The Dragon race has created numerous races, each serving different purposes. Some were intended as slaves, while others were made for specific reasons. Wyvern and Kobolds exemplify this distinction, as they were two distinct races with unique design objectives. Unlike Kobolds, sophonts who possessed talents for mining and refinement, Wyverns, which are closer to beast than intelligent races, were engineered to excel in other areas.
It needs to be said that bestial races inherently possessed stronger physical bodies compared to humans, everyone knows and acknowledged this fact. While beasts are naturally adept at utilizing their physical strength, they are unable to practice martial arts. However, Wyverns, being a bestial race created by the dragon race, were specifically designed to excel in bloodline abilities surpassing any other races of their creations.
Within the expansive realm of cultivation, just as magic is a branch of ‘spirit’ cultivation, bloodline emerged as a branch of ‘body’ cultivation. These remarkable abilities take on diverse forms, each uniquely shaped by its own limitations and constraints. Most prominently, Bloodline ‘Abilities’ or ‘Traits’ tends to manifest as passive attributes, imbuing the cultivator’s body with enhanced musculature, heightened senses like acute hearing and keen eyesight, and other passive augmentations such as higher compatibility with certain elements.
However, bloodline extends far beyond mere passive enhancements. They can also manifest as active power, extraordinary capabilities that transcends the limits of the mundane. Such active bloodline abilities may grant the holder the ability to soar through the skies without wings, unleashing potent elemental breath attacks, or even the existence of special organs within one’s body. These dynamic manifestations of bloodline abilities showcased the immense potential and versatility harbored within the mystery of lineage.
Yet, even amidst this complex tapestry of exceptional bloodline abilities, there exists a special sub-branch that stood amongst all others.
Generative Bloodline Abilities.
This sub-branch possessed the power to ‘generate’ or ‘synthetize’ tangible objects or substances, albeit within the boundaries of natural laws and principles. Such abilities cannot create something from nothing, for that would violate the fundamental principle of causality and equivalent exchange. The consumption of energy or biomass serves as the fuel for these generative bloodline abilities, while the complexity and the size of the ‘generated’ object determine the amount of resources required for it to be produced.
Mordred had actually met a generative bloodline ability before, it was held by the all-female Broodscale Matriarch Wyvern, which was an enslavement-path bloodline. Contrary to conventional procreation methods, this wyvern species could lay auto-fertilized eggs in the hundreds, giving birth to copious amounts of lesser wyverns as their minions/slaves. This bloodline ability also allows the species to copulate amongst themselves despite having no males, therefore the reasoning why it is a generative bloodline ability.
The Blastscale Wryflake bloodline ability isn’t too different compared to the Broodscale Matriarch’s. Instead of laying eggs, this former-Armor Wyvern can produce explosive scales.
As for now, Mordred had practiced synthesizing more than twelve explosive scales of various sizes. From the smallest which was the size of a coin, to the largest which was as big as his palm. Each, with its own complexity and density, consumed various amounts of energy from him. Unlike what it was intended to, which was to stay as armor scales, these scales were manually shed by Mordred. Like a gecko’s tail or a crab’s limbs, regenerating them repeatedly has taken a toll on him.
“Yours looks like a normal wyvern’s scale. According to this book, the Blastscale Wryflake can only dominate other wyverns after the explosive scale they produce is capable of accommodating their [Telepathic Tyrant Will] since it is the trigger that allowed the enslaved wyvern to understand that they are under the threat of death. Otherwise, they can only see them as a harmless parasite.” Kaishin commented as she examined one of the scales Mordred produced.
Massaging his own temples due to the intense fatigue, Mordred replied, “I haven’t been slacking off with my spirit cultivation, but even my talent can’t compete with years of effort.”
