The price of power

Aiden knelt beside Léa's lifeless body for a long time, paralyzed by grief and indecision. Seeing someone die in front of him was something he had never experienced before.

The system notification still floated before his eyes, taunting him, tempting him with the promise of power. But something inside him revolted at the idea of thus defiling the remains of the one who had been, for a brief moment, a glimmer of humanity in this cruel world.

He closed his eyes, trying to silence the thirst that was growing within him, to push back the primal instinct that urged him to sink his fangs into the still-warm flesh. It was like an inner struggle, his human conscience against his dhampir nature, a battle whose outcome he feared to know. But he also knew that she was now dead, and that he had to become strong, but also put these emotions aside to achieve the goal he had set for himself.

With a trembling hand, he touched Léa's face, murmuring apologies that no one could hear. He knew he should get up, leave, let the dead rest in peace. But the temptation was so strong, the need so pressing...

Almost without realizing it, as if in a trance, Aiden leaned over Léa's neck. His lips curled back, revealing sharp canines that only waited to plunge into the offered vein. A part of him screamed to stop, but it seemed so distant, muffled by the drum of blood beating in his ears. Then, his mind became hazy, his senses no longer perceiving anything as if he were losing consciousness once again.

But a few seconds later, in a moment of terrible clarity, he realized that he had already bitten, that the blood was flowing down his throat, hot and thick, pulsing with the promise of the system. The taste was intoxicating, metallic and yet strangely sweet, like a blessing in disguise.

He drank only a few gulps before tearing himself away from Léa's throat, horrified by his own act. Blood stained his lips, ran down his chin. Shame and disgust with himself washed over him, mingling with a new energy that coursed through his veins.

"Quest complete," the system announced, "20 experience points awarded. Drinking blood has restored all your health and energy."

"Congratulations, you have reached level 3. You have gained 5 attribute points."

Without thinking, still in shock from these events, Aiden allocated the points according to the same logic.

Name: Aiden

Species: Dhampir

Level: 3

Exp: 5/40

Health: 140/140

Strength: 11

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 8

Endurance: 11

Skills: None

Surprisingly, drinking blood had restored his vitality, but also a certain mental clarity, even though he had only slept a little.

He remained kneeling beside her for a long time, silent, contemplative. Then he slowly stood up, contemplating the darkness that stretched beyond the circle of greenish light. Somewhere in that darkness hid the answers he sought, the vengeance he desired. And to reach them, he had to embrace his new nature, master his nascent powers.

With one last look at Léa's body, Aiden plunged into the subway tunnels, his sharpened senses on the lookout for the slightest danger. Soon, familiar growls echoed in the distance, making him tense up. Monsters and ghouls still roamed.

Gripping the crowbar in his hand, Aiden advanced with muffled steps, guided by his predatory instinct. Around a bend in a corridor, he came upon a group of misshapen creatures, half-man, half-beast, rummaging through the rubble. The smell of carrion and rot emanating from them turned his stomach.

"New targets detected," the system announced. "Hungry Ghouls, level 2. Reward: 10 experience points per enemy defeated."

Without hesitation, Aiden rushed towards the monsters, swinging his improvised weapon. The battle was brutal, bloody, but brief. His more developed reflexes allowed him to dodge claws and fangs, while his increased strength wreaked havoc on the putrid flesh.

When the last monster fell, Aiden was covered in foul-smelling black fluids, but triumphant.

He continued like this for what seemed like hours, tracking and eliminating the horrors that haunted the subway station.

"Congratulations, you have reached level 5. You have gained 5 attribute points."

"You have unlocked the passive skill: Enhanced Night Vision. You can now see in complete darkness."

Name: Aiden

Species: Dhampir

Level: 5

Exp: 20/160

Health: 100/170

Strength: 12

Agility: 15

Intelligence: 11

Endurance: 14

Skills: Enhanced Night Vision

All these battles had finally paid off. He had just reached level 5 and unlocked night vision, which would help him immensely, giving him a definite advantage if he could use it well. He had also decided to increase his intelligence a bit, hoping that it would help him better use these abilities in combat. He also noticed that when he increased endurance, his health increased as well. A detail not to be overlooked, as it will save his life in the future.

It was now time for him to get out of this place and return to the surface.

After a few hours of walking to find a way out, he finally found a manhole and reached the surface, seeing that it was morning. Strangely, he had felt no fatigue even though he had had little sleep.

"Is it because I've become a Dhampir? Is it because I drank blood? " he thought to himself.

Aiden cautiously emerged from the manhole, squinting in the harsh light of the rising sun. The streets were strangely calm, as if frozen in an unsettling tranquility. Only the rustling of the wind in the dead leaves disturbed the silence.

He took a moment to observe his surroundings, noting the dilapidated buildings, the abandoned cars rusting at the side of the road. It was as if the city had been emptied of all human presence, leaving behind only an empty and desolate shell.

Aiden wondered where all the inhabitants had gone. Had they fled the disaster? Had they been transformed into monsters under the influence of mana? Léa's words came back to him:

"Humans have become monsters too." A shiver ran through his body.