The air inside the temporary tent was laden with a dense and oppressive atmosphere. The fierce radiation emanating from the fire-path cultivators was so potent that it could incinerate any mere mortal unfortunate enough to be its proximity. However, the tent had been meticulously constructed with fire-path cultivators in mind, resilient enough to withstand the scorching heat without bursting into flames.
“This is daylight robbery!” The man with fiery red hair exclaimed, his imposing figure clad in lightweight combat armor adorned with intricate rune. His intense crimson eyes, having reptilian slit pupils, contrasted with his ruggedly handsome appearance. Despite his wild allure, his voice resonated with a mix of outrage and indignation. “You’re just here to pull my leg. If you have no intention of offering a fair deal, then get the fuck out!”
On the opposite side stood two women, each unique in their own way. The first woman sported fiery red hair pulled back into a ponytail, her attire a magic machinery battlerobe. The second woman, in stark contrast, stood at an impressive height of 190 cm, her pale white complexion accentuated by the elegance of a traditional Hartina Kingdom’s kimono.
“Don’t be so hostile, Izanagi.” Sakuya replied with a gentle smile, trying to diffuse the tension in the air. “You’re the only one among us who kept the blood of various fire-path lifeforms as spell catalysts. We’re simply requesting a few from your wide array of collections.”
“My spell resources are procured from my clan’s exclusive Dimensional Resource Points, refined using ancient secret methods that safeguard the wisdom of my ancestral lineage. What makes you think I can just give it to her for some money?” Izanagi’s wrath and unwillingness translated into higher radiation output. As the air grew thick with a crimson hue, a palpable heat permeated the surrounding, reflecting his unwavering determination and unwillingness to part with his cherished resources.
“Seems a bit stifling in here, doesn’t it? Let's cool down for a bit.” Katyusha shook her head in disappointment, her own radiation emanating with an icy touch. The clash of their ‘aura’ brought about a sudden equilibrium in temperature, but also caused an overwhelming bone-chilling cold that engulfed everyone else present.
Sakuya and Izanagi are both accomplished fire-path mage variants, one is a Warmage and the other is a Bloodline Warlock, but they still couldn’t perfectly defend against Katyusha’s aura with their own. Unless they activate their passive defensive method, they would remain vulnerable to Katyusha’s presence. However, unlike Sakuya who already deployed hers, employing such measures would escalate this ‘minor’ conflict, giving Katyusha the justification to push forward due to Izanagi’s perceived weakness - a situation he definitely wished to avoid.
This simple exchange served as unreliable proof that, regardless of bloodline purity or arcane capability, Katyusha triumphed over both the Warlock and the Warmage. Her sheer presence and power overshadowed their abilities, revealing her superiority in all aspects.
“Hand over the fire-path Tyrant Wyvern blood, and I won’t exert any further force.” Katyusha spoke devoid of emotion. Her words were delivered with a chilling indifference, causing a shiver to run down Izanagi’s spine. “Should I remind you why, despite my capabilities, I am still the second most powerful member of Twin Helix?”
Even Sakuya herself trembled at the mere thought. Amongst all the women she knew, Katyusha stood as one of the most formidable in terms of her arcane prowess alone. The only reason for Katyusha’s overshadowed presence compared to the captain of Twin Helix was the captain’s undeniable brilliance that outshone all others. It was important to note that Katyusha’s strength remained undiminished, unaffected by the captain’s brilliant radiance.
However, it was Katyusha’s demeanor that she often assumed the role of a mere servant, faithfully carrying out her master’s every command. Her unwavering servitude towards the captain had molded her into an existence known as extension of the captain’s will, with her words and actions becoming mere reflection of the captain’s thoughts and desires. She existed as a mere vessel, devoid of personal desire or ambitions of her own, thus, her relative obscurity compared to others.
If Izanagi were to dare challenge and defy this ‘dog’, he would inevitably face the wrath of the ‘owner’ in return. Unfortunately, in the Twin Helix captain’s shrewd calculations, the concept of ‘equivalent value’ holds a different meaning. What may appear fair and balanced to others is often skewed and distorted in her resourceful mind, making any retaliation a treacherous gamble.
