Bloodline Decadence

'It worked?' James clenched his fists as he glanced at the system's message. 'I thought I would need another four or five samples to perfect the transfer. Who would have thought it would work in the first try?' James slowly inspected Theo's bloated body. His steps slow. Eyes lingering on the cracks lining every nook and cranny of Theo's lacerated body. Blood, darkened by the night, mixed with indiscernible fluids, poured out from his feeble body, which had swollen three times its size.

'If he's like the Vaporscreamers, that means he can only use his ability once…' James paused. He crouched slightly. Before reaching for Theo's chest. 'If he can only use it once, then it's pointless. Unless…' James motioned slowly with his wrist. Darkness slowly covered the area until it devoured the luminescence of the night. "Use your ability." James declared

Theo's body shuddered uncontrollably while a sweet coppery fragrance filled the air.

'His blood is boiling. This is fantastic.' James retreated a few steps. His eyes lingered on Theo's changing body. A second later, an ear deafening explosion rocked the area. Splinters flew in every direction while a large pit replaced the lavender field.

'Beautiful. It's better than I thought.' James cackled. Admiring the devastation surrounding him. All the trees within ten meters of his position had disappeared while a rain of blood and flesh covered the withered grass and flowers. 'With a little tweaking, this is the perfect bloodline for a suicide squad.' James turned towards the crater left in the wake of Theo's explosion. "Come out!" James ordered. Silence followed. James impassively stared at the crater. The darkness within the area churned slightly, slowly revealing Theo's withered figure riddled with lesions of varying inches and depths. The skin on his face had peeled off, revealing a mass of mangled, burned flesh. He writhed on the ground. Using the remains of his flailing limbs to climb out of the crater.

"In your current state, you're better off dead, but that would be a waste." James chuckled. "I will restore what you have lost." Flickering his wrist once more, James sent a slightly larger ball of congealed blood towards Theo. This time, however, the blood merged with his chest. It formed a visible but complex vein network, which slowly devoured all the burned flesh, tissues and organs in Theo's body. Theo lay on the ground motionless, unable to scream or faint. He had long surpassed his limits. He didn't know how and why he hadn't died. He couldn't see what lay ahead of him. His eyes combusted with the explosion. And his other senses failed him. However, because of his connection with James, he knew something had entered his body.

Congratulations!

Bloodline Assimilation Completed!

Bloodline Template: Liverwort Worms.

Congratulations!

The user has created a new Bloodline!

Name: Theo Varaki.

Race: Chimera.

Bloodlines:??? (User's Creation).

Age: 16.

{Bloodline Ability}

- Regeneration and Instant combustion.

{Bloodline Limitation}

- The target's body doesn't have the adequate Mana to unleash Bloodline's potential.

- Target will die from a continuous use of the Bloodline.

{Status}

- Soul Bound.

- Evolved.

Would the user like to assimilate this Bloodline Template?

'Chimera? I turned him into a chimera…' James reverted to his human form. A grin danced across his face as he stared at Theo's body. Although slow, his body showed visible signs of regenerating. Without hesitation, James jumped into the crater. Landing a few feet away from Theo's body. "This might take a while. I should move him to somewhere more secure." With a thought, a massive Midnight wolf appeared within the crater. One of James's two Captain class Army of the Fallen.

"Take him to a secure place. Protect him until his body completes regenerating. Once it's done, scout the area. Report everything you find out." James ordered. The wolf gave a solemn nod. Using its snout, it lifted Theo's body on its back. Before dashing into the depths of the forest.

Would the user like to assimilate this Bloodline Template?

'Oh?' James chuckled. It had been a while since the system repeated a message. 'System, is there a limit to how many bloodlines I can assimilate?'

No.

Warning! Warning! Warning!

The user risks bloodline decadence if the user assimilates over six Bloodlines in the current rank.

'Bloodline decadence… It was in Blay De Tover's memories too.' James slowly shook his head. He knew that assimilating a bloodline bore a tremendous risk to the recipient. And the risk only increased with the more bloodlines assimilated. A normal human could only assimilate one bloodline, and the probability of dying was over sixty percent. Anything more guaranteed death. Sorcerers, on the other hand, could assimilate two or three bloodlines in their lifetime. However, they bore a greater risk than normal humans. Unlike non-sorcerers, the bloodlines would react with the Mana in their bodies, forcing a more violent assimilation. For someone like Theo, however, who had bathed with the flames of the Netherworld, further enhancing the strength of his soul. He could barely assimilate two bloodlines. That the explosion pushed his body beyond its limits also contributed to his survival. Coupled with the purity of the blood essence. If James had absorbed purer blood essence, Theo wouldn't have survived the first assimilation. Whether James would waste it on someone like Theo was another matter.

Would the user like to assimilate this Bloodline Template?

"No." James responded without hesitation. 'It really isn't a bad template, but it isn't good enough yet!' James mused, slowly shaking his head. He also had to worry about the changes absorbing the bloodline would cause. Although he didn't care if he became a Chimera or something worse, he needed more data before committing to any template.

James glanced at the surrounding destruction. 'I need to take care of this mess.' If not for his skills, shadow barrier and Mana manipulation, others would have long caught wind of his actions. Driving his Mana once more, a light fog covered the area. In mystical fashion, the crater and withered plants slowly disappeared, and a woody fragrance replaced the stench of blood.

