Deep within the forest, a mysterious castle suddenly appeared, standing ominously in the heart of the wilderness. Its presence did not go unnoticed.
Countless beasts and monsters were drawn to it, including the powerful rulers of the forest, and those apex predators that reigned over their territories. However, the moment they sensed the overwhelming presence within the castle, they immediately fled, choosing survival over curiosity.
But not all creatures were that intelligent.
Many lesser beasts, lacking awareness and instincts for danger, continued to linger around the castle, mesmerized by its strange aura.
Whoosh!
A massive brown bear, the size of a bus, emerged from the dense foliage. Its thick, muscular frame was lined with orderly rows of razor-sharp crystalline spikes protruding from its back. It was one of the deadliest predators in the forest, feared by most creatures that dared to cross its path.
At the moment, the bear was feasting on its latest kill. Blood dripped from its massive claws, intestines spilling onto the ground as it ripped into the carcass with powerful jaws. With each bite, its glowing, predatory eyes flashed with satisfaction. Its sheer presence exuded raw dominance, an aura that could make a lesser creature piss itself in terror.
But what truly excited the bear wasn’t just its meal.
It had found a new hunting ground—a place teeming with prey. The strange structure in the distance had drawn many creatures toward it, making hunting easier than ever. Though the bear was curious about the castle, its instincts warned it not to venture too close. Instead, it hunted the unfortunate beasts roaming the area.
And the bear wasn’t alone.
Other predators lurked in the shadows, drawn to the same hunting paradise. Ambushes, sudden chases, and merciless killings became routine as creatures fought to feast upon the weak.
For some reason, the castle radiated a strange aura that lured the beasts in—as if promising something irresistibly delicious inside. But unlike the more intelligent creatures that had already fled, these lesser beasts could not sense the lurking danger.
Then, suddenly—
ROOAAAARR!!
A deep, guttural roar shattered the eerie silence.
Every beast froze.
A moment later, whimpers, agonized shrieks, and the sound of flesh being torn apart filled the air. Blood permeated the surroundings, its metallic scent thick and suffocating.
The crystal-backed bear lifted its head, its instincts screaming at it.
RUN!
It turned, ready to flee. But before it could react.
BASH!
A monstrous blur of crimson lunged at its back.
The horrific creature clamped its jagged fangs deep into the bear’s thick neck, crushing bone and flesh, while its clawed hands grabbed the bear’s massive head, holding it in place.
"ROAAAR!"
The bear did not crumble under the sudden attack. Instead, it instinctively retaliated, proving why it was one of the dominant predators of the forest.
With a deafening roar, it reached behind its back and grabbed the monstrous Worker, its massive claws crushing into its flesh. The crystals lining its spine gleamed under the sunlight, and in an instant, its strength surged—the air around it distorted, as if the very force of nature was bending to its will.
With all its might, the bear slammed the Worker into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact sent the Worker soaring through the air before crashing into the dirt with a sickening **thud**. But the bear gave it no chance to recover.
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THUD!
In a flash, the bear lunged forward, pinning the Worker down with its sheer weight. Its powerful jaws snapped open, revealing razor-sharp teeth, and without hesitation, it sank them deep into the Worker's flesh.
**CRUNCH!**
Flesh ripped, blood splattered, and a piercing shriek of pain echoed through the air.
For a moment, it seemed like the battle had been decided.
But then—
"SKREEE!"
The Worker suddenly shrieked in defiance, its featureless face twisting as its jaw unhinged unnaturally wide.
SNAP!
Its needle-like fangs sank into the bear’s face, piercing deep into its thick hide. Its clawed fingers, once restrained, dug deeper into the bear’s body, and with a grotesque squelch, it ripped out chunks of flesh.
This was no ordinary fight.
This was a battle of vitality—a battle of who could endure more pain.
At first, the bear fought ferociously, refusing to surrender. However, it had made a fatal mistake.
It had picked the wrong opponent.
With every bite the Worker took, with every piece of flesh, it tore from the bear’s body—its own wounds began to heal. Its injuries regenerated as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, the bear’s massive body was slowly being devoured alive.
