《Terran: The Blood Fairy》


 Chapter 1 - The New World

    The sky fractured like a shattered mirror, cracks of light splitting the heavens apart. For some reason, the world was falling apart. People were disappearing, their bodies flickering and dissolving in flashes of blinding light.


    Leah ran from the park, her shoes slapping against the pavement as the ground beneath her began to crumble. Trees were shattering then falling apart like glass, their leaves disintegrating into glittering dust. She didn¡¯t know where to go. There was no safe place, no explanation. Just chaos.


    Just right in front of her, hovered a transparent, white, board that seemed completely out of place amidst the destruction. It floated in the air, perfectly following along in front of her.


    The glowing letters on its surface pulsed faintly, displaying a single line of text:


    **Loading into the new world.**


    She didn¡¯t know what that meant, but the words made her gasp. The ground trembled beneath her, and she glanced around, seeing more and more people vanish. Leah¡¯s breath quickened, her heart pounding as her legs threatened to give out.


    The words on the board shifted, displaying a new line of text:


    **Please stand by.**


    Before she could react, the earth beneath her feet cracked open. Panic surged through her, but before she could take another step, a blinding light engulfed her. It wasn¡¯t warm. It didn¡¯t comfort her. It just¡­ took her.


    Her last thoughts, before the world swallowed her whole, was a fleeting worry.


    "Dad, please stay safe."


    ***


    Leah blinked, disoriented. She was no longer on the crumbling streets, But instead she was inside of a blue bubble. She looked around and found that she was surrounded on all sides by an endless expanse of similar bubbles.


    They were all moving in the same direction, floating through an eerie, white void. There was no sound, no sense of wind or warmth. Just the soft movement of that came from the bubble. She reached out, her fingers brushing the smooth surface of the bubble, and flinched as it felt cool and solid beneath her touch.


    She blinked again, trying to make sense of her surroundings. It didn¡¯t feel real. Leah swallowed hard, her breath shallow. The air around her was unnaturally still, like time itself had been frozen. She couldn¡¯t even hear her own heartbeat.


    For a moment, she closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them, everything would return to normal. But when she looked again, the bubbles hadn¡¯t disappeared. She wasn¡¯t back on Earth. She wasn¡¯t anywhere.


    Something far underneath her had caught her eye. Leah''s gaze dropped down, and she watched as a bulge shifted within the endless void beneath her. A strange movement, like the inside of a balloon being pushed from the outside, made the void ripple. Leah''s mind raced. What was that?


    Without warning, a sudden tremor shot through the bubble, and Leah''s body jolted as if the very fabric of this place had been disturbed. The tremor passed, and Leah found herself pressing against the sides of the bubble for stability.


    She stared down with wide eyes. That thing that was beneath her¡­ it was about to burst through. Leah¡¯s heart pounded as she watched the strange bulge grow larger. Then, a crack in the void appeared.


    The crack widened, its edges jagged and bright. And out from it came a massive hand. Leah¡¯s eyes widened in horror as the enormous hand pushed through the crack, its fingers stretching outward.


    Its grey, static-like texture rippled as it moved upwards. The impossibly large hand covered most of Leah''s view, each finger as thick as a skyscraper. It cut across the stream of millions of bubbles, and eclipsed the sky in front of her.


    It moved back down, cupping its hand, and scooping down a cluster of bubbles. Leah felt her bubble jolt violently, tumbling among the others in the massive grip. Her stomach lurched, and she clung to the bubble¡¯s surface, desperate for something to hold onto.


    The giant hand carried the bubbles away, and Leah along with them. She couldn¡¯t make sense of what was happening, was this some kind of nightmare? A hallucination?


    They moved back down into the glowing crack, disappearing into its brightness. Leah shielded her eyes as the light swallowed everything. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the light was gone.


    She was falling.


    The hand that had scooped her up was gone, as was the white void she had been in. All that remained was the vast expanse of space behind her, and a new world stretching out below.


    She tried to scream but no sound escaped her lips. Her body tumbled through the sky, spinning uncontrollably as gravity took hold. She would have been sick, if her stomach hadn''t been twisted in knots already.


    But something more worrying was happening to her. Her body was becoming transparent, with her skin fading into a soft blue hue. Her consciousness was slipping away, and her thoughts were becoming fragmented.


    The world below grew closer, the ground a blur of colours. She let out one last shaky breath before everything went dark.


    ***


    Leah awoke with a sudden jolt, her body feeling heavy yet strange. She was swimming inside of some sort of red liquid, her body sluggish and disoriented. The liquid surrounded her like a thick, viscous gel, and she could barely move her arms and legs. Panic set in as she realized she couldn¡¯t breathe.


    She moved her hand and felt the soft, yielding membrane around her. Leah¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. She pressed harder, desperate to break free. Her hand found a weak spot in the membrane, and with one last, frantic push, she broke through.


    Leah emerged from the red liquid with a gasp, her chest heaving as she pulled herself free. She fell for a few moments before landing on the cold, uneven ground. She lay there, breathless, disoriented, and blinking as she tried to make sense of the world around her.


    The first thing she noticed was her own body. Her limbs were thin. Her skin was a vivid crimson shade. And black hair, drenched in the strange liquid, clung to her face and shoulders.


    Her hands trembled as she pushed herself up, her fingers sinking slightly into the damp surface beneath her. Leah stood shakily. This place that she was in produced no light, but she could see perfectly fine.


    Looking up, she could see a bunch of pulsating red cocoons hanging from the ceiling like grotesque fruit. Leah''s heart raced, confusion swirling in her mind as she surveyed her surroundings. Why the hell was she here?


    She was still struggling to understand what was happening to her, but she understood that standing around wouldn¡¯t help her get the answers she wanted.


    She put one wary footstep in front of her, but that¡¯s when she noticed something coming from her back. Leah instinctively reached behind her and felt two smooth, flexible objects. She pulled one in front of her and saw what appeared to be a translucent red wing.


    The wing was thin, like the membrane of an insect, but with strange glowing red veins running through it, pulsing faintly with light. Leah froze, staring at it in disbelief. She had wings. What had she turned into? She would have to figure that out later. For now, she had to find her bearings.


    The room, or whatever this place was, had an opening ahead of her that led to a corridor that split to the right and left. She moved forward, but still wobbling from side to side as she was still getting used to her foreign body.


    Once she reached the opening, her gaze shifted between the two paths ahead. The right path seemed to lead deeper and down into a narrow tunnel, while the left led to a wider space where a faint light was pulsing from.


    Leah hesitated for a moment, then decided to move left, instinctively feeling like that was the better direction to go. As she moved through the passage, she noticed a puddle of water on the ground. Her eyes narrowed as she knelt down to get a better look, the surface of the water reflecting an unfamiliar, distorted image of her own face.


    Leah stared at her reflection in the water. The face staring back at her wasn¡¯t the one she remembered. Her eyes were sharp, a glowing crimson, and her ears were pointed, poking out through her hair. But if all that wasn¡¯t shocking enough, she looked like a twelve year old girl, her body unnaturally small for someone who had been an adult just a few moments ago.


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    She got back up on her feet. She would figure all this out later. As she continued down the passage, a cold wind blew through the corridor, brushing against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. She grabbed onto her wings and wrapped them around herself, making a makeshift cloak out of them.


    Leah continued to move down the passage, with each step feeling increasingly uncertain. The dim light ahead grew brighter as she moved forward and eventually she soon found herself at the entrance.


    She shielded her eyes as she looked out into a white snow covered forest that stretched out endlessly before her.


    It was snowing heavily with frost and ice swirling through the air. The chill of the snow hit her exposed skin, but it was somehow not as bad as she was expecting.


    She wondered if leaving this underground place was the right decision, but staying here wouldn¡¯t help her find any help.


    She was about to take a step forward when a rectangular red window suddenly flashed in front of her eyes.


    [SYSTEM MESSAGE]


    ''Initializing status¡­''


    Leah flinched, her breath catching as she took a step back. The glowing red text hovered in the air, solid yet intangible. It didn¡¯t disappear when she blinked, and when she waved her hand through it, nothing happened.


    Then the message flickered and changed.


    [SYSTEM MESSAGE]


    ''Initialization complete. 18th Generation ERROR. Welcome to Terra.''


    Leah¡¯s breath came out in short, visible puffs as she stared at the floating message. Terra. Is that where she was now?


    The system message faded, only to be replaced by another larger box. Two tabs appeared at the top of the new window: [Status] and [Skills]. Leah hesitated, then focused on the first tab.


    The moment she thought about selecting it, the window shifted. It expanded, revealing two lists that were displayed side by side.


    **Overview**


    Name: Leah


    Race: Lesser Blood Fairy


    Level: 1


    Health: 92/100


    Blood Mana: 30/30


    **Attributes**


    Strength: 5


    Agility: 10


    Intelligence: 8


    Attribute Points: 10


    Her eyes next flickered to the skills tab. This window was also divided into two sections: Active Skills and Passive Skills. However, most of the list was empty, aside from the three entries under active skills and one entry under passive skills.


    **Active Skills**


    Blood Generation (Proficiency 0%) ¨C The ability to generate and manipulate your own blood. Allows the creation of weapons, barriers, and other constructs from blood.


    Blood Tendrils (Proficiency 0%) ¨C The ability to extend and manipulate tendrils of blood, useful for attacking, grappling, or interacting with the environment.


    Flight (Proficiency 0%) ¨C The ability to take flight. Costs blood mana to use.


    **Passive Skills**


    Enhanced Senses (Proficiency 0%) ¨C Heightened awareness of your surroundings, allowing you to detect changes in the environment, sense hidden threats, and even detect faint traces of blood in the air.


    Leah¡¯s fingers twitched at her sides. The information was laid out so clearly, like something out of a video game. She felt a dull ache in her skull as she tried to process it all. She wasn¡¯t human anymore, her race was listed as ''Blood Fairy''. The red skin, the wings. It all lined up.


    She took a deep breath. No matter how strange this was, she needed to focus. She dismissed the screen with a thought, and looked back out into the snow covered landscape.


    With a deep breath, she took her first step into the snow. It crunched underfoot as she slowly adjusted to the cold. Leah wrapped her wings more tightly around herself, an instinctual comfort as she trudged forward.


    As she walked, the trees around her grew more and more imposing, their dark silhouettes cut against the pale snow. She pressed on forward, until, something in the air made her pause.


    A faint metallic scent tickled her nose. She turned her head left. It was coming from that direction of the woods, faint but unmistakable. The smell of blood. Instinctively, she moved towards the smell.


    Leah''s steps quickened as she followed the scent of blood, her senses sharpening with every stride. The metallic odor grew stronger, and soon, her sharp eyes caught sight of a shadow moving in the distance between the trees.


    She stopped, breath catching in her throat as she saw the beast. It was a white wolf, limping through the snow, its fur matted and stained red. Leah could see the shallow rise and fall of its chest, struggling to move as its legs buckled beneath it. A trail of blood smeared the snow, leading back to a darkened thicket.


    Now that it was on the ground, Leah could see a few arrows jotting out from its side, blood dripping steadily from the wounds. It seemed to be struggling, barely clinging to life as it limped through the snow, leaving a trail of crimson behind.


    Something deep stirred within Leah. Her mouth hang open as she stared at the wounded wolf, the scent of its blood filling her senses. It was strange, but she didn¡¯t feel disgust or fear¡ªjust a deep, involuntary pull. Her blood seemed to thrum in her veins, her wings vibrating slightly as her body reacted to the sight of a wounded creature.


    She didn¡¯t think, she just acted.


    With a surge of energy, Leah darted forward, her movements awkward but swift for her small, unfamiliar body. She reached the wolf in a matter of moments, kneeling beside it. The creature¡¯s pained eyes met hers, but it didn¡¯t resist as she lowered her mouth to the wolf¡¯s neck. Her lips peeled back, revealing sharp fangs as she sank them into the wolf¡¯s flesh.


    The warm blood filled her, sending a surge of energy through her. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. The taste was both soothing and intoxicating, her body drinking in the essence of life itself.


    The wolf shuddered beneath her. Leah, with her new strength, pressed down the head of the wolf, stopping it from moving. With each gulp, she felt her strength growing.


    When she finally pulled away, the wolf¡¯s body was limp, its life drained. Leah wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling a strange satisfaction.


    As her eyes fell back down on the wolf¡¯s corpse, her eyes went wide realizing what she had done. Leah¡¯s chest heaved as she stood over the wolf, her body still thrumming with the energy it had given her.


