CHAPTER 16 CHAINS OF BLOOD AND DECEPTION

CHAPTER 16 CHAINS OF BLOOD AND DECEPTION

He leapt from another tree, fired another arrow, and finally gave in.

"Water…" he muttered, and blinked toward the sea.

There, he formed a sphere of ice, submerged himself beneath the waves, and created a tube-like vent above the surface for air. Within the frozen sphere, he could breathe and rest. Temporarily safe.

Inside his mind, Lucy spoke again.

"You can't win, Johan. There are too many. Yes, your Hell flame and Ice flame are effective—but there are stronger ones among them. I sensed one at late-stage Aura Condensation, and there are others… strange ones, more dangerous than the rest."

"You think I don't know that?" Johan snapped, eyes closed.

"Let me help," she said softly. "I've been preparing something. Trust me."

He sighed. "I've trusted you since you appeared."

Without another word, Johan blinked out of the water, back to the surface. He stood tall, arms raised.

"I surrender!" he shouted. His voice echoed across the field.

He knew the master was listening.

Moments later, a chill settled over the land. The flames died. The air grew thin.

A man appeared, skin white as polished bone, eyes blood-red and glowing.

"Welcome," the man said, his voice smooth and empty. "You've done well to last this long."

Johan narrowed his eyes. "Discerning Eyes—Activate."

[Discerning Eyes]

[Name: Unknown]

[Title: Lord of the Domain]

[Race: Undead Lord (Hybrid)]

[Realm: Aura Fusion Realm]

[Form: Humanoid]

[Evaluation: An Undead creature that feeds on blood and controls lesser undead through its innate abilities—Soul Trade Control and Undead Creation.]

Johan woke up groggily after being knocked out by the mysterious man.

"I see you're awake," a low voice echoed from the shadows.

Johan tried to move, but his limbs were sluggish. As his vision cleared, he saw a pale-skinned man with piercing red eyes seated in a wheelchair. His presence exuded dominance.

"You have a strong body constitution… and it's incredibly well-hidden," the man said, his voice gritty with interest. A disturbing gleam lit up his eyes.

When Johan looked into them, he immediately fell into a trance, like he'd been dragged into an illusion.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the man asked.

"I'm Johan. I fell from a cliff and stumbled into the Door of Magnify. I didn't know this place was owned," Johan replied absentmindedly, unaware that a hypnotic technique was being used on him.

Suddenly, the man's expression shifted with shock. "How do you know that name?" he demanded, voice sharp.

Johan blinked rapidly, snapping out of the trance thanks to the system's interference.

[System Notice: Mental Interference Detected. Countermeasures Deployed.]

"I… I can't say," Johan muttered, finally regaining full control of himself.

The man gave a cold chuckle. "Strong resistance. Impressive."

Then he barked, "Bitch! Get in here!"

Moments later, a young woman entered. She looked no older than twenty, dressed in thick rags with bruises scattered across her body and hair tangled in knots.

"Master, at your command. Your servant heeds your call," she said loudly, bowing in submission.

Lucy's voice rang out in Johan's consciousness, her tone filled with contempt.

"This guy… he abuses domain spirits. I hate beings like this. They treat domain spirits like tools or slaves. It never ends well for them."

"Take him. Turn him into one of your kind. I'll be there to watch… and see if he's worthy to be used for my ascension," the man ordered.

"Yes, Master," she replied softly, then approached Johan.

Johan activated Discerning Eyes as he observed her:

[Name: Unknown]

[Race: Vampiric Spirit]

[Realm: Unknown]

[Form: Spirit Humanoid]

[Evaluation: Domain Spirit of the Domain 'Magnify'.]

She dragged Johan into a room that resembled a prison and chained him to the wall.

"Why did you save me?" Johan asked bitterly. "If your master hates you, why help me? Did I try to harm him? Or you?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she walked up to him—so close that it looked like she was about to kiss him—then leaned in and bit into his neck.

A rush of euphoria surged through Johan's body. His mind fogged. His strength faded, yet something inside him craved more. He didn't want her to stop.

[System Alert: Vampiric Essence Detected.]

[Essence Integration: Initiated.]

[Progress: 2%]

[Transformation Type: Partial Vampiric Transformation – Bloodline Integration in Progress]

Even with his strong will, Johan found it hard to resist. The pleasure from the bite was overwhelming. His body betrayed him, giving in until eventually, he passed out.

A Few Hours Later…

Johan opened his eyes again. Everything appeared in shades of red. His heart thudded wildly. He wasn't thinking clearly.

He felt primal… ravenous. He needed blood.

For hours, he stayed chained in that room, consumed by hunger, barely sane. The Lord of the Domain visited multiple times, never saying much—only hinting that "Tomorrow would be the day it all begins."

Just then, a familiar flash of light appeared—Lucy's return.

"At least you're not dead," she said, materializing beside him. "What happened while I was away?"

"Where the hell have you been?!" Johan shouted, his voice wild. "Does the system still store blood?"

"Yes," Lucy replied, startled. "But only when you're injured. Wait… why do you need blood?!"

She paused, noticing the chains. "Why haven't you freed yourself yet? Have you forgotten the ability you gained after defeating Dave?"

With her help, Johan triggered his Phase ability, slipping through the chains.

Then Lucy condensed blood using the system and stored it in the Limitless Void.

He retrieved over a dozen liters and drank them greedily.

As he finished, the redness in his eyes faded. He gasped, exhaling deeply, finally satisfied.

Lucy looked on in stunned silence. "Why did you drink blood…?" she asked softly, already suspecting the answer.

Johan, now fully calm, checked his system.

He recounted everything: the trance, the domain spirit, the vampiric transformation… all of it.

After explaining, they made a plan.

What would happen next depended on how the Domain Master acted tomorrow. But until then, Johan needed to remain unnoticed.

He wiped the blood from the floor, chained himself back up, and forced his mind into calmness.

"I'll wait," Johan thought. "For the right time."