The Last Bloodline; The Tale of the Master’s Revenge

CHAPTER 003

The warm feeling coursed around his body and he even felt his hands trembling, his head spinning and a dulling pain sounded in his head.

A hum sounded in his head again and this time some info entered his head and it seemed to be from the necklace.

Strength: Below average

Health: Poor

Immune Response: Critical Decline.

Marcus’s breath caught. His hands shook as he closed his eyes and . “No… no, this can’t be real…”

The voice rumbled in his mind again. It was calm and undeniable. It sounded like it was right next to him.

The necklace around his neck shimmered faintly. A warmth spread into his chest, then the familiar low voice echoed in his mind, calm and commanding:

“New Mission: Feed the hungry. Objective—Provide food to five people in need within the next six hours. Reward 50 Strength Points, 20 Health Points, 5 Stamina Points.”

Marcus blinked. “Feed the hungry It wasn’t what. Well, that sounds doable.” He said as he took out his last dollar notes.

The streets buzzed with life outside the hotel. Neon signs flickered, cars honked, vendors called out. Marcus walked until he found a food stand, the smell of steaming noodles and grilled meat drawing him in.

He bought five neatly packed servings and carried them carefully. His eyes swept the streets, searching. It didn’t take long.

By the edge of an alley, he spotted them a woman huddled with two kids, their clothes dirty and faces pale. A man further down sat slumped against a wall, his hands shaking. Another old man shuffled through a trash bin, pulling out cans.

Marcus approached the first woman. Her eyes flicked up, suspicious, but when he knelt and held out the warm meal, her expression cracked. Tears welled as her children grabbed the food. “Thank you… thank you…” she whispered, voice breaking.

Marcus just nodded, his throat tight. He didn’t need to say anything.

He moved on, giving the meals one by one. Each time, he saw the same thing: the relief in their faces, somehow made his chest feel this strangely warm feeling but also the thrill of what to expect from the necklace.

As the last old man took the food with trembling hands and gave him a toothless smile, the necklace pulsed.

“Mission complete. Reward granted.”

A rush of energy surged through Marcus. His limbs felt lighter, his body stronger. His body felt lighter and warmer as he breathed deeply sucking air in as he felt a rejuvenating wave of energy wash over him and his hands clenched and unclenched with newfound power.

He smiled faintly. “So this is how it works?”

Night had fallen by the time he returned to the hotel. The city lights painted his path in gold and silver. As he entered the lobby, the patrons greeted him with practiced smiles, but Marcus hardly noticed. His thoughts lingered on the people he had helped, and the strange yet undeniable strength flowing inside him.

“I am no illusion Marcus, I am the heirloom of your bloodline, sealed in this necklace for generations and now you, Marcus, are chosen. Accept my missions, and you will gain power beyond comprehension. If you don’t complete my missions they will attract punishment.” The voice said, sounding in his ears.

Marcus’s chest heaved. “Power? For what? What's going on exactly?” he held his head in confusion.

The voice ignored his protest and didn’t say anything in reply just keeping him silent.

He hadn't even walked that far when the voice sounded in his head a low hum and another message flashed before his eyes. It was another Mission!

[ Mission notification]

Protect the lady being assaulted.

Failure will attract punishment.

Reward: Awakening – Tier I

Bonus: $1000

Marcus blinked surprised about what was playing right in front of his eyes. He looked around wondering where the lady that was being assaulted was. If this strange voice had claimed it's real then where was she?

Suddenly through the sounds of rain pattering on the ground, he heard muffled cries. A woman’s voice, pleading and begging her voice was teary and pitiful. Where was she? He wondered and as he headed toward a nearby alley.

That was where the sounds were coming from and instinct dragged his battered body toward it. Even without the necklace asking him to protect the lady he was inclined to help the distressed lady. Although it was night and very dark, he couldn’t make out the figures of the men and the lady.

But one thing was evident, whatever the necklace was and whatever it was that was speaking to me was one thing, Real! But he still had a lot of confirming to do and the only way was to complete more missions and this mission was right in front of him.

He walked towards the alley in the pouring rain, squinting his eyes to make out their figures and soon they came into view.

Three men surrounded a woman standing in their middle and trying to break out of the encirclement she screened but her screams drowned by the storm and she tried to push them back but all their efforts were just going to waste because they didn't even budge a bit and just reeled into laughter.

One of them yanked at her purse, another at her arm. Seeing the men now up close he realized that they were very muscular men and strong looking, one of them could beat him up not to talk about three of them.

Marcus’s pulse hammered. Every fiber of his body screamed to turn away, to save what little strength he had left. But the necklace pulsed again, burning against his chest. His fists clenched.

Almost without thinking, Marcus charged at them to even his own surprise. He just had to stand up to them and hopefully they just cooperate and get scared off.

“Hey!” His voice cracked, hoarse but sharp enough to make the men glance his way. They smirked.

“Look at this one,” one thug sneered. “Old man wants to play hero.”

Marcus raised his fists weakly, trembling. For a moment, he almost regretted it. But then the warmth surged again, lightning through his veins. Somehow his vision sharpened, his muscles tensed, and something ancient, something buried deep, roared awake inside him.

The first punch he threw made a cracking sound of shattered bone. The thug crumpled with a cry, clutching his jaw. Marcus staggered in shock, staring at his own trembling hand that seemed to hum with so much energy.

What is this strength? He asked himself with surprise as he stared at his hands.

The other two got pissed off and rushed him. Seeing the effect of the punch on the first guy the others seemed to learn and took caution. One swung a pipe, but Marcus moved faster than he thought possible. His arm snapped up, catching the pipe mid-swing. He twisted, ripping it free, and drove his elbow into the thug’s ribs with brutal force. The man collapsed, wheezing.

The last thug froze, eyes wide at the sudden ferocity. Marcus stepped forward, every raindrop on his body feeling like sparks. His fist slammed into the man’s gut, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground.

Silence and only the rain remained.

The woman stumbled away, clutching her purse, her eyes wide in terror not at her assailants, but at him. She whispered a shaky “thank you” before running into the night.

Marcus stood there, chest heaving, heart racing. The glow in the necklace dimmed, and new words burned before him.

[Mission Complete]

Reward Unlocked: Awakening – Tier I.

Strength Increased. Reflexes Heightened. Vitality Stabilized.

Marcus dropped to his knees in the rain, staring at his trembling hands. His breath came easier, fuller. For the first time in months, he felt alive.

Not only alive but he felt dangerous and for the first time since his world had fallen apart, Marcus tasted something more powerful than despair.

Purpose and that terrified him.

Marcus woke to the sterile glare of fluorescent lights and the steady beep of a monitor. The hospital room smelled of antiseptic, sharp and clinical. His body felt like lead, every breath dragging needles into his lungs.

For a moment, he thought he had dreamt it all the alley, the fight, the woman. But the bruises on his knuckles and the soreness in his ribs told another story.

The doctor, a tired-looking man with gray at his temples, came in holding a clipboard. “Mr. Hale, you collapsed from severe exhaustion and respiratory strain. I’ve seen your chart… and I’ll be blunt. Your condition is worsening faster than expected. Without aggressive treatment, you may only have months.”

The words sank like stones. Marcus barely reacted; he had already been living with the slow toll of decay. But hearing it spoken so plainly carved the truth deeper.

He swallowed. “The woman… the one that was brought in… Is she alright?”

The doctor frowned. “What woman? You were found alone in the street.”

Marcus froze. “No, someone was there. She was being dragged into an alley, I was sure of that.”