Kaishin suppresses a chuckle. Unlike him, she has already begun cultivating in spirit meditation technique since an early age. Coupled with her own grade-A spirit talent, her spiritual force is sufficient to enslave a handful of goat beasts, which is an amazing feat for an early-stage rank 0 apprentice. “If you didn’t cheat, it should take you around a year or two before you get your first beast slave.” Her eyes moved towards the wyvern who’s napping next to Mordred, her gaze containing a healthy amount of envy.
The brute wyvern is extremely muscular despite being an infant, its grayish scales revealing some level of scars that it receives during its subjugation. Even during its slumber, the beast excludes a suppressive aura that would leave mortals trembling. “Desir ate a lot of meat, though.” Mordred caressed the slumbering wyvern’s neck. “That’s why I need to constantly contribute to the official Hunters. Otherwise, he’ll be starving.”
“True.” Kaishin shrugged, completely understanding the perils of using a beast slave. “The next sortie will be more dangerous than before. Our convoy will rendezvous with another group containing four official Hunter teams in a water-path Resource Point, it’ll be even bigger than the brute wyvern barrow. Have you prepared yourself?”
Mordred touched his chin, pondering. “It’ll be hard, but I’m a little excited. Do you know what the resource point would be? I was so tired that I fell asleep halfway through the briefing last night.”
“A lake.” Kaishin answered. “A deep freshwater lake that contains large creatures underneath, so we aren’t allowed to roam free. Though, the official Hunters said they’ll be giving us a large amount of missions to scour some mortal-rank and rank 0 water-path resources. Last night, they also told us about the Hunter Academies. What are your thoughts?”
Mordred scratched his head. “I… fell asleep in this part, remember? Can you elaborate?” Not being able to murder something or someone freely forced him to sleep for an extended period so that his soul is pacified properly.
"Of course," she replied with a cheerful tone. "The Hunter Academy, a subsidiary of the Hunter Association, was initially a centralized organization located in Galatreon, the capital of the Hunter Association. However, with the unrelenting demand and continuous growth of the Association, it has evolved into a sprawling academic institution with branches in four out of the five regions of our Morgen World. Recognizing that the responsibilities were too immense for Galatreon alone, the city-sized country, every nation that has established cooperation with the Hunter Association now receives support in the form of their own dedicated Hunter Academy."
"In reality, each country was initially allocated a single branch of the 'Hunter Academy', typically situated in their respective capital cities. However, the demand for admission surged beyond expectations, resulting in an overwhelming strain on resources. The intense competition for enrollment became unhealthy, even with the Association's strict policy against corruption. The burden on their limited human resources became increasingly challenging to bear.
To address this, the Hunter Academy sought collaborations with influential clans and governmental bodies to establish additional branches. Under strict agreements, the Hunter Academy would provide the necessary facilities and educational systems, while the collaborating clans or governments would contribute the required manpower by merging existing academies or erecting new ones with the Hunter Academy’s system. Consequently, when people refer to the 'Hunter Academy,' they are not solely referring to the esteemed institution in Galatreon, but also to any affiliated educational institutes across the Morgen World."
“In our country, an abundance of Hunter Academies have flourished, each possessing its unique qualities and distinct attributes. As a result, a spirited competition has emerged among these academies, leading to the establishment of a ranking system based on their prestigious accreditation.
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Among the multitude of academies, the most renowned and revered institutions in our kingdom are the Nine Master Academies. These exceptional academies hold an exalted status as they are overseen by the Nine Master Clans of Hartina Kingdom. As an illustration, the Hartina Kingdom East Hunter Academy is widely recognized as the Kōrin Martial Academy. It falls under the authority of the Rengoku clan, one of the distinguished Nine Master Clans. Given the Rengoku clan's bloodline is related to fire-path, the Kōrin Martial Academy boasts unparalleled expertise and inheritance in fire-path martial arts, surpassing all other academies in this domain.
This pattern extends throughout the kingdom, with each of the Nine Master Academies boasting exceptional specializations and extraordinary bloodline legacies, making them the epitome of excellence within their respective fields.”
