《Reincarnated As A Mosquito》
Chapter 1: [Prologue]
Chapter 1: [Prologue]
"Good Morning world!"
Woke up a lean guy, stretching his body and a warm smile on his face. He got up from the bed and unfolded his curtains to reveal a bright sun in the sky.
He then looked at the clock at 8:16 AM, indicating that he was 16 minuteste for his office. But without any change in his smiling face, he eximed, "Another day, another adventure!"
Meet Ben Franklin, the world''s foremost expert in attracting bad luck and the unlikeliest hero you''ll ever encounter. From stumbling over his shoces to triggering fire rms with a single nce, Ben''s life is a never-endingedy of errors. And today was no exception.
With a rapid-fire routine, he dashed into the bathroom, slipped on a wet towel, performed an idental pirouette, and somehow ended up brushing his teeth with shaving cream.
With a speed that could put a ninja to shame, he brushed his teeth (again, correctly this time), showered, dressed in his work attire, and was out the door within minutes. As he rushed down the stairs of his apartment building, he skilfully avoided a banana peel that had been strategically ced by a mischievous neighbor.
After ensuring the pedestrian signal was red, he set off across the street with hurried steps. However, halfway through the crossing, an extraordinary event unfolded. Instead of the lights transitioning to yellow, they flickered twice and turned green directly.
"What the...?" Ben muttered in disbelief, staring at the signal. His moment of astonishment was interrupted by a cacophony of honking horns. Turning his attention back to the road, he found himself in a bizarre situation.
Vehicles seemed to materialize out of thin air, swerving and dodging around Ben. Some of them were even moving at moderate speeds. In a series ofical dance moves, Ben dodged two bikes and sprinted past a bus.
However, amidst this chaos, he spotted two cars, driven by rather reckless individuals, hurtling directly toward him. It was like a scene from an action movie, with Ben as the unwitting star.
The first car, a bright red sports car, whizzed by so close that it ruffled his hair. Ben stumbled backward, narrowly escaping a collision. The driver, appearing unfazed, zoomed away without a second thought.
Just as Ben regained hisposure, a gleaming ck sedan swerved dangerously close, nearly grazing his nose. In an unintentional feat of agility, Ben executed a dramatic backflip to avoid bing one with the sedan''s grille. The driver, too, sped off without a hint of remorse.
Chuckling nervously, Ben reached the opposite side of the street and mused to himself, "Two near misses in a row? Today''s especially unlucky day!"
However, the whims of destiny had more in store for him. Just as he turned back and started to walk towards his office, an ear-piercing crash reverberated through the air.
"BooooOOooM"
With a ringing sound in his ears, Ben had been struck by a third car, driven by a woman deeply engrossed in her phone,pletely oblivious to the unfolding drama.
And just like that, Ben Franklin, 32 years old virgin, found himself signing off from one life, perhaps embarking on a new journey altogether.
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[ Author Note: If you like the prologue, drop a coke. And if you don''t like the prologue, well then...forget you ever read it. LMAO. It was just my inner 9Y/o writing. Anyway, hope you got a decent idea about MC''s personality and all. See you in the story!! ]
Chapter 2: Buzzing Fate
Chapter 2: Buzzing Fate
Thend was decorated like a fairy park from a fantasy novel, with an all-white sky, green grasnd extending to the horizon, green trees bathing in fairy light, and countless flowers radiating a captivating smell.
In that fairy world, a man about 6 feet tall with blond hair and a lean build-up stood in front of a translucent holographic screen next to a massive water fountain.
[Wee to the afterlife, Ben Franklin.]
A strange voice echoed through the horizon like an oracle before a colossal blue holographic screen unfolded before him.
"Is this what happens after death? No, to be more specific, did I die?" Ben muttered with a in expression on his face. He was neither sad nor happy; he was kind of expecting it for a while.
[Yes, Ben, you were unfortunate enough to get hit by a car and die on the spot.]
Ben, surprised by the voice, looked around before his gaze fixated upon the floating blue screen in the air. This was something he had only read in sci-fi novels so far. He wasted no time asking, "Is this you talking to me?"
[ I apologise for the dyed introduction. ]
[ I am the Reincarnation System, and my duty is to look over the cycle of life and death in universe 615.]
"I see, so there are no gods that will judge my sins or something?" Ben rxed his muscles, feeling no harm from the strange voice. He let down his guard.
[ Normally, yes. Your deeds from the past determine your reincarnation in the future, but in your case, things are a little different.]
"borate please." Ben inquired, intrigued by the mention of a unique process for his reincarnation.
[ Indeed, Ben. Originally your time of death was just moments after you were born in the world. But due to some serious series of mishaps, you were able to survive quite long on that.]
"Died after birth...you have got to be kidding me." Ben''s lips twitched as he recalled what the system said.
[ In the beginning, the higher beings found it annoying, but as time grew, they began to admire your willpower and precaution.]
[That is why, Ben, you have been brought here to have a personalised reincarnation experience once in eternity.]
Ben raised an eyebrow, and his interest piqued. "Customised reincarnation experience? You mean I get to choose my species and all?"
[Not just species; you can also customise your looks, bloodline, gender, and PP size.]
A sense of excitement welled up within Ben. The prospect of being able to choose his next life was like ying an RPG game in real life.
"So, how does this process work? How do I go about choosing my next life?" Ben asked, eager to delve deeper into this extraordinary opportunity. when another golden screen popped up before him.
[Do you want to apply for customised reincarnation?]
[Yes] [Choose a random reincarnation]
"Yes," Ben said, in answer to the random voice, before a new screen appeared before him. The holographic screen before him transformed into a vibrant, multidimensional interface, disying a vast array of options and possibilities.
1. [Choose race...184721 options are avable.]
"I see now, so that''s how it works." Ben scratched his temples before he chose ''human'' as an option.
2.[Choose Gender...]
(a) Female; (b) Male; (c) Transgender
"Tsk, definitely male."
3. [Choose the world...]
(a) Sci-Fi; (b) Magical; (c) Apocalyptic (d) Pokeworld
"I will go for the magical world."
4. [Choose special abilities...]
(a) Elemental maniption; (b) Telekinesis; (c) Healing; (d) Illusion
"I''ll pick elemental maniption. That sounds like an exciting power to have."
5. [Choose your starting location...]
(a) Floating Ind; (b) Enchanted Forest; (c) Mystical City; (d) Underwater Realm
"I''ll start in the enchanted forest."
[Choose a face...]
[Choose eye colour.]
[Choose height, weight, and skin colour.]
.
..
...
"Done, done, done, done." Ben marked all the uing questions, finally moving towards thest two questions.
[ Choose a lineage...]
(a) Royalty; (b) Noble Bloodline; (c) Commoner (d) Magic King''s Secret Son
"If I had a choice, in a world of magic, imagine me, the all-powerful son of a king, with a harem of nine girls, but being a son of a king is too risky and will attract unwanted attention!"
"Thinking again, I wouldn''t mind being a regr guy either, rising from the bottom to be the ultimate mage and collecting a harem along the way... Or maybe not; that''s kinda too much work for me." Ben thought of his disappointment. "Let''s just go with noble blood for now."
[Choose the PP size...]
"No need for options; I ept me as I am; size doesn''t matter. Heheheheehehe...."
With each choice, the screen adjusted and disyed a preview of the world Ben was creating for himself. The images on the screen showcased lush forests, majestic castles, and mythical creatures, all bathed in a soft, enchanting glow.
Once all the choices were made, the screen disyed a confirmation message.
[Your customised reincarnation application has been submitted. The Reincarnation System will now process your request.]
"Now, just start the reincarnation already."
[Initiating the Reincarnation Process]
[Progress: 15%]
[Progress: 35%]
"It looks like my exit outta here ising soon. My harem awaits me in the new magical world, ahahahaha."
[Progress: 82%]
[Progress: 99%]
While the reincarnation process was yet to bepleted, a sudden vibration was felt through the ne, as if it were an earthquake. The blue screen started to flicker into the red as the fairy world around Ben started to break apart.
¨X¨T¨g ?Error 502? ¨d¨T¨[
?Unexpected Troubles Detected? The energy source has been cut off.
? Troubleshooting system... failed
? System update: insufficient energy... Failed
Forcing emergency reincarnation: 99%
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"Wait, what''s going on? Why do I feel...? It''s like I''m being squeezed. Reboot the system, cancel orders, delete codes¡ªdo something before I... Argh!"
[Progress: 100%, Emergency Reincarnation Complete]
With thest notification, a massive st resounded throughout the in, and the fairy world where Ben was standing just now shattered like ss against a hammer.
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[ A/N: You can join my discord server to follow updates and get more resources like Character images, map of the city, and all: Join our discord: https://discord.gg/E3tsRAqc ]
Chapter 3: Mosquito Chronicles: Bloodsucking heroic antiques
Chapter 3: Mosquito Chronicles: Bloodsucking heroic antiques
Ben found himself in an empty void, everything around himpletely nk. It was as if all his senses were numbed, leaving him with a sense of emptiness.
"Where am I? I was supposed to be with that reincarnation system thing, right?"
As he contemted his situation, he realized that even in this peculiar state, his bad luck seemed to persist.
"It''s so random that it''s starting to get funny," Ben thought,ughing inwardly. He had grown ustomed to life''s bizarre twists and turns.
Just then, a blue screen materialized before him, breaking the monotony of the void.
[Initiating transfer...]
[Transferplete]
...
"What the hell? Is this a blue screen again? Am I still stuck in the afterlife?" Ben wondered, his gaze fixed on the screen as it flickered onest time and turned crimson red.
[Adapting system...adapted]
[Activating Bloodsucker System]
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
¨p¨T?STATUS?¨T¨p
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant Mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 1
Exp: 0/5
Strength: 0.1
Agility: 0.2
Stamina: 0.1
Luck: 0.000
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"What in the world? A mosquito? Seriously?" Ben eximed in disbelief, reading the information on the screen carefully.
"I need to break out of here..."
"I need to break out of here..."
"I need to break out of here!" Ben muttered, putting all his strength into pushing his limbs and freeing his body.
"Crack... crack...." With sudden cracking sounds, white light flooded into the dark cage he had been in. With one final burst of effort, he managed to break free.
"Huff...huff...Finally. I am free," Ben muttered, trying to shake off the gooey substance around him. However, a sudden realization struck him.
"Why do I feel like...I have six legs?" he muttered nervously before opening his eyes and discovering his new mosquito body.
"Waaaaahhhh!! My waist looks like a mosquito. No, I even have mosquito hands; I''ve reincarnated as a mosquito!" He screamed inwardly, unable to produce a voice.
"It''s unbelievable! Hey, blue screen? Are you listening? Reincarnation system?" Ben shouted in his mind, his frustration evident.
"System! What''s the big idea?" He shouted, attempting to survey his surroundings, but his control over his new form remained elusive.
?{Apologies, host! Can you please specify which part of this situation you find objectionable?}?
"Wait, you can talk to me?" Ben''s eyebrows shot up in surprise as a robotic female voice resounded in his mind.
?{The system is programmed to respond to basic queries from the host.}?
"Alright then, tell me why I''m stuck reincarnated as a mosquito. Wasn''t the n toe back as a human?" Ben inquired, his voice tinged with hesitation.
?{While the system never explicitly stated your future race, yes, you ended up as a mosquito due to an anomaly in this universe.}?
"So, you''re saying a universe-altering hup turned me into a bloodsucking bug? Great." Ben''s voice dripped with sarcasm, peering at the red screen floating before him.
"System, why did you pull off this stunt? Won''t it cause mayhem if there''s no reincarnation system in this universe?"
?{Indeed, host. Without the reincarnation system in operation, no lives will be born in this world. Babies will enter the world lifeless, while people continue to perish. If left unchecked, the universe will destabilize and get wiped out by higher beings.}?
?{By choosing a host and waiting for a connection with an energy source, the system can remain active. In short, the fate of this universe rests in your tiny, mosquito hands, host.}?
"But..."
[???]
"Do you think a lowly mosquito like me can save the darn universe?" Ben quipped a hint of doubt in his voice.
?{But host, you''re not just any ordinary mosquito. You retain the intelligence from your past life, and now you have the Bloodsucker system too.}?
"Okay, so even if I can help you, why should I help you? It''s not like you are making my life any better...I better as well try taking a shot in reincarnation again." Ben muttered, annoyed by the behavior of the system.
?{...}?
?{Processing answer...}?
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
?MAIN QUEST: Evolve into a humanoid form within 45 days.
[Reward: Skills x3] [Failure: Your soul will be erased from the universe]
"Well..on a second thought... you''re not entirely wrong... And it''s not like I have other ns lined up. I suppose I''ll give it a shot rather than having a cosmic barbecue and getting erased along with the universe." Ben contemted looking at the quest, somewhat hesitatingly but relived that he could be at least something simr to human.
"Alright then, spill the details. What''s my mission?" Ben inquired, standing on all four of his minuscule legs.
"Ding!"
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
©° Consume 0.2 ml of blood within 3 hours.
[Reward: ???] [Punishment: instant death]
"Wait a darn minute! Since when do male mosquitoes drink blood?" Ben eximed, his mind blown by the revtion.
?{Host, being a mutant mosquito, don''t judge yourself by the standards of your previous world.}?
"Fantastic! I''ve transformed into a mutant mosquito, destined to chug blood like a vampire in a bug-sized tuxedo. Just when I thought things couldn''t get any weirder," Ben grumbled to himself, shaking his minuscule mosquito head in utter disbelief.
He examined the quest prompt hovering in front of him, contemting his options. "Alright, let''s see. I''ve got three hours to gulp down 0.2 ml of blood. That shouldn''t be too challenging, right? I mean, how much blood can a mosquito drink? It''s like a teeny sip for me!"
"The real problem here is figuring out how to fly and how to suck blood," Ben pondered, gazing at the cluttered surroundings.
"Hey, system? Do you have any clue how to fly?"
?{I have no data regarding this request}?
"Forget it; I''ll figure it out on my own," Ben muttered, attempting to p his tiny wings. Despite gaining enough strength to move his body, he was still a fledgling mutant mosquito.
"I could use a flight demonstration or something," he thought before noticing his siblings gracefully soaring through the air.
"Oh, look at those show-offs zipping around like they own the ce," Ben grumbled, observing his siblings with a mixture of envy and determination. "Well, if they can do it, so can I!"
...
..
.
Chapter 4: New skills
Chapter 4: New skills
"Oh, look at those show-offs zipping around like they own the ce," Ben grumbled, observing his siblings with a mixture of envy and determination. "Well, if they can do it, so can I!"
He closely studied their movements and wing ps, attempting to mimic them. Awkwardly hopping around, he tried to find the right rhythm. But no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn''t get the hang of it.
"Well, close enough. Let''s focus on finding a blood source for now," he decided, flying erratically and narrowly, avoiding collisions with the surrounding trees.
"I seem to be in some sort of forest or something, and it''s night-time. There is next to no chance that I will even find a human here. In other words, I will have to go for animals.," he thought, scanning the area until he heard cheering soundsing from somewhere nearby.
"By the way, system. I was just wondering, from when did male mosquitoes start drinking blood?" Ben asked, looking at his mouth, where two fangs were present instead of needles that mosquitos usually have.
?{I would like to remind you host that you are a mutant mosquito in a magical world. So try not to apply your previous world logic in it}?
"Ya, right..."
Within a minute of flying and searching, Ben spotted an open area where people dressed in metallic amor wandered around a campfire.
"Wait, are they humans inside the jungle? Oh, soldiers are camping out in the jungle. That''s my key" he thought, rubbing his mosquito hands together before heading towards his targets.
After a few minutes of nning and consideration, Ben decided to sneak behind a human and find the perfect moment tounch his attack.
However, every time Ben approached a potential victim, they swiftly swatted him away with a flick of their hand, leaving him buzzing in frustration. "Come on, people! I''m just a little mosquito trying to save the universe here! Can''t you spare a drop of blood?"
Undeterred, he resolved to find a more vulnerable target. He followed the scent of freshly baked cookies, leading him to a backyard barbecue party.
"There''s no way they can resist the irresistiblebo of barbecue and blood," Ben thought, rubbing his tiny mosquito hands together.
Hended on a juicy-looking steak, ready to feast, when suddenly, a woman with lightning-fast reflexes swatted him away, narrowly evading his proboscis. "Not today, mosquito!"
Ben flew off, nursing his bruised ego. "Okay, note to self: steer clear of angry barbecuedies with impable reflexes. Lesson learned."
Ben skulked about looking for more blood, but forgot about getting a sip¡ªhe was barely even avoiding the hands that were pping on his tiny little life.
"I must be the unluckiest mosquito in the universe. This is like aedy of errors, and I''m the punchline," Benmented, rubbing his mosquito temples.
After numerous failed attempts, Ben decided to approach things differently. He flew a bit farther from the campfire and stumbled upon a rowdy group of partygoers clinking sses and having a grand old time.
"Ah, a party! This is my chance!" Ben eximed, rubbing his tiny mosquito hands together with anticipation.
He stealthily made his way to the bar counter, eyeing the colorful cocktails and alcoholic beverages. "I guess mosquitoes aren''t too choosy about the source of their blood, right?"
With a mischievous grin, Ben plunged into the most inebriated human, his proboscis poised for action. He took a deep sip, or rather, a deep slurp, and savored the taste of the rich, velvety liquid.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
[Drink blood (0.05 or 0.20 mL)]
"Hmm, not bad! It''s like a mosquito wine-tasting experience. I can already imagine the reviews: ''A delicate blend of human hemoglobin with hints of oak and desperation''," Ben chuckled to himself, feeling rather proud of his unorthodox approach.
Throughout the night, he continued his escapades, buzzing from one ss to another, sampling various beverages. Each sip brought him closer topleting the quest and saving the universe, one drop of blood at a time.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
[Drink blood (0.15/0.20 ml)]
As the clock ticked away, Ben realized he was cutting it close. He needed just a little more blood to reach the target. That''s when he spotted a slumbering individual dozing off in a secluded corner booth, seemingly undisturbed by the lively atmosphere.
"Perfect!" Ben eximed, buzzing over to the unsuspecting sleeper. With the precision of a bloodsucking ninja, he delicatelynded on their arm and took his final sip,pleting the quest.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
[Drink blood (0.20/0.20 ml)pleted]
[Rewards: instant level-up]
"Mission aplished! I did it!" Ben cheered, pumping his tiny mosquito fists in the air. "Who knew being a mosquito could be so fulfilling?"
Suddenly, the glitchy screen appeared once again, this time disying his updated status.
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 2
Exp: 0/5
Strength: 0.1 (+0.2)
Agility: 0.2 (+0.2)
Stamina: 0.1 (+0.2)
Level-up reward: 1 free stat point
Active skill: Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz) [NEW]
Passive skill: Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources) [NEW]
Ben couldn''t help but feel a sense of aplishment, despite the bizarre circumstances. He had taken his first step towards bing the unlikely hero the universe needed, one tiny sip at a time.
"What the hell? Active skill? Passive skill? and evolution? "Am I ying an RPG game or something? " Ben asked, flying spirally in disbelief.
?{Host! The system is designed based on the previous methods of the host to find the most convenient way to be stronger.}?
"Soka!!"
"That exins why the system looks like the MMORPG games I used to y back in my world," Ben eximed, pping his front two mosquito legs.
"Well, if that''s the case, it means I canplete quests or kill monsters to gain experience points and level up into a stronger mosquito. Am I in the right system?"
?{Yes host. You canplete the daily quest or kill other living beings to level up yourself. [By leveling up, you can constantly increase a significant amount of your agility, stamina, or strength.}?
?{Also, if you level up constantly, you can reach a certain requirement to evolve into a better body.}?
"Oh! That sounds quite easy. But what about active and passive skills?" Ben asked, rubbing his mosquito temples while sitting on a tree leaf nearby.
?{Well, active skills are special abilities that you can use actively during your adventures.}?
?{For example, your ''Mosquito''s Buzz'' skill allows you to confuse enemies with an annoying buzz. It can be quite handy when you need to distract or disorient your foes.}?
Ben grinned, buzzing his wings in excitement. "Hehehehehe... it''s the kind of skill I can imagine a mosquito will possess."
Chapter 5: Escaping the Spider’s Web
Chapter 5: Escaping the Spider''s Web
Ben grinned, buzzing his wings in excitement. "Hehehehehe... it''s the kind of skill I can imagine a mosquito will possess."
[Passive skills, on the other hand, are abilities that are always active, providing you with passive benefits.]
[Blood Tracer: Helps you detect any blood source about 100meters near you. ]
"Being a passive skill, I don have to worry about the energy consumption when using it." Ben sat on edge of a branch and decided to test his skill.
As soon as he thought about blood tracker skill, the world around him turned into white and ck colour. Everything around him was shaped in boxes, except for red energying from living beings.
Impressed by his abilities, Ben asked the system about his evolution part "You said earlier that if I keep evolving and levelling up, I can get a human form. So how many steps of evolution I need to climb before I can get back to human form?"
[ Host, by constantly levelling up andpleting the quests you can reach an evolution very close to being human. But I don''t have any intel about how many evolution its needed to be.
[I believe you can even evolve after evolving into human, to be something even better than human.]
Ben, who was justzing around, had his mosquito eyes widen as soon as he heard these words. His wings buzzed with excitement as he absorbed what system said. "Something even better than being human? Now that''s intriguing!"
[Yes, host! Evolution is never ending, nothing is perfect and to attend this perfection one needs to evolve. Every being has this ability, any you are no exception.]
A mischievous grin spread across Ben''s face. "So, you''re saying I could be a mosquito-god or something simr?"
[ That''s true host, but sadly my knowledge and calctions are only true up to Evo 1. So I cant give you any more information regarding this topic.]
"So basically, I just need to gain experience, as much as I can if I don''t want to end up being a cosmic barbeque." Ben finally understood the whole thing clearly. From the time he came to this world, he was just in a hurry of time limit he never got the time to explore about his new life.
"Alright then! Bombard me with every fucking quest you have." Ben asked in excitement, with apletely new determination in his eyes. Going up against the odds was something he always enjoyed, and this new world with new challenges were no exception.
[The system can only grant you one daily quest every 24 hours to get any new daily quest. The host needs to trigger the quest first.]
"Buzz!!!"
[???]
"Alright, never mind, I will just work on my flying skills until then," Ben said before jumping off the leaf, directly towards the ground, falling by the head.
"whooooshhh!!"
Ben flew along the branches before he took a dramatic turn and flew vertically down the earth. With increasing speed due to gravity, Ben took a sharp horizontal turn just before he was about to hit the ground. The whole experience for him was like a punji jumping without ropes.
"And another sharp turn! Wait a second!" "Why am I not falling?" Ben asked with a confused expression, sensing that his flight was being obstructed by something.
"What the hell! Why can''t I move my wings... ugh...damnit! Why does it feel like I am stuck in some kind of web or something?" Ben groaned, trying to move his limbs, before a sudden thought crossed his mind, making him freeze on the spot.
"Why does it feel like I am stuck in a mosquito web or something?"
[Ding!!]
¨p¨T?Quest Initiated?¨T¨p
©° Escape the spider before the mutant spider arrives.
[Reward:5 exp points ] [Punishment: death]
"Gulp"
Ben''s heart raced as he realized he was caught in a spider''s web. Panic surged through his tiny mosquito body as he frantically struggled to free himself. He buzzed his wings furiously, hoping to break free, but the sticky threads held him firmly in ce.
"Just when I found a good aim in my new life, fu*k me sideways!" Ben cursed internally, trying to gather all his strength to break free of the web.
"Why did I have to get overexcited and jump down on the web anyway?" Just when the hell would I learn to learn from my mistakes?" Panicking, Ben frantically tried to wriggle free, but the sticky silk of the web held him firmly in ce.
Beads of sweat formed on his tiny mosquito body as he struggled against the impending danger. The thought of facing a mutant spider was enough to send shivers down his spine.
As Ben continued to struggle, he heard a faint rustling sound in the distance. Hispound eyes widened in fear as he realised that the mutant spider was approaching. The mere thought of facing a spider many times his size sent a wave of terror through his minuscule body.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Ben muttered, his tiny voice trembling with panic. "I didn''t sign up for this when I born into a mutant mosquito!"
He desperately nced around, searching for any possible means of escape. His agile mind raced, trying toe up with a n to outsmart the impending arachnid threat.
"Think, Ben, think!" he urged himself. "You have the mosquito''s buzzing skill. Maybe there''s a way to use it to distract the spider!"
...
Ben''s mind raced as he considered his options. With each passing second, the sound of the approaching spider grew louder, filling him with a sense of urgency. He knew he had to act quickly if he wanted to escape.
Drawing upon his newly acquired skills, Ben focused on his "Mosquito''s Buzz" ability. He had to find a way to use it strategically to divert the attention of the spider and buy himself some time.
Taking a deep breath, Ben mustered all his strength and let out a high-pitched, annoying buzz. The sound reverberated through the air, piercing and irritating any creature within earshot.
The spider, now just a few feet away, paused for a moment, its eight eyes darting around, trying to locate the source of the disturbance. Ben seized this opportunity and intensified his buzzing, making it even more obnoxious and distracting.
The spider, annoyed and confused, started moving away from the direction of the sound, leaving Ben momentarily forgotten in the web.
"This might just work!" Ben thought, his tiny mosquito heart pounding with adrenaline. He continued to buzz, alternating the pitch and intensity, keeping the spider''s attention fixated on him.
The purpose of his skill was to confuse enemies, and he hoped it would work on the mutant spider as well. Ben knew that spiders were highly sensitive to vibrations, and he hoped to exploit that weakness.
"This is probably the only freaking chance I have; I am going to fu*k the world with all I have got!" Ben screamed internally before using all his strength and concentration on the mosquito buzz skill.
As his buzzing intensified, the sticky web vibrated, amplifying the sound and causing the whole web to vibrate with it. Ben watched with bated breath as the vibrations travelled through the strands, reaching the edges of the web.
Chapter 6: Escaping the spiderweb (2)
Chapter 6: Escaping the spiderweb (2)
As his buzzing intensified, the sticky web vibrated, amplifying the sound and causing the whole web to vibrate with it. Ben watched with bated breath as the vibrations travelled through the strands, reaching the edges of the web.
Suddenly, the web began to shake violently, and Ben could see cracks forming in the sticky threads. The buzzing sound had weakened the web''s structural integrity, making it easier for him to break free.
Taking advantage of the weakened web, Ben pped his wings with all his might, struggling against the remaining stickiness. With each powerful wingbeat, he managed to tear through the weakened threads, inching closer to freedom.
But before he was about to break free, a massive shadow loomed over him. The mutant spider had arrived, seizing the opportunity when Ben was distracted in flight.
"Holy cow!!" Ben shouted inside, barely dodging the spider leg attack by flying to the left. Although he was almost free, one of his legs was still stuck in the spider silk, preventing him from moving much in the air.
"Just get away from my hands or legs already!" Ben screamed internally, using all his strength to pull the silk off while dodging the spider''s attacks left and right and using his active skill onest time.
The mutant spider, disoriented by the incessant buzzing, hesitated for a moment, giving Ben the opportunity he needed. With one final burst of strength, he tore through thest remaining threads of the web and shot into the air, narrowly escaping the spider''s reach.
As Ben soared through the room, he nced back, relieved to see that he had managed to evade the mutant spider''s clutches. He let out a sigh of relief, grateful that his active skills hade in handy.
"Now that was a close call," Ben said, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and exhration. "Note to self: Avoid mutant spiders at all costs."
He observed, trying to stand on a leaf, before he found himself unbnced and fell sideways. "What the hell is this now?"
Ben tried to muster whatever means he could to stand up, but he kept falling off bnce as if something was missing.
As Ben examined his body, he couldn''t believe his eyes. One of his middle left legs was indeed missing. He stared at the space where the leg used to be, his mind racing toprehend what had just happened.
"I lost a leg, and I don''t feel any pain," Ben muttered, his tiny mosquito brain struggling to process the situation. "WHAT KIND OF BIZARRE WORLD DID I END UP IN?"
With his remaining legs, Ben attempted to move around and maintain his bnce, but the absence of the lost leg made it challenging for him. He wobbled and stumbled, struggling to adapt to his new condition.
"This is going to make things a lot more difficult," Ben muttered, his wings buzzing with frustration. "I need to find a way topensate for the missing leg."
He racked his brain, considering possible solutions to ovee this unexpected setback. With his increased agility and adaptability as a mutant mosquito, he hoped there might be a way to adapt to his new circumstances.
"Perhaps I can redistribute my weight and adjust my flying technique," Ben thought aloud. "I''ll need to rely more on my remaining legs for stability and manoeuvring."
With determination in his eyes, Ben began practicing his flight manoeuvres, making adjustments to ount for the missing leg. He focused on enhancing his agility and improving his control over his remaining limbs.
Through trial and error, Ben gradually grew ustomed to his altered body. He learned topensate for the missing leg, developing new strategies and techniques to maintain his bnce and manoeuvre effectively.
He flew to a safe spot on a nearby tree branch, taking a moment to catch his breath. The encounter had reminded him of the dangers lurking in this new world, and he knew he needed to be more cautious in the future.
With a renewed sense of determination, Ben nced at his status screen once more, contemting his next move.
¨p¨T?Quest Completed?¨T¨p
Escape the spider before the mutant spider arrives.
[Reward: 5 exp points]
Congrattions! You levelled up! [All stats points +0.2]
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 3
Exp: 0/10 HP: 0.9/1
Strength: 0.5
Agility: 0.6
Stamina: 0.5
Level up a reward: 0.4 free stat points
Active skill: Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
Passive skill: Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"Hey system," Ben called out, addressing the mysterious entity that seemed to be guiding him. "Can you exin how these stat points influence my abilities and progression?"
The system responded promptly, its voice echoing in Ben''s mind.
[Certainly, host. Stat points are numerical values that represent your various attributes, such as strength, agility, and stamina. By allocating stat points to specific attributes, you can enhance your capabilities in those areas.
Ben nodded, still buzzing in a moan over his middle left leg. "So, the more stat points I allocate to a particr attribute, the stronger I be in that aspect?"
[Yes, that is correct.] The system confirmed
[Each attribute influences different aspects of your performance: strength affects your physical power; agility enhances your speed and dexterity; and stamina determines your endurance and ability to sustain prolonged activities.]
Ben''s curiosity grew further. "And what about the level-up rewards? How do they contribute to my growth?"
[The level-up rewards provide you with additional stat points to distribute as you see fit,] the system exined.
[They serve as a boost to your overall development, allowing you to further specialise in certain areas or improve your overall bnce.]
"Is that so?" Ben mumbled before activating the status screen.
Ben felt a surge of excitement as he saw his level increase and gain additional stat points. He knew he had to use them wisely to improve his chances of survival in this unforgiving world.
"Alright, time to allocate these stat points strategically," Ben muttered, pondering his options.
Chapter 7: The Evolution of a Tiny Warrior: Rise of the Mosquito god
Chapter 7: The Evolution of a Tiny Warrior: Rise of the Mosquito god
"Alright, time to allocate these stat points strategically," Ben muttered, pondering his options.
He considered the challenges he had faced and the skills he possessed. His agility had proven useful in escaping the spider''s web, but he also needed to increase his strength and stamina for future encounters.
After careful consideration, Ben decided to distribute his stat points as follows:
Strength: +0.2
Agility: +0.1
Stamina: +0.1
With his increased strength, Ben hoped to deliver more powerful attacks and defend himself better against potential threats. The boost to his agility and stamina would enhance his overall mobility and endurance, allowing him to navigate through various environments and engage in prolonged battles if necessary.
Satisfied with his choices, Ben felt a newfound confidence coursing through his tiny mosquito veins. He knew each decision he made could greatly impact his survival in this strange world.
"By the way, system! Is there a way to heal my middle left leg by any chance?" Ben asked in hesitation, not sure what to expect as an answer.
[Yes host! Your body will go through a full recovery once you evolve to EVO1. [I don''t have any information on how many level-ups are required for you to evolve further, but you can certainly evolve if you keep leveling up constantly.]
The system''s response echoed in Ben''s mind, providing him with a glimmer of hope. If he continued to level up and evolve, there was a possibility that his missing leg would be restored.
"Evolution..." Ben murmured, contemting the concept. "So, if I keep leveling up, I have a chance to regain my missing leg and potentially acquire even more powerful abilities?"
[That is correct, host. Evolution is a transformative process that urs as you reach certain milestones in your growth. It brings about significant changes to your form and abilities, potentially granting you new strengths and capabilities.]
Ben''s determination surged anew. He had already experienced the benefits of leveling up and allocating his stat points strategically. Now, the prospect of evolving and unlocking even greater potential motivated him to press forward.
"The longer I live in this world, the more it feels like an MMORPG game," Ben thought, his wings buzzing in excitement.
"Alright, then it''s decided! Bombard me with any leveling-up quest you have," Ben said, with a newfound determination in his bubbly mosquito eyes.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
? Permanent quests have been triggered.
? Consume different types of blood from different species.
[Reward: (5 exp + stat points) ]
The quest seemed to revolve around Ben''s ability to consume blood from various species. It intrigued him, as he had already relied on blood to sustain himself in this world. Now, it appeared that by feeding on different types of blood, he could further enhance his growth.
Excited by the possibilities, Ben epted the quest with a buzz of his wings. He understood thatpleting this quest would not only grant him experience points but also provide additional stat points to allocate as he saw fit.
As he set out on his quest, Ben''s senses sharpened, attuned to the presence of potential sources of blood. He flew through diverse environments, searching for different species to feed on.
- Passive skill activated: Blood Tracker -
As soon as the notification popped up in front of Ben, the world around him turned a light red color, with red me-like shapesing out of the living things.
"Is this something like a thermosensor camera from my world? Except for the red color, I guess yes, it is." Ben concluded, in excitement, that he was looking for a life source around him.
"There it is!" he eximed in excitement beforeunching towards a dark red energy source.
"woohoo"
Ben buzzed in excitement, surprised by the speed at which he was flying. Not only could he fly almost twice as fast as before, but he was also able to fly higher than thest time.
"Let''s go, system."
["..."]
As he approached the energy source, he saw a group of cattle grazing in a nearby field. The red me-like shapes intensified around them, indicating their avability as a potential food source. Ben descended gracefully,nding softly on a nearby branch to observe the situation before making his move.
He observed an eight-foot-tall, massive bull-like animal with five big horns, and its body felt as if it were made of metallic spikes.
"What the hell is that thing?" Ben asked with wide eyes.
[ That''s a magical beast from this world''s host! but don''t worry since it''s nighttime and the bull is still sleeping. Which makes it a good target for your host.]
...
Without hesitation, Ben took flight again, zooming towards the mutant bull with precision and speed. He approached from behind, careful not to alert the animal to his presence. With a swift motion, he pierced the mutant bull''s skin with his proboscis, extracting a small amount of blood.
As Ben consumed the mutant bull''s blood, he felt a surge of energy coursing through his tiny body. The taste was different from anything he had experienced before, tinged with a metallic vor and a hint of energy. Unlike human blood, this one felt an energy sensation as if he had stuck his tongue in a battery.
After finishing his feeding, Ben retreated to a safe distance, allowing the mutant bull to continue its slumber undisturbed. He felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that he hadpleted his quest and acquired valuable nourishment.
"Ding!!"
[Quest progressed]
[Beast blood has been consumed by mutant buffalo ]
[Exp: +5 Strength: +0.1]
"Koooool! Hey system, do I get random stats each time I consume blood from now on?" Ben asked, buzzing in excitement.
The host can only get 0.1 stat points from one particr being. As for the stat point, it depends on which species you consume the blood of. As an example, beast blood will get you +0.1 strength point, human blood will get you +0.1 agility point, and
"Wait a second! "So does this mean that I can grow strong as long as I keep consuming the blood of different species?" Ben asked in anticipation and curiosity.
[ Data unavable! [Please evolve the system for further answers. ]
"Sigh!" Ben sighed, his wings lowering, expressing his disappointment. " Nevermind! Show me the stats."
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant Mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 3
Exp: 5/10 HP: 1.0
Strength: 0.6
Agility: 0.6
Stamina: 0.5
Active skill: Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
Passive skill: Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Ben couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement and satisfaction as he looked at his updated status. After all, who would believe that just a few minutes ago he was a puny mosquito with all his stats at 0.1? Even a strong gust of wind would be enough to kill him.
"The system sure has its ways," Benmented, nodding his little mosquito head in satisfaction.
"Alright, time to find more sources of blood and continue my growth," Ben dered, buzzing his wings in determination. He knew that by consuming the blood of different species, he could further enhance his abilities and increase his chances of survival.
With the help of his Blood Tracker passive skill, Ben soared through the night, seeking out potential blood sources. But unfortunately for him, all he could find was another sheep-like mutant beast with brown fur and two sharp tailszing around.
"Alright, time to increase some strength," Ben thought, rubbing his hands before heunched towards the other two beasts and took a sip from the two of them.
"Ding!!"
[Mutant beast blood consumed: Tyrosas]
[ Exp: +5 Strength: +0.1]
"Ding!"
[Congrattions! You leveled up to level 4. [All stats +0.2]
"Hehehehehe...I am one more step closer to bing the almighty mosquito god that will rule the world," Ben mumbled before he flew towards another beast of the same specieszing around.
"Ding!!"
Chapter 8: Primary Evolution
Chapter 8: Primary Evolution
[Mutant beast blood consumed: Tyrosas]
[ Exp: +5 Strength: +0.1]
As Ben continued to consume the blood of the mutant beast, he could feel his strength growing. Each sip brought him closer to his goal of bing a formidable force in this mutant world. The metallic taste mixed with the energy sensation invigorated him, fueling his determination to grow even stronger.
"Ding!"
[Congrattions! You have reached level 5. [All stats +0.2]
Ben''s excitement soared as he leveled up once again. With each level gained, he could feel the surge of power coursing through his veins, his tiny mosquito body undergoing remarkable transformations.
"System, show me the updated stats!" Ben eximed, eager to see the progress he had made.
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant Mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 5
Exp: 15/20 HP: 1.0
Strength: 1.3
Agility: 1.0
Stamina: 0.9
Active skill: Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
Passive skill: Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Ben''s excitement turned into a victorious buzz as he gazed at his enhanced stats. He hade a long way from his humble beginnings, growing stronger and more capable with each passing day. His strength had now reached 1.3, and his agility and stamina had also improved significantly.
"Level 5, huh? I''m getting the hang of this," Ben mused, his wings fluttering in satisfaction. He could already feel the difference in his movements and abilities, and he knew there was still more room for growth. But before Ben could step down the stairs of excitement, another notification popped up on his screen, sending him on cloud nine.
[Primary evolution is avable; would you like to evolve to evo 1?]
[ept] [Not now]
"Ding!"
[Congrattions! You have reached level 5. [All stats +0.2]
Ben''s excitement soared as he levelled up once again. With each level gained, he could feel the surge of power coursing through his veins, his tiny mosquito body undergoing remarkable transformations.
