Vigil clutched his chest harder as the pain spread across his body like roots hugging a tree. His skin recovering its natural colour, while the wounds slowly closing. He lashed out another scream when his muscles twitched, it felt like they were being destroyed and neatly put back together like a piece of furniture.
At the same time, the bat recovered his physical form. He remained silent while watching over his master, his eyes shining with anticipation.
Long excruciating minutes passed by. Vigil was sweating profusely, and his breathing was heavy. The pain finally stopped. He felt different, his body was beaming with vitality and strength. The ground around him was wet with a dark liquid, a putrid rotten smell filled the air.
The first thing he noticed was his chest, it was no longer silent. He felt the steady rhythmic beat of his heart. The sensation to Vigil was almost foreign, as if he was rediscovering his own body. He then looked towards his hands, the long sharp nails had retracted fully, they looked normal and healthy, The skin beaming with vitality.
Vigil lifted himself up and noticed he was taller than before. He wasn't small by any means but now he was taller than the average human. His shoulders grew stronger, and his back grew wider too. The transformation was now complete.
The bat flew closer to Vigil, landing a few meters to his feet. Using his left wing, he tried to make a bow towards its master and said, his voice filled with pride "Congratulations master on your breakthrough".
Vigil clutched his hands tight, feeling the power flowing through his veins and his mind travelled the possibilities of the future. With a small courteous smile, he looked towards his familiar.
"It felt like my very soul was torn apart and stitched back together" he paused, stretching his body, "but the effects were more than I expected, it feels like I was reborn."
"You have more to do" the bat interrupted, his voice beaming with confidence. "Please, concentrate and look inwards, towards your very own soul core".
Vigil was surprised to hear the bat mention about the soul core. While he had heard about it briefly during his training, he didn't know that monsters could have their own soul cores.
He sat down cross legged, steadying his breathing and emptying his mind, it took him a few attempts and just when his familiar was about to intervene, he felt his awareness being pulled to something foreign, almost abstract.
Vigil opened his eyes and noticed he was not in the same place he had left behind, all of it was gone. The ground beneath him was dark and reflective like it was made from a mirror. It was vast and endless in all directions, broken only by the vast collection of crystal-like monoliths pointing towards the crimson sky.
The scenery startled him when his familiar voice beamed in his head
"Do not fear for this is a safe place, your very own soul core. Nothing can bring you arm here" said the bat, his voice firm with confidence and reassurance.
Vigil's mind raced with questions; this was a bit much to take, after all he had been through recently. From being betrayed to being turned into a vampire and fighting a strange creature, he couldn't help but feel a bit dizzy.
The crystals seemed to react to his presence almost instantly, creating a crystal pathway for him to walk, all the way to the centre, were a tall crystal obelisk beamed with a gold-coloured essence lied. Vigil felt like it was calling him.
He approached the structure; curiosity had bested him. His mind wary about what was going to follow. Vigil placed his right hand onto the crystal obelisk. The crystal trembled in reaction to his touch and emitted a small yellow beam of energy that spread through his body, it was warm and gentle.
After a few seconds, the obelisk displayed information embedded on its surface.
"You have been blessed by the eternal thirst"
Rank: Fledgling [ 125/ 1000]
Blood Pool: [150/ 150]
Core Abilities:
Blood sense - Detect living beings through their blood.
Blood Weave Unlocked: Manipulate blood to form temporary weapons.
Crimson Claws
Vigil read the information, a smile perking the corner of his lips, it looked like body transformation was not the only gift he received. He only had his sharp nails to defend himself, but now with blood weave he could conjure a weapon. How different would his fight be with the rune bear if he had this before?
He then looked towards the rank and his mind raced with questions. Would he face another transformation once the bar was filled? He would have to test the system and find out.
Vigil decided to return, satisfied with what he had discovered and intrigued about the future and his own soul core.
He opened his eyes and saw himself back in the cavern, his familiar flew over to his shoulder and said, his voice even and determined.
"With the transformation finished, what are you planning now?"
"I have a lot of questions that need to be answered," said Vigil, while heading towards the small pond at the cavern's edge. He wanted to wash away the putrid smell and the remains of the rune bear's blood on his face and body.
"First I need to find out where I am and how long has it been since the execution, after that I plan on visiting the prince, that's my priority for now" said vigil as he splashed water through his arms and face.
"Sounds like a plan" the bat replied while dodging a few droplets of water "But you have to be aware of your condition. Humans despise monsters"
And he was right, Vigil was half naked, his clothes were battered from the fight against the rune bear and besides that, his eyes were dark red and his race was different too, he was now an elf.
"You're right," he said, his voice calm but filled with determination "I can't walk into a human settlement looking like this. Not yet." He glanced down at his battered clothes.
"I'll need to find new attire, and I'll need to learn how to hide these," he added, gesturing to his eyes.
He stood up, water dripping from his body as he turned to the bat. "But none of that changes my priority. The prince will answer for what he's done. Whether I'm human, elf, or monster, that's one thing that hasn't changed."
Vigil turned away from the pond and headed towards the cavern corridors. He moved cautiously between the tight maze-like corridors; the air grew colder and the smell of earth called upon him. It took him longer than he'd expected, but finally, a ray of light beamed between the cavern walls.
When Vigil finally reached the cavern's entrance, his steps slowed down. The sight before him made his eyes widen in disbelief. He stood there, frozen for a moment, as the reality of his situation sank in...