She further added, “I heard that both Twin Helix and Radiant Desolation both came from one of the Nine Master Academies, the Southeast Hunter Academy, also known as Shintetsu Martial Academy which is under the governance of Kubikiri Clan.”
Mordred raised his eyebrow. “Kubikiri? As in Kubikiri Shirogane and Kubikiri Kurogane? They have such backgrounds?”
“Satoru…” Kaishin wanted to comment on how ignorant he was, but considering it wasn’t even his fault for not having the proper education, she was lost for words. “Kubikiri clan is one of the Nine Master clans of Hartina Kingdom, their bloodline is related to metal-path. That being said, the Shintetsu Martial Academy has the best martial inheritance regarding metal-path.”
“Huh, I didn’t know that.” Mordred was genuinely unaware of this fact. He knew the Hartina Kingdom’s Ten Master clan, which was ten families who were the kingdom’s foundational pillars, had been reduced to Nine Master clans a few hundred years before his death. However, due to his death-mitigation methods, his memories are, once again, unreliable. There are chunks that are missing, it cannot be used as references or determining historical ‘truth’. He was truly unaware that the Kubikiri siblings in Twin Helix actually had an amazing lineage.
“Although I said that Shintetsu Martial Academy has the ‘best martial inheritance’, that doesn’t mean it lacked inheritances in other paths. Every single Hunter Academies have fulfilled some sort of standardization. Even if you’re a mage, you can still achieve your full potential when you enroll in Shintetsu Martial Academy compared to any non-Hunter Academy educational institutions. It’s just that, you can achieve 110% or even 120% of your potential if you can enroll in the Nine Master Academies that suits you the most.” She rummaged through her belongings, giving him a thin book regarding all the information regarding the Nine Master Academies. A brief glance allows him to realize that this handbook was handwritten by Kaishin personally.
“I see.” Mordred nodded in understanding as she accepted the small handbook. Briefly immersing his thoughts into the handbook to complete his missing memories, he raised his head in question, “What academy are you aiming for, then?”
“The one possessing the best School of Enslavement, the Jūheitai Warfare Institute.”
Mordred confirmed the information on the book. “The Hartina Kingdom’s North Hunter Academy? It is said here that they are in constant struggle with the neighboring country, the Xin Empire. Due to the constant skirmish, they are consistently producing top tier commanders for the military. You wanted to join the military after graduation?”
“Although Hunter Academy graduates are incentivized to join the Association, they do not limit our future path. The Kingdom’s military pays good money, and they have excellent perks!” Her eyes shone in expectation. “My dream is to be the Lord of my home village, so the military is my best choice.”
“I see.” He flipped the pages, not debating with her decision. Considering her grade-A spirit talent, she might be a top tier rank 3 Legend, not stuck in the realm of rank 2 Lords, but everyone has different sets of goals in their life. Mordred has no obligation nor motivation to tell her otherwise. “Do you know which one is the best one for a Bloodline Warlock?”
Kaishin sat next to Mordred and flipped the pages, “That would be the one in the kingdom’s capital city, Ninetail Royal Academy. It should be obvious, the Hartina Kingdom’s Central Hunter Academy is a bonafide Hunter Academy directly related to the one in Galatreon. It is also under the control of the royals of the kingdom, the Yamato clan.”
“Ninetail Royal Academy?” Mordred raised his eyebrows, “Does it have any relation with the country’s patron deity, the Nine Tailed Fox?”
“Of course.” Kaishin uttered a matter-of-factly.
Kaishin continued elaborating about the Ninetail Royal Academy, but Mordred was distracted with his own thoughts.
‘The Nine Tailed Fox is the sole reason why the Sacred Alliance in the Central Continent can’t simply invade the Land of Autumn Rain. According to my memories, she should be one of the few deities that is on my side, but I can’t be careless.’ He can’t get rid of the feeling that the Nine Tailed Fox has some relation with Asmodeus. < Asmodeus… >
As if already knowing what question will be uttered by him, Asmodeus cut him off. < Yes, but you need to figure out the details yourself. >
< Huh… > Mordred touched his chin in deep ponderation. Kaishin mistook that as pondering whether or not enrolling in the Ninetail Royal Academy is the best decision for him.
