Kael Voss the kid slumped in the rickety chair, the metallic tang of blood thick on his tongue. The health potion's synthetic warmth spread through his veins like liquid fire, knitting gashed flesh and staunching the flow from his wounds. Bandages tightened around his arms and thigh, stained crimson but holding. The room was a slaughterhouse five Green Viper thugs sprawled lifeless or twitching on the blood pooled floor, Shin's corpse staring sightlessly from its single ruined eye.
But Kael's world had fractured. The blue holographic interface hovered in his vision, unblinking, its words searing into his mind like branded fate.
[System Reminder: Mission Timer Started. 71:59:32 remaining. Hart family alert level: Rising. Scouts ETA: 1:47.]
"What the fuck is this?" Kael muttered, waving a hand through the projection. It didn't budge. His scavenged dagger, now pulsing with an eerie black aura, lay in his lap the Blade of Invincible Death. He could feel it unbreakable, hungry for souls. The Death Bloodline thrummed in his chest, a cold shadow coiling around his heart, sharpening his senses. Scents sharpened the copper reek of blood, the acrid sweat of fear from moments ago. Sounds amplified distant footsteps crunching gravel outside.
[Host query detected] the system chimed mentally, a neutral feminine voice in his skull. [Status Panel unlocked. Query 'Status' for details. Recommendation: Evacuate. Hart reinforcements inbound Level 8-12 cultivators, 7 units. Survival odds dropping.]
Kael's mind raced. Zone F was a meat grinder, but he'd clawed through worse. The Harts? Untouchable overlords. Killing Shin just painted a target on his back. "Status," he growled experimentally.
[Host: Kael Voss. Age: 16. Level: 1 (20/100 XP).
Cultivation: None (Blood Meridian: Sealed 0%).
Stats: STR 12, AGI 18, VIT 14, INT 10, LUK 2, CHA 5.
Death Points: 200.
Bloodline: Death (4% - Grants minor soul sense, wound resistance +10%, aura intimidation Lv1).
Inventory: Blade of Invincible Death (Epic: Ignores 50% armor, soul-drain on kill +5-15 DP), Health Potion x1 (used), Ragged Clothes.
Active Mission: Survive 3 Days (Hart Pursuit). Chance: 0.00001%.]
Footsteps grew louder—boots on pavement, low curses. "Shin signaled before losing he's life signal the kid's definitely inside. Take him alive for Duan!"
No time. Kael snatched the Blade, its weight perfect in his grip, and bolted for the back door. It burst open into a narrow alley choked with trash and flickering holo-ads for "Essence Boosters: Cultivate or Die!" He vaulted a dumpster, agility carrying him like wind, and melted into the shadows of Zone F's maze.
[Scouts: 3 Viper grunts (Lv6-8), minor blood tempering. Armed: Cleavers, chains. Approach vector: Alley convergence.]
Kael crouched atop a rusted fire escape, heart steady despite the burn. The Bloodline whispered
~ Death comes for all ~
Below, three figures prowled tattooed bruisers scanning with crude essence detectors.
"Spread out! Boss Duan wants that essence pure no damage!"
Kael dropped silently behind the straggler. Blade flashed a streak of void-black. It sheared through chain armor like paper, piercing kidney to spine. The man gasped, soul-wisp yanked free into the blade.
[Kill confirmed: +10 Death Points. +5 XP. Total XP: 25/100. Soul absorbed: Minor vitality boost.]
The other two whirled. "There!"
First charged with a cleaver overhead. Kael sidestepped fluidly, staff-fighting instincts blending with Bloodline precision. Counterslash to the throat arterial spray, soul-drain.
[Kill: +10 DP. +5 XP. Total: 40/100.]
Last one panicked, hurling a blood spike crimson dart from his palm. Kael's soul sense felt it coming he twisted, the spike grazing his cheek. He closed the gap, driving the Blade through the man's chest. Twist. Pull.
[Kill: +12 DP (blood art user). +7 XP. Total XP: 47/100. Alert: Hart elites dispatched. Safehouse network compromised. Head to sewers Zone F underpass.]
Panting lightly, Kael looted: 20 creds, a low-grade essence vial (+5 VIT temp), Viper insignia (disguise potential?). Sirens wailed closer Hart skiffs inbound. He dragged bodies into shadows, smeared blood to mimic a rival gang hit (Red Fangs symbol from memory), then plunged into a storm drain.
The sewers reeked of filth and chem-waste, but cover. Bioluminescent fungi lit dripping tunnels. Kael bandaged fresh scratches, quaffed the vial.
[Mission Progress: Day 1/3 - 70:12:41. Survival chance: 0.0001% (slight uptick). Remark: Not bad, Host. But Duan Hart (Lv22 Blood Lord) personally hunting now. Plan funeral or counterattack? Shop unlocked: Spend DP on skills/items?]
Kael smirked grimly, Blade humming approval. Freedom tasted like blood and power. The Harts wanted a slave? He'd deliver death.
But as echoes of pursuit filtered down, he wondered: What was this system? Was it a gift? Or was it a curse? He couldn't tell but all he knew was that it made him stronger
[Incoming transmission intercepted: "Viper outpost hit. Kid's got backing? Double bounty—2,000 credits or slave rights." Survival just got spicier.]