CHAPTER 1
Ring
"In a past era, humankind lived in peace and harmony—until that peace was shattered by the arrival of mysterious, human-like creatures that roamed the night. They left behind ravaged, dried-out corpses wherever they went. No one knew what they looked like, because no one lived to speak of them after seeing them. The world fell into chaos, gripped by fear of creatures that appeared only beneath the full moon.
But there was one man who survived—Vector, a skilled hunter and master weapon craftsman. He forged weapons from rare materials deep within the earth: a long-range rifle with silver bullets capable of striking targets from a mile away, and a two-foot blade, perfectly balanced for close combat.
With unshakable confidence, Vector began to hunt the beasts, determined to uncover their true nature. What he discovered shocked him—these creatures weren't monsters. They resembled humans, yet were distinctly inhuman: glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, pointed ears, and unnaturally pale skin. Each wore rings on their fingers and possessed intelligence equal to mankind. They could speak. From that day on, they were known as vampires.
After facing these powerful beings, Vector—whose true name was Ullus—founded an organization dedicated to their eradication. An order that would become known as the Vampire Hunters."
The voice paused.
"Now then, I'd like you all to write an essay about the history of the Vampire Hunters. It's due Friday," the man concluded, now revealed to be the teacher.
Bell rings
"Alright everyone, I'll see you tomorrow—and don't forget the assignment!" the teacher said as the class groaned and students began packing up.
In the corner near the window, a boy stood, stretching and slinging his bag over one shoulder.
"Tch. Like vampires are real," he muttered under his breath. "They teach us this crap like it's history. I'd rather be home playing video games—I'd probably make more money from streaming than any of these dumb jobs."
He shut his locker with a slam, the hallway buzzing with noise, until a voice called out behind him.
"Jinn! Wait up!"
Jinn sighed as the familiar voice reached him. He turned to see a boy stumbling toward him, out of breath and drenched in sweat.
It was Zenith, wearing the standard uniform: a white shirt with a red striped tie, a red school jersey, and black shorts that revealed his striped socks.
As Zenith caught up, Jinn grabbed him by the collar.
"I told you to stop following me around. You're starting to piss me off," Jinn growled.
Zenith flailed a bit but quickly spoke up. "Pardon my intrusion, sir! I just wanted to thank you again for saving me from those bullies yesterday. I'm really grateful—and I'd like to serve you in return!"
Jinn scoffed. "I didn't save you because I cared. I just hate seeing punks picking on the weak. So quit clinging to me and get lost."
He shoved Zenith away and continued toward his next class.
Bell rings
Later, in class, a girl glanced at Jinn, fast asleep beside her.
"This idiot," she muttered. "Still needs someone to take care of him—even in high school. What a incompetent punk."
Her name was Linder. Top of the class, most popular girl in school. She had long blonde hair down to her lower back, porcelain skin, and ruby-red eyes that sparkled like gemstones. Every curve of her body seemed tailor-made to draw attention. Her uniform, like Zenith's, followed the school code—white shirt, red tie, red jersey, and a short red skirt.
When class ended, only Jinn and Linder remained.
She stood silently beside his desk, watching him sleep. Then, with a strange seriousness in her eyes, she reached forward, pulling his collar aside to reveal a necklace—a red chain with a small silver amulet shaped like a clock, etched with ancient inscriptions.
Intrigued, she reached to touch it—but the moment her fingers brushed the metal, her hand sizzled in pain. She recoiled with a sharp gasp, falling backward with a loud crash.
Jinn jolted awake, confused. He glanced out the window to see his father's car waiting. The sky had turned red with the setting sun. As he packed up his books, he spotted someone out of the corner of his eye—Linder, sitting on the floor, clutching a burned hand.
"What the hell…? Why's she still here?" he muttered, but didn't stick around to ask. He heard his father shouting from the hallway and bolted.
As Jinn got into the car, being scolded the whole way, Linder stood on the rooftop, watching them drive away.
"I should've drunk his blood while I had the chance," she muttered bitterly. "Guess I'll have to find another victim to prey on. Still… that amulet. I've seen it before. In one of the books in the school library…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'll find out what his family's hiding—whatever it takes."