You have defeated Centipeda Colossus, Level 24.

You have reached Level 22. You have 22 attribute points available for distribution.

You have been awarded 1 item upgrade token (usable on items of the grade [Magical] or below).

Lucius could feel a powerful warmth still flowing through his body as he jumped down from the corpse of his slain foe. He let out a long sigh, wiping the drips of blue blood from his lips. Spitting a few times, he tried to clear the taste from his mouth. Now that the overwhelming urge had subsided, his mind was clear enough for regret to sink in. He tried to forget the unpleasant experience, turning his attention to the corpse of the creature. It's armor was quite sturdy, so he cut a few sheets of carapace from the thickest areas—mostly around the skull—also cutting off both of the large mandibles, which was the most difficult task. When he was finished he stored the materials in his ring before leaving the mutilated corpse behind and heading back down the long tunnel toward Maryanne.

"I don't understand why you’re upset, Father. You regularly consume the flesh of slain creatures. Those cans of soup you like contain it, and that cooked flesh doesn’t even offer you an increase in power like fresh blood does!"

Whisper was right, but it didn’t improve the young man’s mood. Lucius had gained three points of vitality from the centipede’s blood—triple what he had received when Whisper consumed the ape’s blood. He wasn’t sure if it was due to the creature's strength, the amount of blood it contained, or both.

"I usually don’t eat it raw, though, Whisper—especially not when it’s still alive and moving!"

"Well, you didn’t have to eat it anyway. Just let me do it next time."

Lucius let out another sigh as he watched the ground moving past swiftly beneath his feet. He kept Mythification active until he reached the end of the tunnel, where daylight beaming down from the hole above allowed him to see without the night vision provided by the transformation. The sound of quiet sobbing reached his ears as the light flooded the front of his vision.

"Whisper, get out!"

A wave of shadow retreated from his body like sticky black spiderwebs being peeled from a smooth surface. The black claws at the ends of his fingers slowly retracted, and the awkward sensation in his mouth faded. Darkness filled his surroundings as the Mythification fully dissolved, taking his enhanced vision with it. The blazing light at the center of the room dimmed, returning to the poorly lit patch of ground that his human eyes revealed.

Once he was certain the visible effects of the transformation had ended, he stepped into the light and rushed to Maryanne’s side. The girl lay on her back, her face scrunched in pain as she whimpered, tears flowing from the outer corners of her tightly closed eyes. When Lucius reached her and held her hand, she gripped it as tightly as her weakened body could manage. Her eyes drifting open.

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"I thought you left. Cough I was very scared, Lucius."

When she spoke, her small teeth, stained red with blood, were exposed. The blood kept filling her mouth, forcing her to swallow it because the pain prevented her from rolling over and spitting it out. Even with Lucius acting as a cushion, the fall’s great distance had severely injured the child. She couldn’t move her neck and likely suffered from severe internal bleeding. Lucius was terrified to even attempt moving her.

"I know. I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up."

"It hurts really bad, Lucius. I can’t move, and it’s hard to breathe. Please don’t leave me alone."

"I’m not going to leave you. I just need a moment to think. I’ll figure out a way to help you feel better."

Maryanne reluctantly released his hand, allowing Lucius to stand. The young man began pacing anxiously, trying to think of a way to save her.

"She’s going to die, Father. We should take her blood and end her suffering."

Lucius stopped and looked at his storage ring, where Whisper was hiding to avoid the light.

"Hey, Whisper..."

"Yes, Father?"

"If you ever suggest something like that again, I’ll hold you in the sunlight until you burn to death in my hands."

He spoke calmly, but the anger was clear in his furrowed brows and clenched fists. The tiny creature peeked up from the children’s storybook it had been reading, its mouth agape and large eyes wide. After a moment of silent staring, its face and shoulders drooped. It hugged its head with both arms, its big eyes filling with moisture as it climbed under the pile of clothes it had been lying on.

Lucius let out a deep sigh when he saw Whisper’s reaction. His strong emotions had taken over, causing him to momentarily forget Whisper was only recently born. The mythical creature wasn’t evil—just incredibly naïve about everything outside its powers. As Lucius glanced at the slightly trembling pile of clothes where Whisper had hidden, his gaze passed over Matriarch’s Fury, lying nearby.

"That might work..."

Quickly retrieving the blade from his storage ring, Lucius rushed back to Maryanne’s side. He held the blade out of her view as he picked up her hand.

"I’m going to try something to help you feel better. Close your eyes, okay?"

"Okay."

The child responded weakly, her eyes barely opening at his touch before closing again. Lucius placed the sword’s handle in her hand, pressing her fingers closed around it.

"Hold this for me. Don’t let go."

Maryanne obeyed, and Lucius took a moment to gather his courage. After several deep breaths, he bit down on his shirt collar before stabbing the blade tip into his own arm.

Lucius’ eyes filled with tears, but he managed to stay silent. A flash of red magical radiance from the blades additional magic damage shot down the weapon into his arm, making him tremble from the intense pain. He watched Maryanne closely, hope fluttering in his chest as a bit of color returned to her pale face.

"It’s warm. Cough"

"T-That’s good, Maryanne. Just keep your eyes closed for me, okay?"

"I will. I promise."

Fifteen minutes passed as Maryanne was bathed in one wave of warmth after another, slowly healing her broken body. When she felt the pain was nearly gone and her mobility returned, she asked if she could open her eyes.

"N-Not yet."

Lucius put the sword away. His face was pale and covered in sweat as he wrapped a bandage around the ruined flesh of his arm. Pulling a long-sleeved shirt from his ring to hide his injuries, he winced as a blinding pain shot through his body when his injured arm snagged on the shirt's fabric. Maryanne heard his ragged breathing as he finally failed to suppress the pain, opening her eyes in confusion.

Tears streamed down the young girl’s face once again—this time from sadness rather than injuries.

"Lucius! What happened?"

"I..."

Blackness crept into the corners of his vision, turning the whole world dark as he collapsed to the ground.