Darkness was no longer something Ace feared—it was something he controlled.

  The tunnel's moss-slick walls cast everyone in an eerie green glow, highlighting the tension etched across each survivor's face. The System hovered in the center of their small circle, her childlike form somehow more menacing than any monster they'd faced. Her eyes lingered on Ace just a beat too long, and then they flicked toward Victor.

  Interesting.

  "Time to choose your Skills," she announced. Her smile widened, revealing too many teeth. "I’m about to unleash you into the wild, so you'll need to choose wisely. The difference between life and death comes down to a single choice. Isn't that exciting?"

  No one answered.

  The air felt heavy, charged with something beyond the damp chill of the underground passage. To Ace’s right, Rachel shifted uneasily, her gaze fixed on the ground. Marcus and Olivia exchanged wary glances. Tara merely crossed her arms. Victor, meanwhile, stood perfectly still, and his massive frame cast a long shadow across the tunnel floor.

  The System floated closer to Ace, close enough that he could see the void behind her eyes—ancient and cold. "Our Emperor and Tyrant will choose first. I'm particularly curious to see what you two do with your... gifts."

  Before anyone could say anything, a blue screen materialized in front of Ace with an obnoxiously cheerful chime.

  When his finger touched the glowing text, the world around him slowed to a crawl. The droplets of water sliding down the cavern walls froze mid-fall. His companions became living statues, their expressions locked in various states of apprehension. Only the System maintained her fluid movement, drifting around him with a knowing smirk.

  “What did you just do?” he demanded.

  She was full of surprises, and he fucking hated it.

  "Skills are special, Sergeant," she answered, her voice cutting through the unnatural stillness. "They must remain a closely guarded secret. We wouldn't want everyone knowing exactly what you're capable of, would we? Where's the fun in that?"

  Fine.

  “What exactly are these Skills?” he asked, hedging his bets as to what she would actually tell him. He had to choose wisely, as she said, and that meant being exceedingly careful.

  Every word he spoke right now would influence what she gave away, and that could mean the difference between life and death.

  "Skills are abilities that define how you fight, survive, and kill in my world,” she explained, much to his surprise.

  He had assumed she would be difficult, but he wasn’t about to complain.

  “They come in two primary flavors,” she continued. “Racial skills and class skills."

  She gestured with a small hand, conjuring a miniature hologram that depicted what appeared to be the vague outline of a vampire.

  “It’s simple, really,” she continued. "Skills, you choose. Abilities, you innately possess. You see, you have natural abilities tied to what you are, such as enhanced senses and—now that you’ve leveled up—that shiny new Identify ability.”

  Right.

  The one that would’ve been handy against the nightmare bear.

  “Useful,” he said dryly.

  “They're intrinsic,” she said. “They represent the natural evolution of your new physiology. But Racial Skills are different. You get one to start, with opportunities to gain more as you evolve through the levels and vampiric tiers."

  The hologram changed again, this time showing a dark crowned figure—a silhouette of Ace himself, complete with glowing red eyes.

  "Class Skills, on the other hand, impact your Dusk Emperor status,” she continued. “They affect what you do—your combat style, your approach to power. As a Dusk Emperor, your Class Skills will focus on domination, shadow manipulation, and blood magic. You'll select three class skills after choosing your racial skill."

  She drifted closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The real power, Sergeant, comes from how you combine them. A clever vampire might use racial abilities to enhance class skills, creating synergies that..." Her eyes gleamed as she trailed off. "Well, let's just say the results can be quite spectacular. Or spectacularly messy."

  Lovely.

  “Now,” she said, her hands coming together with an echoing clap. “You’re a baby vampire, and there are four evolutionary stages. Right now, you're a Nightseed—the first stage for levels 1 through 50."

  Ace kept his expression neutral despite the surge of interest. Information was power, after all.

  Especially in this new life, and especially in this deadly new world.

  "Nightseeds enjoy enhanced agility, perception, and a rudimentary connection to shadows," she continued, ticking off the points on her small fingers. "You're learning to harness the night's energy, starting with increased speed and sharper senses. You have the Identify skill, allowing you to see stats on other creatures and players, and minor shadow manipulation to blend into darkness."