Let’s forget about the consequences of defying her. In the first place, was he even capable of putting Katyusha in her place?
Pale blue frost had already encased his skin, its icy grip tightening. “F- fine,” he grudgingly conceded, his breath visible in the frigid air. With a reluctant sigh, he reached into his dimensional storage and retrieved two vials of precious blood. As he handed them over, the frost receded from his 600-degree Celcius body, a temporary respite from the bone-chilling cold. “I only have one Tyrant Wyvern blood. You owe me 40,000 crystal coins for this.”
“Do you see how excessively generous I have been towards such insignificant trash like you? I couldn’t care less even when you dare demand a 200% price hike from me,” Katyusha nudged at Sakuya to take the two vials after carelessly throwing four high-grade crystal coins, each worth ten thousand of its lowest denomination, as if they were worthless rocks. “Exercise whatever miniscule wisdom you possess and refrain from ever repeating this pathetic display, especially in the presence of my captain. She has long yearned to dissect a Bloodline Warlock, perish the thought that you are out of her crosshair." With those venomous parting words, Katyusha gracefully exited the tent, leaving Sakuya to trail behind her.
“Damn you!” Izanagi roared, his voice reverberating in the tent with fury as he unleashed a searing breath of fire from his mouth. The crimson scales that adorned his face shimmered in the heat, his growing transformation becoming even more apparent. The surge of power caused his body temperature to rise, returning to its natural state. “This humiliation will be etched in my memory, and I swear, you will pay for it!” His eyes blazed with determination, vowing to exact his revenge in due time.
As for the audacity to unleash his vengeance directly upon the captain of Twin Helix? That was an entirely different realm of possibility. He can’t even beat the dog, how can he beat the owner? The power disparity was too vast, and the notion of challenging the captain seemed nothing sort of a delusion. Izanagi was left to grapple with his own inadequacy, the realization of his limitations seeping into the consciousness like a bitter truth he couldn’t deny.
…
“So Twin Helix originally consists of two teams?” Mordred inquired, his attention focused on Sumire as she prepared a wisdom-path ritual involving his Resonarys Wyvern.
“That’s correct.” Katyusha confirmed, standing by his side. “The Association recommends that active Hunter teams to at least possess seven members, with a maximum of twelve. Originally, Twin Helix was known as Violet Sword Blaze; a team of eight centered around the now vice-captain, Violet Sumire. Kubikiri Shirogane served as the core damage dealer, while Akane Sakuya acted as the vanguard. It was when the current captain joined with Kenji and Ayame that the team transformed into Twin Helix. The name represents two factions within our team, centered around the vice-captain and our captain. Over the past four years, we have experienced both losses and new additions to our roster. Though, we never reached twelve members for some reason.”
Mordred’s brow furrowed as he posed his question, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of skepticism. “So, if I understand correctly, you’re not actually part of the same ‘team’ as Miss Sumire or Miss Sakuya? I’m curious as to why Twin Helix decided to split into two factions. Wouldn’t that introduce complications like an imbalance of power and potentially hinder decision-making?”
A mischievous smile danced across Katyusha’s lips as she seemed unfazed by Mordred’s barrage of questions. With an air of playful intrigue, she posed her own question in response. “Who do you think are the members of my faction?”
Mordred stroked his chin, deep in thought as he recollected Katyusha’s earlier remarks, like putting the pieces of puzzles. While Twin Helix was regarded as a unified team, it was evident that Katyusha and Kenji often operated independently, separate from Sakuya, Sumire and the rest. “Is it Kenji, Ayame, and the Captain?” Mordred ventured his guess, seeking confirmation.
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“That’s correct, my faction only consists of four people, in contrast to Sumire’s seven.” Katyusha confirmed, leaning close to Mordred and whispering, “Now, tell me, which faction do you think is stronger, mine or Sumire’s?”
Mordred appraised Katyusha intently, his gaze piercing through her. “I dare say you alone would be more than sufficient to overpower all seven members of Sumire’s faction, even if Mister Kenji were to join their ranks,” he stated boldly. His words flowed effortlessly, devoid of any hesitation because his supernatural investigative method had granted him a glimpse into the depth of Katyusha’s power- a primal fear that subdued his mortal shell’s archdemon bloodline.
