Chapter 7: Blood of the Colossus
Cruz opened his eyes slowly, the pungent smell of blood thick in the air, assaulting his senses. The cave was eerily silent now, with only the distant sound of dripping water breaking the stillness. His entire body ached, every movement sending a wave of pain through his limbs. He groaned, rolling over onto his side, and came face to face with the massive, lifeless body of the Stonehide Rhino.
The beast had finally succumbed to its injuries, its thick hide torn open where Cruz had driven his dagger into its vulnerable underbelly. Blood pooled around the rhino, still warm and sticky, and Cruz could feel the heat radiating from it even now. He stared at the fallen creature, a wry smile pulling at his lips despite the pain.
"Overconfidence," Cruz muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper. He had underestimated everything—his enemies, the world beyond the gates, and even his own limits. He'd thought, after a few successful battles against Dreadspine Hatchlings, that he could handle more powerful foes. But the Stonehide Rhino had nearly killed him, and it had only been through sheer luck and desperation that he had survived.
He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position, his muscles trembling with the effort. His throat was dry, parched from thirst, and his stomach twisted with hunger. He glanced around the cave, searching for any sign of water or food, but there was nothing. The air felt heavy, oppressive, as if the cave itself was pressing down on him.
Cruz looked at his own body, dirty and bruised, the wounds from his earlier battles still fresh. He pulled up his system interface, his eyes narrowing as he saw the grim state of his stats:
Name: Cruz Hernandez
Race: Human
Class: None
Abilities:
[Descent of Primus]
Rank F??
Skill Type: Causality Manipulation
Effect: User can accelerate or decelerate the flow of time around a target for a short duration.
Description: ?????
[Identify]
Rank F
Skill Type: Knowledge/Observation
Effect: User can discern basic information about an object, creature, or entity, including its name, type, level, and basic attributes. This skill helps the user assess potential threats and strategize accordingly.
Health Points (HP): 5/40
Mana Points (MP): 10/30
Stamina: 8/35
Stats:
Strength: 3
Agility: 5
Endurance: 4
Toughness: 3
Wisdom: 2
Intelligence: 4
Willpower: 6
Status: Heavily Injured
The words "Heavily Injured" next to his vitality stat made him grimace. He was hanging by a thread, and without food or water, he wouldn't last much longer.
Cruz looked back at the carcass of the rhino. Its massive bulk seemed to mock him, a reminder of the battle he'd barely survived. His throat burned with thirst, and he licked his dry, cracked lips. He knew he needed water, but there was none here, only blood. The thought twisted his stomach, but the more he looked at the beast, the more desperate he became.
A sharp pang of hunger tore through him, and his vision swam for a moment. He stumbled forward, leaning against the cool stone wall of the cave for support. His eyes settled on the blood pooled around the fallen rhino. The thought of drinking it sent waves of revulsion through him, but the more he tried to ignore it, the stronger the thirst became.
His mind screamed at him to stop, but his body was screaming even louder for survival.
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"I can't..." he whispered, shaking his head. But his body had already made the decision. His hands trembled as he crouched next to the rhino's body. Slowly, hesitantly, he dipped his fingers into the pool of blood, watching as it dripped between his fingers. The metallic smell filled his nostrils, overpowering everything else.
His body, driven by desperation, urged him on, and finally, with trembling hands, Cruz brought the blood to his lips. He gagged, nearly pulling away, but the thirst was too powerful. He drank, the warm liquid sliding down his throat, filling him with both revulsion and strange vitality.
Suddenly, a bright prompt appeared before his eyes, startling him.
Weak Bloodline of the Quakehorn Titan – Level ??? Detected.
Absorb?
Yes / No
Cruz blinked, bewildered. A bloodline? He stared at the prompt in confusion, but the more he thought about it, the more the idea intrigued him. A part of him hesitated—what was he about to take in? He had no idea what this could do to him, no understanding of the risks. But then, he looked at his stats again, saw how weak he was, how close he had come to dying.
What choice did he have?
"...Yes," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
As soon as the word left his lips, the body of the Stonehide Rhino began to change. The blood pooled around it started to evaporate, shrinking the once massive creature. Cruz watched in horror and awe as the rhino's body withered, its thick hide shrinking and cracking, its once fearsome bulk crumbling until it was no more than a shriveled husk.
At the center of the remains, a single drop of blood hovered in the air, impossibly small but radiating an intense, chaotic energy. Cruz could feel it vibrating, the air around it warping with raw power. It was terrifying, but at the same time, he couldn't look away.
The bloodline drop shot toward him, moving faster than he could react. He felt it strike his forehead, and immediately, a wave of pain coursed through his body. Cruz screamed, clutching his head as the bloodline forced itself into him, the chaotic energy surging through his veins like wildfire. It burned, every nerve in his body alight with searing heat.
He collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing as the bloodline merged with him. His vision blurred, and for a moment, everything went dark. But as the transformation continued, the heat grew more intense, until he was engulfed in a strange, pulsating energy.
Around him, the cave began to glow dimly, the light bending and warping around his body. Slowly, his form was enveloped in a cocoon, the energy solidifying into a shell that pulsed with life. Cruz's body was undergoing a radical transformation, his muscles and bones rearranging themselves under the strain of the bloodline absorption.
Time lost all meaning as he lay trapped inside the cocoon, his mind fluctuating between clarity and the brink of unconsciousness. Inside, he could feel his body repairing itself, the searing heat giving way to a soothing, rejuvenating warmth. His stats, once weak and frail, were being restored and enhanced.
After what felt like hours, the cocoon began to crack. Small fissures appeared, light spilling through the gaps as the shell crumbled away. Cruz, feeling stronger than before, stretched his limbs and stood up, blinking in the dim cave light.
He looked down at himself and immediately noticed the changes. His body, once battered and bruised, was now leaner, more muscular. His hands no longer trembled, and he could feel the raw strength coursing through his veins.
Cruz took a deep breath, pulling up his system interface to see what had changed.
Name: Cruz Hernandez
Race: Human (Weak Quakehorn Titan Bloodline)
Class: None
Abilities:
Descent of Primus – Rank F??
Skill Type: Causality Manipulation
Effect: User can accelerate or decelerate the flow of time around a target for a short duration.
Description: ?????
Bloodline Absorption – ???
Identify – Rank F
Skill Type: Knowledge/Observation
Effect: User can discern basic information about an object, creature, or entity, including its name, type, level, and basic attributes. This skill helps the user assess potential threats and strategize accordingly.
Health Points (HP): 25/40
Mana Points (MP): 20/30
Stamina: 18/35
Stats:
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Endurance: 6
Toughness: 5
Wisdom: 2
Intelligence: 4
Willpower: 7
His health, stamina, and endurance had all increased, and the weak Quakehorn Titan bloodline had embedded itself deep within him. It wasn't enough to completely heal him or make him invincible, but it was a start. He could feel the power lurking beneath the surface, just out of reach, waiting to be unlocked.
Cruz clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound strength in his limbs. His body felt lighter, faster. The chaos within him had subsided, leaving behind a sense of clarity. He had survived. He had absorbed the bloodline of a powerful creature, and now, he was stronger for it.
But the danger was far from over. He knew there would be more creatures like the rhino, stronger, faster, and deadlier. And he needed to be ready.
"I will survive this," Cruz muttered, his voice filled with new resolve. He glanced around the cave, determined to find his way out, his mind already racing with plans to grow stronger.
With a final look at the remains of the rhino, Cruz turned and walked deeper into the cave, ready to face whatever came next.