    Leah¡¯s hands trembled as she stepped back, her wide crimson eyes never leaving the animal. A flash of doubt crossed her mind. She had fed on it. A creature¡¯s life had ended because of her. She hadn¡¯t even thought twice before doing it.


    A moment later, a window popped up in front of her.


    [SYSTEM MESSAGE]


    ''You have consumed a foe.''


    ''You have gained 5 Strength.''


    ''You have gained 2 Agility.''


    ''You have gained experience.''


    Leah''s mind raced as she stood there, still feeling the aftermath of what she had just done.


    The cold wind howled through the trees, snapping Leah out of her thoughts. She blinked and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She again noticed the arrows embed into the wolf¡¯s body. Then, a thought went through Leah¡¯s mind. Who was chasing this wolf?


    And as almost on cue, a rustling sound came from the trees ahead. Leah¡¯s body tensed, her enhanced senses catching the faint crunch of snow beneath careful, deliberate steps.


    Then, an arrow was loosed from the shadows.


    Leah barely had time to react before the projectile whistled through the air toward her. Instinct took over, her wings flared, and she twisted to the side. The arrow grazed past her shoulder, embedding itself into the snow with a dull thunk.


    Her heart pounded. She spun toward the direction it had come from, her glowing red eyes narrowing. The rustling in the trees grew louder, and soon, figures emerged from the dense underbrush.


    Three of them.


    They were like humanoid children¡ªbeing the same size as Leah, clad in thick furs and leather armour, their faces partially obscured by scarves and hoods. Their gear looked rugged, worn by the elements, and each carried a bow.


    Leah got a good look at the face of the one in front. The creature had white skin, a long nose, and sharp, beady eyes that locked onto her with wary intensity. Its mouth twisted into a snarl, revealing jagged, yellowed teeth. The two behind it nocked arrows, their small but steady hands holding their bows at the ready.


    She would have wondered what these creatures were, if not for the name ''snow goblin'' hanging in the air above them in yellow letters.


    The one in front opened its mouth to speak.


    The snow goblin in the lead glared at Leah, its voice rough and guttural as it spoke. "You¡¯ll regret taking what¡¯s ours, blood fairy."


    "This one is a youngling," another said. "Their flesh is tasty. Let¡¯s take her back and offer her to the chief."


    Leah''s blood ran cold at the snow goblins'' words. She felt the weight of their gaze, each one sizing her up as a potential prey. The fear and uncertainty of her situation flared again, but a spark of defiance ignited within her.


    She thought back on the skills panel she had seen. The blood tendril was the first thing that came to her mind. She didn¡¯t have much time to think, so she reacted on instinct.


    Both her hands shot out, palms facing the snow goblins, and she focused on drawing the blood from her body.


    Then the tendrils shot out like two striking snakes, wrapping around the bows and yanking them from the goblins'' hands. The snow goblins let out startled yelps as their weapons were torn away from them.


    Leah¡¯s heart pounded as she retracted her tendrils, then shot them back toward to the two goblins. This time, the blood tendrils wrapped around their limbs, pulling them off balance. The goblin at the centre snarled and charged at her.


    Leah barely had time to react as the charging snow goblin rushed toward her with surprising speed for its small size. Its jagged teeth bared in a furious grimace, and Leah used her wings to propel herself backward, narrowly avoiding the goblin¡¯s swipe.


    As she landed, she flicked her hand, sending another blood tendril out to strike at the goblin¡¯s legs. It tangled around its ankles, yanking its feet out from under it. The goblin tumbled to the snow-covered ground with a grunt.


    Leah noticed the other two goblins scrambling to their feet. She hurriedly disconnected the blood tendrils from her hands and turned around. She looked for, then spotted the arrow that was fired at her. She grabbed it and, with a swift motion, turned back around and drove the arrow into the forehead of the goblin that had lunged at her. A sickening squelch sounded out as the arrow sank deep into the goblin¡¯s skull, and it slumped to the ground, lifeless.


    But Leah didn¡¯t stop. She yanked the arrow free, and turned her attention to the next nearest goblin. She had to be quick.


    Without hesitation she lunged forward, her wings flaring out as she leapt. The goblin caught sight of her before she closed the distance, its beady eyes widening in alarm. It fumbled for a dagger at its waist, but Leah was faster. She drove the arrow into its eye, feeling the sharp tip pierce and sink deep into its head.


    The goblin let out a strangled cry, its body spasming before it crumpled into the snow. Leah barely had time to process the kill before she turned her attention to the last remaining goblin.


    This one had managed to retrieve its bow, but its hands were trembling. Leah took a step towards it, but then, the goblin turned tail and bolted into the trees, its short legs kicking up snow as it fled.


    Leah hesitated for a moment, her breath coming fast. Her instincts screamed at her to chase it down¡ªeliminate the last threat before it could warn others.


    But her body ached from the sudden exertion. She let out a slow breath and straightened, flicking the blood off her hands. The fight had been fast, brutal. She had killed without hesitation. And yet, she didn¡¯t feel sick this time.


    A moment later, Leah noticed a feeling that the system was stirring again. A faint chime echoed in her ears, and glowing red text appeared in the air before her.


    [System Message]


    ''You have defeated Snow Goblins (2).'' ''Experience gained.''


    ''Level Up! You are now Level 2.''


    ''One attribute point gained.''


    A rush of warmth spread through Leah¡¯s body, followed by a momentary lightness, as if something inside her had expanded. It wasn¡¯t overwhelming, but it was noticeable. She felt, stronger. More powerful.


    Leah exhaled, her breath visible in the frigid air. She looked down at the lifeless corpses of the goblins. If she was going to survive in this world, then she needed to adapt. Fast.

 Chapter 2 - The Goblin Stalker

    Leah was honkering down in a wide snow-covered hollow beneath the roots of a massive tree. She had dragged the two goblin corpses into the hollow with her, and now she was wearing the leather armour and fur-lined cloak she had stripped from one of them. The gear was crude, smelling of sweat and damp fur, but it was better than nothing.


    The dagger she had taken from the goblin rested at her side. The bow, however, was useless to her¡ªher hands were too small to properly draw its string, and she had no idea how to shoot.


    As she leaned back against a tree root, her thoughts went back to the system. She brought up the panel and quickly scanned it, mentally going over the information.


    **Overview**


    Name: Leah


    Race: Lesser Blood Fairy


    Level: 2


    Health: 100/100


    Blood Mana: 13/30


    **Attributes**


    Strength: 10


    Agility: 12


    Intelligence: 8


    Attribute Points: 11


    Leah took a moment to study the attributes before her. She didn¡¯t know what they exactly did, but decided to test them by putting two points in each of them. Leah focused on strength first, and watched as the numbers shifted with a subtle flick of her thoughts.


    She felt a brief surge of warmth in her limbs, a slight but noticeable change in how her muscles felt¡ªmore solid, more responsive. Clenching her fist, she could tell there was more power behind her grip than before.


    But looking over at ''overview'', she found that her maximum health increased from 100 to 120.


    Leah smiled faintly at the result. She moved on to agility, putting another two points into the attribute. Instantly, she felt lighter on her feet. Her reflexes sharpened, and even her movements felt quicker, more fluid.


    Next, she added two points to intelligence. A faint pressure settled behind her eyes, not painful but noticeable. It was as if her mind had sharpened, thoughts coming faster and clearer. She glanced at her Blood Mana pool and saw it increase from 13/30 to 13/50.


    That left five attribute points. Leah debated for a moment before dumping the rest into intelligence. A moment later, Leah looked down at her hands. The abilities she¡¯d been using felt more instinctual now, as if her control over them had refined. Her Blood Mana had risen to 13/100, and she could tell that using her abilities would feel less draining.


    But she looked back at the 13 points left in her Blood Mana pool and the 100 points in her health. How was she going to fill those up?


    She looked at the two goblin corpses beside her. The answer was obvious.


    Leah hesitated, staring at the lifeless bodies. The idea of feeding on them didn¡¯t repulse her as much as it should have. She had already drained the wolf without any mercy.


    So she leaned forward, her instincts urging her. She reached out and grabbed the wrist of the closest goblin. Her fangs bared, and she sank them into the goblin¡¯s skin without a second thought.


    The warm, bitter taste of blood flooded her mouth, and she felt the familiar surge of power as the energy flowed through her. She drank deeply, her senses sharpening as the blood replenished her reserves.


    Leah pulled back¡ªcareful not to take too much¡ªand wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Taking a look at her status, her health filled out to 120/120 and her Blood Mana increased to 30/100.


    Leah set the corpse down and took a moment to steady herself.


    She straightened herself up and glanced at the goblins. The thought of feeding on there blood lingered, but she pushed it aside for now. There was no need to rush. She needed to focus on what came next.


    She had made a mental note on where the goblin she had failed to kill, ran off too. Now that she knew that she needs to feed on blood, she knew the two goblins she had wouldn¡¯t be enough to sustain her for a while. So she had to get a steady supply.


    She moved toward the edge of the hollow, glancing up at the darkening sky. When night comes she¡¯ll be perfectly fine seeing through the darkness.


    Leah spent a few moments adjusting the makeshift armor, tightening the straps on the cloak to fit better. Then, she went. Feet light on the snow, Leah moved swiftly through the forest.


    As she moved through the trees, her heightened senses were alert to every sound around her. Minutes passed. Her glowing eyes flicked from shadow to shadow, scanning for any movement.


    She caught the sound of something far ahead of her¡ªthe soft crunch of snow. Leah stopped, listening intently. The noise came again, closer this time. It was faint but unmistakable: the slow, deliberate steps of something moving through the snow. Leah¡¯s blood hummed with anticipation. Did she find a goblin?


    She listened more closely. But now that she did, she could hear multiple footsteps, not just one. Leah crouched down low. She waited for a minute, determining in which way the group was heading, then moved silently to hide in an underbrush on their path.


    Leah pressed herself low to the ground, her breath steady as she peered through the tangled underbrush. The footsteps grew louder, crunching through the snow with uneven rhythm.


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    A moment later, a light appeared in the distance¡ªa flickering orange glow cutting through the forest. Leah¡¯s grip tightened on the dagger at her side as she watched.


    The figures emerged from between the trees. Six snow goblins, trudging through the snow, their breath visible in the cold air.


    They all held crude torches, their flames casting jittery shadows across their faces. They were dressed in the same patchwork furs and leather as the other goblins she fought.


    Leah stayed perfectly still, her glowing red eyes tracking the goblins¡¯ movements. They eventually passed her hiding spot without noticing her. She waited, counting their footsteps as they moved further ahead. The goblins weren¡¯t in a hurry, but they were heading to the place where Leah first encountered them earlier that day.


    Leah exhaled slowly. Six was too many to fight head-on, but she followed them anyway. She slinked through the snow, staying low and out of sight. They walked for several minutes before they stopped. Leah listened closely as they spoke.


    "Let¡¯s split up now into pairs," one of the goblins at the front said. "We¡¯ll find that bloodsucker, no matter what."


    Leah stayed still, barely breathing. She watched as the six goblins broke into three pairs, each moving in a different direction. Leah waited a few moments, calculating. She picked the goblins furthest to the left. And then she moved.


    Sticking to the shadows, Leah stalked her chosen pair. The two goblins trudged through the snow, their torches flickering. They spoke in low, guttural tones, occasionally glancing around.


    Leah waited for a while before she made her move. The goblins had walked far enough from the others, the crackling of their torches muffled by the snow and the rustling trees.


    With barely a sound, Leah closed the distance between them, her breath steady, her movements quick. She aimed the palms of her hands at them and focused on her blood abilities.


    With a sharp exhale, she sent two tendrils of blood shooting forward, wrapping around the goblins'' necks before they could react. The goblins flailed, but Leah¡¯s control was tight. The blood tendrils squeezed, and they collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. She didn¡¯t give them a chance to struggle.


    With a quick motion, she pulled out her knife, ran up to the nearest goblin, then plunged the knife into their throat. The goblin¡¯s blood spilled out, soaking the snow beneath them.


    Leah then pushed off the ground and dashed to the other goblin who was busy taking off the blood tendril. She reached him just as he turned, swinging the dagger into the goblin¡¯s chest.


    The goblin''s eyes widened as Leah¡¯s dagger cut through its flesh. It gasped, trying to grasp at the wound, but it was too late. With a final, weak gurgle, its head crumpled back to the snow, its life draining out fast.


