Aamir sat cross-legged on the rocky training ground, his breath slowing as he fixed his gaze on the glowing system screen before him. His fingers hovered over the interface, his eyes narrowing as a new stat caught his attention.
[Bloodline Purity: 3%]
His brow furrowed in confusion. "Bloodline Purity?" he muttered, the question barely leaving his lips before he asked again, his voice low with uncertainty. "Luman, what the hell is this?"
A long silence stretched before Luman answered, the AI's tone unusually serious.
"Bloodline Purity... is a measure of how much your human nature is being replaced by something more powerful."
Aamir's frown deepened. "Replaced?"
Luman's voice came again, deliberate and somber. "As you evolve, your body fuses with the essence of beasts. The stronger the creatures you absorb, the further you move away from being human. At the lowest stages, it enhances your strength, reflexes, and healing. But as it progresses... you change."
Aamir's eyes hardened. "Change how?"
The screen flickered, displaying a detailed breakdown that made his stomach tighten.
Bloodline Purity Breakdown
- 0% – 10% → Slightly enhanced body, sharper senses.
- 10% – 30% → Increased speed, strength, and endurance.
- 30% – 50% → Accelerated healing, minor beast-like traits (eyes, aura).
- 50% – 70% → Partial beast transformation possible, instincts sharpen.
- 70% – 90% → High-tier physical adaptation, loss of some human traits.
- 90% – 100% → Complete fusion. True hybrid form. Near-immortal.
Aamir's fists clenched involuntarily. "So, you're saying... the more I evolve, the less human I become?"
There was a momentary hesitation before Luman answered, a cold finality to the words. "Yes."
A chill ran down Aamir's spine, his heart rate quickening. He'd always craved strength, but the thought of losing his humanity for it? That was an entirely different beast.
"And what happens at 100%?" His voice came out quieter this time, though the weight of the question still hung heavily between them.
Luman didn't miss a beat. "You won't be human anymore."
Aamir stiffened, the words pressing down on him like a physical weight. He had thought he was prepared for anything, but this? This was a price he hadn't anticipated. The vision of his future—of his evolution—now seemed more like a curse than a gift.
"Will I lose myself?" His voice was barely a whisper.
A painful pause stretched. Then Luman's voice came through, quieter than before. "…If you're not careful."
Aamir gritted his teeth, his jaw working in frustration. "So, it's not just about getting stronger—I've got to keep my humanity in check too?"
Luman's response was dripping with dry amusement. "Congratulations, Host. You've figured it out."
Aamir leaned back, his eyes drifting toward the sky. The sun hung high above, its rays casting a harsh light on the rocky terrain. The heat of the day pressed down on him, but he felt strangely detached from it all. The landscape stretched out before him, the barren hills and scattered stones looking endless under the bright, unclouded sky. He had always craved more power, but now... he wasn't sure if he was still the same person who had started this journey. How much of himself was he willing to sacrifice? How far would he go?
"What if I don't care about the cost?" he murmured to himself, his hands tightening around his knees.
Luman's voice was soft, almost playful. "Then I guess we'll see, won't we?"
Aamir's gaze hardened. "We will."
He shook the thoughts from his mind. The weight of his internal conflict was too much to bear right now. There was a mission ahead—a real mission. Vedangiri. The ruins, the beasts... he couldn't afford distractions. Not yet.
Luman's voice cut through his thoughts, its usual tone now laced with something more clinical. "Your strength will remain stagnant until you reach Level 20. However, your evolution will not stop. It is an ongoing process, unaffected by your current level. The bloodline will continue to grow stronger, whether you like it or not."
Aamir's mind flickered back to the moment at hand. "Great. So I've got to worry about this evolving inside me while trying to stay alive on this mission?"
Luman's response was blunt, as always. "Yes. Now is the time to focus."
He nodded, standing with newfound resolve. His armor, meticulously crafted and weighed down with years of training, settled on his body like an old friend. The cold metal reminded him of his purpose, the mission, and the path that lay ahead.