“The Ninetail Royal Academy is actually the top academy across all academic metrics, it could even be said that eight out of the ‘Nine Master Academies’ are mere splinters of the Ninetail Royal Academy. Truthfully, even the Jūheitai Warfare Institute is the second-choice for aspiring strategists like me, but the competition is so intense that only top-tier grade-A talents could enroll. However, you can get a free pass if you have the rumored grade-S talent!”
“Is that why you didn’t choose the Ninetail Royal Academy as your first option?” He asked, ignoring her remarks regarding grade-S talent. It’ll gather too much attention which would limit his movement if he were to spill it out.
“That’s right.” She admitted honestly. “No matter how confident I am, I’d never be as good as Nine Master Clan’s clansmen. Not only were they prepared to enroll at the Ninetail Royal Academy during their infancy, they were also genetically engineered so that they have no genetic flaws even before they were born. No matter how much I don’t want to admit it, those who can enroll in the royal academy are special breeds, elites amongst elites.”
“Is that so?” Mordred was intrigued. It is true that amongst each country, there should only be one ‘real’ Hunter Academy, and it is usually under the governance of the country’s royal family. This was a gesture that allowed Galatreon to maintain friendly relations towards other countries while maintaining the quality of the hunter academy’s branch.
After all, any ‘royal’ family is a clan that possesses a rank 6 Sovereign in their midst.
“You have no interest in trying to get into the Ninetail Royal Academy? You’ll miss 100% of the shots that you didn’t take.”
“Nope, it’s frustrating.” She shook her head. “A few years ago, my sister tried to go to the royal academy. The last letters that she sent expressed deep frustration due to academic pressure.”
Mordred raised his eyebrow in surprise. “Don’t tell me your sister also has grade-A spirit talent? Wouldn’t that make your bloodline extremely precious?”
“No… My sister’s spirit talent was merely grade-B, but she was able to compete with the elites of the Nine Master Clans because she was a hard worker. Nevertheless, her last words were ‘effort is pointless in the face of real talent’. I don’t know where my sister is currently, but obviously, the royal academy is not the place for me…” She was well aware of her own flaws. Only those with certain mentalities can endure the pressure of the royal academy.
“Hey, why don’t we try enrolling in the Ninetail Royal Academy?” Mordred patted her head, seeing the concealed sadness in her eyes, “Don’t lie to yourself, you must’ve missed your sister deeply. Even if you were to fail, you can still pick the Jūheitai Warfare Institute as your second choice.”
His words contain full confidence, there wasn’t the slightest amount of doubt. This handbook might be small, but it contains all the necessary information for a grade-A talent to enroll in one of the Nine Master Academies. She had gathered all information that she could regarding the academies, and as the founder of the Hunter Association and by extension, the Hunter Academy, he could confirm the validity of the information. His memories might not be reliable, but reading the handbook triggered a bout of deja vu as if memory vaults are being unlocked.
“I know what I can do, and what I cannot do.” Her stance was immovable. “It requires more than mere talent and hard work to join the ranks of the royal academy.” There was a hint of hesitation, as if she wanted to add something, but decided not to.
“Speak.” He didn’t let her hesitate.
After some pondering, her shoulder dropped. “I heard that my sister sold her body just to make ends meet. I’d rather not go down the same road.”
Mordred squinted his eyes. “I see.” Hartina Kingdom’s culture in sex is rather conservative, so prostituting oneself is seen in a negative light. She lacked the drive to make herself into an expert by doing whatever she can. This mindset is completely acceptable, from the viewpoint of an average person, but to Mordred, it’s a wasted potential. Nevertheless, he has no motivation nor obligation to force her to enter the same Hunter Academy as him. “Then I have no words.”