Chapter 98: A level apart
The nights in Velos had grown longer in Noah's perception, the passage of time marked not by days but by his relentless rise in power. The collapse of the Avaros Clan had stretched over months, and with it, his personal growth had surged. Standing at the edge of the cityscape from his penthouse, Noah felt the familiar hum of energy coursing through him, his newly acquired power more potent than ever.
He had reached **Level 15**.
This milestone felt monumental, yet it was only a stepping stone. Five more levels separated him from **Level 20**, the threshold required to graduate from the academy. But his ascent was a secret he would take to his grave. To reveal that he had climbed from **Level 1 to 20** in such a short span would be unthinkable. It would draw the kind of attention that Noah could not afford—not yet.
"Graduation," Noah muttered to himself, his voice tinged with wry amusement. "It will be a silent one. A personal achievement, not a spectacle for the academy's records."
He had no intention of letting anyone know just how quickly he had advanced. He had worked too hard, built too much, to have it undone by the greed or suspicion of others.
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While Noah had spent his nights weaving the downfall of the Avaros Clan, his most trusted subordinate, **Kalis**, had been carving his own bloody path. Kalis was no ordinary servant; his loyalty was unshakable, and his burgeoning power made him invaluable to Noah's plans.
Kalis had ascended to **Level 10**, a respectable feat for one who had started under Noah's shadow. His advancement, however, was not the product of scheming but of raw predation. While Noah remained in the shadows of society's games, Kalis stalked the city's darker corners, hunting humans to feed his bloodlust and strengthen himself.
Where Noah had become a silent architect, Kalis was a predator, and his class reflected this duality.
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Kalis' class, **The Crimson Stalker**, was tied to the vampiric bloodline granted to him by Noah. Unlike Noah's class, which was steeped in ancient vampiric nobility and cunning, Kalis' abilities were feral, direct, and honed for the hunt. The class drew from the primal instincts of vampirism, emphasizing agility, stealth, and precise lethality.
The **Crimson Stalker** specialized in the following:
- **Predatory Stealth:** Kalis could blend into shadows seamlessly, rendering himself nearly invisible in low light. His presence became undetectable to anyone not actively searching for him.
- **Sanguine Tracker:** Once he marked a target with his mana, he could sense their location within a certain radius, no matter where they tried to hide.
- **Ravenous Rend:** A powerful melee attack that consumed blood to deal enhanced damage. It was particularly effective against armored foes.
- **Bloodlust Frenzy:** When Kalis fed, his stats temporarily surged, granting him incredible speed and strength. However, this ability required frequent feeding to maintain.
- **Echoes of the Hunt:** A passive ability that allowed Kalis to mimic and anticipate his prey's combat techniques after prolonged observation.
The **Crimson Stalker** class was a testament to Kalis' place in Noah's hierarchy—powerful, but clearly beneath his master. While Kalis could never rival Noah's bloodline, he was a weapon finely honed for the tasks Noah assigned.
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Kalis' predation had served a dual purpose. Not only did it sustain his growth, but it also allowed Noah the freedom to focus entirely on his larger schemes.
The people Kalis hunted were carefully chosen: criminals, wanderers, and those whose disappearance would go unnoticed. It was a calculated decision—there would be no city-wide panic, no investigations that could trace back to Noah. Kalis understood the rules of the hunt, just as Noah had taught him.
But for all his utility, Kalis' actions carried a darkness that even Noah sometimes reflected upon. Each hunt, each kill, was another step toward turning Velos into a silent battleground.
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Back in his penthouse, Noah's thoughts drifted as he leaned against the balcony rail, his gaze fixed on the sprawling city below.
"Five more levels," he mused, absently running his fingers along the cool steel of the rail. "Five more steps to graduation, and then… freedom. No more pretenses. No more limitations."
Noah's rise from Level 1 had been nothing short of meteoric. While others spent years or even decades clawing their way to Level 20, he had ascended in mere months. But that very success made him cautious. The academy was filled with watchful eyes, and Velos itself teemed with opportunists who would sell his secret for the right price.
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Kalis returned to the penthouse late that evening, his presence silent but distinct. Noah didn't turn as the vampire approached, but the faint scent of blood announced his arrival.
"How was the hunt?" Noah asked, his voice calm.
"Productive," Kalis replied, bowing slightly. "Two targets eliminated. A bounty hunter and a smuggler. Both were clean kills, no witnesses."
Noah nodded approvingly. "And your level?"
"Ten," Kalis answered with restrained pride.
"Good," Noah said. "You're progressing faster than I expected. Keep it up, but remember: discretion is paramount."
Kalis hesitated, then added, "The bounty hunter mentioned something before I finished him. He had heard whispers about you, Master. Nothing substantial, but…"
Noah's expression darkened slightly. "Whispers are like sparks, Kalis. Harmless at first, but dangerous if left unattended. We'll deal with it if it grows."
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As Kalis left to clean up and rest, Noah remained on the balcony, his mind already racing ahead. The months spent orchestrating the Avaros Clan's downfall had only sharpened his appetite for control.
The rise to **Level 20** would bring new challenges, but Noah was confident in his ability to face them. He had allies like Kalis, resources he had cultivated, and a mind sharper than most would ever realize.
The city of Velos continued its quiet hum beneath him, unaware of the predator standing above, ready to shape its fate with every move he made.
The game was far from over. And Noah was far from finished.
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