  Without warning, another surge of hunger shot through him. It was a blend of hunger and bloodlust, and he grimaced as he fought to quell the sudden ache in his new fangs.

  “Ah, there it is.” The System leaned closer, her breath like winter against his ear. "Your thirst for blood is less refined at this stage—more impulsive. Your body and mind are rapidly adapting to your new form."

  "And after Level 50?" Ace asked, trying to distract himself.

  She smiled. "At Level 51, you become a Shadewalker—but let's not get ahead of ourselves, Sergeant. Focus on the moment and, if you feel so inclined, on not dying. Future problems and choices will come soon enough, assuming you survive long enough to get that far."

  The screen shifted, displaying two options that pulsed with dark energy.

  "Choose one racial skill,” she ordered. “And choose carefully, as this decision cannot be undone."

  With a settling breath, Ace studied the options. His eyes scanned each of them, and he did his best to piece together the pros and cons of each.

  Option 1: Shadow Realm Immersion.

  Option 2: Undying Rage.

  Hmm.

  Apparently, Shadow Realm Immersion would allow Ace to temporarily phase into the Shadow Realm—whatever the hell that was—thus, becoming intangible and invisible while gaining enhanced movement and the ability to see shadow entities. He could mark targets for bonus damage when returning to normal form.

  But, naturally, there were also downsides.

  He would be more vulnerable to damage while phased, and direct attacks would be more difficult to execute effectively. There were also significant Soul Meter costs to maintain the state—again, whatever the hell that was. The skill would have a considerable cooldown period, with adjustments based on how his time in the Shadow Realm ended.

  “Ooh,” the System's mocking voice echoed through the cave as she leaned over his shoulder. “Considering Shadow Realm Immersion, are you? My, my... stepping into my domain so boldly? How presumptuous! Though I must say, you’ll wear the shadows better than most—probably because you're already so emotionally distant. It's like watching a statue try to become a ghost. Efficient? Yes. Boring? Also yes. But do mind the whispers in the dark, dear. They will take quite an interest in you. You’re such a delightful contrast to their usual chaos!"

  Ace sighed with resignation.

  If only she had a mute button.

  Undying Rage, meanwhile, was a passive ability that made Ace progressively stronger as he took on damage, with his power increasing proportionally to his injuries. At peak activation, he would gain additional protective effects including fire resistance and an increase in potency to the crystalline skin evolution he’d gotten from the Crystal Wolves.

  Not bad.

  The Skill would manifest visibly through an ember-like glow in his veins that intensified with damage taken. When critically injured, his blood would become combustible upon exposure to air, potentially turning his wounds into weapons.

  There didn’t seem to be a downside to this one, and that alone made him suspicious.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Hmm," the System taunted. "If you’re considering Undying Rage, then you’ll certainly take that devilish vampire resilience to a whole new level of absurdity. Thanks to your exotic diet of baby mythical creatures, you will develop an absolutely ridiculous ability to get stronger the closer you are to death. It's like watching a cockroach learn parkour—horrifying, yet fascinating."

  “Do you even listen to yourself talk?” he asked incredulously.

  “Sometimes,” she said with a happy little shrug.

  With a sidelong glance at Victor, Ace did his best to focus his full attention on the options before him, instead of the floating girl hovering over his shoulder.

  The choice boiled down to one simple decision: either he chose a passive Skill that only kicked in as he became closer and closer to death, or he chose one that he could control and use to possibly avoid said death altogether.

  It was an easy choice.

  “Shadow Realm Immersion,” he announced.

  “Hmm,” the System said with a bored shrug. “Suit yourself.”

  But her eye briefly twitched, and a moment of panic passed across her features. The more time he spent with her, the more he was able to identify her tells.

  The incredible new senses helped, of course, but he was finally starting to get a feel for when she was lying to him.

  That settled it, then. He had made the right choice.

  The screen in front of him glitched, and his new Racial Skill expanded to show more details.

