Ethan had returned to the real world after spending time in the Beast Plane, successfully communicating with his new partner, the Heavenly Tortoise. Despite the initial strangeness, it turned out to be fairly easy for him, and they conversed until time ran out. The quest was complete, and the bonus surprise—his tortoise companion—was still nameless, though Ethan was starting to grow fond of the creature. It was an incredible addition to his life, but his attention soon turned to the remaining challenge: the Race Unlock reward.
The system had sent a notification:
Race Unlock: It's nothing special. Just a title the system gave to your evolution. You must fulfill certain requirements to gain your first evolution. Your level will remain stagnant until you evolve. Here are the requirements:
1. Learn about the Vampire and Dwarf Races.
2. Train your Spirit Beast to attain Sync.
3. You must complete these before you go back to school.
Ethan could only sigh in dejection. He had less than six days to complete the requirements. Learning about the Vampire and Dwarf races seemed easier, but the second task—training Angitia—felt like an impossible challenge. Angitia wasn't humanoid or capable of following conventional training methods. And as much as Ethan would love to hire a Beast Trainer, he simply didn't have the money. Even if he could afford one, where would he find a trainer skilled in working with serpents, especially one like Angitia, a psychic serpent with an unpredictable personality?
He considered asking for help from Miss Carmen, but the system had already shot that idea down. He was on his own. The only assurance he had was Zark's promise to assist him with the beast training. That would have to be enough, for now.
With these thoughts weighing on him, Ethan got up from his bed and went to take a shower. He hadn't washed up since returning from the Beast Plane the previous night—exhaustion had overtaken him the instant he was teleported back to his room. The hot water cleared his mind, and as he glanced at himself in the mirror, he noticed subtle but significant changes.
He had grown taller, his body had taken on an athletic build, and while not overly muscular, his chest and abs were defined, with crude muscles beginning to form. His eyes, now sharper and more intense, reflected the experiences and battles he'd faced in the Beast Plane. He was becoming a seasoned fighter, bit by bit. Despite reaching Level 15, the system's message loomed over him—he would remain stuck at this level until he fulfilled the requirements for evolution.
Finishing his shower, Ethan dressed quickly and went downstairs to join his family for breakfast. His mother, Madeleine, and the Avluvs were already seated at the table, with Harley eagerly chowing down before heading off to school. Ethan greeted everyone and settled in. Breakfast was a quiet but pleasant affair. After the Avluvs left for work and Harley departed for school, Ethan decided to have a heart-to-heart with his mother. He figured that if his ancestry was linked to Dwarves and Vampires, his mother might hold the key to unlocking more of his past.
He followed her to her room, his thoughts spinning. As they sat down together, Madeleine noticed the concern etched on her son's face.
"Ethan, what's wrong? You look worried," Madeleine asked, her tone gentle.
"It's nothing much, Mom. I just realized we haven't really spent much time together since you woke up. I feel like I've been a bad son." Ethan's voice was sincere, and he truly felt guilty for not being around more.
"Aww, my baby boy is all grown up. Don't worry, sweetie. You've been busy, and I understand. Seeing you smile confidently is enough for me," Madeleine reassured him as she pulled him closer to sit on the plush double seat in her room. She gave him a warm smile that eased some of his guilt.
"So, how's cultivation?" she asked.
"It's going well. I'm at the peak of the Novice Rank."
"Awesome! You really are talented. It's barely been three months, and you're already close to breaking through. I took almost five months to advance at your age."
"I've just been lucky. You're the real talent, to have advanced so fast back in your era. By the way, what's your level now, Mom?"
"Hmm..." Madeleine hesitated for a moment, her face turning serious. "Because of the illness, I regressed in my ranks. I'm not really as powerful as I used to be. I wish I could tell you my exact rank, but I can't. I'm sorry."
"Is it related to my dad?" Ethan asked carefully.
"Partly." Madeleine looked away, her gaze distant for a moment, before turning back to him with a smile. "But enough about that. I'm sure you feel like you're on the brink of a breakthrough, but something's holding you back, right?"
"Yeah, I feel it," Ethan admitted, the sensation nagging at him like an itch he couldn't scratch.
"That's because of where we come from—or more specifically, what we are," Madeleine said softly, her words hanging in the air.
"I wanted to ask you about that, actually," Ethan said, sitting up straight. "Ever since I awakened, I've felt different from others."
Madeleine nodded thoughtfully before she began explaining. "Our ancestry started from the union of a powerful dwarf and an equally strong vampire. But we haven't seen a true hybrid of both races in over a thousand years. Usually, one side dominates. In our case, it's either the dwarf genes are stronger, making you a dwarf, or vice versa for vampires. But even if you aren't a hybrid, you get a special ability from the recessive race in your bloodline."
"So, which one are you?" Ethan asked, curiosity piqued.
"I'm a dwarf. A noble breed, in fact. My special ability comes from my vampire bloodline: I grow stronger the more blood I spill in battle. It's a double-edged sword, though—it can push me over the edge if I'm not careful."
"Wow... that's insane," Ethan muttered, wide-eyed at the revelation.
"It's nothing compared to others in our family. There are vampires, too, and they have their own unique abilities. Each of us inherits something different."
"Is this why I feel so out of place sometimes? Like I'm not fully human?"
"Exactly. You're what we call a 'mixed-race human' until you evolve into your true race, be it dwarf or vampire. But you're special, Ethan. More special than you know."
Ethan's shock deepened as he processed the information. He always knew there was something more to him, but this... this was far more complex and intriguing than he had imagined.
"This is incredible," Ethan breathed. "I had no idea our bloodline ran so deep."
"And that's just scratching the surface," Madeleine added. "There's more to this, but you're not ready for the full truth yet. In time, when you're strong enough, I'll tell you everything."
Ethan nodded, his mind racing. "Thanks, Mom. Can you tell me more about the two races?"
Madeleine smiled and leaned back in her chair, clearly enjoying the opportunity to share her knowledge.
"Let's start with vampires. Most people think they need blood to survive and can't walk in the sun. But that's not entirely true. While vampires do need blood, it's more like their preferred food. They can eat other things, but nothing tastes as good to them as blood."
"They don't die in sunlight—at least, not right away. Instead, the sun dehydrates them of blood, making them weaker. This causes their bloodlust to spike, and if they're around non-vampires, they might lose control and attack. That's why they wear black clothes—they're made from special materials that prevent the blood-dehydrating effect of the sun."
"That makes sense. And their abilities?"
"All vampires can manipulate blood to some degree, even without a specific blood affinity. They can cause blood clotting, speed up regeneration, and even induce bloodlust in others. And, of course, they have special abilities unique to their bloodlines."
"Wow... Vampires sound terrifying," Ethan mused, feeling both fascinated and intimidated by their power.
"Terrifying, yes, but also fascinating. Now, dwarves are a bit more complex..."