Beneath the moonlit night, Murphy's eyes went wide.
He stared at the first talent entry that had appeared on his character card, along with the reminder that he could change classes. After standing there stunned for a full five seconds, a surge of joy burst through him.
Well, he'd just been complaining about his lousy talent, and now it had surprised him!
So this kind of imitation and learning, built on experience and reflection, was the true essence of the experience system and template leveling?
"Change class!"
Murphy made his decision. The "Blood Vulture Apprentice" on his character card changed to "Blood Vulture Swordsman," and a series of notifications appeared:
Blood Vulture Swordsman class change successful! Class trait bonus: Blood Vulture Swordsmanship proficiency cap increased from "Expert" to "Master." Damage dealt while fighting with Blood Vulture Swordsmanship increased. The damage bonus is related to swordsmanship proficiency. New talent · Gale and Rainstorm: Each successful melee combo increases attack speed, up to the maximum speed the body can withstand. The attack speed bonus disappears when the combo is interrupted. New talent · Lightning Reflex: Each melee block can be followed by a counterattack. The counterattack success rate increases with swordsmanship proficiency. New talent · Night Swordsman: The vampire swordsman's uncanny footwork strengthens sword strikes and improves evasion in the dark. Class information updated. Current main class: Level 1 Blood Vulture Swordsman. When either the main or secondary class reaches Level 10 and character level reaches 10, the Trial of Strength · Black Iron Body can be triggered.
Murphy read the notifications that had appeared.
He didn't immediately test the changes to his swordsmanship. Instead, he realized there was another question:
If swordsmanship techniques could be improved by reading manuals, then could the psionic talent that, according to rumor, was fixed at birth also be improved through a similar method?
Murphy narrowed his eyes. He immediately put away the swordsmanship manual in his hands and took out the psionic techniques manual written by Miss Femis.
It was much thicker than the swordsmanship manual.
Rather than a collection of casual notes, it was more like a record of the young lady's studies when she first began learning psionics—almost a beginner's grimoire of psionic arts.
He opened to the first page and was immediately overwhelmed by the complicated-looking psionic models drawn there.
This mysterious supernatural power really was different from swordsmanship. Reading this stuff took patience and brains. Fortunately, Murphy wasn't stupid, and he understood the situation he was in, so he patiently read on.
The first chapter of the manual described the most basic technique: "Psionic Impact."
Murphy knew how to use it, but the young lady had clearly received instruction from a renowned master.
She described in detail the seven different ways her mentor had taught her to unleash Psionic Impact. Murphy felt thoroughly humbled.
When he used the skill, he simply grabbed a lump of dark psionic energy and hurled it at his enemy. He looked like a gorilla throwing dung, and couldn't help despising his own lack of technique.
Maxim, who was practicing swordsmanship nearby, had wanted to remind Murphy that it was time to head back.
But when he saw Murphy reading the book so intently, the loyal blood thrall didn't disturb his master. Instead, he silently picked up his rapier and went back to practicing.
Maxim might have been a superstitious, half-illiterate man born in Transia, but even he—nicknamed "the Monster"—knew there was nothing wrong with reading more books.
After about half an hour, Murphy's head was spinning so badly that he decisively shut the book.
Rubbing his temples, he looked over the new notification that had appeared on his character card:
Repeatedly reading the first chapter of Femis Cecilia Lasombra's psionic manual has greatly improved Psionic Impact technique proficiency. Current proficiency: "Proficient." Notification! The author of this book has mastered Psionic Impact to the level of "Expert." Therefore, reading this book and practicing can improve the skill's technique only as far as "Expert." New skill learned · Psionic Impact technique branches: Dark Ray, Protective Orb, Bind, Suffocate, Shockwave, Energy Blast, Gale Blast. Notification! Branch skills are extensions of the main skill. Their proficiency increases along with the main skill. Psionic technique proficiency has reached "Proficient." Secondary class "Empty" can change to "Psionic Apprentice." Change class?
"Now that's awesome!"
The string of notifications made Murphy clench his fists.
All his earlier complaints about his lousy talent vanished in an instant.
To put it plainly, Murphy wasn't actually opposed to having been transported to another world. What he feared most was being permanently limited by his talent, so that none of his efforts would ever pay off.
But now the truth was clear: in this other world, everything he invested would turn into visible results.
His uncertainty about the future lifted a little more.
Phew. Keep slacking in a world where hard work makes you stronger?
Are you kidding me?
I'm going to grind my ass off!
"Confirm!"
