A groan escaped Lucas's lips as he tossed in his bed. The blanket, once a comforting cocoon, now coiled around him like a constricting serpent.
Tossing the sheet aside, Lucas slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the sunlight streaming through his bedroom window.
The distant sounds of nature filtered into his adjusting ears, and he sighed in contentment.
"This is the life," he murmured, pushing his black hair back as he slowly sat up.
After arriving home the previous evening, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. After assimilating the full knowledge of the Harry Potter world's warding, Lucas quickly erected a few to ensure his home couldn't be entered by anything supernatural.
Now, he would be notified via a mental ping if something triggered his Alarm Ward around the perimeter, while the Anti-Supernatural Ward would instill a slight aversion in anything not classified as human.
He had wished to place a few runes of warding within the structure of the home itself, but the spells worked faster in certain situations.
Leaving the bed, Lucas took a quick, warm shower, washing away the previous day's grime. Changing into comfortable clothing, he exited his bedroom.
Walking into the living room, Lucas turned on the radio before settling onto the couch.
Let's have a look at this card I obtained.
Mentally navigating the system, Lucas opened the inventory section and found his objective.
[Vampire Enhancement (Twilight): Consume card to gain the passive skill Vampiric Body (Twilight).]
System, can you explain this skill for me? I'd rather not use it if I'm stuck indoors due to becoming a disco ball.
[Vampiric Body (Twilight): This passive perk grants you supernatural strength, blinding speed, diamond-hard durability, and enhanced senses, comparable to a Twilight vampire's physical prowess. There are no external changes apart from an increased appearance, and you'll still function and feel entirely human, with a pulse.]
Rubbing his eyes, Lucas reread the information multiple times, his disbelief palpable. He couldn't believe the boon he had been granted. The fact that, at the core of everything, he would still be human yet possess the strength of a vampire was incredible.
Plus, I got fuckin' magic! Once I can use something like Fiendfyre, I'm pretty sure I'll make anyone shit themselves. Lucas couldn't help the small giggle that escaped his lips.
System, merge the card.
Lucas didn't brace himself this time, knowing Gamer's Body and Gamer's Mind would activate almost instantly at the sign of pain, either completely nullifying it or dulling the sensation to nothing.
An electric shock blasted through Lucas, feeling as if he'd accidentally touched a live power outlet. The sensation came instantaneously before his mind mercifully shut down.
———
Uh, what the fuck?
Groaning, Lucas opened his eyes, an odd sensation prickling his skin. As his eyes adjusted, he gasped in shock.
The wooden ceiling above him was somehow in high definition, as if his eyesight had upgraded from 480p to 4k. The grain on the wood was so clear he could even see the dust nestled between the cracks.
The normal soft hum of the wildlife outside the cabin now sounded as if it were happening right next to his ears. A doe stepping on a twig, half a kilometer away, was heard with startling clarity.
"Fuck, is this what they have to deal with?" Lucas muttered, pushing himself off the floor. He'd somehow ended up there during his transformation.
As he placed his hands on the wood, a distinct crack sounded as it splintered and fractured under his fingertips.
Motherfucker.
A split second later, his hand shot off the floor, back into his lap.
"Okay, slow and steady."
"Slow…"
"And…"
"Stead—"
"YOU FUCKER!"
———
It took Lucas two hours to stand up without reaping havoc in his own home.
Though the coffee table would need replacing, and a carpenter would be needed to repair the floor.
As he struggled to adjust to his newfound abilities, the System came through with a new skill, a testament to Lucas's blood, sweat, and tears.
[Due to continuous training, you have created the passive skill 'Body Control'.]
[Body Control: This passive skill ensures your body remains under your absolute control. Through continuous training, your physical form becomes incredibly finely tuned, granting you unparalleled precision and mastery over every movement and function.]
With the granting of this passive, Lucas was finally able to stand up from the ground without shattering his surroundings. Though it was at its base level, simply functioning and moving would continue to level the skill.
"Maybe I should try and go for a jog."
The sun was already setting; his transformation had taken the better half of the day. As dusk approached, there would be fewer people outside, or wandering the forest.
Deciding not to destroy his living room any further, Lucas slowly turned the cabin's doorknob with two fingers, exerting almost negative pressure as the knob turned.
Closing and locking the door, Lucas turned and faced the forest. The cool breeze kissed his skin, and a smile formed on his lips.
Taking his first cautious steps, Lucas focused intently on the amount of pressure he used.
Hooooooooly shit! Lucas yelled out in his own mind.
After those first tentative steps, Lucas threw caution to the wind and shot forward like a bullet.
He was now dipping and weaving through the thick forest, the wind smashing against his skin as he leapt over rocks, streams, and ditches.
The more he ran, the more he began to adjust to his body and its new capabilities. Branches and rocks crumbled as his body made contact with them; his steps became lighter with each second, almost like a seasoned ninja from the games he used to play.
He could accurately tell which animals surrounded him at any given moment, his heightened senses essentially acting as an early warning system.
Increasing his already blistering speed, Lucas ran towards the sound of a waterfall he had picked up in the distance.
What should have taken at least twenty minutes ended up being less than one as he arrived at the river that connected to the bottom of the waterfall.
The sound of crashing water sent a wave of calm through his body as Lucas closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the earthy scent of Mother Nature.
God, why the hell do they complain about being vampires? This is incredible.
Opening his eyes, Lucas looked down at the clothes he had worn on this expedition. What was once a nice button-up shirt had turned into something that wouldn't even be used in a first aid situation.
Tearing off the strips of fabric, Lucas walked towards the river, kneeling down and peering into the water. He watched as fish swam around, looking for their next meal.
Placing his hands in the water and scooping some fresh water, Lucas splashed it against his face, the cool feeling instantly calming him.
Snap.
The sound of a twig snapped behind him, and Lucas quickly spun around.
A woman stood there, leaning against a tree, a smile playing on her lips.
"Hello!"
———
Author's Note: Here is the final chapter for today, meaning 3/3 done! Check the AUX chapter for changes I made to the system. Oh, can you please leave a review? I'll send you cookies.