Fear is a quintessential aspect of human nature. It is a choice between overcoming it or being consumed by it. In Mordred’s case, the emotion of fear serves as a valuable tool, allowing him to gauge the level of danger present in any situation.
What evokes the sense of primal fear in Mordred is the sheer potency of her bloodline. The fact that it still sends shivers to his spines serve as an undeniable proof of her regal heritage. ‘I don’t understand, if she’s capable of invoking instinctual terror to my mortal shell, then she should possess a sovereign bloodline. Yet, I do not sense the bloodline reaction that emanates from all Sovereign of Morgen World. Either she possessed blood relation to a hidden Sovereign, or a new Sovereign has ascended after my ‘death’.’
Katyusha’s smirk widened, her ego seemingly bolstered by the compliment. She seemed to take great pleasure in his flattery. From her dimensional storage, she retrieved a vial of blood, thick and hot, resembling the flowing magma of a volcanic vent. “Your words have pleased me,” she remarked with a mischievous tone. “Consider this a special reward for putting me in a good mood.”
“This is?” He received it, but his hand got scalded due to the searing heat of the vial, forcing Katyusha to snatch it back from his hand.
“It might exceed your current capacity since this is the blood of a rank 1 Blastscale Wyrflake.” Katyusha dropped a drop of the scalding blood onto her pale palm. As the crimson liquid settled and transformed into a cooled darkness resembling solidified lava, she presented it to Mordred. “So, are you prepared to take this power for yourself?”
Mordred surveyed his surroundings, noticing the focused activity of Sakuya and Sumire attending to his Brute Wyvern while also stealing glances in his direction. Although they kept their distance from Katyusha, he sensed readiness to assist him if the need arose. With a determined nod, he accepted the jelly-like dark blood from Katyusha’s outstretched hand and swallowed it.
As the blood pudding touched his tongue, Mordred felt a distinct metallic taste reminiscent of Iron. Concealed, Astaroth covertly decodes the genetic information of the blood with her method. This intricate process not only transformed the blood into crucial information and ‘justification’, but also provided him with the vital energy required for the impending transformation.
The initial manifestation of his transformation becomes apparent through his eyes. His once black human irises were now replaced by fiery crimson ember reptilian slits, exuding a powerful aura. Simultaneously, his skin began displaying subtle patterns resembling scales, hinting at his evolving nature. While he did not develop full-fledged wyvern scales, two small curved horns emerged from his head, jutting out from beneath his reddening black hair. These crimson horns, although only thumb-sized, stood as conspicuous proof of his transformation.
“Miss Katyusha…” He spoke in a fluent human tongue without the disruption of his voice. “I think I have great compatibility with this wyvern species. I can take more of its blood.”
Katyusha nodded as if she had expected it. “When we used the Broodscale Matriarch wyvern blood, you held absolute control on your sanity, but since it’s a pure enslavement-path bloodline, you are suffering from conflict of path. With Blastscale Wyrflake wyvern having compatibility with both enslavement-path and fire-path, it opened up new possibilities for you to explore. It is only natural that your bloodline corruption rate would be lower than our initial estimation.”
With each repetition of the procedure, Katyusha carefully fed Mordred the cooled-down blood, allowing him to further integrate the potential of the Blastscale Wryflake wyvern bloodline into his own.
As Mordred continued to consume the droplets of the wyvern’s blood, the effect of the transformation became increasingly evident. His radiation emitted a more intense aura, reflecting the infusion of the bloodline’s power. However, in terms of physical appearance, apart from the scattered amber red scales, the horns, the change in hair color, and the reptilian eyes, there were no major transformations as seen when he had consumed the blood of the Flying Wyvern.
“Your current state is similar to Izanagi’s, the captain of Scorch Talon,” Katyusha remarked, her tone analytical. “When a Bloodline Warlock discovers a bloodline that exhibits exceptional compatibility, they can attain full transformation into the corresponding beast and use their bloodline abilities. With proper training, it is possible to achieve partial transformation, which can help slow down the corruption caused by the bloodline source. Judging by the rate at which your body is purging the bloodline corruption, I believe that once you reach the realm of rank 1, you will be able to permanently assume the Wyverian state.” Katyusha assessed Mordred’s situation using her investigative methods, delving into the intricacies of his bloodline and its effect.
