Bloodline Replication

[Primal Tracing Trait Activated!]

The notification flashed across Robb's consciousness.

Immediately, his entire mental world began to quake violently, as if a more powerful force was breaking through the shackles of reality.

Then, a semi-transparent interface unfolded before his eyes:

[Bloodline Primal Tracing – Choose your direction]

Warning: This choice will determine your bloodline activation route. Choose carefully.

[Serpent] – Hydra, the Venomous Serpent:

A legendary multi-headed serpent; each head shares one mind and venom. Grants [Venom] and [High-Speed Regeneration].

[Swamp] – Swamp Hive Consciousness:

Ruler of ancient wetlands. Can control swamp elements and creatures. Grants [Corrosion] and [Life Drain].

[Dragonkind] – Crimson Flame Dragon:

A divine-era dragon species, distant kin of the Lightlord Dragon. Grants [Draconic Scale Armor] and [Crimson Flame Breath].

[Sun] – Leviathan Sunbird:

Herald of the skies, embodies the power to burn all. Grants [Solar Eclipse Eyes] and [Scorching Body].

[Hybrid] – Primal Primal Chimera:

A primordial beast of the divine era, with three heads and a tail. Grants a unique bloodline ability: [Bloodline Replication].

Allows each head and the tail to replicate a target's bloodline trait, immense potential. Regarded as a Star rank Bloodline with future advancement possibilities.

[Stellar] – "Devourer" (???)

Robb stared at the options, heart pounding.

Each choice represented a distinct path of power and growth. His entire future would pivot on this decision.

"The Hydra would grant multi-target attacks and regeneration, ideal for combat..."

"Swamp-born traits offer life-stealing and battlefield sustainability..."

"Dragons are self-explanatory, raw power..."

"The Sunbird would synergize perfectly with my Solar Breath…"

He weighed the strengths and weaknesses of each path.

Most offered two powerful traits, instant boosts in strength.

But his gaze settled on the fifth option, Primal Chimera.

He didn't even glance at the final one: the Devourer.

The Primal Chimera only listed a single talent, far less than the others, but Robb instantly recognized its infinite potential.

"Bloodline Replication… This means I can copy different creatures' traits as needed, rather than being locked into one path."

He thought of his infinite class slots and how multi-class synergy amplified his abilities. A flash of certainty gleamed in his eyes.

"Others offer strength now, but Primal Chimera gives me flexibility and growth. That outweighs short-term power."

Even better, Primal Chimera was labeled a Star rank Bloodline, with evolvable potential, meaning as he grew stronger, so would the bloodline.

"I'm choosing this."

Robb reached out and tapped the fifth option, Primal Chimera.

The moment he confirmed, the mental world trembled far more violently than before.

The hydra's projected form shattered like glass, disintegrating into the mental sea.

The swamp collapsed and twisted into nothing, replaced by a gray-white void. No reference points. Only endless emptiness.

In that void, a massive figure began to take shape.

It was a beast the size of a small mountain, bearing three completely different heads, a lion, a goat, a dragon, and a massive serpent head at the end of its tail.

Its body was a strange fusion of various creatures: the lion's muscular form, the dragon's scales, and even some ancient features Robb couldn't identify.

Every inch radiated an indescribable ancient aura, as if it had stepped straight out of a primordial myth.

"Primal Chimera…" Robb whispered, awed and wary.

The mythical beast sensed him. All three heads turned to face him, six eyes burning with intelligence and wild instinct. The snake-head curled slyly behind it.

It didn't attack immediately. Instead, it studied Robb, curious, as if judging the human daring to covet its blood.

Then, the lion-head roared, a thunderous bellow that shook the void itself.

It was a challenge. The battle had begun.

Robb took a deep breath, shifting into battle mode.

He knew: to earn Primal Chimera's power, he had to prove his worth on the battlefield of will.

"So be it, let's fight!"

Primal Chimera attacked first. The dragon head unleashed a wave of blazing fire.

