Kael sat in the white empty room, his fingers tapping restlessly against the cold, metal bed frame. His back ached from the long hours of stillness, and the silence pressed in on him like a weight. He had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for Dr. Kim to take him out for a walk. The hum of distant machinery did little to soothe his restless mind. With each passing second, the quiet grew more suffocating. The urge to know what was going on outside the room gnawed at him, pushing him to find a way out of his confinement.
Then, a memory flickered to the forefront of his mind—his new skill: Heightened Senses (Level 1). He had been eager to test it out, but hadn't found the right moment. Now, with nothing else to occupy him, it seemed like the perfect time.
Kael closed his eyes and focused, drawing his awareness inward. A strange tingling sensation began at his ears and spread across his skin like an electric current. His senses stretched outward, sharpening. The low hum of the building grew more distinct, the soft shuffle of distant footsteps became louder. He even felt a slight draft through the cracks in the room's walls.
But it was the voices that captured his attention.
At first, it was just a soft murmur—indistinct, echoing through the thin walls. Kael strained, his heart rate quickening as he focused harder. Slowly, the voices began to separate, one sounding clear and composed, the other darker, almost predatory.
Dr. Kim's voice was calm and measured, as always. But the second voice, low and smooth, held a strange, unsettling edge to it. "You're making a mistake, Kim. You know this," said Dr. Grey, his tone wrapped in false sweetness that barely masked something dangerous beneath.
Kael's breath caught. There was something in Dr. Grey's voice—an almost unnatural coolness—that made the air in the room feel colder. The hair on the back of Kael's neck stood up.
"… I understand your concerns, but the subject's safety is paramount," Dr. Kim replied, her voice steady but tinged with hesitation. "We've already discussed the risks."
Dr. Grey's chuckle echoed through the walls, cold and calculated. "Risks? There's nothing risky about it, Kim. You just don't want to see what's right in front of you."
Kael's pulse quickened. Subject? Was he the subject? The hairs on his arms prickled with a new awareness—a sharp, icy dread. Dr. Grey's voice was not just ominous, it felt wrong. There was something deeply unnatural about him.
Dr. Kim's response was firm, but Kael could hear the faintest tremor in her tone. "We cannot rush this, Rachel. The subject's well-being is non-negotiable."
But as quickly as the conversation had started, the voices began to fade. Dr. Kim and Dr. Grey moved out of range, leaving Kael alone in the silence again. His thoughts raced, his mind spinning with questions: What risks were they talking about? What was going on here?
As he was still musing, Dr. Kim walked into the room. His senses flared immediately. A strong, intoxicating scent hit him—rich, metallic, thick in the air. It was the smell of blood, but it wasn't just blood. It was something else, something deeply primal. His nostrils flared, drawing in the aroma with a sharp inhale. It was as if his body recognized it before his mind could process it, an awakening that made his mouth water and his pulse race.
Dr. Kim noticed his agitation and stepped closer, leaning down to check him. As she bent near, her neck was suddenly in his line of sight. The scent was overwhelming now—so close, so tempting. Kael's body trembled, a deep hunger awakening inside him. He imagined sinking his teeth into her neck, draining her warmth, feeling her life slip away.
A wave of disgust rushed through him. What was happening to him?
He recoiled violently, his hands shaking. Unable to control himself, he shoved her away, sending her flying across the room. The motion was swift, desperate, and instinctive. Kael stood there, horrified by what he had nearly done.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to," he whispered, his voice trembling. But his eyes couldn't shake the image of her neck, the blood that would have spilled from her veins. He felt sick to his stomach. She was innocent. He couldn't hurt her.
Just then, Dr. Grey appeared in the doorway, his eyes gleaming with a wicked amusement. A dirty smile curled at his lips as he watched the scene unfold.
"And you say he's still weak?" he scoffed. "Hah." He tossed something toward Kael. "Catch!"
Kael barely reacted in time, his reflexes too quick now, as he snatched the small, transparent pouch mid-air. It was filled with blood. Kael's body seemed to recognize it before his mind did, and without thinking, he tore the pouch open and drank it dry.
The taste was immediate, and it consumed him. The blood hit his tongue, warm and rich, thick with life. A fire surged through his veins. Every drop was a burst of pure energy, a rush of strength that made his head spin. He swallowed greedily, the blood filling him in a way nothing else ever had. For a moment, he felt invincible, powerful—like the hunger had been sated.
But it wasn't enough.
The sensation lingered, gnawing at him, demanding more. His vision swam in red as he looked up at Dr. Grey. His eyes were glowing, a dangerous crimson.
"More," Kael growled, his voice low and desperate, his fangs just barely visible.
Dr. Grey smirked and tossed another pouch. "I got you, man."
Kael tore into the second pouch without hesitation, draining it just as quickly. But the satisfaction was fleeting. His hunger, his craving, seemed insatiable. He could feel the blood flowing through him, awakening something dark within.
Then, amidst the bloodlust, something else clicked. His mind cleared, and he remembered the System interface. He opened it, desperate for answers.
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Rebirth Odyssey System Interface
Header: Rebirth Odyssey
Profile Name: Kael
Race: Blood Race (Vampire)
EXP: 250/300 (Level 2)
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There it was. Blood Race (Vampire). His heart clenched as the reality of it hit him. He wasn't just reborn. He was a monster.
"What's happening to me?" Kael whispered, tears welling in his eyes. He felt so lost. Vampires weren't like this. They weren't human. They were animals. He was becoming one.
Dr. Kim stepped toward him, her expression softening with sympathy. She looked at him as if she wanted to help, her eyes full of concern.
"Let's go for a walk, Kael," she said, her voice gentle. She flashed him a friendly smile, though Kael could see the worry behind it. It made him feel warm inside, but at the same time, deep remorse twisted in his gut. He felt so much shame for what he had nearly done to her.
As Dr. Kim extended her hand to him, Kael hesitated for a moment before standing up and walking slowly toward her. He couldn't understand it—his emotions were a whirlwind, his instincts torn between human decency and the monstrous hunger inside him.
Dr. Grey watched them leave the room with a sinister smile, a cold gleam in his eyes.