Unexpected Outcome
'It's a shame they didn't find the bird. I would have loved to see it again,' James thought.
Having read through the messages, he knew Piri and the Caretakers search for the massive bird ended in failure. Although they visited locations on the other side of the river, too, yet they found nothing.
Apart from searching for the beast, the party did nothing else. Hence, James couldn't gather much Intel on Piri or the Caretakers. Since they entered the forest during the nether retreating cycle, they didn't encounter the same level of difficulties. In fact, he learned that Dacio of all people had the special ability to wade off the beasts.
'Since the damned souls self destructed, it means Piri and the Caretakers have left the forest. My major concern is where the hell this is...' James mused.
With his body still recovering from the teleportation, he hadn't regained his full strength.
"System, check if there's any Item monitoring this room. Can you do that?" James asked. His uncertainty clear.
Scanning...
Scanning Completed!
No Item with monitoring capabilities discovered!
The User has placed The Soul Parasite Curse on 19 targets... 20 targets... 21 targets... 22 targets...
'Wonderful. I might as well observe this place. It doesn't look like anyone will come here soon.' A smile bloomed on James's lips. Although he hadn't recovered his full strength yet, he had enough to change his current position.
Saying nothing, James slowly rose to his feet. Tossing Aebalar to the side.
'This is the perfect opportunity to kill this psycho. I'm sure no one will suspect me.' A chilling smile formed on James's lips as he stared at Aebalar laying on the floor.
In her defenseless state, she looked like a harmless little demon, and he wouldn't need more than a second to eliminate her.
'Yeah. Let's end this now.' James made his mind up. It wasn't an opportunity that came along often.
Saying nothing, James pressed his boot on Aebalar's neck. However, he used just a negligible force. He hoped slowly sucking the life out of her would at least force her awake. After all, it wasn't any fun if she didn't know he was the one who killed her.
Slowly, James watched as Aebalar's face turned pale. With each passing second, his smile only got brighter. Her body trembled uncontrollably, but she remained unconscious. However, an odorless and colorless liquid seeped from the side of her mouth.
Warning! Warning! Warning!
Name: Corrosive Barrier Detected!
Origin: Bloodline Ability.
Effects: The organs of anything within ten feet of its user will undergo forceful corrosion.
Limitations: Ability can't affect Item, Damned Souls. Title, Grim Reaper is immune to its effects.
System's recommendation: Flee!
'What?!' James stared blankly at the system's message. Coincidentally, his eyes fell on the liquid pouring out from Aebalar's mouth.
System's recommendation: Flee!
James came to his sense the moment he saw the system's reminder. Using all the strength he could muster, he retreated without a second thought.
At that same moment, a translucent screen suddenly covered Aebalar's body in a dome. Extending ten feet in all directions. Trapping the unconscious youths within its range.
James stood just a feet away. Cold sweat covered his forehead. If had been a second late, he too, would have been trapped in the translucent dome.
James's apprehension only lasted for a minute. A dazzling grin soon graced his face.
'I'm so stupid. I can't believe I almost killed her.' James eyes glistened with greed while his smile widened without end.
'Hahaha... today is really my lucky day. Who would have thought she of all people had a bloodline... Hahaha...' James could barely stop himself from laughing.
Just then, a change occurred within the dome. Unlike before, a red mist blocked his view.
"It seems it has started..." James muttered.
No one needed to tell what was going on within the barrier. He causally increased the distance between himself and the dome, just in case the unexpected happened.
The User has placed The Soul Parasite Curse on 45 targets... 46 targets... 47 targets... 48 targets...
James took a casual glanced at the damned souls painstakingly fulfilling his orders. He couldn't wait for the curse to activate.
'With this many people here, I might actually gather enough Exp to reach or maybe even surpass Level 30...'
The thought alone excited James. He knew how much he had to suffer to get to his current level.
While James watched the damned souls, a splitting crack suddenly echoed within the room. Before he could react, a familiar coppery smell assaulted his nose.
'It's amazing. Far better than what I anticipated.' James thought.
He focused on the area he fled a moment ago. There, he could only see the remains of the red mist hovering over Aebalar. However, everything within ten feet of her body had disappeared.
"I must have it..." James declared. The effectiveness of the corrosive barrier surprised and excited him.
'Does it only activate when she's about to die? If that's the case, it's kind of useless. But it would serve as a great template for my own unique bloodline.' James thought.
"System, how can I extract her bloodline?" James mentally asked.
Since he hadn't inherited Blay De Tover's Blood magic yet, the intricacies of the art of stealing bloodlines still remained a mystery to him.
Extract the corresponding drops of blood from either of the following Locations:
- Heart (10 drops).
- Skull (20 drops).
- Tongue (30 drops).
- Bone marrow (5 drops).
Blood extract must be free of contamination!
The User has placed The Soul Parasite Curse on 45 targets... 46 targets... 47 targets... 48 targets...
Even before the system finished its message, Nightbane appeared in James's hand. He already knew what location he would target. Espcially after withnessing the Corrosive Barrier.
'This is going to be a little bothersome. Preventing contamination will be nigh impossible right now. At least, not until I can use the full extent of my abilities.' James thought.
Although he didn't know much about blood magic yet, he understood why the extract had to be free from contamination. He likened it to blood transfusion. No one wanted contaminated blood.
'The only problem now is when someone will come to inspect this room.' James thought. Solemnly lowering his head.
If a Caretaker or Henriksen suddenly returned to the room, he would have to fake being unconscious like the others. Inevitably ruining his plan. James knew he may never have such a perfect opportunity to harvest the bloodline in the future. Especially when Aebalar regained consciousness.
