Chapter 1: Death and Awakening
The rain poured down mercilessly as Akira sprinted across the street, his breath visible in the cold night air. His headphones blared music, drowning out the sound of an approaching vehicle. A sharp honk shattered his focus, and he froze—too late to react.
The last thing he saw was blinding headlights, and then... darkness.
When Akira opened his eyes, he was lying in a damp, cold forest. The scent of wet earth and decaying leaves filled his nostrils. Confused, he sat up, his body feeling strangely light yet powerful.
"What… happened?" he muttered, his voice sounding deeper than he remembered.
He glanced at his hands, now pale as moonlight and tipped with sharp, black nails. The puddle beside him reflected an unfamiliar face—sharp features, crimson eyes, and jet-black hair. His breath caught as realization hit him.
"This isn't my body... Did I... die?"
Before he could piece things together, a monotone voice echoed in his mind:
[Welcome, Host, to the Shadow Summoning System.]
[You have been granted the powers of a Vampire Lord. Your journey begins now.]
"A system? Like in those games?" Akira muttered, his shock replaced by disbelief. "This has to be a dream."
[Task Initiated: Survive Your First Night.]
[Reward: Shadow Wolf Summon.]
The sound of snapping branches interrupted his thoughts. From the shadows emerged a pack of wolves, their glowing eyes fixed on him. A primal growl escaped their throats as they inched closer, their fangs bared.
Fear gripped Akira, but it was quickly replaced by an unfamiliar sensation—a hunger so intense it made his body tremble.
The system chimed again:
[Instinct Alert: Feed to regain strength.]
Akira's mind screamed in protest, but his body moved on its own. As one of the wolves lunged, he sidestepped with inhuman speed, grabbing it by the throat. His fangs extended, and before he could stop himself, he sank them into the creature's flesh.
Warm, metallic blood filled his mouth, and an intoxicating rush of power surged through him. The remaining wolves hesitated, their instincts warning them of the predator in front of them.
As Akira released the lifeless wolf, he stood taller, his confidence growing.
"Fine," he said, his crimson eyes glowing in the moonlight. "If this is my new reality, I'll survive—no matter what it takes."
The pack retreated into the forest, leaving Akira alone. The system's voice returned, calm and emotionless:
[Task Complete. Reward Unlocked: Shadow Wolf Summon.]
[Summoning Tutorial Unlocked. Would you like to proceed?]
Akira exhaled, his sharp breath cutting through the silence. "Yeah, let's do this."
As the system guided him through the summoning process, a dark circle appeared on the ground before him, tendrils of shadow twisting upward. From within, a massive wolf, cloaked in black mist and glowing red eyes, emerged.
The beast lowered its head, as if bowing.
"My first summon…" Akira whispered, a small smile playing on his lips.
The moonlight illuminated his pale face, casting long shadows behind him. The forest seemed quieter now, almost reverent.
"I don't know why I'm here or who brought me," Akira said, turning to face the dark horizon. "But if I'm supposed to be a Vampire Lord, then so be it. I'll carve my name into this world… starting now."
The shadow wolf growled in agreement, and together, they vanished into the night, the first step of Akira's new life beginning with blood, darkness, and an unyielding hunger for power.