The watchtower loomed from the fog like a fossil rising from water.
Cracked stones. Ivy curling through arrow slits. The top floor had caved in decades ago, but the base was intact. Most people wouldn't have seen it in the mistbut Alex wasn't most people anymore.
He stepped inside.
The air was damp. Cold. Cobwebs clung to old iron sconces. Scorch marks scarred the wallsleftovers from some long-forgotten battle. At the center of the room sat the remains of a firepit, half-choked with ash and bones.
He set down what little he carriedjust his bag, blood-soaked rags, and the dagger.
The silence was absolute.
Then the screen opened.
[Location Status: Temporary Safe Zone]
You may now access Advanced System Functions.
[System Menu Unlocked.]
Five icons shimmered in a semi-circle above his vision.
Status Inventory Skills Quests Bloodline
He sat cross-legged on the stone floor and selected Status.
[Name: Alexander Crimson]
Age: 18
Class: Executioner (Initiate)
Bloodline: Demonic Chaos Dragon (Sealed – 1% Awareness)
Strength: 7 (+2)
Speed: 6 (+2)
Endurance: 9
Dexterity: 6
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 10
Mana: 13
Stamina: 62%
Effects: Light Injury (Arm) | Hunger | Blood Resonance (Active)
The stats had improvednot by much, but enough that his body no longer felt like dead weight. He scrolled down to Skills.
-------
SKILLS
Passive:
Blood Memory - (emotional clarity during vengeance, minor stat gain)
Terrain Treader - (reduce movement penalties in wild terrain)
Active:
Predator's Grasp: Short burst of speed and lunge precision. Damage increases if the target is already bleeding. Cooldown: 20 seconds.
--------
Then he opened Inventory.
Just the dagger. The rags. A broken tooth from the mirehound. And one strange item:
[Black Core Fragment – Unidentified (Bound)]
Description: Emits a heartbeat when held. Purpose unknown.
Origin: ???
Reaction: ???
He frowned.
He didn't remember picking that up.
He hovered over it. The system pulsed.
[Warning: Interaction requires Bloodline Core Awareness ≥ 5%]
He closed the tab.
Instead, he turned to the last menu.
Bloodline
It was different from the others. More organic. Like it was alive.
The moment he selected it, the entire screen changed colorshifting from blue and silver to crimson and black. Letters curved in shapes that felt too ancient for the human eye. They twisted, shimmered, and translated.
[Bloodline: Demonic Chaos Dragon – Tier Unknown]
Status: SEAL IN PLACE
Seal Layers: 9
Current Awareness: 1%
Awakening Path: Executioner | Catalyst Required
Warning: Further Awakening Will Warp Host's Morality
Alex leaned closer.
Below that line, a new entry appeared.
[System Suggestion: Accept Sub-Core Integration?]
Effect: Grants unique Bloodline Skill - High Risk
Chance of Host Death: 17%
Unlocks Chaos Feature Tree (Partial)
He stared at it.
A 17% chance.
In the old world, he wouldn't have gambled.
But that boythe one who hesitated, who bowed his head, who begged bandits not to hurt his sisterthat boy was dead.
His blood stirred.
He accepted.
The screen exploded with red light.
[Sub-Core Integration Initiated…]
Warning: Containment Protocols Unstable…
Blood Reaction Intensifying…
Alex convulsedhis back arched. His muscles locked. His vision blurred with symbols he couldn't understand. His teeth ground together as something foreignflooded his veins. Not mana. Not poison.
Inheritance.
He collapsed to the floor, coughing black mist. His skin burned. His fingers twisted like claws for a momentthen snapped back.
When the pain faded, a new screen appeared.
[New Skill Gained: Chaos Surge (Rank D)]
Description: Instantly doubles Host's Strength and Speed for 5 seconds.
Side Effect: Minor tissue damage. Cooldown: 90 seconds.
And one more thing
A faint whisper.
Not from the system.
From somewhere deeper.
Not words. But intent.
Hunger.