Murphy took a deep breath. Just like before, the moment his secondary class changed, another string of notifications appeared:
"Dark · Psionic Apprentice" class change successful! Class trait bonus: Psionic perception increased, dark psionic energy efficiency increased, psionic recovery speed increased. New talent · Dark Psionic Manipulation: Destructive power increased when using dark psionic techniques, sustained effects last longer, and all psionic attacks inflict a slight mental shock on enemies. New talent · Psionic Feedback: Resistance to dark psionic energy increased, resistance to solar psionic energy decreased. New talent · Blood Spirit: The vampire's racial talent can rapidly restore spent psionic energy by draining the blood of living creatures, while temporarily increasing the psionic limit and the destructive power of techniques. Class information updated. Current secondary class: Level 1 Dark · Psionic Apprentice. When either the main or secondary class reaches Level 10 and character level reaches 10, the Trial of Strength · Black Iron Body can be triggered.
"Bring it on!"
Grinning at his brand-new character class card, Murphy put the psionic manual into the bag he'd swiped from the young lady, drew the Scarlet Gauntlet Sword, and beckoned to his servant.
He glanced at the moon overhead, silently thanking Mother of Night for her gift. Then he rolled his neck and said to Maxim:
"We only have three days. You and I both have to do everything we can to get stronger, or we really will die on that suicide mission the heartless young lady has planned.
"We have to survive, Max!
"We have to survive by any means necessary!
"We have to get back to Cadman City together! Make something of ourselves together! Achieve great things together and see our grand plan through together!"
The words struck a chord with the blood thrall, who had always wanted to make something of himself. He clenched his fists.
He nodded firmly, grabbed his rapier, and charged at his master.
Of course, he was prepared for Murphy's terrible swordsmanship, so he deliberately slowed down his attack.
But the instant the blade swept toward him, Murphy tilted his head back with a deft dodge, then twisted his wrist and struck forward with a precise counterattack. The blade, humming and vibrating with its rapid movement, came to a pinpoint stop right before Maxim's throat.
The brilliant parry and counter left the blood thrall frozen in place.
Then he saw his master shape a flickering spark of psionic energy in the darkness and give him a knowing smile.
He said:
"Were you really thinking you were that good just because I went easy on you? Max, don't hold back, and don't underestimate your master!"
Three hours later, the darkest part of the night had arrived, which meant dawn was near.
Murphy's arms ached, and his psionic energy was completely depleted. He felt as if his body had been hollowed out as he dragged himself back to the campfire.
Behind him, battered and disheveled, Maxim could barely walk.
After all, he wore chain mail, which offered better protection but weighed more. And unlike Murphy, he didn't have a vampire's fast-recovering body. All he wanted now was a good night's sleep.
But Murphy was pleased.
Three hours of hard practice had brought his swordsman level up to Level 2, proving that killing monsters wasn't the only way to level up—not even the main way.
Mirian sat by the campfire, hugging herself and rubbing her eyes.
She hadn't slept well at all that night. Every vampire ghost story she'd heard as a child had taken turns playing out in her head, leaving her yawning nonstop.
"Where'd this carriage come from?"
Murphy noticed a completely black carriage parked by the campfire. It wasn't fancy, just a four-wheeled cart of the sort small merchants used to carry goods. But it was spacious and well-sealed, and an old horse stood in front, chewing hay.
"It came with the young lady's human servants when they met up with us. There was also a cold-speaking old lady who said she was the young lady's butler. She came to tell me just now."
Mirian yawned as she spoke:
"Lady Adele said we're leaving as soon as the sun rises and need to reach the ambush site within three days. But she didn't provide you with a coffin to rest in. I think she did it on purpose.
"All the other vampires have fancy coffins to sleep in, and you're the only one without one.
"You've got it rough, Murphy.
"Your place in the vampire clan is so awkward. It's like being a bullied and ostracized first-year college student."
Murphy wasn't bothered by the teasing. He studied the carriage, then turned to Mirian and asked:
"Maxim and I have to make the most of our time to train and get stronger. Can you drive?"
"Of course. I grew up in a village. Sure, I'm the village chief's illegitimate daughter, but I wasn't raised in luxury. My mother was a formidable traveling merchant. When she was young, she even went to Greeny Island and Northwind Fort.
"Too bad she had lousy taste in men."
Mirian punched the air with confidence. Murphy nodded and said:
"Then I'll leave it to you. Once this mess is over, I'll let you go. If you need it, I'll even give you some money to pay for further studies."
"Are vampires really that kind?"
Mirian eyed Murphy suspiciously. She strongly suspected he was just making promises to string her along. But Murphy was already ignoring her.
"Sir, more people are coming!"