"System, show me the updated stats!" Ben eximed, eager to see the progress he had made.
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Mutant Mosquito
Evolution: 0 Level: 5
Exp: 15/20 HP: 1.0
Strength: 1.3
Agility: 1.0
Stamina: 0.9
Active skill: Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
Passive skill: Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Ben''s excitement turned into a victorious buzz as he gazed at his enhanced stats. He hade a long way from his humble beginnings, growing stronger and more capable with each passing day. His strength had now reached 1.3, and his agility and stamina had also improved significantly.
"Level 5, huh? I''m getting the hang of this," Ben mused, his wings fluttering in satisfaction. He could already feel the difference in his movements and abilities and knew there was still more room for growth. But before Ben could step down the stairs of excitement, another notification popped up on his screen, sending him on cloud nine.
[Primary evolution is avable; would you like to evolve to evo 1?]
[ept] [Not now]
"Wait what? Wasn''t this supposed to be my way to be a human? The system, answer me." Ben''s wings stiffened up in shock and confusion as he asked.
[Host, getting an evolution request means your body can no longer grow stronger in this form, so you will need to undergo a gic modification procedure to improve your capabilities and potential.]
"Is that so? Then what if I don''t want to evolve and use the not now option?" Ben asked with a tinge of confusion.
[ Since the evolution process is time-consuming and the host is vulnerable during the time of evolution, the system designed this program so that the host can find a good ce for himself before he epts the evolution.]
"Is that so? Well, that makes sense since I can''t go to evolve in the middle of a battle or something, or I will pretty much get killed." Ben muttered silently while rubbing his mosquito temples on his right foreleg.
"Well, system, I was just thinking, what if I choose not to evolve right now and continue to grind and level up?" Ben asked in excitement as if he were a little kid who had figured out a bug in the matrix.
The host won''t be able to level up any further unless the host evolves to Evo 1. In any case, even if the host manages to increase his strength without evolving, your tiny little mosquito body will st to shreds.
"Gulp" Listening to the system''s warning, Ben swallowed down his ultra-creative thoughts along with the n to beat the matrix.
"Alright, fine, then, I will find myself a ce where I can safely evolve," Ben concluded, letting out a long breath of disappointment, before he flew upward and began his search for a safe spot.
It didn''t take long for Ben to find a football-sized hole in an old tree that waspletely hidden by itsrge leaves. Using his blood tracer abilities, Ben first scanned to ensure that no one was present in or out of that hole before he went in and clicked on the notification window from the status screen.
[Primary evolution is avable; would you like to evolve to evo 1?]
[ept] [Not now]
Without hesitation, he selected "ept" and prepared himself for the uing transformation.
As he made his choice, a blinding light enveloped his entire being, obscuring his vision. The world around him faded away, and he felt a warm, blunt pain in his body as if his body were undergoing a rapid metamorphosis.
His limbs elongated, his wings grewrger and stronger, his missing leg regenerated as if it had never been damaged, and his entire form became more streamlined and resilient.
When the light finally subsided, Ben emerged as apletely transformed creature. And a new notification popped in front of his eyes:
[Congrattions, host! You have sessfully evolved into a drawing mosquito. ]
Ben emerged as apletely transformed creature. No longer a mere mosquito, he had evolved into a dreadwing mosquito.
With a sleek and menacing appearance, Ben''s body was covered in iridescent ck and red scales. His wings spanned wider, pulsating with an eerie crimson glow. The proboscis that once fed on blood now possessed razor-sharp fangs, ready to pierce through any defense, with elegant patterns decorating his wings. He wasrger, more robust, and radiated an aura of power and authority.
As Ben marveled at his new form, the system''s voice resonated within his mind.
Ben''s excitement soared to new heights. He couldn''t believe the transformation he had undergone. From a small, fragile mosquito to a formidable Dreadwing Mosquito: "That''s what you call a true monster... hahaha!" Ben eximed, moving his body, which was as big as a cricket ball now.
Eager to explore his newfound powers, Ben activated his status screen once again to see the changes brought about by his evolution.
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Dreadwing Mosquito
Evolution: Evo 1 Level: 5
Exp: 0/20 HP: 5.0
Strength: 3
Agility: 3
Stamina: 3
Active skills:
1. Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
2. Blood needle (attack with small needles of blood; -0.5 HP)
3. Soul Drain (steal life essence from the enemies)
Passive skill:
1. Blood Tracker (Enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
2. Mutatic regeneration (can heal your body from consuming blood)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Chapter 9: First evolution: The Dreadwing mosquito
Chapter 9: First evolution: The Dreadwing mosquito
As Ben studied his new status, he couldn''t help but grin from ear to ear. His stats had received a significant boost, and he now possessed three powerful active skills exclusive to the Dreadwing Mosquito.
"Blood needle, soul drain..." Ben murmured, testing the names on his tongue. He could already sense the immense potential behind these skills, envisioning how they could aid him in battle and survival.
Eager to put his newfound abilities to the test, Ben focused his attention on a nearby mutant spider, which made him break his legs.
[There are even more features avable for use by hosts; to activate these features, you need to gain life experience from killing an enemy.]
"Killing an enemy!" Ben waspletely stunned at the system''s first killing, which was not a very good word to use in the world he belonged to. But judging by the fact that he was in monster form now, Ben was not that na?ve to follow the old world rules in the battle for survival.
"Alright, fine, let me search for the enemy," Ben dered before he took off for a flight, much faster and higher than before.
"You''re right there!" Ben observed the fist-sized ck mutant spider with yellow dots on its body, which was standing on its web atop a pine tree.
Heunched into the air with a p of his enhanced wings, unleashing a powerful buzz that disoriented and stunned the spider. Ben took advantage of the situation by closing the distance between himself and his opponent and activating his blood needle skill just in time to strike.
¨X¨T¨gBlood needle¨d¨T¨[
When Ben chanted the skill while flying, a sharp but small needle-shaped, crimson-red auraunched from his fangs with enough recoil force to disrupt his smooth flight, causing him to miss his aim and strike the spider back, piercing through its thick ck skin.
[HP:4.5/5.0]
A notification popped up on his screen, signaling his loss of HP due to a blood needle attack.
{A/N: In case you ignored reading it, each blood needle attack costs Ben 0.5 points from his HP.}
"Damn, that hit hard," Ben grunted, trying to bnce himself in the air before his mosquito senses screamed danger.
Without a second thought, Ben used all his strength to turn left, just to see a small green projectile passing nearby.
"Bang": A small burning sound passed through the air as the green ball hit that leaf behind Ben, making a small hole in it.
"What kind of absurdly absurd ability is that? Is this some acid ball or something?" Ben shouted in shock; his crystal red eyes almost popped out of his sockets while looking at the damage on the leaf.
"Bang-Bang"
Ben dodged two more acid balls while observing his opponent to figure out a way to defeat him.
"The damage is heavier than my blood needle attack, and the acid ball sts at the slightest moment of contact, which means there is only one way I can have an advantage over it." He thought with a frown before he prepared a blood needle in his fangs and instantly zapped towards the spider, who was preparing a green acid ball in its fangs.
"It''s all about timing," Ben concluded beforeunching his skill.
¨X¨T¨gBlood needle¨d¨T¨[
Just as the ck mutant spider was about to shoot another acid ball, Ben shot his blood needle at the green ball the spider had yet to prepare.
"Bang!"
With a sting sound, the acid ball spread into a small acid shower. Although the acid spray didn''t kill the spider, it was enough to melt the spider web the ck spider was standing on.
"The bigger you are, the heavier you fall," Ben said, watching the ck spider fall from the top of the pine tree. But contrary to his expectations, the spider released a thread of spider silk from its body to stop its fall midway.
"Not that easy, my boy," Ben said, directly flying down towards the spider before he took a sharp turn at thest moment and prepared a blood needle skill while moving towards the spider thread.
¨X¨T¨gBlood needle¨d¨T¨[
With an air-piercing sound, the shag needle of red aura hit the spider thread from close range, cutting it midway and sending the spider into a freefall.
"Ding!!"
[A mutant spider has been killed. Please go near the spider''s body and use the soul drain skill to gain exp.
"Wow! So I killed a fist-size ck mutant spider, and I feel nothing!" Ben said, in a mocking tone. " So would the almighty reincarnation system care to exin this event?"
[I am sorry for your inconvenience. Even with your memories linked to the system, since you currently reside in a mosquito body, you are unable to feel human emotions.]
"Is that so?" Ben spoke in a serious tone, which was quite unusual since he hadn''t felt thisplicated since reincarnating into this new world. So far, everything was like a game to him where he could justplete quests and level up, but now things were gettingplex from his side.
"Hey system! Isn''t there any other way for me to level up without killing other beings?" Ben asked, slowly descending through the air.
[ Host, besides absorbing soul essence, there is no other way to obtain substantial energy. If you wait too long to kill these lives that can reincarnate once the reincarnation system is repaired, you may not be able to save the souls that cannot be born or die due to the reincarnation system being absent.]
"As expected of a system, you can only think of greater benefit and minimal loss... Never mind, I am just dumb." Ben chuckled before he stood before the ck mutant spider that was now squashed t on the ground.
.........
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Chapter 10: Soul essence obtained...
Chapter 10: Soul essence obtained...
As Ben stood before the ttened body of the ck mutant spider, he activated his Soul Drain skill. He extended his proboscis, now transformed into razor-sharp fangs, and plunged it into the spider''s lifeless body.
¨X¨T¨gSoul Drain¨d¨T¨[
With a mystical chant, a radiant energy emerged from the spider''s corpse, eagerly slurped up by Ben''s razor-sharp fangs. As the energy coursed through his veins, a warm sensation enveloped him, igniting a surge of power.
[Mutant spider, soul essence absorbed¡ªlow tier] ]
[Exp gained: 5/20]
[Soul Essence: None]
Curiosity sparked within Ben, and he turned his gaze to the floating, translucent screen before him. "System, what''s this whole soul essence thingamajig?"
[ Ah, my dear host, a soul essence is an extraordinary weapon crafted from the essence of a living being''s soul. The stronger the soul, the mightier the weapon.]
Ben scratched his chin, pondering. "So, like, everyone here has a soul essence, right?"
[Nope, sorry, host. Very few beings in the universe can tap into their souls and forge them into weapons. The reincarnation system happens to be one of those select few.]
"Whoa, that''s creepy cool! I never expected the reincarnation system to be this badass," Ben chuckled, taking to the skies in search of new targets to level up.
Although there were quite a lot of living beasts in the forest, Ben wasn''t so confident that he would evennd a scratch on any of them.
[Indeed, my dear host, the reincarnation system is an absolute powerhouse, rivalling only a handful of multiversal and primal gods.] #ProudSystem
"Oh, wise and almighty System, can you shed some light on this ''low tier'' beast thingy? And what''s up with tiers anyway?" Ben inquired, his eyes scanning the previous kill notifications.
[ In this world, beasts are ssified based on their strength, which we call tiers. Humans have confirmed five tiers so far:
Low Tier Beast
Normal Tier Beast
Advanced Tier Beast
King Tier Beast
Supreme Tier Beasts
Some im to have encountered even mightier beasts, but whether it''s truth or legend, nobody knows for sure.]
"Wait a sec, you''re supposed to be the all-knowing system, right? Can''t you confirm if those super-duper beasts exist or not?" Ben quizzed himself, zipping through the forest with lightning speed.
[ My apologies, dear host, but I''m just a budget version of the reincarnation system. My knowledge is limited to what humans have discovered so far (at least in this version).]
"Well, let''s brush that aside for now. By the way, System, what kind of beast am I ssified as?" Ben tried to steer the conversation.
[Based on my calctions, you''re currently a low-tier beast ]
While chatting with the system, Ben''s eyes sparkled as he noticed a bunch of mutant beasts he could feast on.
"Hahahaha, I found them!" Ben eximed, looking at the group of purple ants, about 1 inch in size each, moving towards a tree trunk in a rythmic pattern.
"He system, what kind of beast are they? Are they stronger than me?" Ben asked, rubbing his silver mosquito hands in excitement.
[These are mutant purple ants; they are Low Teir Beasts, but weaker than you.]
Ben''s excitement grew as he realised the purple ants were within his range. With his newfound strength and skills, he felt confident that he could handle them without much trouble.
"Time to put my skills to the test," Ben muttered, a mischievous grin spreading across his mosquito face.
Descending from the sky with an elegant glide, Ben positioned himself strategically, just above the marching line of purple ants. He focused his attention on the lead ant, which seemed to be themander of the group.
"Let''s see if these little fellows can handle the power of a rising mosquito god," Ben chuckled to himself, preparing to unleash his mosquito''s buzz skill.
¨X¨T¨gMosquito''s Buzz¨d¨T¨[
With a single p of his wings, Ben let out a deafening and irritating buzz, amplified by his evolved vocal cords. The sound waves targeted the purple ants, causing confusion and disarray among their ranks.
The ants scurried in every direction, bumping into each other and losing their sense of order. Ben seized the opportunity, diving down with precision andnding on the back of the lead ant.
As he clung to the ant''s exoskeleton, Ben activated his Blood Needle skill.
¨X¨T¨gBlood Needle¨d¨T¨[
A sharp, crimson needle shot out from Ben''s fangs, puncturing the ant''s exoskeleton and injecting a small amount of his own blood. The ant recoiled in pain, struggling to shake off its newfound attacker.
[ HP: 4.5/5.0]
Ben''s excitement grew as he continued to strike with precision, taking down one purple ant after another.
[Mutant ant killed; low tier beast]
[Exp: 10/20 ]
[Soul essence : none]
"Tsk," Ben chuckled, looking at the unsatisfying result, "another one." He said this,unching towards another nearby ant.
¨X¨T¨gBlood Needle¨d¨T¨[
His agility and speed allowed him to avoid their feeble attempts at retaliation as he shot the crimson needle directly at the ant''s waist, cutting it in half. Without wasting any time, Ben descended on the ant''s body and used the Soul Drain skill.
[Mutant ant killed; low tier beast]
[ Exp: 15/20 ]
[ Soul essence obtained, low tier armour (Grade 1)]
"Woohoo! Finally, I got my first soul essence; time to grind more," Ben said in excitement, killing one more ant with two blood needles until his HP reached a critical level.
[Mutant ant killed; low tier beast]
[Exp: 20/20]
[Levelling up to level 6, all stats +0.5 ] [Free stats +0.5]
[ Soul essence obtained, low tier armour (Grade 1)]
"Two soul essences in one raid¡ªthat''s what you call op luck!" Ben buzzed in excitement, leaving the ants alone. Flying to a safe distance, away on a tree.
"Hey system, tell me how to use soul essence," Ben asked, excited to try his new toys.
[To use a beast weapon, the host must call the weapon''s name and order a summon.]
"Oh, that''s it! Alright then, mutant ant armour, I choose you," Ben said, pointing at the air in aical pose before a bunch of purple light emerged out of the air, covering his body.
When the light finally dissipated, Ben, who was jade ck and silver in colour, was now covered by a crystaline purple shell like armour, from legs to wings, only leaving the movable parts and sharp edges open.
"Cooollll! I feel like I am in a Mark 85 Ironman suit or something," Benmented, looking around at his shiny mosquito butt covered in purple armour.
"Although it looks good, I really doubt it''s that strong. I mean, if it''s the same material that the ant back was made from, then I can easily tear it apart using a blood needle or something!" Ben concluded, testing the armour''s durability by scratching on it with his fangs.
[Host, to make this item stronger, would you like to merge it with other armour?]
"I can do that." Ben asked in disbelief.
Yes, host, each same type and grade of soul essence can be merged to upgrade to the next grade. [Not only this, but if the grade is high enough, you can even upgrade your weapon tier.]
"That''s so cool; why didn''t you tell me earlier?" Ben asked, buzzing in excitement. " I would like to merge the two armours for the next grade."
[Understood, host. Initiating the merge process.]
Excitement filled the air as Ben eagerly initiated the merging process. The two low-tier armours floated before him, emanating a faint purple glow.
The armours shimmered and began to fuse together, their individual essences blending into a new, upgraded form. Gradually, the crystal structure transformed, gaining additionalyers of strength and resilience.
After a few moments, the merging process wasplete, and the armour took on a more refined appearance. It now possessed intricate patterns and a subtle pulsating glow.
[Congrattions, host! The low-tier armour has been sessfully upgraded to low tier armour (Grade 2).]
"Wow! This looks even better!" Ben eximed, admiring the upgraded armour''s sleek design and improved protection. "I feel like a true mosquito jockerr... I mean warrior. I feel like a true mosquito warrior now!"
Chapter 11: Soul essence grade 2 acquired
Chapter 11: Soul essence grade 2 acquired
[Soul essence: low-tier armor upgraded to grade 2]
With a sense of excitement coursing through his veins, Ben marveled at the transformed armor before him. The once humble low-tier protection had now ascended to a higher grade, radiating an aura of enhanced power. He couldn''t resist running his fangs along the surface, leaving shallow marks that testified to its newfound durability.
"It''s not merely for show! My blood needle skill may still pierce through this formidable armor, but its impact will undoubtedly be less potent than before," Ben mused, conducting a series of experiments to test the capabilities of his upgraded purple armor.
"If only I had in two more mutant ants, I could have forged another grade 2 armor. Combining them would propel me to grade 3," Ben ruminated, his disappointment tinged with a hint of longing.
[The host still possesses the ability to merge this armor with another soul essence of a different ss, yielding a hybrid version. However, I must caution that the process carries a degree of risk,]
"Oh, I can do that? You should have mentioned it earlier," Ben replied, ncing at the sun, its fiery presence nearing its zenith.
"Why does gazing upon the sun cause such anguish? Ah, perhaps it''s due to my mosquito nature. Now I understand why insects are scarce during the daypared to the night," Ben contemted, utilizing his blood tracer ability to survey his surroundings. It was then that his attention was drawn to two figures passing by, bearing the unmistakable life signature of humans.
"From their life essence, they appear to be humans. Their blood shall replenish my vitality. Swiftly, let us move!" Ben dered, seizing the opportunity presented by the passing individuals, his blood tracer ability scrutinizing their life force as he took to the air.
"They move swiftly, as if riding upon a vehicle of sorts. But fear not, for I possess speed that rivals their own," Ben remarked, a smirk adorning his face as he soared towards the mobile target, traversing hundreds of meters in mere minutes.
"There they are," Ben proimed triumphantly, his gaze fixed upon a covered cargo wagon, reminiscent of a minibus in the modern world.
"It seems we have stumbled upon a road of sorts," Ben observed, surveying the reddish-brown path carved through the forest.
"System, what kind of road is this, bearing such an unusual hue? And why do people employ wagons in this realm? Is this worldcking in developmentpared to my previous one?" Ben inquired, curiositycing his words as he drew closer to the white-covered wagon.
[ The road possesses a distinct color due to the utilization of a material unlike asphalt. As for the second query, the exnation isplex," the system responded, its words hinting at a realm where advancements in both magic and technology shaped progress.]
"What kind of nonsensical exnation is that? How can there be disparities, with some aspects highly advanced while others remain woefully underdeveloped?" Ben eximed, momentarily halting his flight before resuming his approach towards the wagon.
[Host, in your previous world, progress was driven solely by scientific technology, resulting in a uniform development. However, in this realm, where magic and technology intertwine, advancements are varied,]
"Incredible! You mean to tell me that magic isn''t confined to mere conjuring tricks?" Ben questioned, a flicker of doubt intermingling with his intrigue.
[ No, host. Magic is a profound and divine force, surpassing any mere human illusion. Though exining its intricacies to you is a formidable task, I suggest you seek alternate means toprehend its essence]
"Do you truly believe that someone would teach a lowly mosquito like me the divine art of magic?" Ben scoffed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
[...]
"Very well, I shall uncover its secrets once I arrive. For now, let us focus on sustenance," Ben resolved, his eyes fixed ahead as the wagon drew nearer. As he finallynded upon the wagon''s roof, he beheld multiple energy sources within.
Two of the sources emanated from figures situated at the forefront, steering the wagon with the aid of magical beasts that resembled emaciated, green-painted T-Rexes. Meanwhile, five to six weaker sources of energy emanated from within the confines of the wagon.
"Tsk, I cannot indulge in their blood in broad daylight. I shall investigate within," Ben determined, his sharp fangs scraping against the white tent cloth covering the wagon.
"What in the name of all that is unholy?" Ben gasped, his shock palpable as he peered through a small tear he had inadvertently created.
The interior of the wagon reeked of blood and despair, the air heavy with the scent of suffering. Bound by chains adorned with mysterious purple runes, six to seven girls, aged around 11 or 12, bore the marks of torment upon their pale, exposed skin. Blindfolded by white cloth akin to that which covered the wagon''s roof, they existed in a nightmarish realm of pain and captivity.
"I have stumbled upon a den of ve traders," Ben muttered, his voiceced with disgust, his attention drawn to the peculiar symbols etched upon the chains.
Yet, the peculiarity did not end there. Ben discerned that these captives, unlike ordinary humans, possessed pointed and sharply defined ears.
"System, are the inhabitants of this world simr to humans?" Ben inquired, his curiosity piqued.
[Host, what you behold are not humans, but elves. Though they share resemnces in appearance, their prolonged lifespans and innate magical abilities set them apart ]
...
...
[A/N: Apologies for the dyed and concise chapter, dear readers. A severe storm in my area caused a widespread power outage, potentially affecting my ability to post tomorrow. However, I offer you this announcement:
Powerstone targets for the week:
50 PS/week = 1 extra chapter
100 PS/week = 3 extra chapters
Note that additional chapters will only be released on Sundays. Thank you for your unwavering support.]
Chapter 12: Fight for the right-
Chapter 12: Fight for the right-
[Host, the elves possess a rich history and culture deeply intertwined with the forces of magic. They are known for their affinity for and mastery of various magical arts, making them formidable beings in their own right.]
"If that''s the case, what are these kids doing here in a ce like this?" Ben asked, closely observing the captivity of the elves, held by ck chains.
[Host, as much as it sounds disgusting to you, since most of the elves have good appearances as a gift of nature, many rich humans prefer to keep them as s*x ves. They also get very high values in the ck market,pared to any other humanoid race.]
"What the crap!" Ben almost shouted in anger," Are you telling me that these 17- or 18 year old kids are going to be sex ves? Isn''t there anyw or any police or something simr preventing it?"
[ Yes, host, there are royal guards and many other organisations keeping an eye on people''s safety, but due to some political reasons, the human kingdom chooses to ignore anything happening with elves. The same goes for humans in elven territory.]
Oh, I see, so it''s just another kind of racism in this world." Ben said it with a cold chuckle. " doesn''t matter whether it''s a scientific world or a magical world. Humans never fail to surprise me with their actions."
"As long as humans exist, they will keep fighting on the basis of skin colour, tradition, or some religion. Their ego is so big that they couldn''t care less about these innocent children''s lives getting ruined." Ben said, observing the ck chains closely.
"Hey system! Is there any way for me to free these kids? Maybe I can cut these ck chains with multiple attacks of blood needles?" Ben asked, thinking about the different possibilities for freeing these young elves.
[Sorry to break the bubble host, but it seems that these ve chains are directly linked through the souls of the living beings connected.]
[If the host tries to break the chains, it might as well kill the elves along with it.]
"Then what is the way to free these kids? There has to be a way, right?" Ben asked with a frown on his mosquito face.
Yes, it''s indeed possible to break these chains without killing the elves, but that will require a deep understanding of magic. [which we currently don''t have.]
"Come on, there has to be a better way! Like cutting off the power source or... Killing off the two bastards driving the wagon?" Ben asked, slowly bing frustrated.
[Host, please don''t forget that your existence on this is quite crucial. [If you keep involving yourself in trivial matters, you won''t be able to save the universe.]
[I would like to suggest that the host fill his HP and get out of here. We can''t waste time on geopolitical games designed by humans since...]
"Shut up!" Ben shouted in a serious tone, stopping the system midway. "I didn''t ask for your openness, so only answer me what I asked for."
It''s the system''s responsibility to bnce the universe, and you are one of the factors that can do so. I won''t let you make any rash decisions.
"Oi oi oi! Who do you think I am? Just preach about your goal one more time, and I will throw myself at a mutant spider."
[But host, what about the bnce of the universe?]
"I couldn''t care less about something as crappy as the bnce of the universe. I live my life as I want to; if you try to interfere in it, then I have no problem being erased from the universe," Ben said with an evil smirk on his face.
[...]
[Host, there is a way to free these elves from being pushed into very. [But I am not sure if you will like it that way.]
"Just spit it out?" Ben asked in annoyance.
[I believe that the ve colours attached to these elves aren''t bound by a permanent contract. [So if you use your abilities to kill the two humans driving the wagon, then you can make a ve contract with these elves and save their lives.]
"I see. So what you are saying is that if I want to save them from bing other people''s ves, then I will need to make them my ve. Wouldn''t that be kind of the same?" Ben asked seriously.
[Host, I believe that once we are able to learn more about magic, it will be an easy task for you to remove these ves colours from their necks.]
[This is the only possible way to save them from the countless possibilities I have calcted.]
"You are not wrong; it''s not really that bad an option if this can save some lives. But the catchy part is...to kill those humans." Ben said, rubbing his mosquito temples.
"What do you think is the possibility of me winning against them if I fight head on?" Ben asked, calcting something in his head.
[0%, sir, the human in front of you, although weak for humans, is still many times stronger than you. [So I believe you won''t be able to make a scratch on them if you fight in this state.]
"I guess you are right." Ben said so in disappointment. "What about the possibility when I reach the next evolution?"
[I can''t calcte your strength after evolution since I have no idea what evolution holds further.]
"Well then, it just means that I need to keep levelling up until I am finally evolved." Ben concluded with a determined look on his face.
Yes, host, I appreciate your determination. [But you still need to consume some blood in order to recover your HP before you go to the next battle.]
[ HP: 2.5/5.0 ]
Jeez, how can I forget about that?" Ben said , biting his lips. Before he flew inside, he tore off a piece of white cloth to get inside the wagon.
With his small size and smooth movement, it was quite an easy deal for Ben to enter the wagon without any suspicion.
Alright, there are many blood sources; I just need to consume some," He said, slowly flying towards an even girl whose blood was dripping out of his right wrist, probably due to struggling against the chains.
Ben, without hesitation, flew next to the girl and consumed some fresh blood dripping on the floor.
[Elven blood has been consumed.]
[ Exp: +5. Agility gained: +0.1 ]
"Ding"
[Blood consumption confirmed; recovering HP]
[HP: 2.5/5]
[HP: 3/5]
[HP: 4/5]
[HP: 4.9/5]
Chapter 13: Mutant black beetle-
Chapter 13: Mutant ck beetle-
[Agility +0.1]
[Agility +0.1]
[Agility +0.1]
[Agility +0.1]
After consuming the elven blood from different sources, Ben could feel the surge of energy coursing through his veins. His body tingled with anticipation as his agility increased by 0.5 points, bringing him closer to his goal of evolution. The elven blood not only heightened his agility but also restored his health, rejuvenating his body.
Eager to assess his progress, Ben called upon the system, requesting his status. Hovering in one corner of the wagon, he awaited the disy.
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Dreadwing Mosquito
Evolution: Evo 1 Level: 6
Exp: 38/50 HP: 5.0
Strength: 3.5
Agility: 4.5
Stamina: 3.5
[Free stats: +0.5]
Active skills:
1. Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
2. Blood Needle (attack with small needles of blood; -0.5 HP)
3. Soul Drain (steal life essence from enemies)
Passive skills:
1. Blood Tracker (enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
2. Mutatic Regeneration (heals body through blood consumption)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
A satisfied grin spread across Ben''s face as he saw his improved stats. His agility had received a substantial boost, making him even swifter and more elusive. With this progress, he was now ready to embark on his n to both rescue the captured girls and strengthen himself through hunting.
Ben contemted the best course of action. It was crucial to time his movements correctly, ensuring he didn''t lose track of the wagon while maximizing his opportunities to level up. After considering his options, he decided to bide his time, remaining hidden within the wagon until nightfall when the humans would likely take a break and set up camp.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the humans veered off-track and started assembling a campfire. This was the perfect moment for Ben to put his n into action. He couldn''t contain his excitement as he activated his blood tracer passive skill, honing his senses to detect any nearby sources of blood.
Focusing intently, Ben tapped into his instincts as a Dreadwing Mosquito. Gradually, he sensed a faint presence of blood nearby, indicating the presence of a low-tier beast. With renewed determination, he stealthily maneuvered away from the campfire, ensuring he wouldn''t attract any unwanted attention.
Following the trail indicated by his blood tracer, Ben ventured into a dense thicket. There, amidst the undergrowth, he discovered a wounded rabbit. Its blood was still fresh, presenting a prime opportunity for Ben to engage in a battle and gain valuable experience points.
Approaching the injured rabbit with caution, Ben''s agile wings carried him closer. He examined the deep cut mark on the rabbit''s neck, pinpointing the vulnerable spot. Confidence surged within him as he prepared to strike.
With a focused chant, Ben unleashed a blood needle attack, sending a crimson aura needle hurtling toward the rabbit. It struck the mark with precision, causing the rabbit to emit a startled sound of pain. Despite its feeble attempts to escape, the rabbit''s weakened state prevented it from fleeing its predator.
"Almost there," Ben muttered, his determination unwavering. Heunched three more blood needles, each hitting the same target with unwavering uracy. The sessive strikes severed deeper into the rabbit''s neck until Ben''s HP reached a critical level.
An internal curse escaped Ben''s lips as he realized the significant HP cost of using his blood needle skill. However, he swiftly seized the opportunity presented by the immobilized rabbit and made use of its vulnerability to
drink its blood, replenishing his own HP.
[Beast blood consumed.]
[EXP: +5 Strength: +0.1]
A triumphant exmation escaped Ben''s lips as his HP fully recovered. He resumed his assault on the rabbit, meticulouslyunching blood needles until his HP dwindled to half. Once again, he utilized the rabbit''s blood to restore himself to full health. This back-and-forth continued for approximately fifteen minutes until a notification appeared on his screen.
[Wild Rabbit, low-tier beast, has been killed. Use Soul Drain to obtain beast soul.]
With anticipation, Ben chanted the words of the Soul Drain skill. The life force of the defeated rabbit surged into him, granting him an additional 50 experience points.
[Soul Drain skill used: +50 EXP gained]
[Exp: 50/50; level up avable]
[No soul weapon obtained]
[Congrattions! You have sessfully leveled up to level 7. All stats +0.5] [Free stats:+0.5]
[Exp: 29/70]
A sense of satisfaction washed over Ben as he absorbed the newfound power bestowed upon him by his level increase. The path to evolution seemed closer than ever, and he resolved to continue his progress one step at a time. A determined expression settled on his face as he activated his blood tracker passive skill, searching for potential targets in the vicinity.
However, luck seemed to be testing him. The immediate area proved to be scarce in low-tier beasts, forcing Ben to venture farther from the wagon in his pursuit. Undeterred, he decided to explore a nearby forested area, hoping to encounter a wider variety of prey.
With his enhanced agility and heightened senses, Ben gracefully maneuvered through the trees, his anticipation building with each passing moment. He searched diligently, seeking any signs of potential targets.
After some time, his perseverance bore fruit. Ben detected the presence of a small group of beetles, each measuring about three inches in size. Their backs were adorned with a midnight ck shell as they scurried about, gathering food for the uing winter. While the beetles were not particrly formidable opponents, their sturdy shells presented a challenge.
A focused expression settled on Ben''s face as he singled out one beetle from the group. Utilizing his agility, he dove down toward his chosen target, deftly outmaneuvering the nimble creature. Closing in swiftly, he unleashed a precise blood needle attack, strategically aiming for the joints where the shell seemed weaker.
The blood needle found its mark, piercing through the beetle''s ck back and pinning it to the ground. The beetle emitted a series of angered chirps, retaliating with small fire sparks that caught Ben off guard.
"Ah, how could I forget?" Ben cursed himself inwardly as he braced for the impact. To his surprise, the spark of fire hit his blue ant armour, resulting in a small explosion that left deep scratches and a burning sensation behind.
"Damn you!" Ben cursed the beetle,unching three blood needle attacks sessively, his anger fuelled by the burning sensation he was feeling through the armour with a constant decrease in HP.
"Ding"
[HP: 2.1/5.0]
The constant blood needles hit their mark, one by one, until finally ast attack served through the beetle''s neck, ending its life for good.
...
[Mutant ck beetle have been killed...soul weapon obtained]
...
Chapter 14: Beetle’s Chitin Dagger-
Chapter 14: Beetle''s Chitin Dagger-
[HP: 2.1/5.0]
The constant blood needles hit their mark, one by one, until finally ast attack served through the beetle''s neck, ending its life for good.
[Mutant ck beetles have been killed; consume their soul essence to obtain experience points.]
Ben didn''t waste a single more second and instantly flew towards the fallen ck beetle before using his ''Soul Drain Skill''.
[Soul Drain skill used: +20 Exp gained]
[Level: 7; Exp: 49/70]
[Soul essence obtained. Type: Weapon]
[Congrattions! You have obtained Low Tier Soul Weapon, Beetle''s Chitin Dagger. [Special property: Fire Imbue.]
A surge of satisfaction washed over Ben as he observed the new addition to his arsenal. The Beetle''s Chitin Dagger shimmered in a dark hue, its de made from the hardened chitin of the defeated beetle. The only problem was, how was he going to equip this weapon?
[Soul weapons are, most of the time, designed ording to the host''s needs and body structure. You shouldn''t worry much about it, host; just give it a try.]
Taking the system''s advice to heart, Ben summoned the Beetle''s Chitin Dagger from his inventory. As he called upon the dagger, a mysterious ck liquid substance materialised out of thin air. It flowed towards his foremost right leg, seamlessly merging with the blue ant armour that adorned his limb.
To his astonishment, the ck substance extended from his leg, transforming into a 2cm long, sharp de that perfectly matched his body''s proportions. The de had a sleek ck and yellowish hue, bearing a resemnce to a small dagger. Ben swung his legs experimentally, testing the weight distribution and length, only to find them wlessly suited to his movements.
Examining the de more closely, Ben discovered its remarkable properties. The chitin material offered unmatched durability and resistance, making it a formidable weapon against any foe. Furthermore, the dagger possessed a unique passive ability called "Fire Imbue."
Filled with anticipation, Ben decided to test the cutting prowess of the Beetle''s Chitin Dagger on nearby tree trunks. With ease, the de sliced through the thick bark as if it were butter, leaving behind clean and precise cuts. The Fire Imbue skill added an extra edge, causing the de to heat up upon contact with enemies. It had the potential to inflict burns and amplify the damage dealt.
"This is precisely what I needed!" Ben eximed, his excitement fueling his adrenaline. Yet he couldn''t ignore the fact that his HP was still insufficient for another battle. After careful consideration, he made the decision to retreat to the rabbit he had encountered earlier, intending to restore his HP before resuming his hunt.
However, when he arrived at the spot where he had in the ''Wild Raboot,'' all that remained were a few scattered bones. Ben clenched his teeth in frustration, realising he couldn''t rely on an endless supply of blood from the rabbits.
Determined to replenish his HP, Ben made his way back to the waggon where he had found sce before. Utilising his blood tracing skill, he swiftly located the campfire and the two individuals engrossed in conversation nearby. As he approached, Ben''s acute senses allowed him to eavesdrop on snippets of their dialogue.
"?? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ???, ??????? ?? ???? ?? ?????" One of them asked
"?? ??? ?????? ??? ?????, ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??????????," the other replied.
Confusion washed over Ben as he scratched his head, unable toprehend theirnguage. He turned to the system for answers: "Hey system? Do you have any idea what they are talking about? Is this because of my mosquito ears? Is it really some othernguage?" Ben asked, scratching his head.
[Host, there is nothing wrong with your ears, but in fact they are really talking in a differentnguage than yours.]
Realisation dawned on Ben, and he muttered to himself in panic, "Why didn''t I consider this possibility? How can I help the elves if I can''tmunicate with them? I can''t just buzz my ns into their ears!"
[Calm down, host; the system already has ns for your survival in this world. [All you need to do is keep evolving, and you will get everything required at some point in time.]
"Sigh! If you say so," Ben said, letting out a long breath before he flew inside the waggon to consume some blood and replenish his HP.
[HP: 3.3/5.0]
[HP: 4.5/5.0]
[HP: 5.0/5.0]
As Ben consumed the blood inside the waggon, he felt a surge of rejuvenation flowing through his veins. His HP gradually restored itself, reaching its maximum capacity once again. Feeling revitalised, he emerged from the waggon, ready to face some more low tier beasts to improve his level.
It was already around midnight, and Ben didn''t have very much time left as he assumed he had to get back into the waggon before dawn. But this time, Lady Luck was on his side; as soon as Ben flew out of the waggon, something interesting caught his attention that he normally would ignore thanks to his human instincts.
"Wait, Firefly''s! Hey system, what level are these creatures? Will I be able to kill them?" Ben asked, looking at the shiny yellow fireflies flying around the tree, decorating them like a natural disco light. Normally, this sight is something to behold, but for Ben, he was too serious right now to spend his time sight seeing.
[Host, mutant fireflies are extremely fragile low tier beasts. But once they get attacked, their bodies will cause a miniature explosion before ending their lives. Although the explosion is quite insignificant for humans, for you it might lead to a critical situation.
"I see. What is the time gap it takes for them to self destruct after the attack?" Ben asked in a serious tone.
It would normally take them a second or two before they could react.
"That''s more than enough!" Ben said in excitement, adrenaline rushing inside his veins as heunched towards the group of fireflies at full speed, equipping a beetle dagger and preparing for an attack.
With Ben''s enhanced agility and reaction time, it took barely a second or two for him to fly about the top of the tree, marking his aim at the nearest firefly. He instantly took a sharp turn andunched horizontally towards the firefly at full speed. The firefly, detecting a killing intent, instantly turned to its side to look at the enemy, but before the firefly could even have a look at his adversary, Ben''s dagger shaped leg had already passed through its waist, cutting it in half.
"Boom!" A small explosion sounded behind Ben, who had already flown a few metres away from his prey, killing it.
---------------------------------
ANSWERS TO SOME COMMON QUESTIONS-
1. Why didn''t Ben consume the blood of a mutant spider or ck beetle?
Ans? Because they are insects, their blood is poisonous.
2. Why didn''t Ben get more stat points when he consumed the elves blood again?
Ans? Ben can only get 0.1 stat points and +5 exp by drinking blood from one source. To get more stat points, he needs to consume the blood of a different living being.
More questions are wee in thement section. Thankyou-
---------------------------------
Weekly target-
50Power stone= 1 extra chapter
100Powers stone= 2 extra chapter [in total 3 extra chapters]
Chapter 15: Skill Upgraded: Soul Drain leveled up to level 2
Chapter 15: Skill Upgraded: Soul Drain leveled up to level 2
The explosion sent a wave of heat and sparks flying in all directions, but Ben had anticipated this. He swiftly manoeuvred away from the st radius, avoiding any harm. As the fragments of the firefly dispersed into the air, he felt a surge of satisfaction. Another sessful kill
[Soul Drain skill used: +5 Exp gained]
[Level: 7; Exp: 54/70]
[Low tier beast: zing fireflies have been killed. [No soul weapon was obtained.]
