The Broken Vampire System

9

~Laurent

I opened my eyes and was greeted by the ray of sun that creeped in through the window. I got off my bed and stretched, yawning. As if waiting for me to get up, an inevitable shimmer burned across my vision.

[Status Menu]

• Strength: 29

• Agility: 10

• Endurance: 11

• Perception: 6

• Intelligence: 8

Current Level: 2

Skills available: Blood Instinct, Night Vision

And then the part that I never looked forward to showed up:

[Daily Task Generated]

Raid the Ashen Crypt and slay the Master.

Reward: New skills, extra points

Penalty: Loss of current points, extreme pain

I let out a shaky breath and rubbed my face with both hands. "I feel this thing is on a mission to kill me."

I hadn't heard too much about the Ashen Crypt but from the little I'd learned. I knew it wasn't a place that people visited often especially not alone and it was my task for the day not to only visit there but also slay the master. How was I going to do that?!

I dragged myself upright anyway. I knew that the tasks weren't something I could ignore and the penalty for not completing tasks seemed to increase the higher my level went but the benefit was that I was actually getting stronger.

I had to get to school first though. I dressed slowly—plain academy robes, boots laced tight, cloak drawn. I caught my reflection in the cracked mirror by my bed. I looked down at the bed of my roommates, they were still asleep.

The campus buzzed as usual, students chattering, mana crackling in the air. I forced a smile for the registrar, checking in like any other normal student. He didn't pay much attention to me though.

The moment I was clear, I slipped behind the school, heart hammering.

The shimmer appeared again, sharp as a blade.

[Activate portal to the Ashen Crypt?]

Yes / No

I looked around and confirmed that no one could see me and then after swallowing hard, I replied. "Yes."

The air split with a hiss. Darkness bled into shape, forming a swirling vortex that smelled of stone dust and cold graves. My fingers clenched tighter around nothing.

I stepped through.

–––

The world folded. When I opened my eyes, everything was black but I could see. Night Vision bled clarity into the dark. The tomb stretched before me like a labyrinth of bones. The walls were carved stone, etched with faded runes, slick with condensation. Chains hung from the ceiling, rattling faintly in a wind that didn't exist. The ground was littered with broken helmets, shattered swords, skeletons half-buried in ash.

I tightened my grip on the knife at my side and walked forward.

The first thing I saw wasn't alive—it was a husk. A corpse, twisted, wrapped in grey bandages that dragged along the floor. It lurched upright when I passed, head jerking, jaw opening in a silent scream. Its eyes glowed faint red.

[Gravebound Servant – Rank E]

It staggered toward me, claws outstretched.

I lunged. The knife cut through its throat like rotted parchment. Ash spilled instead of blood. It crumbled to dust.

I walked further. More Servants rose from the walls, their bandages unraveling, claws scraping the stone. Three this time. They rushed me in uneven jerks.

Blood Instinct flared—I could sense their staggering rhythm before they moved. My body reacted faster than my thoughts. Step right, slash across the nearest one's spine. Twist, kick another into the wall. My knife pierced the third's chest and it collapsed, dissolving into dust.

My chest heaved, but not from exhaustion. From exhilaration.

"Keep coming. I can do this."

But the tomb listened too well.

The corridor widened into a chamber. From the floor, pale arms burst forth—five, six, seven bodies dragging themselves out of the ash. These weren't Servants. Their flesh was mottled, eyes glowing like embers. Their jaws unhinged far too wide, teeth clattering.

[Crypt Ghouls – Rank D]

My throat went dry. "Alright… different game."

They snarled in unison, rushing me with animal hunger.

I darted forward, ducking under claws, slashing a throat. Blood hissed as it hit the ground, sizzling like acid. A ghoul leapt at me from the side—I rolled, drove my knife into its gut, yanked upward. It screamed as it collapsed, but two more took its place.

Claws raked across my arm. I hissed, pain jolting hot. My knife slipped, but I ducked just in time to avoid a critical hit, I grabbed my knife from the floor and started stabbing upward blindly. The blade sank into a skull. I couldn't believe my luck.

Three more surrounded me.

I kicked one back, slammed another against the wall, slashed in wide arcs. I moved like a man possessed, like the wolves had taught me. Cut, dodge, duck, slash, twist. Blood sprayed, hot and acidic, stinging my skin.

When the last one fell, I was panting, arm bleeding, knife slick.

The system chimed.

[+3 Strength. +2 Agility.]

I didn't even smile. I just kept walking. I knew it got harder from here.

–––

Deeper into the tomb, the air grew heavier and the walls closed in.

A gate loomed ahead—massive, carved with fangs and chains.

[Warning: Master Ahead]

I froze. My throat clenched. Power radiated from beyond that gate like heat from a furnace. My knees almost buckled under it.

The system flickered again.

[New Weapon Unlocked: Twin Daggers – "Fang & Talon"]

I blinked. Inventory opened. Two curved blades materialized in my hands, black steel gleaming faintly.

Runes shimmered on the hilts.

• Fang: Every third strike causes bleeding damage over time.

