Chapter 6: Healing Blood?

Elric's legs felt like lead, each step growing heavier as he trudged through the thick underbrush of the forest. His vision blurred, the edges darkening with each heartbeat as his body screamed for rest. The fight with the Grey Mane Wolf had taken more out of him than he realized. His side and leg throbbed with every movement, the deep gashes from the wolf's claws still oozing blood.

His breath came in ragged gasps, his hands trembling as he reached out to steady himself against a tree. The towering walls of the city were so close now—just within sight—but each step toward them felt like climbing a mountain. He had pushed himself too far.

Just a little more... he thought, his mind struggling to stay focused. I can make it...

But even as he told himself that, he knew it wasn't true. His body was failing him. The blood loss was catching up, and the darkness encroaching on his vision grew thicker, heavier, with each passing second.

A few more steps and his knees buckled, sending him crashing to the ground. Elric gritted his teeth, trying to pull himself up, but his strength was gone. He collapsed, his hands digging into the dirt as he fought to stay conscious. The cool earth beneath him seemed to pull him in, urging him to let go, to give in to the fatigue.

But he couldn't.

The city walls were so close, yet they may as well have been a thousand miles away. His vision swam, the sounds of the forest growing distant. The pain from his wounds dulled, replaced by a numbness that spread through his body.

No... I can't...

But before the darkness consumed him, something unexpected happened.

Warning: User is critically injured. System auto-spin initiated.

A flash of light pierced through the haze in his mind, and the familiar interface of the Creator System appeared before him, spinning wildly. Elric's thoughts barely registered what was happening, but he could feel a strange warmth spreading through his body, centered on his wounds.

Spinning...

Spinning...

Ability Spin Result: D-rank – Healing Blood

Suddenly, the pain that had nearly overwhelmed him began to recede, replaced by a gentle warmth that seemed to flow through his veins. Elric blinked, confused. The gashes on his side and leg—once gushing blood—were closing before his eyes. His blood, which had been spilling out uncontrollably, was no longer a sign of weakness. Instead, it became the source of his recovery.

Healing Blood, he realized, his thoughts sluggish but clear enough to comprehend the basic idea. The more I bleed, the faster I heal...

The concept was strange, but as he lay there in the dirt, the ability worked its magic. His wounds knit themselves together slowly, the bleeding stopping as his body mended itself. It wasn't instantaneous, but it was fast enough to give him a fighting chance. His strength began to return, the dizziness fading as his body recovered.

After several minutes, Elric managed to sit up, his breath coming in slow, controlled gulps. The pain had dulled to an ache, and the bleeding had stopped completely. The system had saved his life. 

He looked down at his wounds. The cuts were still there, but they were healing at a remarkable rate. His blood had become a salve, speeding up the process. He flexed his fingers, testing his strength. It wasn't perfect—his body still ached—but he was alive. And he had to admit, Healing Blood was a remarkable ability.

But it was also a D-rank ability.

Elric's thoughts drifted to the abilities he had heard of from other students. He had grown up in the orphanage, where stories of powerful Talents were always being told. There were abilities that could level mountains, create storms, or even manipulate time—abilities wielded by the elites, those born into wealthy or powerful families. Those abilities were usually A-rank or higher, bestowed upon the most talented or the most fortunate.

Even among the students who would be participating in the tournament, Elric had seen impressive abilities. Maya, with her Wind Blade, could slice through steel as if it were paper. Aaron's Earth Wall wasn't flashy, but it could block nearly any attack, giving him a significant advantage in defense. Those were C-rank abilities, a step above his new D-rank power.

And then there were the S-rank abilities—the stuff of legends. Abilities like Heavenly Tribulation Dragon, where a person could summon a familiar Dragon born within Jupiter's tempests with a mere thought, or Soul Annihilation Flame, which was said to burn not just the body but the very soul of its target, along with its area of effect being so large it's said to eradicate countries. Those who wielded such powers were nearly invincible, their strength so far beyond the common ranks that they could turn the tide of battles singlehandedly.

Healing Blood paled in comparison to those abilities. It was practical and useful for survival, but it wasn't an offensive powerhouse. It wouldn't win him a fight or give him the strength to compete with the top students. It was a passive ability—one that would keep him alive, but not necessarily help him climb to the top.

