Blood of Immortals

Dante stood before the mirror in his modest apartment, eyes scanning his reflection. The man staring back at him seemed familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time. His features were the same as they had always been—sharp, angular, with dark hair and a brooding gaze—but there was something different. A new energy seemed to radiate from him, as though the very essence of his being had been altered during the night. It was subtle, not something that could be easily explained, but it was undeniable.

He took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he considered the strange power that now coursed through him. The blood of dragons, phoenixes, and vampires had done something to him—something that had awakened a force deep within. But for now, he was still uncertain of its full extent. With a determined nod, Dante turned from the mirror and went about his routine. He needed to test his new strength, to see what changes had occurred and how they might benefit him.

Dante quickly dressed in comfortable clothes, a simple black t-shirt and sweatpants, and stepped out of his apartment. His old habits from his previous life kicked in, the need for physical exertion, for exercise, overwhelming him. The streets were quiet as he began to jog, his steps light and swift as he made his way toward the nearby park. It was something he had done countless times before—jogging to clear his mind, to focus, to prepare for the challenges of the day ahead. But this time, something was different.

As he ran, he noticed something that immediately caught his attention. The fatigue that he would normally feel after a few kilometers was absent. His muscles weren't aching, his breath wasn't heavy. In fact, there was no sense of weariness at all. It was as though his body had an endless supply of energy. His feet barely touched the ground as he picked up speed, his heart beating steadily without the usual strain.

Dante's eyes widened as he realized the truth—he wasn't tiring. It felt like he had infinite stamina. With a grin, he pushed himself harder, increasing his pace as he continued to run. The world blurred around him as he ran further, his mind only focused on the rhythmic sound of his breathing and the pounding of his feet against the pavement. The kilometers melted away, and before he knew it, he had run a full 20 kilometers. Yet, he didn't feel the slightest bit of fatigue.

Stopping for a moment, Dante stood still, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. He was amazed. This wasn't just endurance—this was something else entirely. It was as if his body had reached an entirely new level of performance. His newfound power, whatever it was, had completely transformed his physical capabilities.

But he wasn't done yet. He had to test more, push further.

Dante moved to a nearby bench and began to do push-ups. The first few were easy, but as time passed, he kept pushing himself, setting a goal. The numbers seemed to melt away, and hours later, Dante found himself completing 10,000 push-ups and squats, without breaking a sweat. He was stronger—far stronger—than before. Each push-up, each squat, felt like it was pushing him closer to something even greater. His body had evolved, and with each repetition, his muscles grew more accustomed to the effort.

By the time he finished, his body was buzzing with energy, not from exertion, but from the raw power that now flowed through him. Dante couldn't help but smile, impressed by his progress. He had just unlocked something extraordinary, something he couldn't quite comprehend but knew was only the beginning.

As he made his way back to his apartment, the adrenaline from his workout still coursing through him, something caught his attention. Three men were standing on the sidewalk, surrounding a woman who looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. Dante paused for a moment, observing the situation. The men were tall, muscular, their postures aggressive as they harassed the woman. She was trying to back away, clearly uncomfortable, but they continued to press closer, their words harsh and lewd.

Dante's stomach twisted with a surge of anger. He had witnessed enough in his lifetime to know when a situation was wrong, and this was certainly one of those times. His hand clenched into a fist at his side, his jaw tightening as he watched the men continue their bullying. He couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Without thinking, Dante strode forward, his movements purposeful. He could feel his power, his new strength, urging him to take action. When he reached the group, he called out to them, his voice steady but firm.

"What are you doing?" Dante demanded, his eyes narrowing at the men.

The three men stopped in their tracks, turning to face him. They appraised him with dismissive looks, sizing him up before one of them sneered.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them spat, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

But before Dante could respond, the woman spoke up. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, but it carried a certain warmth that caught his attention.

"Darling, I didn't know you were coming," she said, her words filled with a surprising sweetness.

The men froze, their eyes widening in confusion.

"D—Darling?" one of the men repeated, his tone incredulous. "So you're her boyfriend?"

Dante blinked in surprise, the words catching him off guard. He glanced at the woman, who had a nervous look in her eyes. Her hands twitched at her sides, but she seemed to be playing along, her gaze hopeful.

Still in a daze, Dante snapped back to reality and, without thinking, acted on instinct. He took her hand and pulled her closer, his body positioning itself between her and the three men. He wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her near him.

Inwardly, Dante couldn't help but smirk. You want me to play your boyfriend so you can escape? he thought, an evil gleam flashing in his mind. Let's do this for real. I don't waste opportunities like this.

He turned to the men, his voice taking on a commanding tone. "You should leave. Now."

The men exchanged glances, clearly skeptical. "Who the hell do you think you are?" one of them growled, taking a step forward. "This is none of your business."

Dante's eyes darkened as his anger rose. He wasn't about to back down. The men were bigger than him, but they didn't know what he was capable of now. He stepped forward, his movements swift and precise, his body reacting instinctively with the martial arts skills he had honed in his younger years. In seconds, the men were on the ground, their faces twisted in surprise and pain as they tried to comprehend what had just happened.

The woman watched in disbelief as Dante effortlessly defeated the three men, each movement a blur of speed and strength. Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape as she processed the scene. She had thought he was just another person trying to help, but now it seemed that he was more than capable of handling himself.

Dante turned back to her, moving to her side as he gently pushed her closer, keeping his arm around her waist. He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his tone teasing. "Am I not your boyfriend?"

The woman turned away, a nervous expression crossing her face. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I was afraid, and I dragged you into my mess."

Dante chuckled lightly, letting go of her waist and stepping back. "It's fine," he said, his voice soothing. "No need to apologize. You needed help, and I was happy to give it."

She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his with a hesitant, yet thankful, look. "I… I appreciate it."

"By the way," Dante continued, his curiosity piqued. "What's your name?"

"Emily," she replied, her voice soft.

"Dante," he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, Emily."

Emily hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I'm new to this area. I was trying to find my way home, but I got lost. I asked those guys for directions, but… they started harassing me. Asking for my number, and then—" she trailed off, looking away in embarrassment.

Dante's expression darkened as she spoke, a flash of anger crossing his face. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"They wanted to force you?" he asked, his voice cold.

Emily nodded, her face flushed with shame. "I didn't know what to do… and then you showed up."

Dante felt a surge of protectiveness well up inside him. He could see the vulnerability in Emily's eyes, and it only made him want to help her more.

"Where's your apartment?" he asked.

Emily hesitated, but then gave him the address. As it turned out, they were heading in the same direction, to the same apartment complex.

They walked together, making small talk as they went. Dante couldn't help but notice how different this encounter was from the way he had lived his life before. There was something real about this moment, something unexpected.

When they reached the apartment complex, Dante turned to Emily.

"Well, here we are," he said, his voice soft.

"Thanks again, Dante," Emily said, her smile genuine.

Dante nodded, giving her a brief, reassuring smile before heading back to his own apartment.

Inside, he took a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the sweat and grime from his workout and the brief altercation outside. He felt good—strong, capable, in control. Once he finished his shower, he made a quick meal, eating in silence as he reflected on the events of the day.

Later, as the sun began to set, Dante sat down in a quiet corner of his apartment, legs crossed in a lotus position. His eyes closed, and he began to meditate, focusing on the new power within him. He had unlocked something profound, and he was determined to master it. Whatever came next, he would be ready.