Chapter 6: A New Beginning

A century had passed since humanity first faced the horrors of the Riftspawn. No longer did epic battles shake the world to its core. Instead, humans had become relentless hunters, delving into rifts of varying ranks to end the Riftspawn threat once and for all. Their mission was simple: locate and shatter the Rift Stones that anchored the rifts, all while battling the relentless hordes of Riftspawn.

The vampires, who had once protected humanity from the shadows, had vanished completely. They left behind no trace, erasing every memory of their existence. In the minds of humanity, they became little more than legends.

In this new era, a group of Awakeners had emerged, calling themselves "The Eclipse." Unlike their predecessors, they believed that the Riftspawn could be harnessed and manipulated to serve their mysterious goals. To achieve this, they had allied themselves with the very creatures that had once threatened humanity.

Fast-forward to the present day, where Alexander McQueen, a fifteen-year-old with long, raven-black hair, a small stature, and a preference for dark attire, stood on the brink of high school graduation. His parents had met a tragic end battling the Riftspawn when he was just ten years old. Since that fateful day, he had lived in solitude, haunted by their memory.

Despite his youthful appearance, Alexander carried a heavy burden, a somberness that belied his age. His eyes, often concealed beneath his tousled black hair, harbored an unrelenting hatred for the Riftspawn—an abhorrence that fueled his every action.

Throughout his high school years, he had been a target for bullies, led by a boy named Ryan and his gang. Their Awakening had granted them unique abilities but had corrupted their hearts with arrogance and cruelty. Among them, Ryan possessed a rare and potent 5-star-rated ice control ability, further inflating their egos.

Despite the relentless torment and humiliation, Alexander endured. His loathing for the Riftspawn, the very beings that had taken his parents, propelled him forward. Graduation was not merely a milestone; it was a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal—becoming an Awakener.

In this society, all humans were given two opportunities to awaken their abilities. The first occurred before high school graduation, and the second took place at the prestigious Awakeners Institute in their respective countries. In Alexander's homeland, the renowned institution was Nexus Academy.

The day of Alexander's first awakening trial arrived, and he stood before the Awakener's Stone—a symbol of his hopes and dreams. As he placed his hand upon it, anticipation hung in the air. He waited for that electrifying surge of power that would confirm his abilities and set him on the path to vengeance.

But time passed, and the stone remained silent. It refused to grant him a glimpse of the dormant power he yearned to unlock. With a heavy heart, Alexander withdrew his hand, feeling the weight of failure. He had failed his first trial, but his determination remained unwavering.

It was after this initial failure that Ryan and his gang escalated their cruelty. They subjected Alexander to horrific experiments, using him as a test subject to push their newfound abilities to the limit. The authorities, influenced by Ryan's prestigious family, turned a blind eye to their sadistic actions.

Each day, Alexander's body bore the scars of their cruelty. He endured it all, refusing to surrender, his hatred for the Riftspawn acting as his shield against the pain.

One evening, as he lay battered and bloodied in his solitary room, Alexander reached for the pendant his parents had bequeathed to him—a crimson relic of their vampiric lineage. His bloodied hand came into contact with the pendant's surface.

In that moment, an unexpected surge of power surged through him. His pain vanished, replaced by newfound strength that pulsed within him. The pendant's crimson hue deepened, and the room seemed to darken as an ancient bloodline awakened within him—the vampiric lineage that had remained dormant for far too long.

Alexander McQueen, now transformed by the awakening of his vampiric abilities, thought that he was no longer the helpless target of bullies. A new power coursed through him, and the path to vengeance he had longed for had been forever altered.

However, it was the weakest rank of a half-vampire, and Alexander was just beginning to uncover the extent of this newfound power.