A New Path.

Stepping out from the gym, he strolled toward his room, hoping he could make it to the tournament ceremony on time.

The air crackled with anticipation as Lucien, impeccably dressed and every inch the aristocrat, emerged from his room. He hated this charade, this life of gilded cages and carefully constructed facades. But tonight, under the watchful eyes of the assembled dignitaries, he would play his part.

The outskirts of the city shimmered under the cloak of night, the grand arena a beacon of light against the encroaching darkness. It was a marvel of engineering, vast and spacious, ready to witness the spectacle of the Tri-Warriors Tournament.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, including elves and dwarves!" boomed the announcer, his voice echoing through the stadium. "We welcome you all to the Tri-Warriors Tournament, where the Elven Academy, the Dwarven Academy, and the Human Academia come together in harmony and witness a friendly match.

Today, due to some unexpected issues, we have a rookie with us. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome from the Human Academia, Lucien Frost, brother to the only Count of Gotham!"

A wave of applause washed over the stadium. Lucien, his face impassive, acknowledged the crowd with a brief salute before returning to his seat, his gaze sweeping across the expectant faces.

"Now, we also have our three-time champions," the announcer continued, his voice rising. "Elvedor Academy, from the Elven Kingdom!"

Another round of applause erupted, this time with a touch more fervor.

"Unfortunately," the announcer's voice softened, "I have some bad news. The Dwarven Academy will not be joining us this year. Due to an attack on their base and the theft of their weapons, they are unable to participate. But fear not, for this year's tournament is different. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Queen of the Elven Kingdom, Leveda Elgiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnn!"

The crowd erupted in a deafening roar as the Queen, resplendent in shimmering silver, took her place.

"And we also have the newly appointed King Charles Babbage!"

Another wave of applause, this time tinged with a hint of awe, greeted the young king.

"Now, to draw the first contestants!" the announcer declared. "All participants, please gather around and pick any ball from the glass bowls."

One by one, the participants stepped forward, their eyes fixed on the bowls overflowing with colorful balls. Lucien, his heart pounding, reached into the bowl and drew out a single gold ball.

"Alright!" the announcer boomed. "The first match of the night is color gold! The two participants with gold, please head into the arena!"

Lucien, his mind a whirlwind of emotions, rose to his feet and walked towards the arena, his footsteps echoing in the sudden silence that had fallen over the stadium. Tonight, the game would begin. Tonight, the facade might finally crumble.

As Lucien walked towards the arena, a chilling sensation washed over him. He turned to find a figure shrouded in darkness lurking behind the Queen. Instinct screamed at him to ignore it, to play it safe. But before he could react, an invisible arrow whizzed past his ear.

Dodging instinctively, Lucien knew something was terribly wrong. Before the King could even utter a warning, Lucien had activated "God Speed." In a blur of motion, he closed the distance between himself and the assassins. With a swift, silent grace, he dispatched the shadowy figure, then swiftly slit the throat of the archer.

"Never mess with me," he hissed, his voice cold as ice.

The Queen, witnessing the horrific scene of the headless vampire beside her, let out a bloodcurdling scream. "We are under attack!"

The air erupted in chaos. Hidden vampires surged from the shadows, unleashing a reign of terror upon the unsuspecting audience. Screams of terror filled the stadium as the vampires began to behead the spectators.

The Acarnans fought back valiantly, but they were outnumbered. The elves, their movements restricted by the need to protect their Queen, were struggling to contain the onslaught.

Lucien, however, felt a strange sense of calm descend upon him. He sat down on one of the empty seats, a chilling grin spreading across his face. "Not my problem if they all die," he muttered, before a notification appeared on his internal vision:

~[Get your lazy ass up and protect the Elven Queen while leaching EXP from those things. Mind you, you want to be strong. Rewards depending on your performance.]~

The notification jolted him out of his apathy. He sprang to his feet, a whirlwind of motion. "Time to play," he growled, and charged into the fray.

The vampires, seemingly lesser beings, were no match for his speed and ferocity. He moved like a phantom, each strike a deadly ballet of death. Heads rolled, blood splattered, and the screams of the vampires joined the chorus of terror.

~[Goal {1/200} Vampires Killed]~

The system's notification surprised him. Two hundred vampires? This was more serious than he initially thought.

He reached the Queen's side, finding her struggling against the restraining grip of two powerful vampires. With a burst of speed, he plunged his hand into the mind of each vampire, his mental energy overwhelming their feeble resistance. He commanded them to kill themselves, and within moments, they crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Scooping the Queen into his arms, Lucien leaped onto the highest branches of a nearby tree, placing her safely out of harm's way. He then turned back to the battlefield, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Time for some fun," he muttered, and launched himself back into the fray.

The vampires, sensing the ferocity of the human, began to back away. But Lucien, fueled by a strange exhilaration, pressed the attack. He became a whirlwind of death, a human reaper reaping a bloody harvest.

~[Goals {55/200} Vampires Killed]~

Lucien checked his system, a grim

satisfaction spreading through him. This was going to be a long night.

~[Calculating Rewards....]~

~[Rewards Calculated]~

~[15 vampiric ore's,50,000exp received,three new skills received and one dungeon key attained]~

"Your Majesty, all their ores are missing! Like they never had one!" an elf shouted, his voice trembling with disbelief. "How is that possible?!"

"Hey! You, come over here!" Another elf, eyes blazing with fury, pointed a accusing finger at Lucien. "I saw you kidnapping our Queen!

You're among them, right? A human traitor! I will kill you!" The elf lunged forward, his sword glinting menacingly in the moonlight.

The crowd gasped, a hush falling over the stadium. All eyes were now on Lucien, the tension palpable.

Suddenly, a sickening puck sound echoed through the air. The attacking elf doubled over, vomiting blood. A deep, resonant voice boomed through the stadium, silencing the murmurs.

"How dare you accuse me of kidnapping? Perhaps I should have left her to die if not for my system. So you should be thankful to me, you insolent elf, for she would have been headless by now."

King Charles, a hint of amusement in his eyes, stepped forward.

"Who are you, boy? I like you."

Lucien looked at the King with a mixture of disgust and amusement. "I'm Lucien Frost," he replied curtly. "And for you elves, jump three trees to the west.

The fourth tree, you shall find your Queen. It seems like the academy would have to be closed for now, as the principal is dead, along with half of the school. Now, if you may excuse me, I need to head back to the academy to pack up and perhaps head to my suites for the meantime. You elves should try healing your Queen."

Lucien turned and began to walk away, leaving the stunned elves and the intrigued King in his wake. He had saved the Queen, dealt with the arrogant elf, and now, he was free to deal with the aftermath of the vampire attack.

Lucien calmly put his hands into his pockets and strolled into the forest, heading towards the academy. He was glad for the "stupid excuse" that the school would be non-functional for the time being. This meant he was finally free to go hunting.

Thank god for all the days he spent in the library, learning and even "borrowing" a few important books. "Such a world," he mused, "I guess I shall turn this world into my playground."

Meanwhile, the King quietly strolled down with the remnants of his entourage. He wore a look of deep worry.

"Atheria is changing," he spoke, his voice grave. "And it's not good. A storm is brewing, and we should be ready for when it comes. Or else, we shall be devoured by the storms of Atheria."

The King's words hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to Lucien's growing excitement for the freedom and chaos that he shall inflict into the world.