My Vampire System Chapter 3 Miltary School

3 Military Academy

Due to the protracted conflict between humanity and the Dalki, every citizen was mandated to attend military school for a two-year tenure. Although a fragile peace currently held between the two races, no one fostered illusions that it would endure indefinitely. The Dalki remained untrustworthy; their insatiable craving for dominion and their disdain for what they perceived as lesser species meant that hostility was always simmering just beneath the surface.

Daily reports surfaced regarding provocations between the races, incidents that threatened to ignite all-out war at any second. A persistent sense of dread gripped the populace, as if a catastrophic clash could erupt at any moment.

Quinn made a quick detour to the restroom before departing with Sergeant Griff. He had consumed an excessive quantity of water, and his bladder felt as though it might rupture at any second.

Upon stepping outside and immersing himself in the daylight, a bizarre phenomenon occurred. A translucent notification window materialized directly in his field of vision.

[Your body is being hit by direct sunlight]

[You are affected by the sunlight]

[All stats will be halved while you are exposed to the sunlight]

Abruptly, Quinn’s limbs turned remarkably sluggish. He felt the profound exhaustion of having just concluded a grueling marathon. His arms and legs grew heavy, and despite his internal protests, he remained anchored in place.

Quinn paused to scrutinize his status, drawing a suspicious glance from Sergeant Griff, who was wary of the boy’s sudden halt.

"Is everything alright, lad?" the sergeant inquired, tensing in readiness to restrain him should he attempt to flee. Every year, recruits occasionally resisted their induction.

However, Quinn wasn't listening, nor did he intend to shirk his duty. He was fixated on the interface, alarmed to see his statistics degraded. Worse, his HP had also plummeted.

[HP 5/5]

[Strength 5/5]

[Stamina 5/5]

[Agility 5/5]

'What kind of twisted penalty is this?!' Quinn wanted to scream, but the presence of others kept his voice in check.

"Quinn?" the sergeant prompted again.

Quinn stayed locked on the screen as another alert manifested.

[You have received a new quest]

[Daily quest: Avoid direct sunlight for 8 hours]

[Reward: 5 Exp]

Quinn’s spirits lifted upon reading the daily quest. Unlike the grueling water-drinking requirement, this could be achieved through simple rest. If the system operated like the games he was familiar with, earning 100 Exp would trigger a level-up and provide a much-needed boost to his attributes.

Consequently, the more of these daily quests he accrued, the more his prospects improved.

"Why are you dragging your feet?! The academy will chew you up if you move at such a pathetic pace!" Sergeant Griff bellowed, shaking him from his daze.

Quinn approached a large bus idling near his apartment block. Entering the vehicle, he found it packed with students his own age. Looking back, he saw Griff standing motionless with his hands behind his back. He had not realized the soldier had stopped; when he glanced back at Griff, the sergeant seemed as unmoving as a stone statue.

Turning his attention back to the interior, Quinn realized he didn't recognize a single face. They all originated from different schools. A flicker of relief washed over him. Among these strangers, perhaps the cycle of bullying would end. Since he was a blank slate, he had the opportunity to make a fresh start, perhaps even forge genuine friendships.

He chose a seat at the front, the only one remaining. As soon as he settled, the screen flickered back to life.

[Stats have returned to normal]

It appeared that escaping the direct sunlight instantly restored his attributes. He felt a wave of relief as his former vitality surged back, as if a colossal weight had been stripped from his shoulders.

'Well, at least the drawback seems limited to direct sunlight.'

The students were buzzing with excited chatter, but the atmosphere stalled the moment Sergeant Griff climbed aboard.

"Listen up, it is time to depart for the military academy," he declared, motioning for the driver to pull away.

The bus lurched forward, beginning their journey. A heavy silence descended for the duration of the trip. Whenever a student attempted to whisper, Griff would fix them with a piercing glare, silencing them instantly.

Griff avoided unnecessary words; his cold, predatory gaze made his expectations perfectly clear.

About ten minutes later, the screen appeared again, bringing a new notification.

[A substance in the air has been detected]

[Resistance +1]

Quinn found this peculiar. Looking around the bus, he realized half the students were already fast asleep, while others were drifting into a stupor. He attempted to fight the sensation, but his limbs grew leaden. His eyelids began to flutter shut. Finally, dizziness overwhelmed him, and his consciousness began to fade.

[Your resistance to the substance has increased]

[Resistance +1]

Soon after, the sound of heavy boots approached. He looked up to see Sergeant Griff looming over him.

"It seems a few of you have a natural resistance to the sleep agent. I suppose we will just have to bag you instead."

A black hood was brusquely shoved over Quinn’s head, plunging him into total darkness. The sedative gas inevitably claimed his senses. His arm dropped limply, and he surrendered to the encroaching slumber.

****

Eventually, Quinn was jolted awake by a splash of ice-cold water. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself surrounded by a thick, greenish fog.

He and the other confused students looked around. Nearly five hundred recruits stood on an open plain, in a location none of them could identify. Their faces were etched with sheer bewilderment.

"This location will be your home for the next two years of your lives," Sergeant Griff declared.

The green plain was not the only spectacle; three colossal, futuristic structures dominated the landscape. These buildings, sculpted from glass, rose sixty feet into the air. Furthermore, they were positioned on an elevated terrace overlooking a hidden city. Everyone had been outfitted in military fatigues, and the surrounding technology was baffling.

These devices were lightyears ahead of civilian tech. Mechs maneuvered heavy equipment, and massive construction drones rose into the sky, laying seamless panels of glass onto unfinished structures without a single human pilot. Flying vessels patrolled the skies, skimming dangerously close to the skyscrapers, yet they followed perfectly calculated trajectories. Levitating trains surged overhead on invisible magnetic rails. Much of this technology was strictly classified.

Following the initial war with the Dalki, humanity had experienced an exponential surge in technological advancement, having salvaged vast amounts of Dalki hardware. The military retained control of most of it, citing that such power was far too volatile for public consumption.

As Quinn recovered from his shock, he noticed a sensation of weight on his wrist. A digital watch had been affixed there, though the screen was currently blank.

"That device is your lifeline. It serves as your identification at this base, grants access to secure zones, and processes your transactions. When idle, the watch will broadcast a digit representing your current power level," Griff explained.

To Quinn, the explanation sounded like an alien tongue; judging by the blank expressions of his peers, he was not the only one struggling to comprehend the implications.

He had hoped his life would change upon entering military school, but it appeared he had merely traded one game for a more dangerous, unfamiliar arena.

"We shall commence testing your aptitude levels immediately. Do not move unless directed, is that clear?!" Griff commanded with a jarring, predatory smile that stood at odds with his rugged demeanor. "Good luck!"