    Leah took a moment to catch her breath, her heart pounding. She then crouched down and bared her fangs. She sank them into the neck of the fallen goblin, drawing the warm blood into her mouth. She drank deeply, replenishing her Blood Mana.


    Once she had her fill, she noticed the system give her a notification. She brought up the panel and checked the message.


    [SYSTEM MESSAGE]


    ''You have consumed a foe.''


    ''You have gained 7 Strength.''


    ''You have gained 4 Agility.''


    ''You have gained experience.''


    She noticed she got a similar message when she had fed on the white wolf. But she hadn¡¯t gained any points to her attributes when she had fed on the dead goblins in her hollow. Did her targets have to be alive for her to gain them?


    She then checked her Blood Mana pool. It was back up to 70/100. It would be enough for now. She took one last look at the Goblins and then slipped away, moving swiftly through the forest.


    Leah moved quickly¡ªheading into the direction of the next group. She moved silently through the trees, staying alert. Her ears listened to the forest as she followed the faint sounds of her next target.


    After a while, she saw the flicker of fire in the distance again. This time, Leah sprinted at them more confidently, not even bothering to hide. She moved with speed, closing the distance quickly. The goblins turned around as they heard the rapid footsteps crunching through the snow.


    The nearest goblin shouted, raising his torch, but Leah was already there. Using her increased strength, she sucker¨Cpunched him square on the nose, knocking his head back and sending him sprawling to the ground.


    Before the other goblin could react, Leah shot out her blood tendril out at him and wrapping him around his waist. He struggled, but the grip was iron-tight. She yanked him toward her, grabbing his face and then slamming him to the ground.


    Leah didn¡¯t hesitate. She went down to the unconscious goblin and stuck her fangs into its neck. She fed greedily until the goblin¡¯s body went limp, its blood draining into her.


    She pulled back satisfied when she was done. She stood up, then moved to the other goblin, who was slowly lifting his head. But once Leah reached him, she knelt down, pushed his head to the ground, and chomped on his neck. The goblin tried to break free once, but quickly became still as it''s blood was siphoned.


    Leah wiped the blood from her mouth once she was finished. She checked her Blood Mana pool¡ªnow at 90/100¡ªand the system.


    [SYSTEM MESSAGE]


    ''You have consumed foes.''


    ''You have gained 7 Strength.''


    ''You have gained 5 Agility.''


    ''You have gained experience.''


    Then a next notification popped up.


    [SYSTEM MESSAGE]


    ''You have leveled up!''


    ''You have gained 1 attribute point.''


    Leah smiled, then dismissed the system notifications and refocused. There were still two goblins left. She didn¡¯t want to waste time.


    She moved quickly, her enhanced agility carrying her through the snow without a sound. The last pair of goblins were further away, but they had to have heard the shout. As she got closer, she could hear their voices¡ªlow, tense, wary.


    They knew something was wrong.


    Leah sprung out from behind a tree, landing and stopping just a few feet away from them. The two goblins recoiled in shock, their torches flickering wildly as they raised their crude weapons. One had a short spear, the other a rusted hatchet.


    Leah took a step towards them, causing the goblin with the spear to take a few steps back. It opened its mouth and began to speak.


    "Ibbi, the blood fairy is here!" the goblin shouted, voice trembling.


    The second goblin wore a grey bandana that had long white hair spilling out from under it. Ibbi¡¯s grip on her hatchet tightened as she took a step forward, putting herself between Leah and her companion. Her eyes, a dull yellow, locked onto her glowing red ones. Unlike the others, she didn¡¯t look like she was about to bolt.


    "I¡¯m no coward. Run if you want to."


    Leah took another step forward.


    The spear-wielding goblin turned and ran, dropping his torch into the snow with a hiss. He didn¡¯t even take one last look back to his companion. Ibbi however didn¡¯t flinch, keeping her eyes locked on Leah.


    Leah let out a breath of cold air and raised her arm to the running goblin.


    "I only need one of you alive." She said.


    Before Ibbi could react, Leah¡¯s blood tendril lashed out passed her, striking and piercing the fleeing goblin in the back.


    The goblin let out a choked cry, stumbling forward before collapsing face-first into the snow. Leah yanked the tendril back, leaving a gaping wound in the goblin¡¯s back. It twitched once, then stopped moving.


    Ibbi¡¯s hands clenched around her hatchet, before she exhaled through her nose, adjusting her stance. She raised her hatchet, gripping it with both hands. "Come on, then."


    Leah didn¡¯t hesitate. She lunged forward, moving fast. Ibbi swung the hatchet, aiming for Leah''s neck, but Leah ducked under it, feeling the air rush above her head as the blade missed by inches.


    In one smooth motion, she tackled Ibbi to the ground, pinning her arms down with her knees. The goblin struggled, gritting her teeth, but Leah was stronger. She lifted her fist and brought it down hard, punching Ibbi in the face. The goblin''s head snapped back, and her hatchet fell from her grasp.


    Leah lifted her fist up again and slammed it down once more, knocking the goblin out cold. Leah stood over the unconscious goblin, panting lightly from the exertion. She wiped her blood-streaked hands on the snow before crouching down to grab the goblin''s wrist to pull her away.


    "We¡¯ll talk more later." Leah muttered under her breath, dragging the goblin deeper into the forest.

 Chapter 3 - The First Follower

    Leah was back to the hollow, having carried the unconscious goblin over her shoulder, all the way there. She passed through the roots and laid Ibbi down on the ground.


    She stepped back and surveyed the goblin. Its hands were bound together with some cloth Leah had found. She then moved away and sat down against a nearby root. She¡¯d have to wait for the goblin to wake up.


    Now that she had a moment of peace, Leah checked the skill tab in her system. She looked through her abilities, noting that the proficiency percentage on her blood tendrils had increased significantly, from 0% to 7%.


    She glanced over at her other skills.


    **Active Skills**


    Blood Generation (Proficiency 9%)


    Flight (Proficiency 1%)


    **Passive Skills**


    Enhanced Senses (Proficiency 6%)


    Leah then went over to the status tab. She noticed that she had gained an attribute point from leveling up. She instantly dumped it into intelligence, bringing that up to 16. She thought she didn¡¯t really need to bother putting points into strength or agility since she could gain those by just feeding on a live goblin.


    She sat back, staring at the unconscious goblin. Her mind wandered for a moment. What now? What was her future going to be like now? Would she just be hunting and feeding on goblins forever?


    As she stared into the dark ceiling of the hollow, the silence around her seemed to press in on her, only broken by the occasional rustle of the forest outside. Time seemed to stretch on, leaving her to her thoughts.


    The hours passed slowly as Leah waited for the goblin to regain consciousness. The stillness of the hollow only served to heighten her thoughts¡ªthoughts about her situation and why she had been brought here.


    Eventually, a ray of light pierced the darkened hollow, the first signs of dawn creeping through the cracks in the roots above.


    Leah shifted her gaze toward the faint light, her attention snapping back to the present. She got up, and walked quietly over to the edge of the hollow, looking up at the sky.


    The pale light of dawn filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. Leah stood still for a moment, absorbing the chill air. At this moment, everything felt still. The weight of her situation, the strange new world she found herself in, seemed to settle on her.


    She didn¡¯t know what was coming next or where she would go from here, but she decided that she would keep moving forward. No matter what lay ahead, she wasn¡¯t going to stand still.


    Leah heard the goblin stirring behind her. She turned, her eyes narrowing as the goblin slowly began to regain consciousness.


    She walked over to it and crouched down in front of it. The goblin groggily blinked its eyes, struggling to focus as Leah''s shadow loomed over it. Its hands were still bound tightly, and its gaze darted around the hollow before settling on her.


    "Ibbi, was it?" Leah asked.


    The goblin¡¯s eyes widened as it tried to sit up.


    "How can you speak?"


    Leah raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    "Your kind, you blood fairies. You are mindless creatures. Why do you speak," Ibbi then looked at what Leah was wearing. "And why do you wear clothes?"


    Leah tilted her head slightly, considering the goblin¡¯s words. "I speak because I¡¯m smart. And I wear clothes because I choose to. That¡¯s all there is to it."


    The goblin stared at her, clearly confused, as if her answers didn¡¯t make sense to it.


    Leah shifted her weight, getting to her feet. "Ibbi, I brought you here because I have some questions that I want to ask you."


    Ibbi blinked a few times, still groggy. The goblin pulled at the bindings on its wrists but quickly realized it wasn¡¯t getting free. It looked back up at Leah, eyes cautious but not panicked.


    "You¡­ will not eat me?" the goblin asked hesitantly.


    Leah crossed her arms. "No. Not yet, anyway. That depends on you."


    Ibbi seemed to relax slightly, though its eyes remained wary.


    "I want to know more about this place," Leah asked. "Are you goblins the only ones around here? Or are there other creatures in this forest?"


    "There are others. Many others. The orcs, ogres, wolves, and other creatures. They all live in this big forest. But us goblins," a smile crept up on Ibbi''s face. "We have conquered the mountains!"


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Leah noted the pride in Ibbi¡¯s voice. Conquered the mountains? That suggested an organized society, possibly even a civilization.


    "How many of you are there?" she asked.


    Ibbi puffed out her chest. "Many. Thousands, maybe more! We have clans all over the land, from the deep caves to the high peaks. We are strong!"


    Leah absorbed the information. If the goblins were that numerous and organized, then hunting them endlessly wasn''t going to be sustainable. Eventually, she''d draw too much attention.


    "Hey," Ibbi said. "Can I have a taste of your blood?"


    "Huh?" Leah raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "Why?"


    Ibbi licked her lips. ¡°I hear blood fairies have tasty blood. Blood that can also make you stronger, faster... more powerful. I want to try."


    Leah''s eyes narrowed, and she took a step back. The idea was unsettling, but if all the goblin wanted was to have a taste of her blood, then she could turn this into an advantage for her.


    "Let¡¯s make this a deal then. What can you offer me in exchange for a taste of my blood?" Leah asked, her voice low and calculating.


    "I... I can give you information," Ibbi offered, her voice tentative. "I can show you where we live."


    Leah studied the goblin for a moment, considering the offer. She wasn¡¯t sure how much information it could really provide, but it might be useful.


    "Fine, I¡¯ll give you a drop," Leah said, as she held out her hand. "Hold your mouth open."


    Ibbi''s jaw loosed and opened, revealing sharp teeth.


    Leah used her skill, blood generation, to control a small amount of her blood, shaping it into a drop that floated just above her fingertips. She moved her hand close to Ibbi¡¯s mouth, and the goblin¡¯s eyes widened in anticipation.


    The drop of blood hovered for a moment before slipping into its open mouth. Ibbi immediately shuddered, as if something powerful had just coursed through her. A slow grin spread across her face.


    "Ahh... so strong! So sweet!" Ibbi exclaimed, her voice now full of excitement. "I feel... I feel better. So much stronger."


    Leah watched with a cool expression as Ibbi lapped her mouth with her tongue. A moment later, Leah''s eyes widened as she heard the chime of the system in her head.


    She opened the panel, and was greeted by a system notification.


    [System Message]


    ''You have shared your blood for the first time.''


    ''You have gained a new skill - Blood conversion.''


    ''You have gained experience.''


    Leah processed the message in her system before looking back at the goblin, who was now grinning from ear to ear.


    Leah looked back at the panel and went to the skill tab to read out the description.


    **Passive Skills**


    Blood Conversion (Proficiency 0%) ¨C Your blood allows you to convert other creatures, even fallen ones, to your side, depending on how much of your blood they consume.


    Leah glanced at the new skill, her thoughts racing. She hadn''t expected that. Blood conversion. now her blood had the potential to sway others. It was something that sounded powerful to her.


    She turned her gaze back to the goblin. "Ibbi, how do you feel about me?"


    Ibbi shifted where she sat, her fingers twitching slightly as she stared at Leah. Her usual sharp grin was absent, replaced by a thoughtful frown, as if she were struggling to put something into words.


    "I don¡¯t know why," Ibbi muttered, ears twitching. "But¡­ I feel like I should help you."


    Leah, who had been watching the goblin closely, raised an eyebrow. A slow smirk curled at her lips. "Oh?" she murmured, tilting her head slightly. "Then do you want some more?"


    Ibbi''s eyes widened for a moment before a greedy grin spread across her face. She nodded quickly, almost hungrily. "Yes," she said, her voice eager. "I want more."


