Pain. Unrelenting pain. It consumed me, devoured every fibre of my being. Words failed me, and even the ability to scream was stolen away by the torturous agony that gripped my essence. It was as if the very concept of suffering had taken physical form and was tearing me apart from the inside out. The pain was relentless, escalating with each passing moment, pushing me to the precipice of my endurance.
In the midst of this mind-wrenching torment, I found myself trapped in an abyss of darkness. There was no sight, no sound—only an overwhelming void that enveloped me. Time lost all meaning as I languished in this state, each passing moment stretching into what felt like an eternity. I was adrift, my existence teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Yet, in the depths of this indescribable suffering, there remained a flicker of stubborn defiance within me. It was that tenacious spark of determination that refused to surrender, no matter how dire the circumstances. With each iteration, as I felt myself slipping away into death's grasp, I would return, only to endure the pain anew. Each resurgence brought a wave of torment more excruciating than the last, threatening to shatter my mind and crush my very soul.
But I clung to life, fuelled by an unyielding resolve. My will, unyielding and resolute, refused to be extinguished. Through sheer force of stubbornness, I defied the cycle of endless recreation. The system, in its inscrutable design, had sought to break me, to reshape me into something unrecognizable. Yet, I refused to be moulded by its whims. I fought back, clinging to the fragments of my shattered self, refusing to succumb to the abyss.
And then, after what felt like an eternity, a sliver of consciousness returned to me. I awoke, drenched in sweat, trembling from the residual pain that still echoed through my body. As I struggled to make sense of my surroundings, a familiar blue textbox materialized before me, its words a stark contrast to the torment I had endured.
System activation complete…
Name: Ethan Drake [Hemalith]
Level: 1 [0/1000 experience needed for level 2]
Blood Origin: Hemalith [Patriarch]
Class: N/A
Titles: Patriarch of Blood: First of His Kind, The Ascendant One: Level 1 Supreme
Stats:
Strength: 78
Agility: 78
Intelligence: 156
Vitality: 78
Wisdom: 93.6
Charisma: 78
Soul: 234
Blood Origin Skills:
Soul Absorption: Ultimate
Hemalith can enter a state of hibernation, where he releases powerful blood tendrils that absorb the blood and souls of his opponents. This process heals him and grants him partial stats from his foes, automatically increasing his overall power. While in hibernation, Hemalith is immobile and unable to take any actions. This ability can only be used once every 50 years and is a last resort for surviving certain death. Warning time spend in hibernation depends on the amount being absorbed.
Blood Manipulation: Intermediate (Level 1/10)
Hemalith can manipulate and shape blood, both his own and that of others, granting him various abilities such as blood-based attacks, regeneration, and forming powerful blood constructs.
Bloodbane: Novice (Level 4/10)
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Hemalith harnesses his blood manipulation prowess to empower his offensive strikes. With Bloodbane, Hemalith imbues his weapons or physical strikes with concentrated blood energy, enhancing their cutting power and enabling him to bypass enemy defences. Each successful hit inflicts additional damage by exploiting vulnerabilities in the target's physiology or magical defences. The intensity and potency of Bloodbane increase with Hemalith's mastery of blood manipulation, allowing him to deliver devastating blows and overcome adversaries with greater ease.
Class Skills: N/A
The Ascendant One: Level 1 Supreme
This title represents the awe-inspiring achievement of accumulating over 500 stats at the initial level, an unparalleled feat that defies convention. Confers:
The Ascendant's Blessing:
* The boost provided by The Ascendant's Blessing is equivalent to an additional 20% increase to all stats, further amplifying Hemalith's strength, agility, intelligence, vitality, wisdom, charisma, and soul attributes.
* This blessing also grants Hemalith resistance against various status ailments, curses, and negative effects, allowing him to shrug off harmful conditions and maintain his dominance in battle.
Patriarch of Blood: First of His Kind
* Hemalith gains an immense boost to all stats (30%), increasing his power and capabilities beyond normal limits.
* His blood manipulation abilities are further enhanced, allowing him to perform more complex and devastating blood-based spells.
* Hemalith's Soul Absorption ability is amplified, allowing him to absorb the souls of defeated foes in addition to their blood, granting him even more significant stat gains and replenishing his energy.
It was a fascinating sight to witness a game-like sheet materialize within my mind. Even more captivating was the content of the sheet itself. Everything I had experienced had left an indelible mark on me, transforming me into someone stronger, faster, and bestowed with the power of magic. The listed abilities were nothing short of extraordinary, perfectly tailored to my newfound potential. It felt like I had finally unlocked the depths of my abilities, yet as I perused the levels displayed before me, I knew that I could transcend even further, ascending to godlike heights.
In that moment, understanding dawned upon me. The reason behind my survival became clear—it was my ultimate skill, Soul Absorption. This formidable ability allowed me to enter a state of hibernation, wherein I released potent blood tendrils that absorbed the life force and souls of my adversaries. Through this process, I not only healed myself but also acquired partial stats from my fallen foes, augmenting my overall power. However, during hibernation, I became immobile and incapable of taking any actions. This extraordinary ability could only be invoked once every 50 years, serving as a last resort to cheat certain death. The duration of hibernation depended on the amount of absorption required.
As the system remade me, I discovered that I was inadvertently draining the life force and souls of the creatures around me, consuming their blood and essence to sustain my own existence. In this symbiotic exchange, I grew stronger, unlocking a second title that further augmented my abilities.
The Ascendant One: Level 1 Supreme. This title symbolized the remarkable accomplishment of accumulating over 500 stats at the initial level, a feat that defied all conventions. Bestowed upon me were the gifts of The Ascendant's Blessing:
The Ascendant's Blessing enhanced my attributes by an additional 20%, amplifying my strength, agility, intelligence, vitality, wisdom, charisma, and soul to unprecedented levels.
Moreover, this blessing provided me with resistance against various status ailments, curses, and negative effects. It allowed me to shrug off harmful conditions, maintaining my dominance on the battlefield.
As I rose from the ground, I surveyed my surroundings for the first time. The area was desolate, devoid of life, thanks to the consumption wrought by my ultimate skill. Yet, something had changed in the forest I once knew. There was an air of heightened danger, an aura of primal vitality. The trees towered above me, more formidable than anything I had encountered before. I could sense that deeper within these woods lay a challenge, a beckoning to hunt.
However, before embarking on my newfound purpose, I needed to gather my bearings. I had to determine the duration of my hibernation and return to a human settlement to reconnect with my family and friends. Yet, I knew leaving the forest would not be as simple as entering it. Just as these thoughts occupied my mind, a familiar blue textbox materialized, presenting me with a new quest.
Quest Title: Shadows of the Wild Hunt [Intermediate Tier]
Description: You find yourself amidst the haunting depths of the formidable forest, teeming with dangers and untold mysteries. To secure your escape, you must face the treacherous Wild Hunt, a relentless force that threatens to consume all who enter. Embark on this perilous journey, survive the hunt, and emerge triumphant from the shadows.