SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 7: Monster

Damon offered an awkward smile, scratching his head as he continued his facade. "It was pure luck, honestly. I just happened to overhear a drunken alchemist boasting about his latest work."

Ellora narrowed her gaze, staring at him as if her eyes could pierce right through his skull. "Lucky, you say?" she grumbled. "I suppose next you'll tell me a goblin chieftain mumbled the recipe for soulsteel while dreaming."

Damon let out a soft laugh, perfectly playing the role of a clueless novice blessed with fortune. "Well, if he was shouting it loud enough..."

The old woman let out a disgruntled huff but turned away, beginning to forage through the messy shelves regardless. Internally, Damon exhaled in relief. He was aware he was pushing his luck and hadn't been certain this part of the scheme would succeed. Fortunately, it had.

A moment later, Ellora spun around and slammed a tiny glass vial onto the wooden counter. "Here. Use this. I have no desire to see you blow yourself to pieces out of sheer ignorance!"

[Item: Body Tempering Potion – Uncommon]

Damon’s eyebrows shot up. Damn. She was actually giving him the finished potion? Those reputation points were proving to be incredibly powerful!

Noticing his shocked expression, Ellora smirked. "What? Did you think I’d hand those raw ingredients to a brat like you and expect things to go well? A single mistake while stirring and your internal organs would liquefy before your strength even had a chance to awaken."

Damon recovered his composure instantly, bowing his head respectfully. "I am grateful, Miss Ellora. I won’t forget this kindness."

"You better not," she barked. "And don't mistake this for charity. You are now in my debt. 10 gold coins."

Damon’s cheek twitched. This was insane! It was nothing short of highway robbery! She was demanding ten times the standard market rate. Within a month, this specific potion would be common throughout the game. She wasn't gifting him some legendary artifact; it was merely an uncommon-tier, basic utility potion.

"Are you certain, Miss Ellora? I was under the impression this potion cost 1 gold coin?" He asked tentatively, but the old hag acted as if he hadn't spoken, turning her back to whistle a casual tune. "Did you say something, bloodling?"

"Ah. It’s nothing. I was just expressing my thanks for the loan. Thank you very much. I will ensure this favor is returned." Damon smiled, though his heart stung at the thought of a 10-gold-coin debt looming over him so early in his journey. But he brushed it off. It was an investment in his future, and ultimately, it was worth the price.

He was preparing to offer a final thanks and depart when his gaze caught something on the shelves. Five elegant rings were displayed—unmistakably storage rings.

"Miss Ellora, I fear I find myself in a difficult predicament." Damon halted his exit immediately. "To pay back those 10 gold coins as quickly as possible, I'll need to gather a vast amount of resources. Heavy items. Rare materials. Things that spoil quickly," he explained, turning back with the most pitiful, innocent look he could manage. "But as you can see, I am tragically limited by how much I can carry."

Ellora didn't bother looking up. "Just spit it out, bloodling. You're after one of the rings."

Damon winced, clasping his hands together like a beggar pleading for a scrap of food. "Just a small one! Even a damaged one would suffice. I promise to return it. Look at it as... a way to ensure you get your money back faster."

Ellora snorted in derision. "And if I refuse?"

"Then I'll be stuck for weeks. No money. No potions. No materials. You might not see a return on your investment for months." He exaggerated his plight, letting a hint of fake desperation crack his voice. "I would truly hate to disappoint you."

The old woman gave a dramatic sigh and finally looked at him, her eyes squinting. "One ring. If you lose it, I will skin you alive and sell your blood to the nearest necromancers."

"I accept," Damon replied instantly, struggling to hide his excitement. Two minutes later, he exited the shop carrying a rare-grade storage ring, the vampire charm, the body tempering potion, and two talismans—one for a mana barrier and another for minor teleportation.

In total, the items were worth 12 gold coins, but the old hag had settled for a debt of only 10. More importantly, Damon had secured these treasures with almost no effort on the very first day of the game's launch, making their actual value closer to 25 gold coins.

Damon walked away with a grin, while the old woman watched him go with an expression of pure relief, as if she were glad the monster was finally gone. She let out a long sigh.

Thrilled with his new gear, Damon hurried out of the small village. This time, he bypassed the old well and took a shortcut toward the nearest major hub: Nieta Falls, a massive riverside fortress built against a jagged mountain range.

It wasn't a capital, but it was a thriving center for quests and, crucially, it housed what he sought: a specialized pool used for the awakening ceremony.

If anyone were to ask what defined a player's path in Earth Online, the answer would always be the same. It was the awakening process.

Awakening was the foundation of everything.

In the world of Earth Online, equipment and levels could only get a person so far. A player's ultimate potential was decided within the first few days of play during their initial awakening.

An awakening provided more than just a stat increase or new skills. It established the class tree, elemental affinities, growth potential, and offered a rare chance to trigger hidden bloodlines or evolutions if the conditions were perfect.

The method of awakening was vital. The most elite resources were typically hoarded by the nobility, which was why noble titles were so fiercely contested in his previous life.

While most players failed to achieve the perfect conditions for their first awakening, they usually tried to optimize their second or third ones as much as possible.

However, the very first awakening was unique. It set the stage for every advancement that followed. It was like carving a mold; if the mold was flawed, no amount of later polishing could fix the foundation. You would always be struggling to catch up.

In his past life, Damon had undergone a standard awakening like everyone else. It happened in a random location through a basic process. He hadn't given it a second thought back then, lacking connections, resources, or noble blood.

Now, he refused to repeat that blunder.

This time, he was ready. He had already transitioned into the vampire race, possessed a Body Tempering Potion, and was heading toward the most powerful early-game awakening site in the territory.

The Awakening Pool of Nieta Falls.

Tucked away within the Cathedral of Silent Waters, this pool would eventually become a legendary site that players fought over.

In the future, only those with S-rank affinity, high faction reputation, and a title of nobility would be granted entry. Even then, the fees were astronomical. For the average player, using such a resource was nothing more than a fantasy.

But Damon wasn't an average player. Even without the formal requirements, he knew of a specific loophole to gain access. His only concern now was reaching the location before his "advantage" became too intoxicated and lost his way.