Bloody shop
With the windows and doors sealed shut, not a single ray of sunlight seeps through. The oppressive heat from the outside doesn't touch him, nor does the sky's golden glow reach his skin. For the moment, Hex is safe.
He slumps against the cold wooden floor, exhaling slowly. The silence is suffocating but bearable. Boredom gnaws at him, but it's nothing compared to the insufferable voice that's been oddly quiet for the past few minutes.
Not for long.
> "Aren't you going to talk to me?"
Hex shuts his eyes, already regretting staying conscious.
"Talk to a floating screen? What would I even say?"
> "Something like: 'Oh, thank you so much, System! You're the best thing that's ever happened to me!' That would be a start."
Hex lets out a dry chuckle. "You're the worst thing that's ever happened to me."
> "At least I don't go around eating babies."
Hex's expression darkens. His jaw clenches. "And who do I have to thank for that?"
> "Not me. Your undead state is the root of all your troubles. Blame your maker."
Hex doesn't respond. A bitter silence settles between them. He's not in the mood for the system's usual banter.
> "Hey, want to see something cool?"
Hex glances at the screen warily. "Like what?"
A notification appears.
[Spend 200 Bloody Points to update the system?]
Hex scoffs. "You're charging me for an update?"
> "Gotta keep the experience fresh, pal."
Hex narrows his eyes. "You haven't even explained the basics of how you work."
> "Oh, that? Give me a sec."
The screen flashes, and suddenly, information floods his vision.
---
Primary Stats:
HP: 15 / 15 (Health Points – Determines survivability. Can only be restored through Soul Drain, potions, or certain skills.)
Mana: 75 / 75 (Used for magical abilities. Restores slowly over time or through dark rituals.)
Stamina: 11 (Affects movement, dodging, and sustained activity. Drains faster if HP is low.)
Physical Stats:
Strength: 8 (Determines raw physical power, melee damage, and ability to break objects.)
Agility: 10 (Controls movement speed, reaction time, and evasion.)
Endurance: 9 (Affects damage resistance, stamina consumption, and resistance to pain.)
Mental & Magical Stats:
Intelligence: 16 (Boosts critical thinking, strategy, and some magical abilities.)
Dark Affinity: 30 (Governs Hex's compatibility with dark magic, unholy rituals, and corrupted power-ups.)
Secondary Stats:
Perception: 12 (Enhances awareness, tracking ability, and reaction time.)
Stealth: 8 (Controls how well Hex moves undetected. Affected by gear, terrain, and skill usage.)
Vitality: 6 (Affects HP recovery rate—though currently useless due to undead status.)
Regeneration Rate: 0% (Natural regeneration is disabled due to the Undead Curse.)
Luck: 4 (Influences random encounters, item drops, and crit chances.)
Corruption & Special Stats:
Corruption: 3% (Influence weaker minds to partake in cruelty.)
Hunger Level: 65% (Increases over time. If it reaches 100%, User will lose control.)
Instability: 1% (Affects mental clarity. Can cause hallucinations, frenzies, or stat penalties.)
Sunlight Vulnerability: 95% (Direct exposure is fatal within seconds.)
---
Hex skims over the details, absorbing the numbers and descriptions. Seeing everything neatly categorized somehow makes his situation feel... more real. More structured. Even though he still has no idea how half of it works.
"Can you display more details?"
> "Host's current mental capacity cannot withstand complicated info."
Hex grits his teeth. "Son of a bitch."
The update notification lingers in front of him. His gaze drifts to the [Yes] option.
Screw it.
He selects [Yes].
> "System updating..."
The screen glitches momentarily before stabilizing.
---
[STATUS SCREEN]
Character Name: Hex
Level: 2
Class: Revenant Slave
Title: Cursed Soul
Race: Undead
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
HP: 15 / 15
Mana: 75 / 75
Stamina: 11
Strength: 8
Agility: 10
Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 16
Dark Affinity: 30
Corruption: 3%
[RESOURCES]
Soul Fragments: 3 / 3000
Bloody Points: 1875
[EXPERIENCE & PROGRESSION]
Xp: 180/200
Next Level Bonus: 3 Free Attribute Points, 200 Xp
Unlockable Titles: 1
Locked Perks: 3
[ABILITIES]
Passive Abilities:
Undead Resilience – Reduced pain sensitivity, resistance to poisons and diseases.
Darkvision – Can see clearly in complete darkness.
Predatory Instinct – Heightened sense of smell and awareness when hunting.