The rush of wind whipped around him as he sprinted toward the exit of the training grounds, the ground beneath his feet vibrating with his newfound speed. The thrill of movement, the wind on his face, the power coursing through him—it was intoxicating.
As he neared the campus gates, he slowed, spotting his team already gathered near the entrance. Kunal, Raj, Meera, and the rest of the team stood clustered, talking in low murmurs. Their heads turned as Aamir approached, and Kunal raised an eyebrow.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up," he said with a smirk.
Raj followed suit, grinning widely. "You lose track of time during another one of those solo 'training' sessions?"
Aamir scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Something like that, yeah. Sorry I'm late."
Before any of them could reply, a sharp voice cut through their banter.
"Finally decided to join us, Aamir?"
Aamir turned, startled, to see Aafreen approaching. Her presence was commanding, and her sharp, calculating gaze flicked over him like she could see through to his very core. She was dressed in her combat suit, the instructor badge gleaming on her chest.
"Miss Aafreen?" he said, a touch of surprise in his voice. "You're here too?"
Kunal smirked at Aamir's confusion. "Yeah, you'd know that if you bothered to show up on time."
Aamir raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. My bad. Can someone tell me what's going on?"
Raj's voice shifted, taking on a more serious tone. "There are two teams heading to Vedangiri. We're splitting into zones for different objectives. And guess what? You're with Miss Aafreen."
Aafreen surveyed the group, her piercing eyes missing nothing. "This isn't a field trip, Aamir. Vedangiri's ruins are crawling with dangerous beasts. We'll be testing your adaptability—not just your strength. Stay alert, stay in formation. If we're separated…" She gave a pointed look to the group, her gaze sharp. "Do not wander off. Understood?"
The group nodded in unison, the seriousness of her tone sinking in.
At that moment, Vardhan, a senior instructor overseeing the mission, stepped forward. He raised a hand, signaling for the group to focus.
"Alright, everyone. The portals are ready. Form your teams and prepare to deploy."
The air hummed with a strange energy as Aamir's group assembled. 21 students in total, including himself, Kunal, Riya, Seenu, Raj, Meera, and 15 others, with Aafreen leading them.
Aafreen nodded to her team. "Let's go."
The portal stood before them, a swirling vortex of energy that rippled like a living thing. Aamir felt the pull of it, the way it seemed to reach into his very soul. He stepped forward, the air around him crackling with power.
As they entered the portal, the sensation of displacement was immediate—a twisting, stretching feeling, as though reality itself were pulling them apart. Then, a flash of pure white.
When Aamir's vision cleared, he found himself standing on the edge of an ancient ruin. The landscape felt surreal—a vast open field, the wind rustling through the tall grass. The sky above was a sharp, clear blue, the air thick with silence. But there was something wrong about it. The stillness in the air wasn't peaceful—it was oppressive. It was dead.
The remnants of an ancient city sprawled before them—tall, jagged stone towers that had long since crumbled. Broken roads wound through the desolation, leading nowhere. The wind whispered through the ruins, but there was no sign of life... except for the faint, distant stirrings of movement.
"This place is massive…" Raj muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
Kunal tightened his grip on his spear, his senses alert. "It's abandoned. But something doesn't feel right."
Meera adjusted her gauntlets, her focus unwavering. "Stay sharp. Whatever's hiding in these ruins is waiting for us."
Aafreen's voice was steady, cutting through the tension. "We've got one job—scout, gather intel, confirm reports of beast activity. Stay as a unit. If you're separated—" She let her words hang in the air, her gaze as sharp as ever. "Do not go off alone."
The silence hung thick as they began to move forward. Every step felt wrong, as though the ground itself was watching them.
Aamir felt it—the change in the air. The deadness of the place pressed in on him. His instincts screamed at him that something was waiting. Something was watching. But whatever it was, he was ready for it.
"Stay sharp, Host. This is only the beginning."
Aamir smiled, a cold glint in his eyes. "Good. I was getting bored."
And with that, the hunt began.