  ———

  SHADOW REALM IMMERSION

  Effect:

  10 seconds of intangibility and invisibility

  Gain "Shadow Sight" (see other Shadow Realm entities)

  25% increased movement speed while phased

  Can mark targets for "Shadow Strike" (bonus damage on phase-out)

  Take 200% damage if hit while phased

  Cannot attack while phased (except for marking targets)

  Emergency exit available if HP drops below 25%

  Soul Meter Cost: 100 SM initial cost

  20 SM per second to maintain beyond base duration

  50 SM emergency exit option

  Cooldown: 180 seconds base

  Reduced by 30 seconds if exiting due to damage

  Extended by 60 seconds if forced out by Shadow Realm entities

  ———

  Yet again, the screen flickered. This time, six Class Skills appeared before him, each with a flashing yellow arrow beside them.

  ———

  Abyssal Armory (legendary status)

  Bloodstorm Matrix

  Lifeforce Siphon

  Tactical Apocalypse

  Duskblade Manifestation

  Death's Gambit

  ———

  He crossed his arms as he scanned the new options.

  Choices, choices.

  "Now for the fun part," the System said, twirling a strand of her hair around one finger. "Class skills. The powers that define you as a Dusk Emperor."

  "I'm guessing these are combat-focused?" Ace asked, not bothering to glance away from the six new options.

  "Of course they are," she snorted. "What did you expect? Basket weaving? Flower arrangement? You're a vampire, not a bored schoolgirl." She drifted closer, her eyes gleaming. "Dusk Emperors are primarily melee fighters. I thought a Marine like you would appreciate that."

  Ace nodded, his training kicking in as he began methodically assessing each Skill before him. "I do. Direct combat is what I know best."

  "Oh good," the System said, clapping her hands together. "The boring, practical approach. How utterly predictable." She sighed dramatically. "At least try to pick something that will make your inevitable death entertaining for me, would you?"

  With a sidelong glare at her, he opted not to reply.

  He was really starting to get the hang of this world, and that confidence steadied his hand as he examined the six possibilities before him.

  One by one, he tapped on each of the Class Skills to get a feel for what they did. The screen flashed each time, erasing the other choices and expanding upon whatever he had momentarily selected, and a flashing back arrow took him to the main screen when he was done.

  Easy enough.

  Abyssal Armory caught his attention first—a legendary skill that would allow him to absorb magical items and create shadow replicas of them. The ability to manifest multiple weapons simultaneously would give him incredible versatility in combat. However, the System's warning about the whispers in the Shadow Realm gave him pause.

  The last thing he needed was more voices in his head besides hers.

  Bloodstorm Matrix, meanwhile, seemed designed for those who didn't mind taking damage. It would create a swirling vortex that converted his pain into destructive potential, generating small blood explosions with each hit he took. Good for team fights, but the cost of using his own injuries as fuel seemed steep.

  That seemed like more of a tank selection than something that would benefit a melee fighter.

  Lifeforce Siphon was more straightforward—a ranged vampiric drain that would heal him and occasionally grant random stat buffs. The clinical approach to feeding appealed to his methodical nature, offering sustenance without the messy intimacy that seemed to define vampire feeding rituals.

  The memory of him tearing open the Fleshstitcher’s throat flashed in his mind, and he grimaced in disgust before forcing himself back into the present.

  He had to focus.

  Tactical Apocalypse aligned with his combat experience, as it highlighted structural weaknesses in his surroundings that he could exploit. The ability to analyze and destroy the environment strategically would give him significant battlefield control, though it seemed highly situational. Yes, of course one’s environment was a key element in any battle, but that didn’t mean the Skill would come in handy more often than the others.

  The last two had a little more information. Duskblade Manifestation would allow him to summon a shadow-forged dagger that could be wielded in melee or thrown with perfect accuracy at marked targets. The versatility of a weapon that could be summoned from thin air, combined with armor-piercing properties, made this a solid combat option—but with Abyssal Armory, it seemed somewhat redundant.

