The ground trembled beneath Larry's feet, each vibration shaking him to his core. He could feel the tension hanging thick in the air. His pulse quickened, his muscles taut with anticipation as the low growl of the beast echoed from the darkness ahead. Larry couldn't see it—he had never been able to see—but he didn't need his eyes to know something powerful lurked ahead. His senses, honed through years of navigating his sightless world, told him everything he needed to know.
The pit was his battleground, the same place where he had fought tooth and nail for survival, but this time, the stakes felt impossibly higher.
The beast moved again, its massive weight pressing into the ground with a slow, menacing rhythm. The air shifted with each of its steps, the rancid scent of blood clinging to it. Larry could feel the ground press back against his feet as the vibrations grew more pronounced—this was no basic-tier beast. It was something much more deadly.
"Focus, Larry," the voice in his head whispered, calm and insistent. "It's stronger than anything you've fought before. If you hesitate, you're dead. Use your instincts."
Larry's fists clenched, the fatigue from the earlier battles weighing on his limbs. His muscles ached, screaming from exertion. But there was no turning back now. He had come too far.
The beast let out a low growl, and Larry felt the air shift around him again as it suddenly charged. It moved like a blur, faster than anything that size should be capable of. The ground shook violently under the force of its movement, the air rushing past Larry's face as he narrowly avoided the claws that swiped at him, grazing the side of his head.
The creature let out a guttural roar, its frustration palpable as it missed its mark.
"Too slow!" the voice chided. "You need to feel its movement. Anticipate before it strikes."
Larry gritted his teeth and steadied himself. He couldn't rely on his strength alone; he needed precision, speed, and the heightened instincts he had developed over the years. He listened closely, the dull thud of the beast's heavy footfalls giving him a sense of where it was.
The beast roared again, its claws tearing into the earth as it prepared for another attack. Larry took a deep breath, feeling the energy ebbing inside him, though it was faint, barely enough to sustain him. He needed to finish this quickly.
It lunged again, but this time Larry moved with purpose. He felt the vibrations surge toward him and ducked low, rolling to the side as the beast's claws slashed the air just inches from where he stood moments before. Its sheer size made it slower to recover, and Larry used that to his advantage, darting forward and striking hard at what he hoped was its side. His fists connected with thick, unyielding muscle, barely making an impact.
The beast let out a growl of irritation, its massive form shifting to face him once more.
"It's too strong," Larry thought, his heart racing. His mind scrambled for a solution as he felt his body growing weaker. His breathing was becoming labored, and his strength was draining faster than he could afford.
"You're not thinking!" the voice snapped. "Target its legs! Cripple it!"
Larry felt the beast circle around him, its footfalls heavy and deliberate. His senses attuned to its every movement, every shift in weight. The beast was fast, but if he could slow it down...
Steeling himself, Larry lunged forward, ducking under the creature's sweeping claw. His movements were sluggish, the exhaustion threatening to overtake him, but the voice in his head pushed him forward. With all the force he could muster, Larry drove his elbow into the beast's knee.
The beast howled in pain, stumbling as its leg buckled slightly. Larry felt a rush of relief. It wasn't enough to bring the creature down, but it was a start.
"Again!" the voice urged, more forceful now.
Larry didn't hesitate. He ducked under another wild swipe, narrowly avoiding the beast's claws as he drove his fist into the same leg. The beast roared in pain, its leg finally giving way as it collapsed to one knee.
But just as Larry thought he had the upper hand, the creature lashed out in desperation. Its massive paw struck him square in the chest, sending him flying backward. His body crashed into the ground, pain exploding through his ribs as he gasped for air.
"Get up!" the voice demanded, sharp and unforgiving. "You're not done yet!"
Larry groaned, his ribs throbbing with each shallow breath. He could feel the beast's heavy breathing as it struggled to rise, and he knew he had one last chance to finish it. His limbs felt heavy, his body weak, but he forced himself up, dragging his body to its feet.
Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Larry dashed forward, his fists flying in a blur of motion. He struck again and again, each blow landing with a sickening crack against the beast's already weakened leg. The creature let out one final roar of pain before it crumpled to the ground, motionless.
Larry staggered back, gasping for breath. His body ached, his muscles screaming in protest, but he had done it. He had killed the beast.
But just as relief washed over him, something changed. The energy inside him—the faint buzz that had been keeping him going—began to drain rapidly. Larry's eyes widened, his body growing colder with each passing second.
"What... what's happening?" he thought, panic rising in his chest.
"Finally..." the voice in his head whispered, its tone dark and satisfied. "I've been waiting for this."
Larry's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" he gasped, struggling to keep his legs from buckling beneath him.
"You've given me enough time to recover. The strength you've gained—it was never yours. It's mine," the voice said, cold and detached. "I've been using your body, siphoning your energy to restore myself. Now that I'm whole again, you're no longer needed."
Larry's mind reeled. He tried to move, tried to fight back, but his body refused to cooperate. He could feel the energy being ripped from him, draining away faster than he could stop it.
"No... you can't..." Larry whispered, his voice weak and desperate.
"I can, and I will," the voice said with a dark chuckle. "Don't worry, you won't feel a thing. You've served your purpose."
Larry screamed, a raw, agonized sound, as the last of his strength left him. His limbs went limp, his body collapsing to the ground as darkness threatened to overtake him. He could feel the life slipping away from him, the energy inside him disappearing into the void.
But just as the darkness closed in, something stirred deep within him. A faint, golden light began to pulse in the core of his being. Larry gasped, the sensation overwhelming as the light surged through his veins, spreading like wildfire through his weakened body.
"What is this?" the voice in his head hissed, panic creeping into its tone. "This wasn't supposed to happen!"
Larry cried out in pain as the golden light exploded within him, his muscles burning as the energy threatened to tear him apart. His body convulsed, wracked with agonizing pain, but the light continued to surge, overpowering the darkness that had been consuming him.
For what felt like an eternity, Larry was consumed by the light, his entire body trembling as it fought to contain the immense power. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain stopped.
Larry lay on the ground, panting heavily, his body drenched in sweat. He felt... different. Stronger. More alive than he had ever been.
And then he heard it—a calm, mechanical voice resonating in his mind.
[Congratulations on the completion of your evolution.]
[You've successfully evolved into a Dhampir.]
[You've awakened a Blood Core, an unrecorded core. You are now an Original.]
[The system will now reward you.]
"The system?" Larry muttered before passing out.