CHAPTER 15: EXPLOITED PLOT ARMOUR
"Hmm," Aaron muttered, lounging in the Sanctuary's grand hall, its rune-etched walls pulsing faintly under the starlit ceiling. Several days had passed since he claimed the Infinite Myriad Race Blood Pool, and Blade had since adapted to his new life as a viscount vampire. His strength surged thanks to the enhanced bloodline. His regeneration, while not quite on par with Aaron's godlike SSS+ vitality, still allowed him to take bolder risks in combat—though not bold enough to gamble a lost limb. Who knew how long regrowth would take? Even a newly born vampire like Blade wouldn't push that far.
With barely a week left before the entrance examination, Aaron's Lucky Halo had been blazing hot, especially with his liberal abuse of Plot Armor. Holed up in the Sanctuary—an untouchable haven—he'd rewritten dud draws at will, raking in a treasure trove of divine rewards. Dungeon raiding had long grown stale—B-rank dungeons were laughably easy, and absorbing monster crystals for strength felt like grinding rocks with bare teeth. After a few attempts, Aaron had tossed the idea aside. Why waste time when he could flex his cosmic luck from the comfort of paradise?
Of course, he'd also discovered Plot Armor's limits. It could nudge fate, bend luck, even twist causality—but when the odds were astronomically low, the system essentially flipped him the middle finger. He'd once attempted to snag a reward that would instantly crown him the multiverse's strongest—joke's on him, the system spat out a literal stick.
Still, his recent haul had been nothing short of absurd:
SSS-rank Infinite Inventory – A boundless subspace where time stands still, perfect for storing and preserving his growing arsenal.
God-rank Lightning Dragon – Summons a sentient lightning dragon, loyal and devastating, capable of shielding Aaron and reducing foes to ash.
SSS-rank Observation – Reveals hidden power levels, weaknesses, and details—an invaluable tactical edge.
God-rank Specter Mask – Conceals Aaron's true stats, talents, and bloodline. Anyone scanning him would only see what he allowed—like his fake E-rank student profile.
God-rank Primogenitor Werewolf Bloodline – A monstrous bloodline that granted:
• Devour: Absorb power from consumed blood or essence.
• Improved Physique: Superhuman strength and speed.
• Transformation: Full werewolf form doubled strength and regeneration.
• Sire: Create twelve alphas and an unlimited number of omega werewolves.
• Heightened Senses: Track targets across time and space through scent alone.
And finally:
Hidden Unlock – Pseudo-Sovereign Primordial Hybrid Bloodline: The fusion of vampire and werewolf powers into something greater—something dominant.
Aaron pinched his nose and smirked. The Primordial Hybrid unlock had been inevitable after acquiring both bloodlines, but its raw power still made him giddy.
His updated stats were absurd:
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Aaron Highborn
Strength: S
Agility: S+
Vitality: SSS+
Stamina: SSS+
Luck: SSS+
Mana: SS+
Talent: SSS-rank – Lucky Halo
Bloodline: Primordial Hybrid
---
With the hybrid traits amplifying each other, Aaron was stronger than most pureblood vampires or werewolves. Glancing at his stats, he confidently assessed that he could crush Levi, an elite A-ranker, in a one-on-one. Barely a month after reincarnation, he had climbed to the top echelon of S-rank hunters—a feat sure to leave Skyhold's instructors blinking in disbelief.
"I love your face, little guy," Aaron cooed, pinching the scaly cheek of Flameborn, his dragon companion. The creature's molten-orange eyes narrowed with playful indignation.
"Roar!" Flameborn puffed indignantly, letting out a tiny spark. Still, it leaned into the touch, relishing the attention like a pampered kitten.
"You stay here, buddy. Master's got business in the other world. Plenty of magical beasts in the Sanctuary to snack on—but pace yourself, or you'll end up starving."
He flicked open Flameborn's stats for a final check:
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Flameborn
Strength: B
Agility: B-
Vitality: S
Stamina: S-
Luck: SS
Mana: SSS+
Bloodline: Elemental Dragon
---
For a newborn, those were terrifying stats. Its mana pool even rivaled Aaron's SS+ reserves. He'd named it Flameborn for sentimental reasons, a callback to something long buried in his Earth life—but its potential made him grin.
"If you weren't mine," he teased, ruffling the dragon's head, "I'd be tempted to put you down before you outshined me."
With that, Aaron stepped through the cosmic rift, the Sanctuary's veil sealing behind him like a closing eye. The entrance exams loomed. It was time to show his face at Skyhold once more.
Using Specter Mask, he cloaked his true stats, projecting a weak and unremarkable version of himself:
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Aaron Highborn (Masked)
Strength: E
Agility: E-
Vitality: F-
Stamina: F+
Luck: B
Mana: E+
Talent: S-rank – Blood Manipulation
Bloodline: Blue Star Human
---
"Much better," he chuckled. Let the fools underestimate him. Any high-ranker trying to probe would only see a struggling student with a slightly above-average talent. The real monster remained hidden.
He slung his pack over his shoulder—not that it held much. His real gear was tucked safely away in Infinite Inventory. He didn't even bother locking his house.
"Goodies gone, house empty. Stay if you want," he thought with a smirk, imagining would-be thieves leaving empty-handed.
As he approached Skyhold's grand hall, the air buzzed with excited student chatter.
"The entrance exam's almost here! I'm aiming for Stormrest Institute!" a girl squealed, practically bouncing.
"With your C-rank talent? Keep dreaming. The Big Six are for elites," her friend shot back with a brutal dose of reality.
Aaron smirked. He'd done his homework—the Federation's Big Six institutes, Stormrest included, churned out top-tier hunters. Their graduates walked straight into elite guilds, dripping with influence and coin. No wonder every kid wanted in.
For Aaron, though, the entrance exam was just another formality. A stage. A place to toy with expectations while his Specter Mask kept his true strength hidden. His real goal was already underway—building an empire rooted in the Sanctuary, powered by his dual bloodlines.