Pov Elf Boy
I awoke, feeling surprisingly well-rested. As I tried to recall how I ended up here in this dark, unfamiliar place, flashes of last night came back to me—a terrifying creature, small and armored, moving close before my mind grew hazy. Strangely, I didn’t feel hungry, which was rare for me; I actually felt... full. Although, I did notice a dryness in my throat.
Pushing aside my discomfort, I peered into the darkness, hoping to understand where I was. I was lying on something furry but hard beneath it. It might be animal pelts. At least it was a decent temperature here—not too cold or unbearably hot, as I was used to.
Unsure of what else to do, I called out, my voice barely a whisper. “Hello? Is anyone there? Where am I?” My heart pounded, fearing that something might answer with teeth and claws.
A faint sound came from my left—a shuffling. I turned, squinting into the void, but my weak night vision could barely make out shadows. There was another sound, like bones popping and shifting, something the elders used to do when they stretched in the morning sun. Pleasant memories of before my mother's sins flashed in my mind. Then, a voice drifted out, soft and elegant, snapping me back to the present.
“Parvus sanguis lux.” The voice chanted words I didn’t understand, and a faint red light appeared, illuminating the small space between us. “I am not a fire mage, nor do I have the affinity for light, so this is the brightest it will be until the runes are complete. Looking at you I can guess that you must be thirsty; mortals have those needs,” the voice continued, and I could sense an odd familiarity in the tone. “Drink this. It should tide you over until I can create a tunnel to gather water. It may even help you see in the dark since you share an affinity with me and my master.”
In the dim light, I saw the outline of a figure, slim and about my height. A flicker of memory—of the demon dressed in a suit from last night—flashed through my mind, and a chill ran down my spine. The figure extended a clawed hand, holding a wooden bowl filled with a thick, syrupy liquid that swirled sluggishly in the bowl.
Hesitantly, I reached out, unsure of what this strange offering might hold. But being both thirsty and afraid of making the demon in front of me angry I drank the contents of the wooden bowl.
The thick liquid was difficult to swallow; its texture clung to my throat, making me gag. It wasn't the taste that made me nearly retch—it was just that the consistency was too thick, and syrupy in a way that felt unnatural. The flavor itself had a faint metallic hint, sparking a memory of when the village guards beat me down for asking for food after delivering herbs to the village. As I drank, the familiarity of that taste settled over me, filling me with unease, yet I was too thirsty to stop. I kept drinking, each swallow sending warmth coursing through my veins.
When I finally drained the bowl, a small notification appeared in the corner of my vision, causing me to tense up. Panic flared—I’d been poisoned before, and the memory haunted me. What if this was something worse?
“You should check the notification the system just gave you, boy,” the voice prompted smoothly. “While you do that, I’ll finish preparing the rest of your meal. Stay where the light is. If you wander too close to some of the… more brawn-minded demons, they might not be as forgiving.”
As the demon in the suit walked away, I felt the darkness close in around me. I pulled myself closer to the dim red light, unwilling to be swallowed up by the shadows, and kept glancing around, hoping nothing would emerge from them. After a few minutes of tense silence, I finally summoned the courage to open the notification.
Congratulations!
You have awakened the dormant affinity of Blood within your body and unlocked the opportunity to gain a new class based on your mana affinity. You may choose to change your class, which will reset your class levels to one, or retain your current one. Please select from the options listed below. Bloodfire Acolyte (Common) Lv1/10 - A Bloodfire Acolyte is a fledgling practitioner of the forbidden arts, combining the raw energy of blood magic with the scorching power of infernal flames. As an initiate of demonic lineage, this novice wields only a fraction of the dark potential within, channeling volatile blood magic into fiery spells and close-combat strikes. Though not yet powerful, a Bloodfire Acolyte’s abilities make them unpredictable, often harnessing their own vitality or channeling pain to cast spells and strengthen their physical attacks. Each skill they learn in the early stages reflects the dangerous allure of fire and blood—a double-edged path of power where strength grows in tandem with risk.
Bloodbound Initiate (Common) Lv1/10 - The Bloodbound Initiate is a novice of demonic blood magic, just beginning their journey into the dark arts of blood manipulation and ritualistic combat. Chosen or cursed by a demonic lineage, they have only scratched the surface of their potential, relying on raw, unstable power that demands careful control. With access to rudimentary blood-based abilities, they can sacrifice a portion of their own health to empower spells or strengthen attacks, making them a risky yet potent ally on the battlefield.
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At this stage, a Bloodbound Initiate possesses limited resilience and control over their magic, often experiencing unstable surges of power when injured. Their skills reflect their bond with blood magic, allowing them to channel life force into attacks but leaving them vulnerable to exhaustion or self-harm if used recklessly. Mastery at this level involves learning restraint and careful calculation, as each ability can deplete their vitality as quickly as it harms their foes.
