8: Eldrich! And the system that grants EXP for killing monsters!

Once upon a time, Eldrich was a land not unlike Earth, marked by thriving empires, bustling churches, and flourishing cultures. All was normal until a disaster of unimaginable scale disrupted everything.

However, everything turned upside down after one major event.

Countless years ago, out of nowhere, a moon, glowing with a blood-red hue, emerged in the starry night sky. Since then, the world, as it had been understood, was no more.

With the appearance of the Crimson Moon, the rules governing this world took an unsettling turn. The departed didn't stay buried anymore, rising from their graves, ravenous for the living. They hunted down humans and animals alike ruthlessly. No matter how many they killed and devoured, their hunger remained insatiable, and they always roamed the land in search of more until they were out down once more!

The appearance of the Crimson Moon didn't just bring back the dead. It also led to the appearance of dungeons and devils.

Against these monstrous threats, humans of days old didn't stand a chance. Settlements fell one after the other at a horrifying rate.

Humanity seemed to be doomed.

Just then, a miracle occurred.

The first bloodline user appeared in Eldrich.

The first Bloodline User's power was beyond comprehension; he exterminated the threats to his city like a butcher slicing through meat.

He single-handedly defended an entire city from being overrun by the walking dead, mutated animals, and the devils!

Stories of his heroic deeds spread far and wide, drawing people to him, people who were desperate for his guidance and protection.

He showed them the way to acquire bloodlines free of charge.

Bloodline users come into being when humans ingest a unique potion, which is a concoction brewed from the flesh, blood, and various parts of devils or mutated animals. Depending on their unique characteristics, bloodline users can be categorized into several types, such as Warriors, Spell Casters, Priests, and so on.

A bloodline user would earn the title of Warrior if they boasted extraordinary physical strength. In the same vein, those with the ability to restore health or harness holy magic were aptly deemed Priests. Spell Casters, on the other hand, were bloodline users with the power to command natural elements such as fire, water, earth, and so forth.

Bloodline users were also categorized into levels, a system that ranged from the lowest, level 1, to the highest, level 10. This structure existed to help distinguish the capabilities and power of each bloodline user.

The level of a user was determined by their strength, skill, and mastery over their particular characteristic - be it the might of a Warrior, the healing power of a Priest, or the elemental control of a Spell Caster. For example, a level 1 Warrior might possess strength slightly above the average human, whereas a level 10 Warrior would be a paragon of raw physical power, able to perform feats of strength beyond ordinary comprehension. With a simple, they could destroy mountains. And with a simple kick, they could separate seas. Similarly, a level 1 Spell Caster might be able to conjure a ball of fire or a small wave of water, while a level 10 could unleash elemental forces that can shape and reshape the world around them.

After Valerius, the First Bloodline, made the method to become a bloodline user common knowledge, the bloodline users multiplied, slowly but surely shifting the balance of power against the nightmares of Eldrich and in favour of humanity.

With the appearance of many bloodline users, the last bastion of humanity, the Valerius kingdom, was founded. Initially, it was named Valerius in honor of the first Bloodline User. Val's name was inspired by him, as Joshua saw in Val the same potential as the first bloodline user.

Over time, the kingdom passed through many hands.

With every new ruler, it was given a new name.

The current sovereign was Victoria. Thus, the kingdom was now known as the Victoria Kingdom.

Originally, the kingdom consisted solely of the Divine Capital, but as the threats nearby the capital were neutralized, the inner region was established.

After that, the nobles of the inner region and the affluent aristocracy, and the royal family of the divine capital collaborated to set up fortified strongholds to provide protection to the outlanders. When the number of these strongholds surpassed a hundred, the outer region came into being.

Beyond the stronghold of the outer region lay a wild expanse, interspersed with what could be called remnants of human settlements that had fallen under the siege of the Walking Dead.

Close to the IronSpire Stronghold, the shadow of one such forgotten settlement, now known as ShadowFall city, still lingered.

Heavy, ominous clouds shrouded the sky, obscuring the moons from view.

After sneaking out of the formidable stronghold known as IronSpire, a young man set forth towards the lingering ruins of what once was ShadowFall City. His hair, a rich, velvety black, matched the dark depths of his eyes, lending him an air of striking handsomeness. He was wearing black clothes. A scabbard was fastened at his side, cradling a sword, the hilt of which was sticking out and visible, suggesting readiness.

Indeed, this was none other than Val V. Whitemore.

Why, one might wonder, would he venture to ShadowFall City?

He was going there to farm zombies!!!

He had discovered that the Devil's system bestowed EXP for defeating adversaries. This revelation came to him when he unintentionally stepped on an ant, extinguishing its tiny life as he was making his way back to his room post a conversation with his father.

For killing an ant, he was rewarded with a mere 0.0001 EXP.

Killing ants didn't seem profitable.

Thus, to gain EXP faster, he was going to the Shadowfall City to slay zombies!

'How much EXP will I get from killing one zombie?' Val wondered as he stepped into the forest that separated the Ironspire Stronghold from the remnants of the ShadowFall City.