Body caving through the frame of the bus, Traven’s body came to a rest within the Bus aisle. Thanks to his new healing ability he could feel bones realigning themselves and cuts sealing shut even before he landed. But it still wasn’t fast enough.

The demon climbed through the opening his body had made, dark black claws ripping the hole wider to accommodate its larger frame. Climbing to his feet Traven turned to face his adversary head on. Shaky legs betrayed his incomplete healing. He had to stall for time.

“The hell was that for?” Traven spat out blood, “You’re probably as human as me!”

The demon cocked its head at an unnatural angle.

“You…..live…” It struggled to say, its voice a croaky mess.

“Yea no thanks to you freak,” He snarled, “What even are you?”

“Hell….spawn….” Its voice growled, “Notif….ication…..said….”

Traven took a step back at the things words, his foot brushing against a body. A quick glance revealed the face of a young woman, her body covered in claw marks. Eyes widening in horror he surveyed the rest of the bus, finding other bodies likewise scarred.

“You..You killed these people?” Traven chocked,

“So….much…..anger,” It moaned, “Can’t…..stop……pain…”

With a popping noise Traven felt his shoulder pop back into place, the last of his wounds.

“Sorry…” The thing groaned.

“Why?”

“Now….you….die”

With a speed that belied its size the demon reached out and slammed him against a wall. Only to step back in shock as Traven slapped its arm away. Following up with a strike to the face Traven grunted in satisfaction as his fist drove the demon to its knees. Grabbing the demon by the shoulder Traven heaved with all his might, launching the demon down the bus aisle.

Blurring after the creature Traven screamed in pain as his kick was blocked by a claw, impaling itself several inches into his leg. Stamping on the offending appendage with his free leg, the demon snarled in agony as a horrific snap sounded. Following with a kick to the face Traven maliciously grinned as the demons face caved in. Its grip on his leg lessened and with a jerk Traven was able to free himself.

Stepping back Traven took a moment to view the pitiful creature before him. One of its horns had broken off and its nose had flattened. The scales that had decorated its face were cracked and marred. Without his own healing factor, the demon would likely stay down from the beating. Its race was likely designed for dealing out damage rather than taking it. Traven’s race was…well he wasn’t sure what it was.

Turning from the incapacitated creature Traven turned to climb the bus stairs, but found himself stopping. Something primal was building within him, urging him to finish the deed. Almost against his will Traven found himself suddenly by the Hellspawn’s side, hands splayed out on either side of its head. A violent jerk of his hands saw the demons life ended, but the primal urge within Traven continued to build.

Snarling in rage Traven felt fangs begin to grow from his incisors. Opening his jaw wide he slowly lowered his face towards the scaled neck of the demon, breaking through the resistance like butter.

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You have killed a Player: Joe Castle (Hellspawn)+100xp

You have levelled up: +5 stat points, +1 market token

Recalling the notifications from when he had first awoken, Traven decided to investigate into the worth of the ability market.

“Open market?” He called out, feeling foolish even as he did it.

Vampire: Ability Market ListBody enhancementArcane Knowledge

It seemed simple enough, and as a moan from the upper floor of the bus sounded Traven knew he needed to find something that could aid the things healing.

“Arcane Knowledge!” He shouted, trying to narrow the search down.

[/tr]

Vampire: Arcane KnowledgeMinor Compulsion1 tokensMinor illusion1 tokenMinor Enchantment1 token…

There was nothing he could do. The market options available to him were unaffiliated with the healing that would be required. Further, it looked like his abilities would be restricted to this new vampire race and he somehow doubted healing would be accessible.

Unwilling to face the thing upstairs with a death sentence, Traven decided to leave it to its fate.  He’d never been good with delivering bad news. Perhaps it was his new race, but Traven found himself with a calm detachment from his decision to leave. He felt….nothing.

Calmly climbing out the hole in the bus and onto the cracked pavement, Traven took a moment to survey everything.

Dark clouds hovered in the sky, casting a dim light. Abandoned cars littered the road, corpses strewn across bonnets with blood stains dripping to the floor. Walking to the front of the bus Traven could see the entire front half of the vehicle caved in, but why?

The answer sent a cold wave of fear rushing through him.

Large footprints of something at least twice the size of the Hellspawn was ingrained into the cement. The bus hadn’t crashed, it was attacked. With only a footprint to go on Traven couldn’t even begin to guess at the manner of creature that had done this. Or rather, claw print. The indent in the road almost resembled… a hoof?

In any case the monster had travelled the route from which Traven’s bus had come from. So Traven decided to follow his original route.

Time to go to school.

The moans of the creature in the bus slowly began to fade into the distance.