    Leah stood over Ibbi, her fingers outstretched as she hovered a drop of blood just above the goblin¡¯s eager mouth. With each drop, Ibbi''s eyes lit up more, her enthusiasm growing with each feeding.


    She took her time, offering a drop now and then, watching as the goblin''s skin slowly began to redden. Ibbi''s breathing became heavier, her hands still bound but twitching with energy.


    Then without warning, Ibbi''s hands¡ªonce bound tightly by cloth¡ªsnapped free of their restraints. The goblin surged upward with unexpected speed, startling Leah.


    Ibbi lowered her head, dropping to one knee before Leah, her posture now respectful, almost reverent. Her now red eyes gleamed as she spoke, her voice low but clear.


    "I am yours, Master."


    Leah stood still, blinking in surprise for a moment, before a smirk tugged at her lips.


    As she processed Ibbi''s unexpected submission, a sudden chime echoed in her mind. The familiar sensation of a system notification popped up in front of her, pulling her attention away from the kneeling goblin.


    She instinctively opened the panel, her gaze immediately drawn to a third tab that had appeared at the top of the screen, right next to [Status] and [Skills]. It was labeled [Legion].


    Curious, Leah went to it, and a list appeared under the tab. The first entry displayed clearly:


    Blood Goblin - 1


    Leah blinked at the sight, but the system didn¡¯t stop there. Another notification followed closely behind.


    [System Message]


    ''You have gained a new skill''


    Blood Connection (Proficiency 0%) ¨C You are now connected to your bloodbound followers.


    She stared at the new skill for a moment. The goblin had become hers, and now it was officially marked.


    Leah''s smirk deepened as she looked back at Ibbi, who still knelt before her, awaiting her next command.


    Leah crossed her arms, looking down at the kneeling goblin with an intrigued expression. She tilted her head slightly before speaking.


    "Ibbi," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Will you do anything I ask of you?"


    Ibbi looked up at her without hesitation, her eyes filled with something new¡ªdevotion.


    "Gladly, Master." she said with a sharp-toothed grin.


    "Then stand up."


    Ibbi obeyed immediately, pushing herself to her feet in a swift motion, her posture straight and attentive.


    Leah studied Ibbi for a moment, her gaze thoughtful.


    "Follow me," Leah said, turning toward the exit of the hollow. "I want to find the place where the goblins are."


    Ibbi nodded without question, stepping in line behind her.


    ***


    Leah and Ibbi sprinted through the dense forest, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the snow.


    Once they passed the spot where Leah had ambushed Ibbi, the goblin took the lead, moving with ease. They ran for what felt like hours, the landscape shifting from dense forest to open space.


    As they approached the edge. Leah slowed to a stop, her eyes scanning the open expanse before her.


    Below them stretched a vast ice plain, endless and gleaming beneath the pale sky. But what caught her attention was what lay across it¡ªhundreds of camps, scattered like ink stains on a white canvas. Fires burned dimly, figures moved between the tents, and the sheer scale of it made Leah¡¯s eyes widen.


    She turned to Ibbi. "You really weren¡¯t lying when you said there were many of them."


    Ibbi smirked, clearly pleased with Leah¡¯s reaction. Then, she raised a hand and pointed far into the distance.


    Leah followed her gesture, eyes landing on a jagged mountain range jutting out from the horizon like the spikes of a crown.


    "That," Ibbi said, her voice dropping low, "is where all goblins are born. And that¡¯s where the high chieftain lives."


    Leah''s gaze stayed on the mountains. A high chieftain? This was beginning to feel much larger than she had initially thought.

 Chapter 4 - The Class

    Leah stood high above the forest floor, perched on the thick branch of a snow-covered tree. The wind rustled through the canopy as she remained still, her glowing red eyes locked onto the figures below.


    A group of snow goblins¡ªtwenty, maybe more¡ªwere making their way through the snow, their short, stout bodies wrapped in thick furs. They moved cautiously, scanning their surroundings, weapons drawn. Their breath came out in visible puffs of white, mixing with the snowfall.


    There were more of them now, and they were looking for her.


    Leah closed her eyes for a few moments, steadying her breath.


    Through the faint, pulsing link of her Blood Connection skill, she could feel them¡ªIbbi and the six other goblins she had captured and turned. Their presence flickered in her mind like embers in the dark, each one waiting, ready.


    With a thought, she directed them.


    From the shadows of the trees and the hollows of the snow, her goblins emerged, creeping forward with silent precision. They moved swiftly, circling around the unsuspecting snow goblins below.


    As her goblins moved in, Leah leaped from the branch, cutting through the air like a phantom. She landed in the centre of the group with barely a sound, the force of her descent kicking up a small swirl of snow.


    The snow goblins recoiled in surprise, their eyes widening.


    Before they could react, four blood-red tendrils burst from her back, lashing forward with precision. They impaled the nearest goblins, piercing straight through flesh and bone. A sharp gasp escaped their lips before their bodies stiffened.


    Leah narrowed her eyes and willed her blood to flow.


    Dark crimson pulsed through the tendrils, flooding into their veins. The moment it entered them, the goblins convulsed, their knees buckling as they collapsed into the snow, their bodies writhing as the change took hold.


    Then Ibbi and the others struck, rushing in with snarls of aggression. The clash of weapons and the crunch of snow filled the air as blood goblins engaged their former kin. Leah observed the fight for only a moment¡ªher blood goblins were stronger, moving faster, hitting harder.


    Satisfied, she ripped her tendrils free from the changing goblins and turned her gaze to new prey.


    Leah barely had time to turn before three snow goblins charged at her, their crude weapons raised high. Their snarls of fury echoed through the frozen air as they closed the distance.


    Without hesitation, she sent out three blood tendrils.


    They shot forward like whips, slicing through the air with lethal speed.


    The goblins barely had time to react before the tendrils met them head on.


    Leah pumped her blood into the three goblins, watching with cold detachment as their bodies spasmed violently. They convulsed, their limbs jerking uncontrollably as her blood coursed through their veins. With one final shudder, they collapsed to the snow.


    She withdrew her tendrils and turned her attention to the goblins she had pierced earlier. They were now rising from the ground, their skin tinged with a crimson colour. Their eyes were vacant for a moment before they locked onto her with an eerie sense of loyalty.


    Leah wasted no time, her voice calm and commanding. "Join the fight. Restrain the rest of them."


    The newly-turned blood goblins rushed forward, swiftly tackling and binding more snow goblins. They were far stronger than their former kin, their newfound power overwhelming the snow goblins'' attempts to fight back.


    As most of the goblins were brought down, Leah moved around the battlefield, using her blood tendrils to pierce the fallen snow goblins, one by one, injecting them with her blood. Each one shuddered as they were converted.


    When the last of the snow goblins had been turned, they all knelt down on one knee in front of her, their eyes glowing with devotion. Ibbi was at the forefront, grinning from ear to ear, her expression full of pride and loyalty.


    Leah glanced at her system panel and navigated to the Legion tab. The numbers had increased to twenty eight blood goblins.


    She smirked as she surveyed her new army of blood goblins, a sense of power welling up inside her.


    She then felt the familiar buzz of the system in her mind, signaling a couple of new notifications. She briefly glanced at the messages but decided she would check them when she got back to her base. There were more important things to focus on right now.


    She turned to face the group of goblins, all of them now under her command. With a single gesture, she motioned for them to follow her.


    The group began their trek back, moving swiftly through the forest, their footsteps crunching in the snow behind her.


    Eventually, after what felt like hours, they reached an opening in the forest. Ahead of them was an open cave. The entrance was wide, with the lip of the cave hanging over, offering a sense of protection from the outside elements.


    Leah waved her hand dismissively, sending the goblins off to do their own thing. They scattered, some setting up makeshift camps in the cave, while others ventured into the surrounding area, perhaps to forage or scout. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance as Leah moved to a large rock at the edge of the cave and sat down.


    Pulling up the system interface, she scanned through the messages that popped up before her. She saw the familiar prompt indicating that she had gained experience and had leveled up. Her eyes narrowed as the number on the screen showed that she had reached Level 10. A small thrill ran through her, but she didn¡¯t linger on it for long. There was more to focus on.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    But just as she was about to move on, the screen flickered for a brief moment. The word ''Error'' flashed at the top of the system notification, and for a split second, the entire panel seemed to glitch.


    Leah''s brow furrowed in confusion, but before she could process what was happening, the error faded away, blurring into nothing. The screen shifted and a new set of words appeared.


    [System Message]


    ''Class automatically selected.''


    ''New Class: Blood Maiden''


    Leah exhaled sharply, gripping her knee. She had gained a class? And why had the system chosen for her? Before she could dwell on it, more messages appeared.


    [System Message]


    ''You have gained new skills''


    **Active skills**


    Blood Armour (Proficiency 0%) ¨C Forms an undulating suit of armour from your blood that covers your body. The armour continuously shifts, making it hard to damage, while also increasing your defense.


    Blood Empowerment (Proficiency 0%) ¨C Temporarily enhances your physical strength, speed, and overall combat power.


    **Passive Skill**


    Regeneration (Proficiency 0%) ¨C Gradually heals any wounds or injuries over time. Temporarily increases when feeding.


    Leah exhaled slowly, absorbing the information. She then suddenly felt a rush of energy course through her body, her veins pulsing with unfamiliar strength.


    She stood up, and as she moved, she noticed something else¡ªher skin tingled, and dark, intricate black markings began to appear on her arms, spreading across her skin like tendrils of ink.


    They twisted and turned, and she felt them wrapping around her limbs, up her neck, and across her face, leaving a pattern that almost seemed alive.


    Her heart raced as she flexed her fingers, feeling an odd weightlessness in her limbs. It was as if her body was becoming lighter, more agile. At the same time, she felt an unnatural toughness forming in her muscles and bones, a newfound resilience that almost made her feel invincible.


    Leah took a moment, her eyes wide, feeling her body shifting in ways she couldn¡¯t fully grasp. She ran a hand over the markings on her arm, fascinated by them.


    Ibbi came running over, her small feet kicking up bits of loose stone as she skidded to a stop in front of Leah. Her wide, red eyes were filled with concern.


    "Master! You okay?" she asked, her gaze locking onto the strange black markings covering Leah¡¯s body. Her ears twitched as she hesitated, then added, "What¡­ what happened to you?"


    Leah glanced down at herself before exhaling. "I think my body evolved because of my new class." she said, flexing her fingers, still adjusting to the changes.


    Ibbi tilted her head, confused. "Class?"


    Leah didn¡¯t answer, simply giving a small shake of her head. Instead, she pulled up her status overview. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed something new¡ªher race had changed, from ''lesser blood fairy'' to ''blood fairy maiden''.


    As she finished checking out her overview, Leah then caught the scent of blood coming from somewhere far away. Her enhanced senses honed in on it immediately, pulling her attention toward the source. Her head turned in that direction, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "I¡¯m going somewhere." she said.


    Ibbi¡¯s ears twitched, and she immediately stepped forward. "If you go, I go! I¡¯ll protect you!"


    Leah waved a hand dismissively. "It¡¯s fine."


    Ibbi puffed out her cheeks. "No! It¡¯s¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Leah extended a blood tendril and, with blinding speed, slashed it across the rock she had been sitting on. A sharp crack split the air as the rock was cleanly severed in half.


    Ibbi¡¯s mouth hung open, her words frozen in her throat.


    Leah smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    With that, she rolled her shoulders, and her wings unfurled from her back, seamlessly passing through her clothing. The translucent red appendages shimmered faintly in the light.


    Then, with a powerful push, she leaped into the air, activating ''Flight''. The wind rushed past her as she soared above the trees, heading straight for the source of the unfamiliar blood.


    Time passed as Leah flew through the air. The wind whipped past her, and the forest below became a blur as she moved swiftly. Eventually, her sharp eyes picked up a large clearing ahead.


    As she flew over it, she spotted what looked like the remnants of more than a dozen houses scattered across the clearing, their walls shattered and roof beams broken. But it wasn¡¯t the destroyed homes that caught her attention¡ªit was the massive, lumbering creature standing between them.


    The creature was colossal, towering over the ruins of the houses. It was a snow-white giant, a hulking figure, with a massive club dragging behind it in the snow. The name that appeared above it was red and bold: ''snow ogre''.


    Leah¡¯s sharp gaze then darted downward, where a few humanoid figures with grey skin stood trembling in front of the ogre. Their bodies were rigid with fear, and their shaking was visible even from her vantage point. She noticed the lifeless bodies of several of their kind littered across the clearing, blood staining the snow beneath them.


