A/N: you better not think of sl after seeing the name of this chapter.
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'Why was she crying? Was it because of me?'
The question lingered in my mind as I stared at the girl lying beside me. Babies cried all the time , that much was obvious. Hunger, discomfort, anything could set them off.
But this was… different somehow.
She had been crying quietly, almost like she was mourning something. Then suddenly, she just stopped and that was strange.
From what I knew, babies didn't simply calm themselves down like that. They cried until someone helped them… or until they exhausted themselves.
' why had she stopped so suddenly?'
For some reason, the thought kept bothering me. Then realization hit like a truck.
'Of course. Why the hell would an infant stop crying so suddenly unless they have awareness. And why the hell didn't I n...'
BANG!
My thought was interrupted by the sound of the door slamming into the walls.
And the figures that rushed in were non other than Lithia and Caelan.
They burst through the door to check if we were doing alright.
More specifically, they came to identify the reason Hiyori was crying and at night for that.
After all, we haven't shed not even a tear since our birth. So to hear Hiyori's cries must have given them quite a shock.
"YOKESTU! HIYORI! ARE YOU OK!!"
Our father, Caelan, shouted as he rushed forward, sword already drawn.
Beside him stood my mother, Lithia, her body surrounded by a crimson aura from one of her skills.
She looked ready to kill anyone who dared to harm her children.
Then it hit them harder than an anvil could.
It was a false alarm.
"Hooo. Thank the heavens. They're ok," Caelan sighed and approached Hiyori's crib alongside Lithia.
He gently lifted Hiyori, trying to calm her.
But he forgot one crucial thing.
To stop the flow of mana from his mana core into his hand.
The moment he touched her, a violent surge of mana erupted.
The entire nursery was flooded with energy, the air trembling from the sudden pressure.
Caelan dropped to his knees instantly.
His mana core had been nearly drained dry, leaving him pale and weak. For a moment, he looked like a walking skeleton.
Lithia's eyes widened in shock as she had fallen to her knees, her limbs looking like spaghetti.
"D-Did... Did Hiyori just… Arise?"
Her voice trembled.
The phenomenon they had just witnessed was something that had not occurred anywhere in the past 5,000 years.
Meanwhile, Hiyori looked completely exhausted, her tiny body already drifting toward sleep.
And just when things couldn't possibly get worse…
I focused on the mana she had released.
The next moment, Another explosion of mana erupted.
This time, the surge spread far beyond the nursery, flooding the entire Eryndale mansion.
Lithia froze.
Her expression went blank, as if her soul had quietly left her body.
Caelan, on the other hand, looked even worse than before.
The man who had once been a legendary war hero now resembled nothing more than a drained walking skeleton.
As for me…
I was completely drained.
My body felt unbearably heavy, and my mind struggled to stay awake. My thoughts faded as sleep quickly overtook me.
Not that I had much of a choice.
Then when I opened my eyes again, morning light filled the nursery. I saw four armored guards now stood at the door.
'They looked tense. Almost like they were guarding something important. Or someone.'
I slowly turned my gaze toward the room.
Our parents were there as well.
And judging from the looks on their faces…
They were definitely planning something big.
Despite all the disturbances around me, I continued absorbing mana. Slowly but surely, the process was working.
The energy flowed through my tiny infant body, slowly gathering within my mana core.
But as days passed, I continued absorbing mana. At some point became natural
It became something my body did without much thought.
Days turned into months.
I watched the seasons change outside the window. Snow to rain. Rain to warm sunlight.
And before I even realized it years passed.
'Status' I thought
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Name: Yokestu Eryndale
Gender: Male
Race: True Vampire
Age: 6
Rank: Beginner(+H)
Status: Risen
Core Parameters:
Affinity: N/A
Vitality: +G
Mana: -G
Strength: -G
Agility: H
Endurance: -H
Intelligence: +G
Charm: + F
Willpower: -F
Rejuvenation: -E
Bloodline: LOCKED
Bloodline Mastery: 0%
Bloodline Skills: N/A
Weapon Mastery: 0%
Weapon Skills: N/A
Skills:
Passive Skills:
Racial Skills:
Regeneration: +SS [Rapidly heals injuries by converting blood into mana, capable of restoring even severe wounds. Unlike Overflow, this skill has no side effects unless the injuries are extremely extreme.]
Basic Skills:
Mana Manipulation: -G [ This skill allows the basic control of mana around user naturally. Note that the skill known as (Mana Manipulation) only enables the user to control mana around the user, NOT in the user's mana core.]