Active Abilities:
Soul Drain (Locked) – Absorb the essence of the dying to regenerate HP. Requires 900 BP.
Shadow Meld (Locked) – Blend into darkness, becoming nearly undetectable. Requires 300 BP.
Abyssal Chains (Locked) – Summon spectral chains to bind and drain enemies. Requires 2000 BP.
[EQUIPMENT & INVENTORY]
Clothing: Tattered Cloak, Burnt Trousers
Weapons: None
Artifacts: None
Consumables: None
Gold: 0
[AFFLICTIONS]
Undead Curse – Cannot heal naturally. Requires Soul Drain or potions.
Haunted – Occasional whispers and visions interfere with focus.
Sunlight Weakness – Exposure to sunlight causes rapid deterioration.
[QUESTS]
Main Quest:
"Reclaim Your Soul"
Side Quests:
"The Witch's Pact" – Collect 12 cursed artifacts. (0/12)
"Blood Debt" – Eliminate the rogue Dark Lord.
Urgent Quests:
"Shelter Before Sunrise" – Find a place to hide before the sun rises.
"Feed" – Hunger is rising. Find a source of sustenance.
[BLOODY POINTS SHOP]
Available Skills: 15
Available Power-Ups: 8
Corruptive Upgrades: 3
[REPUTATION & INFAMY]
Feared by: No One (Yet)
Wanted Status: Unknown
Known alias: Baby eater
---
Hex tilts his head, eyeing the new display with mild amusement. "Huh. Not bad."
Then he notices something at the bottom.
Nickname: Baby Eater.
His smirk vanishes.
"You're the first system I've ever heard of that insults its host."
> "Ain't I great?"
Hex stares at the screen for a long moment. "I should break you."
> "Rude."
He sighs and waves a hand. "Show me the Bloody Points shop."
> "Now we're talking!"
Without hesitation, the system pulls up the interface.
---
Bloody Points Shop
(1875 Bloody Points available for spending)
Basic Skills (100 - 500 BP)
1. Bloodscent (100 BP) – Allows the user to detect living creatures by the scent of their blood, even through walls.
2. Silent Step (150 BP) – Enhances the user's agility, making their footsteps completely silent.
3. Dark Vision (200 BP) – Improves night vision, allowing the user to see in total darkness.
4. Shadow Meld (300 BP) – Briefly merges the user with the darkness, making them harder to detect.
5. Phantom Reflexes (500 BP) – Increases reaction speed and agility, allowing for quicker dodging and attacks.
Intermediate Powers (600 - 1200 BP)
6. Razor Claws (600 BP) – The user's fingernails transform into sharp, retractable claws, boosting melee attacks.
7. Crimson Surge (750 BP) – Grants a temporary strength boost after consuming fresh blood.
8. Soul Drain (900 BP) – Allows the user to extract a dying victim's soul for additional power, healing, or abilities.
9. Bone Reinforcement (1000 BP) – Hardens the user's bones, making them more durable and resistant to damage.
10. Wraith's Howl (1200 BP) – A terrifying scream that instills fear in enemies, weakening them for a short time.
Advanced Abilities (1500 - 2500 BP)
11. Sanguine Regeneration (1500 BP) – The user gains a slow but constant regeneration effect as long as they have recently fed on blood.
12. Corpse Marionette (1800 BP) – Allows the user to control a fresh corpse for a limited time, using it as a distraction or puppet.
13. Abyssal Chains (2000 BP) – Summons dark, cursed chains to ensnare and weaken enemies.
14. Hemocraft (2500 BP) – Unlocks blood magic, allowing the user to weaponize their own blood for offensive spells.
Corruptive Upgrades (Cost Varies & Increases Corruption)
Blood Frenzy (1000 BP + 5% Corruption) – A berserk state that greatly increases the user's attack power and speed but removes all self-control.
Dark Gift (2000 BP + 10% Corruption) – Grants the ability to turn a victim into a lesser undead servant.
Blight Aura (3000 BP + 15% Corruption) – A passive aura that causes nearby weak creatures to rot and wither.
---
Hex scans the options, eyebrows slightly raised. Some of these abilities sound incredibly useful. Others... disturbing.
"You know," he mutters, "I was seriously considering changing my mind about you."
> "Oh?"
"Turns out you're great after all."
> "I know."
Hex could have sworn the system was smug with that reply.
> "Would you like to purchase anything?"
Hex hesitates. He has 1875 Bloody Points. Enough for some decent upgrades.
But what to buy first?
He rubs his chin, deep in thought.