    The ogre let out a deep, terrifying roar, shaking the air around it. Its heavy footfalls resonated as it lifted its massive club overhead. With a grunt, it brought the weapon crashing down onto the ground. Snow and humanoid bodies flew through the air, the sheer force of the blow sending them scattering.


    Leah¡¯s eyes widened as she watched the ogre¡¯s raw power in action. The way it struck, the way it dominated everything around it¡ªit was terrifying. But as she observed, her mind began to form a thought. If she could somehow kill the ogre... and then convert it...


    Her lips curled into a dark smile as she considered the prospect. The power it could add to her legion would be immense. The thought of commanding such a force, made her blood race.


    As the snow ogre lifted its massive club, preparing to bring it down for another devastating strike, it failed to notice the silent shadow descending upon it from above. Leah moved like a streak of crimson against the pale sky, her wings carrying her swiftly through the air.


    The moment she was within range, four blood tendrils erupted from her back, twisting like living spears towards their target.


    With precision, they struck true¡ªeach one piercing deep into the ogre¡¯s eyes. A wet squelch filled the air as the tendrils burrowed into the soft flesh, rupturing the giant¡¯s vision.


    The snow ogre let out an ear-splitting roar of agony, its massive hands jerking up to clutch at its bleeding eye sockets. Its club dropped from its grip, crashing into the snow with a deep thud. The creature staggered back, shaking violently.


    Leah retracted her tendrils, and then gathered the tendrils together, twisting them into a spiraling mass. A wicked smile tugged at her lips as she sent the drill of blood forward with all her might, aiming directly for the ogre''s skull.


    For a brief moment, she believed the battle was already over. Her blood drill sliced through the air, its pointed tip aimed perfectly at the creature''s head. But then, as the tendrils began to drill deeper, Leah''s confident grin faltered. The ogre''s skin was tougher than she expected¡ªan impenetrable wall of muscle and bone. The drill then burst under the strain.


    Leah¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    Before she could react, the ogre¡¯s roar split the air, filled with rage.


    With shocking speed, the ogre swung its massive arm downward, its huge hand rocketing toward her. Leah barely had time to brace herself, and in an instant, she was struck like a mere insect. The force of the blow sent her plummeting to the ground, the world spinning as she crashed into the snow.


    The world seemed to slow as the snow settled around her. Leah gasped for air, the pain from the impact searing through her body. In the corner of her vision, a small health window appeared, displaying her health: 143/500.


    The ogre¡¯s massive shadow loomed over her as it took a step forward. Leah¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she saw the creature¡¯s eyes¡ªwhat had once been gouged out¡ªnow were fully regenerated. The ogre¡¯s gaze, burning with renewed fury, locked onto her, and Leah¡¯s stomach twisted. She was in trouble.

 Chapter 5 - The Tough Foe

    Leah''s body was shaking as she struggled to get back to her feet, each movement feeling like it took every ounce of her strength. The snow beneath her was stained with her blood, and she could feel the searing pain coursing through her.


    She barely had time to react as the ogre''s massive hand swept across the ground with terrifying speed. Panic surged through her as she activated flight and dragged herself backward through the snow, the ogre¡¯s hand missing her by mere inches. The sheer force of its swipe sent gusts of wind and snow spiraling around her.


    But the ogre wasn¡¯t done. It lunged forward, bringing its hand back across, and Leah barely managed to dodge again. Each swipe was followed by another, with Leah narrowly escaping each one.


    She lifted herself higher into the air with flight, hoping to escape the ogre¡¯s reach, but its arm was already swinging toward her. The blow clipped her, sending her hurtling backwards, her body crashing into the snow once more. Her health dropped again, flashing on the edge of her vision¡ª76/500.


    Lying there, gasping, Leah cursed under her breath. Her earlier confidence felt foolish now. She had grown too comfortable with her growing power, thinking she could handle anything, but this ogre was a terrifying reminder of her limits.


    She had underestimated her opponent, and now, as the ogre¡¯s shadow loomed closer, she feared she might not survive this encounter.


    But then, as the ogre took another step toward her, an idea sparked in her mind. She remembered the first time Ibbi took in her blood, and thought how consuming her blood first increased her favorability with her before it fully converted her.


    She had to get her blood into the ogre. That was the key¡ªif she could just make it happen, then perhaps the ogre would stop and leave her be.


    With the ogre closing in, Leah gritted her teeth, focused, and sprouted a massive blood tendril from her chest. She aimed it straight into the ogre¡¯s eye.


    As the ogre roared in pain, she pumped a vast amount of her blood through the tendril. Her blood mana drained rapidly, but she couldn¡¯t stop now.


    But just as she pushed more blood into the monster, the ogre grabbed the tendril with its massive hand and tore it from its eye, causing blood to splatter all over the snow. Leah barely had time to react before the ogre then raised its hand to squash her.


    The ogre¡¯s massive palm came down with a thunderous crash¡ªbut it landed just beside her, sending a violent gust of snow and wind in all directions. Leah¡¯s heart raced as she lay there, breathless, covered in snow.


    The ogre paused, its one remaining eye locked onto her, its fury palpable. For a moment, it seemed to consider her, before, to Leah¡¯s shock, it stood up straight and walk away.


    Its massive form lumbered past her, eventually disappearing into the forest, leaving her there on the ground, gasping for air.


    Her vision blurred as she struggled to lift her head, but the weight of exhaustion and pain took its toll. She felt herself slipping, the world around her dimming. Just before she lost consciousness, a blurry figure appeared above her, standing tall with grey skin, white hair, and long pointed ears. But as the world faded to black, she couldn''t make out who¡ªor what¡ªit was.


    ***


    Leah slowly woke up, a dull ache pulsing through her body as she regained consciousness. The night air brushed against her skin, and she groggily tried to lift her head.


    As she did, she realized that her head was resting on something¡ªsoft, yet firm. She blinked in confusion, her vision still blurry as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.


    The dark silhouette of a figure loomed above her. A woman, her features sharp and elegant, with grey skin and long white hair. Her eyes were closed, and for a brief moment, Leah thought she might still be dreaming.


    Leah shifted her head, trying to sit up. The sudden movement startled the woman, and her eyes flew open, wide with alarm. She looked down at Leah in surprise, and Leah noticed that the woman quickly moved to sit upright, her expression shifting from confusion to something else, something grateful.


    Leah slowly pushed herself up. She glanced around, taking in her new surroundings. They were in the midst of a forest, the faint crackling of a small campfire several meters away filling the silence.


    As she stood, her legs wobbled, and the woman seemed to hesitate for a moment before she murmured something in disbelief.


    "Saviour..." the woman whispered, almost under her breath.


    Leah then turned to look at her. Her eyes narrowed at the grey woman, and slowly she recognized what she was.


    "Are you an elf?" Leah asked.


    The elf blinked, eyes widening in surprise, and nodded slowly. "Yes, a grey elf," she answered, her voice uncertain. "But... why can you speak?"


    Leah raised an eyebrow at the question, but before she could answer, she noticed her surroundings more clearly. The small campfire cast a warm glow on the area, the light flickering over the various trees around them. As her gaze shifted, Leah saw three more figures slowly approaching from the shadows, moving carefully toward her.


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    They were all elves, each wearing garments made of natural materials. The one at the front appeared to be the eldest. He wore a long robe of rich green fabric, trimmed with intricate silver embroidery that reflected the light of the fire. His long white beard was neatly braided, and his ancient eyes studied Leah intently as he stepped forward.


    The elder elf bowed slightly, his voice deep and resonant as he spoke. "I wish to thank you," he said, his eyes filled with respect and gratitude. "For driving away the beast."


    Leah tilted her head, still catching her bearings.


    "My name is Zytherin," the elder continued, "and I am the head of this tribe. We are grateful for your help, blood fairy."


    Leah studied him carefully, her gaze flicking from Zytherin to the others around him. She wasn¡¯t sure what to make of them.


    Her gaze then drifted past the elves, her mind still reeling from everything that had happened. She glanced toward the trees, half-expecting more figures to emerge, but the silence of the night settled heavily around them. Then a realization crept into her thoughts.


    She turned back to Zytherin, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you the only survivors left?"


    The elder elf¡¯s expression darkened, and a deep sorrow flickered across his face. His shoulders sagged as he gave her a slow, solemn nod.


    "Yes," he said, his voice heavy with grief. "The dungeon beast slaughtered our kin. Over a hundred of us... gone."


    The other elves lowered their heads, their grief apparent on their faces.


    Leah exhaled slowly. "I see."


    There was a long, uncomfortable silence.


    Leah¡¯s eyes glowed faintly in the firelight as she broke the silence. "I can bring them back to life."


    Zytherin and the other elves turned to her in shock. Their expressions ranged from disbelief to cautious hope.


    Zytherin¡¯s voice was hesitant. "What¡­ do you mean?"


    Leah met his gaze, unwavering. "I have a special ability. I can revive the dead."


    A tense silence followed. The elves exchanged glances, their faces twisted with skepticism.


    "That¡¯s impossible," one of the younger elves scoffed, his hand tightening around the hilt of a dagger at his side. "Only necromancers can bring back the dead, and even then, they only raise soulless husks. You must be lying."


    Leah¡¯s eyes narrowed at him, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. Before she could speak, Zytherin lifted a hand, silencing his companion. His old, wise eyes studied Leah carefully.


    "Can you truly do this?" His voice was low, uncertain, but there was something else in it¡ªdesperation.


    Leah nodded without hesitation. "Yes."


    ***


    As they neared the ruined village, the smell of blood still lingered in the air. Leah moved with purpose, her blood mana replenished after rest and a brief, feeding on Zytherin¡¯s blood. The elf elder had offered it without hesitation, though he winced when her fangs pierced his wrist. Now, she felt rejuvenated, her power ready to be put to use.


    As they stepped into the clearing, one of the elves looked around nervously. "Is the ogre still here?"


    Leah shook her head. "No, it''s far away."


    Another elf hesitated before asking, "How do you know that?"


    "Because I injected my blood into it. I can sense where my blood is, no matter how far it goes."


    The elves exchanged uneasy glances, but before they could ask further, Leah spotted the first corpse in the snow. She approached without hesitation.


    "Start dragging the bodies toward the centre." she ordered.


    But the elves only stood there, watching her with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.


    With a sigh, Leah extended a blood tendril from her arm, letting it twist through the air before plunging it into the dead elf¡¯s chest with a sickening squelch. The violent motion made Zytherin and the others cry out in alarm, some even reaching for their weapons.


    Ignoring them, Leah focused, pumping her blood into the lifeless body. A moment passed before the elf¡¯s once-grey skin began to shift, darkening into a deep crimson. Then, with a sudden gasp, the corpse¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    The revived elf lurched upright, inhaling sharply as if surfacing from deep waters. He looked at his hands, flexing them with wide, disbelieving eyes.


    Zytherin stepped closer, his voice shaking. "Are you¡­ alive?"


    The elf turned to him, his expression torn between confusion and awe. "I¡­ I remember dying." His voice was hoarse, as if his throat hadn¡¯t been used in hours.


    Zytherin¡¯s eyes welled with tears, and before the revived elf could react, the elder pulled him into a tight embrace.


    The other elves hesitated before stepping in closer, eyes flicking between Leah and the newly resurrected elf. One of them finally spoke. "Why is his skin red?"


    Leah clapped her hands together sharply, making them all jolt.


    "I remember telling you to start bringing bodies over." she said, her tone cool and expectant.


    The elves exchanged another glance, then hurried to follow her orders.


    Bodies were dragged through the snow, one after another, and Leah continued her work without pause. Each corpse she touched was infused with her blood, and with every revival, the crimson-skinned elves quickly joined the search for more fallen kin.


    An hour passed. The clearing was now filled with over a hundred newly revived elves standing silently around Leah and the remaining grey elves. Their glowing red eyes watched her, awaiting her command.


    Leah opened her [Legion] tab, her gaze flicking over the numbers. **109 Blood Elves.** The number brought a faint smile to her lips.


    Before she could say anything, Zytherin let out a relieved laugh, his voice filled with joy. "We can rebuild! We can restore our tribe!"


    Leah¡¯s smile vanished, her eyes turning cold as she looked at him.


    "Everyone, kneel." she commanded.


    Without hesitation, every blood elf in the clearing dropped to one knee. The grey elves gasped, stepping back in shock.