"If there is no risk, then there are no rewards. I have to do this," Ben said with a sharp smile on his face. He was feeling fear and excitement at the same time, a feeling simr to bunji jumping. He was nervous; his brain was warning him of any fatal risk, but his heart was pumping in excitement, adrenaline coursing throughout his body.
"Is this what adventure feels like?" Ben asked himself, looking at the wave of firefliesing towards him, attracted by the explosion, to exact revenge on killing his kin.
"System, Pour all my stat points into agility!" Benmanded with a determined face before heunched towards the group of fireflies with the maximum speed he could fly at.
Ben had gained a total of 1.0 free stat points from the two times he levelled up. But since he was unable to decide where to put the stat points, he left the free stat points to be used in the future.
[Free stat points gained in agility]
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Dreadwing Mosquito
Evolution: Evo 1 Level: 6
Exp: 54/70 HP: 5.0
Strength: 4.1
Agility: 6.0
Stamina: 4.0
Active skills:
1. Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
2. Blood Needle (attack with small needles of blood; -0.5 HP)
3. Soul Drain (steal life essence from enemies)
Passive skills:
1. Blood Tracker (enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
2. Mutatic Regeneration (heals the body through blood consumption)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"LET''S GO!!" Ben shouted in excitement as heunched towards the bunch of fireflies at enhanced speed. The fireflies were already fast aspared to Ben''s speed, but now with his increased agility, they were just free kills in front of Ben.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Continued sting sounds followed as the bunch of fiefliesunched a luminious neon-coloured liquid towards Ben.
"Too Slow!" Ben shouted, dodging each and every neon ball and closing up the distance to the nearest firefly. With its huge margin of speed, the firefly could barely see a blurry figure passing by before its body was cleanly cut in half.
"Booom!" A small, explosive sound reverberated through the air before the lifeless body of a fly faltered towards the ground.
"It''s more tough to use soul drain than kiiling these things," Ben said, flying towards the falling firefly before he used his soul drain skill.
[Soul Drain skill used: +5 Exp gained]
[Level: 7; Exp: 59/70]
[Low tier beast: zing fireflies have been killed.] [A soul weapon was not obtained.]
"Next target," Benm said, taking a sharp turn and flying upwards while dodging the uing neon balls shot from behind. And before the fireflies could mark their enemy''s location, a bunch of small explosions sounded in the air as the burned bodies of fireflies kept falling from the sky.
[Exp: 64/70]
[Exp: 69/70]
[Exp: 74/70]
[ Congrarattions! You have sessfully levelled up to level 8.]
[All stats: +0.5] [Free Stat : +0.5]
Low-tier beast: zing fireflies have been killed. The soul weapon obtained.]
"System! Keep pouring all the stat points into agility." Ben said, rushing to drain more soul essence from the fireflies he had killed.
[0.5 stat points granted in agility points]
"Time for round two," Ben said in excitement. All his nervousness turned into pure joy, as if he were ying a videogame in real life.
[Exp: 6/100]
[Soul weapon obtained]
[Exp: 11/100]
[No soul weapon obtained.]
...
..
Ben continued to ughter the fireflies, as many fireflies kepting at him from the sound of the explosion, and soon enough, therge tree, decorated in bulbs, became a fireshow, followed by crackles and sts.
..
"Hey bro! Why do I feel like there is a fireshow going on in the sky?" The human next to the campfire asked, disturbed from his sleep by the constant sound of explosions.
"Shut up! Your drunk." The other human said,turning around and changing his position of sleep.
"I guess you are right. Tsk-" The first human chuckled before he closed his eyes again.
..
...
While on top of the tree, Ben kept killing the fireflies until his stamina started to take a toll on his body, slowing down his speed and decreasing his strength.
[Host! Your stamina has reached a critical level. If you don''t take a rest now, then your HP will keep decreasing.]
"Thanks for the advice system." Ben said, huffing and panting, sitting on a leaf while looking at the group of fireflies endlesslying towards him.
"But I STILL NEED TO GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE points." Ben shuddered, grating all his strength at once as he flew towards the mutant fireflies using all his speed, shing a firefly in half before he crashed on the ground, just next to Bonefire.
"Boom!!" A sting sound, followed by a bunch of notifications on Ben''s screen. Although there were still a lot of fireflies attempting to kill Ben, none of them dared to close up the distance next to Bonefire.
[ Low-tier beast: zing fireflies have been killed. The soul weapon obtained.]
[Exp: 101/100]
[ Congrarattions! You have sessfully levelled up to level 9.]
[All stats: +0.5] [Free Stat : +0.5]
[Soul Drain skill levelled up to level 2]
[Soul Drain: Can now be used from a metre distance from the enemy killed.]
The sheer exhration of battle coursed through Ben''s veins as hey on the ground, panting and covered in the remnants of defeated fireflies. He couldn''t help but grin triumphantly as he assessed his progress. The once tranquil scene had transformed into a battlefield, scattered with the charred bodies of the fireflies he had vanquished.
As his stamina gradually recovered, Ben slowly stood up, his wings buzzing with anticipation. He felt the surge of energy that came with levelling up, his stats improving, and his abilities growing stronger.
"Level 9... I''vee a long way," Ben muttered to himself, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and determination.
"However, this is most likely the end of my adventure for today." He finished by looking at the red rising sun from the east before turning his gaze to the two sleeping bandits next to the bonefire.
"Just a little more. Sleep peacefully while you can. Your demise will be more brutal than you could have imagined in your wildest dreams." Ben spoke in a serious tone, emitting a dense killing intent.
Chapter 16: Inferno Stringer Evolved-
Chapter 16: Inferno Stringer Evolved-
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
¨p¨T?STATUS?¨T¨p
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Dreadwing Mosquito
Evolution: Evo 1
Level: 9 Exp: 1/120
HP: 5.0/5.0
?Strength: 5.1
?Agility: 7.5
?Stamina: 5.0
[Free Stat points: +0.5]
¨d¨T ACTIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
Blood Needle (attack with small needles of blood; -0.5 HP)
Soul Drain: steal life essence from enemies. Range: 1 metre [Level 2]
¨d¨T PASSIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
Blood Tracker (enhanced ability to detect blood sources) [Level 2]
Mutatic Regeneration (heals the body through blood consumption)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"Hey system? What''s the deal with level 2 skills? And how am I supposed to get my skills to level up?"
[ Repetative usage of a single skill or excessive control over a skill can elevate your proficiency in the skill to the next level. If you manage to improve these skills to level 5, they will evolve into aplete new skill.]
"I see." Ben was currently sitting on a corner of a wooden rake while scrolling through the pile of notifications he got from his little kill mission. It was already past 7 in the morning, and the waggon started to move towards its destination.
But what amused Ben more was that these elves, tied up to the chain, hadn''t eaten anything in the past 24 hours since Ben had been following them. Even kidnapers have the decency to feed their victims from time to time, but these guys? They literally surpassed all the limits of mostrification.
"Tsk!" Ben chuckled in disgrace before he shifted his gaze again to the pile of notifications he was scrolling through.
[Soul weapon obtained: Enhancement type: Inferno stringer]
[Soul weapon obtained: Enhancement type: Inferno stringer]
[Soul weapon obtained: Enhancement type: Inferno stringer]
...
....
"Hey system! Can''t you just tell me already how many soul weapons I have obtained? Why go through a bunch of the same notifications?" Ben asked, a little frustrated by the group of repeating notifications popping up on his screen.
So sorry for the trouble, host. I will calcte the exact number of souls and weapons you obtained from killing zing Firefly.
..
The host currently possesses 11 Inferno stringers obtained by killing the zing Firefly.
"I see. What about description, though? Can you exin exactly what you mean by an enhancement type weapon?" Ben asked, looking at the weapon description popping up on the screen.
[Enhancement type weapons are very different from ordinary soul weapons. An enhancement type soul weapon is a specialised weapon that enhances the abilities and attributes of its wielder. These weapons can also be used with a certain skill or another soul weapon.]
"Well, that totally went above my tiny mosquito head. Just tell me how to use it, and I will figure it out for myself." Ben said,scratching his head in confusion.
[To use a soul weapon, the host must summon it first.]
Alright, alright, I know the basics," Ben said, nodding his head, before he called the inferno stringer out of his inventory. Surprisingly for him, when he called out the soul weapon, a sudden notification popped up on his screen.
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Select the appropriate options to enhance:
1. Blood Needle Skill
2. Beetle chitin dagger
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"Ummm...I will choose the blood needle skill." Benmanded, randomly choosing one option for the test.
[Inferno Stringer enhancement applied to the blood needle skill] [The Blood Needle skill is enhanced with burning demage.]
"Burning demage? Oh, I see! So this thing is simr to the rune stones from those MMORPG games. If I apply it to a certain weapon, then I will get my weapon enhanced with the same element...It''s that simple. Why didn''t you tell me about this earlier system?"
[I did...]
"Nevermind, I will just quickly test out my new skill." Ben said, flying to the top of the waggon while targeting a tree branch nearby.
¨X¨T¨gBlood needle¨d¨T¨[
As soon as Ben chanted the skill, a sharp needle like crimson aura grazed in the shape of a needle and slowly started to glow red hot.
Bang." With a small sting sound, the needle hit a random branch of a tree, cutting a few chips from it before the part hit by the needle was engulfed by crimson red sparks.
"It''s quite weak, but I know how to make that work." Ben looked at his target,puting the demage before hemanded the system. "Hey system, start merging all the enhancement type soul weapon weapons into them at the level they can."
[Merging soul weapon, Inferno stringer]
A notification appeared on his screen before two white orbs of light flew out of his inventory and started to sync with each other.
[Merge Sucessful, Inferno Stringer (Grade 2)]
...
[Merge Sucessful, Inferno Stringer (Grade 3)]
...
[Merge Sucessful, Inferno Stringer (Grade 5)]
As Ben merged the Inferno stringers, their power and effectiveness increased. The merging processbined their attributes and enhancements, resulting in a more potent soul weapon. The enhancements from the multiple weapons merged into a single, stronger Inferno stringer.
[Merging Sessful, Soul Weapon Evolution, zing Stringer : Normal tier weapon (Grade 1) ]
"A normal tier weapn! Finally" Ben said, looking at the status screen in excitement. "Dont stop, keep merging it further." He cammanded to the system.
[Host, to merge with a normal tier weapon, you need another normal tier soul weapon as well. With the current number of Soul weapons you have, you can only make 3 Normal tier weapon and 1 low tier weapon out of it.]
"Sigh...I should have expected that!" Ben said, letting out a long breath in disappointment, "Then use all soul weapons to upgrade the skill to grade 3."
With Ben''smand, the merging process began once again,sting for about 15 miutes before a notifacition p[opped up on Ben''s screen.
[Merging Sucessful. zing Stringer (Grade 3)]
"Alright then, time to test out my new evolved weapon" Ben said in determination, looking ahead for suitable targets while sitting on top of the white cloth.
Taking flight from the top of the waggon, Ben scanned the area for a suitable target. He spotted a wooden log set up nearby, perfect for testing out his newly evolved skill. With a flick of his wings, he swiftly flew towards it.
Positioning himself in front of the target, Ben gathered his focus and channelled his energy into the Blood Needle skill. The crimson aura surrounding his needle-shaped attack began to intensify, exuding a golden aura of scorching heat.
Without hesitation, Ben unleashed the enhanced Blood Needle skill, sending the fiery projectile hurtling towards the target board. The needle pierced through the air with incredible speed, leaving a trail of zing sparks in its wake.
Upon impact, the needle struck the wooden board, igniting it in mes, before a small explosive sound made a bullet size hole across the thick log...
Chapter 17: Survival of the fittest
Chapter 17: Survival of the fittest
Upon impact, the needle struck the wooden board, igniting it in mes, before a small explosive sound made a bullet size hole across the thick log, revealing the scorch marks left behind by Ben''s powerful attack. The mes continued to dance and crackle, illuminating the surroundings with a warm, fiery glow.
Ben observed the aftermath of his skill, a mix of satisfaction and excitement bubbling within him. The enhancement had made a noticeable difference, amplifying the power and impact of his Blood Needle skill.
"If this is the strength of a normal tier weapon, I wonder how strong a normal tier beast will be." Ben inspected the wooden log, calcting the amount of damage this skill would do to the human body.
"Hey system! How would you rate my strength in the beast category right now?" Ben asked with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
[ ording to your statistics, the host is currently at the peak of a low tier beast. Including your soul weapons in the equation, your strength will be currently low-range normal tier beast.]
"So basically, I am still not strong enough to take on a normal tier beast head-on. Sigh." Ben flew upward, tracking the wagon as it slowly moved along the road.
As far as Ben could see by flying above, the road ahead was single and straight, so even if he lost track of the waggon, as long as he kept flying along the road, he would find a way back.
"I wonder how high I can fly now." A sudden curiosity popped up in Ben''s mind before heunched towards the top of the sky, much above the pine trees but below the normal height at which birds could be seen flying.
A sense of liberation washed over Ben as he soared through the sky. He enjoyed the sensation of wind against his tiny body as well as the thrill of defying gravity and exploring the vast expanse above. As he flew higher, the air flow became more intense and fast, making it difficult for him to maintain his bnce while looking at the small wagon moving like a toy.
"Flying is so much fun!" Ben said this in excitement, moving his wings in a rhythmic way to control his bnce. From the moment he came into this world, he was so upied by quests and survival that he didn''t even realise that he was able to achieve one of the most basic human fantasies: flying in the sky.
But what the little mosquito didn''t know was that the world had some different ns for him.
"SKchreeeKKK" A sharp sound sounded from behind Ben, sending a shiver down his spine. His rxed sensations and the warmth of nature instantly turned into adrenaline rushes as his instincts screamed at him to dodge the iing attack.
"sh!" With a scratching sound, a deep cut appeared on Ben''s blue ant armour as a notification popped up on his screen.
[HP: 4.2/5.0 ]
"Seriously, what kind of absurd attack is that?" Ben eximed in shock, looking at a circr arc, wave like energy that he was barely able to dodge. But before he could even analyse the enemy''s attack, his mosquito senses started to tingle again.
"Shit, there are more of thoseing!" Ben shouted in panic before he turned his body against the direction of the air, somehow managing to dodge the uing attack. "It''s a bird," He thought, catching a glimpse of his enemy behind him while turning around.
While the bird was still turning to change its direction in the air, Ben took advantage of his small body to dive directly to the ground.
As Ben descended rapidly, he could hear the whooshing sound of the bird''s wings as it followed in pursuit. The wind rushed past his body, and his heart pounded with fear and despair. He had to think quickly to outmanoeuvre hisrger opponent.
ncing over his shoulder, Ben saw the bird closing in. It was a majestic creature with vibrant plumage and sharp talons. He knew he couldn''t match its speed or strength, but he had to rely on his intelligence and instincts.
Using his small size to his advantage, Ben swerved left and right, making sudden changes in direction. He zigzagged through the air, making it difficult for the bird to predict his movements. The bird squawked in frustration as it struggled to keep up.
Ben then dove towards the tree line, narrowly avoiding the branches as he weaved through the dense foliage and made a sharp turn, losing the bird''s eyesight momentarily. The bird, hindered by itsrger wingspan, couldn''t navigate the same path as him, slowing down its speed.
¨X¨T¨gBlood Needle¨d¨T¨[
Ben chanted,unching a sharp crimson needle towards his enemy. But unfortunately for him, he had underestimated his opponent quite a bit.
"SchreeKKK" With a sharp scream, the bird''s wings were covered by silver light as it vanished from Ben''s eyes as if it just teleported away, causing blood needle skill to miss from its mark.
"Is this my end...?" A sudden thought crossed Ben''s mind as he felt massive killing intent from behind. For the first time in his life, Ben felt what it meant to be prey, being hunted by a predator.
[HP: 1.9/5.0]
[Warning: Your HP reached a critical condition, you must consume blood to revive your health.]
A bunch of notifications kept popping up on Ben''s screen, but Ben was in shock, his life shing before his eyes. He couldn''t feel the lower half of his body; it was cleanly cut off from his upper body, falling towards the ground.
"SchreekKK" Ben''s daze was broken by another sharp scream. He saw his predator, a grey bird with ck feathers and red eyes. Its ws were sharp enough to cut through metal, diving down in the air to catch his lower half with their peck.
As the bird descended, Ben''s survival instincts kicked in. Despite his dire situation, he couldn''t afford to give up. He had to fight back, even if it seemed futile.
Summoning every ounce of strength and determination, Ben activated his Blood Needle skill once more. With a swift motion, heunched another crimson needle towards the bird, aiming for its vulnerable spots.
[HP:1.5/5.0 ]
To his surprise, the bird''s silver aura flickered and distorted, appearing behind him once again, and with a swift motion of its wings, a gust of wind passed through Ben, throwing him against a tree bark.
[HP: 1.2/5.0]
Chapter 18: Wings of Fire
Chapter 18: Wings of Fire
Ben''s body collided with the tree trunk, his fragile form absorbing the impact with a sickening crunch. Pain radiated through his remaining body parts, and he struggled to keep his consciousness from slipping away. Blood trickled from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him.
The bird, sensing its imminent victory, descended upon Ben, its sharp beak and ws poised to finish the job. Its piercing eyes gleamed with a cruel hunger, ready to im its prey. Ben''s vision blurred as he desperately tried to muster any strength he had left.
With a final surge of adrenaline, Ben managed to push himself off the tree, narrowly evading the bird''s lethal strike. He plummeted to the ground,nding with a bone-jarring thud, exacerbating his injuries. Every movement sent waves of agony through his battered body, but he refused to sumb to the pain.
Barely clinging to life, Ben crawled through the undergrowth, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. Every inch felt like an eternity as he fought against the darkness creeping at the edges of his vision. His determination burned brightly within him, pushing him forward despite the overwhelming odds.
His senses dulled, and the world around him grew hazy and distorted. Death loomed just inches away, its cold grasp ready to im him. But Ben refused to surrender. Memories of his mother''s words echoed in his mind, urging him to fight for his life.
[HP: 1.1/5.0 ]
"Think, Ben, there has to be a way." He struggled in his mind, his thoughts racing to find a solution amidst the chaos. The pain sharpened his focus, heightening his senses as he sought any advantage he could find.
"The bird is faster than me, bigger than me, and stronger than me... Normal attacks wouldn''t even hurt a human being. The only attack I have is the Blood Needle skill." He thought with a determined expression before he came up with a n.
With a sudden realization, Ben stopped struggling on the ground and left his body free to be picked up by the cold metallic w of its predator, as the bird grabbed him and took off into the sky.
"The only way for my attack to hit the target is to close the distance between me and the enemy."
"But my enemy is fast; I can''t close the distance between us. So, the only best course of action is..."
"To let the enemy close the distance between us itself," he thought, opening his eyes again with a sharp smile as he sensed he was high enough in the sky. "I willunch this attack, WITH EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I HAVE GOT!"
"BLOOD NEEDLE SKILL: MAXIMUM CAPACITY!"
Ben shouted in his mind, as if it were hisst scream before his death. A crimson-red needle started to manifest between his fangs; it grewrger andrger, almost twice the size of a normal blood needle, before it slowly turned golden yellow in colour, emitting heat like a hot red iron.
"BANGGG!!"
A sound as loud as a gunshot reverberated through the air, and before the bird could realise it, there was a 3cm thick hole through its chest, burning in mes.
"Schreeekkk!" The bird screamed in pain, but gasps of blood filled its mouth. Its grey feathers were slowly engulfed in yellow mes. The bird tried to bnce in the air, but its feathers were burned. In an instant, the prey it was ying with became the cause of its demise; all the bird could do was freefall from the sky, bleeding like a spray in the wind.
[HP: 0.1/5.0 ]
Ben was falling from the air, still stuck in the bird''s metallic w. His ears were ringing, his senses were slowly going numb, his vision was fading away, and the only thing he could see was a status bar, indicating his critical HP.
He closed his eyes and let his body rx. There was nothing more he could do but rest. Rest from the monotonous life he had been living until now; all his senses were now at ease; he could feel his body stop falling from the air; and the ringing sound in his ears turned into a whispering melody.
"Ben!"
...
"Ben?"...
"Ben?"
"Grasp" A child, about 11 or 12, woke up, huffing and panting, while beads of sweat covered his face as if he had just woken up from a nightmare.
Mom, do you need anything? Sorry, I fell asleep." The child immediately stood up, being attentive towards a woman in a blue dress lying on a hospital bed.
"Hmh... Such a good caretaker you are." The woman giggled, but the smile on her face couldn''t hide the tears falling from her eyes as she looked at her beloved child, as if she were looking at something precious she was about to leave.
"Mom, why are you crying? Do you need anything? Just tell me, and I will bring it for you." The 12 year old boy, with blondie hair and crimson blue eyes, ran towards the bed, holding her mother''s hand, determined to do anything for her smile.
"There is nothing more you can do for me, dear. I am already very lucky to have a child like you." The woman spoke, her voice heavy with emotion, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Listen closely, Ben; my time in this world hase. Momma is sorry, but I can''t apany you anymore in this cruel world."
Listening to his mother''s words, crystal tears dropped from the young boy''s eyes. Notining, not fighting, as if deep down he had epted this day woulde. He listened to his mother closely, engraving each and every one of her words in his heart.
"Promise me, Ben, whatever happens, Or however the world treats you. You will never give up on your life." The woman said this, extending her pinky finger towards him.
The little boy, in response, didn''t utter a word as he extended his pinky finger to interlock with the woman''s. And nodded briefly.
"Promise me, you will live a life worth two of us."
...
...
...
" I Promise, I won''t give up on my life." Ben said in a determined voice as he opened his eyes again, looking at the floating hologamic screen with sharp yet purposeful eyes.
[Congrattions host! You have sessfully evolved into a ''Vampiric Dreadwing Mosquito''. ]
"And I promise, I won''t let anyone else suffer like you, mom. Not on my watch."
.........
[ Ahem...ahem.., Yo guys its author here! I know I am asking this too soon but, I need 2 more reviews on my book to get a rating on Webnovel. If you are reading this story till here, I believe you are already familiar with where this story is going and all, hahaha...]
[ So, just spare a few minutes of your life and help this newbie author. Thankyou for your time, keep reading keep supporting <3 ]
Chapter 19: Vampiric Dreadwing Mosquito
Chapter 19: Vampiric Dreadwing Mosquito
" I Promise, I won''t give up on my life." Ben said in a determined voice as he opened his eyes again, looking at the floating hologamic screen with sharp yet purposeful eyes.
[Congrattions host! You have sessfully evolved into a ''Vampiric Dreadwing Mosquito''. ]
[New quest avable ]
[New skills unlocked...]
"Looks like I was somehow able to pull that stunt off," Ben muttered before he rolled his body to stand up, but somehow he was feeling too weak and dizzy to retain his bnce properly.
"Hey system! Why the hell am I feeling so dizzy?" Ben asked, barely standing on his six legs while looking at the glitchy screen.
[ Host, I believe your dizziness is due to your hunger after evolution. [If you don''t drink some blood within the next few minutes, then your HP will start to decrease at a drastic speed.]
"I see. Actually, I have a few minutes; that''s more than enough," He said, in a heavy voice, before he buzzed his wings to levitate in the air. And used his bloodtacker to find a blood source nearby.
"There it is!" Ben said, finding a weak blood source approx. 500 metres away from him, and with a sound cutting through the air, he arrived in front of a feral chicken.
Ben chanted "Blood needle" as soon as he arrived in front of the chicken, not giving his adversary time to retaliate. But, to his surprise, the chicken just stood there with a curious expression on his face, while his blood needle skill was nowhere to be seen.
"Blood Needle," Ben chanted again in hopes that the first time was some fluke.
"Druuurururururu!" The chicken made a sound in response as it walked close to Ben and started to peck on the ground.
"..."
"I am expecting some good answers, System."
[Host, the skill you are attempting to use has already evolved into a different skill called "blood bullet". That''s why you can''t use the previous skill anymore.]
"Sigh... You should have said that earlier."
"Blood bullet." As soon as Ben chanted, an orb of blood, barelyrger than a blood needle, materialised into a bullet-like shape, surrounded by a crimson-red aura.
"Bang," And in the next second, with a sharp sound, the upper half of the chicken''s body was missing as a whole, showering the ground with a fountain of blood.
Ben seized the opportunity and dipped his fangs into every drop of blood he could suck from that lifeless body. As if he were a traveller who discovered water after being lost in the desert for months.
Ben paused to catch his breath after consuming the blood to his satisfaction. His vision had returned to normal, if not better. His stability and flexibility were much improvedpared to before. Ben turned his head, his crystal purple eyes observing his new evolution.
His body had grown to the size of a chicken, covered in a ck metallic shell; his legs were sharper than before, ready to slice through steel with ease; and his transparent wings had turned a light purple colour.
Purple vein-like structures were clearly visible inside his wings, carrying purple blood around. Ben felt a new sharpness and awareness of his surroundings before he decided to fly up and sit on a branch of a tree.
"Show me the status screen," Ben ordered, after looking around to see that no stronger blood presence was nearby.
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Dreadwing Mosquito
Evolution: Evo 2 Level: 1
Exp: 000/ 000 HP: 25/25
Strength: 12
Agility: 15
Stamina: 11
Active skills:
1. Mosquito''s Buzz (confuse enemies with an annoying buzz)
2. Blood Bullet (attack with small needles of blood; -0.5 HP)
3. Soul Drain (steal life essence from enemies)
4. Steel Wings [NEW] (This makes the wings as tough as steel; you can use one in an hour for 3 minutes.)
5. Sizeshift [NEW] (you can shift your size from normal to vampiric dreadwing mosquito at will)
Passive skills:
1. Blood Tracker (enhanced ability to detect blood sources)
2. Mutatic Regeneration (heals the body through blood consumption)
3. Immortality [NEW] (grants eternal life, making the vampire immune to ageing and disease)
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"What in the hell? Hey, system, what''s the deal with immortality? Am I really going to live on forever?" Ben asked, his eyes filled with shock and curiosity.
[ Eternal life grants you immunity to any kind of natural death, but that does not mean you can die unnaturally.]
"Ara!" The system''s response made Ben''s jaw drop in shock. Immortality was a very desired human fantasy in his world, and achieving it so casually felt like cheating to him.
"And what about the experience points? Why is it 000/000?" Ben asked, noticing something on the status screen.
The experience points indicate that you can''t evolve any further from there. [During your fight with normal tier ck Raven, you have reached enough soul essence to reach the maximum potential a mosquito body can reach.]
[If you want to further increase your strength, you have to retain a humanoid form first.]
"Your words make sense. I was also wondering just how much a mosquito can get stronger. So tell me, what does it require to retain a humanoid form?" Ben asked with a serious expression and excitement to be a human or something simr again.
[New quest updated: Evolve into a Vampire ]
Requirements-
¨T? Normal Tier Beast Core: 0/3
¨T? Human Blood: 0/1 Litres
¨T? Beast Blood: 0/1 Litres
[Rewards: ???? +???]
"Evolve into a vampire? Are you freaking kidding me, system?" Ben asked in shock, looking at the quest board before him. If being a vampire is the same as in those fantasy novels, then it means Ben is going to get one of the closest human forms avable in the universe. " And I thought I was going to evolve into a half hybrid, ''El Mosco'' or something."
[ ... ]
"Btw system! Are vampires supposed to be rted to bats? I mean, isn''t it weird for a mosquito to evolve into a vampire?" Ben asked after he caught breath from his rentlessughter.
[ Normally, all the vampires in this world are rted to the bat family. But due to our special circumstances, the system found a loophole and made you a vampire.
"Wow, I wonder how the vampires in this world would react if they knew." Ben asked, rubbing his chin in curiousity.
[No one will know...]
"What if someone leaked that info or something?"
[No one will utter a single word...]
"Gulp"
[ Yo guys, Author here! First of all, let me thank you all for your wonderful reviews. This book has finally gotten a rating of 4.9 on WN. ]
[ Also, we finally managed to hit our weekly target of 50 power stones, and I will upload an extra chapter by tonight or tomorrow morning, as promised. Lets go for the next week and get even heigher mark this time... Gambare Gambare!! ]
Chapter 20: Beast core obtained-
Chapter 20: Beast core obtained-
"Ok, tell me where I can get these beast core things first. I am quite tight on time." Ben asked, flying in the air, searching for the pathway he was following the waggon on.
[In short, If you kill a normal tier beast, you will obtain this thing in ce of their heart. ]
Ok, and I need three of those things. Not a problem," He said in a serious tone before Ben activated his new ''Blood Vision'' skill to look for prey. After the upgrade, not only could he see quite far with that skill, but he was even able to determine targets health and strength depending on the intensity of the blood auraing from them.
"Found one!" Ben imed that before he used shapeshifting to shrink his size to that of a normal mosquito, he flew in a certain direction faster than any human eye could track.
-Blood Bullet-
Ben chanted, appearing before a mutant ck bull, simr to the one he saw earlier. With Ben''s new iparable speed and small size, the bull was barely able to track its enemy before it felt a sharp pain in its neck.
"WooooNNNNNN!" The mutant bull roared in pain before he lifted his two forelegs in the air, ready to m on the ground. While Ben, on the other hand, was preparing another bloody bullet skill.
"Bangg!" With a deliberate stroke,both skills were used at once. While the blood bullet sessfully hit the mutant bull''s neck, making two big fist size holes in it, the shockwave from the bull''s m hit Ben, and he was sent flying back to hit a tree in his original form. (Bigger size form)
You are stunned by an enemy attack. Shapeshift has been nullified.]
[HP: 21/25 ]
"gRAAAHHH!" Ben grunted in pain from the impact. In hisst battle of life and death, his purple ant armour was damaged to the extent that the soul weapon was unable to recover and disintegrated from his inventory, which was quite a huge downside from his side.
"WOOOoooOOONNNHHHH" While Ben was still cursing his back pain, the mutant bull with five horns pointed his horns forward, running towards Ben, who was still lying next to the tree.
-Shapeshift-
Benchanted, instantly looking at the enemying ahead, a cracking noise reverberated in the air as half of the thick tree broke apart.
-Blood bullet-
Ben chanted again, hitting the mutant bull twice in the sky while flying about 7 metres in the air.
"I really have sympathy for those beasts that can''t fly, lol," Ben said in a sarcastic tone as he continued tounch a blood bullet attack to hit the enemy bellow.
After 2 or 3 minutes of continued attack, a notification popped up on his screen before the bull copsed on the ground.
[Mutant ck bull killed]
[No Soul essence was obtained.]
"Sigh, I am having quite bad luck with soul weapons these days." He grumbled before he flew towards the bull and used his beetle''s chitin dagger to slice open his heart, picking out a voile-coloured crystal out of it.
"So this is what you call beast crystal?" Ben muttered , observing the voilet crystal, that it was about the size of a tennis ball in his hands...or legs.
[Low tier beast core obtained: 1/3 ]
While Ben was still observing the crystal, a notification popped up on his screen and teh purple crystal in his hands disapeared into white light particles.
"What the hell? I was still observing that thing. You should have asked it before the consumption system," Ben said, with a bit of annoyance in his tone.
[Poinyt noted.]
[Host, would you like me to consume 1 litre of blood from the beast you killed?]
"Yeah, go on." Ben said in an emotionless tone, still annoyed by the sudden disappearance of Beast Crystal.
[Beast blood consumed: 1/1 litre.]
A notification popped up on Ben''s screen as he saw blood inside the bull''s body, as well as the blood outside, slowly levitating above into white light particles beforepletely disapearing into the air.
"That''s so cool! How are you able to use this system?" Ben asked with sudden enthusiasm, as if the changes before him were truly magical. But disappointingly for him,the system didn''t reply with anything as an answer.
With a little frustration from being ignored and nervous about clock time, Ben used his blood vision skill again to scan the area around him.
After evolving into a ''Vampiric Dreadwing Mosquito'', killing normal-tier beasts wasn''t any big deal for him. especially when he could snipe them while flying in the air.
After what seemed like an hour or two, Ben was finally able to kill two more beasts and obtain their beast cores. But with bad luck on his side, he was still unable to get any soul essence altogether.
[ Primal goblin killed; Beast core obtained. 2/3 ]
[ Mutant Sloth killed: Beast Core obtained: 3/3 ]
"Finally done!" Ben shouted, making a victory pose while standing next to the road he lost track of. It was already quitete in the evening by now, and the waggon had moved too far for him to catch up in a few minutes.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across thendscape, Ben realised he had lost precious time in his hunt for the beast cores. He knew he had to act swiftly if he wanted to catch up to the waggon before it vanished from sight.
It was already lucky for him that he didn''t forget the directions, or it would be quite a mess if he flew to the opposite direction searching for the waggon.
With renewed determination, he took to the skies, his wings beating with vigor as he followed the familiar path in the distance. The cool evening breeze caressed his face, a gentle reminder that time was of the essence.
The moon began its ascent, illuminating the road ahead as most of the monsters in the forest were now inside their hideout, leaving him a clear path to fly up.
...
...
[A/N: I forgot to write in the previous chapter that a blood bullet costs 1 HP to use.]
Chapter 21: Devils Tree: Route to Underworld
Chapter 21: Devils Tree: Route to Underworld
"Hey system! Have you ever killed a human before?" While flying through the passageway, Ben suddenly asked a question.
The System is only responsible for what happens after someone dies. So technically, the system never killed anyone.
"I see, that gives me 1 point over you." Ben chuckled in response to the system''s answer.
[...]
.
"And I''m going to have two more points in my side soon," Ben said solemnly, his gaze fixed on a small campfire ahead. As he got closer, he could see the many white wagons standing next to the campfire, but there was barely any life energying from them.
Apletely new scene appeared in front of his eyes as he passed through the campfire. A massive tree covered in purple luminous light that reaches for the sky. Ben, being an international explorer in his past life, has seen many gigantic trees and structures, but not this thing in front of him! It was truly something otherworldly.
Huge purple leaves in the shape of the "Bodhi Tree" (AKA Peepal Tree) made each leafrge enough for one person to sleep on. Its brown steam radiated purple energy, and the entire tree, about 500 metres tall, could be mistaken for a mountain from a distance.
While Ben was admiring this tree, a thought urred to him. "Hey, system? What kind of thing is this? If it''s that big, howe I didn''t notice it until I got this close?"
[Warning: host, what you are about to see is not something normal; rather, it is the Underworld tree, which you may not have noticed until now because it was concealed by a temporary barrier that has been temporarily broken.]
"Hell tree?" Ben muttered, in a serious expression, before he minimised his size to the smallest he could and silently flew more near the tree.
[To understand the hell tree, you must first understand the world tree.]
"World tree? Isn''t it true that those trees are mentioned in Norse mythology? The world tree''s leaf connects heaven and earth, and the tree grants blessings in response to prayers." Ben inquired, cutting off the system''s exnation in the middle.
[ Indeed, host, although it''s much moreplicated, you can think of the hell tree as the opposite of the world tree. Its roots connect the earth to the depths of hell. While the tree offers contract with devils in against for sacrifices. ]
"Sacrifices? Wait, does that mean those elven girls weren''t going to be sold as ves or used as a tool for pleasure, but...."
[Host, your thoughts are spot on. These young elves, in my opinion, will be offered as sacrifices in order to make contracts with the devils.]
"Oh, I see; these things are bing clearer to me. These aren''t insignificant kidnappers or thugs. These people, to be specific, are members of a cult." Ben finished with a solemn expression.
Something was wrong from the moment he began following these elven girls. Human behaviour was far too unusual for someone who intended to sell ves. They weren''t giving them anything to eat or drink. They weren''t caring enough to untie their hands or mouths, let alone heal their wounds.
For most human traffickers, it doesn''t matter how bad their intentions are; they will always treat their victims decently, if not luxuriously. After all, these are the items they intend to sell. But for cultists willing to make sacrifices, it all makes sense.
[ Host, I advise you to stay out of these issues going forward. No matter what level of evolution you reach, you cannot defeat a person who has the ability to remove the magic barrier on the Underworld tree. ]
"The system is correct; if it had just been two fat guys kidnapping girls, I could have intervened, but now..." Ben reflected, cold sweat dripping down his brow. His legs trembled with fear and nervousness. Before him stood forty to fifty people dressed in ck cloaks, each holding a wooden wand emitting crimson red light as their lips mumbled chants.
Cries and pleas rang out in the air. Hundreds of girls of various races¡ªmermaids, elves, and dwarfs¡ªwere bound by ck pirs, and blood continued to drip on the ground. Flowing towards a red circr magical pattern, with one new-born baby lying in front of them.
-Blood Vision-
Ben, who was looking at this from the top of the leaf, felt something wasn''t quite right, so he decided to use his blood vision skill to re-evaluate the situation. And what he saw chilled him to the bone.
"All those new-born babies¡ªall of them are lifeless." Ben muttered, looking at the scene before him. "Hey system, Is this because..?"
[Yes, that is true. These are the children who were born after the cosmic error that shut down the Reincarnation System. Or to put it another way, despite having healthy bodies at birth, these infants were soulless.]
"This is also why these people are being grazed here: to make deals with devils. Against making a sacrifice to revive these babies." Ben spoke sharply, connecting the remaining details to the cosmic glitch.
"But I still don''t understand why someone would go to such lengths. Just to bring their lifeless baby back to life?" Ben inquired, perplexed. A heavy weight was pressing down on his heart, bing heavier by the second.
[ The answer, which is actually quite straightforward, doesn''t require you to calcte it. People are greedy. ]
"Human greed! Are you referring to their parental love when you say "human greed"?" Ben inquired, perplexed by the system.
[No, host, far from it. Do you recall when I described the world''s political structure to you? Nearly the entire world is governed by kings and queens.parable to the empire structure in your world.]
"And these people happen to be some bigwigs with family ties. If they do not have any heirs in their family, someone else will take the throne." Ben muttered as he connected the dots.
[ Indeed, host. They are not anymon or low ss mages, but rather the imperial mages, the strongest mages in the empire, based on the power level you are seeing through blood vision.]
........
[A/N: This one is the extra chapter I promised to publish for hitting 50 power stone. Two more chapters will being today, sorry for dy. Hope you like it. ]
Chapter 22: Requirements of evolution reached:
Chapter 22: Requirements of evolution reached:
[ Indeed, host. They are not anymon or low-ss mages, but rather the imperial mages, the strongest mages in the empire, based on the power level you are seeing through blood vision.]
"That confirms it; I can''t risk directly involving myself in any of this mess." Ben thought. He flew off the gigantic leaf in search of anything helpful around when his eyes struck arge magical circle, glowing in crimson red, not too far away from the ritual ground.
"What kind of thing is that?" Ben muttered, looking at the circle from a distance using his blood vision skill. With a little more investigation, he could confirm that there was no strong light force around that circle.