Simultaneously, the goat head let out a bizarre call, generating visible shockwaves in the air.

Robb dodged nimbly while forming a sonic resonance spell, a spell he had refined in reality, now just as effective in this world.

"Sonic Tremor!"

A rippling wave burst from his palm, striking the goat head directly.

It cried out in pain, its sonic attacks momentarily halted.

But Primal Chimera's counterattacks were swift and brutal.

The lion lunged, its claws slashing so fast they blurred space.

Robb summoned a mental construct of his ironwood sword, countering with his master-level swordsmanship.

Dawn Cross Slash!

His blade flashed like a meteor, striking the lion head's eye.

Primal Chimera dodged just in time, earning only a shallow cut.

"As expected of a divine-era beast…" Robb thought, revising his tactics.

Mental combat was deadlier than the real world, every blow affected the spirit directly. A single mistake could mean complete mental collapse.

The battle raged for hours. Each side pushed the other to the limit.

Primal Chimera's attacks were wildly versatile. Each head had unique powers, and the snake-tail ambushed unpredictably with venomous strikes.

Lion Head: Ferocious melee strikes and charges.

Goat Head: Disruptive sonic attacks.

Dragon Head: Elemental breaths.

Serpent Tail: Surprise strikes laced with poison.

Robb countered with every skill he had:

Master-level swordcraft: Each strike flowed like water, precise and powerful.

Enhanced sonic spells: Refined and harder to defend against.

Mucus Splash: Used cleverly to obscure Primal Chimera's vision.

Mental Disruption: Targeted Primal Chimera's mind to interfere with coordination.

But Primal Chimera's power was overwhelming. After a grueling exchange, Robb finally fell.

[First Death]

[Mental Body Resetting…]

The Timewarden's Pocket Watch activated. His mind reformed, battered but unbroken.

"At least I've learned its patterns," he muttered, diving back into the fray.

Round Two: Robb focused on dodging and defense, carefully studying Primal Chimera's patterns:

The lion head stalled slightly after charging.

The dragon needed to charge before breathing elements.

The goat's soundwaves had cooldowns.

He fought smarter, but still fell again.

[Second Death]

Rounds Three to Seven: Robb adjusted strategies, identifying weaknesses in Primal Chimera's coordination.

Though mighty, Primal Chimera wasn't flawless. Its heads sometimes miscommunicated, opening small windows for counterattack.

Round Three: He severely wounded the dragon head, but was poisoned by the snake tail.

[Third Death]

Round Four: He used mental disruption on the lion, sonic blast on the goat, nearly killing the dragon, before being shredded.

[Fourth Death]

Round Five: He came closest, crippling all three heads, only to be struck from behind by the serpent tail.

[Fifth Death] [Sixth Death] [Seventh Death]

Round Eight: Robb used his final gambit.

He deliberately allowed himself to be wounded, luring Primal Chimera in, then triggered a modified Mucus Bind spell.

Primal Chimera was momentarily immobilized.

Robb drove his ironwood sword into its chest with full force.

The three heads roared in pain. Its colossal form trembled.

Primal Chimera tried to strike, but it no longer had the strength.

At last, the ancient beast collapsed. The heads and tail slumped to the ground, lifeless.

Robb approached cautiously.

He knew, this wasn't over yet.

Sure enough, the lion's eye suddenly opened, not in hostility, but in respect.

"You… have passed… the trial…"

A hoarse voice echoed in Robb's mind: "You… have proven… your worth…"

Clearly, Primal Chimera was a being so powerful it could crush mountains in the real world. Spending this long in a spiritual duel with an Elementary Apprentice, it had merely been a test.

Robb didn't lower his guard.

"Is this the final stage of the bloodline ritual?"

"Yes… I will… become part… of you…"

Primal Chimera's voice faded, each word slower than the last.

"But remember… I slumber… not perish…"

Its body crumbled into countless points of light, merging into Robb's core.

The sensation was agony and bliss, like thousands of silver needles piercing his soul, but infusing him with untold power.