  Death's Gambit was the ultimate last resort—a skill that would allow him to survive a fatal blow and counterattack with massively increased damage. The power to convert a near-death experience into an offensive surge was tempting, but the long cooldown meant he would have only one chance to use it when it really mattered.

  Damn. He wished he could’ve chosen more than just three. These were all great options.

  This was tough.

  Ace studied each skill description carefully, ignoring the System's dramatic sighs and impatient finger-tapping against her ethereal arm.

  "I'll take Abyssal Armory," he eventually decided, selecting the legendary skill first.

  The System's eyebrows shot up. "Ooh, starting with the best, are we? How greedy."

  "It's logical," Ace countered. "Being able to absorb equipment and manifest shadow replicas means I'll never be unarmed. The flexibility to switch between weapons gives me options for any situation." He nodded toward the screen. "And being able to manifest multiple items simultaneously means I can adapt mid-combat."

  "Yes, yes, very practical," she waved dismissively.

  "Two more," Ace muttered, more to himself than to her. He scrolled past Bloodstorm Matrix and Tactical Apocalypse—both seemed too situational, requiring specific conditions to be effective.

  "Lifeforce Siphon," he selected next.

  "How clinical," the System commented with a theatrical yawn. "Most vampires enjoy the intimacy of feeding. You're turning it into paperwork."

  "I'm turning it into another tactical advantage," Ace corrected. "Ranged healing that scales with my target's health? That's insurance in a fight. The chance for random stat buffs is a bonus, and the reduced cooldown for landing critical hits rewards precision." He scrolled through the remaining options. "Plus, it synergizes with my third choice..."

  "Which is?" she prodded, suddenly more interested.

  "Duskblade Manifestation," Ace decided, completing his selections. "A weapon I can use in close quarters or throw with perfect accuracy? Hell yes.”

  “And you’re certain?” The System tilted her head, and a sinister grin spread across her delicate features. “There’s no going back, Sergeant.”

  “I’m certain.”

  The System slow-clapped, floating in a lazy circle around him. "Bravo. Someone's been paying attention."

  A soft chime echoed through his head, and three screens appeared before him. There was a soft kick in his chest, like someone punching his sternum, and he coughed to clear the momentary discomfort.

  ———

  ABYSSAL ARMORY

  LEGENDARY STATUS

  Absorb magical items to create shadow templates

  Manifest dark replicas with original stats and properties

  Conjured items gain shadow affinity

  Multiple items can be manifested simultaneously (max: 3)

  Templates evolve based on usage and mastery

  A word of caution, precious: some artifacts carry memories. Do try not to let them whisper too loudly in your head. Although watching you slowly go mad from ancient echoes would be rather entertaining!

  Cost: 50 SM base manifestation cost

  Additional 10 SM per minute maintained

  Cooldown: 30 seconds after dismissal

  Note: Cannot absorb artifacts above user's current power threshold. But oh, how that threshold will grow...

  ———

  ———

  LIFEFORCE SYPHON

  UNCOMMON

  SM Cost: 20 SM base cost

  Additional 10 SM for enhanced absorption

  Can be reduced by 50% if target is Shadow Marked

  Cooldown: 60 seconds base

  Reduced by 5 seconds for each critical hit landed before activation

  Effect:

  Base healing: 15-25 HP (scales with target's max HP)

  25% chance to gain a random stat buff for 30 seconds

  Heals additional 5 HP per stack of Shadow Mark on target

  Brief moment of enhanced sensory perception after successful drain

  ———

  ———

  DUSKBLADE MANIFESTATION

  UNCOMMON

  SM Cost: 30 SM to summon

  15 SM for enhanced initial shadow-infusion

  Cooldown: 10 seconds after dismissal

  3 seconds after successful throw

  No cooldown between swings

  Effect:

  Melee damage: 10-15 per hit

  Thrown damage: 20-25

  Applies "Shadow Mark" on critical hits

  Can be recalled after throwing (15 SM cost)

  Shadow-infused strikes ignore 20% of target's armor

  Perfect weapon accuracy when thrown at Shadow Marked targets

  ———

  That was it.

  His first choices had been made, and there was no going back.

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