'What do I do?' A slight crease formed on James's forehead as he slowly paced around Aebalar's body.
'Should I risk it? No... that would be such a waste...' James suddenly paused. Staring intently at Aebalar. He felt like someone staring at a huge treasure trove, yet he couldn't touch it.
At that same moment, James's body involuntarily trembled. And a creeping sensation ran along his spine. A second later, he felt a rush within his head. Leaving him in a somewhat euphoric state.
'Hahaha... I can feel it. My body has recovered.' James grinned as he sensed his Mana flow. Instantly, he activated Mana Manipulation while changing to his Grim Reaper form.
With the skill active, the mist formed from the blood of the slain youths gathered over James's head. Condensing into a bloody congeal. Forming a small vortex.
Just then, James opened his mouth. With his singular action, the condensed blood rushed into his mouth until nothing remained.
Although hundreds of people gathered within the room, no one witnessed the chilling sight. James stood proud like an abomination from hell.
The User has placed The Soul Parasite Curse on 119 targets... 120 targets... 121 targets... 122 targets...
'Oh? My recovery actually limited their speed. This is so much better.' James mused as he causally stared at the damned souls.
The frightened damned souls couldn't help but cower as they sensed James's gaze. None of them dared to stare back, rather they hurried to fulfill their task.
'Since I have recovered, there's no need for Nightbane.' With a thought Nightbane once again disappeared into James's inventory.
At that same moment, however, the Mask of the Dead appeared in James's right hand. With a thought, it transformed into a beautiful scalpel.
"System, send the drops into bloodline vault as soon as I make the incision."
Users Preference Saved!
The User has placed The Soul Parasite Curse on 190 targets.
Estimated Time Until Activation: 5 minutes.
'Five minutes, huh? Moving up a rank has drastically reduced the time needed for activation. Hahaha... I wonder what will happen once I move up another rank.' James thought.
Basking in his imminent rewards, he returned to his human form. With Mana Manipulation still active, he covered himself and Aebalar with a thick barrier of Mana. It forcefully expelled all impurities within the barrier, while also acting as a filter to air entering the barrier.
James crouched in front of Aebalar, before reaching for her mouth.
'Any other day, I would have broken your jaw. But it seems today is your lucky day. After all, I'm only going to leave you with a small cut.'
Wasting no time, James reached for Aebalar's tongue. Unlike that of a human, it had a darker almost blood-like hue. However, it's texture mirrored that of a human.
With surgeon like precision, James made an incision on Aebalar's tongue. Instantly, drawing blood.
"System, start collecting the blood!" James commanded.
Blood Absorption Starting...
Estimated Time Until Completion: 10 seconds.. 9 seconds... 8 seconds...
Unseen by the physical eyes, drops of Aebalar's blood slowly disappeared into thin air.
Blood Absorption Completed!
Name: Blood Essence.
Species: Demon.
Rank: Good.
{Bloodline Vault}
-??? (The user's Rank is too low to access this information)
- Blood Essence of unevolved beasts.
- Blood Essence of a demon.
'Hahaha... all that's left is to acquire Blay De Tover's Blood Magic. I can't wait.'
With a thought, James sent the Mask of the Dead back to his inventory. He didn't bother to cauterize the incision. After all, where was the fun in that? He thought.
Slowly, James rose to his feet. Coinciding with the deactivation of Mana Manipulation.
'What should I do now? Do I continue to pretend to be unconscious? Or, should I pass through the door?' James mused. His eyes lingered on the walls which buried the bronze door.
The User has placed The Soul Parasite Curse on 190 targets.
Estimated Time Until Activation: 5 seconds... 4 seconds... 3 seconds... 2 seconds... 1 second... 0.
Congratulations!
Soul Parasite Curse Activated!
Beginning Exp Extraction!
"Finally..." James couldn't stop himself from laughing as he saw the system's message.
Congratulations!
The User has gained 1,450,504.78 Exp.
The User has reached a new Level: Level 26 (2,900,781.89 Exp needed to upgrade to the next Level).
The User has gained 1,800,900.23 Exp.
The User has gained 1,390,770.89 Exp.
The User has reached reached a new Level: Level 27 (4,801,059 Exp needed to upgrade to the next Level).
'Hahaha... Wonderful! This is absolutely wonderful!' James thought. He pinched the air several times while laughing with wanton abandon.
Although he had mentally prepared himself for the outcome, that his level had skyrocketed in an instant left him elated.
'And it's still increasing... this is fucking amazing. I need more Exp farms.'
Congratulations!
The User has gained 1,450,504.78 Exp.
The User's has reached a new—System Error Detected!
Warning! Warning! Warning!
??? has activated Mana Sharing.
Mana Diversion Prioritize!
"Huh? What the fuck? System, what the hell—" before James could finish his statement he felt a stabbing pain on the left side of his chest.
At that same moment, he could feel the Mana in his body rushing towards his chest.
"S-System, what the fuck is going—" Right before James finished his statement, the stabbing pain intensified. Sending him to his knees. His breathing turned quick and short, while his hands firmly clutched his chest.
'Why is this happening now? What's causing—huh?'
Just then, James's suddenly noticed a sickening change to the youths a meter away. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably while strange wisps poured out from their nose, eyes and mouths. Right before James's eyes, their bodies mummified before turning into dust.
At that moment, the pain in James's chest tripled. Forcing him to vomit a mouthful of fresh blood. A second later, his vision turned blurry and he lost consciousness.
However, the mummification continued unabated. Over ten youths had turned to dust. At that same moment, beneath James's robes, the flame tattoo flickered in and out of existence. Slowly forming into a tattoo of James's Grim Reaper form, albeit a far more sinister version.