Novice Demon Bloodkin Fighter (Rare) Lv1/20 - The Novice Demon Bloodkin Fighter is a newly awakened warrior of demonic blood, just beginning to tap into the primal strength and fury inherited from their infernal lineage. With a natural gift for both combat and the arcane, these individuals are still in the process of learning to control their power, struggling between their human-like reasoning and the bestial blood of their demonic ancestors that burns within them. Although their skills are raw, the demonic energy coursing through their veins makes them formidable even at this early stage. A Novice Demon Bloodkin Fighter is a master of brutal melee combat, capable of tapping into their demonic power to bolster their strength and resilience. Yet, their mastery over the demonic forces is still unstable, leading to occasional surges of rage that can overwhelm their mind.
As a Rare class, this character has innate advantages over most fighters, wielding the strength of a demon but with the instability of someone still learning to master their bloodline. They are often marked by a powerful and intimidating presence on the battlefield, and their ferocity makes them a force to be reckoned with, even if they lack the finesse of higher-level combatants. With every level, they unlock more of their infernal potential, becoming less "human" and more of a force of destruction, learning to tame their dark heritage and harness it for power. Most
Infernal Blood Neophyte (Rare) Lv1/20 - The Infernal Blood Neophyte is a fledgling practitioner of the infernal arts, born from a lineage of demons and hellish entities. This class represents the early stage of a demon's awakening, where the blood of their infernal ancestors is just beginning to manifest its power within them. As a Rare class, the Infernal Blood Neophyte possesses the potential for great power but has yet to fully harness it. At this stage, they are in a state of transition, balancing between their mortal origins and the overwhelming, chaotic force of their demonic heritage.
The Infernal Blood Neophyte draws upon their blood to fuel both their combat abilities and their mastery over fire and dark magic. They can manipulate the essence of their infernal bloodline to empower their strikes and unleash fire-infused spells, yet they are still learning to control the violent nature of this power. While raw and untamed, the Neophyte has immense potential to become a devastating force of destruction, but it is a delicate balance: too much reliance on their demonic power can lead to self-destruction, as the energy surges and overwhelms their body from channeling powerful demonic magics with their body.
The Infernal Blood Neophyte draws upon their blood to fuel both their combat abilities and their mastery over fire and dark magic. They can manipulate the essence of their infernal bloodline to empower their strikes and unleash fire-infused spells, yet they are still learning to control the violent nature of this power. While raw and untamed, the Neophyte has immense potential to become a devastating force of destruction, but it is a delicate balance: too much reliance on their demonic power can lead to self-destruction, as the energy surges and overwhelms their body.
Cursed Blood Blade Apprentice (Rare) Lv1/20 - The Cursed Blood Blade Apprentice is a fledgling warrior who has bonded their soul with cursed, blood-infused weaponry, walking a dangerous path between martial combat and dark sorcery. Chosen or cursed to wield a blade that thirsts for blood, the apprentice learns to channel the cursed energy of their weapon to unleash powerful and often unpredictable effects. This class combines the art of swordsmanship with the eerie, malevolent power of blood magic, allowing the apprentice to amplify their combat prowess while paying the price of their connection to a cursed force. If the user has no cursed weapon they can create one through mass slaughtering any living creatures. Cursed weapons that are self-made can grow and evolve by drinking the blood of foes.
At this early level, the Cursed Blood Blade Apprentice is still mastering their unique bond with their blade and learning how to wield its power effectively. The blade itself feeds on the blood of their enemies, granting them enhanced strength and abilities in exchange for their own life force. While the apprentice possesses extraordinary potential, their mastery is raw, and they must carefully manage the blade’s hunger, lest they lose control of the dark power they have invoked letting it turn on themselves.
A mix of happiness and fear bubbled up inside me. I was thrilled that I finally had a chance to break free from this broken class that had held me back. Now that my main mana affinity was unlocked, I could start over—but the thought was terrifying. These new classes came with risks; without control and discipline, they could be as dangerous to me as any enemy. I took a steadying breath to calm my nerves. Not wanting to make a hasty decision, I kept rereading each class description, analyzing every word.
A warm, savory scent drifted through the air, breaking my focus. The smell of cooked meat was getting closer. The suited demon was back already. My stomach twisted, a mix of hunger and apprehension as I braced myself for whatever he had planned next, which was weird since I wasn't hungry when I woke up only thirsty. Did the drink he gave me make me more hungry for some reason?
“Eat this,” the demon said, holding out a piece of meat. “Unlocking the Blood affinity within you through my blood triggered changes in your body. It’s been forcing itself to adapt, and even now, it will take time to fully rebuild and optimize."
I took the meat from his hand, unease mixing with curiosity. Taking a bite of the meat I ate it like I had been starving for months I listened to him speak.
“To be honest,” he continued, his tone casual yet unsettling, “I have no idea how much you’ll change in the end. But it shouldn’t be too drastic—after all, you only received a small amount of my blood. But I might give you more blood and teach you how to use your powers if you make yourself useful to the master who we are going to see again now. So get up and start following me, boy.”