• Talon: Critical strikes increase attack speed temporarily.

I exhaled, clutching them.

Then the gate shuddered and opened.

I stepped in.

–––

The chamber was vast, the ceiling lost in shadows. At the far end sat a throne of bones. Upon it—something massive stirred.

He rose.

Ten feet tall, skin grey like stone, muscles corded like tree trunks. His face was a skeletal mask, jaw lined with fangs, eyes burning crimson. Black chains coiled around his arms, dragging against the ground as he moved. His voice rumbled like an earthquake.

"I am Morvath, Keeper of the Crypt. Trespasser…" His gaze pinned me. "…you defy this place with your presence."

My heart skipped.

When he stepped down, the ground shook.

"And your blood will cleanse the filth you brought in."

Instinct screamed at me to run. I turned, but the gate slammed shut behind me.

"…Of course." I raised the daggers, my voice a whisper. "Guess the only way out is through."

I took a deep breath and then lunged. Daggers flashed. Steel met flesh—but Morvath's arm rose, blocking with casual ease. His fist swung. I caught it on my arms. The impact exploded through my bones, hurling me backward across the chamber. I slammed into the wall, ribs screaming.

"Too strong. Way too strong."

I staggered up, spit blood, forced my legs forward. Again. Faster. I ran in arcs, daggers striking from different angles, dropping, feinting, spinning. He kept blocking but his size failed him and one of my blade strikes scratched his face. Blood welled, dark and thick.

For one breath, I believed I was winning.

Then Morvath roared. The sound cracked stone. He blurred forward with more speed than I thought his big body was capable of, he slammed a fist into my chest. Air vanished. Pain burst white. I flew again, rolling across the floor.

I coughed blood. I retreated a bit, looking at his figure. He was big so speed must be his weakness. He might be fast but carrying that big body must be hard for him.

I circled and then went in for the kill, he dodged and retaliated with a punch of his own but I ducked just in time, slashing again when I saw an opening. Each time I struck, he countered harder. A kick snapped against my ribs, sending me sprawling. He didn't wait for me to get up this time, in minutes he was on me, his fist hammered my shoulder, cracking bone. My body screamed, but I forced myself up. He grabbed me by my leg, hit me against the floor and threw me into the wall. Rocks cracked and fell over me. I struggled but got to my feet only to see him charging at me.

Blood Instinct mapped his movements, but he was still fast. I dodged left and then he materialized ahead of me, his fist smashing my jaw. Darkness burst behind my eyes. He followed, relentless—punches like hammers, kicks like wrecking balls. Each one drove me deeper into pain.

I gasped, teeth gritted, body trembling. "I… can't… beat him head-on."

The first time he delayed for about two seconds, I used that opportunity to run. I darted around the chamber, lungs burning, dodging, rolling, scraping by inches. My blades lashed out when I could, nicking his arms, slicing shallow cuts. Nothing deep enough to slow him.

Minutes bled into hours. Or felt like it. Each second was survival. I spent more time avoiding his attacks than actually dealing damage on him.

He ran for me and swung his fist, I ducked, dodging his punch and saw a narrow opening as his fist swung above my head. I slashed both daggers across his stomach. Blood sprayed black. He roared, staggering back a step.

My knees nearly buckled. "Yes. A weakness. He bleeds."

But the triumph lasted one heartbeat. Then he was on me again, faster than before. His fists hammered me, one after another, driving me into the wall. Rocks split, dust showering. My ribs cracked. My vision blurred.

I collapsed, coughing blood. My daggers slipped from numb fingers.

Morvath loomed, eyes burning. "Weak prey. You end here."

I spat blood then roared and charged.

He tried to punch me again, I stepped back and launched my daggers at him. The daggers met flesh again. He groaned in pain and tried to kick my chest, I side stepped, avoiding his kick creating an opening for me and again I landed another slash on him. He cried out and tried to attack me again but he was a lot slower now. I slashed wildly, every ounce of strength poured into the strikes. Morvath struggled to keep up.

I leapt, Talon flashing, carving it across his throat. He groaned but I didn't wait for him to recover before driving fang into his forehead.

Morvath roared, staggered, but then collapsed like a mountain falling.

I collapsed too, gasping, my body broken.

The system flickered.

[New Skills Unlocked]

• Claw Manifestation – Fingers sharpen into claws for slashing.

• Fang Bite – Bite drains minor stamina/energy from enemies.

• Shadow Step – Short-range dash through shadows.

• Blood Recovery – Heal from injuries fast.

[+10 Strength, +5 Agility, +4 Endurance, +3 Intelligence, +2 Perception]

My lips cracked into a bloody grin.

Then another pop up showed.

[Task Completed. Activate Portal? Yes / No]

I croaked, "Yes."

Light swallowed me.

–––

When I opened my eyes, I was back behind the school. The sun hadn't moved. Time hadn't passed.

But my body was shattered. Blood Recovery stitched flesh together slowly, too slowly. I slumped to the ground, panting, every breath agony.

Then suddenly, I heard a voice not too far from me.

"Laurent? What are you doing here?"