    Zytherin looked around, his face growing pale. "Why¡­ why are they following your orders?"


    Leah met his gaze. "Isn¡¯t it obvious?" Her voice was calm, almost amused. "They are mine now."


    The weight of her words crushed the momentary hope in Zytherin¡¯s eyes, replacing it with sheer horror. He opened his mouth, perhaps to protest, but Leah had already turned her attention to the remaining grey elves.


    She stepped forward. They instinctively backed away.


    Before they could flee, the blood elves rose and moved behind them, blocking any escape.


    Leah didn¡¯t hesitate. She extended her blood tendrils, crimson whips slithering through the air before plunging into the bodies of the remaining grey elves. Their screams echoed through the clearing as her blood flooded their veins, reshaping them from within.


    Then, silence.


    Their heads drooped for a moment, then slowly lifted. Their grey skin darkened, turning deep crimson like the others. Their glowing red eyes locked onto Leah, and without a word, they all dropped to one knee.


    Zytherin swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "My¡­ my lord."


    Leah stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. His body tensed under her touch.


    "It¡¯s time to go." she said simply, before walking past him.


    The blood elves rose and followed in perfect unison, leaving the ruined village behind.


    As they departed, Leah cast one last glance behind into the distance. She could still sense it¡ªthe lingering presence of the ogre far beyond the trees. Her fingers curled into a fist. One day, she would return. And when she did, the monster would belong to her.

 Chapter 6 - The Skirmish

    A week had passed since Leah had converted the elves. In that time, she had commanded her growing forces to salvage what remained of the ruined village, using whatever materials they could find to construct a fortified camp around the cave she had claimed as her base.


    The blood elves worked tirelessly, their enhanced bodies making them more efficient than before, while the blood goblins assisted in gathering resources and setting up defenses.


    Also during that week, more snow goblins had wandered into the forest, likely still hunting her, but they had only met the same fate as the others. One by one, she converted them, swelling her blood goblin numbers from 28 to 76.


    However, as the days passed, fewer and fewer goblins entered her domain, and eventually, they stopped coming altogether. Leah knew this meant one thing¡ªthe remaining goblins had realized something was wrong.


    Leah didn¡¯t mind that the goblins had stopped coming. If she ever needed to replenish her strength, she could simply feed on the blood of one of her soldiers. However, she had discovered that doing so didn¡¯t grant her any attribute increases.


    Today, she was deep within the cave, creating blood pills from her own blood. She carefully formed each one, solidifying the thick crimson liquid before dropping it into a growing pile inside a wooden barrel. Over the past week, she had learned something invaluable: her soldiers didn¡¯t need food or water to survive. As long as they consumed her blood regularly, they remained strong and tireless.


    As she worked, footsteps echoed through the cave. Leah turned to see Ibbi approaching. The goblin had changed significantly since her conversion¡ªher body was more muscular, her once-scrawny frame now built with dense, compact strength. She carried a weapon in her hands, a blood-crystallized axe that Leah had crafted for her, its surface gleaming in the dim light.


    Leah had made another important discovery. If she continuously fed a soldier her blood over time, they would become stronger¡ªfar beyond the average blood goblin or blood elf. Ibbi was proof of that. She had surpassed her peers, her physical prowess now matching Leah''s own.


    "Are we heading out again?" Ibbi asked eagerly as she stomped closer, her sharp teeth bared in excitement. "I wanna bloody my axe in some guts."


    Leah glanced at her and shook her head. "Not today."


    Ibbi groaned in disappointment, dragging her feet as she turned to leave. "Boring." she muttered under her breath. Leah couldn''t help but smile as she watched the goblin sulk away.


    As Ibbi passed by, Zytherin approached, his long strides carrying him closer to Leah. The elder elf¡¯s expression was serious, his red eyes focused on Leah. "I am concerned," he said, his voice low. "The lack of snow goblins in the forest is troubling."


    Leah arched a brow. "What do you mean?"


    Zytherin crossed his arms. "I think they are preparing something big."


    Leah considered his words, then exhaled through her nose. "If they are, we¡¯ll be ready."


    With that, she stopped producing blood pills, shaking off the residual crimson from her hands before stepping away from the barrel. She turned toward the entrance of the cave, motioning for Zytherin to follow. "What¡¯s next on the agenda?" she asked.


    Zytherin walked beside her, his voice steady. "The legion is growing larger. I believe it¡¯s time for you to select two generals¡ªone for the goblins and one for the elves. You should also assign squad captains to serve under them."


    Leah nodded. "I¡¯ll handle it."


    She had come to appreciate Zytherin¡¯s experience as a former leader. He had been invaluable in helping her manage the growing numbers of her forces, providing insight that she wouldn¡¯t have had otherwise. He had also explained the surrounding region to her.


    To the north, past the forest, were the hundreds of goblin camps¡ªand beyond that, the mountains.


    To the south, ogres, orcs, and other powerful monsters roamed freely. They were sandwiched between two dangers.


    To the east and west, small elven tribes still lived, scattered across the line.


    Leah had already set her sights on them. Taking over those tribes would be one of her steps in expanding her legion¡¯s power.


    As they reached the exit of the cave, the cool light of the outside world greeted them.


    The area around the cave had been completely transformed. Where once there had been thick trees and uneven ground, now stood a large, cleared space surrounded by a sturdy wooden wall.


    Goblins and elves moved throughout the settlement, carrying supplies, reinforcing structures, and preparing for whatever was to come. Wooden huts dotted the clearing, serving as homes and barracks for the growing legion.


    Zytherin stood beside Leah, observing the progress with a pleased expression. "I¡¯d like to make a small platform for you." he said. Without waiting for her approval, he raised a hand, channeling his magic.


    The ground beneath Leah shifted as a thick stump of wood sprouted beneath her, lifting her into the air. The wooden platform stopped growing when it was high enough for her to look over the gathered settlement.


    Satisfied, Leah through her blood connection skill, sent a call to her legion through it. Across the camp, goblins and elves stopped what they were doing. Some stepped out of huts, while others hurried to gather in front of her, eyes locked on their leader.


    Leah looked over the assembled soldiers before speaking. "We need to organize our forces," she announced. "I will be selecting generals to lead you more efficiently."


    Her glowing red eyes swept over the crowd before landing on Ibbi, who stood nearby with her massive blood-crystal axe resting on her shoulder. "Ibbi," Leah called. "Do you want to be the general for the goblins?"


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    Ibbi frowned and immediately shook her head. "No," she said firmly. "I¡¯m your personal guard. How would I lead the goblins when my only duty is to protect you?"


    Leah considered her words before nodding. "Alright."


    She then turned to Boko, a large goblin with sharp features and a battle-scarred body. He was the second strongest among the goblins, only surpassed by Ibbi. "Boko," Leah called. "Can you take up this duty?"


    Boko stepped forward and gave a firm nod. "I will."


    Leah turned her attention to the elves next. She glanced over the gathered warriors before settling on Yventil, a seasoned fighter who had adapted quickly to his new power. "Yventil," she called. "I want you to become the general for the elves."


    Yventil straightened before nodding. "I accept."


    Leah then addressed both of them. "Each of you will select ten squad captains. They will lead squads under your command and ensure that my orders are carried out efficiently. That is all, you may leave."


    Boko and Yventil nodded in unison before turning to the gathered soldiers, already evaluating potential captains.


    Leah remained on the platform, watching as her army continued to take shape. Things were progressing well.


    As the wooden platform beneath Leah slowly descended back into the ground, the gathered legion began to disperse, returning to their duties. Just as Leah stepped off the last of the raised wood, a commotion caught her attention. A female elven scout sprinted toward them, her breath quick and her movements urgent.


    The scout skidded to a halt before Leah and Zytherin, dropping to one knee and bowing her head in respect. Leah recognized her¡ªDaraena, one of the more skilled scouts in their ranks.


    Leah¡¯s crimson eyes narrowed. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Daraena lifted her head slightly, her expression tense. "I spotted a large army of goblins marching through the forest."


    Leah¡¯s gaze sharpened further. "How many?"


    Daraena hesitated. "I didn¡¯t take a proper count, but I estimate there are more than five hundred."


    Leah exhaled through her nose and turned her gaze to Zytherin. "You were right."


    Zytherin¡¯s expression remained grim. "If they¡¯ve gathered that many, they intend to wipe us out or force us into submission."


    Leah crossed her arms. "Then I hope my generals have already picked some of their captains¡ªbecause we¡¯re about to have our first proper skirmish."


    Leah turned, her red wings flaring out as she began to walk toward the wooden gate that separated her camp from the surrounding forest. She raised a hand, her fingers curling in the air as she began calling her legion to her.


    Leah didn¡¯t stop to wait. She stepped outside the gate, and with a single powerful beat of her blood-infused wings, shot into the sky.


    ***


    High above the vast snow-covered forest, Leah soared silently, her piercing gaze scanning the ground below.


    It didn¡¯t take long. Through the thick canopy of trees, she spotted movement¡ªhundreds of figures marching in tight formation. A massive wave of goblins surged through the forest like a dark tide, their ragged armour glinting in the light.


    At the very front of the force, hobgoblins led the charge. Taller, stronger, and better equipped than the common snow goblins behind them, they carried crude metal weapons and barked orders as they marched.


    Leah halted in mid-air. Below, the goblin army continued its march, oblivious to the predator watching from above.


    With a single thought, she issued her command to her legion.


    Her voice rang out in the minds of her legion. ''Split into three groups. Boko, take the west. Yventil, the east. I¡¯ll lead the center.''


    Immediately, her forces moved with precise coordination.


    Leah deactivated flight and dropped. The wind howled around her as she shot down like a crimson spear. The moment she passed the trees and hit the snow, she barely lost momentum, sprinting forward with Ibbi keeping pace beside her, her blood axe eager to taste flesh.


    As the enemy army came into full view, Leah¡¯s blood surged in excitement. The goblins spotted them and froze¡ªshocked faces staring at the crimson tide rushing toward them.


    Leah then activated her blood armour skill. The liquid shell burst forth, swirling around her body in undulating waves before settling into a suit of writhing, living armor. Only two slits remained for her eyes.


    Without hesitation, Leah leaped into the air, and as she soared, blood tendrils shot out from her body like serpents, piercing through the goblins¡¯ skulls with ease. The air was filled with the sickening sounds of heads splitting open as the tendrils retracted back to Leah¡¯s body. Her landing was flawless, as the snow beneath her feet was splattered red.


    With a swift motion, Leah charged forward, her soldiers at her back. The goblins, now in disarray, tried to regroup, but Leah¡¯s onslaught was unrelenting. Her tendrils lashed out again, decimating their ranks, as she plowed through their defences like a storm, cutting a path of destruction through the horde.


    Ibbi, with her blood axe raised, cleaved through any goblins that dared get too close, her newly enhanced strength making her an unstoppable force alongside Leah.


    On all sides, Boko¡¯s and Yventil¡¯s forces were pushing forward with similar ferocity. The goblins, overwhelmed and disorganized, stood no chance against the might of Leah¡¯s legion. Her tendrils whipped out again, striking down more of the goblins as her army tore through them, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.


    The battle raged on, but it was clear¡ªLeah and her blood legion were unstoppable.


    ***


    The snow goblins were being cut down one by one, their ranks thinning as Leah and her army moved with ruthless precision. The battlefield was littered with their fallen, and their screams slowly faded into silence. Leah, however, didn¡¯t take a moment to relax. Instead, she moved from body to body, her blood tendrils extending out of her fingers and sinking into the dead snow goblins.


    The corpses twitched, their bodies convulsing as they were pulled back from death, reborn under Leah¡¯s command.


    ''Start converting them.'' Leah sent out a command to her legion.


    She had learned that her legion members, too, could pass on her blood. Her soldiers followed suit, cutting their hands open and letting their blood flow into the open mouths and wounds of the fallen goblins.


    While the conversions were happening, Leah noticed the system had sent her a notification.


    Her eyes flicked open as a system panel appeared in front of her.


    ''Level 20 Reached.''


    ''New Skill Acquired: Evolution.''


    Leah then opened up the skill description.


    Blood Evolution (Proficiency 0%) - Grants the ability to evolve yourself or a legion member into a higher race using Evolution Points. Evolution Points are acquired by feeding on the blood of creatures.


    Leah stared at the notification, a sense of excitement building in her chest. Her eyes next flicked to her overview, where she saw a new resource listed: Evolution Points: 0.


