Red eyes.
Fangs.
What had Joshua become?!
He stood there, frozen. His breath shallow, hands trembling as they clutched the empty glass once more, as if hoping it would somehow reverse what he had just seen in the mirror. His own reflection—twisted, inhuman.
Then it came.
A scent.
Faint at first. Barely noticeable. But then it hit him—sweet, rich, intoxicating.
His nose flared.
It wasn't the scent of flowers or pastries or perfume, nor the smell of Jeremy's wonderful meals. No. It was thicker, warmer. Like honey stirred with something forbidden. Something primal. It gripped his senses, clouded his thoughts. The more he tried to ignore it, the more it pulled him in. As if the very air was whispering to him, Come.
He couldn't help it.
His legs moved on their own, silent and slow, like a predator in the night. He followed the invisible trail, every breath he took making the scent stronger, more vivid. His heartbeat quickened. His mouth watered. A strange hunger gnawed at him from deep within.
Down the hallway of a house, past the back door and into the woods behind the house.
And then he saw it.
The source.
Lying in the grass, twisted and still, was a dead deer. Its side torn open, ribs visible through its ruined flesh. Blood pooled beneath it—thick and dark, glistening under the moonlight.
The scent was overwhelming now. Sweet. Enticing.
Beautiful.
Joshua took a step closer, his throat dry, his instincts roaring louder than his conscience.
His eyes glowed a little brighter.
And for the first time…
He wasn't horrified, he was just tempted.
He moved closer once more and knelt beside the carcass, the tips of his fingers hovering just above the sticky pool of blood. It shimmered like melted rubies, casting faint reflections of his red eyes in the dark liquid. The scent was so strong now it felt alive—like it was crawling into his lungs, wrapping itself around his brain, whispering things he didn't understand but somehow craved.
His mouth parted slightly, the sharp edge of his new fangs brushing against his bottom lip. He didn't even notice when his fingers dipped into the blood. He only realized it when he brought them to his mouth.
And tasted it.
The moment the warm, metallic liquid touched his tongue, something inside him snapped.
The hunger that had been quietly scratching at the back of his mind now roared to life like a caged beast set free. A shudder ran down his spine as he hunched over the body, breath heavy, heart pounding. He didn't feel disgust. He didn't feel fear. He felt…
Relief.
As if this—this horrific scene, this vile act—was exactly what he'd been craving all along.
The blood slid down his throat like nectar, thick and smooth, and with it came strength. Raw, fiery strength. He felt it spread through his limbs, wash over his muscles, tingle beneath his skin. The cold fear that had clung to him minutes ago was now gone—drowned in a pool of crimson satisfaction.
He rose slowly, blood still on his hands, his mouth, his chin.
And he smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile. Or a sad one. It was the smile of something that had stopped pretending.
The forest was quiet.
But Joshua was not the same anymore.
He never would be again.
[Ding]
[You have passed your first task of drinking blood]
[Now, your stats will all appear]
As Joshua's senses returned gradually, he was shocked as the realization of what he had just down hit him on the back of his head.
He had tasted blood... No, he had drank blood.
And if there was anything he felt... It was peace of mind.
The mechanical voice continued, interrupting his thoughts.
[Name: Joshua Wilton]
[Age: 16]
[Class: Newborn ]
[BP: 100]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 50]
[Speed: 50]
[Charm: 50]
[Intelligence: 50]
[Stamina: 50]
[Skills Acquired:]
Blood Sense (Passive) – Can detect the scent of blood within a 100-meter radius. The fresher the blood, the stronger the lure.
Night Vision (Passive) – Sees clearly in complete darkness. Eyes adjust instantly without discomfort.
Crimson Recovery (Active) – Drinking blood restores health and stamina rapidly. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Predator's Gaze (Passive) – Intimidates weaker creatures and influences humans. Chance to cause fear or hesitation.
Silent Step (Passive) – Movement produces no sound. Greatly enhances stealth at night.
Fang Pierce (Active) – A deadly bite that deals damage and temporarily paralyzes the target. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
Blood Memory (Passive) – Gains brief flashes of memory from the blood consumed, depending on how fresh the blood is.
[Title Gained: First Taste]
You've taken your first step into darkness. Your body remembers the hunger.
[Quest Unlocked: Embrace the Night]
Learn to hunt, feed, and survive without losing your mind. The moon is no longer just a light in the sky—it's your witness.
Joshua stared at the glowing screen in front of him, the strange symbols lingering in the air like ghostly fireflies. He blinked, half-expecting them to vanish… but they stayed, waiting patiently for him to accept what they had just declared.
Newborn. Vampire.
It wasn't a dream. It wasn't some weird hallucination or side effect of a fever. This was real. He had tasted blood—and liked it. No, needed it.
A shaky breath escaped his lips.
"I'm a vampire…" he whispered to no one. The word tasted foreign, heavy, final. But deep inside… it made sense. Everything made sense now. The red eyes. The fangs. The overwhelming hunger. The strength that now pulsed quietly in his limbs.
There was no going back.
He sat down slowly, the forest floor cool beneath him, and stared at his bloodstained hands. He didn't feel disgusted anymore. He just felt… changed.
Different.
Alone.
A dull ache tugged at his chest, different from the hunger. It wasn't physical—it was something deeper. A memory. A person.
"Jeremy…"
His voice broke on the name. His elder brother and only family member. One that never jokes with him, acts like a father, makes sure he never lacks. The only person he loved entirely.
Was he even still alive?
That night, they had gone to bed with the promise of never been apart from each other and a promise to always return to each other no matter the distance.
Was this the uneasiness he was having that night? The bad feeling that was crawling its way to his mind?
It felt real that night.
If only he knew that he'd be separated from the only person he cherished... He would have perhaps chosen to spend his remaining night in his brother's room... On his brother's bed or perhaps worn one of his clothes. That way, he wouldn't be missing him this bad.
Joshua clenched his fists, the sharp nails digging into his palms.
He didn't know where Jeremy was or what he had become — but one thing burned clear through the uncertainty: He must find him... No matter what it would cost him.