Active Skills:
Racial Skills:
Revive : +SS [Allows user to bring back deceased (non vampires) within 8 hours after the death of that individual. That individual will then be brought back to life as a vampire of lower rank and is not allowed to disobey the user. Requirements are suck blood from individual, infuse user's mana into the individual. More mana is required the stronger the person is]
Overflow: S [A skill that allows the user to temporarily surpass their natural physical or magical limits by using blood as fuel. While highly effective, Overflow causes intense blood cravings and severe fatigue afterward.]
Control: +S [Temporarily manipulates the minds and actions of individuals ranked below the user. The skill allows instant command over lower-ranked targets, but higher-ranked individuals are immune to its influence. In the case the user attempted to control a higher ranked individual, the battle becomes a battle of the individual's and user's Willpower, with the winner being the one with more Willpower.]
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Wow… I've really come far since then.
I stared at the translucent window in front of my eyes.
Six whole years had passed since that strange night when both Hiyori and I had Arisen.
At the time I had barely understood what was happening. My body had been too weak, my mind too exhausted to process everything.
But now? I could see the results clearly.
My stats were still low compared to what I expected from a True Vampire, but considering my age, they weren't bad.
Actually, they were quite ridiculous for a six-year-old.
My gaze lingered on a few specific things. [Control], [Overflow] and [Revive].
Each one of those skills alone would be considered monstrous by normal standards.Especially [Revive].
'Bringing someone back from the dead and turning them into a subordinate vampire?'
That kind of ability could start wars if the wrong people found out.
"Yeah… definitely not something I should show off."
My eyes slowly moved upward on the window again.
Status: Risen.
Even now the word still felt strange.
The phenomenon that hadn't appeared for over five thousand years had suddenly occurred… Twice.
I rested my chin on my hand as I thought about it.
'I wonder… are my parents Ascendants or Risens?'
It would explain a lot. Their strength.Their reactions that night.
The way the entire mansion suddenly became guarded like a fortress afterward.
Even now there were more guards than usual around the estate.Either they were protecting us…Or hiding us.
My gaze drifted toward the window where faint sunlight spilled into the room.
Outside, I could hear faint sounds from the courtyard.Guards training.Metal clashing against metal.Boots striking the ground in rhythmic patterns.
Normal life in the Eryndale household.
Meanwhile, I had spent the past few years doing something most children wouldn't even understand.
If things continued at this pace, I might reach Intermediate rank before adulthood.
'Not bad.Not bad at all.'
But before I could continue thinking.
THUD!
"Yokestu!"
My body lurched forward slightly from the impact. I turned my head slowly.
Standing behind me was the source of the chaos.Hiyori.
Her blue hair, striped with crimson red bounced slightly as she leaned over my shoulders, her bright eyes practically glowing with excitement. She had always been like this
"Where have you been?!" she complained. "You said you'd play with me today!"
I stared at her blankly for a moment. Then sighed.
"You're not a child, Hiyori."
She blinked.
"And I never promised you anything."
Her expression immediately changed.
Her cheeks puffed up in anger as she crossed her arms.
"You did!"
"I did not."
"You did too!"
"I most certainly did not."
She narrowed her eyes at me and for a brief moment we simply stared at each other.
Then Hiyori suddenly smirked.
A very dangerous smirk.
"Fine," she said casually. "Then I'll just tell mom and dad that you're a god."
My brain froze.
"…What?"
"You heard me," she replied proudly. "I'll tell them how you sit here talking to invisible windows and muttering about mana and ranks."
I stared at her. Then slowly closed my eyes.
'This little demon…'
She knew exactly what she was doing.
If our parents found out about the system I was seeing.
Things would become extremely complicated very quickly. So stood up immediately.
"…Okay."
Hiyori's grin widened.
"I'm coming to play," I continued. "Just don't tell them that."
She tilted her head slightly, pretending to think about it.
"Hmmm… let me think,"
A few seconds passed. Then she nodded happily.
"Sure!"
Her mood flipped instantly, like a switch had been flipped. She grabbed my arm and began dragging me toward the door.
"Come on! Come on! The others are already outside!"
"The others?" I asked.
"Yeah! The training yard kids! And the guards said they'll let us watch sword practice today!"
I allowed myself to be pulled along, shaking my head slightly.
Despite everything, The strange system, the hidden abilities, and whatever secret our parents were keeping…
Moments like this felt strangely normal.
Just two siblings running through a mansion hallway.
Though something told me that normality wouldn't last forever.
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A/N: Thank you for reading the 4 chapter of Yokestu's Odyssey. But I might release another chapter today. Yokestu and Hiyori are transmigrators, but in this world they are called gods.