“Permanently?” Mordred smile widened, as if the prospect of possessing the abilities of a wyvern brought him immeasurable joy. “In that case, it seems I have much to learn about Tyrant Wyverns. Their nature and capabilities intrigue me greatly, and I am eager to delve deeper into their secrets. The more I understand, the better equipped I will be to harness this transformation and unlock its full potential.”
“Good mindset.” Katyusha remarked, storing away the empty vial before beckoning Sakuya over. Her voice carried a tone of assurance. “Based on my assessment, I can confirm that he has the highest compatibility with Tyrant Wyvern bloodlines. I have fulfilled my role, and now it is up to you to guide him further.” With a dismissive air, she turned to depart, paying no heed to the opinions of Sakuya or Sumire regarding her decision.
Sakuya let out a relieved sigh, relieved at Katyusha’s departure. She leaned closer to Mordred and whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Did she say anything unusual to you?”
“No?” Mordred raised his eyebrows, wondering why she’s acting unusual. “What happened to both of you, Miss Sakuya?”
“Nothing. We’re simply reminded how resourceful Twin Helix’s captain is, for being able to tame a monstrous talent of Katyusha’s caliber. Anyway, I heard you wanted to learn more about Blastscale Wyrflake. I’ve collected some information and asked Alanis to write them down. You can read it here while Sumire finishes up with her treatment.”
“Okay.” Mordred’s eyes lit up with anticipation as he received the small book from Sakuya. He eagerly flipped through the pages, absorbing the knowledge within like a thirsty scholar quenching his thirst for understanding.
“The Blastscale Wyrflake wyverns possessed scales containing intricate and volatile biochemical compounds, capable of triggering precise and controlled directional micro-explosions. Evolved for defense, these scales serve as an explosive reactive armor, deflecting incoming damage while simultaneously launching devastating counterattacks. Originally classified as Armor Wyvern, their excellent combat prowess has elevated the members of this race to assume the role of leaders within wyvern packs. After a long period of being on top of the food chain, their evolutionary path changed this Armor Wyvern’s designation into that of Tyrant Wyvern due to their special bloodline ability that they developed....” Mordred frowned. “Aren’t Blastscale Wyrflake wyverns a bit too overbearing with their method?” He asked Sakuya.
“Fufu.” The warmage smirked, her amusement evident. “Isn’t it quite fitting? It mirrors your behavior towards your peers.”
Mordred’s cheeks flushed slightly as he continued, “They possessed unique evolutionary traits that allowed them to molt their explosive scales at will. Some of the scales could mutate into mini versions of their fleshy body, carrying their distinctive bloodline signature. If these mutated scales burrowed into another wyvern’s body, it would become a literal timebomb. Instead of relying on spirit or soul suppression for domination, their method of controlling other wyverns is established through direct threat. It’s no surprise that they prefer solitude, as coexistence with other wyvern species becomes quite challenging.”
“If it works, why not?” Sakuya patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Though, you must exercise caution. Generative bloodline abilities like the Blastscale Wyrflake’s explosive scales consume copious amounts of energy and biomatter. If you generate an explosive scale containing 100 milligram of your mass, producing ten to twenty might be your limit, unless you want to risk exhausting yourself.”
Mordred nodded, fully aware of the risk involved. “I understand. I will master Blastscale Wryflake’s bloodline abilities to the fullest and use them wisely.” He promised, determination gleaming in his eyes.
Just as they were discussing the details regarding the wyvern’s bloodline ability usage, Sumire approached them with a smile on her face. “The Resonarys wyvern has been successfully enlightened. I believe trying your newfound ability would be fitting for the task at hand.”
Mordred’s lipase curled into a confident smirk. “Indeed, it seems like the perfect opportunity. Miss Sakuya, would you mind helping me?”
Sakuya nodded, her eyes shining in anticipation. “Naturally!”