And after a while…
The predator had become the prey.
...
"Damn..."
Viktor watched in amazement as the two beasts battled to the death. He hadn't expected the Worker to be that strong, nearly matching the bear in raw power. However, thanks to its unique attribute, Vitality, the Worker regenerated its wounds, unlike the bear, whose injuries only worsened over time.
Blood splattered across the battlefield. What remained on the ground was the horrifying corpse of the once-mighty predator—now nothing more than a mutilated husk.
Originally, Viktor had planned to explore his domain first. But when he noticed the ferocious battle unfolding nearby, curiosity got the better of him. He had watched the fight from start to finish. At first, when the Worker was pinned down, he almost stepped in to help. But something told him to wait—and sure enough, the Worker refused to give up.
"The Worker was nearly as strong as the bear… but I understand why it struggled," Viktor muttered, nodding to himself.
Despite its terrifying appearance, the Worker lacked a proper fighting style. It had no special abilities, relying purely on brute strength and resilience. After all, as its name suggested, it was meant for labor, not combat.
---
- Name: (None)
- Race: Bloodspawn
- Type: Worker
- Rank: Tier 13 (Early)
- Blood Essence: 0/500
Stats:
- Strength: H
- Dexterity: H
- Constitution: H
- Vitality: H-
Skills:
- Construction (Level 1)
- Resource Extraction (Level 1)
- Labor Efficiency (Passive)
---
The Worker had fought the giant bear using nothing but raw physical strength.
Yet, despite its limitations, Viktor felt satisfied. If this was just a basic unit, he could only imagine what more advanced units would be like in the future.
Just then, a notification appeared before him.
[1x Blood Essence detected. Do you wish to absorb it?]
Without hesitation, Viktor responded.
"Absorb."
As the Blood Essence fused into his body, he felt a faint surge of energy—a taste of the power he would soon wield.
With the battle over, he turned to the Worker.
"Return to the castle. Guard it until further orders."
Since this was his only summoned unit, Viktor couldn’t afford to waste it on simple tasks yet. For now, its priority was protecting his home.
Satisfied, he took one last look at the fallen bear and turned back toward the castle.
...
The castle was grand and majestic, resembling the ancient strongholds of old vampires perched on cliffs—straight out of a dark fantasy world. Yet, despite its imposing presence, it was relatively small compared to the legendary castles of fiction.
It had two floors above ground and two underground levels.
The ground floor housed essential rooms such as the living room, kitchen, guest rooms, and other necessary spaces. The first floor contained a study, another living room, and a secret chamber designed solely for Viktor’s private use.
Between the ground floor and the underground levels was a spacious hall supported by massive pillars. While this area could be considered a separate floor, the system did not officially count it. This hall served as a transition point, where one could find staircases leading down to the underground floors or back up to the ground level.
The first underground floor contained a throne room for Viktor. The second underground floor housed the most critical space—his Heart Room, where the core of the castle was located. Positioned deep within, it was the most secure place in the entire structure.
Beyond the main castle, there were several auxiliary buildings, including:
- A storage building (self-explanatory).
- A training ground for combat practice.
There was also a garden filled with a variety of vibrant flowers.
As Viktor explored, he couldn't help but feel satisfied.
"This… this is my home."
In his previous life, he had only lived in a cramped one-room apartment, barely bigger than a doghouse compared to this castle. But now, he had something far greater.
Viktor sat on the sofa, his long black hair cascading over his shoulders as his deep, dark eyes gazed out the window.
His mind was filled with countless thoughts.
"First, I need to plan my base defense. The castle must be protected at all costs. Second, I need to figure out exactly where I am—only then can I make a proper strategy. But right now... what I lack the most is Blood Essence."
Outside the window, the sun slowly dipped behind the mountains, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. The distant roars of beasts grew quieter, fading into the approaching night.
Because at night, the true predators emerged.
And tonight—Viktor would be one of them.
He picked up the glass of wine resting on the table, taking a slow sip before rising to his feet.
Stepping toward the window, he watched as darkness crept across the land.
"It’s time to hunt."
