The Metal Damphir Awakens
Fafnir followed Hemora’s gesture with a nod.
“Looks like you’re heading this way as well.”
Hemora shrugged.
“Good. The ritual to settle the vampire’s blood is about to begin. Come over and sit in seiza.”
Fafnir obeyed without hesitation and assumed the proper posture.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Race evolution to Dampyr is in progress.
Fafnir felt the blood magic general’s direct involvement in the process.
“It’s blatant favoritism, but I had no choice. I have to abandon the vampire route if I want to beat Flush.”
‘Still, I can’t say I’m thrilled about it right now.’
At that exact moment, Hemora stopped moving mana and spoke.
“By the way, once the ritual ends, you’ll gain a new specialty.”
“A specialty?”
“Vampires gain traits based on the blood they drank during awakening. The same goes for Damphir.”
“Red-blood vampires obtain control of fire or bodies resistant to fire.”
“Blue-blood vampires get water manipulation or similar.”
“Your blood is gold-blood, so you should receive the power of ‘Superior Evolution’—the usual gold-blood trait.”
Hemora’s true gold-blood blood was a legendary ability that extracted only the dominant traits of those she drained and evolved her body.
“But who knows what will happen. You might even awaken a completely new power.”
Hemora added.
‘Monsters with strong bodies get strength stats, tough ones get defense… this could grow massively.’
Even if it wasn’t as powerful as a true vampire, it would still be highly useful.
The ritual was already nearing its end.
A blood-filled magic circle appeared on the floor and began to seep red light beneath Fafnir’s feet.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Race change to ‘Dampyr’ complete.
– New job ‘Metal Damphir’ acquired.
– Related specialties of Metal Damphir unlocked.
– As a Metal Damphir, you can dominate nearby metals.
– Race has changed to ‘Dampyr’.
– New achievement ‘Founder of a Clan’ acquired.
– New title ‘First of the Clan’ acquired.
– All stats +2.
Fafnir’s eyes widened at the notifications.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Earth attribute resistance +10.
– Metal Domination (Immortal) skill created.
– Bloodsucking (Magic) skill created.
– Steel Teeth (Rare) skill created.
“This… what in the…”
Dampyr was something he had heard of, but Metal Damphir was brand-new.
It hadn’t even appeared in the novel.
Completely unknown abilities and job!
‘They said there were tons of hidden pieces… but this one I’ve never seen before.’
“Can you sense what specialty you’ve gained?”
“I think I can guess.”
“Then let me show you.”
“Apologies, but I’d rather not…”
“Of course, not for free.”
A needle pricked Fafnir’s finger and Hemora offered a single drop of blood.
“Here. Feed it to one of your homunculi, or use it however you like.”
Hemora’s blood was legendary-grade at the very least.
“I do need to show you, though.”
Fafnir immediately activated the Metal Domination skill.
‘Will it control swords or armor?’
Before he could finish, black steel dust coalesced into a small sphere.
“Iron filings are moving?”
“Metal Domination? That’s the guy’s ability.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Wait… what kind of ability is that!
While Hemora and Karamit reacted, Fafnir clicked his tongue.
‘Not bad, actually.’
Being a Dampyr made it limited, but if he became a full vampire he could probably move multiple needles or short swords from the very beginning.
‘The evolution trait is strong, but it has the downside of needing bloodsucking to fully utilize the power.’
Once enough blood was drained, the vampire would awaken automatically.
Fortunately this trait seemed trainable without actual bloodsucking.
“That’s the ability of Yuben.”
Hemora said.
“Yuben’s iron-blood power… it either passed to you or awakened anew because all the blood relatives who possessed it have gone extinct.”
“If the blood relatives go extinct, a new vampire can awaken that power.”
“Exactly.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Yuben? What are you talking about?
Karamit reacted instantly.
“Yuben? Who is Yuben?”
“That’s because he was a vampire too. Muscle-brain ghost.”
🔥 BERSERK MODE 🔥
All stats +[100]%
“What?! Absurd! Yuben is my friend! How dare you insult him by calling him a vampire?!”
Hemora ignored Karamit’s fury and continued.
“A Dampyr with an iron-blood trait… I suppose you weren’t destined to be my neighbor vampire after all.”
“Apologies, Lady Hemora.”
“Forget it. I said it, and I can’t take it back now.”
Respecting free will seemed genuine.
“Besides, when you awaken your evolution ability you’ll become my subordinate by force. That would make no sense.”
Hemora’s shoulders dropped slightly.
“Still, it’s a shame. I would have felt much more at ease if you had been beside me during the great war.”
🔥 BERSERK MODE 🔥
All stats +[100]%
Karamit’s soul paused for a split second.
“Great war? What are you talking about, vampire?”
“Why is there a great war?”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Wait…
“The great war ended with the uprising of orcs and the rebellions of kingdom nobles?”
“Not quite. It began with the rise of the orc empire and the chaos of warring factions. The world was in turmoil, but a being like Hemora didn’t cause a full-scale great war.”
“You don’t know? Hah. An ancient ghost.”
“Better to spill it before you stir up more.”
Hemora smiled while raising her mana, and Karamit drew up dark mana.
Suddenly Fafnir spoke without thinking.
“Ah, the sealing of the creator of our Goddess Gaia is starting to break. That’s why the transcendent beings are awakening…”
“…”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– …?