'This should suffice for now. It's time to head back.' James nodded as he stared at the fog. 'I couldn't have expected a better experiment. Getting more information about this place and finding other lab rats should be my priority.' Turning to leave, James recalled the three visitors who visited him earlier in the day. 'Those guys said they were from a church, right?' An eerie smile slowly flashed across James's lips. 'If I can take over the church, that's a massive supply of lab rats. If I am lucky, maybe I'll get a couple of Exp farms, too. I can't wait.' James's figure slowly disappeared into the lonely night. His giggles disturbing the silence of the night.

***

In an unknown location, a red, orange and yellow ball of rage roared upward, eating its way through the wooden pyramid at its base. Plumes of gray were buffeted into the night sky, carried aimlessly by a chilling wind. Ashen debris glided silently away from the smoke into the throng of figures, dancing, arms linked. Some stood in awe of the great beast, their eyes transformed into orbs of light, each flickering orange flame playing a light show on their pupils.

Cardinal Soren lay on a small mat. His eyes shown in ecstasy, his hands occupied with the breasts of a raving beauty, who glided up on down his crotch while her moans echoed through the night. Her muddy eyes lingered on the raging bonfire in the distance, mindless to the pleasure coursing through her body. To his left, Cardinal Khasi lay on a beautiful damsel. Sweat glided down his body as he thrusted harder into the young lady. To his side, Cardinal Boken eagerly pleasured two beauties, and so did Cardinal Thomaz and Cardinal Honnes.

Pope Enel sat on a raised throne, made of brass, iron, nickel and gold. He wore a golden cassock while a sapphire crown decorated his head. His impassive eyes shifted between the cardinals feasting on their canal desires and the dancing maidens by the bonfire.

'It has been a successful hour of impartation. They should have had their fill.' Pope Enel suddenly stood up, as he said, "He who seeks light, searches for salvation!"

"Salvation is ours. Only through the righteous path of Balaa." The crowd declared.

Pope Enel continued. "And we shall open our hearts to who?"

"Our savior. The bringer of peace. The succor of the forsaken. The lord of light. Balaa."

The dancing maiden prostrated on the ground, sprinkling sand on their naked bodies. All cardinals kneeled, with both hands clasped together, all staring at the blazing fire. The women by their sides mimicked the actions of the maidens.

"What shall you offer him?" Pope Enel's voice echoed.

"Our bodies! Our soul! Our lives! Nothing is too much for the cleansing of our beings!" The crowd responded together.

"The hour of impartation is now. Begin the offerings!" While Pope Enel's voice echoed. The twenty ladies by the bonfire stood up, eyes glistening with fervor. Without hesitation, they ran into the raging fire. Neither an ear-piercing scream nor the stench of burning flesh followed. Jealously covered the eyes of the ladies by the Cardinals. They would give anything to be among the twenty ladies.

Purple flames flicked around the perimeter of the bonfire, forming an indiscernible figure.

Pope Enel dropped to his knees, as he declared, "Our lord! We are not worthy!" The figure in the bonfire waved impassively before dissipating into a waft of smoke.

"Our lord as accepted our offerings. He sent his blessings our way. Our salvations draws near. Rejoice!" Pope Enel thundered. He stood up, tears streaking down his cheeks. He stared at the kneeling Cardinals, then stared at the bonfire. Its splendor had dwindled. However, a radiant glow covered Pope Enel's eyes. Drool fell from the sides of his mouth while a strange pulsation snaked across his face. The Cardinals had all undergone transformations, each having grown younger and their bodies healthier.

"Return. Do not waste our lord's impartation!" Pope Enel declared.

One after the other, the Cardinals walked away from the bonfire, each leaving with the ladies by their side.

"Cardinal Soren, wait a moment. We have matters to discuss." Pope Enel called out.

Cardinal Soren hurried towards the throne. "Your Holiness, how may I help you?" He kneeled. Not daring to meet Pope Enel's gaze.

"Our lord revealed to me you weren't able to see the new owner of the Teebus manor."

Cardinal Soren shuddered. 'I should have reported it to him sooner. What am I going to do?' Sweat covered his naked body. He prostrated while saying, "Your Holiness, please forgive. I didn't want to bring unpleasant news before the impartation. I will—"

"I know what you want to say, but there is no need for that. Lord Balaa forgives all." Pope Enel interjected. He continued, "Where's the report on the owner?"

"Huh? Yes… yes. It's here." Cardinal Soren tapped the emerald ring on index finger. A large parchment appeared on his palm, bowing deeply he presented it to Pope Enel.

"I got it from our usual source. Unfortunately, we have little information on him. It might take a while to get something more in depth. I will definitely return to his manor tomorrow. If I can't convince him to join the church, I will use the other method. We have a few devotees in his manor, so it shouldn't be a prob…" Cardinal Soren's voice trialed off.

'Why isn't he saying anything? Is he still pissed off?' Cardinal Soren mused. It was unusual for the Pope to let him speak for so long. Gathering his thoughts. He raised his head slightly. However, his eyes widened. Without hesitation, he lowered his head once more. Unable to control his trembling body or his rapidly increasing heartbeat. 'This is bad. This is really bad. I shouldn't have looked. The Pope is excited.'

Pope Enel stood rooted on the spot, his blue eyes centered on an ink drawing of James. A sizable bulge appeared in the lower half of cassock while his hands trembled as he held the drawing.

"I want him. Do everything possible to bring him to me. Do you understand?" Pope Enel stated matter-of-factly.

"Y-Yes. Your Holiness. I-I will do it," Cardinal Soren said.

"You can go now. Do not waste your moment of impartation." Pope Enel declared. Saying nothing further, he turned to his throne. By the time he sat down, Cardinal Soren had already disappeared.

"Kaleb is it? I can't wait. He will make a fantastic offering…"