When the last light entered him, he felt whole, as if he had reclaimed a long-lost part of himself.

In the real world, the ritual circle glowed like daylight. The energy crystals hummed in unison, forming a perfect resonance.

Then the glow faded. The crystals dimmed, now just stones.

Robb felt incredible strength and clarity, as if his body had been reforged.

He looked at his hands. Faint light-spots shimmered on his skin, the sign of bloodline awakening.

[Bloodline Activation: Success ✓]

[All class-up conditions met. Promote to: Bloodline Knight (2-star)?]

Robb didn't hesitate, he confirmed.

[Promotion Success!]

[Class Obtained: Bloodline Knight (2-star)] Base Stats Increased:

Physique: 2.0 → 2.5 (+0.5)

Spirit: 3.5 → 3.6 (+0.1)

Mana: 1.2 → 1.4 (+0.2) Skill Evolution:

Breath Body Training (Master Max) → Bloodline Ignition (Novice 1/100) Special Bonuses: Combat Perception Up Bloodline Energy Generation Rate Up Physical Regeneration Up Unique Trait Unlocked:

Bloodline Replication

(Four independent mental cores; each can copy one target's bloodline trait.) Class Synergy Bonuses: Potion Master + Bloodline Knight + Apprentice Mage =

→ Moderate increase to potion absorption efficiency

→ Increased mental control

→ Enhanced conversion between bloodline energy and mana

Despite expecting it, Robb was thrilled.

Especially the Bloodline Replication trait, just like Primal Chimera's legendary three heads and tail.

The stats might not seem dramatic, but every 0.1 point now carried massive weight.

That 0.5 Physique boost felt like his body had multiplied in power.

Even better were the synergy bonuses:

Potion effects boosted

Spell control strengthened

Foundation laid for the Spellblade path

"How do you feel, Master?" Valenwood had silently approached. Her vine-hand wrote on her board with concern.

Robb stretched, feeling his bloodline surge through him.

"Better than ever."

He leapt, and soared three meters high, landing soundlessly.

"So light… and so powerful."

He casually lifted the iron anvil as if it were nothing.

Even more astonishing, when he focused, he sensed four separate brain-like mental cores inside him.

It was the Primal Chimera's signature trait, [Three Heads, One Tail].

These weren't external entities, but branches of his own mind, which he could call upon when needed.

"This is…" Robb whispered. "The perfect bloodline for me."

Bloodline activation was just the beginning.

With this kind of boost, his progression down every extraordinary path would accelerate.

And for someone with unlimited class slots, Primal Chimera's flexibility was a game-changer.

He noticed the new skill name, "Bloodline Ignition."

Before, his breath techniques focused on enhancing his physique.

Now, they directly activated his bloodline, temporarily boosting power.

To upgrade this skill, he still needed to train the third stage of the Solar Breath.

But now, the focus was on awakening the blood, not just the body.

He tried it, breathing in the pattern.

A surge of heat rushed through him.

His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened.

He could hear sounds hundreds of meters away.

"This power… far beyond what I imagined," he whispered.

Morning arrived.

Mist faded from the Black Mist Forest.

Two figures walked down a stone path.

"You're saying you can shatter stone with one strike now?" Andrey asked, incredulous. "Even I have to go all out to do that."

Robb chuckled.

"Just a few times stronger than a normal human. Still far from true power."

The two had spent days adapting to their new bloodlines.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you…"

Andrey lowered his voice, cautious.

"Whenever I'm near you, my dragon bloodline feels... pressured. Like a predator's nearby. Is that normal?"

Robb raised a brow, not surprised.

"Might be some anti-dragon item I'm carrying."

"No. That's not it."

Andrey shook his head, eyes serious.

"This feels deeper, like bloodline suppression. That doesn't happen with a Hydra bloodline. Unless..."

He stopped walking, staring at Robb.

"Your bloodline… is far more than your family's records suggest, isn't it?"

Robb didn't answer directly. He smiled faintly.

"Everyone has secrets, don't they?"