Both Hemora and Karamit turned to Fafnir with question marks floating above their heads.
“How do you know that? Only higher beings should sense such things.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Transcendent beings awakening? What nonsense, Fafnir!
“Ah…”
Reading the novel felt different here—this was future reality.
“While wandering around, I noticed several signs and made my own guess.”
“Hmph… possible.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– You really hit the nail on the head.
Fortunately they didn’t suspect anything further.
“In any case, Necromancer. The door is always open. If your heart changes, feel free to bloodsuck.”
Hemora vanished through the dimensional gate.
‘Metal Damphir…’
Controlling metals.
If he had been a blacksmith user he wouldn’t have hesitated to pay hundreds of millions of won.
But he was a necromancer.
‘I can think of summoning armor or weapons for the skeleton soldiers…’
He would have to think about how to use the ability later.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Hey, Fafnir, right?
Karamit’s soul addressed him.
“Yes?”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– That proposal I made earlier—let me adjust the details.
“What…?”
“It seems you want to stop the great war, right? Then create a body for me and I’ll cooperate. I’ll lend you a blade in that war.”
“Wasn’t that for revenge?”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Even though I’m stained by darkness and in this miserable state, I still consider myself a knight.
– A knight who protects the weak and stays true to chivalry!
– I don’t want humanity to fall and evil to win either.
“…”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Soul of Karamit acquired.
— Ancient Prophecy —
[Karamit’s soul has joined your forces.]
– Classification: Material, General
– Grade: Immortal
– Level restriction: None (used for equipment crafting at level 500).
– Description: A ghost of Karamit, the legendary dragon knight who was once the strongest in his era. A dragon knight who rode the black dragon… but he fell to darkness after being framed by the Apocalypse Cult.
‘Immortal-grade…’
Immortal was above epic and just below legendary.
Not widely known in the early days, but it surfaced as the story settings were revealed.
‘Wait, it’s a soul but the grade is this high? Even in its corrupted state?’
‘If it had been a subordinate at its prime, it would have been legendary for sure.’
‘If I can find its true rank, it will be enormous.’
“Finally leaving this place. Come on, hurry up and move.”
Karamit spoke with pride.
But first Fafnir had something to confirm.
“Just a moment.”
Fafnir opened the skill window.
🎁 ITEM ACQUIRED 🎁
Metal Domination
Legendary
◈ Active skill
◈ Normal-grade metal 500g controlled
◈ Cool-down: 3 minutes
◈ MP consumption: 10 per second (varies by metal type)
◈ Effect: Controls normal-grade metals
◈ Skill level: 1
◈ Acquired from Metal Damphir
‘So this is the ability.’
It looked weak compared to vampire powers, but being able to grow it through skill training without bloodsucking was fortunate.
‘Earlier I just gathered iron filings. I wonder how this works.’
If there was no difference between metal types, Karamit’s dragon knight armor would probably behave the same.
Fafnir placed his hand on the armor and used the skill.
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥
– Metal Domination cannot be used. – The metal is too high-grade. ‘As expected, it’s still limited.’ No matter how new the ability, if it could control every metal it would break game balance. ‘No choice.’ Fafnir addressed the armor. “Apologies, Sir Karamit. I’m afraid I cannot come with you right now.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Hm? Why?
“There are grave robbers above this tomb. Too strong for me to handle alone.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Grave robbers…?
Black mana flickered from Karamit’s dragon armor.
“They seem linked to the Apocalypse Cult too. Too many and too strong—I’m struggling.”
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Alright. No need to say more.
The rusting sword slid from its sheath.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– You said you wanted to become an Abyss Knight, didn’t you?
“Yes.”
“Then accept me.”
Karamit declared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
– Engrave the power of the dragon knight into your eyes.
***
Above Karamit’s tomb.
In the Tomb of the Nameless Swords, hundreds of players continued their hunts.
“Clearing sectors 1, 2, and 3!”
“A-team rest! B-team, take over!”
“Follow me.”
Rankers and guild leaders from the Iron Blood Guild had returned.
The incident was over, but high-level dungeon hunting opportunities weren’t available anytime.
“Stats are skyrocketing.”
“Alright, distribution time!”
The experience points of the participating rankers rose visibly.
The Iron Blood Guild executives smiled happily while hunting.
Suddenly—
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥
– Massive explosion! “What?!” “What happened?!” The scattered guild members quickly gathered. They stared wide-eyed at the black armor ahead. “Eh?” They had assumed only Dullahans, skeletons, and giant skeletons came from here. How had a Death Knight suddenly appeared? “What is going on?” “It… suddenly a voice saying ‘Karamit!’ echoed from the boss room, and that Death Knight burst out.” “So that thing is Karamit… the dragon knight!” Several rankers who knew the information stiffened. “W-what should we do?” “Idiots! Are you really going to lose to a single one?” Scouts raised their weapons. Everyone here was Iron Blood elite, and high-level NPC knights were present. They had no doubt they could defeat any hidden boss that appeared. “I’ll go first.” One ranker confidently stepped forward toward the Death Knight.
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥
– –100 HP Clang. Thud. The head and body separated and fell. “Ah…?” “What was that just now…?” Dozens of gathered players. Suddenly fell silent.
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