Flying close, he could observe around 12¨C13 bodies, their heads missing from their bodies, fallen on the ground. Pumps of blood gushing out of it.
"What is this now? Another ritual or something?" Ben asked, looking at the magic circle closely.
[ I believe it''s a magic circle that''s used to break the magic barrier over the Underworld''s Tree. And these bodies belong to the humans who have been offered as sacrifices.]
"From the looks of it, it seems like this ritual wasn''t performed much before. The blood is yet to dry." Ben observed the bodies around when a sudden thought urred in his head. "Hey, system! Can I use this blood for the evolution quest?"
[Yes, as long as the blood is in liquid form, you can use it for your quest development. ]
"Then what are you waiting for? Let''s do this right now" Ben said, his veins pumping in excitement of getting back into a humanoid form. For a second, he even forgot about the ritual being performed behind him, and the lives at stake, due to it.
[Consuming blood: 0.1/1.0 Liters ]...
A notification popped up on his screen, as the blooding out of his body as well as the blood on the magic circle, started to convert into white light particles before evaporating in the air.
[ Consuming Blood: 0.5/1.0 Liters ]
Just as the system continued to absorb more blood, the magic circle on the ground started to flicker, along with the barrier around the Underworld Tree.
"What is happening? Something is interrupting the magic ritual we performed." One of the mages in a ck robe said, his voice tinged with anger and frustration.
-SUMMON UNDEAD-
The mage in a ck robe chanted before he pointed his staff toward the ground. In response to his chant, the shadows on the ground started to flicker and five human skeletons materialized out of the ground, their eye glowing red, as they firmly held a rusted sword in their hand.
"Go and kill anything interfering with the magic circle outside. Protect the magic circle at all costs." The mage in ckmanded before he started to chant the ritual again.
[ Consuming Blood: 0.8/1.0 Liters ]
Unknown to what''s happening inside, Ben was celebrating his free source of blood for evolution. ording to his n earlier, if he wanted to have human blood then he would have to kill the two humans driving the wagon and obtain blood from them.
But with a certain turn of fate, he was now in a free buffet of all blood he could get, without risking his life for it.
[Consuming Blood: 1.0/1.0 Liters ]
[Quest updated: Evolve into a Vampire ]
Requirements-
¨T? Normal Tier Beast Core: 3/3
Human Blood: 1/1 Litres
¨T? Beast Blood: 1/1 Litres
[Rewards: ???? +???]
[Requirement achieved! Beginning Evolution ]
After consuming the required amount of blood from the sacrificed bodies and the magic circle, Ben''s evolution into a vampire began. The blood and energy within him underwent a transformation, causing his body to disintegrate gradually. The process was not painful but rather warm and rxing.
First, Ben''s limbs began breaking apart, followed by his body. Only his head and wings remained intact. Then, white particles of light enveloped his head and wings, gradually materializing into blood. The blood levitated in the air and took the shape of a human, with three violet beast cores revolving around it.
As the violet beast cores transformed into violet liquid, they mixed with the blood structure, forming a skeletal structure around Ben. White flesh started to coat the skeletal frame, slowly shaping his new vampire body. This stunning transformationsted for about three minutes, during which Ben experienced afortable sleep-like state.
After the transformation wasplete, Ben''s sleep was interrupted by a sharp notification, indicating the sessful evolution into a vampire.
[ Evolution sessful; congrattions host, you have sessfully evolved into a vampire ]
[Re-Operating System]
[System Upgrading...]
[Activating System ]
[ Blood Evolution System- Activated ]
¨X¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
?STATUS?
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Vampire
Evolution: Evo 3 Level: 1
Exp:0/10 HP: 100/100
MP: Null
Strength: 21
Agility: 25
Stamina: 23
Active Skills: Processing
Passive Skills: Processing
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Ben opened his eyes, a crimson red screen floating before him, onepletely different from what he have been seeing till now.
He touched his face, he could feel his eyes, his nose, and cold smooth skin. Ben was in disbelief, he looked at his hand, looked at his body in amusement. "I am finally back to ...human form." He muttered in disbelief.
Ben, instantly attempted to stand up, but he failed miserably, falling head first on the ground. He was still naked after evolution, and somehow, he wasn''t able to properly stand up and regain his bnce.
Maybe it was due to him being a mosquito earlier, or maybe because his new body was still weak after creation. Nevertheless Ben was happy, to get his human form back.
Ben took a moment to collect himself after the initial excitement of his transformation into a vampire. He realized that his new body was still weak and needed some time to adjust. He tried to stand up again, this time more carefully, and managed to find his bnce.
As he stood there, naked and feeling the cool breeze on his skin, Ben took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings. The magic circle on the ground had stopped flickering, and the barrier around the Underworld Tree seemed weakened. The mages in ck robes were focused on the ritual, seemingly unaware of Ben''s presence or his transformation.
Ben knew he couldn''t waste any time. He needed to figure out his next move and how he could use his newfound vampire powers to his advantage. He looked at the crimson red screen floating before him, disying his updated status as a vampire.
...
..
.
---------------------------
[New weekly challenge: Hit 60 PS this week and I will upload 2 extra chapters. Gambare Gambare!!]
Chapter 23: Ancient spear
Chapter 23: Ancient spear
As soon as Ben opened his eyes, he found himself in apletely new body. Standing at about 4 or 5 feet tall, he observed his muscr structure and realized he had taken on a teenage form. Though he couldn''t see his facial features or hair color, he had a feeling that his appearance was above average. The only problem was hisck of clothing.
At first, he considered taking clothes from one of the dead henchmen strewn about. However, upon closer inspection, he found that the garments were soaked in blood and far from wearable. He sighed, realizing he would have to find another solution.
As he surveyed his surroundings from this unfamiliar vantage point, he noticed a translucent dome-like structure covering a nearby tree. It hadn''t been there before. Ben''s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn''t help but inquire about it.
"Hey system! What is this dome-like thing? Is this the barrier you were talking about earlier? Please don''t tell me I broke the magic pattern and now I''m stuck inside," Ben said, his voice filled with a hint of nervousness as he reached out for assistance from the system.
However, to his surprise, there was no response. Minutes passed, but there was only silence. "Hey system! Can you hear me?" Ben repeated himself, growing increasingly concerned.
No matter what he tried¡ªknocking, rebooting, issuing operatingmands¡ªthere was no sign of the system awakening. Something was amiss, and it troubled Ben. Thoughts raced through his mind as he stared at the frozen status screen in a corner.
"I guess the system is still undergoing an upgrade or encountering another glitch that it''s trying to fix," Ben thought, rubbing his temples in frustration. Deciding to leave the system undisturbed for now, he turned his attention to his next course of action.
"I need to find some clothing first," Ben concluded, eyeing the dome that enveloped the tree. "But before that, I should test it out." He picked up a nearby stick and cautiously approached the barrier.
As the stick made contact with the dome, it instantly disintegrated into a cloud of evaporating particles, leaving no trace behind. A shiver ran down Ben''s spine. His ns had to change.
"The system is offline, and this barrierplicates things. I should abandon the idea of rescuing those girls," Ben realized, a sense of resignation washing over him. With limited options, he decided to bide his time until the magicianpleted the ritual. He would seize the opportunity to escape then.
However, before Ben could take more than a few steps, his progress was halted by the sudden appearance of five walking skeletons. They approached him with rusted swords clutched in their bony hands. Confusion mixed with fear as Ben tried toprehend the situation.
"What in the world is this? Some kind of necromancy?" Ben pondered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He instinctively took a few steps back, only to be met with an unexpected surge of speed from the skeletons. They charged at him like ferocious zombies, swinging their swords with unnatural agility.
Ben barely managed to dodge an attack aimed at his left side, narrowly avoiding a direct strike. His mind raced, trying to make sense of their incredible speed. Gritting his teeth, he rolled and evaded iing attacks one after another.
Blood Bullet
Ben chanted to use his skill, but it was of no use at all. Without wasting any more seconds, Ben chanted two more skills, realizing that his skills were somehow not working.
Frustrated by his failed attempts to use his skills, Ben desperately tried to call upon his powers. "Blood Bullet!" he chanted, but it had no effect. Realizing the discrepancy, he chanted two more skills, hoping for a breakthrough. Yet his skills continued to malfunction, leaving him defenseless.
Soul Weapon: Beetle Chitin Dagger
In a moment of desperation, he extended his hand and summoned a soul weapon instead. A ck liquid materialized, taking the form of a 7-inch-long, curved dagger resembling a beetle''s horn. The sight brought a glimmer of hope to Ben''s eyes.
"There you are!" he eximed with excitement. With newfound determination, he shed his beetle chitin dagger against the approaching swords. The rusted weapons shattered like fragile ss, unable to withstand the strength of the soul weapon.
As his strikended, the dagger pierced through the skeletons'' foreheads, shattering the crystals embedded within. The bodies crumbled to the ground, lifeless once more.
[Blood Evolution System Activated]
[Humanoid Undead Killed: No Soul Weapon Obtained]
[Exp: 4/10]
The familiar voice of the system echoed in Ben''s mind, bringing both relief and curiosity. "You''re back, system! What took you so long?" Ben eximed with a mixture of joy and relief in his voice.
It took me some time to make the necessary preparations for your new evolution, host. [Especially deciding my new name.]
Ben''s eyes widened in surprise. "Wait a minute. You were taking your time to choose a name while I was facing these undead creatures?" He asked incredulously.
[...]
"Nevermind, I guess. But why are my skills not working? What happened to Blood Bullet and Mosquito Buzz?" Ben inquired urgently, his voice filled with a sense of urgency.
[Due to the sudden change in your biological structure, your former skills will take some time to adapt and bepatible with your body and host.]
"Tsk, can''t you do something? I''m fighting for my life here," Ben muttered through gritted teeth as he continued to dodge sword strikes and fight back against the skeletons. Even when his weapon was stronger than his foes, there were just too many skeletons, and Ben''s weapon was too short tond a blow.
''sh''...
[ HP: 92/100]
Ben clenched his fists in pain, looking at the numbers on his screen. Before he swiftly turned his body around and engaged inbat again.
Ben''s determination flickered. He needed a n. As the skeletons closed in once again, he suddenly had an idea. Rolling to the ground, he positioned his back against the barrier, using it to his advantage.
As the undead creatures lunged at him, their swords swung with deadly intent. But Ben, with a confident smile, swiftly moved his body, causing their weapons to collide with the barrier instead. With a sizzling sound, the rusted swords and the skeletal hands holding them evaporated into nothingness.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ben struck the crystal embedded in one of the skeletons'' foreheads, diminishing the enemy''s numbers.
[Humanoid Undead Killed: Soul Weapon Obtained; Ancient Spear]
[Exp: 8/10]
Chapter 24: Cursed Soul
Chapter 24: Cursed Soul
[Humanoid Undead Killed: Soul Weapon Obtained; Ancient Spear]
[Ancient spear: Normal tier weapon, Special Effect: Rust any weapon or armor hit by this weapon will decay faster ]
[Exp: 8/10]
"Here we go, my luck is back on track," Ben muttered with a wide grin before summoning his new soul weapon, the ''Ancient Spear,'' in his left hand. As the spear materialized, a white liquid formed, creating a 7-foot-long weapon with a tooth-like sharp bone at the front,plete with a skull mark. The other end was kind of blunt, but hey, he''d work with what he had.
Unfortunately, Ben''s spear skills were as flexible as a rusty doorknob. With no experience wielding a spear, he found himself struggling to handle it''s weight andck of flexibility.
"Now take this, you exoskeletal monsters," Ben said, stabbing his spear directly into the undead skull, breaking the red crystal embedded in it.
[Humanoid Undead Killed: No Soul Weapon Obtained]
[Exp: 12/10]
[Congrattions, host! You leveled up to level 2 ]
[All Stats:+1] [Free Stat:+1]
"Time to give those exoskeletal monsters a taste of my awesome spear skills!" Ben dered, charging at the undead. He aimed for the skull, hoping to break the red crystal embedded within it. However, hisck of finesse resulted in the spear getting stuck in the undead''s ribs. Not one to waste time, Ben improvised and used all his might to push the undead into a barrier, turning it into dust.
[Humanoid Undead Killed: No Soul Weapon Obtained]
[Exp: 5/20]
As the dust settled from the crumbling remains of the defeated undead, Ben took a moment to catch his breath. With only two monsters remaining to face, Ben wasn''t at a disadvantage.
The battle raged on, with Ben using his trusty spear and beetle chitin dagger to dispatch the remaining enemies. He stabbed one skeleton in the forehead, while the other received a "friendly" m into the barrier.
[Humanoid Undead Killed: No Soul Weapon Obtained]
[Exp: 9/20]
[Humanoid Undead Killed: No Soul Weapon Obtained]
[Exp: 13/20]
Exhausted from the prolonged battle, Ben copsed to the ground, huffing and panting. Even in his past life, he never engaged in a battle this long. Adrenaline was rushing through his veins, making it hard for him to catch his breath and gather his thoughts.
After finally catching his breath, Ben stood up and tossed his weapons back into his inventory. Just as he was about to ask the system some questions, a sudden notification popped up, surprising him.
Passive skills are now unlocked.
¨d¨T PASSIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
¨X? Blood Vision
¨X? Immortality
¨X? Mutatic Regeneration
¨X? All Tongue [NEW] : (Allows the host to talk and understand in allnguages.)
[New Active Skill Unlocked]
¨d¨T ACTIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
¨X? Influence [NEW] : (ability to manipte and control the minds, emotions, and actions of someone emotionally or physically weaker than you)
"It seems that my skills are finallying back, along with some new ones as well," Ben concluded before he regained his breath and stepped up from the ground, walking towards the deep tree where hooded figures were performing their ritual.
...
..
Meanwhile, in the ritual ground
..
"What the hell is happening? Why are there so many monsters attacking us?" One of the hooded guys asked while green vines behind him were protecting him from the attack of ck, smoky figures flying in the air.
"I believe someone has broken the seal to stop the barrier; it also seems that the entity has killed my undead soldiers as well." One of the hooded figures from earlier answered while his undead were protecting him from those ck ghostly figures.
Not only he, but almost all the mages there were fighting against the ck ghostly figures while they continued to perform the ritual.
As the ritual proceeded, the girls tied to ck pirs slowly lost consciousness due to excessive blood loss before a bunch of ck hands emerged out of the shadows and covered their bodies.
This ritual continued for a while until there were only five or six girls left, still conscious and grinning with pain.
...
..
Ben, on the other hand, after recovering his stamina, was now steadily walking towards the ritual ground with light steps.
As he approached the ritual ground, he couldn''t help but reminisce about his previous days as a mosquito, easily sneaking around unnoticed. What would people even think if they saw a naked man running around in the middle of a ritual cult?
"Sigh, who would''ve thought I''d miss being a mosquito?" Ben sighed wistfully, contemting the bizarre sight of a naked man running amid a ritual. "Well, it''s all part of the vampire life, I guess. Time to make my presence known!"
As Ben approached the ritual ground, an eerie silence hung heavy in the air. He couldn''t shake off the unsettling feeling that permeated the atmosphere, sending shivers down his spine. The sight before him was like something out of a nightmare.
As his eyes scanned the surroundings, a chilling sight caught his attention. Hundreds of ck, ghostly shadows swirled above the ritual ground, their tortured screams and whispered curses piercing the stillness. Their presence defied logic, devoid of the life force that flowed through all beings. The very essence of these shadowy entities seemed to be a perversion of life and death.
-Blood Vision-
Ben chanted before his vision turned all red, disying the surroundings like thermal censors.
"What in the hell are those things? Why isn''t there any blood energy in them?" Ben asked, looking at huge ck balls floating in his sky and grey ghostly figures revolving around them, which was quite unusual because it was his first time looking at ck color in his blood vision skill.
[Beware, host, the things you are looking at are cursed souls. [Those souls who are rejected by both heaven and hell are thrown out of the reincarnation cycle.]
[ Their only task is to possess someone alive and fulfill theirst desire.]
[ While the grey figures flying around them are souls that are trapped in their possession after their bodies were controlled by them ]
"Then what are those cursed souls doing over here, next to the Underworld tree?" Ben asked, a cold chill running down his body.
[ I don''t have an exact answer to that, but there must be something that''s attracting them for ...]
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
Before Ben could delve deeper into his thoughts, a gut-wrenching scream pierced the air. His attention snapped back to the ritual ground, where a young girl stood, her body wracked with pain. In an instant, her agony transformed into a burst of deep, resonantughter that echoed ominously through the night. It was as if two entities were locked within her, locked in a sinister dance, sharingughter tainted by madness and despair.
...
..
.
Chapter 25: A Contract with the Devil
Chapter 25: A Contract with the Devil
"We don''t want any impure in our n, kick them out of here or do whatever, just don''t let them ruin our bloodline."
The words echoed through the grand hall, uttered by an old man with flowing grey hair, a long grey beard, and pointy ears. Seated on a wooden chair, he exuded authority as he presided over the room. The chamber resembled a miniature version of a throne room, with a regal red carpet stretching towards the wooden chair, and yellow chandeliers casting a warm glow on the intricately carved walls.
Overwhelmed by confusion and despair, I found myself sprawled on the plush red carpet, my tears flowing freely. I raised my gaze, searching for sce, only to be met with the piercing stares of those who stood beside the throne. Anger etched on their faces, they regarded me with a mix of disdain and rejection.
In that vulnerable moment, thoughts raced through my mind. "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve such treatment?" The questions haunted me, intensifying the ache in my heart. I yearned for the protection of my parents, the belief that they would shield me from such cruelty.
With a flicker of hope, I turned my gaze towards a silver-haired elf, expecting understanding and support. Instead, her expression revealed only disgust. Why were they treating me this way? Was it solely because of my bloodline? Because my magic was not as strong as theirs?
"Patriarch, I have told you many times, mixed blood have no ce in inner circle of castle. Letting her live even after being born as half human is a mercy on it own. Its for the best if we sell her to the ve traders." another elf said, a frown and anger on his face.
The old man, who seemed to be the patriarch of the n, leaned forward in his chair, his eyes filled with disdain. "Mercy?" he scoffed. "There is no ce for mercy when ites to preserving the purity of our bloodline. We cannot afford to dilute our power with impurities."
His words cut through me like a knife. I had always known that I was different, that I didn''t quite fit in with the rest of the n. But how can they be so cruel to even think about selling me to ve trader?
"But... but I''m still your family," I managed to stammer, my voice trembling with emotion. "I''m your blood too. Doesn''t that count for anything?"
The silver-haired elf, her eyes narrowed, stepped forward, her voice dripping with contempt. "Blood alone does not determine worthiness. We are a n defined by strength, power, and pure elven heritage. Your human blood tarnishes that legacy. We cannot allow weakness to contaminate our lineage."
She approached me, her presence bearing the weight of disappointment and shame. Her words cut deep. "I am ashamed to admit that I fell for a rtionship with those deceitful humans and gave birth to an impure like you. I can no longer bear the guilt. Begone from my sight, as that filthy human father of yours."
As I looked at the faces of the elven women who once I called mother, I couldn''t hep but disgust. It was a crushing realization that no matter how desperately I sought their eptance, it would nevere. They saw me as a stain on their pure heritage, an unworthy outcast.
Days turned into nights, and nights turned into an eternal darkness within my soul. When consciousness eventually returned, I found myself bound by chains, their weight an oppressive reminder of my captivity. My attempts to scream were silenced by a cruel contraption that sealed my lips.
I tried to struggle against the chins, but my struggles were silenced by the electrical shock from a metallic colour on my neck.
Time passed, marked only by hunger, thirst, and the echoes of my internal screams. Amidst the despair, a metamorphosis urred. My anguish transformed into a seething anger, burning deep within me. In that rage, I found an ember of determination¡ªa flicker of desire for revenge.
If only I was given a chance...if only I was free, I would kill everyst one of those noble bloodline.
I was bullied every day of my life, fed on the leftovers. I was treated worse than a ve, but I endured it all, all in the hopes that my mother will one day ept me.
But in the end, it was all for nothing. My ambition, my dreams, shattered before my eyes. I am nothing but a impurity to them...
I didn''t choose to be born as half elf, I didn''t choose to be born with less magic, then why, why am I being punished for someone''s else''s mistakes?
At the end of the day, my mother was one of those too. One of those proud Nobel bloodline. Those who believe they are superior than others... they aren''t qualified to live in this world.
If I can only get a chance, to show them how inferior they are. I will free this world from those parasites...
[Rage....Anger....Pain....Hahahahahhaha....Hahahahhahahahahahhahaahhaha ]
Amidst my solitude, a voice resounded, deep and ominous, reverberating through the depths of my being. "Who are you?" I trembled, both fearful and curious of the monstrosity lurking within my mind.
[I am the answer to your rage, the embodiment of your cries, and hope for your revenge]
the voice responded, its tone hauntingly captivating. Who would extend a helping hand to someone like me¡ªabandoned by society, expelled from my own family? "Can you help me seek revenge?" I mustered, intrigued by the possibilities thaty before me.
[I thrive on hatred, I feed on anger. Make a contract with me, and I shall bestow upon you my powers, granting you the means to achieve your revenge]
"A contract?" I inquired, both apprehensive and desperate for a path forward.
[ In exchange for your anger, I shall grant you strength. In exchange for your rage, I shall gift you wisdom. But remember, should your hatred wane, or your anger grow cold, I wille to im your soul. In the eternal depths of hell untold.]
A chill ran down my spine as I weighed the consequences of such a pact. The allure of power mingled with the cost of damnation.
[Tell me, would you make a contract with a devil?]
If this pact could aid me in exacting revenge, if it could empower me to reshape the world, then I would ept its terms. In the face of my relentless determination, I uttered my decision to the abyss within. "I am ready to make a contract with the devil."
[Tsk...hahhahahhahaha...Hahahahahhahaha....HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAAA. ]
Chapter 26: Curse of the Devil
Chapter 26: Curse of the Devil
"AAAaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggghhh!"
Before Ben could delve deeper into his thoughts, a gut-wrenching scream pierced the air. His attention snapped back to the ritual ground, where a young girl stood, her body wracked with pain. In an instant, her agony transformed into a burst of deep, resonantughter that echoed ominously through the night. It was as if two entities were locked within her, locked in a sinister dance, sharingughter tainted by madness and despair.
"Hahahahaaha...Hahahahaha..." Theughter emanated from therge ck stone with red ruins marked on it, its voice heavy and glitchy. The sound seemed to crawl beneath the skin, causing visceral difort and sending icy shivers down the listeners'' spines.
"I ASTAROTH MALEOVALENT, ON THE NAME OF THE 7TH HELL, ACCEPT YOUR CONTRACT!"
Those chilling words reverberated through the ritual ground as if sealing a pact with the forces of darkness. Ben''s heart hammered in his chest, his mind racing toprehend the horrors unfolding before him. He knew he had to act to somehow free the girl from the clutches of this demonic entity.
As the voice dissipated into an eerie silence, the mages, their faces etched with both disbelief and dread, broke the stillness with hesitant whispers. "That was a pact confirmation; does that mean we have seeded?"
But their hopes were shattered by a trembling mage who dared to speak the truth. "It was a contract announcement, yes, but... we never intended to make a contract with Astaroth. The ritual was meant to summon the ancient demon Hiranyakashipu."
The revtion sent shockwaves through the gathering¡ªa horrifying realization that their intentions had been perverted by an unseen force. Panic settled in, a frenzy of whispered prayers and desperate pleas for salvation.
Ben, hiding far from the ritual ground, was able to hear their conversation thanks to his Vampire senses. Not only that, but he was also able to see the ck fog gathering around the ritual ground.
The ck, ghostly figures slowly disappeared into thin air. As if they were afraid of something much stronger than them. In an instant, the fog in the air was so dark that Ben had no option but to use his blood vision skills to see things around him.
Using his blood vision, Ben''s surroundings were revealed in a gruesome disy. The once serene ritual ground was now cloaked in a sinister aura. The ck fog seemed to writhe and pulse, taking on grotesque shapes and contorted forms. Twisted faces appeared within the fog, their expressions frozen in eternal torment.
Ben''s heart pounded faster as he realized that this was no ordinary darkness. It was a manifestation of pure evil, a force beyondprehension. The air grew thick with a putrid stench, the scent of decay and despair permeating every breath.
Within the fog, Ben could see glimpses of horrifying scenes¡ªa writhing mass of serpents slithering in the shadows, ws scraping against unseen surfaces, and distant screams of agony that echoed through the void. This was the true nature of the seventh hell unleashed upon the mortal realm.
"BOM" An ear-deafening explosion reverberated through the ground, clearing the ck fog away. What Ben witnessed then was his most horrific dreams turned into reality.
"Argh!!" Screams of mages echoed in the air, their limbs detached from their bodies, heads rolling on the floor. Amid this blood bath scene, a silver-haired girl, covered in shades of ck, wasughing, purple mes covering her torso.
"What kind of energy is this?" Ben muttered, frozen in fear, as he looked at the girl as if he were looking at a ck hole, absolute darkness extending into the abyss.
BURN," the girl said in a deep double voice, before a serpent-like wave of purple mes emerged from her body, swallowing the mage. The mages were in agony, doing everything they could to stop their foe.
Constantly firing wind des and fireballs, colossal tentacles emerged from the ground to keep their target in ce, while one mage chanted nonstop, gathering massive energy in front of his wand.
"EXPLOSION"
He yelled, just as a deafening st echoed through the ne; its energy wave was powerful enough to shake the entire barrier surrounding the tree. As the st silenced, the mages wiped the sweat off their head, one of them asked turning around to face them. " Did we kill that thing?"
"I DO NOT BELIEVE SO." A glitchy voice came from behind him, and a thin purple line passed through its neck before his head dropped to the floor, rolling. A figure emerged from the dust.
The same half-burned girl was walking around,ughing maniacally; her hair was nowpletely ck, and her eyes radiated purple. While her body was rapidly regenerating and materializing back into full form,
"RuuuuuNNNNnnNN" The mages screamed; without caring for the ritual, they flew towards the barrier, while most of them were just frozen in ce, internally epting their deaths.
"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha...The fear, this is what I want." The girl said this before taking a running stance and sprinting towards the mages at breakneck speed. Screams and a burst of menacing constantughter filled the air as Ben watched blood signatures vanish one by one.
"What exactly did I get myself into? I have to get going!" Ben screamed internally before sprinting towards the barrier at full speed.
"How did I end up in this situation? I''m at a loss for what to do next." Ben was running at full speed. "Even if I reach the barrier at this rate, how will I get out of it, System? Is there any way you can get out of this mess?"
Ben was almost at the barrier when he asked the system to find any way out. But before the system could even respond, a deep voice from behind him sent shivers down his spine.
"A demon with divine energy? This is quite rare to see."
--------------------------
A/N: Yo guys what''s up!! These two chapters are thx for hitting 69 power stones past week, which is quite a rare number lol. Never mind- I have little question to ask you:
These, past two chapters were set in a little dark tone. I did try my best to control the plot of story, let me know if you have any problem with it. Also I can increase the violent and action scene, based on your opinion of story, So make sure toment down your experience.
Chapter 27: Unexpected event-
Chapter 27: Unexpected event-
"A demon with divine energy? This is quite rare to see," Ben heard a sudden voice say, sending shivers down his spine. He turned around to find the same girl with ck hair standing before him, her body enveloped in blue mes that danced and flickered with an otherworldly glow. Her crimson-red eyes locked onto Ben, and a clever smile curled on her lips.
The devil''s presence was overwhelming, and Ben''s heart pounded. He tried to steady his nerves, but the sight of the girl, barely clothed and surrounded by mes, made it difficult to focus.
"Ah, shit. I am screwed," Ben thought, his gaze fixed on the girl before him. Her confidence and powerful aura unnerved him. Gathering his courage, Ben managed to reply to her question, albeit with a hint of nervousness. "Trust me, it''s rarer to see a naked girl talking in a manly voice."
The devil, inhabiting the girl''s body, raised an eyebrow, surprised by Ben''s response. "Wait! You can understand me. Are you a native, perhaps? How were you able to get your hands on divine energy?" The devil asked in a curious yet mischievous tone.
Ben''s mind raced, and he quickly essed the system within him for guidance. "Hey, system? Is this guy... or girl, perhaps, a little cracked or something?" Ben asked in his mind, a twisted smile ying on his face.
[Perhaps, host. He thinks you are a resident of hell since you can understand and talk in hisnguage.]
[Thanks to your all-tongue passive ability.]
[As for divine energy, I think he is referring to me. This is probably also the reason why he hasn''t attacked you yet.]
"Oh, I see, which means I''ve got to y it safe," Ben thought, calming his breathing and trying to say something before he was interrupted again by the devil.
"Well, that does not matter, at any rate." The devil took a small pause before he closed the distance and looked Ben directly in the eyes. "If you want to get out of the barrier...alive, I have a small offer for you."
Ben''s heart skipped a beat at the mention of escaping the barrier. He had no intention of bing another victim in this strange world. "And that is?" he asked hesitantly, subconsciously stepping back.
"Tsk..." The devil chuckled with a wide smile on her face, her hands moving in a quick motion as she chanted something.
-Blood Soul Contract- The devil chanted, holding Ben''s hand, locking finger to finger, while a red runic circle appeared around them.
"System, what the hell is this?" Ben asked, trying to pull his hand back, but his opponent was so strong that he couldn''t even move an inch as if his hands were sealed with iron or something.
[ Foreign energy detected...puting]
[ Blood Contract formed! ]
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: ???
Bearing: ve
HP: 100% MP: 000
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Before Ben could even realize what was happening, the girl before him suddenly fell unconscious, as if she had lost her strength, and fell to the ground.
Her ck hair slowly turned back into silver, and the purple mes on her body disappeared into thin air. What was left on her body was a red runic pattern on her chest, simr to the one that appeared during the blood-soul contract.
"You have 3 hours, demon. Before the barrier falls again, try to survive until our next meeting. Hahahahahahahaahaha"
An Oracle sounded in the air, in a simr tone to the one that the girl was speaking now, and the barrier around the gigantic purple slowly faded into nothing.
"What the hell just happened?" Ben muttered, trying to assess the sudden turn of events before a voice sounded in his mind.
[ From my estimation, host: 1. The devil in the girl''s body just signed a ve contract with you 2. The barrier on the hell tree is now undone. ]
"Wait, does that mean I am now a Devil ve or something? Can''t you find a way to undo it?" Ben asked with a little nervousness in his voice.
[ You misunderstood, host; ording to the pact, you aren''t the ve, but the girl before you is.]
"Heh?!?"
[ You can even see her base stats and live location, thanks to the system.] {A/N: Proud system expecting praise}
*Breath in*
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!" Ben almost shouted, trying to absorb the information in his mind.
The moment Ben saw the devil, he was ready to fight or pull off some tricks to run. But this? This was something he didn''t expect.
"Hey, system? Cant, we undo the contract that happened just now?" After a few minutes of thinking, Ben asked.
[Breaking the contract means the ve will die.]
"What if I leave her here and run away?"
[ If the ve is more than 500 meters away from the host, the ve will die ]
"Cool, you know what? Leave the escape thing; instead, tell me there are how many ways for a ve to die?"
[ There can be two more reasons for a ve''s death: 1. Attacking the master 2. Ordered to die by the master ]
"..."
"I am totally lost here... Why would the devil even do that?" Ben asked, a little frustrated, looking at the silver-haired girl on the ground, sleeping peacefully.
[ I have no clue about it either, host, but so far, at least the contract isn''t harmful to you]
"Not harmful? borate."
[ From my calction, as long as the contract exists, even if the devil ascends inside the girl again, he won''t be able to harm you or defy your orders.]
[ Instead, the whole thing somehow works in your favor.]
"Hmm, now that you mention it, you aren''t actually wrong," Ben muttered, scratching his chin. After all, he did want to save the girl from the very beginning. He couldn''t risk letting the girl die, and challenge the devil in hell tree.
Even in the worst-case scenario, he can just walk out of the forest and let her choose her destiny. For now, he will just observe the situation and act ordingly.
"Alright then, it''s decided. First thing first, I need to get some clothes," Ben said, standing up before he turned to walk towards the corpses in the ritual area behind...
Chapter 28: A fateful encounter
Chapter 28: A fateful encounter
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Vampire
Evolution: Evo 3 Level: 1
Exp:0/10 HP: 100/100
MP: 000/000
Strength: 21
Agility: 25
Stamina: 23
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
*Sigh*
"At least the system is working unlike that time before. Let''s see what''s more is there on the table-" Ben thought with a sigh, scrolling through the system interface.
"Show me the passive skills" Hemanded, standing up from the ground and walking in a certain direction. He was currently wearing ck hood-like clothing with golden trim on it, simr to what those mages were wearing in the ritual ground.
<>
1. Blood Bullet: 5HP/Use
2. Inspect: Can Scan the object in sight
3. Charm: Can be used to influence the target. *200% effect on the opposite gender.
"Wait, that''s it?" Ben asked himself, in amazement and disappointment. He was expecting something better when he evolves into a Vampire, but guess what? He doesn''t even have the skills that he used to have before.
*Ssh*
He washed his face, sitting next to the river water. After removing any visual blood stains on his body.
As he moved along the river''s edge, he gazed at his reflection. Though he couldn''t see his face, the otherworldly crimson red eyes and ck hair revealed the true nature of his vampire form. It was a stark contrast to his age, for his body appeared to be that of a 16 or 17-year-old, while his mind harbored knowledge umted over 32 years.
"As long as I am not a mosquito" Ben sighed in relief before he stretched his body and started to walk towards the other side.
¨d¨T PASSIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
1. Blood Vision: Sensory Vision
2. Immortality: Immune to aging, diseases, and curses. [A/N: He can still be killed ]
3. Mutatic Regeneration: Regenerate your body upon consumption of blood.
4. All Tongue: Can talk and understand in any existingnguage.
"Well at least this seems more interesting," Ben thought, before he sshed the water in his hands on the silver hair girl, who was sleeping on the ground.
The girl in reaction, made some movement on her face as if she was about to wake up.
Ben on the other hand, instantly took a step back and summoned his ''Beetle''s Chitin Dagger'' on one hand while ''Ancient Spear'' on the other hand, ready to take action if necessary.
From the previous turn of events, Ben had temporarily only 3 soul weapons left. The dagger he obtained from killing ck beetles, the spear from the undead, andstly the Inferno Stringer from fireflies.
The girl with silver hair, slowly opened her eyes, still exhausted and lying on the ground, she looked at Ben with a curious gaze, without muttering a word.
"You woke up!?" Ben asked, while surprised at the same time.
ording to the system, the girl is a ve contracted to him so she shouldn''t be able to harm him in any way.
Not to mention, Ben already escaped the barrier range of Hell''s tree quite a while ago, so the devil has probably no external authority over here.
But still, there was some uneasiness in Ben, asking him to always be on guard.
From the 32 years of his life, learning 8 differentnguages and traveling to many countries, Ben could almost predict what''s going on inside a person''s mind, withoutmunicating.
But this girl in front of him, it felt like he was looking at the abyss. Aplete hollow, as if he was looking at a corpse or something.
"Did you save me?" She muttered, her eyes half open, barely hanging conscious.
"..." Ben couldn''t answer but take a look at her, doesn''t she remember what happened just a few hours back?
"Do you remember anything from the past-" Ben asked, taking a calctive approach.
...
" I remember I was in some kind of moving prison, my handcuffed, and next time...I woke up here" She said, slowly regaining her bnce, trying to sit.
"Argh" Ben almost choked on his breath, how cant she remember the bloody massacre she didst time.
[Perhaps the host, her memory of that incident is somehow erased. Or maybe, she doesn''t have a memory of anything after being possessed by the devil. ]
"You aren''t wrong, but what if she is just acting? No... I shouldn''t be thinking that, especially when she is the victim here." Ben thought, a little conflicted. Although she had all the right to know what happened to her, Ben wasn''t sure how would a 16-17-year-old girl will handle it.
"Are you the one who bought me?" The girl asked in an emotionless voice, breaking Ben out of his daze.
"She is probably thinking I brought her from those bandits or something." Ben thought, judging by her actions and words.
"I will just go with the flow for now," He thought, taking a deep breath. "Ahh yes, I did buy you from those bandits, you were the only one in my budget haha.." Ben said, with an embarrassed smile.
[ You shouldn''t have said thest line]
"Oops!!"
"I see..." The girl muttered with a sad smile. Currently, she was also wearing the same ck hood with golden lines, that Ben picked up from the ritual ground.
With barely 3 hours before the barrier falls again, Ben was able to collect a few items that weren''t burned from the battle before escaping the hell''s tree range. This includes two cloth, a broken staff from which only blue crystal was remaining, a sword that somehow survived even after being enveloped by blue mes, two hood-like clothing, and a thin ring that the system said to be useful.
"Is there any way I can buy my freedom back?" The girl asked, a little determination in her voice.
"Is there a way system?" Ben asked, internally, feeling a little guilty about her question.
[ There are indeed ways I can use to break free blood contract, but you will have to get more energy and time for that host.]
*Sigh*
"Don''t worry about that, I am not the kind of person who likes to keep ves. I will free you from the contract as soon as it''s time." Ben said as he summoned back his weapons, feeling no threat from the girl anymore.
"In the meantime, you can act freely as you like," Ben said with a smile on his face, extending his hand towards the girl. In response, the other just looked at him suspiciously before she stood up without taking Ben''s hand.
"Why do I feel like, I was rejected by a girl I never proposed to."
...
..
.
Yo, guys! Author here. I know the past 2-3 chapters were kinda hectic and confusing. So, for the readers who are confused, let me give you a small summary:
The girl, we are reading in the story, is born of a Human father and an Elven mother. Because of her, being mixed blood, she was despised by the n and treated badly.
When she finally turned 16 years of age and didn''t qualify for Elvan''s standards of the magic exam, she was exiled from the family and sold to random ve merchants.
As you read earlier, these ve merchants weren''t normal merchants but participants in some weird ritual to make a contract with the devil. To make this ritual sessful, they needed to sacrifice 100 pure girls (virgins) from different races and summon the king of hell Hiryanakashyapu.
But before they could summon the Devil King, a seventh hell devil Astaroth Malevolent was attracted by the girl''s anger and revenge, and made a contract with her.
The contract is as follows- As long as the girl''s hatred and desire for revenge is burning in her heart, Astaroth will do anything to make her stronger. But if, ever, her anger turns cold or she changes her goal for revenge, Astaroth will capture her soul to the 7th hell.
After making the contract with the girl, Astaroth possesses the body and kills all the mages present on the ritual ground. Then, for some reason, he makes a ve contract with Ben and turns off the barrier around the hell tree for 3 hours, so he can escape along with the girl.
If you have any more questions or confusion, feel free to drop them in thements. Keep reading keep supporting <3.
Chapter 29: Wooden Sword
Chapter 29: Wooden Sword
"I am very very thankful for you to save me, but I would like you to free me right now, I am ready to pay my price by any means you want." The girl said in a severe tone, standing up from the ground.
