Chapter 54: Blood Demon
Raven sighed deeply and activated the 'Bloodline Devouring Ability.'
[Bloodline Devouring System is activated!]
[Blood Demon's Bloodline has been found!]
[Analyzing the purity of the bloodline….]
[Calculating….]
[The corpse has 23.3% purity of Rank-2 Blood Demon's Bloodline Essence!]
[The corpse also has a 'Blood Divinity Essence' within its heart!]
[It is possible to absorb the Blood Demon's Essence, one of its abilities, and also the power of the 'Blood Divinity Essence.']
[Would you like to use the 'Blood Devouring Ability'? Yes/No.]
[Did the demon absorb the Divinity Shard and try to evolve into Syreni Demon?] Zera was perplexed.
In truth, the Syreni Demon and Blood Imp were completely different races.
[But by absorbing the 'Divine Shard,' the Blood Imp must have evolved into a completely new race called 'Blood Demon.']
…
Meanwhile, Raven clicked 'Yes' and proceeded with the 'Bloodline Devouring Ability.'
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is on commence!]
[Randomizing the Bloodline Ability Extraction!]
[Blood Demon's Rank-2 Mimic Morph Bloodline Spell has been selected!]
[Warning! Warning! Host's body and soul don't have enough 'Spirit' to absorb the 'Rank-2 Mimic Morph' Bloodline Spell Essence.]
['Mimic Morph' Bloodline Spell has been demoted to Rank-1 'Face Mimic']
[Host has obtained 'Face Mimic' Bloodline Spell!]
…
Another notification appeared before Raven could concentrate on the spell model created in his mind.
[Host's body is continuing to absorb the 'Blood Divinity Essence!']
[A new bloodline essence is found within the Blood Demon's heart!]
[Would you like to absorb the newly found bloodline essence? Yes/No.]
'Another bloodline?' He recalled Zera's earlier words about another race and clicked 'Yes.'
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is on commence!]
[Randomizing the Bloodline Ability Extraction!]
[Syreni Demon's Rank-1 'Blood Control' Bloodline Spell has been selected!]
[Host has obtained 'Blood Control' Bloodline Spell!]
…
[Host has also absorbed a part of Blood Demon's bloodline Essence!]
[Host's Spirit has been increased by 4.0!]
[Host's Vitality has been increased by 2.0!]
[Host's Strength has been increased by 3.0!]
[Host's Agility has been increased by 2.0!]
[Host's body is undergoing a mutation!]
[It will take 3 hours for the mutation to complete!]
[The system advises the Host not to lose consciousness!]
…
As soon as the notifications appeared before his eyes, Raven felt tremendous pain coursing through his head and all parts of his body. Not only that, but the information about those two bloodline spells also entered his head, causing him to feel dizzy. What shocked him greatly was that this was some kind of detailed cryptic information about how these two spells work.
[It’s because your understanding of Rune Language has increased to some level. You also received the same type of information in the form of waves before but your brain didn’t understand anything and simply dismissed them.]
“Argh. My head feels like exploding!” Raven staggered.
[Don't make any noise, lad.]
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"Argh!!! I can't!" He gritted his teeth and felt countless needles stabbed his head.
What made him scared inside was that strange black blood came out of his body like sweat and started dripping on the tiled floor. Raven's breath grew harder as time passed, and the pain intensified.
He rolled on the floor while crashing onto the melting ice shards and almost drenched himself.
Thanks to that, the whole room was covered in eerie blackish water.
For the next three hours, Raven lay on the floor while breathing hard and felt like he had gone through endless torture.
At the same time, he started analyzing all the new information about the two new spell models.
"W-What the hell happened? I thought there would only be a little pain when absorbing the blood essence, though," he muttered in a hoarse voice.
[It might be due to the corpse's higher rank. From now on, you should refrain from absorbing higher rank being's bloodline essence.]
Raven nodded stiffly and tried to sit up.
Although the pain was still there, he felt something had changed from within. At that moment, he felt like he could see not only the outside atmosphere but also within his body.
He felt a strange sensation as if he could sense every drop of blood moving through his veins. He also seemed to have complete control over the movement of his blood.
'Is this the power of blood control?' He also recalled other information.
'Face Mimic… If I touch a person's face and memorize their facial structure, I can mimic it to a certain extent.' What shocked him most was that this spell didn’t require any mana or particular elemental power at all!
‘It just sends a type of mystical information all over my facial muscle and alters some kind of micro-level sequence in a helix structure. TMEM wave has the power to adjust the eye’s width and depth… COL wave has the power to change the distance between eyeballs and nasion… PARK wave has the power to change mid-face height… FOX 2 plays a crucial role in rapid and flexible changes in the facial muscles… MYOD wave could help reorganize muscle fibers to change facial features.’ The more he go through new information about this spell, the more amazed he became.
