Chapter 99: Now, the hard part.

Finding myself at the parkour area. “It’s obvious I should give it a try.” Stretching my stiff limbs before even attempting. From my memory, parkour is the art of control. Land on the balls of your feet; that’s what makes a jump a success. Too far, and it’s a failure, too short, and you get that ankle thing. It’s a fine art for sure, one I’m pretty bad at.

Stepping onto the first block, taking a deep breath. Mind coming into focus, I begin the first jump. Landing, but too far, I need to land on the balls of my feet. Attempting that jump 2 more times before I landed a perfect land.

Confidence rising, I attempt the next, and the next, and the next. An hour passes before I get the easy part done with perfect control. Doing jumps over and over lets you get better quickly. It’s a good distraction from all the crap that happened earlier. I shouldn’t have told Average about the laboratory before raiding it of dangerous tech.

On one side, it reduced the risk of civilian casualties. That lake has a lot of fishermen, families, and swimmers visiting it. Yet, my poorly thought-out plan resulted in some people dying anyway. I still feel that hollow sensation eroding my chest - guilt. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have rushed things so much. “Why was I rushing?”

I will add it to my mental list of things not to do. “Don’t rush hair-brained ideas.” I will endeavour to plan accordingly in future. Backup plans, worst-case scenario plans… I will try.

Having made it halfway through the parkour with utter perfection while thinking. Is post-combat analysis healthy? I’m sure I’m not running on full cylinders, given the situation. That’s not including my mild post-traumatic stress and all of the situations I’ve been involved in.

Nothing to be done, I suppose; hopping off the parkour area. Flying to the top, I find the second ender mail has gone missing. I’ve still not gotten any foreign mail; I wonder why?

I’m sure whoever won will contact me in time. Reading my own sign, “Reward promised.” I’ve got to think of a decent reward for the people who won.

Leaving the parkour area, I head over to the combat area. Watching a few young adults fighting very competitively. One young man who must be half bear is steam-rolling the others. It looks like the others are ganging up to tackle him to the ground.

Watching as the 3 young men of normal size share a look. 2 immediately grapple his legs before the third launches himself above the larger man's center of gravity. The bear-like man almost shrugs it off with his impressive strength. But eventually, physics kicks in, toppling over. Thankfully they are all laughing, all in good fun.

Leaving them to their roughhousing, I head to the clay soldiers' area. Spotting it from further than normal. Not because my vision has improved but because a line of people stretches over half the island. “How did I miss that at first?”

Apparently, it’s very popular; Following the line, I see the current team playing. A heated battle is taking place, a mosh pit of partial rainbows fills the middle of the arena. A girl and 3 boys shouting loudly for there each respective team; “I remember shouting like that as a child.”

Good memories; I loved pokemon during primary school. Admittedly, I was terrible. Getting steamrolled, but I was wise not to bet my cards. Being so bad, I realized as a child that betting was a bad idea. Something I brought into adulthood; having not bought a single lottery ticket for myself during my life.

“I bet a silver the girls gonna win.” A man to my side says.

“You’re on, I bet on the blond boy,” I say In reply.

“And, you lose; pay up.” Handing the silver over in sadness, damn. “Better luck next time, buddy.” The middle-aged man says before leaving with a smile.

I continued to watch for a while, enjoying the creative combat ideas people come up with. It’s not just children either, young adults, adults too. I even spotted one elderly woman, silver hair but was sharp as a whip. Destroyed her enemies with extreme prejudice.

Smiling victoriously before walking away in pride. I take that as my cue, leaving the combat zone. Finding a small stall selling something very similar to hotdogs. Clearly beef, but the mustard really brought it together.

Finding dusk at the horizon, I head home. Slipping into my vampiric clone. Shivering from the cold sensation it brings. Only noticing now that it makes my mind feel dull, emotions weaker. I wonder why?

Feeling the thirst rise, “I wonder?”

Removing a clone from one of my shell storage, I bite down. Feeling like I just bite down on earth as the clone crumbles into white power. “That sucks.” Now, how does my genetic manipulation work if they crumble at a single bite? Probably stupid mod inconsistencies.

Leaving the clone storage, spitting occasionally to remove white powder from my teeth. Don’t eat chalk or clones; good to know. Can't believe I just tried to cannibalism my own body. Why can’t plants produce blood? Because they are plants, and I don’t have the tech to edit them to that degree.

I wonder if animal blood works? I’ve already attempted cannibalism. Finding a poor chicken, I bite down. Spitting the blood out quickly tastes like rot, with hardly any life in it. So, what does human blood have that makes it edible? They live longer. Attempting a cow this time, I bite down on the bovine. Finding the blood gross but not inedible.

I prefer humans; I suppose life span has some impact. Lots to discover, but for now, I need some half-decent food. This level requires me to use bat form to fly over 3 separate towns. I idea of having to fly, sleep and fly over and over to make the distance; doesn’t sound good. I have an idea, though.

