or open this quest, leaving it for later.
[Kill a human / Time Remaining: ???]
[Penalty: Death]
Preparing to head north, an unsettling thought struck me. "Which way is north?"
"This is how I'll die, isn't it?" I thought, feeling the weight of my uncertainty. Looking up at the stars, I recalled that on Earth, the brightest star often pointed north. "Should I follow my instincts and try my luck?"
Gathering my courage, I started moving toward the unknown, guided by the stars.
***
Deep in the forest, I crept through the dense undergrowth. Each step was accompanied by the crunch of dead leaves and broken branches beneath my feet. I turned around, sensing something, but saw nothing. The eerie silence was interrupted only by the occasional chirp of a bird, which made me jump.
The longer I followed the stars, the more uncertain I became. As night deepened, I considered taking shelter in a hollow tree but quickly dismissed the idea. With my urgent need for blood, I knew I wouldn't last long before succumbing to madness.
While I was focused on finding a beast, a sudden change in the forest caught my attention. The entire forest seemed to fall into a heavy silence—no wind, no rustling leaves, no bird calls. It felt as if the world had gone deaf.
"This can't be a coincidence," I thought, scanning my surroundings. The trees far away shook violently, and the sky seemed to quiver. A roar from distant beasts echoed through the forest, their presence growing ever louder.
"Shit," I muttered, realising I had to act fast. The sound of heavy stomping grew louder, accompanied by the growls of the approaching beasts.
With no other option, I quickly found a spot with a tree supporting my back, closed my eyes, and focused on the tentacles that had recently appeared on my back. I'd learned some things from my encounter with Sara, but controlling these tentacles was still a challenge. I could barely feel them, and their appearance had made me vulnerable.
As the beasts neared, I braced myself. The tentacles burst out of my body, spraying blood around the area. I grunted in pain but crawled into a bush and covered myself with dirt to blend in.
The beasts that emerged were massive, resembling ancient mammoths. Their tough, thick skin would make it nearly impossible for me to penetrate. The sight of their elongated ears and long white tusks was enough to make my heart race. Their rancid odour filled the air.
I covered my nose and stayed perfectly still, controlling my breath and hoping to remain unnoticed.
It was the time to hide.
***
Hiding behind the bushes, I remained as still as possible. My clothes were barely hanging on, and I was covered in dirt. The beasts around me moved in a strange, frantic manner, running ahead without a care for their surroundings.
My blue eyes glanced at those fearful white eyes and that short wagging tail,
'What could make even such a wild animal run?
I couldn't help but wonder what could make even such wild creatures so frightened. My suspicion was confirmed when a thunderous noise reverberated through the forest. The wet soil split open, cracks snaking through the ground, and trees fell all around.
Realising I had to act fast, I abandoned my hiding spot and sprinted toward the fleeing beasts, cursing my bad luck. I had once again found myself in a situation where I was caught between two parties, without having done anything to provoke it. It was clear that catching up to those beasts would be challenging.
Desperation led me to try absorbing the blood from the nearest beast, even though I knew it seemed impossible. To my surprise, the beast exploded into a pool of blood, which I quickly absorbed. I felt a surge of energy and my thoughts seemed to clear.
I continued this process, drawing nearer to the remaining mammals, when one of them suddenly charged at me. Its eyes were bloodshot with fury. It kicked me hard in the chest, sending me crashing backwards into a nearby tree.
For a moment, everything went black as I lay pinned against the tree, struggling to breathe. I was facing a creature that had caused an entire pack of mammoths to flee in terror, and I had no idea how to fight it.
Summoning the last of my strength, I pushed myself away from the tree with a groan. I attempted to absorb the scattered blood around me but quickly realised I couldn't. My gift, or curse, required mana to function, and I was running low.
Hot tears streamed from my bloodshot eyes as I wiped the blood away with my hands. Just then, a huge beetle came into view. Its smooth, faded orange skin had black spots, and its forewings were hardened for protection. With its three pairs of legs and large wings, it closed the distance between us quickly.
Its antennae fluttered, and its black eyes regarded me with a mix of contempt and boredom. The beetle charged at me with startling speed, and I had no choice but to try and flee.
Realising that I was in no condition to run normally, I remembered how Sara had used her tentacles for movement. I commanded my own tentacles to lift me, trying to mimic her method. Though it was a struggle, I managed to lift myself and move awkwardly through the undergrowth.
The beetle, undeterred, took to the sky, its wings creating a peculiar sound as it gained altitude and speed. It was closing in on me rapidly.
As I took long, laboured strides, my chest felt like it was burning, but I pressed on. I felt an overwhelming sense of frustration. Was living always supposed to be this hard? All I wanted was a normal life, maybe even to find my parents. Why had they abandoned me? Was it because I was weak? Because I hadn't awakened a bloodline?
I realised now that something inside me was suppressing my emotions. It was the reason I would burst out in frustration, unable to control my feelings. I wanted to scream, to question my parents, to understand why I was left alone. Even in my dreams, I had someone—Aanya Astaroth. So why was I alone now? Why was there no one to support me? Had I been that bad of a son?
Just as these thoughts raced through my mind, the beetle caught up to me. Using its powerful hind legs, it lifted me with a menacing growl. I was pinned down, helpless against the creature's strength.
Why couldn't I just give up? How could a mere mortal like me stand against such a beast?
***