"I understand you are desperate to meet your family and all, and I promise you I will take you there but I cannot undo the contract right now," Ben said, understanding her thoughts, and trying to calm her down.
"Let''s start with this, do you know where you live? Or your vige name...or anything?" Ben asked, a smile on his face. For a teenage girl to be kidnapped by ve traders andter to be brought as a ve, her reaction waspletely natural, and Ben, fully understood this.
"I don''t have a family or any rtive, now please undo the ve contract or I will have to use unnecessary means," She said with a frown on her face, taking a fighting stance.
Ben in response stepped back and posed both his palms towards her, a small psychological trick he learned to deal with scared animals. He continued to maintain a rxing smile on his face as he said "Trust me if I was able to undo the ve contract, then I would have done it already."
~Silence falls in the area~
Ben, looking at the girl didn''t attack him yet, slowly stepped closer, and extended his hand for a handshake, which for him was the most appropriate action for the time being. "Let''s start with this, My name is Ben Franklin. What about you?"
The girl, on the other hand, looked at Ben, From up to down before she said in a low voice, still avoiding any contact "I don''t have a name. You can call me whatever you like."
"That''s themest excuse to avoid introductions, I''ve ever heard in my fuckin life." Ben thought internally, as his lips twitched twice, barely maintaining the smile on his face.
"Sigh," Ben let out a long breath before he said, "Well if that''s the way you want. You should wash the blood stains on your face, there is a river flowing behind."
The girl on the other hand, just weirdly looked at him before she made some symbols out of her hand, in the air and chanted, " Basic Magic- Water Creation"
As she chanted these words, a swirl of blue energy started to gather in her palm, as if she was collecting the moisture in the atmosphere to make a ball of water, floating in the air.
"How in the hell did she do that " Ben muttered in a low tone, his mouth wide open from the otherworldly scenery happening before him.
[That''s something called water magic host]
"I can guess that much," Ben said in his mind, responding to the system.
The girl continued to chant some more words before the ball of water in her palms spared her body and started to clean the blood stains from her clothes and body.
Just in a matter of minutes, the girl before him, who looked like a pile of dirt, was standing as if she were a princess from a fairy novel. Long silver hair extending to her waist, sharp blue eyes, pointy ears, and smooth skin she stood 5ft 7inch tall, looking at Ben as expressionless as ever.
"Wake up Ben, you are almost double her age!" Ben thought with a slight p on his chicks.
"Cough! Cough! So are you telling me now, what your name is?" Ben asked, after a fake cough.
In response, the silver hair girl just weirdly looked at him before she stated casually "Call me whatever you like."
"Ahh, ok," Ben said, a little frustrated from being ignored a second time, but that''s not what matters right now. All he wanted to do was somehow escape the forest as long as its daytime.
"Do you happen to have any idea, where there is the nearest civilization from? You see I am quite lost on the way so..hahaha" Ben asked, pretending to have an embarrassed smile on his face.
This time, the girl didn''t even bother to look at him weirdly, instead she picked up a twig and ced it on the ground, near the river, where sunlight was reachable.
[A/N: This method is used to find out direction if you are lost on time and direction. Just ce a stick on the ground and observe its shadow for about 5 minutes. The direction of the shadow will always follow a clockwise direction. Since the sun is moving towards the west the shadow will always move toward the east. If you assume the whole thing as a clock the 12:00 of the clock will be east. Thank meter <3 ]
After a few minutes of observation, the silver hair girl finally broke the silence. " We are currently deep inside Enchanted Forest, which also happens to be a low-level hunting ground. The forest is located east of the human kingdom and north of the Elvan kingdom. Depending on where you want to go, we will choose the direction."
"Elvan kingdom! That sounds like pure freaking fantasy. But I don''t think it will be safe to go there. Especially after what system exined about racial problems in this world." Ben thought rubbing his temples.
After a few minutes of thinking and a short conversation with the system, Ben was finally able to conclude. "Fine, since I look more like a human, take me to the human kingdom."
"Then we need to go in the direction of the west." The girl said pointing in a direction, after a short pause she continued. " As long as we follow the river, downstream, we will be able to reach the civilization."
"Alllrrriiiigghhhtttt then! We will move alongside the river." Ben said with a huge smile on his face before he excitedly started walking near the river bank.
*Sigh-
"Are you just acting dumb or are you really that dumb?" The silver hair girl asked, looking at Ben who was joyfully walking side to the river, like a 9-year-old kid ready to get a toy.
"Ahh,...Sorry?" Ben asked with a frown, looking back at the silver hair girl who ruined his rabbit walk.
"If you walk that close to the river, some predator will attack you from the forest. We should follow the river closely, not walk alongside it." She said, in a cold tone voice as if it was a normal thing to know.
[A/N: Most of the predators, like tigers, like to hide near the river bank so that they can hunt the preying to drink water. Thank meter <3]
"How am I supposed to know that, no, better question, how does she know all that?" Ben thought in his mind before he asked the girl to lead the way, closely following from behind.
The girl nodded before she walked toward an old tree and started praying before it.
"Is that some other kind of magic again?" Ben thought, observing closely, not letting anything miss his sight.
In just a few minutes, the tree was covered in slight green light and its branches starting to make some movements.
"Now I don''t regret dumping my biology sses" Ben muttered under his breath.
Soon, some cracking-like sounds were produced from the tree and two of its branches slowly bent down towards the girl''s hand, cing something in her hands before getting back to normal.
When the sight cleared and the faint glow from the tree finally stopped, Ben could see a wooden sword in her hand, about 3 ft long, its structure so well crafted that Ben could even see the shine on its edges.
"Let''s go," The silver-haired girl said, coldly tightly gripping the sword in her hand.
...
..
.
Chapter 30: Forged in battle
Chapter 30: Forged in battle
*walking sound was followed by a faint river sound*
"The sun has set at the horizon; yes, we were walking at that time. Almost an entire day." Ben walkedzily, thinking that the barrier to his patience was about to be removed.
"Aaaa...miss, do you have any idea when we''re going to reach the forest?" He asked, closing his distance from the silver-haired girl. In response, the other person just gave him an annoyed look.
"Hehehe... Just curious; sorry about that." Ben said he had an embarrassed smile on his face. Honestly, it wasn''t the distance that made him bored; it was the awkward silence between them that was itching him the wrong way. He did try to have a conversation, but he was either ignored or responded with an annoyed look.
"We are surrounded." The silver-haired girl suddenly stopped in her tracks, holding her sword in both hands and gripping it tightly.
Alerted by her actions, Ben swiftly activated the passive skill, Blood Vision, allowing him to detect seven faint energies hiding within the nearby bushes, surrounding the girl.
"Seven basic tier or lower monsters," Ben stated with a serious expression. The girl nodded, silently acknowledging her awareness of the threat.
[ Monster perspective: Girl(Half-elf) = Food, Ben(Vampire) = Toxic ]
"There are seven basic tear or lower monsters, around you," Ben said, with a serious expression on his face. While the girl slowly started to chant a spell.
"Inferno Stringer, maximum capacity"
-Blood Bullet-
Ben chanted without wasting any time, pointing his palm in a direction. In an instant, a fiery red aura materialized in front of his palm, about the size of a bullet, before it was engulfed in yellow mes, making it appear golden in colour.
"Bang"
With a shooting sound, the blood bullet left Ben''s hand and hit the blurry figure, which was moving towards the girl. It all happened so fast that the silver-haired girl could only feel blood stter on her clothes, followed by the sound of a lifeless body falling to the ground.
[ Normal Tear Monster: Goblin killed ]
[ Obtaining Soul Essence]
[ Exp: 5/100 No soul weapon was obtained].
"Schreeekkkk"
A lot of screams sounded from the bushes. Seeing theirrade die and knowing that camouge was no use, the goblins chose to face the battle head-on instead, stepping out of the bushes.
-Blood Bullet-
[Hp: 85/100]
In a hurry, Ben chanted again, this time shooting two blood bullets from both hands. One found its mark, inflicting a burning wound on a goblin''s chest, while the other missed its target.
"Shit, they are too much," Ben thought with a frown on his face as he leaped towards the goblins to face them head-on.
"Summon Beetles Chitin Dagger and Ancient Spear. Also, infuse the Inferno stringer with an Ancient spear." Benmanded, ready to be involved in a fight. Even if the enemies weren''t strong, the sheer number of them may pose a threat.
*Deep Inhale*
-Basic Magic: Wind de
-
Before Ben could get involved in the battle, the silver-haired girl swung her sword in the air, and translucent waves of wind des hit two of the goblins midway.
The goblins were humanoid-looking creatures, green in color, and about 4 feet tall. From afar, they might look fragile and malnourished, but their tough skin, high IQ, and persistence are what makes them one of the most vital enemies for newbie adventurers.
The goblin was hit by the wind de, but the wound wasn''t deep enough to cause any critical damage. Before she knew it, she felt a sharp pain in his left leg, making her kneel on the ground. The wooden sword in her hand dropped as she saw a goblin from the front, in the air, jumping towards her.
The silver-haired girl froze for a moment. Looking at the goblin''s face¡ªthe wide smile, the menacing gaze¡ªshe tried to move, but her body was just not responding. She could just see the goblin''s w moving toward her face.
At the moment she almost epted her fate, a sharp wind passed next to her ear, and the next instant she could see a ming spear pierce through the goblin''s chest in mid-air.
Just as the spear pierced through the goblin, Ben, without thinking twice, grabbed the spear''s other end tightly and swung the spear along with the goblin to the other side, hitting the other goblining towards him.
" That''s right. I have been feeling this for a while now." Ben thought as he swung his body to make a round kick toward a goblin''s leg. Bending it at an unnatural angle up until the moment of contact.
"This is much stronger than the body in my past life. As if I can easily do the moves from those Marshhrts movies, if not better." Ben thought, a sharp smile on his face, as he lept towards the fallen goblin and hit its head with his Beetle''s Chitin Dagger.
[ Normal Tear Monster: Goblin killed ]
[ Obtaining Soul Essence]
[ Exp: 10/100 No soul weapon was obtained.]
Without wasting any seconds, Ben instantly backflipped from the ground, avoiding a w attack, as he pointed his palm towards another goblin.
-Blood Bullet-
Ben cast another bullet, directly hitting the goblin in the skull and ending its life. A kill notification sounded on his status screen. One from the burning effect of the Ancient Spear.
[HP: 80/100]
The silver-haired girl, still kneeling on the ground, could just see a killing machine in action, devouring it''s does without a tinge of hesitation.
Ben picked up his ancient spear again and stabbed it through a goblin''s throat while casting two more blood bullet skills to end one more goblin''s life.
Ben Un-summoned his weapons to his inventory as he walked toward the silver-haired girl on the ground.
"Shrek!" Thest goblin screamed as it jumped towards Ben, targeting his head. Ben, on the other hand, just casually lifted his hand as he grabbed the goblin''s head in mid-air, his palms tightly gripping its forehead.
"Know your ce, fool," Ben muttered coldly, ring at the goblin who was struggling out of his grip in mid-air.
-Blood Bullet-
Ben chanted, and with a sting sound, a ssh of blood rose from the goblin''s ckhead as its struggle stopped, and its body went lifeless.
[A/N: Ahem ...Ahem, as you might have noticed, I kinda tried a new thing in the story, writing two different POVs in one chapter. So let me know your honest opinion if you have any problem with the POV change or anything. Hope you enjoyed reading <3 ]
Chapter 31: Vaeloria Empire
Chapter 31: Vaeloria Empire
"All kills - Check."
"Show off - Check."
"Perfect save - Check."
"Now, all that''s left to do is walk up to her and deliver a cheesy line like those protagonists in fantasy novels, and I will be a knight in shining armor," Ben mused, strutting confidently toward the silver-haired girl lying on the ground. He extended his right hand toward her, striking a pose straight out of his favorite romance novel back from Earth.
"Are you alright, miss?" he inquired with theatrical ir, channeling his inner fictional hero.
-Heal-
The girl chanted a healing spell, lightly healing her wound before she picked up her wooden sword and stood up on her own, leaving Ben in a frozen state.
"I feel dumped again!" -? Ben Franklin.
[ You have my sympathy, Host.]
"Ah, forget it. I''ll just tag along with her to the nearest town or whatever. I better keep my blood vision active at all times," Ben resolved with a determined expression before trailing behind the silver-haired girl.
"Show me the notifications" Benmanded in his mind, while still following behind the silver-haired girl. A holographic blue screen appeared before him, indicating his kills from previous battles.
[ 7 Basic Ties Monsters: Goblins killed ]
[ Exp: 35/100]
[ Normal Tier Soul Essence Obtained: Wind born Shoes]
Ben, without hesitation, tapped on the info button next to wind-born shoes to see their properties, while still keeping an eye for surroundings using blood vision.
[ Wind-Born Shoes: Basic Tier( Grade 1)]
[ Defence: +5 when equipped ]
[ Ability: Wind walk ( Grants the user, a +3 increase in agility once activated. Lats for 3 minutes.) ]
"Now that''s what you call a piece of good equipment. Especially when I am walking barefoot since I ever evolved into a vampire." Ben thought, sneakily equipping the pair of brown shoes on his legs.
"We are...close...to the human kingdom." While Ben was still busy with his new equipment, the silver-haired girl said, heavily breathing, breaking the long silence between them.
"Looks like my little trick wasn''t all in vain," Ben thought, a triumphant smile forming on his lips. He stepped closer to the girl, walking in sync with her.
"And how did youe to that conclusion?" Ben asked, curiositycing his voice and a yful smile dancing on his lips.
"Goblins don''t typically dwell deep in the forest. They tend to reside near viges or dungeons, often raiding human farms," the silver-haired girl responded in a hushed tone, her expression serious.
[A/N: By farm, she means animal farms here.]
"If my estimation is urate, the human empire should be approximately 5-6 kilometers from our current location," the girl continued, breathing heavily, her face flushed and her steps asionally faltering.
"By maintaining this pace, we should be able to reach the empire by morning," she panted,ing to a halt and steadying herself with her wooden sword.
"What''s the deal with her now?" Ben thought, the excitement on his face instantly turned into a frown as he observed the girl before him.
[ Host, I''ve detected a severe case of poisoning in her body. Check her status.]
"Poison! Disy her stats now," Benmanded, a sense of urgency in his voice, as he studied the screen before him.
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: ???
Affiliation: ve
HP: 21/52 [Poisoned]
MP: 68/113
Stamina: Critical
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"Poisoned effect? How did she even get poisoned?" Ben pondered, searching for possible exnations.
[ The most usible cause might be the goblin''s w attack. While not immediately fatal, the poison could prove highly dangerous if left untreated.]
"In other words, I need to get her to a doctor before the poison spreads too far." Ben swiftly unsummoned his weapons, which he kept in case of emergencies, and approached the girl.
"While I''m at it, I can tie a makeshift bandage around her leg to slow down the poison''s cirction," Ben nned, but the system intervened.
[ It''s already toote for that, Host. If you wish to save her life, you must take her to the empire.]
[ But again, will it be safe to take a girl to an empire who could be possessed by the devil at any point in time?]
"Allowing her to die carries more risk," Ben concluded quickly, "I have a feeling that there is more to the devil thing than it matches the eyes,"
"Jump on my back. I''ll carry you to the empire," Ben offered, approaching the girl who still leaned on her sword for support. He sat on the ground, his back to her, indicating she could climb on.
"I... I can walk... by myself," she protested, attempting to move away and continue on her path, avoiding Ben''s help.
"I detest this attitude. If she were a guy, I''d knock some sense into him," Ben''s annoyance showed on his face. He stood upright, facing the girl again.
"I won''t repeat myself. Do as I say," Ben''s tone grew firm, teeth clenched. Something changed, however, as his eyes began to emit a crimson glow like red-hot iron freshly drawn from a furnace.
[ Active Skill: Influence - Cast]
The girl''s gaze turned vacant as if she had lost consciousness, her replying mechanically, "I will do... as you say."
[ Active Skill: Influence - Sessful ]
"Whatever works," Ben muttered, disregarding the status screen momentarily. He lifted the silver-haired girl onto his back, providing her with a piggyback ride, and activated his windwalk skill.
[Wind Walk Activated: Agility +3]
"She''s lighter than I anticipated," Ben noted as he set off from the ground, bolting toward the western direction where the human empire awaited.
Ben maintained a moderate pace to conserve his stamina while using his blood vision to scan the surroundings for potential threats. Before long, his Wind Walk skill reached its duration limit, triggering a 3-hour cooldown. Yet, he had a considerable distance ahead of him to cover.
Determined to ensure the girl''s safety and get her to the empire promptly, Ben pressed forward. With each step, his crimson eyes scanned the terrain, his senses heightened by his vampire abilities.
For any ordinary human, covering a distance of 7 kilometers on foot would require hours of effort. However, with Ben''s enhanced vampire powers and stamina, he managed to sprint the entire distance in a mere 20 minutes, the girl safely secured on his back. As they moved forward, the forest around them began to thin, and patches of daylight broke through the dense canopy.
Ben''s sprinting was a testament to his supernatural capabilities, making the seemingly impossible journey appear effortless. His vampire traits granted him agility and endurance far beyond those of a mere mortal. With every step he took, thendscape transformed around them, and the trees grew sparser.
The duo had been walking for nearly a day and a night toe this close to their destination. As the first light of dawn began to paint the horizon, Ben''s sharp eyes caught a glimmer of distant lights ahead. The faint illumination signaled the presence of civilization,...
Chapter 32: Valoria Empire (2)
Chapter 32: Valoria Empire (2)
"WaaaaaaAAAAahhhh"
Deep yawn
"What are we even doing here this time..." One of the guards asked, rubbing his eyes. His body was covered in tattered leather armor and holding a metallic spear in his hand, he was standing on the right side.
"Just hold on a bit will you? Our shift will be over soon anyways," another guard said, his voice heavy with drowsiness, his armor matching the first guard''s.
"Yeah... it''s not like anyone is even arriving at this... wait...am I hallucinating or something?" The first guard said, rubbing his eyes vigorously. His drowsiness had been reced with surprise.
"What now? You see a ghost or something?" the second guard asked, still sounding half-asleep.
"Not a ghost, bruh. I''m seeing a person running towards us... with absurd speed." The first guard''s voice trembled with disbelief.
"The hell you''re talking about? There can''t be a single personing to... wait, what the fuck!" The second guard''s sleepy demeanor instantly vanished as he took a battle stance, his body tense. He began chanting something under his breath.
...
"Alright, just hang on, it''s just...50 meters away." Ben thought, huffing as he sprinted towards the silver gate in front of him. Even with the physical abilities of a vampire, covering this distance at such speed was taxing.
-Fireball-
The chant reached Ben''s ears, triggering his vampire instincts and alerting him to danger. Reacting with swiftness, Ben sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a zing fireball that whizzed past him.
''BooM''
An explosion followed the impact of the fireball on the ground, reminiscent of the sound of stone breaking.
"Wait, we aren''t enemies!" Ben shouted at the top of his lungs, trying to make himself heard above the noise. But before he couldplete his sentence, he saw another fireball hurtling toward him.
Reacting swiftly, Ben shifted his weight and jumped to the side, just as the second fireball collided with the ground.
''BooM''
Another explosion resounded, marking the impact point.
Rising from the ground, Ben acted on instinct, swiftly summoning his Beetle''s Chitin Dagger into his hand andunching it towards the source of the fireballs.
"The hell with that speed, is he using magic to enhance his body?" The first guard muttered incredulously, his posture still defensively guarding his assigned area. The second guard continued to conjure fireballs, preparing for an onught.
"We''ll see about that!" The second guard responded, stopping his fireball assault and beginning a new incantation.
In a matter of seconds, his fists were aze with mes, a triumphant grin on his face.
"Wait, are you gonna use that? What if he''s an ally?" The first guard asked with a hint of hesitation.
"We''ll ask after I neutralize him," the second guard replied eagerly, his focus unwavering.
"You always go overboard," the first guard sighed as if he were used to such behavior.
...
Benunched himself towards the second guard, his Beetle''s Chitin Dagger held ready forbat. His stamina was already depleted, limiting his options. Nevertheless, he aimed to utilize his agility and skills to counter the threat.
His HP was critically low, making him reluctant to use Blood Bullet. In case of emergency, he had integrated Inferno Stringer into his blood abilities, ready for any situation.
In seconds, he was in close quarters with the second guard. The guardunched a fiery punch toward Ben, but with his heightened reflexes, Ben dodged the attack effortlessly, executing a side sh that left a deep cut on the guard''s waist.
"He''s fast," the guard thought, his determination unshaken. He pivoted andunched another punch toward Ben, not concerning himself with his wound.
With Ben''s remarkable speed, he slid along the ground, effortlessly dodging the punch. At the same time, he executed a swift, lower kick aimed at the guard''s knees. The kick connected, causing the guard to lose bnce and tumble to the ground.
Instantly, Ben summoned his ancient spear and directed its point towards the guard''s throat, a plea for non-violence evident in his tone. "I am not your enemy, try..."
Seeing Ben''s cautious approach, the guard on the ground smiled, his excitement evident. Even though Ben''s stamina was depleted, the guard had reserves of energy left. Swiftly, he punched the spear, knocking it aside.
Reacting with agility, Ben rolled on the ground to evade the punch. The guard''s zing attack hit the ground, creating a small crater from sheer force.
"What an absurd strength!" Ben cursed, summoning his Beetle''s Chitin Dagger as he stood up. His body trembled, worn out from the intense battle.
-Earth wall-
The guard chanted, conjuring a protective barrier of earth about 5 feet tall behind Ben.
"He''s trying to block my movements," Ben realized. He leaped backward, executing a backflip over the earth wall. Suspended in mid-air, he utilized his momentum to create distance.
"Tsk" Ben who was still in the air, heard a chuckle, and a thought crossed his head. "Shit, I fell for it." He cursed inwardly, before he crossed his hands, embracing himself for the damage.
The guard, with a chuckle, hit the mud wall with his zing punch. With a booming sound, the upper part of the wall cracked into small pieces, all shooting towards Ben, like small meteorites.
[ Hp (-3) ]
A notification popped up on his screen as he was hit by the attacks. Ben wasted no time in gaining back his position as he fell to the ground. But unfortunately for him, he was already toote.
The moment Ben regained his bnce, his enemy was already just a meter away from him, casting a strong zing punch.
"Damn legs move.." Ben gritted his teeth, trying to move his legs, but his body wasn''t responding, as if his muscles were gone numb due tock of oxygen supply.
With no other choice, Ben summoned his Beetle''s chitin dagger and crossed his arms to absorb the attack on his weapon. But something unexpected happened.
With a sting sound, ripples were created through the air, as the Dagger collided with zing Fist, the basic tier weapon shattered into pieces, causing another st.
[ Soul Weapon destroyed: Beetles Chitin Dagger ]
[ Hp(- 12) ]
[ HP: 36/100 ]
With a series of notifications, Ben was thrown tens of meters back, sliding through the ground, before he was stopped by crashing into a tree.
[ Hp: 34/100]
"Cough, cough" Another notification popped up, as Ben coughed up blood from his mouth, his eyes were glowing crimson in anger...
Chapter 33: Beetle’s Chitin Dagger destroyed
Chapter 33: Beetle''s Chitin Dagger destroyed
[ Hp: 34/100]
"Cough, cough" Another notification popped up, as Ben coughed up blood from his mouth, his eyes were glowing crimson in anger.
[HP is in danger zone]
[Hp: 34/100]
Ben looked at the status screen slightly, before he fixed his gaze to his foe again. Who was walking towards him with heavy steps? Ben, on the other hand, could only use the time he was lying, to restore his stamina.
"I am so much depleted on stamina, that I could barely hold my senses." Ben let his body loose, trying to rest as much as possible.
One thing that he found out good about Vampire''s body, was the fact that he won''t lose HP from constant blood loss. Unless the wound is too big to close instantly.
"My only option right now is to use Blood Bullet skill at maximum capacity. I will wait to lure in my enemy, and use all my strength to cast a single spell, targeting his head." Ben constantly and slowly kept moving his fingers in his right hand, so that his hand won''t freeze from depleting stamina.
He was looking at his enemy, like an injured lion, looking at his prey. Ready to give all he got.
-Blood Bullet: Maximum capacity-
Ben chanted, his resolve strong to end his foe''s life in a second. He was just about to shoot his blood bullet when the guard, dressed in leather armour stopped in his way and started searching for something in his utility belt.
"What''s your purpose in this vige?" He asked, his voice numb and cold.
Ben was taken aback by that sudden change in attitude, it was hard for him to trust the guard, but attacking the guard can cause more trouble for him. If there is still a chance for some negotiation, he would bet on it.
"We were traveling in the enchanted forest when we lost our way and got separated from our group." Ben made up a lie, as far as his knowledge exceeds this world.
"While finding our way back home, we were attacked by a bunch of goblins, and the girl over there got poisoned by the goblin w." Ben continued, pointing towards the silver hair girl.
"Is that so?" The guard weirdly looked at him, scanning up and down before he asked again "Then how would you exin the royal emblem of Magadh Empire on your dress?"
Ben was taken aback. This was certainly the possibility that he didn''t think of. And now that he was thinking about it, it can also be the reason for the unfriendly behavior of the guard with him.
"The expression on your face says a different story, tell me where did you get that hood from?" The guar interrupted Ben''s thoughts with a bold voice.
"I picked it up on the way from copse''s in the forest." Ben, his stamina recovered a bit, slowly stood up stumbling on his legs. "Trust me, I have nothing to do with imperial mages."
"Ya, I can guess that much. An imperial mage would have killed me in a bare second of the fight." the guard continued to stare at Ben with an expressionless face.
"Sigh...Alright fine, I am sorry about that. I just saw a person in Imperial Emblem running towards the vige and I got on my edge." The guard nodded his head, thinking back to what happened.
"So we can see my friend now?" Ben asked, cutting the guard conv. in between. While the other just stared him back.
"You said, she is poisoned by goblin w? That shouldn''t be much of a deal, I will look for that but mind that I still don''t trust you." The guard changed his direction and started to walk towards the silver-haired girl, while Ben just stayed in the same position, deciding not to follow behind.
[ Hunger Stat: Mild ]
A notification popped up on Ben''s screen. Diverting his gaze for a while, he scrolled through the notification bar to check the notification about his soul weapon earlier.
[ Soul Essence: Beetle''s Chitin Dagger is broken ]
"System, isn''t there any way to repair a broken soul weapon? You did say you could repair the damaged soul weapon didn''t you?" Ben asked the voice in his head.
[ Sorry to disappoint you, Ben. But only the soul weapons that were damaged or dulled can be restored to their original form. ]
[ If a soul weapon is pushed beyond its durability, then the weapon will use all its energy to explode and cause mass damage to the enemy ]
"I see, that will increase the difficulty a little bit, especially when I don''t have any close-range weapons to fight with." Ben nodded his head in disappointment before he shifted his gaze back to the guard next to the silver-haired girl.
...
...
"What kind of absurd killing intent was that?" The guard gritted his teeth while holding his right hand tightly. While sitting next to the silver-haired girly, he took out a vessel of green liquid from his utility belt and poured half of the liquid into his hand.
"Even tho he is not strong enough to be called an Imperial Mage, I doubt if I coulde out of that fight alive if the matters exceeded any further." He thought in pain, cursing Ben from inside.
Even in his time in training grounds, he met countless unique types of ability users but summoning a weapon out of thin air is something he never saw in his life.
After healing the wounds on his hands, that he got from the self-destruction of soul weapon. The guard looked at Ben from the corner of his eyes before he poured the other half of the green potion on the silver-haired girl, specifically on the wound on her leg.
In a matter of seconds, the wound started to heal from her body as if there wasn''t even one to begin with, while a notification appeared again on Ben''s screen.
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: ???
Affiliation: ve
HP: 30/52 [Healing]
MP: 68/113
Stamina: Normal [Restoring]
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
Chapter 34: Second prince of Altria
Chapter 34: Second prince of Altria
"She is recovering," The guard said, in a bold voice without turning around to look at Ben.
"I know" Ben replied in the same monotonous tone as him before he started to walk toward the silver hair girl.
"Now that the girl is safe, what are you exactly nning to do next?" The guard asked, standing up from the ground, this time looking towards Ben, observing him closely.
Ben, on the other hand, inspected the girl thoroughly on the ground, he asked " How much time will it take for her to fully recover?"
[ My assumption is host, that she is already recovered. She is just sleeping due to stamina drain from all that incident ]
"Then I should better let her sleep for now." He decided in his mind before he faced the guard again.
"I am nning to stay at the vige until I get any connection with my family again," Ben stated, thinking about the most logical answer in this case.
"Talk about a good opportunity." The guard thought he smiled from inside while keeping an emotionless look on his face.
"In that case, I will deliver your message to the vige chief. But know that, until I get any response, you will have to stay outside the vige." He said, in one line, a little hastily, before he walked towards the silver gate, where the other guard was standing.
"That''s fine by me," Ben said, just enough loud so the guard can hear him.
...
...
"That was one good battle, I thought you were screwed for a second" The other guard,zily said, watching his ally walking back towards him, holding his left hand.
"What happened? Did you guyse to a negotiation or something?" The other guard asked again, seeing that he didn''t get any response to his first question.
"Keep an eye on them, until I return" He muttered, passing across the guard at the silver gate, a sharp smile decorated on his face.
"Sigh...Why do I always have to do these works." The other guard sighed while getting back on his duty.
...
"Gruber"
Ben held his stomach tightly, as soon as the guard disappeared from his sight. The pain was so much that he almost fell to the ground. A series of constant notifications popped on his screen, he could barely see what was written on it.
[ Low HP, Hunger is increasing ]
[ Alert. Hunger: SERVE ]
[ Alert: If you don''t consume blood soon, your hunger will reach a critical state ]
As Ben gritted his teeth in pain, the veins on his body started to bulge up, clearly visible from the outside of his skin. his eyes were constantly glowing in crimson, as his canine teeth slowly elongated to more sharp and pointy.
The only thing inside Ben''s mind right now was a sweet smell. The sweet scent of blood came from the girl before him. All his senses were screaming to him, s if he was looking at fruit juice after walking a long way through the desert.
"I didn''t want to do this, but I have no other way," Ben muttered under his breath as if he was somehow fighting against his instincts, controlling himself from killing the prey before him.
Soon, the pain on his face was reced by a sharp smile as he knelt near his prey and bit on her wrist.
[ Blood Consumed: 10ml]
[ HP: 40/100 ]
[ Half-Elf blood consumed: Exp:+5 Agility:+1 Strength:+1 ]
[ Blood Consumed: 10ml]
[ HP: 50/100 ]
As Ben gulped the warm blood down his throat, a satisfying feeling rushed into his body, the one with utmost pleasure, that can''t be described in words.
Just in a matter of minutes, Ben felt an unexpected change in his body, all the injuries on his body were gone as if there was nothing to begin with.
As soon as he removed his fangs from her hands, the bite mark on her hands slowly started to heal, and disappear like nothing. But Ben was in a sensation of his own.
From when he used to be a mosquito, Ben was consuming blood for survival, but this feeling was something he never felt before. It was like, tasting an old wine, sip by sip, unpleasant yet addictive.
"Do I still have my human emotions left in me?" Ben wondered, as soon as he stopped drinking blood. For a moment he thought he might even kill the girl if he didn''t hold himself back.
"In any case, this will probably be thest time I am consuming human blood. If I want to find my ce in this world, then I need to rely on animal blood most of the time." He decided, his expressions were that of guilty and apologetic while his gaze turned towards the silver gate in far.
...
...
Inside arge shrine-like structure in a vige, the guard in the leather armor could be seen walking with hasty steps. As soon as he reached the door, he removed his heel made to reveal his long red hair and golden brown eyes.
From the looks of it, he wasn''t much older either. Barely 24-25 years of age, he halted his advance next to the red door which seemed to be closed by a magical seal.
"Tell him...the prince wants to meet the elder." He said looking directly at the door, his eyes fixated to see what lies beyond.
In a matter of minutes, the red door in the shrine opened with a cracking sound, each crackle stating its history long past and the number of times it opened.
Without wasting a single second, the red-haired boy walked inside the ck corridor, a tight space, with nothing to see around. As he continued through the abyss, the red door behind him closed shut again, as if it was being controlled by an invisible force.
After a walk of a few minutes, the guard was weed by a white blinding light,ing from the other end of the channel.
"Second prince of Altria, tell me what brings you here?"
Chapter 35: A condition?
Chapter 35: A condition?
After a few minutes walk, the guard was weed by a white, blinding lighting from the other end of the channel.
As soon as he crossed the dark alleyway, the guard was weed into a huge hall, glooming into reddish yellow light. He was surrounded by 12 one-sided windows as if he were being watched by 12 different people.
"Second Prince of Altria, tell me, what brings you here?" The words resonated with an authority that matched the grandeur of the hall. It was as if the air itself carried the weight of tradition and importance.
"I came to bring good news here, chief." He said it in a confident voice. As he removed the metallic leather helmet from his head, his red hair glowed in yellowish light. From the looks of it, one could say that this boy was barely any older than Ben in his current body.
"Is this in any way rted to the battle between you and the vige gate prince?" A deep voice asked him, but in the echoing room, it was hard to tell the exact direction and source of the voice.
"Nothing is hidden from the council members, indeed." The red-haired teenage boy continued with a slight smile on his face. " The two people waiting outside the vige are lost in the enchanted forest. What they seek is a shelter in the vige."
"You do realize, prince, that unnecessary charity can harm your performance badly." The other voice said it almost instantly in response.
"Though our job is only to keep a watch, we aren''t anyone to advise or interfere, so you may do as you like."
"I understand the council''s responsibility and oath. That''s why I came here to state my side," the Second prince said, bowing his head, " For I shall protect anyone who is a citizen of my kingdom."
"If the royal court won''t send soldiers to stand against our enemy, then I shall prepare my soldiers to stand against the royal court."
"And I am starting it from the very day now." The red-haired prince lifted his head above, and fury and determination could be seen in his eyes as he stepped back out of that room. While the council remained in strict silence, drowned in the heaviness of his words.
...
"Hey, sharp-minded handsome fe!" Ben''s voice rang out in the air, breaking the silence that had hung around him for hours. It had been nearly two hours since the other guard had departed, and there was no sign of his return.
"Me?" The other guard blinked in surprise, pointing towards himself as if unsure whether anyone would consider him handsome. He stood there, covered in tattered leather armor, his spear still clutched in his hand.
"Can you see another handsome chap guarding this gate?" Ben retorted, his voice infused with amusement. He remained seated, cautious to avoid any confusion.
"Well, yeah, but you know..." The guard stammered, clearly flustered by thement. He nced around as if expecting to find someone more attractive than himself. "I mean, uh, yes, I am the one you''re referring to."
"Since you have a good eye for people, I will let you on with one request. What do you need from me?" He asked, trying to sound more deep and manly.
"I was just wondering, where did your not-so-handsome friend wander off to? He''s been gone for quite a while," Ben inquired, his words dripping with faux concern.
"The other guy?" The guard scratched his head, trying to recall the whereabouts of hisrade. "He went to chat with the council... err, I mean the vige chief. Yeah, that''s it. The vige chief."
"You mean to tell me that while he''s out talking with the vige chief, you, the strong and smart one, are left to guard the gate?" Ben''s tone was innocent, a yful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I''m the stronger and smarter one, definitely better than the other thickhead," the guard boasted, puffing out his chest even more and striking aical pose. "I need to keep an eye on this gate and protect the vige from any potential threats."
"Ah, I see," Ben said with a feigned contemtive expression. "It wouldn''t have been safe for someone of your caliber to take that much time deliberating with the chief. Waiting in line to talk to some old geezer, I can''t even imagine."
"Heh, well, you know, I wouldn''t waste time like that," the guard said, puffing up his chest even more and making exaggerated punching motions in the air.
"Your wisdom and abilities are truly awe-inspiring," Ben responded, a hint of mockery in his voice. He leaned back against the ground, his face a portrait of faux-seriousness. "It''s a wonder that the vige chief isn''t already bowing before you, sir."
"Hehehe...what are you talking about, junior brother? I wouldn''t take this much time as the other thickhead to ask the vige chief for permission." The guard said this, makingical poses and punching the air.
"With my talent and abilities, I could have easily banged the door, and the vige chief would be running for my orders. If not for the fact that I like to keep myself low to the ground, I would have been sitting on the chief''s chair myself."
As Ben enjoyed the banter with the guard, his sharp senses caught a glimpse of movement¡ªa figure with red hair emerging from behind. There was no doubt: it was the guard he had sparred with earlier.
"Who''s going to sit on whose chair?" The other guard''s boastful monologue was cut short as a voice, deep and authoritative, cut through the air. The red-haired figure approached Ben with deliberate steps, his presence exuding an air ofmand.
"You will be sitting on the chair. Brayon, I was just saying that" While the guard started to turn back on his words faster than a rolling die, the red-haired guy moved towards Ben with heavy steps.
But this time, he wasn''t dressed in leather armor or holding a metallic spear in his hands; he waspletely covered in a white robe, surrounding his body and revealing his muscr structure.
"The privilege is all mine, stranger," the red-haired figure dered, his tone carrying an air of superiority. "I am the vige chief, and you, it seems, have the honor of being in my presence. Now, tell me, what brings you here?"
"Wait... aren''t you the same guy that was fighting me earlier?" Ben asked, a little confused by his behavior. "Not to mention, why is it my honor to meet you? Wasn''t that supposed to be the opposite?"
"Ahem..ahem..ahem, what are you talking about, stranger? It''s surely the first time we are meeting face-to-face; how can youpare my presence to that of a mere guard?" The red-haired guy stated that he was trying to cover up his lies.
"Bruh, are you drunk or what? Isn''t the chief of the vige supposed to be old and ill and die at any moment? You are way too young for that." Ben stated that he was a little annoyed by the red-haired guy''s behavior.
"First, he attacked me without any proper reason, then he made me wait for 2 hours to meet the chief, and now hees in a Japanese samurai cosy and states that he is the chief of the vige himself. Is this guy delusional or what?"
"Don''t tell me that for two hours of my time, he was talking in a mirror with his other personality or something." Ben thought with a weird look on his face.
Chapter 36: Become even more stronger?
Chapter 36: Be even more stronger?
"First, he assaulted me without any apparent reason. Then, he subjected me to a two-hour wait to meet the chief. And now, he enters dressed in Japanese samurai attire, iming to be the vige chief himself. Is this man unhinged?"
"Could it be that he spent those two hours conversing with his alter ego in a mirror? What an odd thought," Ben pondered, his face twisted in a perplexed expression.
"Ahem, Stranger, ording to reports, you''ve proven yourself capable of challenging our gatekeepers. Therefore..."
"What on earth is he bbering about? Whatever, I''ll just y along," Ben thought, tuning in to the chief''s monologue that seemed to fly over his head.
"And because I''m an exceptionally benevolent individual, I''ve made the decision, utilizing my analytical mind, that..."
"Just get to the point already! What''s your request?" Ben interjected, his patience finally wearing thin.
