The Crimson Overlord System hung in the void of Kaelen's mind like a locked vault, its only key being the metallic, copper-scented essence of a Reaper's blood. Kaelen stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling mirror in the chambers Ailza had provided, adjusting the collar of his new attire.
It was a long, obsidian-black coat, left open to reveal a fitted dark shirt beneath—a look that exuded a lethal, calculated elegance. Despite the sharp outfit, Kaelen's reflection showed a face etched with worry. He pulled the white, bone-carved bullet shell from his pocket, staring at the dried, dark crust on its surface.
"This isn't my mother's blood," he whispered, a dark realization dawning on him. "This shell was forged from a Reaper's bone. The blood on it... it belongs to the monster that pulled the trigger."
Suddenly, the door swung open. Ailza stepped in, her crimson hair glowing in the dim light. "My, my," she purred, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. "You look even more delectable in that outfit than I imagined."
Kaelen turned to her, trying to maintain an air of cold indifference, but his eyes betrayed him, flickering briefly toward her exposed chest. I'm really living with a woman who treats clothes as an option, aren't I? he thought, swallowing hard.
Ailza's eyes narrowed into a playful, predatory glint. "So, the little boy is interested in my breasts after all?"
Kaelen's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. "N-No! Never! Why would I look at you like that?"
Ailza let out a low, throaty laugh. She raised her arms, interlacing her fingers behind her head in a pose that accentuated every curve. Her face flushed with a provocative heat. "Oh? You know, I wouldn't mind if you touched them."
Kaelen's brain felt like it was short-circuiting. He spun away, his heart hammering against his ribs. "I'm not a pervert! Stop doing that!"
In a flash, he felt a soft, firm weight press against his back. Ailza had moved with supernatural speed, her arms wrapping around his waist, pinning him in place. Her chest pressed firmly into his back, and Kaelen felt the world spinning.
"Ailza! Let go! What are you doing?" he hissed, struggling to break her iron grip.
Ailza didn't answer with words. Her hand slid down, dipping toward his pocket—or so he hoped. Her touch was dangerously close to his most sensitive areas. Kaelen froze, his heart racing at a suicidal pace. Is she really going this far? If she moves any lower...
Suddenly, Ailza released him, laughing heartily as she stepped back. "Relax! I was just testing your self-control. Your heart rate barely spiked, and you were fighting me with everything you had. You're not just some hormonal teenager. You passed."
Kaelen exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding. "A 'test'? I thought you were actually in the mood..."
Ailza hopped onto the bed, lying on her stomach with her legs kicking playfully in the air. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I've never slept with anyone. I have one rule: No one touches me unless they can defeat me in bed. And since anyone who tries ends up having their blood drained by me... well, nobody's been brave enough."
Kaelen stared at her, a cold shiver running down his spine. Yeah, I don't think anyone is that suicidal. He cleared his throat, changing the subject. "Where exactly are we?"
Ailza gestured toward the window. Kaelen walked over and his jaw dropped. Spread across the rugged mountains were massive, gothic structures—a sprawling complex that looked like a forbidden fortress.
"Welcome to the Reaper Slayer Academy," Ailza said, her voice turning sharp. "This is where SSS-Ranks are made. You are currently in the E-Rank dormitory. There are other students here, but you... you are the only O-Negative in existence. You're a rare specimen, Kaelen."
Kaelen touched his chin. "If this place trains people to hunt Reapers, why hasn't it been destroyed yet?"
"It's only five months old," Ailza explained. "And it's on the forgotten edge of the human world. No Reaper even knows we exist. Every student here has a unique System, but yours... yours is special. Speaking of which, you have four days left to bring me those two corpses. Have you activated it yet?"
Kaelen looked down, dejected. "I haven't found a Reaper to taste yet. Even if I activate it, it'll take months to master."
Ailza sat up, her eyes softening. "Since you're so handsome, I'll give you a break. You don't have to hunt alone until you're ready. Meet your teammates."
She looked toward the door. "Come in, you two."
Two figures stepped into the room.
The boy, Saymon (Group A+), had a cold, arrogant aura. His power was Cryo-Forging—freezing Reaper blood into lethal ice weapons.
The girl, Quen (Group -A), was petite but radiated power. She could amplify her physical strength ten-fold, enough to level a building, but only after consuming a liter of Reaper blood.
"Newbie, you look weak," Saymon said, his lip curling in a sneer. "Have you even tasted blood yet?"
"Saymon, be nice," Ailza warned. "He's new."
Quen smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Kaelen. we'll find some blood for you soon."
Kaelen's eyes hardened with a newfound confidence. "No need. I have exactly what I need right here."
He pulled the bone shell from his pocket. Saymon and Quen watched in confusion until Kaelen mentioned his blood group. "I'm O-Negative."
The room went dead silent. Saymon's eyes widened, his arrogance flickering for the first time. The first O-Negative in the academy? Quen gasped, staring at him as if he were a ghost.
"Is my blood group that strange?" Kaelen asked, confused by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Ailza pointed to the shell in his hand. "The blood on that shell belongs to a Reaper. Lick it, Kaelen. See for yourself what the O-Negative System is capable of."
Kaelen hesitated for a second, then pressed his tongue against the dried, metallic residue on the shell.
[CRIMSON OVERLORD SYSTEM: ACTIVATED]
A blood-red holographic screen erupted in front of his eyes, pulsing with power.
[Blood Type Analyzed: B+ Reaper]
[Weapon Design Notification...]
The list scrolled down rapidly, showing legendary weapons for every blood type: Jagged Longswords, Hidden Daggers, Heavy Battle Axes, Dual Katanas... and finally, at the bottom, his own unique category:
[O-Negative: Chaos Bow / Shield - Rare Class Forging]
Kaelen looked at the glowing screen, a slow, dangerous smirk spreading across his face. The fire in his soul finally had a fuel.
"Now... the real fun begins."