Heading into my normal town, I find an open house to top my thirst off. Ignoring all the sweet smells pervading my nose, with pure willpower. I’ve learned my lesson.

I don’t like hunting so close to home, but I will need this town to start the leveling. Becoming a bat, I take flight. Finding this form of flight strange. I still managed, although I likely looked rather strange. After flying for a time, I return to my human form. Using my dislocation, I teleport over to another town. Turning into a bat, flying around, and then returning to human. I repeat this several times.

After my 6th attempt, I suddenly feel my thirst rising rapidly. Heat pulsing through my body, strengthening it. This improvement was just a flat upgrade to transfix. Giving me stronger control over the recipients. I can also make them follow me, allowing me to guide them to a secure location.

Not that useful, given I could just teleport people away if I wished to do that. The next level is difficult. Requiring me to trap 5 people, consuming exactly half their blood. It’s preparation for me to gain the ability to change other people into vampires.

Knowing this was coming, I fished out a known bandit hideout in a nearby forest. They don’t know the exact location, but they have raided passing carriages. It took a while to get to the forest. First, having to remember which town it was near to. The second task was finding the hideout. Even with night vision and Arial vision, it was difficult.

A well-hidden wooden structure leaves for roofs. Very well camouflaged. Descending outside, I verify that everyone inside looks dodgy. I could go in guns blazing, but that seems like a stupid idea. I told myself to make plans, so that’s what I am going to do.

The process requires a specific wooden cage to be counted as valid. So, I create a quick underground bunker with 5 cages. I also prepare a small prison cell in case I get extras by accident. I also camouflage the entrance with ghost blocks. Along with creating a pitfall with the same ghost blocks; likely overkill; but I need to build a good habit.

Returning to the camp, I slowly enter. Using invisibility, I listen to general conversation. Mostly random chat about food, weapons, and how annoying the big grizzle is. I assume, some kind of bear.

“The last raid was worthless.”

“I know, right! We are going to run out of food without a big haul soon.”

“I’m sure chief got a plan.”

“I haven’t even met the man.”

“I forgot, you new aren’t you.”

“Nah, I’m not that new.”

“You came in last week, your fresh grass.”

“Buzz off.”

“Nothing to worry about, we all started as greens. Got to earn your stripes. Anyway, trust the big man.”

“Fine, fine.”

Leaving the pair, I walk towards the larger tents. Scouting out the general area. Overall, I spot a few dozen men of varying ages.

Approaching the largest structure, I peer through a window. A large man was writing with a quill. Looking closer, he suddenly snaps round. “Whos there?” A loud and rough voice speaks out.

He quickly exits his home, looking around. Not finding anyone, he speaks. “Whoever is snooping, I’m gonna skin you alive if I catch you.”

That got a lot of people scared, some stepping back. He returns to his room, which was close.

Finding my first victim, a lone bandit who left the carefully guarded walls. I transfix him easily, taking him to the first cage.

Next, I found 2 people patrolling the nearby forest. Both were transfixed and imprisoned. I found them both equally easy, this new transfix is broken. It’s called mesmerize now, and I see why.

Returning to the town, I don’t see any signs of people being more alert. Next, I get a bit more confident. Grabbing a guard off the wall while his back was turned. Muffling his mouth long enough to transfix him, taking him to the small prison.

I need one more. Looking over, a few guards are wandering around. Shouting a variety of names. I’ve got to hurry for the last person.

Approaching my 5th person. A lone man shouting, “Dan, where are you? Cap wants you at the hall. You missed roll call.” Looking around nervously, “Come on man, stop playing, we gonna get in trouble again.”

I quickly mesmerize and take the man to the cave. Finding my 5 captives awake once more, I don a cloak. Slowly approaching, I methodically drain the blood from each of them. After the first I heard shouting, after the second, pleading. After the 4th the man was on the floor shivering. I whisper “Sorry, I have no choice.” Draining the final man until half. He quickly passes out. Leaking piss from his underwear, “disgusting.”

Suddenly, the thirst intensifies massively, feeling power pulse through me. My fangs lengthen, almost poking through my gums. Falling to my knees in weakness, I feel the power in my fangs. I can now create vampires. But I am sure as hell am not turning any of this garbage.

To turn someone into a vampire. I must drain them until they are nearly empty before having them drink a goblet of my blood. Technically, they could drink straight from my neck. But I think a goblet is far more civil. I can finally complete these quests. The 10th level requires me to turn a single being into a vampire. Marking me as a true lord of vampires.

As much as I wish to hurry up this quest, I feel the night waning. The black of night becoming a rich purple. Dawn is soon, this body must rest. But first, I turn back to the cave. Drinking a small amount from each to top my thirst off. Feeling peace, finally. That annoying sensation drives me mad. Now, time for bed.