001: The Light Eater

The Forbidden Fruit was said to be a mysterious fruit hailing from the Abyss. Any living creature that consumed it could obtain the power of their dreams, but not without paying an equal price. Ever since the Forbidden Fruit appeared in the world, human society had undergone earth-shattering changes. Among those who consumed it, some brought blessings to mankind, while others brought ruin and disaster. Animals that obtained the fruit also wreaked tremendous havoc on human civilization, forcing humanity to erect towering walls and huddle inside fortress after fortress. Because the vast majority of creatures could not resist the temptation of the Forbidden Fruit and devoured it on the spot the moment they found one, the fruit remained as distant and unreachable as myth and legend to most people. Yet, the various supernatural powers derived from the Forbidden Fruit were not difficult to acquire. ... Silver City. Inside an old, dilapidated building. Wearing a face mask and carrying a briefcase, Yu Xian accepted the pen-style injector handed to him by the black-market shopkeeper and asked, "Boss, what generation is this blood from?" "Third-generation Blood Clan blood," the shopkeeper said slowly, looking at Yu Xian. "Still, I must warn you: while injecting vampire blood directly can transform you into a vampire, you'll be unregistered—a so-called 'wild vampire.' If the Blood Clan discovers your existence, you will face the hostility of their entire clan and relentless, unending pursuit by their Purifiers!" Centuries ago, the progenitor of the Blood Clan consumed a Forbidden Fruit and transformed from a human into a vampire. Today, the Blood Clan had grown into an extraordinarily powerful faction within human society. Only humans who passed the Blood Clan's evaluations and trials were eligible to receive the Embrace and become vampires. Such vampires were accepted and shielded by the entire clan, but they were also obligated to dedicate their strength to it. In the past, people had assassinated vampires and used their blood to turn themselves in pursuit of immortality, but without exception, every last one was hunted down and slain by Purifiers dispatched by the Blood Clan. The problem was that Yu Xian could not wait that long, nor did he have the patience to undergo the Blood Clan's trials. He was merely a high school student with a modest amount of money, having just taken over a small factory from his late father. Had nothing gone wrong, he would have run the factory after graduating, just like his father, and passed it down to his son or daughter once he grew old. Unfortunately, disaster had struck. A year ago, he was diagnosed with ALS! It was hereditary—his father had died from the very same disease. Such a terrifying, terminal illness could only be cured in the supernatural world, but the vast majority of treatments were exorbitantly priced. For instance, hiring a healing-type ability user to cure him in one go would cost a hundred million. Even if he sold the factory, he could raise at most around twenty million—far from enough to hire someone like that. Other treatments cost sixty to seventy million at the cheapest and came with bizarre side effects. In the end, after spending a considerable sum on investigations and inquiries, he found this black-market shop that claimed to be able to procure anything. After selling the factory and a storefront, he managed to scrape together enough money to buy vampire blood, finally seizing a glimmer of hope to survive. As long as he injected the vampire blood and transformed into a vampire, the ALS would naturally be cured without medication. The drawbacks were that he would have to subsist on blood from then on and fear both silver and sunlight. "Here's the final payment." Yu Xian took out a silver ring and brought it close to the pen-style injector to verify its authenticity. After confirming that the blood inside was indeed vampire blood, he set the briefcase on the counter and turned to leave at once. Back at his residence, Yu Xian quickly drew all the curtains, then went into the bedroom and sat down. Taking off his mask, Yu Xian carefully took out the pen injector. Gazing at the blood inside, an expression of wild joy broke across his face. He wouldn't have to die after all. When he had first been diagnosed with ALS, he felt as if the sky had caved in. He had spent an entire month in a daze before gathering the courage to accept that he didn't have long to live, and then he sought every possible means to save himself. In fact, his hands often felt weak now, and he occasionally lost sensation in his legs. He knew full well that death was drawing nearer with every passing day. Fortunately, it wasn't too late! Yu Xian stripped off his clothes. After calming his racing heart, he slowly injected the blood from the pen-style injector into his body. Soon, he felt a chill radiate from his bone marrow, followed by a heavy drowsiness that became impossible to resist. He lay down obediently and slowly closed his eyes. In those final conscious moments, he could feel his heartbeat slowing... slower and slower... A full day and night passed in the blink of an eye. In the darkness, Yu Xian rolled over. Suddenly realizing something, his eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright in bed. "Did I succeed?" He muttered to himself, then quickly pressed a hand against his chest. About a minute later, a smile appeared on his face. Sure enough, his heart had stopped beating. That proved the vampire blood had successfully transformed him into a vampire. A vampire's heart beat only once a year. Supposedly, for every ten beats, they gained a minor talent, and for every hundred beats, a major talent. Thus, the longer a vampire lived, the stronger they became! Moreover, with an abundant supply of food, a vampire could even have their heart beat once every six months, accelerating their growth—which was why all vampires drank blood even when they weren't hungry. "A newly turned vampire always gains an initial talent." Yu Xian recalled the information he had gathered, then focused on sensing the changes within his body. First, he could rule out an active ability. Active abilities were generally as instinctual as opening one's mouth to eat; with just a bit of focus, one could use them freely, and anyone with half a mind could grasp them effortlessly. Since it wasn't an ability that required conscious activation, it had to be passive. That was rather troublesome. Passive abilities usually couldn't be identified until they were triggered. "I'm a bit hungry. Good thing I prepared plenty of blood bags in advance!" Instead of feeling an ability, Yu Xian felt a pang of hunger. He got out of bed and habitually switched on the light, only to freeze where he stood. His body was absorbing light! No! Rather, his body was devouring the lamplight. How was this possible? Although vampires only feared sunlight and ordinary lamplight wouldn't harm them, vampires still disliked bright light and even experienced slight discomfort under intense illumination. Yet right now, not only did he feel no discomfort, but it actually felt somewhat pleasant. "Could my first talent be... Light Eating?" Yu Xian looked up at the incandescent bulb, the uncertain look on his face giving way to pure ecstasy. He immediately walked to the window. Once he had resolved to become a vampire, he had replaced all the curtains with light-blocking blackout fabric. But he knew full well it had to be daytime outside. "My senses can't be wrong. Even through the curtains, the sunlight is hitting them—I can feel the warmth radiating through." "Yet I... don't seem to feel uncomfortable at all!" "In fact, I feel a craving..." Yu Xian gripped the curtain with one hand. Taking a deep breath, he pulled it open. Light instantly banished the darkness. The morning sun poured in, bathing Yu Xian completely in its radiance. He could distinctly feel his hunger rapidly subsiding. He was indeed feeding, and his food was sunlight. He was an anomaly among vampires. He fed on light. He was a Light Eater!