"Fine, fine... I''ll cut to the chase," the boy in the chief costume responded, aiming for formality. "Here''s the deal: You can reside in the vige for as long as you wish. However, in return, we ask for your assistance in safeguarding the vige."
"Safeguard the vige? From what?" Ben inquired, a touch of confusion in his voice.
"We face threats from wild beasts that tend to attack during winter... That''s the crux of it," the chief replied, inserting a dramatic pause to add gravity to his words.
"So, you''re concerned about wild animals attacking the vige?" Ben questioned, unsure whether to be disappointed or sarcastic.
"It''s not about fear... but rather... ah... It''s about responsibility! Yes, responsibility. Since you''re residing here, contributing to themunity''s safety seems only fair, doesn''t it?" The chief''s response was a bit hesitant, a trace of nervousness evident in his demeanor.
"Fine, I''ll protect the vige as long as I''m living here. Satisfied?" Ben dered, rising from his spot. With no better options or alternate ns, he had already decided to make the vige his home for a while.
If wild beasts are the only concern, they can''t be more formidable than the enchantments of the forest. Taking the risk here beats aimlessly wandering the wilderness, hoping for another vige or shelter.
"Hold on! You''re agreeing to it?" The chief''s calm facade shattered into utter astonishment, hisposed tone reced by excitement.
"I did say yes," Ben muttered, casting a peculiar nce at the chief.
"Like really," The chief asked, excited.
"Ya really."
"You mean, like real-real?"
"Yes, I mean real, 100% real, and dead sure real. Just how many times are you gonna make me say that?" Ben replied, usually he is usually a very calm and collected person. He was so calm that he could evenmunicate with foreigners with little English while traveling around the world.
But somehow, the person standing before him, his holly existence was something that was driving him mad.
"Alright then, we got one member in our guild, let''s go inside the vige." The vige chief said, excitedly, that he was genuinely happy about Bening into the vige.
Despite the enigmatic nature of the person before him, Ben sensed ack of harm emanating from him. Thus, he lowered his guard, hoisting the silver-haired girl onto his back and trailing behind the self-proimed chief.
"Hey, system? Just a thought¡ªwhat''s my next move?" Ben pondered mentally, his steps aligned with the red-haired individual guiding them through the vige.
Since his rebirth into this unfamiliar world, Ben''s singr goal has been to regain his human form and navigate the obstacles thaty in his path. Now, having achieved a humanoid manifestation and finally arrived in a human settlement, he couldn''t help but grapple with the question of his purpose.
Should he strive for a normal existence as a regr viger, a life he had yearned for? Yet, the glitch in the Reincarnation System and the jeopardy his soul faced in the cosmos cast a looming shadow.
How is he supposed to sleep peacefully knowing that the future of this universe is within his hands?
[ Ben, as per the Reincarnation System''s data, your primary directive is your enhancement. At your present strength, you''re not even 0.1% equipped for the task ahead.]
A look of astonishment washed over Ben''s face as they neared the vige gate. If he were back on Earth, his current strength and abilities would easily qualify him as a street-level superhero in a bustling city.
"To suggest that even with this level of superhuman prowess, I''m not even at 0.1% readiness... How much stronger do you anticipate I need to be, system?" Ben inquired, his surprise evident. Part of him wondered about the purpose of amassing such power, while another part questioned the rationale behind the system''s demand for heightened strength.
[ Consider this: Your vampiric physique, although surpassing the innate strength of ordinary humans in this realm, falls considerably short of what''s necessary to trigger the Reincarnation System within your consciousness. Hence, a lighter iteration of the system, like me, was conceived to fulfill its obligations.]
[ Not just this, but the aim we possess to fulfill will take us to many obstacles in our way. We don''t even know why the reincarnation system was cut off from the universe in the first ce?]
[Was it some kind of ident or a prenned strategy? The only way to find this out is to make yourself stronger.]
With measured steps, Ben crossed the threshold of the silver gate. Before him unfurled a captivating tableau, etched in three-dimensional reality, a dream-like visage. Gazing upon the resplendent vige, a sigh of awe escaped his lips. And the tension on his face vanished into thin air.
From the vista thaty before him, one truth was unmistakable¡ªhe stood within a realm of fantasy. Wooden abodes adorned with verdant expanses and vibrant blooms graced thendscape. Sturdy wooden carts traversed stone pathways, while childrenunched paper boats into the glistening brook that meandered alongside.
[Brooks are narrow watercourses used for irrigation by farmers.]
"Isn''t it incredibly serene?" the red-haired guide mused, regarding Ben whose visage mirrored surprise and reverence.
"A mere hundred meters prior, therey an eerie forest teeming with perilous flora and fauna. How is it possible for such a picturesque human enve to emerge so suddenly?" Ben''s query slipped forth, irresistible in its curiosity.
In response, a subtle smile danced upon the lips of the red-hairedpanion. "It''s due to an underlying mana vein. Not only does it bestow us with abundant magic, but it also beckons splendid flora and fauna to coexist."
"Shall we proceed then?" he inquired, rousing Ben from his reverie. A nod of concurrence was his answer, and he trailed in the red-haired man''s wake.
As they journeyed through the streets, Ben discerned an unusual urrence. Houses they passed shuttered their windows and doors almost instantly.
Initially, Ben dismissed it as mere coincidence¡ªuntil he observed a few individuals emerging from a residence, hastily retrieving ying children from the brook''s edge and securing all entrances with swiftness.
Chapter 37: Is that you Saitama?
Chapter 37: Is that you Saitama?
At first, Ben brushed it off as mere coincidence¡ªuntil he observed several inhabitants emerging from a dwelling, swiftly retrieving children ying at the brook''s edge, and securing entrances with an air of urgency.
"Are they intentionally avoiding us?" Ben inquired of the red-hairedpanion, who seemed equally affected and disheartened by the situation. In response, the chief clenched his hands tightly before speaking.
"Before I became the chief of this vige, an elderly man resided here. The preceding chief was an immensely potent archmage who rendered invaluable service to the nation during times of crisis. In recognition of his contributions, the king bestowed upon him one of the most enchanting domains within the kingdom¡ªa realm known as the vige of Lumina."
"I understand, so this vige is named Lumina. But what happened to the previous chief, considering you now hold the mantle of leadership?" Ben''s curiosity was piqued by the narrative.
"The new chief, though a formidable archmage from a noble lineage, embodied humility andpassion. He viewed all individuals as equals, irrespective of their strength or magical prowess." The second guard, who walked alongside the red-haired youth, chimed in, responding to Ben''s query.
"He extended his affection to all, regardless of status, and the sentiment was reciprocated by the people. Lumina swiftly evolved into a haven¡ªa haven that embraced all races and bloodlines."
"Nurtured by a mana vein''s blessing, guided by a benevolent leader, and buoyed by the support of its residents, Luminia metamorphosed into a utopia beyond imagining. Yet, life''s course isn''t always smooth. As Lumina flourished day by day, an opposing sentiment grew¡ªnobility''s resentment toward this haven."
"While some embraced this harmony, others of noble lineage felt their dominance threatened. Their pride and sense of superiority precluded any camaraderie with themon folk. Nor could they stand idly by while themunity prospered in serenity."
"And thus, adversity reared its head. Rumors began to circte about Lumina, bandits assailed it with increasing frequency. Even with the chief''s substantial powers as an archmage¡ªa power capable of single-handedly safeguarding the vige¡ªhe couldn''t prevent the dissemination of rumors that led merchants to flee, vowing never to return."
"Ultimately, more challenges emerged, burdens that gradually weighed upon the vige. Luminia slowly started to lose all the wealth, people, and prosperity. gues and diseases becamemon urrences in Luminia, and the vige''s poption dwindled drastically."
"I can''t even wrap my mind around something like this. How much hate must someone harbor to plot such suffering for fellow beings?" Ben contemted, his forehead creased in a frown as he envisioned the distressing scenario ying out before his mind''s eye.
"But as they say, adversity forges stronger bonds," the guard continued, resuming after a brief pause. "Despite the declining poption and peak of hunger, one thing remained constant¡ªthe vigers'' unwavering faith in their chief. The nobles believed that as long as the chief stood by their side, no matter the schemes woven against them, the vige would eventually reim its glory."
"And the sole solution to this predicament was..."
"To remove the vige chief," Ben interjected, piecing together the narrative''s trajectory. "By doing so, they''d shatter the vigers'' spirit to a degree where resurgence would seem impossible."
"To the point." The red-haired guy answered, interrupting in between "And that''s why I was appointed as the new chief of the vige. Tho the people still seem to hate me for recing that old guy you see."
"Hmm, now it makes sense, Why a multipersonality delusional nutshell like you hold that position" Ben muttered rubbing his temples.
"Wait what did you just say?"
"Tho I still don''t understand, what happened to the old chief?" Ben asked changing the topic, and in response, a silence fell in the group again.
"Look we almost reached our shelter." The guard said pointing towards a wooden house that seemed to be bigger than normal houses in the vige.
[Sus... ]
"Indeed" Ben responded, looking at the two guys, with sharp gazes, before he followed them towards the inside.
The wooden house was only two stories tall, upying a massively big area. As he entered the structure Ben saw the big empty area between the house, which served as the training ground. The house was built like the Marshrts training institutes in those Eastern movies.
A rectangr shape structure surrounded therge training area in the center, with an open roof while the rooms and balcony were built around it. More like a collision, just rooms in the ce of spectator seats and the big open ground in ce of the arena.
"That damn big! Just how many people live in there?" Ben couldn''t help but look at the enormous housing with wide-open eyes, his mouth open in admiration.
"If we count you two as well, then there will be four of us living there." The red-haired guy said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Pff- the fuck, only four people in this entire big thing? You make it sound like a horror house. What if a vampire attacks us while we are sleeping?" Ben asked all these questions in one breath like he saw a corpse walk off the ground.
''Jeez just rx a little will you? There is nothing like ghosts and vampires in real life, so stop acting like a pussy already." The red-haired guy said, stepping back a few steps from Ben.
"In any case, we never introduced ourselves... so... ahh...My name is Ray, and it''s your pleasure to meet me." The red-hairedpanion said, extending his hand for a handshake.
"My name is Ben, and the pleasure is all yours," Ben said, tightly gripping his hand in response, with a wide old smile on his face.
"Oi guys, don''t forget me, My name is Alex, and I don''t usually need introductions." The other guard said, removing his pseudo leather helmet. Around the same tall as Ben, but leaner body, Alex will fall under the category of an average-looking guy with...no hairs on his head.
[ Is that you Saitama?...]
Chapter 38: Find me a name?
Chapter 38: Find me a name?
"Hey system, when do you think she is going to wake up?" Ben pondered, his eyes fixed on the silver-haired girl lying before him. He was d in light, loose pants and a long shirt that had been generously provided by his newpanions.
I am not exactly sure, but I can say she seems quite exhausted for just mana depletion. My estimation is perhaps around 8 more hours.]
"Hey, Ben! Since we''re on the ground floor of the building, just give me a heads-up when you''re ready, and we''ll show you around," Alex informed Ben with a friendly smile. He had guided Ben to a room, conscious of his desire for seclusion, particrly if it could be arranged on the top floor. As a result, Alex had thoughtfully chosen a room at the building''s highest point, allowing Ben to revel in the solitude he sought while simultaneously affording him a vantage point to observe the vige.
-Blood Vision-
Whispering an incantation, Ben cast a spell that altered his perception. As he gazed out of the window, his surroundings were enveloped in a deep shade of red. The once blue sky now bore a crimson hue, while infernal energy seemed to emanate from every living being in the vige, painting them in fiery shades. In stark contrast, nonliving objects remained ck, devoid of the same vibrant energy.
While Ben''s attention was drawn to the transformed vige, a distinct blood aura snagged his senses. It emanated from the northwest, its source still concealed from his view. Nheless, the aura''s potency allowed him to gauge the strength of the entity it belonged to.
"The same strength as that devil, if not even greater," Ben muttered before shutting his eyes, allowing the red light in his pupils to fade back to their usual hue.
[The more I perceive, Ben, the more convinced I am that there is something amiss in this vige.]
"I share the same sentiment. Unfortunately, we seem tock alternative options at the moment," Ben replied in an unusually serious tone. His voice held a gravity that contrasted with his usual demeanor.
After a thorough examination of the room, Ben ensured he remained within a 500-meter radius of the sleeping girl. This proximity was essential for ensuring her well-being. Thanks to the assistance of the system, Ben could measure the real-time distance urately.
As the day progressed, Ben explored the vige, familiarizing himself with itsyout. Yet, nothing appeared out of the ordinary, except for one particr church that captured his attention¡ªthe same location from which the substantial blood aura had emanated.
Upon inquiring with Ray, Ben discovered that the building had a rich history. It was an ancient structure once utilized for judgment and executions during the church''s rule over the continent. However, following the ascension of the King of Valoria, these buildings were demolished, and the church members were executed.
After a decade marked by the Cold War, the building had transformed into a mere tourist attraction. The once-prominent religion had dwindled to a cult, designated as a terrorist organization by the King''s Council.
Further exploration revealed that the vige resembled any typical settlement, with fields and crops enveloping it. A massive river flowed along its western border, forming an impassable barrier to the Demihuman kingdom. During his wanderings, Ben even spotted demihumans across the river, their presence emphasizing the harmonious rtionship between humans and demihumans.
Despite this rapport, the river''s width and speed made it an impossible obstacle to bridge. Legend spoke of numerous advanced-tier and higher-level beasts lurking within the waters, ready to assail any daring crossers. Among these legends, the tale of a majestic blue-winged serpent that dwelled in the river held particr intrigue.
While the western border remained open and unrestricted, the same did not hold for the eastern and northern sides. During harvest season, when vigers ventured into the fields, they often encountered attacks from a species known as midnight wolves.
Initially sporadic and attributed to unfortunate circumstances, these attacks have recently be more calcted and frequent since the vige appointed its new chief. Consequently, about three out of every ten vigers bore visible signs of bites or scratches¡ªevidence of the heightened peril.
What troubled Ben was the paradox of the wolf''s attacks. The vige was epassed by an imposing 10-meter-tall wall on the northern and eastern fronts¡ªa vestige of its past as a city. The presence of this wall raised questions: How could wolves breach these defenses? How could they strike the vigers?
If not for the 500-meter restriction, Ben would have eagerly explored the ruins of the old city and the massive river. However, these restrictions hindered his exploration. The only way to venture beyond these confines would be to rouse the girl slumbering before him, who had been snoring contentedly for nearly an entire day.
"Hey, system? Weren''t you the one who said she''d wake up after about 8 hours? Why is she still in this deep slumber?" Ben inquired, a slight smile of frustration touching his lips.
At this juncture, Ben, I doubt she''s simply unconscious. [It seems more likely that she''s merely asleep.]
"I see," Ben mumbled, a mixture of understanding and apprehension filling his expression. He moved closer to the silver-haired girl, allowing a tentative smile to y on his lips. In a swift motion, he leaned closer to her, his breath tickling her ear as he took a deep inhtion.
"WAKE UP TO REALITY!!" His voice reverberated through the air, forceful enough to startle birds from the trees.
Instantly, the silver-haired girl jolted awake, her arms and legs iling in disarray. Disoriented, she surveyed her surroundings, attempting to make sense of her situation. Ben stepped back, giving her space to regain herposure. As her initial panic subsided, her focus shifted to Ben''s concerned countenance.
"First things first. Tell me your name, or you''re in for a rough time," Ben''s tone bore a hint of frustration beneath its surface, barely concealed by his outward demeanor.
------------------
Yo guys! Guess whose here? Yo!, thats your ultra inconsistent author that you hate from the very nerve. lol . Anyways, this chapter was a lil info dump, so if anyone have any confusion or any of you want a map of vige than please let me know, I will try arranging something for you guys.
Till then...take care!!
Chapter 39: Find me a name [2] :
Chapter 39: Find me a name [2] :
"You have 10 seconds, tell me your name or your dead-"
"I told you before...I don''t have a name," the silver-haired girl replied, her voice calm as she rubbed her eyes.
"Don''t give me that again..." Ben muttered under his breath, his frustration palpable. He rubbed his forehead and tried a different approach as if teaching a child. "N-A-M-E is something people call you by, you know? Like I am Ben. B, E, N = Ben, so people call me that."
"Now tell me, what did people call you back home?" Ben asked, picking imaginary symbols from the air to illustrate his point.
"If you''re curious, my mom used to call me Trashcan, and my sister called me scum. Other people went with Brat, impure, or something like that," she responded in a monotone, meeting Ben''s gaze steadily.
Ben couldn''t help but think, ''I remember when my mother used to call me trashcan because I kept lying on the floor all day. But who in the hell introduces themselves like that?'' His lips twitched, unsure whether tough or cry.
"Okay, change of question. What do you want me to call you?" Ben attempted a different approach, hoping for a more cooperative response. Yet, once again, she replied with, "Call me whatever you like."
"Alright then, fine!! I''ll call you... Nova! What about Nova?"
"It sounds like a robot."
"Okay...then...Sera, what about Sera?"
"Sounds dumb."
"Third try... Isha?"
"Lame..."
"What about Serina?"
"Doesn''t suit my character."
"May?"
"Disgusting."
"Alisa?"
"Really?"
"Alright, freaking fine, just tell me what name you want," Ben asked, his frustration evident as he scratched his head vigorously.
"Call me whatever you like," she responded with a slight smile.
"Why don''t you just kill me and dance over my dead body? System, help!!" Ben screamed inwardly, banging his head against the nearest wall.
[You have my sympathy...host.]
"Okay... if you have something in mind you can tell me, I will appreciate it if you save my effort trying different names that you will reject either way," Ben said, with a give-up kind of expression on his face.
"The name I like..."
"Fr-Freya..."
"Freya?!" That''s a beautiful name, if you have that name why just didn''t tell them earlier?" Ben asked in excitement, to know that one of his significant quests in this world was now©¤ SOLVED.
"My papa gave me that name..." She said, looking down on the bed, and biting her lips.
"Good job, how can I forget you must have a papa too...Cough cough, I mean, do you know where your father lives? Which city? Or vige anything?" Ben asked excitedly, hoping to find more clues about her past but unfortunately he was yet again disappointed with a "NO-IDEA" look.
After a few minutes of conversation, Ben gave up trying to find clues about her parents or her back home. Not to mention, even if he were to find them, what is he gonna do with the whole ve situation thing?
[ Host, it may be just a hunch, but I believe, Freya is purposely not telling you any details about her home... due to some reasons maybe.]
"You felt that too? I also think she is avoiding these questions cleverly." Ben thought before he ended his third ss interrogation and moved down the floor with her. There after having some rice prodige, Ben introduced her to the group and told her more about the vige, or at least what he knew.
"Ben, so I was asking when will you be up for the job?" Ray asked, putting down his bowl, hepleted eating.
"For that, I will have to exactly know what Is it that I am supposed to do?" Ben counter-questioned, after sharing a little nce with Freya.
"Oh, haha, sorry about that, Ipletely forgot to tell you the exact situation," Ray answered, an embarrassed smile on his face. Then he poured water from the jug to his ss before he continued. " The thing is, as you can see, there are very many fighters in the vige, if you exclude me, Alex, and a brave solider that you fought close quarters (that''s him) then there are next to no people in the vige that can even use magic.
"You mean Alex and you right?" Ben asked, straight face as if saying ''Seriously bro?''. In response, the red-haired chief just exchanged nces with Alex and admitted with an embarrassed smile.
"How did you even catch that it was me?" Ray asked, in surprise, putting off his double role.
"It''s simple, I can say that by your smell," Ben responded in a very casual tone as if it was a very normal thing to do. [ A/N: Ben doesn''t realize he has enhanced senses thanks to his vampire powers.]
"Do I stink that bad!" Ray thought in his mind, the expression on his face was like he ate one spoonful of salt at once.
"Anyways, back to the topic," Ray said, gaining back hisposure, secretly smelling his body "The thing is, someone is needed in the vige gate in the night to watch over wolves and bandits. And as I said earlier, we are currentlycking manpower, so, judging by your strength, I want you to act as a guard of the vige."
"I see" Ben responded, nodding his head in agreement.
"But don''t worry, we will be exchanging shifts once in a while, Each of us three can take turns so that there are always two people guarding around the gate. Also if anything happens, we all can confront it at once." Ray said, in a serious yet excited tone, that he was looking forward to working with Ben.
"I believe you can do that much to repay for two people living. You can decline if you want to." Ray said, expecting in his mind that Ben would ept his offer. Even though Ben declined, Ray decided to help him either way, it was just that he was in a situation where he would appreciate every little help he could get.
"So let me get this clear, you want Ben to act as a guard with you so he can pay for two of us living here" Freya asked, interrupting in between them. Ray on the other hand just nodded in agreement.
"If that''s the case, then I am against this proposal," Freya said, a straight expression on her face.
Ben, Freya, and Ray sat in a triangr formation on the floor of the modest room, their expressions ranging from contemtive to serious. The weight of the decision hung in the air, a tension that seemed to stretch for an eternity.
Ray, the red-haired chief of the vige, maintained hisposure despite the unexpected turn of events. He had expected Ben to ept his offer without hesitation, given the dire circumstances of the vige. However, Freya''s objection had thrown a wrench into his ns.
Chapter 40: Mock Battle
Chapter 40: Mock Battle
"If that''s the case, then I am against this proposal," Freya said, a straight expression on her face.
"And why is that?" Ben asked in a curious yet a very surprised tone of voice.
"I don''t have someplex equations behind it; it''s just that I want to pay for my bills." She said it with an emotionless face, as if not caring for any other opinion. "If I am living in the vige, then I must repay the inn too. And I am more than able to pay my bills."
"There goes our ice queen again." Ben thought he was almost not surprised by her reaction to this. He was already getting the feminist vibe the moment he saw her.
[Don''t be sad, Ben; I think this will work in your favor.]
"In my favor? What do you mean by that system?" Ben asked inside his mind, almost surprised by the system''s response.
[Think about it for a second, Ben. Even if you were to guard the gate and Freya stayed in the base, wouldn''t that restrict your movements by a wide margin?]
[If she wants to guard alongside you, then we will be able to explore more of the city and ruins without worrying about a 500-meter radius.]
Well, now that I think of it, it does make sense to have her work alongside me. It''s almost crucial for him to work alongside me. Great job, system-sama." Ben said this with a small smile stered on his face.
Freya''s stance had opened up a new perspective for him. It was clear that she had her principles and didn''t want to feel like a burden to anyone.
As Ben thought more about it, he realized that having her as a guard partner would indeed give them more freedom to explore and investigate the city and its ruins.
Ray, on the other hand, seemed to be slightly taken aback by Freya''s firm refusal. He had genuinely wanted to help her and ensure her safety, but it appeared that she was determined to be self-sufficient.
"I understand your decision, Freya," Ray said with a nod. "But we still aren''tcking enough for you to aid us in guarding the vige. I know, for one, that Ben is strong, but that does not mean I will let anyone guard beside him."
"There are also other jobs in the vige; why don''t you pick up any of those that you think are appropriate for you?" Ray inquired, pulling a smile on his face despite being frustrated from inside.
"I truly agree with your opinion, and that''s why I picked up fighting because that''s where I am strongest," Freya answered, still maintaining her expressionless face as ever.
In response, Ray just stood up from his seat and exchanged a short nce with Ben. Look, Freya, it''s good to be responsible or independent, but this is not some watchdog job. You might even have to face real enemies¡ªbandits or wolves¡ªon the battlefield. So just leave the fighting to us, will you?
"I get it," Freya responded with a slight seriousness in her voice before she gritted her teeth and continued again. "I get what you''re trying to say; you think I am weak, don''t you?"
"Well...Ahh... See, I am not trying to be rude, but I don''t think you would match in strength with any three of us here." Ray responded with a little hesitation in his voice, trying to somehow calm her down. "Why don''t you exin it to her, Ben? You know her, right?"
"No need for sugarcoating; if you think I am weak, then just say it," Freya responded, frustrated, biting her lips before she stood up from her seat too. "If that''s the case, then I will challenge you to a mock battle. Rules will be simple; the loser will obey the winner."
"Dang, it''s getting out of control now," Benmented under his breath, trying to assess the situation and solve it if possible. "But again, I need to somehow find a way to ensure that Freya stays with me."
[Then I think it would be for the best, Ben, if you let them fight a duel.]
"Are you sure, system? Even though I barely survived against that redhead bull, do you think she is going to win?" Ben''s question was a littleplex and confused with system decisions.
[ I am not exactly sure, host. If you scale by raw power or magic, then Freya would be the strongest in the room. So there is quite a high possibility of her winning. ]
"Wait what? If she is that strong, then how the hell did she lose in a goblin fight?" Ben asked, almost choking on his breath. Just a day ago, the girl was barely standing up against those goblins, and now the system says that she has the strongest magic power in the room.
Well, sure, things would be very different if Freya were possessed by that devil again, but is there any chance she will win this battle?
{A/N: Just wanted to be clear: Ben is currently the strongest in the room. The reason he lost to Ray, or he thought he lost to Ray, was because he was tired and his HP was already quite low.
Also, System said Freya has the strongest magic in the room because Ben''s MP is 0.}
[ I believe the host said that her loss in the fight with the goblin was not because she was weak but because shecked any kind of battle experience. [Even if you have a lot of magic if you can''t cast a magic spell, then it''s useless.]
"Fine, just this once, I am putting my bets on her," Ben concluded, taking a deep breath before he stood up from his chair and strewn his body. Alright, then it''s decided; the loser of the duel will follow the winner."
Oh,e on, Ben, you too?" Ray asked if he was almost annoyed.
Chill, bro, don''t tell me you are afraid of a duel or something." Ben walked close to Ray and slightly punched him on the back while leaning towards his ears. Just go easy on her; she will realize how weak she is."
"Tsk, well, if you say so, I will pick up on this challenge," Ray responded with a small smile to Ben''s concern.
Chapter 41: DUEL
Chapter 41: DUEL
"Alright everyone, take your positions," Ben dered, assuming the role of referee.
The spacious arena in the heart of the building set the stage for a face-off between Freya and Ray. Ray adopted a formidable fighting stance, his bare fists poised for action. In stark contrast, Freya wielded a wooden sword reminiscent of a katana, her grip unwavering.
"Okay, so the rules are simple" Ben announced, looking at both of them "Do whatever you want with your enemy, kill them, torcher them, or whatever, but If by any chance, I get caught between any of your attacks, then you are dead."
"Wait what the hell!! What kind of referee you are?" Ray protested, looking at Ben, but before he couldplete his sentence, Ben announced a start and swiftly stepped away from the arena.
In an instant, Freya harnessed the power of wind magic to enhance her speed, rapidly closing the distance between her and Ray. With a swift motion, she swung her sword from a low position to an upward arc. Ray, caught off guard, concentrated on evading her primary attack by leaping backward.
However, he didn''t anticipate the hidden attack - A razor-sharp crescent wind de that emerged from Freya''s sword moving straight towards him. With two consistent attacks and barely any time to take action, Ray instinctively crossed his arms to shield his face.
A sharp shing sound filled the arena as the wind de made contact with Ray''s forearms. He managed to block the attack, but a thin, stinging cut appeared on his arms as a result. Learning from his mistake, Ray gritted his teeth and swiftly retreated, zigzagging to increase the distance between himself and
"So the first attack was a decoy for the wind de," Ray muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on Freya. He observed her every move with intense focus. In response, Freya too stepped back, her wooden sword held firmly in her fighting stance.
"Huff..." Ray exhaled slowly, and something unusual urred - water vapor escaped his mouth, an anomaly amid the hot weather. In the next moment, both contestantsunched themselves toward each other with astonishing speed.
A green aura enveloped Freya, signaling her use of wind magic to enhance her agility. Ray, on the other hand, covered his fists in searing mes, simr to his earlier battle with Ben.
"Why is she even swinging that wooden sword? Can she even deal damage with it?" Ben muttered to himself as he observed the unfolding battle.
[Don''t be deceived, host. While it may look like the sword is blunt, the coating of wind magic on the sword''s edge is enough to make it harmful if not fatal.]
With this newfound knowledge, Ben continued to watch the battle intensify. Freya and Ray closed the distance between them, and Freya swung her sword in a downward arc, aiming for Ray''s shoulder.
"Tsk...Amateur." Ray chuckled, a sharp smile on his face. He used his fist to punch the blunt side of the wooden sword, causing it to shatter into pieces. But he didn''t stop there; taking advantage of Freya''s off-bnce state, Ray delivered a fiery punch directly to her stomach. A booming sound filled the arena as a thin wave of cloud temporarily obscured everyone''s vision.
When the fog cleared, bothbatants stood facing each other. Ray scratched his fist while Freya held the remnants of her broken sword.
"What the hell? How can she be standing after that attack? That punch was even able to knock me out for a few seconds," Ben eximed in disbelief.
[ It seems host that Freya was able to cast a water barrier before the fist contacted her belly. Even though the water barrier was very weak it was still able to cancel out the explosive properties of the fire element making it barely stronger than the normal punch. ]
"Then why the hell is Ray rubbing his skin?" Ben asked in response to the system''s response
[It''s nothing special host. He is likely feeling itching in his skin due to the simultaneous sh of fire and water elements. Overall, Freya took more damage.]
"I see, I wonder when I will be able to learn magic." Ben pondered, shifting his attention back to the battle again.
"Haha... I did not expect to see a dual-element user anytime soon," Ray remarked with enthusiasm, his attention still on the battle. "It''s said that only one out of 100 humans can use dual element magic."
"Why did you call me immature?" Freya finally broke her silence, her cold tone contrasting with the ongoing battle.
"Oh, that?" Ray responded, a slightly confused expression on his face. "Nothing personal, but your sword skills were just childish. It felt like even a 9-year-old could have dodged that attack. Honestly, it seems like you''ve never even used a sword before."
"I did train with a sword before, but it was only self-training. I don''t use swords regrly," Freya admitted, her tone a bit embarrassed, a departure from her usual demeanor.
Ray chimed in, "Yeah, I can rte. We''re all self-trained adventurers here, although I did receive my basic training from a great teacher. So I know how to handle mostmon weapons." He wore a proud smile as he spoke.
However, Alex wasn''t interested in their conversation. He interrupted impatiently, "No one is interested in your history, you show off. Just continue the battle already. I''m getting bored here."
Ben muttered under his breath, irritated by the interruption, "And I thought I could get a little insight about magic here... curse him." He shot an annoyed nce at Alex.
Just then, a st in the arena drew Ben''s attention. Ray was blocking a barrage of waterfall attacks using his fire punch skill. But after deflecting four attacks, the fire surrounding his hands waspletely extinguished, leaving him vulnerable to two water balls that hit him, causing subsequent damage.
"Darn it," Ray gritted his teeth as he dodged a few more attacks. Then, he mmed his palms against the ground. In the next instant, a four-meter-tall wall of earth emerged from the ground, providing cover for him...
''''''''
....
,,,,
A/N: Ray himself is also a dual-element user.
Chapter 42: Looser shall win
Chapter 42: Looser shall win
"Darn it!" Ray clenched his teeth, narrowly evading a flurry of iing attacks. He needed a moment to regain control of the battle.
He mmed his palms against the ground, his mind racing. In the blink of an eye, a massive wall of earth, standing at an imposing four metres tall, surged up from the ground, forming a protective barrier.
However, Freya, his formidable opponent, showed no signs of letting up. She deftly weaved between the earthen projectiles Ray had conjured earlier, her hands conjuring orbs of water that she flung towards him with deadly precision.
Ray was exhrated by the ongoing battle; even the previous battle with Ben was not as fun as this one. He continued to dodge theing attack while blocking some with an earth wall spell.
"Your battle skills are impressive, Ray, but skill alone won''t save you when you''re up against true magic," Freya taunted, her voice dripping with arrogance. She gestured gracefully, invoking a wind spell that enhanced her speed.
With newfound swiftness, Freya leaped forward, soaring over the earthen wall Ray had created. In a seamless motion, she twisted her body in mid-air, aiming at Ray with an arrow-like posture.
Ray struggled to keep up with Freya''s lightning-fast movements. Before he could react, Freya was already behind him, her hand forming a bow-shaped structure made of swirling wind.
"O ethereal wind, lend me your strength. Prove the might of those who dare challenge your path," Freya chanted, her words resonating with power. In her grasp, a translucent green bow manifested.
"Deity of water, flow eternally. Remove the obstacles in your course," she continued, drawing the string of her ethereal bow. A shimmering blue arrow,prised of highly concentrated water, began to take shape.
"Didn''t I explicitly tell her not to use lethal spells?" Ben muttered under his breath, his frustration palpable. He was ready to intervene, but it was toote to interfere.
"Combo Spell: Nature''s Judgement!" Freya''s voice echoed through the arena as she released the arrow. The arrow, coated with wind magic, elerated to an astonishing speed, racing towards Ray with deadly precision.
Ray''s response was swift. "Advanced magic, Rock Armour!" he roared, his hands above his wrists transforming into obsidian-ck rock, enveloped in zing mes.
With a scream of rage, he mustered all his strength and reached out to intercept the arrow. A massive explosion ensued as the two spells collided. A thick cloud of mist billowed into the air, driven away by a secondary explosion that cleared the battlefield.
"Ray!" Ben cried, rushing towards the arena, but he was halted by Ray''s raised hand.
"Don''t interfere, Ben. The battle is far from over," Ray dered as he lowered himself to the ground, catching his breath. A wide grin spread across his face, touching his ears.
"This move proves you are worthy of guarding the gate, but I have a bad habit of teaching arrogant people their ce," Ray announced with a booming voice. His grin remained as he summoned a colossal amount of magic power and mmed his palms onto the ground.
The impact seemed unremarkable at first, but then a strange vibration rippled through the arena. Freya instinctively stepped back, her eyes scanning the ground for any signs of danger.
"What''s happening, system? Is this another fatal magic attack?" Ben asked anxiously, his gaze darting around the arena as he felt the unusual tremors.
[ I have no specific exnation, Ben, except for the fact that Ray is using almost all of his magic to cast this spell]
"Even in my previous battle with Ben, I kept this card up my sleeve," Ray said with a grin, beads of sweat forming on his face as he continued huffing. "Now then, get ready to witness my resonance skill."
?TERRAIN ENHANCEMENT: MAGMA BLAZE?
"Even in my previous battle with Ben, I held this card close to my chest," Ray confided, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "Now, prepare to witness my resonance skill."
"Terrain Enhancement: Magma ze," Ray incanted, his voice carrying the weight of his newfound power. Golden lines etched themselves into the arena, forming intricate patterns reminiscent of circuitry.
Within seconds, small clusters of the earth began levitating about a metre above the ground. Freya, her confusion mounting, zigzagged gracefully to evade the floating structures while maintaining abat-ready stance.
In the next few seconds, approximately twenty spherical masses of earth, each roughly the size of a football, were levitated in a strategic arrangement, evenly spaced two metres apart, effectively covering the entire arena.
As Freya remained bewildered by this unforeseen development, Ray regained his footing and ignited his hands with mes again.
"You think you know too much about magic while you are not even a frog in a well," Ray eximed before he ran towards Freya, aiming to hit a punch. On the other hand, Freya, who was still confused, tried to backflip and dodge the uing attack, but her movements were blocked by those spherical rocks.
"You move quite fast, thanks to your wind magic. But wind magic can only propel you in straight lines. It''s ideal for speed, but your agility will be your downfall." With a calm tone, Ray exined while continuing to throw punches.
"For someone as agile and flexible as Ben, this magic would be a waste of time, but for you, this trick is vital," Ray said, hitting Freya with two consistent fire punches, which were slowed by small water barriers.
Freya bit her lips, even if the punches were slowed and fire ability was extinguished, the punches were still strong enough to make her bleed from her mouth.
"So you wasted all this magic power to set up this trap?" Freya chuckled, holding her stomach as she stood up.
Ray halted his assault, stepping back to give her space. He grinned as if relishing the challenge. "Oh, Freya, you have it all wrong. I haven''t even begun to showcase my magic."
"Now, since you are so impatient, let me teach you the true meaning of true magic," he dered, his grin fading to a serious expression. As he chanted, "Terrain Activation," the intricate golden lines on the floating earth spheres glowed, and the orbs started heating up, gradually turning from brown to ck...
Chapter 43: Devil’s Return
Chapter 43: Devil''s Return
"Now, since you''re so impatient, let me demonstrate the true essence of magic." Ray''s once joyful smile transformed into a stern, cold expression. He brought his hands together and began chanting.
"Terrain Activation."
As he uttered these words, a subtle shockwave of magic rippled through the ground. Soon, golden lines reappeared on the floating chunks of rock. Within seconds, the rocks began to radiate heat, transitioning from brown to an ominous ck.
The golden lines on the zing ck rocks resembled a scene from a volcanic eruption. Freya, bewildered by this sudden turn of events, felt the temperature in the arena steadily rise.
Everyone present, including Freya herself, was awestruck by this disy of magic. It was as if they had been transported to an entirely different realm. She bit her lip, sensing the ever-increasing heat. Desperation fueled her as she poured all her magic power into reinforcing her protective water barrier.
In less than a minute, a thinyer of water materialized from the air, enveloping Freya in a bubble. This makeshift barrier shielded her from the searing heat. However, Ray merely chuckled as he casually strolled towards the opposite end of the arena.
"Your water barrier is indeed formidable," Ray admitted, pausing his steps to address Freya. She strained to maintain the barrier''s integrity, channeling all her magic into strengthening it.
"But the key w remains: your barrier is still vulnerable to physical attacks," Ray elucidated, adopting abat stance andunching himself towards the nearest rock chunk, primed for a punch.
"No way..." Ben''s eyes widened in disbelief as he recalled a simr situation from his previous battle with Ray.
"Freya, RUN!" Ben''s voice rang out, his body posed to leap into the arena, but it was futile. Ray had already initiated his move.
With all his might, Ray unleashed a punch at the first rock chunk. On impact, the rocky mass exploded into countless small projectiles of searing stones, which struck adjacent rocks and ignited them in session.
It was reminiscent of Ray''s battle with Ben, where he punched an earth wall with a fire punch, releasing a barrage of ming rocks toward his opponent. However, this time, the zing stones continued to collide with other chunks, triggering a relentless chain reaction.
In an instant, over a thousand miniature ming projectiles hurtled towards Freya, their velocity nearly imperceptible to human eyes.
"Activate Ability: Wind Walk," Ben chanted as he leaped into the arena. In response, his brown shoes blink twice, and two silver lines materialize on them, resembling delicate feathers.
As Ben entered the arena, the entire arena became a relentless maelstrom of explosions, each st hurtling toward Freya with even greater intensity than before. It was as if the entire battleground was engulfed in a storm of golden sparks, the deafening cacophony threatening to overwhelm the senses.
Freya, her eyes wide open as she beheld the colossal onught bearing down on her, cautiously moved forward. Her hands trembled uncontrobly as she watched her water barrier disintegrate before the onught, much like a cotton nt torn asunder by a fierce gale.
