Brother? –price of blood

A Silent Exit

Kain wiped his dagger on Vale's cloak, heart pounding.

The body was still warm, the blood pooling around his boots.

[DING! New Skill Activated – Shadow Cloak (Rank 1)]

[Effect: Conceals presence for 10 seconds when standing in darkness.]

Perfect timing.

A pair of heavy footsteps approached from the hallway.

Kain pressed himself against the shadows, activating his new skill.

A veil of darkness wrapped around him.

A guard stormed in, eyes widening at Vale's lifeless body.

"Shit! Lord Vale's dead! Someone—"

Kain slipped past him, unseen.

The guards were scrambling now.

He had to move fast.

A new kind of fear, back in the Slum Market, Kain kept his hood low, every step calculated.

The weight of what he had done pressed on him.

Before, he had only killed in self-defense. But now…He had murdered a noble.

Even with Black Fang's protection, this would have consequences.

Big ones.

The Syndicate's Reward

Black Fang's hideout was buzzing when he returned.

Enforcers whispered as he passed.

He wasn't just some nameless recruit anymore.

He was the guy who killed Erwin Vale.

Silver Eye waited in the main chamber, leaning against a wooden table.

He grinned. "Didn't think you'd actually do it, kid."

Kain tossed Vale's signet ring onto the table.

The room fell silent.

Silver Eye chuckled, nodding in approval. "You've earned your place, then."

A notification blinked before Kain's eyes.

[DING! Mission Reward Increased Due to Efficiency Bonus.]

[+5% Bloodline Growth, +2 Free Stat Points.]

Kain smirked.

But Silver Eye's expression turned serious. "You should know… the Vale family won't let this slide."

Kain already knew that.Trouble was coming. He had to stay alert and steady, to be ready for what would come.

However, morning came with the sound of screams. The Vale family had responded swiftly.

Noble enforcers stormed through the Slum Market, dragging people into the streets.

"Who killed Erwin Vale?!" a captain barked.

Anyone who didn't answer fast enough was cut down. Kain watched from a rooftop, fists clenched. His actions had started this.

And now? Innocent people were dying. Suddenly...

[DING! New Emergency Mission Assigned]

[Mission: Escape the Bloodhunt]

[Objective: Survive the Vale Enforcers' Sweep.]

[Bonus: Rescue a civilian to earn a Bloodline Upgrade.]

[Failure: Execution.]

Kain cursed. No choice. He had to run. But first—His gaze locked onto a young girl, sobbing as a guard raised his sword.

Kain moved before thinking. Against the odds, Kain dropped from the rooftop, landing silently behind the enforcer. Then...

[DING! New System Combo Unlocked – Shadow Strike]

[Effect: Bonus damage when attacking from stealth. +20% critical rate.]

His dagger slammed into the guard's spine.

The man collapsed, choking on his own blood.

The girl stared at Kain, wide-eyed.

"Go," Kain ordered. "Now."

She nodded quickly and ran.

The system chimed once more...

[DING! Bonus Achieved – Bloodline Upgrade Available.]

Kain gritted his teeth. No time to check it now...More enforcers were coming. He had to keep moving.

Kain wove through the alleys, heart racing as the system whispered possibilities in his mind.

[Option 1: Hide and wait out the enforcers. Risk: High.]

[Option 2: Flee the city. Risk: Extreme.]

[Option 3: Fight. Risk: Insane.]

None of them were good options. But he had to choose...Fast.

Just when he thought he had escaped the worst…

A figure stepped into his path. Clad in black armor, a silver insignia gleaming on his chest. Kain's blood froze. The Vale family had sent a real hunter.

And this man…He was far stronger than Kain. Before any hesitation...

[DING! NEW SYSTEM WARNING – HIGH-THREAT OPPONENT DETECTED!]

[NAME: UNKNOWN]

[RANK: B-RANK ENFORCER]

[DANGER LEVEL: EXTREME]

Kain gulped.This…This might be the end.

The man's piercing blue eyes locked onto Kain. A slow, deliberate step forward. Unrushed nor unbothered.Kain could feel the pressure.Like a beast had just marked him as prey...reminder check

[DING! New Enemy Identified – Captain Cedric Vale]

[Rank: B-Rank Enforcer]

[Threat Level: EXTREME]

Cedric smirked. "You're the rat that killed Erwin?"

Kain tensed. He wasn't stupid enough to answer.Instead, his mind raced. Escape or fight?

The system whispered with unpleasant cracking voice in his head...

[DING! Mission Update – Escape the Bloodhunt]

[Bonus Objective: Evade Captain Cedric Vale for 5 Minutes.]

[New Mission Unlocked – First True Battle]

[Objective: Survive.]

[Reward: Unknown.]

"Five minutes? Against a B-Rank enforcer!" Kain's fingers twitched.

This wasn't just a fight. This was a test. And failure meant death.

The First Strike, Kain moved first. But suddenly the system activated the shadow cloak.

[DING! Shadow Cloak Activated – Concealment for 10 Seconds.]

Darkness wrapped around him as he vanished. But Cedric? He didn't even flinch.

FWOOOSH!

Kain dodged instinctively. A silver blade sliced through the air, missing his throat by inches.

"Nice trick," Cedric muttered. "Too bad it won't save you."His sword glowed, tracing a faint red arc through the air.

