Noah's mind buzzed with newfound knowledge. The information Professor Liora had shared had opened doors, but it also brought more questions. As he delved deeper into the texts, a particular reference caught his eye—an ancient vampire lineage, said to have been wiped out centuries ago. This bloodline, though powerful, had ultimately destroyed itself by indulging in the most forbidden of acts: preying on humans.
The ancient vampires were once a terror across the lands, their insatiable hunger driving them to devour the very people they were supposed to rule. Their power was unmatched, their cruelty legendary. The texts spoke of an order that had stood for generations—an order that was broken when the vampires began to hunt too openly, unbalancing the natural order of things. The repercussions were swift and devastating.
**"The hunters became the hunted,"** Noah muttered under his breath as he skimmed the pages. **"Their reign ended because they forgot the first rule of survival: concealment."**
But as he read on, something else became clear. The ancient vampires' bloodline, while formidable, had been diluted over time. Their abilities were stripped down to mere echoes of what they once were, their once pure essence twisted by the destructive path they had chosen.
Noah's eyes flickered to his own bloodline's description. **[Vampire Primogenitor]**—the origin, the purest strain. His bloodline was a remnant of the ancient vampires, but it had retained its original potency, its primal strength. Unlike the diluted remnants of the ancient race, his bloodline had not been corrupted by centuries of decadence and violence. It was pure. He was not just any vampire. He was a progenitor, a living descendant of the original bloodline, untouched by the fate that had claimed his ancestors.
---
The implications of this discovery sent a cold shiver down Noah's spine. His bloodline was not just a blessing—it was a curse in disguise. The ancient vampires had been eradicated because they preyed on humans, disrupting the balance of the world. The **[Night Lord]** class, tied to his vampire nature, might grant him immense power, but it also made him a target. The authorities in this world would likely hunt him if they discovered the truth. And if they learned of his unrestrained nature—the fact that he needed to feed on humans to sustain himself—he would be seen as a threat that could not be tolerated.
**"I'll have to hunt covertly,"** Noah thought grimly. **"If I am to sustain myself, I must remain hidden. There can be no room for mistakes. I cannot afford to draw attention to my true nature."**
He closed the book with a soft snap, his mind racing with plans. The purest vampires were predators, but they had been eradicated because they had overstepped their bounds. The more Noah thought about it, the more he realized that his strength lay not just in his bloodline, but in his ability to conceal it—to blend into the world while secretly cultivating the power that flowed through him.
---
The next few days were spent in deep contemplation. Noah's instincts told him that if he were to rise to power in this world, he would need to take a different approach. His strength, while extraordinary, could easily be his downfall if it was revealed too soon. He would need to keep his true nature hidden, to hunt in the shadows and feed without leaving a trace.
As he walked the halls of the academy, the faces of his peers seemed to blur in his vision. They were all unaware of the true danger he posed, of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of his calm demeanor. To them, he was just another student—a promising one, perhaps, but still an unknown quantity. If they knew what he was, if they understood the extent of his vampiric abilities, they would turn on him without hesitation.
**"I can't let that happen,"** Noah thought, his gaze hardening. **"I need to be smarter than they are. Every move I make must be calculated. Every word, every glance, every step."**
---
Noah's need for sustenance could no longer be ignored. He had carefully avoided feeding during his early days in the academy, but the pangs of hunger were becoming impossible to ignore. He had already tested his abilities—his enhanced regeneration, his control over blood—but the need to feed on a living being was different. It was a primal urge, a compulsion tied to the core of his being.
That evening, under the cover of night, he slipped out of the academy grounds, moving with the grace of a predator. The city outside was quiet, the streets bathed in the pale light of the moon. Noah had carefully studied the area, identifying a few locations where he could hunt undisturbed—places where he wouldn't attract attention.
The first person he encountered was a lone traveler, someone who had strayed too far from the busy streets. Noah's senses flared. The scent of blood called to him, but he fought against the urge to pounce immediately. He needed to be discreet.
With a flick of his wrist, Noah summoned the **[Crimson Aura]**—a subtle, dangerous force that would allow him to mesmerize his prey. He moved silently through the shadows, his steps soft as a whisper on the wind. The man didn't even notice him until it was too late. One moment, he was walking, the next, his world was filled with the hypnotic pull of Noah's gaze.
Noah's fangs lengthened as he approached, his predatory instincts taking over. But before he fed, he paused. There was no rush. The longer he could control the situation, the more power he would gain. He was not an animal. He was in control.
---
As Noah drained the man of his life force, he felt a sense of power surge through him. But even as he fed, a part of him recoiled. This wasn't just about satisfying an urge. This was about survival. The life force he consumed would keep him strong, but it also carried a weight—one that would only grow heavier the more he took from others.
**"I must be careful,"** Noah reminded himself, wiping his lips clean as he vanished into the shadows. **"The hunt must remain hidden. The longer I can keep my nature concealed, the greater my chances of success."**
He had no intention of repeating the mistakes of the ancient vampires—of becoming so reckless that he brought about his own demise. Noah would rise to power, but he would do so from the shadows, feeding when necessary, but never allowing anyone to see the true depth of his darkness.
The journey to power, he realized, was one of constant balance. He had to hide his true nature while embracing the potential his bloodline offered. He would prey upon the world's ignorance, using it to his advantage, while remaining ever-vigilant of the dangers that lurked on the horizon.
For now, he was content to stay in the shadows. But someday, the world would learn the truth of who Noah Alaric truly was. And when that day came, it would be too late for anyone to stop him.