Chapter 3: I Can’t be the weakest ghoul right ?
Hearing this, Ronan snapped back to his senses.
He realized he had been only a step away from death.
Without hesitation, he hurriedly acted like the other Ghouls.
Meanwhile, the male Vampire frowned slightly.
For just a brief moment...
He had sensed the aura of a living being.
"I suppose I sensed nothing..."
With that thought, he turned around and left, leaving his servants outside.
The moment he was gone, Ronan calmed himself down as he looked at the system notifications.
"Took you long enough," Ronan muttered with a frown as he finally had the chance to see what this system was all about.
It only took Ronan a moment before he sucked in a cold breath.
This system...
Damn it...
Why did he have to become a Ghoul?
Apart from being able to scan his own status and that of others, the system’s main function was the ability to absorb the racial Traits of any creature he killed.
One had to know that in this world, Traits determined everything.
They were the fundamental source of a creature’s strength and the origin of their abilities.
Take the Vampire’s Blood Sucking Trait, for example.
It was because of this Trait that they could create Ghouls, turn others into lesser Vampires through their bite, possess irresistible beauty, and even control weaker beings with nothing more than their gaze.
Traits opened the door to countless abilities.
They were the core power possessed by every race.
And now...
He had obtained a system capable of farming Traits.
"Amazing..."
Ronan could no longer remain calm.
"Open the newbie gift."
He couldn’t wait to see what he would receive.
A powerful ability?
An incredible Trait?
Or perhaps he would be promoted to the next Realm?
[Ding! Congratulations! The host has obtained the Blood Sucking Trait.]
[Ding! Congratulations! The host has obtained 1 Essence.]
[Ding! Congratulations! The host has obtained 1 Evolution Card.]
"Scam!"
Ronan cursed as he mentally insulted the system’s ancestors for fourteen generations.
"Cough... cough..."
Looking back at the rewards, Ronan suddenly felt embarrassed.
Was his Ghoul eyesight really that terrible?
He had thought he received something else.
"Please... cough... System, don’t mind the host. It’s just that being a Ghoul isn’t exactly... easy. Please bear with me."
System: "..."
Looking at everything more carefully, Ronan’s face would have turned bright red if he had still been human.
He had actually obtained a Trait.
And it was a Vampire’s Trait.
Didn’t that mean...
He could one day command his own Ghoul army?
Become unbelievably handsome?
Shoot arrows straight into the hearts of beautiful maidens and—
Cough... cough...
Realizing he was getting carried away, Ronan hurriedly asked the system for clarification.
[Blood Sucking Trait]
The signature Trait of the Vampire race. As its mastery increases, more of its abilities are unlocked.
Current Level: 0
Requirement: Kill one Vampire to advance to Level 1 and unlock the first ability.
[Essence]
The unique energy that exists within the world and all living creatures. It is required to strengthen the body and break through Realms.
[Evolution Card]
A special item obtained from missions and tasks. It is used to evolve a Trait after it reaches its maximum level.
Ronan gasped.
Too powerful.
Simply too powerful.
With this alone, he had transformed from a weak nobody into someone with limitless potential.
The Blood Sucking Trait belonged exclusively to the Vampire race.
Yet he, a Ghoul, now possessed it.
If the Vampires ever discovered this...
They would probably dissect him just to find out how he had done it.
However, even more surprising than the Trait itself was Essence.
Although Ronan didn’t know much about it, he understood one thing.
Essence was required to advance through the Realms and grow stronger.
The currently known Realms of power were:
- Mortal Realm
- Transcendent Realm
- Sovereign Realm
- King Realm
- Supreme Realm
- Legend Realm
- Saint Realm
Each Realm was divided into One Star through Nine Star.
Without Essence, breaking through was impossible.
As for the Evolution Card...
It was by far the most valuable reward.
Every Trait could evolve after reaching Level 10.
For ordinary people, raising a Trait to Level 10 was already incredibly difficult.
Actually evolving it was even harder.
But with the Evolution Card, Ronan only needed to raise the Trait to its maximum level.
The card would handle the evolution.
"System, you’re the best. I love you."
Ronan grinned, completely forgetting that he had been cursing it only moments earlier.
After calming himself down, Ronan decided to test another function.
"Stats."
[Ding!]
Host: Ronan
Race: Ghoul
Realm: Mortal • One Star
Trait: Blood Sucking Lv.0
Essence: 1/10
Effect: Minor body enhancement.
Abilities: None
Inventory: Evolution Card ×1
"Oh... not bad."
Looking at his status, Ronan couldn’t help but smile.
Then his curiosity was piqued.
If this was his status...
What about the other Ghouls?
"System, scan them."
Host: ???
Race: Ghoul
Realm: Transcendent • Three Star
Trait: None
Essence: 30/30
Abilities: None
"Huh...?"
Ronan’s smile instantly froze.
Wait...
What was this?
This was an entire Realm above him.
The gap might look small, but according to the system’s explanation, Ronan knew the difference was enormous.
"Well... it’s normal for him to have one or two strong Ghouls. I’m sure the rest aren’t like that."
He comforted himself before scanning another Ghoul.
Host: ???
Race: Ghoul
Realm: Transcendent • Two Star
Trait: None
Essence: 19/20
Abilities: None
"Ermm... maybe that’s another special one. Scan again."
Ronan gritted his teeth and refused to give up.
Host: ???
Race: Ghoul
Realm: Transcendent • One Star
Trait: None
Essence: 5/10
Abilities: None
"Fuck... I don’t believe it," Ronan said as he kept scanning each and every one of the Ghouls.
The more he scanned, the worse his expression became.
No matter which Ghoul he checked, none...
Absolutely none...
Was below the Transcendent One Star Realm.
Only he was in the Mortal Realm.
And at One Star, to boot.
"This is impossible..." Ronan muttered as his gaze settled on the system.
Was it trolling him?
Or had it malfunctioned?
"System, scan me again," Ronan said, unable to believe it.
But his eyes widened.
It was still the same.
The last shred of hope left him as he collapsed onto the ground.
"I... couldn’t really be the weakest Ghoul... right?" Ronan muttered in disbelief.