Kain's gut screamed. He leapt back—Too late. The shockwave hit first, then the pain.

System Alert – Major Damage Taken!

[HP: 87% → 42%]

Kain stumbled, gasping.

Cedric's strike had barely grazed him, but it felt like his ribs shattered.

"Damn it…" Kain hissed. He wasn't just outmatched. He was outclassed.

Cedric watched him, amused. "This isn't a fight. It's an execution."

Kain gritted his teeth. If he didn't think fast, he was dead.

New System Option – Bloodline Surge

[DING! A Critical Moment Has Been Reached.]

[Bloodline Surge Can Be Activated.]

[Warning: Temporary Power Boost. Severe Side Effects.]

Side effects? Kain had no choice but to accept for help. It had turned tough and if he messed up, the execution was real...!

[DING! Bloodline Surge Activated.]

His veins burned with his vision shifting and suddenly—Cedric wasn't so fast anymore.

Kain dodged. Not barely—But easily. His muscles felt stronger. His reflexes sharper. Even Cedric's movements were now predictable. For the first time—Kain wasn't just running.He was fighting back.

Kain felt unstoppable. The Bloodline Surge coursed through his body like fire, fueling his every motion. His heartbeat pounded like a war drum, his senses heightened beyond anything he had ever known.

He lunged. Cedric's eyes widened—just a fraction—before he reacted.

CLANG!

Their blades clashed, sparks scattering into the air. But this time…Kain didn't just block—he forced Cedric back.

A wicked grin formed on Cedric's lips. "Well, well… Now this is interesting." Kain said nothing.

His mind was a maelstrom of instinct and calculation. He could feel Cedric's every shift in stance, the way his muscles coiled before a strike.

[DING! New Combat Insight Acquired – Predator's Intuition]

[Ability Effect: Increased battle perception and reaction time when facing stronger opponents.]

"Heh." Kain exhaled. "That's new." He stepped in, his movements fluid, his strikes sharper.

Cedric blocked, but he was no longer playing. He was defending. Kain pressed forward—And then…It hit him.

His muscles locked up. A sharp, agonizing pain ripped through his veins, like his body was burning from the inside.

Kain gasped, stumbling back. His vision blurred, his strength vanishing.

[DING! Bloodline Surge Duration Expired.]

[Side Effects Initiated – Temporary Muscle Fatigue and Blood Depletion.]

His legs buckled. Cedric didn't hesitate.

WHAM!

A knee to the gut sent Kain flying. He hit the ground, hard as pain exploded across his ribs. His breath shuddered, his fingers digging into the dirt.

Damn it…

He tried to stand, but his body wouldn't move.

Cedric slowly approached, twirling his blade. "So that was your trump card?" He chuckled. "A power you can't even control?"

Kain's mind raced. He needed a plan.

Suddenly, "You're worthless, Kain." A voice from his childhood. His uncle's words echoed in his mind. "No bloodline. No talent. Just a disgrace."

Kain clenched his jaw. He remembered the cold nights, the hunger clawing at his stomach. The way people looked at him. Like he was less than human. Like he didn't belong.

And now…He was about to die proving them right!

Cedric raised his sword. "Any last words?"

Kain's heart slammed in his chest. His vision spun. His muscles screamed.

And then—A system prompt appeared.

[DING! Emergency Recovery Activated.]

[Blood Transmutation – Convert Stored Blood Energy into Physical Regeneration?]

[WARNING: Severe Overuse May Result in Blood Deficiency.]

Kain's fingers twitched.

"…Do it."

The system obeyed. It Activated – Blood Transmutation!

A burning heat spread through his veins.

His wounds knitted together. The fatigue lifted—just enough.

Cedric's sword came down. Kain rolled as the blade slammed into the dirt. Cedric's eyes flickered in mild surprise.

Kain exhaled sharply. "Not done yet."The Clash Continues

Cedric smirked. "Good."

He vanished. Kain barely had time to react before Cedric's fist collided with his ribs. Pain shot through him—But this time, he moved with it.

Instead of getting thrown back, Kain twisted his body, absorbing the impact and countered.

His fist lashed out, catching Cedric in the side. It wasn't much. But it was something...

Cedric's smirk widened. "You're learning a deadly game?"

They circled each other. Kain's mind raced. He couldn't win in a direct fight. But…He didn't need to.

His mission wasn't to defeat Cedric. It was to survive, and he was almost at the five-minute mark.

Cedric lunged and Kain sidestepped. A blade missed his neck by inches.

Kain used the momentum...grabbing a handful of dirt...and threw it at Cedric's eyes. Haha!

Cedric snarled, instinctively flinching. Kain didn't hesitate before he ran.

System Update – Mission Status

[DING! Bloodhunt Mission Progress: 90% Completion.]

[Survive for 30 More Seconds.]

"30 seconds...?" Kain's breath came fast. His legs burned but he wasn't stopping now.

He darted through the trees, weaving through the dense forest. Behind him—Cedric's laughter.

"Clever. But you can't run forever."

Kain gritted his teeth just a little more. The Final Countdown.The seconds ticked down.

20…Kain's lungs burned ...10…He could see the edge of the forest...5…Freedom was so close.Then—A shadow appeared in front of him.Kain skidded to a stop. His heart dropped. It wasn't Cedric. It was someone else!

And then—A voice.

"You've made quite the mess, little brother."

Kain's blood froze. Brother?