SYSTEM ASCENSION

Places outside the heart of black empire weren’t any different. Just the same people picking different places to live in.

Unlike Salvador, where Elias draws attention just by existing, this place wasn’t like that. They blend in naturally because everyone was equally tall, or even taller.

Tiana almost got lost in the sea of feets, and she ended up bursting into tears and throwing a childish fit in the middle of the road. Because of this, she ended up riding on Jordan’s back the entire trip.

They visited different places, brought different unfamiliar things, had a meal in a popular town and returned when the sun was finally settling.

They split up right after. Elias and Jordan walked away to the palace, while Tiana and Quil took the direction of the fortress.

”I’m so tired!” Tiana exclaimed. ”It’s a full moon tonight!”

Quil looked at the moon, sitting full in the sky, illuminating the district.

She turned around and glanced at him.

”You’re Quil right? I heard you’re like us.”

”Yes.” His eyes returned to her.

”What’s your system ability?”

He shrugged. ”The same as my awakened ability.”

”...what?” She stopped. ”Your awakened ability and system ability are the same?”

”Yes.”

”Wow ...it must be stronger.”

She continued forward, yawning occasionally. A moment later, they arrived.

While she walked in, he caught sight of a figure in a uniform like his. She was staggering.

He stopped walking and just watched.

Occasionally, she would glance around, and then move again.

When she finally took a turn, he changed direction and followed her.

The walk was a very long one.

She completely left the fortress area, managed to bypass the guards and slipped out into the forest area.

Quil followed still. His steps were silent.

At some point, she found it hard to move forward. She collapsed against a tree.

He stopped.

”...”

The wind blew softly, but it was enough to carry his scent to her nose. Her eyes snapped towards him, standing a few feet away.

He blinked once.

”Are you al—”

She was already before him, claws aimed at his face. He saw the attack, raised a brow and easily dodged it, by leaning sideways.

Her hand logged into the tree.

”...”

Her breathing was uneven.

”You shouldn’t just attack people like that.” He muttered. ”Especially people you don’t know.”

”Aargghh!” She ripped off a large chunk of the tree and threw it at him.

He dodged it and let it crash behind him.

”Is your ability strength? This is too absurd.”

She was now panting harder. Her eyes had turned red.

”You’re in the student council right? I have seen you before,” he tilted his head and placed his hand on his chin. ”What was it...C...Coma? Coco...you’re Coco.”

She attacked him again, and this time he appeared behind her. He raised his hand and struck her neck.

”Urgh!” Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

”Go to sleep a little bit.”

He looked around the silent forest, and back at the unconscious girl.

”A random passby might misunderstand.” He turned around to leave. ”I should get a guard. Nothing good comes out of trouble.”

He only took a few steps, before she rose up behind him. Eyes red and piercing. The moon shone directly on them, and just for a moment, the air still.

A sudden howl cut through the air.

The sound rang through the forest, making the hair on his skin stand. His eyes widened, and he turned sharply.

Her speed was unreal. One second, she was standing and the next, she was already climbing him. Her hands shot out and grabbed his face.

”...What?”

She tilted his head abruptly and sank her fang into his neck.

His eyes went wide in confusion and shock. Paralysis kicked in.

He staggered two steps back and slammed his back against a tree. She began to suck his blood.

Quil was still for a moment, eyes going blank, but as soon as he felt his blood leaving his body, his heart began to beat faster.

His hands twitched at the side, and his dormant gaze flared up. His eyes turned gold.

The air flow was disrupted. Light appeared around them like rope, and knit itself into a round blade. Then another, and another.

She pulled back just in time to see the rings, before they attacked her, throwing her several feet back and pinning her forehead into a tree.

”Grghhh!” Blood pooled massively at her feet. She twitched.

Quil’s consciousness returned. He pushed himself from the tree and stretched his hand. The rings flew from her side, leaving only the one pinning her forehead, and returned to his side, spinning around him.

His eyes were still blazing gold.

He glanced around, and back at her.

’Is...she’s dead? I just killed my classmate? No. She attacked me first.’

He touched his neck, feeling the bite mark.

”What was that...”

”Aargghh!” Coco’s eyes flew open.

He flinched, and directed both rings to her, ready to attack.

She struggled against the tree for a bit, before reaching up and grabbing the ring. As soon as she made contact with it, it burned bright and fried her hand.

”Aaarrrggghhh! Fuck! Damnit!” she cried out. ”Is this made from the sun or something!”

He blinked.

’Fuck? Is it some secret language...’ he looked around.

”Get it out!”

He tilted his head.

”Are you talking while dead?”

”I’m not dead!”

He watched the blood pooling down her face and clothes. His expression was sceptical.

”You’re supposed to be dead though.”

”I’ll die if you don’t get it out!”

The light in his eyes dimmed a little bit. ”let’s have a long talk about why you’re still alive.”

”Do you want me dead?” She threw a tantrum.

”For someone who wanted to kill me, you are so loud.”

”I wasn’t trying to kill you!” She burst into tears. ”I...just wanted a bit of blood.”

”Blood?”

”I lost my bag on the way here! I haven’t fed in two days.”

”What does that have to do with my blood?”

”I’m a vampire! I feed on blood!”

”...”

”...”

”A what?”

”Vampire!” Her voice echoed.

”Okay. Is that some religion or cult?”

”It’s a species!”

”...so...you’re not human.”

”Yes.”

”And you feed on...blood.”

”Yes.”

He raised a brow. ”Can you give me a more believable story?”

”I’m telling the truth!”

”That you need my blood...as food.”

”Yes!”

He turned away. ”I should leave you there.”

”No! No!” She stretched her hand. ”The sun will kill me!”

He was even more confused. ”The sun would kill you when a weapon that burst through your brains couldn’t. Wow.”

”I don’t have my cloak with me!” She cried. ”I’ll die!”

”...”

”Stop giving me that look! I’m telling the truth.”

”That you feed on blood,” he repeated. ”I believe you.”

”Your expression says otherwise!”

He flickered his hand and pulled back the ring. She dropped on her knees.

”Damnit!”

The wound in her head began to close up.

He just stared at her like she was performing a fascinating feat.

”Could you...” she raised her head. ”Not tell anyone about this? Actually, my species is haunted in some world, so our first rule is to hide it. Coupled with a certain family pact, I’ll get killed if words get out.”

”I see.” He took a single step closer.

”If you are trying to hide it, why did you make that sound before biting me?”

”No. That wasn’t me,” she shrugged. ”What sound are you...”

She kept quiet and thinked.

’A howl? A werewolf? A werewolf is in black—’

A tiny line of smoke startled them both. They immediately backed themselves and prepared for a fight. Someone was watching them.

”Come out!” Coco looked around.

”Oh? Where are you facing?”

The sound came from above them. They both flinched, and looked up. Their bodies went rigid in dread.

Perched on a thick branch, lounging casually, was Richard.

He took a long draw from the cigar before pointing it down. Smoke accompanied his mouth as he spoke.

”This is some interesting drama.”