Still, Elric couldn't complain. Without this ability, he would be dead. And in a world as cruel as this one, staying alive was its own kind of victory.

He stood up, testing his balance. The Healing Blood had done its job well. He wasn't fully healed, but he was strong enough to make it back to the city. His side and leg ached, but the pain was bearable now. He could move.

With a heavy sigh, Elric began the slow walk back to the city walls. His body still protested every step, but he forced himself to keep going. The thought of other D-rank abilities he had heard about flickered through his mind. There were students with abilities like Minor Water Manipulation, which let them control small amounts of water, or Shadow Step, which allowed for brief moments of invisibility. Practical but limited.

Then there were those with E-rank abilities, even weaker than his, like Fire Spark—the ability that was essentially a tiny flicker of flame, like what he had before this new Healing Blood. They were mocked, often underestimated, just like he had been. But Fire Spark could grow into something far more terrifying if nurtured properly, something that could evolve into a power strong enough to contend with higher ranks.

And perhaps, Healing Blood had that potential too.

Could I make this ability stronger? Elric wondered. He had heard rumors of special techniques and cultivation methods that could elevate an ability's rank. It wasn't common, but some had succeeded in pushing their abilities beyond their initial limitations. Maybe he could do the same.

But that was a question for another time. Right now, he needed to focus on getting back to the city. The tournament was looming, and he couldn't afford to be in this state when it started.

As he neared the city gates, Elric's mind raced. He couldn't just walk in through the front entrance—not with the guards patrolling the area. If they saw him bleeding and battered, they'd ask too many questions. And sneaking back into the academy wasn't going to be easy either. He was supposed to be in his dorm, resting for the tournament.

The city's walls loomed overhead, tall and imposing. The guards at the main gate were chatting, their attention focused on each other. Elric crouched low, staying in the shadows as he moved along the perimeter of the wall. His eyes scanned the area, searching for a way in.

He spotted the narrow gap in the wall—the same one he had used to sneak out earlier. The guards hadn't noticed it, and with their attention elsewhere, it was his best chance. Elric's body screamed in protest as he crawled through the gap, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. His side throbbed, his leg stiff from the wound, but he made it through.

Once inside, he stuck to the shadows, moving quickly through the quiet streets. The city was still, most of its inhabitants asleep. Elric's heart pounded in his chest, every footstep feeling like it echoed through the silence. He knew he was close, but his body was growing weaker again, the effects of the Healing Blood slowing as his bleeding had stopped.

Just a little further...

As he neared the academy gates, Elric's mind raced. Getting back inside without being seen would be tricky. The academy was heavily guarded, especially at night, and the patrols were regular. He couldn't afford to get caught now—not after everything he had been through.

His eyes scanned the academy grounds, looking for an opportunity. That's when he spotted it—a narrow drainage pipe running up the side of one of the dormitory buildings. It wasn't the most dignified option, but it would get him back inside without being seen.

Elric's body protested the climb, his muscles aching with each pull, but he forced himself to keep going. He had made it this far—he wasn't about to give up now. His hands slipped on the wet metal once or twice, but he managed to pull himself up, hoisting his body onto the dormitory roof.

For a moment, he lay there on the roof, catching his breath, the cool night air soothing his throbbing body. But he couldn't rest yet. He rolled over and slowly climbed down the other side, finally slipping through the window of his room and collapsing onto his bed.

He lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. His body ached, his muscles screamed, and his mind was a jumble of thoughts and feelings. But he was back. He had survived.

Healing Blood.

The system had saved him, but this new ability brought with it a strange uncertainty. Could he rely on an ability that forced him to bleed more to grow stronger? It was a survival tool, sure, but it wasn't an ability that would let him dominate the tournament.

Elric knew that he had been lucky this time. If the Creator System hadn't spun the wheel on its own, he might not have made it back alive. That thought sent a shiver through him. What else could the system do without his control?

Exhausted, Elric closed his eyes. There would be time to think about all of this later. For now, he needed to rest and recover. The tournament was only a few days away, and he had to be ready.

But even as sleep took him, the looming question remained: was Healing Blood enough to survive the battles ahead?

End of Chapter 6.