Reborn as a Vampire in a Dying World: Blood, Power, and Pleasure

The dark knight struck first, cleaving through the air with terrifying force.

SLASH.

He didn't even need to close the distance. The swing of his greatsword sent out a crimson crescent of energy, turning what should've been a melee strike into a deadly ranged assault.

But this time, the Archivist responded.

With a single breath—

CRACK.

The crescent shattered into harmless fragments the moment it touched Corven, the protective effect rippling outward. He walked forward, untouched, eyes focused.

"Then I'll make sure to pass it with flying colors."

The dark knight's voice rumbled out. "Is that hubris or confidence?"

Corven smiled faintly. "Both."

[Bloodbolt 10x]

Ten crimson bolts formed instantly behind him, spinning with lethal intent.

'Let's see if Bloodbolt really is resourceless now.'

And just like that, he turned it into a relentless minigun.

FWOOSH. FWOOSH. FWOOSH.

The bloodbolts shot forward in rapid succession, homing in on the dark knight with precise accuracy. As soon as the first barrage ended—

[Bloodbolt 10x]

Another set replaced it. No hesitation. No pause. Just wave after wave of overwhelming force.

This time, Corven didn't think. He didn't strategize. He simply attacked with the full power he now possessed.

The dark knight's expression didn't change, but his voice carried tension.

"Do you not require blood? How can you callously use such an ability?"

With a single raised hand, he halted all the bloodbolts mid-air, freezing them in place.

"Such petty tricks will not work on me."

His hand clenched. All ten bolts collapsed inward, vanishing from reality in an instant.

"Fight me—"

SWOOSH.

Another bolt fired.

"Are you auditory impaired, child?" he snapped.

He crushed the next batch with another flex of his hand.

"I said it would not work—!?"

But more came. Faster this time. The pace accelerated with every volley. Corven's grin widened.

"I heard you the first time. But even so… what's the harm in continuing?"

SWOOSH. SWOOSH. SWOOSH.

The bloodbolts came endlessly, forcing the dark knight to react over and over. His patience began to fray. He gritted his teeth, then gripped his sword tighter.

"Foolish endeavor."

SLASH.

The blade cleaved through the projectiles with ease, slicing apart the blood and tearing open the space between them. In one terrifying blink, Corven was dragged forward—pulled instantly into close range.

"You have failed my test—"

[Bloodbolt 30x]

Before the knight could finish, a dense cluster of water-infused blood slammed into his abdomen with brutal force.

"KUH—!"

He staggered back, only stopping himself by jamming his greatsword into the shadowy ground, anchoring his body through raw strength. The blade split the darkness beneath them like paper.

"It seems I—"

Another wave hit him—this time targeting his face.

SPLASH.

He raised his greatsword in time, blocking the impact. The bolts struck with concussive force, but he held steady.

"Let me talk—!"

He glared forward, only to see Corven still smiling, hands lifted, continuously casting.

The dark knight exhaled sharply… and laughed, voice echoing beneath his helmet.

"Hah… It seems I've become more bard than warrior."

Then—

SWOOSH.

"Thank you for reminding me of my roots."

In a blink, he surged forward with terrifying speed. His greatsword gleamed in the gloom, raised high, its path aiming to cut Corven in two with a single clean strike.

[Bloodbolt 50x]

But he was met by a wall of crimson—an unrelenting flood of blood projectiles.

The dark knight's crimson eyes widened slightly.

"You're welcome," Corven said smoothly.

This time, his attack wasn't just raw power. It was refined. Controlled. Efficient.

ZING.

The bloodwave split clean down the middle under the dark knight's blade, but he was carried forward with it—laughing the entire way.

"How fun!"

Corven clicked his tongue. He hadn't expected the knight to cut through it so easily—but he wasn't out of tricks.

"Let's see what happens if you—"

Before he could finish, a system notification blinked to life in his vision.

[Ability Mastered: Bloodbolt]

[Upgrading…]

[Ability Acquired: Sanguine Manipulation]

Sanguine Manipulation – Control and weaponize blood at will. Create multiple blood projectiles, weapons, or restraints. Inflicts heavy bleeding and reduces healing. Can halt regeneration temporarily. (0 Units)

'Oh…?'

Corven's eyes lit up in surprise.

'Just in time.'

A wide, almost feral grin spread across his face. Even the dark knight paused briefly, sensing something had shifted.

"I've always wanted to try this."

And by that, he meant: a swarm of blood tendrils shooting out of his back like he was some multi-armed martial god—because it looked ridiculously cool.

Corven rolled his shoulders, letting the heat of his evolution settle into his limbs.

The blood sang—violent, eager, and ready to obey.

[Sanguine Manipulation 5x]

Five tendrils of blood burst from his back, writhing with deadly precision. Just as the dark knight arrived, greatsword swinging—

BANG.

The tendrils intercepted it mid-swing, halting its path with sheer force. Corven winced—his arms trembling under the pressure—but he held his ground.

"Got you!"

"How—!" the dark knight barked.

Corven didn't give him time to process. He drove a powerful kick into the knight's chest.

"It's called being overwhelmingly lucky!"

The dark knight blocked with his free hand, Corven's foot slamming into solid steel.

THUD.

He retaliated immediately—grabbing Corven's leg with a vice-like grip.

"Shit—!"

SMASH.

He slammed Corven into the ground with monstrous strength, the impact sending tremors through the shadowy terrain.

"Ack—!"

Corven twisted mid-fall, jamming his sword into the floor to stabilize himself. Gritting his teeth, he pointed his free hand toward the knight's helmet.

"Let go of me!"

The tendrils obeyed, reshaping into fists. They lashed forward, hammering the knight's helmet with repeated blows.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Steel bent under the relentless assault. The force made the knight stagger, loosening his grip.

Corven didn't waste the opening. He pulled free, rising with the help of his sword and quickly retreating to gain some distance.

'That was way too close…'

Blood trickled from his lips as he muttered, his crushed internals slowly regenerating.

He spat, wiped his mouth, and raised his head again.

"…Round two."

The knight rose too, the helm cracked and breath ragged, yet his eyes burned with unyielding fire.