He nodded in understanding and checked the system interface.
[Mutation Completed!]
[Host's damaged soul has been partially repaired with Blood Essence's help!]
[Current Host's Soul Damage percentage: 19.4 %]
[Host's lifespan has been increased by 38 years!]
…
"Oh! I now have a total lifespan of 96 years! But why does my lifespan seem higher than that of an average human? Is it because of the warlock pathway?"
[Yes, lad. An average Acolyte Warlock's lifespan should be around 150 years. So, it's normal for you to have a higher lifespan than an average human.
'Okay.' Raven stood up with staggered footsteps and hurriedly walked out of the room.
'I should never absorb blood essences in an unsafe place.' He muttered inwardly and went to the first floor.
At the same time, he took out the 'pocket watch' from the inventory and checked the time.
' 12.30 already? I should leave this place quickly.'
He exited the Museum building through the back door and activated the 'Shadow Stealth' ability.
After that, he quietly walked towards the compound gate without alerting the guards at the entrance and left the place.
…
As he walked on the empty street road, he started to ponder over what to do next.
'I can't go back to the Inn at this time.'
His next worry was about his identity.
'Once the police officers from Bristol Street find out that I used someone else identity to enter, they will put a warrant on me.'
And if Count Spade started searching for him, there would be a high chance of him getting caught within a day or two.
[Don't worry. The Count will take action against the Gold Thieves by tomorrow evening. Now, you know what to do next, right?]
Raven nodded and decided to move towards the northern direction. This place was where industries like Textile, Chemical, Iron and Steel, Rune Technological factories, etc., were located. It was also a place where countless workers resided. Unlike the people who stayed in other districts, many workers, especially those in factories and construction sites, faced grueling working conditions. Long hours, often exceeding 12 hours a day, and exposure to hazardous materials contributed to physical and mental strain. It was a place where poor working-class people resided.
'Half of the Industrial District is Slums.'
Thanks to that, the security of this district had always been neglected. Even the entire police force had to move in; it would take more than a few days for them to find his location.
'My other goal is to find the location of the Gold Thieves' base.' Raven muttered inwardly and proceeded to walk.
…
The next day morning,
Count Spade's Mansion House, Bristol Street, Salford Borough.
It was around 8. A.M.
A forty-year-old man in formal black attire stepped down from the second floor to the first through the Bifurcated Staircase. He was around 180 cm tall and had a muscular body, pale white skin, short black hair, a celestial nose, and a broad forehead. What was unique about him was the handlebar mustache, which kept his presence more imposing.
He was none other than Count Andres Spade.
Andres quietly stepped into the main hall and started walking on the left side corridor. He walked past the kitchen, dining room, and a few other rooms while responding to the greetings of his servants and arrived before a wooden door,
But as soon as he reached the study, he noticed something was odd.
"Hmm? Who opened the study?" He raised his hand and opened the door completely before walking in.
His gaze went towards the table in the center and then towards the bookshelf on the side. But his attention was instantly drawn to a two-meter-long golden chest placed nearby.
"Who put this here?" His face turned serious as he instantly punched the wooden door and shouted.
"Bryce!!"
"I'm coming, My Lord!" A distant voice of a man came from outside, followed by running footsteps. Within seconds, a young man with blonde hair and a pencil mustache entered the study and greeted Count while placing his right hand over his left chest.
"Good Morning, Lord Andres! Do you need any help?"
"What is that thing? I didn't see any chest when I left the study yesterday, though. Can you tell who put this here?" Count Andres asked coldly.
Meanwhile, Butler Bryce turned his gaze toward the golden chest and showed a confused look.
"I wasn't informed of this, My Lord. Maybe young master Ellis put this here?"
"I don't think so. And when I came here, the door was already open. Someone sneaked into the study and placed a large chest without alerting anyone. It's an outsider."
"What? Are you saying it's an outsider's work, My Lord? But our Elite guards stayed at the entrance the whole day, though."
"Hmm, open it." Count Andres waved his hand and ordered him.
Meanwhile, Butler Bryce nodded solemnly, started walking towards the bookshelf, and soon squatted down. Then, he unlocked the locker and slowly opened the golden chest.
But as soon as he did, his jaw dropped.
"Oh my god!" What he saw inside the chest were nothing but gold coins! Although he had been working as a Butler for the past few years, this was the first time he had seen this many gold coins in one go.
"Hoo! This is surprising." Count Andres revealed a smile and soon asked.
"Other than gold coins, do you see anything else?"
Bryce hurriedly snapped out of the shock and looked inside the chest.
His attention was soon drawn towards two unique pebble-sized gems and a notepaper.
He hurriedly grabbed them and showed them towards Count Andres.