Within a matter of seconds, the searing heat began to seep through her skin. Tiny particles of sparks danced across her flesh, their minuscule forms piercing through her epidermis. There was no time for blood to flow; her life shed before her eyes.
"Humanity is feeble, inherentlycking in magical prowess." These words had been etched into the core of her being and drilled into her consciousness countless times. Over time, she had cultivated a sense of superiority due to her half-elf heritage, believing herself to be superior to the likes of mere humans.
Yet here she was, unable to withstand a spell from a human. Is she even weaker than humans? Is that why her n despised her? Was there even any point in seeking revenge? Was there any point in trying to change the world?
What if she is a lowlife, not fit to be in her n? What if her n was right from the very beginning?
Doubts and questions swirled within her mind, gnawing at her self-assured fa?ade. She could sense her motivation waning, like a light dimming in the encroaching darkness. The deeper she sank into this abyss of uncertainty, the harder it became to breathe. Perhaps surrender was the only answer.
Darkness closed in as she abandoned her will, her body plummeting towards the unforgiving ground. Just as she was about to sumb to the relentless barrage, a hand reached out to save her.
With his augmented speed, Ben managed to reach her just in the nick of time. Gritting his teeth, he hugged her tightly, bracing for the impending impact. For Ben, while the attack was swift, it was not fatal; he could easily mend his wounds using his vampire abilities. But for Freya, the oue might not be so forgiving.
Ben hugged her tightly and greeted her with his teeth, preparing for the damage. But suddenly, he felt a strange pressure in the arena. It was a sensation all too familiar to him, reminiscent of the ominous presence he had felt at the Devil Tree.
Ben''s eyes widened, his heart pounding as he lifted his gaze. Both he and Freya were enveloped by a protective cocoon of purple mes. These mes were gentle enough to feel like a soothing balm, gradually mending his wounds, yet they zed with an intensity capable of incinerating anything that dared to approach.
Thousands of burning stones were hurled toward them, but despite the onught of a myriad of fiery projectiles, none could breach the barrier forged by the blue mes. Each particle disintegrated into nothingness upon contact with the azure inferno.
Ben''s gaze shifted, and as he looked at Freya in her hands, there was a strange but sharp smile on her face. With the same purple eyes meeting his gaze, Ben heard those words that were being forced to be engraved on his soul.
"YOU OWE ME ONE, DEMON."
The arena crackled with countlessrge and small sts; it was a tornado of mes dancing in the air. Unable to see what was within and beyond it, the purple mes continued to shield Ben and Freya from the relentless assault.
Chapter 44: Slave command
Chapter 44: vemand
Ben''s heart was stunned in fear, his mind waspletely nked out. He did not even know what to do now, why he even allowed this battle to happen.
The sts and sparks started to slow down, indicating the end of the spell. But the blue mes covering them were still aze, simr to the menacing smile on Freya''s face. Ben was looking for options before something unprecedented happened, and that''s when a notification popped out on his screen.
?{Ben, use vemand. Put her to sleep.}?
Something popped in Ben''s mind, as he recalled his ve pact with Freya. This is indeed an option, he can justmand her to sleep and everything will be fine, at least he can buy enough time to take her away from people.
"But how do I use a vemand?" Ben asked, in panic not knowing how to use the ve Crest abilities.
?{To activate a vemand, you need to say out loud ''I COMMAND YOU TO SLEEP'' }?
"Alright then," Ben muttered, as his red eyes began to glow in crimson light, and with a serious tone in his voice he said, " Imand you to sleep".
As if waiting for hismand, the purple crest on Freya''s chest appeared again, glowing like a sma passing through it. As the crest took over, a sudden heaviness filled Freya''s eyes. The devil controlling her was aware of what was happening.
In the next few seconds, Freya''s body fell loose as she slowly fell asleep, along with the purple mes surrounding them.
"Are you guys alright?"
Ben heard a concerning voice from behind him, just when he turned around to face the voice, he found out that it was none other than Alex, who was using some kind of artifact in his hand which was absorbing all the mes around.
"Yes I am fine, but Freya is unconscious due to heat," Ben answered, standing up as he picked the silver-haired girl on his back.
"I am sorry, it''s our fault. Ray always goes overboard when ites to battles, I should have been more careful with this." Alex said with a genuinely apologetic expression as he turned off the pot-like artifact in his hand.
"No... it''s actually...she was the one who started first," Ben said with a sigh. In the beginning, all he wanted to do was punch Ray in the stomach until his guts came out, but thinking again it was also a mistake on his side to let Freya fight Ray.
"It took me a while to get this from the storage room, but as long as it worked out," Alex said, looking at the brown y pot in his hands. Judging by looks it was just a normal y pot but how the sts and fire from earlier were all absorbed by this pot, this was magical equipment.
"Well, don''t worry, as long as everyone is fine. By the way...I never expected Ray to be this strong." Ben said, trying to change the topic and step out of the awkward conversation.
"Ray is strong? Bruh...you have gotta be kidding me." Alex chuckled as if he heard a joke or something.
"That move you saw there was his Terrain Activation, as it''s not even mature bruh. The time it takes to activate and all, any enemy would walk out of it."
"Not to mention...he has a price to pay, for using an immature skill," Alex said, pointing at Ray, who was standing in the same pose for a while as if he was frozen in the air.
"And that is?"
"He will stay like that for 3 hours." In a tone of sarcasm, Alex replied with a smile.
"Ahh...well. He is still strong though. I will go and see my guard duty...You can just inform me when my shift is over." Ben said, walking out of the door.
"That will take more than 3 hours, though, don''t you think you should let Freya rest in here?" Alex asked, feeling a little disappointed, thinking that Ben now has trust issues thanks to him.
Ben, on the other hand, was looking at Freya''s status with his lips twitching.
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: ??? Freya
Bearing: ve
HP: 100% MP: 000
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
?{Ben, I already calcted all the stats, and the results seem above normal. I don''t exactly know why is she unconscious.}?
"Oh, no need to bother my generous system. She''s just sleeping." Ben said, recalling his experience as he walked towards the vige outpost.
?{So, should we just use the vemand to wake her up?}?
"Wake her up? why would I." Ben chuckled, surprised by the analytics of the system, "This is probably the most perfect time for me, when both Ray and Freya are out of my way, I can explore the world as much as I like. Waking her up will be thest thing I wanna do."
?{That''s a good approach, Ben, since its nighttime and Freya is with you we won''t have to worry about a 500 meters radius or vigers noticing us.}?
"Yes, that''s exactly what I am nning. Especially the thing with that broken church and the ruined vige." Ben said with a frown expression on his face. He reached the outpost, he swiftly ced Freya on the small hut-like structure made to shelter guards from rain and sunlight.
?{Do you mean to investigate the energying from the church? You do remember what happenedst time you did something simr right Ben?}?
"Oh well, this time it will be different. Remember, you said that I need to develop a deeper understanding of this world." Ben argued, behaving a little clueless.
?{You know I didn''t mean anything like that.}?
"Huh! I just imagined you making a ''-_-'' disappointed face." Ben chuckled, surprised by the tone of the system''s remark. "And now that I notice it, just when did I be Ben from Host?"
?{You are imagining things now. Also, if you have a problem with how I address you then...th..then it''s your problem, not mine.}?
"What in the hell! You are starting to talk like a human all of a sudden!!" Ben was so surprised that his eyeballs almost dropped out of its sockets.
?{Shut up!..baka.. }?
............
?{ording to my analysis, If you donate more power stones to the author, then he will upload more chapters.}?
The block indicates that Freya is her second name, the first name is still unknown.
Chapter 45: Eternal Enemy Killed
Chapter 45: Eternal Enemy Killed
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Vampire Hunger: Slight
Evolution: Evo 3 Level: 1
Exp: 35/100 HP: 97/100
MP: 000/000
Strength: 21
Agility: 26
Stamina: 23
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
"So I got that one point in agility and the rest of the stats remain the same." Ben looked at the status screen while flexing his body. "Sigh... it''s been a while since I saw those numbers increase. At least I need to level up to level 5."
"By the way system, why is my magic power 0? Isn''t there any way to increase it?" Ben pondered, thinking about the usage of this magic thing he had seen the past two days.
?{0 magic power is just a simple indication that you don''t possess any magic at all Ben. As for how you can get it, yes there is a way.}?
"There is? Then what are you waiting for, spit it out already." Ben felt a little excitement, it was the first time in a while, that he almost forgot the feeling of bing stronger.
?{ Magic will y a big part in our n to fix the Reincarnation System and stabilize the universe. To know about magic, we need to understand what is magic first.}?
"Okay, I am all ears." Ben sat down crossed legs, his attention fixed on the system''s message.
?{ To exin magic for you to understand, Let''s go with the ''Law of Conservation of Energy''. In other words, energy, which is magic here can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can only change from one form to another form.}?
"Science was thest thing I used when thinking about magic...but carry on," Ben remarked, a little disappointed by the sudden physics ss.
?{ In basics, magic is the purest kind of energy which all other energy is derived from. Whether it is heat, light, electricity or anything...}?
?{ Magic is the very fundamental of the universe, in basically it exists in all universes, by different names or usages. But what makes our universe special is that the living beings here have evolved in a way so they can store this magic energy in their body. }?
"Oh, I see. It''s something like, if your body is slowly exposed to poison then your body will slowly adapt to that poison. And for other people, your blood will be poisonous itself." Ben eximed he was a straight-A student in his school.
?{ Exactly Ben, as for your previous world, the magic was referred to as RADIATION }?
"Okay, so how do I store this magic in my body?" Ben asked, getting straight to the main point.
?{ To be able to use magic, Ben. You need to go through awakening, which will need at least 100 magic points.}?
?{ Normally human kids go to awakening when they are 3 years old. But since you are a Vampire...which is closely rted to demons and undead. You need to use external sources to gain magic.}?
"Okay, enough with long exnations. Just tell me what I need to do to gain magic."
"It''s 25 words or less." Ben almost shouted, annoyed by the system''s theoretical lecture. After all, cheating skills yed a big part in his straight-A scores in high school.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
©° Collect basic tier beast crystals or higher.
[Reward: ???] [ Punishment: None ]
"So basically, I need to kill some monsters (-_-)." Ben was dumbfounded, if gaining magic was this simple, the system could have said it from the very beginning.
"Well then if this is what it needs to be, I know exactly where to find some prey." Ben grinned as he stood up and jumped over the top of the outpost, to have a better look at the vige.
?Blood Vision?
Ben activated his passive skill and soon the world around him was coloured in ck white and red. He looked at one side of the vige, where there were the ruins of the previous city and a sharp smile appeared on his face.
-Activate Skill: Wind walk-
Ben jumped off the outpost tower, as two feather-like silver lines appeared on his Windborn shoes. In the next second, he dashed towards the vige ruins like a wild cat running towards its prey.
His heartbeat sped with excitement, a natural feeling he was getting an Exhration of the fight as he locked on a few beast energy with his crimson glowing red eyes. Ben''s sprinting speed was easily 40km/hr, yet his steps were light, barely making any sound as he passed.
With a feat, a normal human can barely think of achieving, Ben was running toward his target like a tiger running towards a deer.
With a swift motion, he unsheathed the ''Grass Cutter'' de from his back, which he picked up from Ray''s warehouse along with the leather armor. Hemanded the system to merge the Inferno Stringer in the Basic Tear Sword.
Ben jumped over the ruined buildings, without any slowdown in his speed, the sword in his hand slowly turned red hot, but wasn''t covered in mes like his earlier weapons. Maybe it was the limit of the inferno stringer.
In the ruins of the city, a group of few basic tier wolves was sleeping in a circle, when suddenly one of the olives noticed a slight presence. He raised his head, searching for his enemy, but before he could perceive anything, a metallic sound reverberated through the air, as a burning feeling covered its neck.
Ben was already standing on the other side of the circle, a cold smile covered his face as the wolf''s head fell on the ground, and blood gushed out of its body like a shower.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
?Normal tier grey wolf killed
?No soul essence obtained
? Exp [45/100]
--------------------------
[ New Achievement ]
? Eternal enemy of vampire, a wolf is killed.
? Bonus reward: Exp x2
? Exp [55/100]
The gushing noise was enough to wake up the whole group of the wolf, realising what happened to their partner they looked at the ominous figure with a red sword in his hand. Despite being one of the top predators in the food chain, there was this instinct telling them.
"RUN OR DIE"
Chapter 46: New soul essence
Chapter 46: New soul essence
[New Achievement]
? The eternal enemy of vampires, a wolf, is killed.
? Bonus reward: Exp x2
? Exp [55/100]
"Kool, now I even have the wolf buff," Ben muttered, gritting his teeth in excitement as heunched towards the second target without letting the wolves get a chance to rest.
Angered by their friend''s death, the wolf jumped toward Ben, attacking him with a diagonal sh. but with a swift motion of Ben''s de, the wolf paw was cut in half, leaving it streaming blood as it struggled to find bnce.
Ben jumped and seized the opportunity tond a jab on the wolf''s face from his right hand while he prepared a sword strike from his left hand.
Even with superhuman agility, it was tough for Ben to get ustomed to using a sword. Though it makes sense, since he never used a sword in his life, on the other hand, with soul weapons, Ben never faced any difficulty at all.
With another swing of his de, there was a deep wound through the grey wolf''s body; it fell lifeless to the ground.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
Normal-tier grey wolf killed
?No soul essence was obtained.
? Exp [75/100]
With two consecutive kills, Ben''s confidence was all-time high, only to be hit by an ear-piercing noise from all four sides.
While Ben was busy dealing with the second grey wolf, the other wolves strategically surrounded him from all four sides andunched a high-frequency howling sound toward Ben.
Ben didn''t expect this kind of attack in his wildest dreams; just a second ago, he was nning a massacre and leveling up to level 2, but now he was surrounded by wolves from all four sides while holding his ears in both his hands.
?STATUS?
HP: 90/100
MP: 00/00
========
"Darn it.." Ben gritted his teeth as he looked at his falling HP. As he raised his head, he tried to take note of his surroundings and assess the problem in this situation. With no other option for escape left, Ben decided to use his long-range attack towards his enemy.
"Blood Bullet"
Ben chanted as a bullet of crimson red shot towards one of the wolves and hit its jaw, piercing through it and prating the body. The sheer impact of the attack was enough to throw the grey wolf on the ground, but it was still not dead yet.
?STATUS?
HP: 85/100
MP: 000/000
========
With one enemy down, the formation of the group was broken, and the effect of sound waves was now much lower than before. Ben left the wounded wolf on the ground and sprinted towards the other three wolves.
Seeing their enemy breaking out of sonic waves, all three wolves jumped towards Ben, engaging in closebat (3 vs. 1). With quick thinking, Ben slid onto the ground and narrowly avoided two w attacks towards him. Popping himself back up, he used all his strength to thrust his sword into the wolf''s head.
With his strength and the inferno stringer''s enhancement, the sword easily went through the wolf''s head, piercing its brain and further pinning it to the ground.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
Normal-tier grey wolf killed
?Soul essence obtained: ???
? Exp [95/100]
"That''s what you call a good kill." Ben grinned internally as he tried to pull back the sword and attack the enemy behind him, but even with his strength, the sword was somehow fixed on the ground, unable to move.
"Holy Fuck!!" Ben cursed as he saw a wolf approaching from behind. He used all his strength to shake off the sword, but it remained frozen. In thest moment of desperation, Ben let go of the sword and dodged theing attack by jumping to his left.
But in thest second of dodging, his shoulder was scratched by the grey wolf''s w, costing him a few health points.
"Summon: Ancient Spear"
Ben''s swift thinking and newfound ability to summon an ancient spear proved to be a game-changer in this dire situation. He moved with agility, stabbing the wolf and using the spear to throw the creature towards its approachingpanion.
The wolf thrown by Ben crashed into itspanion, causing them both to tumble to the ground. Seizing the moment, Ben threw the spear towards the wolf with all his might. While the wolves were still in mid-air, the spear went through both of them, killing them in the process.
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
Normal-tier grey wolf killed
?Soul essence obtained: ???
? Exp [135/100]
[Congrattions! You leveled up to level 2.]
[ All stats +1]
[ Free Stat +1]
¨X¨T¨T¨T?STATUS?¨T¨T¨T¨T¨[
Name: Ben Franklin
Race: Vampire; hunger: mild
Evolution: Evo 3 Level: 2
Exp: 35/200 HP: 92/100
MP: 000/000
Strength: 22
Agility: 27
Stamina: 24
[free stat: +1]
¨^¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨a
[ A/N: To avoid confusion, Ben can heal 1 HP/sec with 1 ml of blood consumed. When full, Ben drinks up to 100 mL of blood. I will add that stat with more rity soon. Sorry for the inconvenience. ]
Seeing all of his enemies killed, Ben huffed and panted as he sat on the ground. Killing all those basic-tier beasts at once wasn''t an easy task for him either, but since they were lower-basic-tier beasts, Ben was somehow able to pull this off.
"One thing is clear though: I can somehow use soul weapons more efficiently than normal weapons," Ben concluded, thinking back to his battle just now, where he was struggling to swing a sword while with the spear it was an easy job.
[Indeed, Ben, that''s because the soul weapon is linked directly to your subconscious mind, so you must feel like they are just another extension of your body.]
"Makes sense." Ben thought, as he stood up and went to grab his sword back, "Show me the new soul essence I got."
[New soul equipment obtained, x2]
[ Fang of the Wolf: Basic Tier Equipment; Type: Ne]
[Attribute: The fang of the lunar guardian provides the user with 5% of all stat boosts when in the presence of the full moon.]
"That''s a damn cool design." Ben grinned as he summoned the new soul essence and looked at it in the moonlight...
¡......
Yo, everyone!! It''s good news for both of us, who are following this book. We are getting contracted on WN soon, which means Regr updates and Better quality for you.
I don''t know what the future holds or what will happen to the story, but in my time as an author and a reader, I never saw any outperforming Non-Contracted book than this (except for fan-fic).
That''s why, A BIG BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL READERS, for this much support and co-operation.
Any suggestions and improvements are wee in thements.
Buzz-Buzzzz...(Thanks in mosquitonguage)
Chapter 47: Merged Essence
Chapter 47: Merged Essence
[New soul equipment acquired: x2]
[Fang of the Wolf: Basic Tier Equipment; Type: Ne]
[Attribute: The fang of the lunar guardian provides the user with a 5% boost to all stats when in the presence of a full moon.]
As Ben summoned the Fang of the Wolf ne, particles of white light materialized out of thin air, forming the ne. A small silver fang, about 2 centimeters long and in the shape of a crescent moon, appeared around his neck, fastened by a dark ck thread. It radiated an otherworldly glow under the crimson moonlight.
"Wow!" Ben couldn''t help but express his awe, admiring the ethereal soul essence from every angle.
"Hey system, can I merge both of these silver fangs?" A thought struck him.
[Do you want to merge the ''Fang of Wolf'' nes?]
YES
NO
Without hesitation, Ben selected YES and awaited the merging process. The soul essence rose off his neck, hovering in the air, and soon, another Fang of Wolf ne materialized alongside it. Both nes shattered into countless particles of light, which then merged into a single structure.
The merged particlesbined to form a new ne, which slowly moved towards Ben and fastened itself around his neck. As the light faded, Ben noticed that the new ne wasn''t much different from the previous one, except that the yellowish part had turned whiter.
[Soul essence merged sessfully.]
[Fang of the Wolf: Basic Tier Equipment] [Grade: 2]
[Attribute: The fang of the lunar guardian provides the user with a 6% boost to all stats when in the presence of a full moon.]
"Looks like I''m all set now," Ben grinned before somehow retrieving his sword from the wolf''s head and proceeding to explore the vige ruins.
Contrary to his expectations, the vige ruins were muchrger than he had imagined, perhaps even twice the size of the current vige they were staying in. It was as if he was only exploring the outskirts of a city with crumbling walls and a few remaining houses.
The sheer power required to reduce the robust concrete structures to rubble was beyond Ben''s imagination.
After a few more minutes of exploration, Ben found nothing but the remains of concrete structures, overgrown nts, and algae. That was until he heard a voice from behind him.
Ben''s eyes widened, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he beheld whaty before him.
"It''s been a while since I saw any vampires around."
It was a rough and heavy voice, condemning pressure and aggression. Ben stumbled, looking at the source of the voice. His legs were frozen, his heart was beating rapidly, and fear was creeping in.
"Oh, don''t worry, we werewolves are not like you. I still remember the peace treaty signed between our races. I don''t n to attack you first."
Ben looked at the source of the voice; it wasing from an 8-foot-tall ck wolf, its silver fangs making a menacing smile on its face. The sheer aura of the wolf told Ben that it was nothing like a normal wolf.
"Yo-you can talk.." Ben clenched his fist as he took a battle stance, looking at the talking monster before him.
"As I stated earlier, I don''t n to attack you first. I was passing by when I heard my children''s howling for help, and here I saw you." The massive wolf grinned, strolling around the dead basic-tier wolf''s body.
?Blood Vision?
Ben activated his skill to check on his enemy''s strength, and his brain couldn''t believe what he was seeing. If there was ever a one-on-one fight, Ben couldn''t find a single way to beat that gigantic wolf.
"Oh, no need to bother using your magic." The wolf looked at Ben, noticing his red eyes, and he stated, "You could have just asked me politely. I am at the peak of what humans call the ''Advanced Tier,'' or, as you can say, I am about to step into intermediate rank."
?{He''s right about it, Ben. If he were to attack you, then you wouldn''t stand a chance.}?
"Anyway, I recall there was a peace treaty between werewolves and vampires. So are you challenging the agreement by killing our children?" The wolf asked, his eyes glowing golden yellow, looking at Ben with massive killing intent.
"Hey system, what is the peace treaty he is talking about?" Ben asked in his mind. With a cold expression on his face, his crimson-red eyes met the wolf''s red eyes, like a reflex action in his defense.
?{From the sound of it, it''s more likely some non-killing treaty between vampires and wolves of this world.}?
"I see. I guess I will go along then," Ben thought as he looked at the wolf corpses with a sidelong nce.
"Your children were the ones who entered my territory first. Not to mention, these wolves are the ones who keep attacking human viges. Doesn''t that mean you are the one in the wrong here?" Ben stated, using the peace treaty as a shield, hoping to resolve the issue without fighting if possible.
"Hahahaa, you call it your territory? Since when did vampires get so soft for humans?" The wolfughed, but with a sudden change of expression, he looked at Ben with a sharp gaze. "Or are you perhaps one of a turned?"
"System..." Ben was dumbfounded.
?{''Turned'' here means a former human who is now converted into a vampire.}?
"What I am is none of your concern, but if I find any more wolves in this vige, they will end up dead like your children here," Ben responded with anger. His ethics wouldn''t allow him to let people die on his watch.
"You sure talk big for your current strength, but remember, we wolves were hunting long before you were present here, and we will continue to do so." The wolfshed out in anger, a grunting sound clear in his voice.
"And humans were living here long before you started hunting them. If you have a problem with food, why don''t you find some other ce to hunt?" Ben asked reasonably, fully aware of the cycle of life.
In nature, one species is another''s food, so hunting and killing are nothing new. But how fixated these wolves were on killing humans went beyond thew of nature. It seemed more like a nned attack.
........
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Chapter 48: Courageous will be fallen
Chapter 48: Courageous will be fallen
"Listen closely, vampire. I will let this slide for once since I don''t want to offend your vampire lord. But if you try to mingle between our affairs again, I don''t mind taking the risk." The wolf groaned with clear anger on its face.
"Oh, it looks like I hit a nerve. But I will stand by my word. If I see your children again, they will die. That''s the end of it." Ben grinned in response; somehow the wolf''s attitude had gotten on his nerves.
"Then hold your tongue, but here''s some friendly advice: my pack and hundreds of us will be attacking this vige on a full moon; flee if you can. But if I find you in the vige, I''ll make sure you die in excruciating pain." The wolf turned back and started to walk away from Ben.
Ben, on the other hand, who was shocked by the wolf''s words, thought of testing it with his skill. Hemanded the system to use blood vision at its maximum capacity, and what he saw left him stunned.
There were hundreds of Normal-tier beast energies, tens ofrger ones, and one energy sourcerger than all the rest.
An energy source unlike any he had encountered in a beast before. "Could it be another advanced-tier beast?" he wondered as he observed the scene.
[You''re correct, Ben. The energy you''re detecting ising from a mid-advanced-tier beast, which implies he is not the only strong beast in this pack.]
"And they''re all living below us..." Ben deactivated his blood vision, only to realize that the energy source was emanating from beneath him.
"There... there''s an entire colony of basic and advanced-tier beasts below us!" Ben felt nervous, recalling the same feeling he had when witnessing Astroath decimate those mages.
There was no doubt Ben was strong, but there was no way he could face an army of monsters dwelling just beneath them.
[With theirbined strength and numbers, they could attack the vige any time, and no one would stand a chance.]
"At this point, the vige is at the mercy of these monsters," Ben thought as he turned back and looked toward the vige.
More than an hour had passed since he arrived, and the results had exceeded his expectations. He asked the system whether he should warn the vigers about the impending threat to potentially save many lives.
"Hey system! Should I inform them about what we''ve seen? It might save many lives in the vige," Ben asked, his heart pounding as he saw the ck wolf walking away from him.
[Even if you were able to warn them, Ben, how do you expect them to save their lives?]
[ Do you want them to cross the enchanted forest where danger is lurking around, cross through that gigantic river and enter some other country, or walk into city ruins and get killed either way?]
Ben stopped thinking; his legs stumbled; he never thought of this possibility. It was like the world was a chess board, and a corner surrounded Ben. No matter what he thinks he can''t find a way out of it.
[ At this rate, Ben, forget about vigers; you have to think about survival for yourself. ]
[ I will suggest you leave everyone and run back into the enchanted forest; this is the only way you can survive, Ben. You can escape Astroath as well as the vige.]
"Wai..wait, what am I supposed to do here? No..how did even thingse to this?" Ben''s ears were ringing, the world around him was getting whiter, and it was hard for him to keep standing. Is this the only way he has? Should he sacrifice everyone for his survival?
[ This universe depends on your survival. Ben, your life is superior to them all. Be selfish; think about yourself ]
"Be..be..sel..fish" Ben muttered as these words rang in his ears. If he ran into an enchanted forest, there was still a high possibility that he could survive, but at what cost?
"pp"
A pping sound reverberated through the air, followed by another and another.
The ck wolf, who was now a few meters away, stopped at the pping sound, looking back at Ben with a sidelong nce. "Did you go insane over our conversation, vampire?"
"Tsk..no. It''s just what I needed to gain back my sanity." Ben smiled, his smile widened into a chuckle and turned into augh.
"Even if it''s against an army, I will ensure they all survive. Whatever the cost, it takes because going against the odds is my specialty," Ben said with arge smile on his face, surprising both the system and the wolf.
"A friendly advice from my side, If you want to kill me, do it now when you have a chance. Or you might regret itter." Ben said out loud in an unwitting confidence, his attitude matching that of someone who has nothing to lose in life.
The same attitude he had back on Earth, fighting against the odds and surviving each day of his life, and stilling on top starting each day as a new journey, Ben was somehow addicted to this feeling, the feeling of challenge, the feeling of aplishment.
No matter how much heined about it, internally he never wanted a peaceful life. Challenges were hispanion, and struggle was his ally. And now Ben stood with the same confidence as before, his heart was beating like he found something long lost.
Ben found the same feeling his soul always craved, this was the thrill he always wanted, and now he was feeling it in his blood.
The wolf, in response, looked at Ben with a hesitant gaze before he walked toward his hideout; the wolf muttered these few words.
"The courageous will be fallen."
---------||END OF ARC 1||-----------
ARC:2 - Rotten Wood
Chapter 49: A small dailema
Chapter 49: A small dailema
----ARC: 2 - The Rotten Wood----
"So that''s what happened," Ben exined, sitting on a stone pile, while Ray and Alex stood before him, looking at him seriously.
The sun was getting golden yellow from red, and all four of them were currently next to the rice field, green moist grass with morning dew twinkling in the sunlight like countless stars in the sky. The cold breeze was passing through greenish rice nts, making a rustling noise.
But even in this beautiful dawn, there was a tense situation between Ben, Alex, and Ray while Freya was practicing her sword skills a few meters away from him.
"So you are saying there was an almost intermediate-tier talking wolf in the city ruins, and he is nning to attack this vige in full moon?" Ray asked, a dumbfounded expression on his face.
So far, Ben has exined everything to them, cleverly manipting the ''him being a vampire'' part, and naturally, there were some plot holes in the story, making it hard for Ray to believe the story.
"This is the third time you are asking that question," Freya responded, continuing to practice with her sword, resulting in a break in her sentence.
"Hey, don''t be involved in the conversation if you are not even listening to it; not to mention, that''s not how you practice your sword skills," Ray remarked, looking at her immature practice style. From his perspective, she was just randomly swinging her sword in the air.
Freya stopped swinging her sword and looked Ray directly in the eyes as she responded, "The part of the conversation I heard was escaping the vige and running; as for my practice, I do whatever I want."
"Oi everyone, stop your off-topic nonsense unless you want a Round 2 with me being involved." Ben''s lips twitched twice, and his words sent a small shiver through both Freya and Ray.
"Okay, I take your words seriously. You are saying that there are some hundreds of wolves attacking us on the full moon, which is days from now." Alex intervened; he waspletely silent in the conversation from the beginning. "So are you suggesting that we should abandon the vige and run?"
"I am saying running is a possibility," Ben responded, as silence fell in the air.
"What happens to your vige is none of our concern; we are not bound to stay here and die with you people." Freya tuned in, only to receive an annoyed nce from Ben before she fell silent again.
"Freya is correct; you guys are just passersby; you are not bound to stay here." Ray stated, as he sat on the grass with his legs crossed, " But the fact that you didn''t run up to now, and exin this to us. I guess you aren''t nning to leave, are you, Ben?"
"You aren''t as dumb as you look," Ben answered with a smile on his face. " If I am nning to leave or not, it solely depends on your answer to my question."
?{Bruh, stop lying; you aren''t nning to leave either way. One hell of a host for me}?
?{Honestly, I liked you better when you were a mosquito; at least you were somewhat listening to me. Sigh...}?
"Spit it out. What do you want to know?" Ray responded in the same tone as Ben: " Whether I answer it or not will solely depend on your question."
Ben stood up and flexed his body before he looked at the fully golden sun in the sky. "The question is, why are they attacking the vige?"
"Earlier, you exined that the nobles were attacking the vige because of the jealousy and abnormal growth of the vige. The demons attacked the vige because of the mana stream present in the city."
"But now that you don''t have the city nor the mana vein, then the question is: Why didn''t the attacks stop by now? There must be something in the vige that is attracting people to attack, so Ray Tell me, What is it that you are hiding in here?"
"I will give it to you; I underestimated you quite a lot. But the answer you are searching for, I am trying to find that as well." Ray said it with a serious expression on his face.
"Just admit it, you are dumb," Freya chimed in, getting on the reverse scale for Ray yet again.
"Then what the hell are you vige lord for, bro-_-?" Ben pped his forehead, all this suspense and acting he did to get a few answers just to know that Ray was even more clueless than him.
"Honestly, I am the one who does most of the work. Wonder what the hell the vige lord is for?" Alex alsomented in a low tone while looking away in a direction, trying to avoid any eye contact.
"Come on, bro, now all three of you start roasting me." Ray was dumbfounded, looking at his respect crumbling like a building of cards.
"Well, you can''t roast someone who is already burned down to ashes," Freyamented again, looking away in the same direction as Alex.
"Well...Ouch..." Ray gritted his teeth in aical response.
"Hey Ben, don''t get me wrong here, but you did see a talking wolf in the vige ruins?" Alex asked in a little confused tone.
"What! You never saw a talking wolf in your life."Ben counter-questioned: After all, this was a magical world; animals talking to each other must be a normal thing, right?
"No, it''s not that... Any beast or humanoid monster who evolves to a certain point can talk, but I am curious; how do you know monsternguage?" Alex asked again, borating his question further.
"Hey system, how did I learn the monsternguage again?" Ben was dumbfounded; in all this story, he never thought that thenguage barrier would be that big of an issue. He thought talking with animals was just a normal thing in a magical world.
?{You canmunicate with the Wolf Ben because of your ''All Tongue'' ability. }?
?{As for the reason they are surprised, it''s because normally humans can''t talk with monsters without using a magical tool.}?
Chapter 50: Digging the clues
Chapter 50: Digging the clues
?{You canmunicate with the Wolf Ben because of your ''All Tongue'' ability. }?
?{As for the reason they are surprised, it''s because normally humans can''t talk with monsters without using a magical tool.}?
Ben bit his tongue; it was such a minor thing that he didn''t bother asking the system, and now he was regretting it. In a moment of desperation, Ben''s mind ran through options to cover up his lies. As his eyes were searching for clues, a thought hit his mind, and he looked at the ''Fang of Wolf'' ne with twinkling eyes.
"This one; it''s the magical device I use tomunicate with monsters." Ben pointed at the half-moon crescent ornament hanging on his neck. All he needed was a magical device that could cover up the plothole in the story.
Others looked at the ne hesitatingly, as if trying to say something but wanting someone else to interfere first. After a few moments of silence, all three of them somewhat agreed with Ben''s point, moving on to the next topic.
"So what is our primary goal right now? To find out why they are attacking the vige or to prepare for the uing attack?'' Ray asked with seriousness on his face. If there was even a 1% chance that what Ben was saying was correct, then they all might be in big trouble. Not to mention, there was no reason for Ben to lie to Ray.
"Our primary goal right now is to run away from the vige as fast as we can," Freya responded, which in turn added to the sad expression on Ray''s and Alexe''s faces. It was true that they wouldn''t stop Ben from going away, but internally, they were desperate to get any help they could.
"But Ben said he would help us if we answered his questions," Ray asked in a soft tone, contrary to the chaos in his mind.
"And you didn''t answer the question," Freya imed.
"Aren''t there any other ways we can ask for your help? Like money, skills, or weapons, maybe?" Alex came up with a diplomatic approach; even if it cost them a few gold coins, Ben''s help would still be invaluable inparison.
"Chill down, guys; I haven''t yet decided whether I am running or not." Ben chimed in, stopping Alex midway. There was a warm smile on his face; he could feel what Ray or Alex were feeling if they were in his ce.
"Our deal was to guard the vige at night, and the night is over. So ording to the rules, we are free to rest for the day, right?" Ben stood up from the rock and cracked his fingers. This sudden change of topic was both unprecedented and calcted for Ray.
"But Ben, we are on a serious discussion.." Alex objected in a weary tone, but he was stopped by a pat on his shoulder. Alex turned around to find out it was Ray nodding in agreement.
"You are right, Ben; your shift is now over. Feel free to rest for the day; we will take it from here." Ray responded with the same calm tone as Ben before he walked towards the guard post on the other side. "Let''s go, Alex."
"Ah.Yes." Alex responded as he took long steps to match up with Ray''s pace. He was taken aback by the sudden turn of conversation but still decided to follow his friend''s decision.
Ben, on the other hand, looked at them going away with a sharp smile on his face until Freya walked near him and asked, "Don''t tell me you are nning to stay in the vige."
Ben turned around to look in the direction of Freya. Her face had a confused yet deep expression, but Ben didn''t notice the conflict in her emotions because his eyes were locked on something else. Past Freya, Ben was looking at a broken church with a sharp smile on his face.
"If I will stay or not, it truly depends on the answer to my question," Ben said as he walked past Freya, in the direction of the church.
"But didn''t you ask the question already? Wait..." Freya was now more conflicted with Ben''s answer as she followed him to walk in the same direction.
"Well, I never expected the exact answer from them in the first ce. " Ben responded to Freya''s question while rubbing his hands together. "That''s why I decided to find out the answer on my own."
"If you had to find the answer on your own, then why did you ask them in the first ce?" Freya asked again; the more Ben answered, the more confusion it got for her.
"I just wanted them to know what the question is," Ben responded, but a notification sound attracted his attention, so he continued to answer while operating the status window. "Curiosity is an infectious disease; as long as there is a question, the human mind will crave its answer."
Freya was somewhat understanding of what Ben was nning to do, but there were still so many questions in her mind that she asked, but somehow Ben seemed too busy swiping his hands in the air and scratching his chin to listen to Freya''s question.
"Weirdo.." She responded in a low tone, an annoyed expression on her face.
On Ben''s side, there was a new notification from his system, and he already had a decent idea of what it was. He had been waiting for this notification for the past few hours since he gave the six beast cores he obtained from beasts to the system.
[ UPDATE ]
[Beast core synthesis is nowplete: 6x Basic Tier Beast Core]
[Rewards: +6 points in magic]
[Note: You can only use the magic powers after you have levelled up to level 5].
''So I did unlock the magic thing from this world, but I need to level up to use these points in any case.'' Ben thought with a mixed expression on his face, but one thing was clear to him: he needed to level up as fast as he could.
Closing the status screen, Ben stopped walking and looked at the structure before him. With a frown on his face, he said, "We have reached."
Chapter 51: A cult or a Fane?
Chapter 51: A cult or a Fane?
Closing the status screen, Ben stopped walking and looked at the structure before him. With a frown on his face, he said, "We have reached."
Freya too looked at the building before her, a dpidated old church with algae sprouting on its walls. The fallen structure barely clung to its remaining pirs, seemingly on the verge of copse. An uneasy feeling settled in her gut as she peered inside the massive structure, sensing that there was more to this ce than met the eye.
"So there is the answer to your question?" She asked.
"It''s just a hunch, but I think the existence of this church here is a bit off." Ben rubbed his chin, observing the peculiar energy emanating from the structure. He carefully scanned the surroundings, finding no immediate threats besides the eerie aura of the church itself.
"What''s off about a crumbling church from a past city? Isn''t it clear that it was the result of war that the church is broken?" Freya recalled the history she had heard about the vige, unable to discern any peculiarities about the building.
"That''s exactly what''s off," Ben stated, unsheathing the long katana de from his back. Assuming a defensive stance, he cautiously stepped into the structure, ready for any surprises. "The first thing that strikes me as odd is the location of this church. Why build it 700 meters outside the city?"
"If the story holds, then the ruins in the north were once part of the original city. So why would someone construct a church here under such circumstances?" Ben pondered aloud, his keen instincts prodding at the mysteries of the ce. "And even if the church was built for some reason, why would invaders, especially demons, go out of their way to destroy a remote building with seemingly no strategic value?"
Freya was taken aback by Ben''s observations. His words highlighted the inconsistencies in Ray''s ount, casting doubt on the credibility of the information they had received. She assumed a defensive stance, following Ben into the structure, her senses heightened and alert.
Inside the church, an unsettling aura enveloped the space. Unlike any ce of worship Ben had seen in his previous life, this church defied the norms. The ck-tiled floor that reflected his image, painting the interior in darkness. Above, on the wall, a symbol of the shining silver empire g caught their attention¡ªa woman riding a dragon, an emblem that stirred further intrigue and confusion.