    Before she could fully process the new information, she heard footsteps crunching through the snow behind her. She turned to find Ibbi approaching, her fur armour bloodied, her axe resting on her shoulder, and a wide grin on her face.


    Leah gave a small smile, but as she looked at her, a new panel opened, showing Ibbi¡¯s requirements for her next evolution.


    ''Next Evolution for Ibbi: Requires 100 Evolution Points''


    Leah hummed in thought. ''A hundred, huh?''


    She turned, spotting a fresh goblin corpse nearby. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a tendril surging forward, impaling the body. Blood drained from the corpse in seconds, flowing into her. But her evolution points remained unchanged.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    Not one to waste time, she extended three more tendrils into separate corpses, draining them dry. Only then did her overview update.


    ''Evolution Points: 1''


    Leah sighed. Only one point? At this rate, evolving Ibbi would take forever.


    She then wondered how many points it would take for her to evolve. As if responding to her curiosity, another panel materialized before her.


    ''Next Evolution for Leah: Requires 10,000 Evolution Points''


    Leah''s eye twitched.


    "Seriously... wow."

 Chapter 7 - The Assault

    Leah and her Blood Legion marched through the thick snow, their crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim, stormy light. The wind howled through the trees, carrying the icy bite of the snowfall. Heavy flakes drifted down in an endless sheet, covering the world in white.


    Leah pulled her cloak tighter around herself, though the cold didn¡¯t truly bother her anyway. If anything, the harsh weather gave her an idea. Today, she would begin her assault on the goblin camps to the north. It was the perfect opportunity¡ªthe blizzard would cloak their movements, keeping the other camps unaware until it was too late.


    She trudged ahead, her boots crunching in the thick snow. Eventually, the trees began to thin, and her legion reached the edge of the forest. Beyond, through the dense snowfall, she barely made out the glow of torches and the dark shapes of the nearest goblin camp, nestled below.


    Ibbi stepped up beside her, squinting into the storm. "I wish it wasn¡¯t snowing so heavily. Can¡¯t see a damn thing."


    Leah smirked slightly. "It¡¯s better this way. The other camps won¡¯t notice what¡¯s happening until it¡¯s too late."


    A moment later, Zytherin approached, his long cloak billowing in the wind. "The mage squad is ready." he said, his tone calm but expectant.


    Leah nodded. She had learned that Zytherin was a magician, and since then, she had allowed him to lead his own squad¡ªa unit of spellcasters, mainly elves, who could provide ranged support.


    Turning to face her army, Leah activated Blood Connection, her voice reverberating through the minds of her soldiers.


    ''Only half of you will advance for now. That means three hundred of you will attack with me. The rest, hold position.''


    A silent wave of acknowledgment passed through the legion.


    Leah took a breath, locking her gaze on the goblin camp below. "Let¡¯s go."


    With that, she leapt from the edge of the cliff, descending rapidly into the storm. Her army followed, a dark wave of warriors rushing down to meet her.


    Leah landed in the snow with a soft thud, her legion touching down around her. There was no hesitation¡ªthe moment their feet hit the ground, they broke into a sprint, their bodies cutting through the storm like wraiths. The high wooden walls of the goblin camp loomed ahead, half-buried in snow.


    With their enhanced muscles, Leah and her soldiers launched themselves into the air in unison. Hundreds of bodies vaulted over the wall, moving like a coordinated tide of destruction.


    As Leah descended, she spotted an unsuspecting snow goblin below, its back turned as it lazily clutched a spear. It barely had time to turn its head before Leah¡¯s blood tendril shot out, piercing straight through its skull. The goblin slumped instantly, lifeless.


    All around her, her goblins rained into the camp, landing in the snow and immediately breaking into action. Chaos erupted. Leah¡¯s forces surged forward, attacking the snow goblins before they could even react.


    The crack of bones, the clang of weapons, and the screams of dying goblins filled the air as the legion carved their way through the camp.


    A commotion stirred at the centre of the camp, and Leah''s eyes snapped towards the largest tent, its entrance flapping wildly in the storm¡¯s wind. From within, a hulking hobgoblin emerged, its greyish-blue skin marked with crude war paint. Unlike the lesser goblins, it wore actual armour¡ªstitched leather and bits of scavenged metal¡ªand gripped a jagged bone axe in one hand.


    Leah immediately zoomed across the snow, her blood-enhanced speed making her little more than a crimson blur. The hobgoblin barely had time to register her presence before her tendril shot forward, piercing straight through its chest.


    Its mouth opened in a silent scream, but Leah had already begun pumping her blood into its body. The hobgoblin spasmed violently, its limbs twitching before finally collapsing onto the snow. Leah ripped her tendril free, leaving behind a gaping hole.


    Leaping into the air, she cleared the tent in a single bound and landed on its roof. From her vantage point, she surveyed the battlefield before sending out a command through her blood connection.


    ''Don''t let a single goblin escape.''


    Her legion obeyed without question. The goblins that attempted to flee were cut down before they could even reach the walls. The battle was over within minutes.


    As silence settled over the camp, Leah took to the sky. Her gaze drifted over the field of corpses, and she sent out over fifty tendrils, each one piercing into a fallen goblin. A moment later, she began draining them dry, their blood rushing through the tendrils and into her body. The process was gruesome as the corpses shrivelled where they lay.


    When she was done, a familiar chime rang in her mind. She pulled up her status and noted the change.


    Evolution Points: 22


    Leah exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the frigid air.


    "Alright, let¡¯s move on to the next camp."


    Her legion let out a unified growl of acknowledgment, their blood-drenched forms blending into the storm as they prepared to advance once more.


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    ***


    The fourth camp fell just as swiftly as the others. Leah moved like a specter through the battlefield, her tendrils striking with deadly precision, while her legion cut down any goblin that stood in their way.


    By the time the last snow goblin fell, Leah hovered above the camp, taking stock of her progress. She pulled up her status panel and smirked slightly.


    Evolution Points: 75


    It was slow, but she was getting there. However, she had quickly learned a limitation¡ªif she drained a corpse completely for evolution points, she couldn¡¯t convert it. Because of this, only four new hobgoblins had joined her ranks so far.


    As Leah hovered in the air, her sharp eyes scanning the landscape ahead. Through the swirling snow, she spotted two goblin camps nestled close to each other.


    She descended swiftly, landing beside Ibbi and Boko with a light thud.


    "Boko," Leah said, her voice steady, "take two hundred soldiers and attack the camp on the left. Make sure no one escapes."


    Boko banged a fist against his chest and gave a sharp nod.


    Leah then turned to the rest of her forces. "We¡¯ll take the right camp. Move quickly¡ªstrike hard and leave nothing standing."


    With that, they moved out, slipping through the camp¡¯s gate and breaking into a rapid sprint across the snow.


    In the next camp, Leah landed inside with her legion, the clash of steel and screams of battle already filling the air. Snow goblins fell one after another as Leah ran through the camp.


    A deep roar cut through the chaos. Leah¡¯s eyes snapped toward the sound, locking onto a massive hobgoblin at the centre of the camp. Its muscles tensed as it grabbed one of her goblins and hurled them across the battlefield. Her gaze flicked above its head¡ªits title was yellow. It was around the same strength as her.


    As the hobgoblin tossed another goblin aside, Leah shot into the air, tendrils lashing out toward it. But the hobgoblin reacted instantly, swatting them away with a powerful swing of its arm.


    Ibbi came in from the side, her axe flashing as she brought it down. The blade sliced into the hobgoblin¡¯s forearm, dark blood spraying onto the snow. The hobgoblin snarled and grabbed Ibbi by the arm, lifting her off the ground and flinging her through the air.


    Leah¡¯s tendrils snapped out, catching Ibbi before she could crash. But in that moment, the hobgoblin snatched a nearby axe and hurled it straight at Leah.


    She leaned back just in time, the axe whistling past her face and embedding itself into a wooden post far behind her. She straightened midair, eyes locking onto the hobgoblin as she descended back to the snow-covered ground.


    The hobgoblin snarled and stomped toward her, its heavy footfalls shaking the snow beneath them. Leah narrowed her eyes and activated Blood Empowerment.


    A surge of energy exploded through her veins as the black marks across her body pulsed with a white glow.


    The moment the hobgoblin raised its arm, Leah vanished. A gust of wind burst from where she had been standing, sending snow flying backwards.


    In the next instant, she reappeared in front of the hobgoblin, her foot slamming into its face with unbelievable force. Its skull snapped back violently, the sheer impact sending a crack echoing through the battlefield.


    With its face caved in, the hobgoblin collapsed backwards into the snow, motionless.


    Leah landed gently on the snow, her glowing marks gradually dimming back to black. She extended a tendril from her palm, piercing the fallen hobgoblin¡¯s body and started pumping her blood into its body.


    As she did, her eyes swept over the camp. Her goblins were still overpowering the snow goblins, but the fight was dragging on longer than before. The enemy was stronger, and more coordinated. The deeper they went into the snow plains, the tougher the resistance became.


    Leah narrowed her eyes. It was time she called the rest of the legion.


    ''Those of you in the forest, advance to our position. Prepare for the next assault.''


    ***


    Leah stood among the fallen snow goblins, the white glow of her marks gradually dimming as her blood tendrils retracted. Around her, the remains of four hobgoblins lay scattered in the blood-soaked snow, their strength finally overcome by her relentless assault and the aid of her warriors.


    Ibbi, breathing heavily, wiped her axe clean on a fallen goblin¡¯s tattered cloak. Despite the exhaustion in her posture, her grin remained wide, her eyes gleaming with excitement.


    Before Leah could speak, Daraena approached, her twin curved short swords now resting at her sides. She bowed her head slightly before speaking.


    "My lord, I found tracks leading to the next camps," Daraena reported. "Some of the snow goblins have escaped."


    Leah exhaled through her nose. "It¡¯s fine, we have what we need."


    She then turned her gaze to Ibbi. "Come here."


    Ibbi hurried over, her excitement barely contained as she stood before Leah. Leah opened her evolution panel and, with a single thought, spent one hundred evolution points.


    The change was immediate. A crimson glow engulfed Ibbi, illuminating the camp with an eerie light. Her body trembled as her frame stretched taller, her limbs elongating. Her clothes loosened and stretched, struggling to accommodate her shifting form. The intensity of the glow made it difficult to see, but Leah could sense the surge of power flowing through her.


    As the radiance faded, Ibbi¡¯s new form was revealed. Black marks, resembling Leah¡¯s own, coiled along all over her body. Her once compact frame had become lean and muscular, her body exuding strength. Her white hair spilled further out from beneath her bandana, and her ears had grown longer, taking on a more refined, elven-like shape.


    Leah glanced at her panel. ''Blood Hobgoblin''.


    Leah looked at Ibbi. "How do you feel?"


    Ibbi smirked widely, her crimson eyes glinting with uncontained excitement. "Like I could do anything." She clenched her fists before looking around. "I want to test this out."


    Before Leah could stop her, Ibbi crouched low, her muscles tensing. Leah¡¯s eyes widened. "Wait¡ª"


    With an explosive burst, Ibbi launched herself upwards. Snow erupted into the air, billowing outward in a thick cloud. Leah raised an arm, shielding herself from the blast of icy wind that followed.


    As the snow settled, Leah lowered her arm, her gaze flicking in the direction Ibbi had vanished.


    Daraena stepped forward, her crimson eyes fixed on Leah. "What now, my lord?"


    Leah glanced at her, then without a word, spread her wings and shot into the sky. The cold wind howled past her as she ascended, her glowing red eyes scanning the snowy landscape. In the distance, through the snowfall, she spotted another camp further ahead.


    Without hesitation, she angled herself forward and shot toward it. Within moments, she landed, balancing effortlessly on the tip of the wooden wall. She expected to see the usual chaos of battle¡ªbut instead, the entire camp was eerily silent.


    Her gaze swept over the scene, and to her surprise, hundreds of snow goblins lay sprawled across the ground, their bodies brutally smashed and torn apart.


    At the centre of the destruction, Ibbi emerged from the haze of falling snow, holding two severed hobgoblin heads in her hands. Her devilish grin stretched wide, her crimson eyes glowing with exhilaration. She came to a stop beneath Leah and lifted the heads proudly.


    Leah¡¯s lips curled into a fiendish grin of her own. Ibbi had been gone for mere moments¡ªand in that short time, she had utterly obliterated an entire camp.


    Movement flickered in the corner of Leah¡¯s vision. She turned sharply, her eyes narrowing. Through the falling snow, more snow goblins were filing out of a nearby camp.


