Lucian's blank eyes stared at the dark ceiling above him. "So I'm screwed, huh?" he muttered, his voice flat and filled with disbelief. He couldn't believe how his luck had taken such a disastrous turn. First, he was tortured for no apparent reason, and now he found himself bound to a supreme entity. Could his luck get any worse?
He sighed deeply, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. "So, what now? Aren't you a supreme entity or something? Do I at least get some powers or advantages from having you?" His voice carried a faint glimmer of hope, his eyes brightening with stars of expectation.
Inside his mind, a cold, emotionless voice answered.
[Yes, host. You will gain many advantages from having me and the primordial concept inside you.]
Lucian's heart skipped a beat. "Really? What are those?" he asked eagerly, excitement bubbling up inside him.
[I won't explain much. Just know that as an omnipresent being, I am bound by the rules of the world's will. I cannot interfere directly with reality. However, since I have contracted with you, I can grant you abilities. But know this: I cannot make you super powerful instantly. You will have to earn it yourself. I cannot disclose too much information; you will have to discover it on your own. But for now...]
Suddenly, a thin, transparent blue panel appeared before Lucian's eyes. Startled, he jerked his head back, instinctively trying to touch it, but his hand passed right through.
As he watched in bewilderment, text began to appear on the panel.
Welcome to the Primordial Vampire System
Name: Lucian Valentino
Rank: F (Lowest)
Race: Progenitor Vampire
Heir: Primordial Blood (Rank-Original), The Supreme Entity/System (Rank-Original)
[Stats]
- Strength: F
- Dexterity: F
- Endurance: S-
- Wisdom: A
- Charisma: B
- Luck: ???
- Mana: E
Current Status Effect:
The Blood Hunger: A primal urge within every vampire, driving them to seek out blood to sustain their existence.
[Skills]:
- Intermediate Street Fighting Style (F)
- Advanced Theft Skills (A)
- Beginner Blood Control (D)
- Multiple Blood Bullets (F)
- Night Vision (E)
System Functions:
- Missions/Quests: The system will issue missions. By completing them, the host will be rewarded with skills and other rewards.
- System Skill Shop: Locked.
- ???
- ???
Lucian stared at the blue panel, a mixture of shock and curiosity on his face. He blinked a few times, hoping it would disappear, but it remained stubbornly in place, displaying all sorts of unfamiliar information.
"So… this is what you meant by advantages?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. Then, something clicked. "Wait... did I just become a vampire?"
He knew what vampires were creatures of the night, similar yet different from humans. They were stronger, had more mana, and boasted an extended lifespan. But they were also cursed with the need for blood and the inability to withstand sunlight.
Lucian sighed, resigning himself to his fate. It didn't really matter to him he wasn't a racist, after all. He believed everyone was equal, no matter their race. "I don't feel any different, though," he muttered, waving his hands and legs experimentally, but nothing felt out of the ordinary.
[Actually, you were always a vampire.] The system's emotionless voice cut through his thoughts.
Lucian froze. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion and surprise. "I've never felt like a vampire. I've never had the urge to drink blood or avoid the sun."
[Lucian Valentino, you were born a pure vampire.].The system's voice was as cold as ever.
"But... how? I've been checked by doctors countless times, and they never mentioned anything about me being a vampire."
[You are correct. However, I said you were originally a vampire. But later, what you were was stolen from you. It was an impossible feat, yet somehow it happened. That's also why you had no mana in your body.]
Lucian felt like the world had just turned upside down. The small smile that usually graced his lips, even in the face of torture, slowly faded away. The room's temperature dropped, the light dimmed, and a dark aura began to emanate from him, chilling the air.
"Stolen?" he repeated, his voice now icy cold. "What do you mean? Are you saying I wasn't born talentless? That someone took everything from me?"
[Correct. Someone extracted your essence, stripping you of your racial talents and mana.]
Lucian's eyes blazed with anger. He had always believed he was just unlucky, that his lack of talent was some cruel twist of fate. But now, the system was telling him that someone had deliberately robbed him of everything.
"Who was it?" he demanded, his voice colder and more chilling than ever before. Lucian's demeanor had darkened; the silly, childish boy was nowhere to be seen.
[Unfortunately, I can only analyze what's within your body. I cannot determine who it was from this alone.] The system's voice was almost apologetic.
"Supreme and omnipotent entity, huh? And you can't even figure that out," Lucian spat, his anger seething.
[I am bound by rules and no longer possess the complete primordial concepts.] The system responded without a hint of emotion.
[Calm down, host. Even if you knew who it was, there's nothing you could do right now. To wield a skill capable of stealing someone's race traits and mana… such a person is far from weak. I suggest you focus on becoming stronger first. I will help you, as the Blood Concept has chosen you.]
Lucian knew the system was right, but it didn't make the revelation any less devastating. Only he knew how hard his life had been without mana, how much easier things could have been if he'd had it. He'd been discriminated against, beaten, and he'd suffered unimaginable pain.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the boiling anger and emotions within him. "Whoever it was, just wait. Your end won't be pleasant," Lucian whispered through gritted teeth, his resolve hardening.
Ding!
[Congratulations to the host for awakening the skill: Mental Fortitude (F)]
Lucian felt a wave of calm wash over him, his body relaxing slightly as he took another deep breath. "Fhew... What's this?" he asked, looking at the new notification with confusion. He knew he couldn't do anything about the situation for now, so it was best to push it to the back of his mind.
[The system has an infinite number of skills within it. Whenever you achieve something or are eligible for a skill, it will automatically grant you that skill. Just like now, you tried to calm your emotions, so the system gave you a related skill.]
Mental Fortitude (F)
Description: Enhances the user's ability to withstand emotional stress. The user can maintain composure and clarity of thought in the face of overwhelming pressure.
Effect: Increases resistance to fear, confusion, and many emotions, calming you down. Grants the ability to endure prolonged periods of stress without losing focus.
Lucian scanned the skill description, finally understanding how he had been able to calm down so quickly. It was a good thing, though the topic of his stolen talents still made him restless. The skill's low level wasn't enough to completely calm him, but it was a start.
[By using the skill regularly, you can upgrade its level, making its effects stronger and unlocking more abilities.] The system continued its explanation.
Lucian nodded, understanding the concept. Despite everything, he felt a flicker of excitement about this system. He scanned the information on the panel again. His name, rank, and various stats were detailed, each with a corresponding rank. Strength and Dexterity were at the lowest rank of F, Endurance impressively at S-, Wisdom at A, Charisma at B, and Luck… well, Luck was still a mystery. His current status effect made him pause.
"Wait… mana? Do I have mana now?" Lucian asked, his eyes widening in shock. But didn't…?