Maxim suddenly spoke up, prompting Murphy to turn around.
In the darkness behind them, flickering lights of blood-red light were approaching from afar, like scarlet meteors beneath the night sky. Only when they drew closer did Murphy see they were Vampire Rangers soaring through the night.
They unfurled scarlet bat wings and swooped down like predatory vultures. Their scarlet capes swaying, they landed beside the first group of vampires with a flashy, graceful air, then bowed to Miss Femis with elegant, hypocritical deference, like a crowd of midnight nobles arriving at a party.
More than thirty elite vampires had gathered, but they were only the first group to arrive. It seemed Miss Femis had resolved to make a big move.
As for those flashy bat wings—
They were the Blood Eagle Clan's symbol!
Each of the seven great vampire clans had its own unique power. Other vampires did have delicate, tiny wings, more like ornaments, but in the arrogant eyes of the Blood Eagles, those wings were only good for gliding—or pitifully flapping around like flightless chickens!
Only the Blood Eagle Clan's broad, powerful bat wings truly gave them dominion over the skies.
"So cool."
Murphy felt a little jealous.
He was an official member of the Blood Eagle Clan too, but he was still too weak to grow blood wings. Triss had told him about them. The earliest one could grow blood wings was after attaining a "Black Iron Body."
He was only a weak low-level professional, still a ways away from reaching that stage.
But he glanced at the experience bar he'd unlocked on his character card and gave a quiet snort. With this thing on his side, growing a pair of awesome wings was only a matter of time.
He climbed into the carriage, planning to sleep for a while before dawn. But as soon as he sat down, he saw Mirian come over and lean against the back of the carriage.
"You're pretty cunning. You've got that foolishly loyal Maxim wrapped around your finger, making him call you master and willingly risk his life for you."
Mirian spoke softly:
"Are all vampires as afraid of death as you are, Murphy? That's not what I read in books."
"That's called being smart."
Murphy shot the sly woman a glance and said lightly:
"Besides, you'd better put on the Midnight Cloak I gave you. That's not a suggestion."
"Why?"
Mirian huffed and said:
"I'm not your blood thrall. I only teamed up with you because I hate Witch Hunters."
"I can put up with your impudence, Mirian, because I see your intelligence and cunning shining through."
Murphy pointed at the vampires whispering in the darkness behind him. His eyes glowed red in the night as he said to Mirian:
"But my kin may not see it that way.
"You might not know this, but for the past few decades, there's been a popular saying in Cadman City: the blood of clever virgins tastes more refined and is more valuable to collectors.
"Why don't you guess how long you'd survive tonight if they found out you weren't my blood thrall?"
Murphy stroked his chin and drew out his words:
"One hour? Three hours? All right, maybe I'm underestimating you. I'll bet five hours! Five hours from now, you'll be the vampires' 'late-night snack' to help them pass the time. Maybe a few of those vampire perverts who get sneered at for bedding 'livestock' will take an interest in your youthful beauty.
"But that's a good thing. It means you'll have a 'new master.'
"How about this? I'll bet you one gold coin!
"Hey, Maxim, want in?"
The loyal servant turned and grinned when he heard. He pulled a bloodstained gold coin from his pocket and said:
"Of course, sir. I've seen this sort of thing many times, so I bet this cunning, rude little girl won't last twenty minutes!"
The exchange turned Mirian deathly pale.
She wanted to argue that Murphy was only trying to scare her.
But looking past the carriage into the night, she could see pairs of crimson lights flickering in the moonlight. They were the vampires' glowing eyes as they looked at her.
Every pair was full of cruelty and hunger.
She'd read the Secret History of Vampires, written by the Chardo Explorers Association, in the library. She'd also heard all sorts of outlandish tales from home about the midnight nobles. But only when she truly encountered these supernatural creatures born of darkness could she understand just how much fear the authors must have endured before writing their warnings.
The truth was, she knew she'd come over to make idle conversation with Murphy because she'd sensed the malice spreading through the darkness.
She understood that in this situation, Murphy was the only one who could protect her.
So, under Murphy's gaze, Mirian said nothing. She accepted the Midnight Cloak Maxim held out to her and wrapped it tightly around herself.
As she did, the malicious eyes watching her in the darkness disappeared one pair at a time.
Murphy might have been a weakling, but the Blood Eagle Clan played by the rules!
Until a blood thrall's liege died or abandoned them, other vampires weren't allowed to lay a hand on them. Anyone who did would be severely punished.
Murphy gave a satisfied chuckle.
He reached out and patted the trembling head in front of him, then whispered:
"Now you're safe. Go to sleep. They won't bother you."
Before you continue