SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 3: First Title Unlocked

Five, four, three, two, one...

Ding!

As Damon’s eyes snapped open, the surrounding shadows vanished, replaced by a world bathed in brilliant sunlight. He found himself standing before a majestic, solemn monolith.

A stunning angel glided toward him, her face lit by a charming smile. Above her head floated a gentle halo, and her soft, plumose wings shimmered under the sun like woven silver. Her golden locks swayed in the wind, while her eyes radiated a sense of purity and kindness.

"Welcome to Earth Online!" she announced in a light, melodic voice. "Through the benevolence of the Skyfather and the favor of the Seven Realms, you have been selected to walk the path of destiny!"

Damon squinted as his senses struggled to adapt to the sudden radiance.

"I am Moonshine, your guiding angel. I will be your guide to this world and demonstrate all the—"

The introductory sequence was scheduled to last an hour, and Damon had no intention of squandering his time on such matters. "Skip," he said, cutting the angel off.

Showing no sign of offense, she simply reached out a hand toward him. "Would you like to commence the tutorial?"

While Damon would have preferred to bypass this as well, he possessed a secret regarding this specific tutorial. He was determined not to lose out on that specific title this time.

Damon grasped her hand. "Ya. Let's begin."

The scenery buckled the moment their skin met. The vibrant meadows and soft winds dissolved, shifting into the tutorial zone—a modest cave.

The cavern felt snug, its surfaces covered in thick moss. A lone rabbit spawned a second after his arrival, followed quickly by two more. They were plump, soft creatures with twitching noses and large, shiny eyes. A mix of white, brown, and black-spotted furs hopped about, their ears flopping in a display of cuteness.

These creatures were entirely harmless. They provided no experience points and dropped no loot. Their only action was a tiny nibble that dealt a single point of damage. They existed merely as tools for novices to practice movement and timing without the risk of death. Most players spent perhaps five minutes here before rushing toward the "real" game.

Damon, however, had different plans. He reached down to claim a medium-sized stone and, without a moment's pause, smashed it down upon the first rabbit.

Thud. The impact was heavy; the rabbit didn't even manage a squeak. Its small form collapsed under the strike, fur ripped and bones crushed. Crimson blood began to pool, trickling into the fissures of the cave floor.

Damon gazed at the carnage for a brief moment. The game boasted extreme realism, which included the visceral sight of a rabbit's skull caving in. Having lived through this before, he was already desensitized to such sights. This was not his first life, after all.

He moved to the next target immediately, and the pile of carcasses began to grow. However, he had only killed dozens, and his goal required hundreds. Taking a deep breath, he set to work. He maintained efficient, small movements to preserve energy. Two hours slipped by, and his stamina was nearly depleted when the notification finally rang out.

[Ding! You have completed the tutorial]

[Ding! Title Unlocked: Rabbit killer - I hate cute little bunnies]

Damon’s form flickered and vanished from the cave, reappearing in the center of a small novice village. He was now dressed in basic linen trousers and a simple shirt.

He had returned to Gryphon Town, a settlement located on the fringes of Nieta Falls City. This had been his starting point in his previous life, and he had landed in the exact same spot once more.

A sigh of relief escaped him. Starting locations were typically randomized, and he had feared that such luck might derail his plans. It seemed, however, that even randomness bowed to fate. He had spawned exactly where he needed to be.

Players were manifesting out of thin air all around him. Gasps of wonder and shocked cries filled the air as the crowd grappled with the game's intense realism.

"Unbelievable! How can this feel so real? Where has this tech been all my life?"

"My god. I can actually walk. I can run and jump!"

"Hey, do you think we can do *that* in here? It's supposed to be realistic, right? Screw it. Where are the brothels? Today is the day I finally lose my virginity!"

"You're a pervert! By the way... where are they? Just asking for a friend..."

"What the hell? Why is my character profile so fat? Dammit! I can't change my appearance?"

"That's right, honey. If you're ugly in the real world, you're going to be ugly here too."

"Wait, we can't even swap genders? What kind of game makes catfishing impossible?"

The atmosphere was electric with excitement as people explored the simple joy of existing in a digital world. A few women nearby turned their attention toward Damon.

"What the heck? Rabbit Killer? Did he actually slaughter that many rabbits?"

"What a creep! Who could bring themselves to kill those tiny things?"

"Damn it. If I'd known there was a title for it, I would've stayed in that tutorial longer!"

Damon remained indifferent to the glares and the envy. He walked away, silently opening his status window to make adjustments. His first priority was hiding his title display. Then, he began tweaking the rest of his profile.

In truth, there was very little to modify. The avatar was essentially a carbon copy of one’s physical body. Furthermore, the in-game name was tethered to one's government-registered identity. A nickname was the only thing a player could choose. Everything else was set in stone.

Damon winced slightly as he entered his chosen nickname. It was a name he utterly loathed—the same cringeworthy alias he used in his past life. It was a necessary evil, however, as it could dictate the entire trajectory of his future path.