SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 5: Bloodborn Path Unlocked

"No," Damon replied flatly. "I am not Ellora. I was sent by her."

Varnyx’s gaze sharpened slightly at those words. Reaching into his pocket, Damon pulled out the talisman and presented it to the vampire.

A heavy silence followed before Varnyx eventually gave a nod. "It seems she considers you worthy."

'Not exactly. I just happened to know what that eccentric old bat liked,' Damon thought to himself.

In this game, transitioning from a human to a vampire was actually a common occurrence. A large number of players chose this path, which offered a variety of specialized classes within the vampire race.

It was a top-tier choice, rivaling the popularity of becoming a demon, a beastkin, or an undead. Usually, these racial transformations required reaching level 25 and enduring a tedious, multi-stage questline.

However, that all changed when a player originally wandered into Ellora’s shop while holding the Rabbit Killer title.

That discovery provided an immediate shortcut to vampirism. The secret was arriving at the well’s entrance while carrying Ellora’s personal charm.

The well’s location wasn't a mystery; every player in the starting zone knew about it, as it served as the primary base for vampire players. Many had attempted to infiltrate the well without the required item, only to be instantly killed by the grumpy Varnyx. The shortcut was only accessible to those holding the charm.

While these mechanics became common knowledge three months after the game's launch, Damon was standing here on the very first day.

Varnyx turned around and began heading into the obsidian tunnel, with Damon following closely behind. "Follow," the vampire commanded without looking back. "Your blood still possesses warmth, though that will fade soon enough."

Despite the oppressive darkness of the tunnel, Damon navigated the path as if he had walked it a thousand times.

Eventually, the cramped passage gave way to a massive subterranean hall. The ceiling was hidden in the gloom, but rows of pillars carved from bone rose like jagged teeth into the dark. A stone altar stood at the center, engraved with scarlet runes that throbbed with a rhythmic pulse. Shimmering pools of stagnant blood surrounded the structure, while a golden vampire crest hovered above, rotating slowly like a crown in the air.

It was the golden blood crown.

Varnyx turned to Damon, his gaze burning with a fierce light. "You are preparing to cast aside your mortality," he declared solemnly, lifting his hands. "Your weakness ends here. Your heartbeat shall slow. Your craving shall intensify. Your true power shall awaken."

The entire chamber trembled as the runes began to glow with blinding light.

[Warning: You are about to undergo a race change to Vampire. This action is permanent.]

[Do you wish to proceed? Y/N]

Without a moment's hesitation, Damon answered, "Yes."

He was certain of his path. In his previous life, he had embraced the vampire race as soon as the opportunity arose. Though his reasons back then might not have been perfect, he was now intimately familiar with the race's mechanics.

He understood every nuance of the race, and more importantly, he knew the exact triggers for the legendary artifact quest. It would be foolish to pursue a different race or class and throw away such a massive advantage.

Varnyx nodded, seemingly pleased by Damon's resolve. A predatory smile crossed his face, revealing sharp fangs. "Bleed."

A blade of shadows manifested in his grip, and he drove it into Damon’s chest without warning.

Agony flared through Damon’s body, yet his expression remained stoic. Having endured far greater suffering in his past, this level of pain failed to break him. The blood from the altar surged upward, spiraling around him like a cocoon. His pulse slowed to a crawl, and his vision faded into blackness.

[Race Change Successful: You have become a Vampiric creature – Bloodborn Path Unlocked.]

[Passive Skills Unlocked: Heightened Senses, Eternal Hunger]

Heightened Senses: Your vision pierces the dark, your hearing is vastly improved, and your perception is unmatched. Soft footsteps, distant whispers, and the scent of fresh blood will not escape you.

Eternal Hunger: A hollow void now resides within your soul, craving blood. The urge to feed grows stronger with time. Succumbing to the hunger may cause you to lose control, but sating it will grant you peerless power.

Damon’s eyes snapped open, glowing with a crimson fire. The darkness was now perfectly clear to him. Looking at his reflection in a pool of blood, he noted his skin was now smoother and deathly pale. His fangs were hidden behind his lips, only visible if he chose to show them.

[Ding! Congratulations! You are the first player to unlock a hidden race.]

[Ding! Achievement Unlocked: Discoverer of Vampires. As the first to find the hidden race, you have earned +500 Reputation with the Vampire faction and +500 Notoriety.]

A grin spread across Damon’s face. This unexpected bonus for his race change was a welcome surprise. It would significantly accelerate his future plans. Earning reputation with the haughty vampires was usually a grueling task, as they rarely granted respect to outsiders.

The Notoriety was an equally valuable asset. For a player in the dark faction, high notoriety was essential for interacting with powerful NPCs; without it, they would simply ignore you.

He had expected to spend the entire week grinding for these points, but now his schedule was clear for more important objectives.

Armed with a three-month head start and his memories of vampire lore and classes, he was poised to seize every hidden resource in the vampire realm.

This time, Bloodreign would belong to him alone.

As Damon refined his strategy, another prompt appeared before him.

[Ding! Please select a class to continue.]

Damon just smiled and dismissed the window instantly. No. The time to choose a class had not yet arrived.

Shortly after, his character status screen flickered into view.

***

[Blood God]

Class: N/A (Requires Awakening)

Species: Vampire

Race: Bloodling

Bloodline: N/A (Requires Awakening)

Level: 1

Faction: Dark

Experience: 0/100

Health: 50

Mana: 50

Stamina: 8

Strength: 6

Intelligence: 8

Agility: 6

Physical Defense: 2

Magical Defense: 2

General Skills: Heightened Senses, Eternal Hunger