    Leah exhaled, her grin fading slightly. They had made enough progress for one day. There was no need to waste more strength.


    She looked down at Ibbi. "We¡¯re heading back to base camp," she said. "We¡¯ll continue the assault again on another day."

 Chapter 8 - The Return

    The camp had further changed. Leah stood at the centre of it, gazing at the towering walls and the watchtowers that dotted the camp. The encampment was now transforming into something far more formidable, a proper stronghold nestled in the heart of the forest.


    A strong wind swept through the camp, rustling the edges of Leah¡¯s new cloak. The fabric was thick and dark, a perfect fit for her short frame, concealing most of her form beneath its folds. She pulled the hood up, letting the shadow conceal her features. Beside her, Ibbi adjusted her own cloak.


    A rhythmic crunching of snow sounded from behind them. Leah turned her head to see Zytherin approaching, his long, graying beard swaying slightly as he absently stroked it. His boots kicked up flurries of snow with each step.


    He stopped a few paces away. "Are you ready to go, my lord?" he asked.


    Leah nodded. "I am."


    Her gaze shifted westward, toward the darkened forest beyond the camp¡¯s walls. Somewhere within that tangled expanse lay the cave she had came out of¡ªher birthplace.


    Her legion was becoming strong but she didn¡¯t have any soldiers that could fly. She needed a race that could dominate the skies, so why not her own kin? If she could bring them into the legion, they would become the aerial force she required.


    Zytherin stroked his beard once more. "While you''re gone, I''ll oversee the capture of the grey elf tribes in the forest."


    Leah gave him an approving nod. With nothing else to say, she turned to Ibbi.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Leah took a step forward, spreading her wings. The wind howled past her as she shot into the sky. As she ascended, she flicked her hand, a blood tendril snapping out and wrapping securely around Ibbi¡¯s waist. With a sharp pull, she lifted her off the ground, carrying her effortlessly into the air.


    They soared above the vast, snow-covered forest. They flew for several minutes, scanning the terrain for their destination. Then, through the thick stretch of trees, Leah spotted it¡ªa small mountain rising from the forest like a jagged tooth. Its rocky surface was dusted with snow, and scattered across its face were multiple small cave entrances.


    Leah narrowed her eyes. This had to be it.


    She angled her wings downward, toward a small clearing that lay just in front of one of the cave entrances. The snow below shifted as Leah¡¯s boots touched the ground with a soft crunch.


    Ibbi let out a soft gasp of relief as she touched the earth again, her excitement clear on her face. "I want to fly and conquer the skies again."


    Leah nodded absently as she surveyed the area around them. The cave entrance wasn¡¯t the same one she had came out of a couple weeks ago. But she was sure this was the same place.


    Turning toward Ibbi, Leah spoke quietly, her voice low but firm. "Alright, let¡¯s explore it."


    She strode toward the entrance, her wings folding into her. Ibbi followed close behind.


    Just as Leah was about to cross the threshold, a sudden crimson glow flickered in front of her. A translucent screen materialized in the air, its text pulsing faintly.


    **[System Message]**


    ''You are about to enter a Tier One Dungeon.''


    Leah tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on the words. A dungeon? She narrowed her eyes before stepping forward, dismissing the message as she crossed into the cave.


    The air inside was damp, and the faint scent of earth filled their nostrils. The walls were jagged, and the ground uneven.


    They traveled on, the darkened passages stretching on for what felt like miles, the walls growing more narrow as they descended further into the heart of the mountain.


    As they ventured deeper into the cavern, Leah¡¯s sharp eyes caught a passage to the left. A sudden shift in the air sent a prickle down her spine. Something was coming.


    A red hand emerged from the passage, its fingers curling around the jagged stone wall. A moment later, a figure stepped into view¡ªa blood fairy.


    It was taller than Leah, maybe twice her height. Its wings twitched erratically, and its wild, crimson eyes locked onto them. Leah studied the creature. It looked like an older version of her¡ªthis had to be an adult blood fairy.


    The creature snarled, its fanged mouth parting slightly as it tilted its head. Confusion flickered in its expression as it took in Leah¡¯s form, as if something about her was unnatural or unexpected.


    Then, without warning, it let out a feral growl and lunged, its jaws widening as it shot toward Leah with deadly intent.


    Before it could get close, Ibbi stepped forward. Her arm shot out in a blur, her palm smacking the blood fairy¡¯s face with bone-crushing force. The impact sent the creature crashing down into the cavern floor, the stone cracking beneath it.


    "Ibbi, don¡¯t break it." Leah said, as she watched the blood fairy struggle on the ground.


    Without another word, Leah extended her arm, and a blood tendril shot out from her palm, snaking through the air until it found its mark¡ªpiercing into the blood fairy¡¯s back.


    She pumped her blood into it. A moment later, Leah retracted her tendril. She took a step back, watching as the blood fairy stirred, its movements sluggish at first before it slowly rose to its feet. Its once-wild eyes locked onto her with newfound clarity. Gone was the unrestrained ferocity¡ªwhat remained was obedience.


    Without another word, she strode past the newly converted fairy, her attention fixed on the passage to the side.


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    She peered into the cavern beyond and saw a large space, its walls lined with jagged stone and illuminated by the faint, eerie glow of pulsating red sacks hanging from the ceiling like grotesque fruit.


    Near the back of the chamber, two more blood fairies lingered, their movements restless, their attention turning toward her as she entered.


    Leah acted before they could.


    With a flick of her wrists, two blood tendrils lashed out like whips, piercing into the fairies¡¯ bodies. They let out brief, strangled snarls before their resistance melted away. Leah flooded them with her blood, the conversion instantaneous. As she withdrew her tendrils, the fairies stood still, their gazes now fixed on her in quiet submission.


    Leah then stepped further into the chamber. Her eyes drifted upward, settling on the pulsating sacks above. Her focus sharpened and titles began to appear on each one of them. she saw rows and rows of the words ''Lesser Blood Fairy'' floating above, confirming their nature.


    Ibbi stepped forward, her eyes scanning the sacks on the ceiling before shifting back to Leah. Her voice broke the silence.


    "Were you born here?" she asked.


    Leah shook her head, her gaze still fixed on the hanging cocoons before finally turning to face Ibbi. "Not exactly here," she answered. "But it looked like this cave."


    She let the thought linger for a moment before shifting her attention back to the entrance. Without another word, she started walking, her cloak swaying as she moved.


    "We should explore further in." Leah said as she stepped past the entrance. They then went deeper into the unknown.


    They walked for several minutes, the path twisting and winding deeper into the cave. Leah¡¯s senses picked up movement up ahead.


    As they continued, the cave began to widen, the narrow tunnel expanding into an open space. An opening appeared ahead of them, and Leah slowed her pace.


    When they reached the opening, they stopped and took in the sight.


    Before them stretched a vast chamber. The floor was crawling with blood fairies¡ªat least fifty or more, scurrying in every direction. Some were in adjacent chambers built into the walls, while others flitted through the air, wings buzzing as they moved between holes in the stone ceiling. Just before them, a stone staircase descended down to the centre of the chaos.


    Leah stepped forward, her boot tapping against the first stone step. Instantly, a ripple of movement spread through the chamber. The fairies froze mid-motion, their heads snapping toward her in eerie unison.


    She took another step.


    A chorus of growls and snarls echoed through the cavern. The fairies crouched low, their wild eyes locking onto her, their muscles tensing.


    Then they moved.


    A tide of red bodies surged toward her, claws scraping against the stone floor.


    Ibbi shifted beside her, ready to pounce, but Leah lifted a hand, halting her.


    Calmly, she extended her other hand toward the oncoming swarm.


    Blood pulsed from her palm as tendrils erupted forth, splitting and branching like twisting veins. They shot forward, slashing and piercing through the mass of fairies.


    For a time, the chamber was a blur of movement¡ªfairies lunging, tendrils whipping, piercing, and then converting. Each strike turned another foe into an ally.


    Fairies who had been snarling moments ago now stood motionless, their eyes no longer hostile but filled with unwavering devotion.


    As Leah slowly retracted her tendrils, letting them coil back into her body, the cavern had become silent.


    She took the final steps down the stairs, her feet settling onto the cavern floor. The blood fairies parted, creating a clear path as Leah and Ibbi walked toward the centre of the cavern.


    At the heart of the cavern, something caught her attention. In the centre of a raised stone platform, a black circular table sat. As Leah approached, she could make out a small object resting atop the table. It was a chest.


    Curiosity piqued, Leah reached out and lifted the lid. Her fingers brushed against the cool surface of the chest¡¯s interior. Inside, nestled against the dark velvet lining, was a black ring.


    Leah¡¯s fingers curled around it, and as she did, a system message flashed in front of her.


    [System Message]


    ''Mana Regeneration Ring - Increases mana regeneration by 20%.''


    A satisfied smirk tugged at Leah''s lips as she eyed the ring. It felt right in her hand, and so without hesitation, she slipped the ring onto her finger.


    Leah next shifted her gaze to the next opening at the far end of the cavern. She motioned for Ibbi to follow as she made her way towards it.


    The pair passed through the opening, moving deeper into the mountain¡¯s heart.


    After some time, they emerged into another cavern. This one was larger, its space expansive and open. At the centre of the cavern, suspended in mid-air, was a massive white crystal. Its glow illuminated the surroundings, casting an eerie yet serene light across the room. The crystal pulsed with a faint rhythm, almost as if alive.


    As Leah and Ibbi stepped further into the cavern, the crystal pulsed more brightly momentarily. The air in the room grew thick with energy, and then, without warning, a swirling mass of blood formed in front of them.


    From the liquid emerged a figure, rising gracefully into the air. It was a blood fairy, but unlike the others Leah had encountered. This one was different. It was taller, draped in long, flowing red robes that billowed as it hovered above the ground. Its crimson eyes burned with intensity as it gazed at them.


    Leah¡¯s gaze flickered, and the yellow title above said, ''Blood Fairy Mother''.


    The blood fairy¡¯s lips curled into a snarl, and she raised her hands. Blood surged at her command, morphing into grotesque, undulating figures¡ªblood puppets, shifting and twisting unnaturally as they took form. With a sharp gesture, she sent them forward.


    Ibbi grinned. With a swift motion, she reached for her waist and pulled out her blood axe. With a single, powerful thrust to the side, she swung the weapon through the air. A violent gust followed, slicing through the approaching puppets with ease. They collapsed into nothingness, splattering against the stone floor.


    The blood fairy mother¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    Leah took a step forward. A blood tendril snapped out from her, lashing around the blood fairy¡¯s neck in an instant. With a sharp tug, Leah yanked her down, slamming her to the ground at her feet.


    Leah knelt over the struggling fairy, her gaze cold and unyielding. Her voice was low, laced with annoyance.


    "You should know your place."


    She next plunged her tendril into the fairy, and pumped her blood into her. In just a few moments the fairy¡¯s struggles ceased, and she looked up at Leah with pleading eyes. Leah bent down and stroked the fairy¡¯s hair like she was a dog.


    "Good girl. I¡¯ll name you Elise."


    A moment later, a system message popped up in front of her.


    [System Message]


    ''Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the Tier One Dungeon.''


    As Leah stood, the cavern hummed softly, and a large circular table emerged from the ground a short distance away. On top of it sat a chest.


    Leah approached it and opened it, and nestled inside was a black necklace. As she picked it up, another panel appeared in front of her.


    [System Message]


    ''Mana Regeneration Necklace - Increases mana regeneration by 30%.''


    Leah didn¡¯t waste any time and slipped the necklace over her head. Satisfied with her findings, she took a deep breath and turned her gaze toward the crystal.


    There was something about it¡ªsomething that felt almost alive. It pulsed faintly, as if it had a heartbeat, and a strange thought ran through her mind.


    Without hesitation, she stepped forward. Ibbi and the blood fairy remained silent, watching her.


    Once she was close enough, she raised her hand, and a blood tendril sprouted from her palm, slithering through the air before embedding itself into the crystal¡¯s smooth surface.


    The effect was immediate. A ripple of crimson spread from the impact point, darkening the crystal as it absorbed her blood. The glow pulsed faster, shifting from a soft white to a deep, blood-like red.


    Leah tilted her head, admiring the transformation.


    Then, a system message appeared before her:


    [System Message]


    ''You have successfully converted a Dungeon Crystal.''


    A slow smile formed on her lips. This was something new. And hopefully something she could make use of.