Ben cautiously surveyed the interior of the church, seeking any anomalies or peculiarities. However, what he discovered left him astounded. The red energy he had been tracking wasn''t emanating from any living beings or powerful entities; instead, it seemed to originate from the very structure of the church itself. Every wall, fallen stone, and even the tiniest pebble seemed to pulse with this enigmatic energy.
"But how is it possible? Isn''t Blood Vision meant to track only living beings? Does this mean the church is alive or something?" Ben pondered silently, his face reflecting his surprise.
[ It seems that there is more to this church than we can see from the outside... ]
"What do you mean by that?" Ben inquired mentally.
[ Your Blood Vision is designed to detect life energy emanating from any living being, essentially a skill inspired by the Reincarnation System''s ''Soul Seeker'' skill.]
[ The fact that your Blood Vision is revealing the presence of life energy within this structure suggests that it''s a ''Fane.'' ]
"Now, what the hell is a Fane?" Ben couldn''t help but voice his frustration, catching Freya''s attention.
"Are you... talking to me?" she asked, slightly bewildered, but Ben was too absorbed in his conversation with the system to respond immediately.
"No, no, I''m just talking to myself. Give me a moment, okay?" Ben replied, mentally berating himself for the slip-up.
"Hey, system, what is a Fane?" He queried internally this time, making sure not to speak aloud and appear odd to Freya.
[ Ben, I''m afraid you''re not ready to know the answer yet. Just understand that there''s a small chance that a highly valuable treasure may be stored in this building. ]
"Invaluable treasure, you say? Is that the reason why there are so many people after it?" Ben pondered, his hand stroking his chin. If the system''s theory held true, his hunch had hit the mark, increasing the likelihood that the system''s supposition was correct.
"So, how do I confirm that your suspicion is correct?" Ben''s expression grew resolute.
[ For a simplified understanding, a Fane is somewhat akin to a cult. And for a cult to exist, there must be a group of followers, regr ones at that. ]
"So, you''re saying that there must be people directly or indirectly associated with this ce. I just need to confirm their presence, and that will validate our suspicion," Ben concluded, his eyes gleaming with newfound insight.
"It appears you''re right, System. We just have to wait until nightfall," Ben stated, not allowing the system to respond as if he had unravelled something profoundly valuable.
[ Exercise caution, Ben. ]
"Let''s go. We''ve found our clue," Ben said with a satisfied smile, sheathing his katana, and making his way out of the dpidated Fane.
"So, have you found your answers? What was strange about that church?" Freya inquired, catching up with hurried steps.
"Not exactly, but I now know when I''ll find the answers," Ben replied, casting a nce at the sunlight. Since bing a vampire, the daylight held a different, lessforting allure.
"So, what''s the n for now?" Freya asked, somewhat bewildered. Every time she posed a question, Ben seemed to plunge her deeper into mysteries without resolving the previous ones.
In response, Ben turned to face Freya, sporting a broad grin on his face. "For now, we''re going hunting."
-----------
Yo guys,, happy reading out there.
Just wanted to introduce new events:
E1: Joint our discord: https://discord.gg/g6Md7T6U ; For 10 members, you get 1 extra chapter.
E2: Donate Power Stone to reach the weekly target, 50 PS= 2 extra chapter. 100PS= 5 extra chapters.
E3: 5 Comments for chapter, for 5 chapter = 1 extra ch / week.
All three events are applicable for November only. See you in the story-
Chapter 52: Rabbit Run
Chapter 52: Rabbit Run
"Behind you!" Freya''s urgent shout cut through the tense air. She swiftly loaded an arrow onto her bow, her sun-kissed skin glistening with beads of sweat from prolonged exposure to the unrelenting sunlight.
"Blood Bullet," Benmanded, pointing his fingers at the lurking shadow that had pounced from behind. Enhanced with the inferno stringer, the blood bullet struck its target, detonating on impact and engulfing the assant in mes.
¨X¨T¨T UPDATE ¨T¨T¨[
? Rigid Rabbit Killed x4
? Exp: 60/400 [+20]
? Soul Essence Obtained: Cute Bunny Boots
¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T¨T
Huffing and panting, Ben slumped to the ground, his breathsing fast and heavy. He used his sleeves to wipe the sweat from his forehead and muttered a single word, "Status."
¨p¨T?STATUS?¨T¨p
©°Name: Ben Franklin
©°Race: Vampire
¨X¨TLEVEL: 3; Hunger: High
¨UExp: 60/400; Magic: 000/006
¨^¨THealth: 57/100; B.E: 12/100
©° Strength: 26
©° Agility: 28
©°Stamina: 25
¨d¨T ACTIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
? Blood Bullet
? Influence
? [Locked]: Reach Level 5 to unlock
¨d¨T Soul Essence ¨T¨g
? Inferno Stringer: (Enhancement Type) Normal tier
? Ancient Spear: (Weapon Type) Mid-Normal Tear
? Silver Fang: (Assocery Type) Mid-Normal Tier
? Cute Bunny Boots: (Assocery type) Top-Basic Tier x20
[ A/N: To clear up two things.
1. B.E: Blood Essence, (I added this stat for readers'' convenience) Ben gets 1 B.E point for 1ml of blood consumed. He can consume 100ml right now, and each point of B.E. can rece him 1HP instantaneously. ]
2. I messed up basic tier things in recent chapters( I am dumb) just know that all the beasts he was killed after he became a Vampire, are normal tier ]
[ Tier ranking- Intermediate Tier> Advanced Tier > Normal Tier> Basic Tier ]
{ Very very sorry for inconvenience,, I am just dumb sometimes }
"Use 12 B.E points to replenish my HP," Benmanded, his body finally surrendering to exhaustion as hey down on the ground. Over the past day, he and Freya had relentlessly hunted Rigid Rabbits. After seven grueling hours of pursuit in the river grasnd, Ben had managed to level up to level 3, gaining +2 strength points by allocating all his free stats into strength.
He had also attempted to consume the blood of the in beasts to gain more stat points, but it had proved futile. ording to the system, Ben could now only gain stat points by consuming the blood of humanoid creatures.
Considering the odds in a potential showdown with the Alpha-Wolf, Ben realized that there was no way he could match its strength in just four days. Therefore, he had chosen to utilize every means possible to increase his strength points, while he had various other options to improve his agility.
"Did you learn anything while we were at it?" Ben inquired, ncing back at Freya, who was also sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. She sat up in response to his question, her gaze filled with weariness.
"I''ve learned that a certain someone has been ignoring my questions," Freya retorted, her voice tinged with annoyance. Ben chuckled at herint, realizing that he had been so focused on saving time that he had neglected to exin the details to her. However, now that she was actively participating in his n, he felt the need to fill her in.
"Alright, go ahead, ask whatever you want," Ben replied, finally catching his breath. Yet, just as he was about to address Freya''s inquiries, a notification appeared on his status screen, diverting his attention.
[ Warning: Your hunger status is high. You need to consume blood immediately, or you will start losing HP.]
"What the heck? Why didn''t the system alert me about this sooner?" Ben grumbled internally as he examined the status screen. Nevertheless, Freya''s voice drew him back to the present.
"First things first, why are we killing these Rigid Rabbits?" she asked.
"I have two primary goals in mind. One is to be stronger, and the other... you''ll find out soon," Ben replied, sitting up and using his blood vision skill to scan the surrounding area. There was no more energy of rabbits left in their vicinity.
Since the morning, Ben and Freya had chosen a location near the colossal river in the south and started their hunting spree. Approximately 300 meters away from the river''s edge, they found a species called Rigid Rabbits, mostly Top-Basic Tier Beasts that served as the primary source of food for the vigers.
The vigers, not particrly strong or skilled in magic, avoided venturing within 100 meters of the river, where normal-tier beasts and even higher-tier creatures could be found. For Ben, the initial choice was to hunt in the 300-meter area, aiming to obtain the maximum EXP possible.
However, Freya''s curiosity couldn''t be contained any longer, and she inquired once more, her voice tinged with frustration. "What''s the connection between killing rabbits and getting stronger? Your answers are just confusing me further."
Ben took a moment to exin this time, using his blood vision to keep an eye on the vige. "Remember when I told you to use only magical attacks during our fights? It''s because the more you use magic and push yourself to the limit, the stronger your magical capacity will be. Additionally, using the same spell repeatedly enhances your casting speed, uracy, and the amount of magic required to cast the spell."
[Copyright strike!! Those are my words. Can''t I get some credit?]
Ben continued his exnation, thinking inwardly, ''For me, I have a little something special that elerates my growth through the acquisition of soul essence. My growth speed will be far more superior to what Freya could achieve.''
Freya, on the other hand, was contemting Ben''s knowledge of magic. She thought, ''I never expected him to have such a deep understanding of magic. He acts like aplete novice when ites to magical discussions. But then again, I haven''t even seen him use spells in battle. So far, he''s demonstrated an advanced tier Fire magic skill and that space magic skill, but I have a feeling he''s concealing even more.''
(A/N: She''s referring to the "Inferno-Stringer Blood Bullet" and the system''s inventory where he summons his weapon from.)
[Hey Ben, wanna use the skill to listen in on your ve''s thoughts? I promise it''s quite interesting.]
''No, I don''t want to intrude on someone''s privacy,'' Ben replied, ignoring the system''s suggestion. His focus remained on finding a nearby source of blood.
[Tsk... such a boring guy. You missed out on some fun.]
Chapter 53: Influence Skill
Chapter 53: Influence Skill
While talking to Freya and exining some details about the n, Ben spotted a few potential blood sources in his blood vision. However, the challenge remained in how to obtain blood from them.
Ben could resort to using force to either kill someone or render them unconscious and then drink their blood, but that option felt too extreme and risky. Locating a blood source was one thing, but sessfully obtaining and consuming their blood was an entirely different matter.
[Why don''t you try using your Influence skill, Ben?]
Upon the system''s suggestion, Ben recollected an almost forgotten skill in his arsenal. He had used this skill on Freya once before, and it had proven effective. However, he was uncertain about just how potent this skill truly was.
''Is this skill really that useful? I mean, it won''t embarrass me publicly if it fails, will it?'' Ben wondered, a growing sense of doubt creeping in. The skill might not be as powerful as it initially sounded.
[ You are not wrong Ben, the probability of Influence skill working depends on many possibilities and conditions. But on the other hand, this is the skill every vampire is granted to hunt prey.]
''So there is more to the skill than it looks from the top? Tell me more about the conditions and probabilities.'' Ben pondered in his mind, but before the system could respond, Freya asked yet another question.
"Okay, I get why you were telling me to hunt. But you mentioned two reasons for this hunt, what is the other reason?" Freya asked, a sense of satisfaction forming inside her. Just for once, she felt that there was a way for her to get stronger.
"For now, just collect the Rabbit corpses and wait for me here," Ben said as he stood up and walked in a certain direction, ignoring Freya''s more questions and answers he asked in his mind for the system to continue with the exnation.
[ You''re not entirely mistaken, Ben. The sess of the Influence skill depends on various factors and conditions. Let me borate.]
[ Firstly, there''s a gender effect. As you''re male, the skill will be more effective when used on females.]
[ Secondly, the mental state of the target is crucial. Depending on whether the other person''s mental state is stable or not, the skill''s effectiveness can vary.]
"So, in simple terms, if I were to use this skill on a mentally unstable female, I have a higher chance of sess?" Ben contemted, already formting a n for obtaining blood.
[ No, Ben, you''ve misunderstood. The Female buff only applies in specific situations, like those romantic scenarios and flirting. I highly doubt any female with a broken mental state will be in a romantic mood.]
''In hindsight, it seems I''m not as clever as I thought,'' Ben chuckled at his misinterpretation. After a brief silence, he questioned the system again, ''You were talking about special cases, right? What if I use the Influence skill on a random person I''ve just met?''
[ In that case, the sess of your Influence skill will rely on mental strength. If you possess greater mental strength than your target, you''ll have a better chance of sess.]
[ Additionally, the power of your Influence skill will increase as you level up, so as you evolve, the skill will be more potent.]
"In a nutshell, I just need to find a woman, engage in a bit of flirting, and use my Influence skill to suck her up." Benid out his n in his mind, refining it based on the system''s guidance.
[You sound sus-]
Following the in-depth discussion with the system, Ben returned to the hunting grounds, where regr vigers used to hunt for food. Unfortunately, Ben and Freya had already hunted down more than 50 Rigid Rabbits, meaning there was no more prey left for them.
This depletion was also part of Ben''s n, aimed at discovering the cult or Fane members concealed within the vige. He positioned himself on one side of the hunting area, carefully observing the vigers as they attempted to catch the rabbits.
Even though Rigid Rabbits were low-tier creatures, their fangs contained a substantial amount of poison. While it might not be lethal, the venom could inflict intense pain and leave the victim with a swollen rear end for quite some time. Ben had experienced this first-hand only a few hours earlier.
Normally, when Ben was apanied by Ray or Alex, vigers would flee in fear. However, being alone, he went unnoticed, as if everything was perfectly normal. This further solidified Ben''s suspicion that the vigers weren''t hostile toward outsiders in general but rather a specific group of people.
With a nonchnt stride, Ben approached his target and summoned an ancient spear. Wearing a sly grin, he hurled the spear with all his might toward a blond girl, about 5 feet tall. The air-splitting sound sent shockwaves through the clearing, and the girl stared at the approaching spear in shock.
Realizing she couldn''t react in time, she closed her eyes and prepared for the impact. With a solid thud, the spear struck the ground, but it didn''t hit her. Instead, it impaled a Rigid Rabbit, pinning it to a tree.
[ Rigid Rabbit Killed]
[ Exp: +1; No soul essence obtained]
"Ugh, I''m not even getting 2 exp from the kill now," Ben grumbled inwardly, a bit disappointed. He knew he''d have to hunt more beasts to get stronger. As he was lost in thought, a soft voice broke his reverie.
"Um... Thank you... Thank you for your help. I really thought I was dead for a second." The blond girl looked at Ben, her face blushing like a cherry, and her body trembling from the sudden turn of events.
[ I''d give her a 6 out of 10; are you sure about this one? I''d still say Freya is better.]
"Did your elders never teach you not to judge food by its looks? Besides, Freya is... unique," Ben responded in his mind. He turned his attention back to the blonde girl and transformed his stern expression into a warm smile as he spoke in a friendly tone, "It''s my pleasure to be of help."
........
"More chapters areing soon" - Sleeplessly Tired Author
Chapter 54: Human Blood Consumed
Chapter 54: Human Blood Consumed
"It''s my pleasure to be of help," Ben replied with a smile, trying to mimic the ssic, casual style of vampires he had seen in movies. He wasn''t particrly skilled in flirting in his previous world, but he hoped to improve in this new world, especially if it yielded the desired results.
"No, I didn''t... want to put you through the trouble," the girl stammered, her tone nervous. Her ears burned red, and she felt as though her brain might start releasing steam.
She gazed at Ben intently. His soft, pale skin, dark ck hair falling onto his forehead, and those striking crimson-red eyes that shone in the sunlight captivated her. She had never encountered a more handsome man in her lifetime. However, it wasn''t just his good looks that drew her in.
It was those crimson-red eyes. They were so deep that she felt like she was falling into them, and her eyelids grew heavy as if she were losing control of her body. The feelings of nervousness and hesitation that had filled her mind only moments ago were now reced by an overwhelming sense of joy.
[ Influence Skill Used]
[ Influence Skill is sessful]
[Look at you, Ben! You''re a natural at this!]
Ben couldn''t help but smirk inwardly at the system''s enthusiasticmentary. He knew he was ying a part, but if it helped him achieve his goals, he was more than willing to continue.
With a subtle, seductive tone, he asked, "Are you all right? You seem a bit shaken. I''m here to help, after all."
"No, I am fine... it''s just that I am exhausted," the girl replied in a low tone, her hand lightly touching her head. She felt a strange, tingling sensation in her body, which left her feeling both ufortable and strangely captivated as if her actions were no longer entirely under her control.
"Come with me, and we can rest in the shade of those trees over there. It might be the sunlight that''s affecting you," Ben suggested in his ssic, stereotypical British ent. He had picked up this skill by mimicking a British ssmate back in his previous world, never expecting it toe in handy like this.
"Then I would be troubling you for your kindness," the girl responded, swiftly brushing the hair away from her face.
Ben felt a twinge of difort, but as the saying goes, anything for survival. Besides, he wasn''t doing anything inherently wrong; he just needed a small amount of blood.
Gently, he took her hand and guided her toward the shade of therge tree. This was part of his n, as the hunting grounds were crowded with people, and the open grasnd offered no concealment for his discreet blood collection.
Ben led her to a secluded spot near therge tree where they would be shielded from prying eyes. The blonde-haired girl settled down, audibly panting, sweat beading on her forehead. She remained seated, her eyes fixed on Ben, seemingly anticipating his next move.
"This doesn''t feel right..." Ben mused internally, but he propelled himself to action once more.
[Activate the next phase of the influencing, and put her to sleep,]
"Understood," Ben acknowledged, his eyes glowing crimson red as he locked his gaze with the girls. Despite her apparent age of at least twenty, she had sumbed to Ben, who was trapped within the body of a teenager.
"Imand you to sleep," Ben directed, his voice taking on amanding tone as he locked eyes with the girl.
[ Influence skill activated]
With Ben''smand, the girl experienced a sudden thump in her chest, as if her body was reacting to the order. A surge of pressure weighed heavily upon her, and though she tried to resist, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier until she could no longer keep them open.
[ Influence skill sessfully used ]
With the final notification confirming the sess of the Influence Skill, Ben let out a long, relieving sigh. He stumbled slightly, his legs unsteady from the exertion of using the skill, which was as draining as battling a horde of Rigid Rabbits continuously.
After a brief fit of coughing, Ben regained hisposure. Gazing at the fresh source of blood before him, a sense of urgency gripped him. Without hesitation, he knelt beside the girl and focused on her neck, a particr vein catching his attention.
The sweet aroma of blood filled his nostrils, the rhythmic beating of her pulse resonating in his ears. He could discern the flow of blood coursing through her veins. In response, he felt a peculiar sensation in his mouth, his fangs elongating, growing to twice their usual size. Without a moment''s dy, he pierced his fangs into her neck, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
As her warm, sweet essence filled his mouth, the girl emitted a soft moan. Ben was unable to resist the rush of warmth, the sensation akin to savoring hot soup beside a crackling campfire after enduring a drenching rain.
[ Human blood consumed]
[ Strength: +1 point ]
[ Exp: +5 exp ]
A series of notifications popped up on the status screen as Ben felt a warm feeling in his stomach, resonating with his whole body, this sensation he never felt before, not even when he consumed Freya''s blood or any other blood source from beasts.
[ Human Blood is being consumed ]
[ Blood Essence: 10/100]
[ Blood Essence: 15/100]
.
.
.
.
[ Blood Essence: 100/100]
[ Hunger Status: Slight ]
Ben pulled out his fangs from her neck, as he breathed heavily, it was aplete and out-of-ordinary experience for him, he didn''t know whether to hate or love this feeling.
"It might be due to higher hunger status," Ben thought, recalling the feeling of drinking blood, he looked back at the girl who was asleep and sound, the two fang marks on her neckpletely disappeared into nothing.
Ben felt a sorry feeling inside him, he had to use the girl for his purpose, but again there was no other way he could have obtained blood from someone.
...
..
.
Chapter 55: The Other side
Chapter 55: The Other side
"Why didn''t you let me negotiate? You have no idea how much manpower you''re losing, Ray." Alex voiced his concern, his tone reflecting his unease with Ray''s decision.
Ray continued to sharpen his ck knuckles against a sharpening stone, the sound of metal against stone ringing in the air. He replied without ncing at Alex, focusing on the task at hand. "You don''t understand. Ben never said he''d be leaving our side. Besides, if we push too hard, it''lle across as desperation. As my father always says, never reveal your desperation to the outside world. It erodes trust, whether they''re friends or foes."
"Alright, Mr. Wise Leader, what''s our n for dealing with the wolf attack? We can''t just run away like Ben or Freya. So when the horde of beasts descends on the vige, how will your philosophy save us?" Alex''s words dripped with sarcasm, his frustration with Ray''s approach evident.
Ray ceased sharpening his knuckles and fixed his gaze on Alex, peering directly into his eyes. "You didn''t grasp anything from our previous conversation, did you?"
The atmosphere grew tense as Ray posed this question. Observing that Alex appeared reluctant to reply, Ray decided to continue the discussion. "The issue isn''t just the hoards of wild beasts attacking the vige. The real problem is: Why are these beasts targeting this vige?"
"Ben left us with a question and a clue. Something in this vige must be drawing unwanted attention, and we need to address the root cause. Otherwise, even if we repel the first horde, we''ll be in a losing battle against the next."
Ray rose from his seat and approached Alex, giving him a light punch in the chest with a smile. "As long as you''re by my side, dealing with advanced-tier beasts won''t be a major problem, right?"
In response, Alex chuckled, and theirughter filled the room.
------------------------------------
Back in the Hunting Ground...
Freya was in the process of collecting the rabbit bodies, forming a small mountain of corpses that drew the attention of jealous vigers. She couldn''t help but ponder, her face creased with a frown. Why was Ben doing this? Stealing food from the vigers didn''t sit well with her, and she wondered what nefarious n he had in mind.
"Yo, buddy! Long time, no see," a voice called out from behind. Freya turned around to find Ben approaching with a small cart in tow.
"Where did you get that from?" Freya asked, her confusion evident.
Ben smiled and, as he closed the distance, put the cart down. He walked over to the pile of corpses. "I just borrowed it from a friend, you know. Carrying all these bodies behind our backs would be a bit tricky."
Freya''s confusion deepened as she asked, "Since when do you have a friend in this vige?" Ben met her inquiry with an innocent look, as if to say, "Can''t I make new friends?"
"You''ve already done your part; please take a rest. I''ll load the meat onto the cart," Ben insisted, taking charge of putting the rabbit corpses into the small cart. Freya sat in a corner, watching Ben with an indifferent gaze. Within a matter of minutes, Ben hadpleted the task at hand and returned to pull the cart.
Together, they began the journey back to the vige, passing through the hunting area. Every viger who looked at them did so with a mix of anger and envy. They had spent the entire day hunting and had barely caught anything, while Ben was carrying more meat than the vige could consume in a single night.
"Are you talking to me by chance?" Ben replied with an innocent smile on his face, which only seemed to aggravate the middle-aged man even more.
"You bastards!" the man muttered through gritted teeth as he approached Ben with swift steps, wielding a makeshift spear formed from a wooden stick and a rusted dagger tied together. Simr makeshift weapons were held by the other vigers, who had quickly gathered around Ben''s cart, forming a menacing circle of about twenty people.
"This doesn''t feel right to me, Ben," Freya whispered, assuming a defensive stance and preparing for a potential attack. Ben, however, just gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder without taking his eyes off the middle-aged man.
"So you know about me?" The middle-aged man grinned broadly, turning to address the gathered vigers. "They called me the uncrowned king because I always stand for them. Unlike the useless chief appointed to the vige, I always stand for what''s right. And so, I am going to do what''s right now."
The vigers cheered enthusiastically, motivated by his words, and his smile stretched from ear to ear. Pointing his makeshift spear towards Ben, the man continued, "I''m here to stand for justice once again."
Ben, seemingly unfazed by the man''s deration, responded with feigned innocence, "Yeah, so... why are you here again?" The crowd fell into silence, their shocked expressions clear as they stared at Ben. He stood there with the same calm smile, as if nothing significant had just urred. Facing a mob wasn''t a new experience for Ben, after all.
"If you''re notprehending this, then let me lower myself to your level of intelligence and exin in words that your thick head can understand," the middle-aged man burst out in frustration.
"The meat you are hunting belongs to our vige. It is our source of food, and we won''t let you take a single bit of it from this area," he dered aggressively, rousing cheers from the crowd.
"I hunted for this meat all day. Why should I give it to you?" Ben retorted.
"Only the people of this vige can hunt the rabbits here, and I don''t recognise you as part of our vige. So give us back our resources," the man replied, his voice growing even louder and angrier.
"I never asked for recognition in the first ce," Ben replied nonchntly.
"You brat!" A man from behind rushed towards Ben in anger but was held back by the middle-aged man.
"You don''t understand, do you? If you want to leave here alive, then give us all your meat and run away as fast as your legs can take you," the man threatened before turning his gaze to Freya with a sinister smile. "Though, if the girl over there is ready to serve me, I can spare you a rabbit or two."
Chapter 56: No Title, just read the C.(-_-)
Chapter 56: No Title, just read the chapter (-_-)
"You don''t understand, do you? If you want to leave here alive, then give us all your meat and run away as fast as your legs can take you," the man threatened before turning his gaze to Freya with a sinister smile. "Though, if the girl over there is ready to serve me, I can spare you a rabbit or two."
"Just like a crappy old viin, about to be exp points for MC," Ben muttered, rubbing his forehead. Until now, he believed that people like him existed only in fictional novels.
"What did you say, punk, say out loud?" The lean guy from the right shouted as he walked towards Ben, trying to grab his cor. But in just the next second, the world before him turned upside down, and a ringing sound filled his ears. The lean guy had fallen to the ground while Ben was standing with one step on his chest.
"So then, who ising next?" He asked, softly licking the tinge of blood on his finger as a notification sounded on his screen.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
Seeing one of their men fall to the ground came as a shock to the group, but it didn''tst very long as the expression turned into anger and rage. Without caring for anything, all of them attacked Ben and Freya at once.
[Waow, so you nned this blood buffet all along, didn''t you?]
Ben just let out a small chuckle before he let his body loose, almost falling to the ground. He used the palm of his hands to rotate his body,nding a slide kick on his opponent''s legs. This alone was enough to make a few of his opponents fall to the ground, giving him time to summon his ancient spear.
Freya, on the other hand, was also able to cast a consecutive wind de to keep the enemies away. Normally, this attack wasn''t very effective inbat, but against non-mages, it was more than enough to scare a person or two.
.
Ben continued the battle, swiftly swinging his spear to make an opening. He escaped out of the crown towards a more open area. With his agility, he was at least twice as fast as normal humans, if not more.
"Now, then, who''sing next?" He asked with a sharp smile on his face, a gazing mockery directed towards the chief''s eyes.
"Kill him!!" The middle-aged man ordered in rage as all of the men, about 20 of them, ran towards Ben. The sun was getting red, about to fall to the horizon. The hot wind was blowing, making a ruffling sound in the long green grass. While twenty or so men were running towards Ben with weapons in their hands, they ran like hyenas, with an intent to kill.
Amid this chaotic yet beautiful scene, Ben was just standing with a genuine smile on his face. As the first enemy entered within a radius of 5 meters, Ben''s hand moved slightly, and his position changed in a rhythm as smooth as flowing water.
With a swing of his spear, there was a cut on the enemy''s chest. The cut was long but not deep, enough to distract the enemy and injure it but still not fatal enough to kill it. While the man was distracted with pain, Bense seized the opportunity and threw a punch directly at the middle of his chest, putting him unconscious in the process.
Ben, then again, took steps back, making distance from other hunters. He slightly licked the blood on the spearhead.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
With calctive sight, he looked at the three more huntersing towards him; their speed seemed equal, so he had to take those three all at once. Ben, without hesitation, charged towards the hunter again and swung the back end of the ancient spear in upside-down motion.
The under, who was the target of the attack, raised his wooden shield to block the attack, but there were two consecutive cracking sounds. The first sound was the breaking of the shield, and the second sound was the broken bone on his right arm, which was now bent at an unnatural angle.
The hunter screamed in pain, his eyes wide open. He copsed on his knees, giving up on battle, and while others looked at him, their resolve to fight was weaving.
But Ben wasn''t free enough to focus on the hunter''s gazes and expressions; he quickly side past the fallen hunter, leaving a slight cut on the hunter''s neck. He licked the blood on his finger.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
Without looking at the notification screen, Ben threw his spear towards a hunter who was standing a little far; his weapon was a bow and arrow, targeted towards Ben, ready to shoot at any point in time.
The spear hit the underside of his foot, piercing through it while pinning it to the ground. Looking like a few more members of their group were easily taken down, the hunters in the back stopped in their tracks, rethinking whether they should fight or not.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
In the meantime, Ben dealt with two more hunters, putting them unconscious while getting a drop of their blood in the process. This turn of events was more than enough to scare the other half of the hunters into running their tails behind their legs.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
"You son of a b*tch, I am going to give you a dog''s death!" The middle-aged man gritted his teeth in anger, and seeing that his men were running away, he decided to enter the battle himself.
The middle-aged man gripped tightly on his spear, ready tounch towards Ben, but suddenly a crescent de of green wind shot from behind, leaving a cut on his leather armor. The sheer force of the attack threw him off bnce with his legs.
"Running so fast? I thought you wanted to have some fun with me." A mocking voice sounded from behind. The middle-aged man turned his head around to look at the source of the voice.
I was none other than the silver-haired girl, Freya. And before her were lying another five hunters, bleeding and disintegrating, even worse than what Ben did just now.
Chapter 57: Copy Cat
Chapter 57: Copy Cat
"Running so fast? I thought you wanted to have some fun with me." Freya said, with a sharp smile on her face, she walked forward. The air around her was cracking with the immense use of Aether.
Ben looked at her, and of the number of people on the ground, they weren''t put unconscious or mildly injured like Ben had to them. They had been fatally injured and left bleeding on the ground.
"Is she possessed again?" Ben wondered, his gaze fixed on the faint hint of purple in her eyes. If she were possessed at this moment, it would catch himpletely off guard.
[No, she''s in full control.]
"Tsk, well, I just need some blood right now," Ben chuckled. He aimed, preparing tounch a blood bullet at the middle-aged man. However, before he could execute his attack, a razor-sharp gust of wind sliced into the ground in front of him.
"This one''s my mark," Freya dered, her eyes not leaving the middle-aged man. She harnessed her wind element to enhance her agility as she ran towards the middle-aged man with the wooden sword in her hand.
The middle-aged man seized the opportunity to rise from the ground and swiftly swung his wooden spear to intercept Freya''s attack.
A resonating sh echoed through the surroundings as the magical force of Freya''s weapon met the man''s wooden spear. The unexpected resistance took her by surprise.
"Surprised?" The middle-aged man taunted, holding his ground against the force of the sword. He leaned to the left with calcted precision, evading the sword''s path. "You''re not the only one who wields magic. Witness this and despair, for there are individuals with even greater powers than you can ever fathom."
With precise footwork, he manoeuvred into Freya''s blind spot, delivering a shing blow to her back with the sharp edge of the spear. Surprisingly, the aged, rusty spear managed to cut through her leather armour, drawing blood.
Infuriated, Freya leaped backward, putting some distance between them. She channelled healing magic to stop the bleeding and mend her wounds.
[A/N: Freya''s healing magic isn''t that strong; she can only stop bleeding with it. Healing a wound will require much more magic and time. ]
"With my ability, I can enhance or reduce the ss of any weapon Ie into contact with. This wooden spear you see in my hands is even mightier than an advanced-ss weapon," the middle-aged man proudly dered, using his spear to fend off the approaching wind sashes.
In her fury, Freya closed the distance to the man once more, infusing her sword with wind magic to heighten its sharpness. With a swift sh, she aimed her de at the middle-aged man.
However, to her astonishment, the man remained standing nonchntly. He extended his hand, effortlessly catching the sword in midair. A metallic sound echoed as Freya''s sword came to a halt in his grasp, with only a few drops of blood trickling down his palm.
"Decay," hemanded, and in the next moment, Freya''s sword shattered into pieces, as though it had weathered countless years of exposure to sunlight and rain, turning into crumbling wood.
"And when I say the things I touch, it also includes my own body," the middle-aged man continued, shing his spear once more and inflicting a wound on Freya''s belly.
"Should I join the battle right now? Maybe...not," Ben contemted, observing the middle-aged man gaining the upper hand in the confrontation with Freya.
[You can intervene if there''s immediate danger, which doesn''t seem to be the case here, fortunately.]
"Ya, right," Ben replied, returning his attention to the ongoing battle. He decided to consume the blood of those injured by Freya to bolster his strength.
On the battlefield, the middle-aged man charged toward Freya, and Freya reciprocated by running toward her opponent, preparing a wind de in her left hand and a water ball in her right. Just as the man was about to attack, she unleashed a powerful water ball towards him.
''Boom!''
A deafening explosion filled the air as the middle-aged man halted in his tracks to fend off the oing water assault.
Meanwhile, Freya continued her charge, her agility heightened by wind magic. She slid along the ground, mirroring Ben''s earlier kick, and executed a spin on her palms to strike the man''s legs,unching him into the air.
The sequence of attacks caught him off guard, and before he could regain his footing, a powerful punch connected with his chest. This move was borrowed from Ray: infusing the punch with high-density fire magic that sts upon contact; however, in Freya''s case, this was with a high-density wind de.
She prepared several wind des in her hand, but instead ofunching them, shepressed the attack around her fist, making a green orb surrounding her fist.
As her fist made contact, the wind magic around it erupted into numerous wind des. With precise force and uracy, each de cut deeply into the man''s enhanced body, tearing his leather armour to shreds. He was flung backward, colliding with a cart that toppled over.
"If it weren''t for my enhanced physique, I''d be fatally injured already. What kind of technique is this?" he pondered, grimacing as he coughed up blood.
"You...bitch..." The man cursed Freya, attempting to rise to his knees. But Freya''s expression remained cold and unchanging as she extended her hand towards the man, casting a water ball spell.
Tiny droplets materialised out of thin air, converging in her hand. However, this time, instead of forming a spherical shape, the water took on a sharper, smaller, and more bullet-like form, rotating on its axis like a drill.
"This is...my blood bullet attack," Ben eximed, realising that Freya had adapted his and Ray''s techniques to create her spell.
''Boom!''
While Ben was still in disbelief, a thunderous sound reverberated across the in as the water bullet struck the man''s forehead, ending his life in an instant.
"Die like the filth you are," Freya remarked with a chilling expression, her eyes aglow inplete purple, showing no emotion in the face of the bloody spectacle before her.
Chapter 58: No Regrets
Chapter 58: No Regrets
"Die like the filth you are," Freya remarked with a chilling expression, her eyes aglow inplete purple, showing no emotion in the face of the bloody spectacle before her.
"BAaAANNNggGG"
With a sting sound, a water bullet pierced through the man''s head, shattering through it like a velocity stone against a watermelon.
A heavy silence descended upon the battlefield. Those who remained, either still conscious or fortunate enough to escape, stood frozen, wide-eyed, staring at the lifeless body now sprawled on the ground. It was just one spell, that''s all it took to free such a formidable opponent from his life.
"Is the chief dead...?" a man uttered, his words shattering the eerie stillness.
"No way... there''s just... no fucking way," another guy responded, his mental state shattered as he sank to his knees.
"What the hell just happened?" Ben questioned in surprise. His original n was to impart a lesson and extract a drop of blood. Taking a life was something he would contemte multiple times before considering it.
[Be cautious, Ben. At this point, Freya might be stronger than you or Ray in a one-on-one battle.]
Ben shifted his gaze to Freya, her cold eyes meeting his. He observed the touch of purple in her eyes and the unyielding expression on her face, silently seeking an exnation.
However, Freya approached him, devoid of regret or remorse, and effortlessly lifted the overturned cart. "People like him don''t deserve to live in this world. Someone had to clean up the mess anyways."
[She''s not possessed, but whether she''s being manipted or not... I have no idea.]
Ben pondered the system''s words, sensing something amiss about her. Yet, in the current situation, the wisest move for Ben was to leave, but not without a warning.
He walked forward and pped his hands twice, capturing the attention of everyone in the field. The hum of whispers ceased, and silence enveloped the area once again as he addressed them, "What you just witnessed is the least punishment for those who dare to oppose me."
A brief pause followed as Ben surveyed the expressions on everyone''s faces, all marked by fear. In an unaffected,manding voice, he dered, "Consider this your first and final warning. Should anyone dare to challenge me again, your death will be neither peaceful nor swift."
Without awaiting any response, Ben proceeded to stride back towards the vige. As he passed by Freya, who had finished arranging the hunts back on the cart, he cast her a sidelong nce. Without pausing, he uttered, "Let''s go."
Freya obediently followed Ben, pulling the cart on her own, her actions seemingly a form of atonement for the earlier confrontation.
The journey back to the vige transpired in silence, a ten-minute walk filled with unspoken tension. Freya, in the meantime, continued to heal her wounds, erasing any traces without leaving a mark.
[I suppose your n is now in disarray after that dramatic disy, isn''t it?]
''Not entirely. I aimed to instill fear in the vige, though I didn''t intend to achieve it this way. Nheless, it still aligns with the overall n.''
[And what''s your intention after instilling fear? Aren''t they already hostile towards outsiders?]
''No, they aren''t afraid. They were hateful, not fearful. I needed them to fear me. As for what I n to do with that fear, you''ll find out soon,'' Ben replied, checking the status screen. A sour expression crossed his face as he read thetest notification.
[ CONSUMPTION LIMIT REACHED]
[ you have already consumed more than 10 different human blood types. You can''t gain any more strength by consuming human blood]
[ This restriction will only be removed after evolution]
"This was thest thing I expected to face in a time like this," Ben chuckled in disappointment, thinking that now he had to rely on other methods to evolve further.
[ Be positive Ben, there is still the other side to look at. You have gained 10 strength points in just one day, which in other words means that you are now at least 1.5 times stronger than you were before.]
[ Not to mention, you have yet to check the new quest in your quest board.]
''What''s in my quest board? Some new death gambling targets?'' Ben asked switching through the tabs in the air, he tapped to open the new quest.
[It is something which can get us closer to our main goal]
---------------------
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
?MAIN QUEST: Evolve Into Vampire Noble
[Reward: Exclusive Skill x1 + Aether Core + Soul Merchant ]
[ Required Level: Level 20 ]
--------------------
Observing the quest on his board, a sharp smile reced the disappointment on Ben''s face. As hemanded, "Show me the status," his smile transformed into a wide grin, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.
¨p¨T?STATUS?¨T¨p
©°Name: Ben Franklin
©°Race: Vampire
¨X¨TLEVEL: 3; Hunger: slight
¨UExp: 60/400; Magic: 000/006
¨^¨THealth: 98/100; B.E: 100/100
©° Strength: 36
©° Agility: 30 (+2 free stat point)
©°Stamina: 25
¨d¨T ACTIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
? Blood Bullet
? Influence
? [Locked]: Reach Level 5 to unlock
¨d¨T Soul Essence ¨T¨g
? Inferno Stringer: (Enhancement Type) Normal tier
? Ancient Spear: (Weapon Type) Mid-Normal Tear
? Silver Fang: (Assocery Type) Mid-Normal Tier
? Cute Bunny Boots: (Assocery type) Top-Basic Tier x20
----------------------------
"Look at that, with this strength, what do you think, System? Am I stronger than that almost intermediate-tier wolf?" Ben expressed satisfaction with his significant improvement. If there was even one area where he could surpass the almost intermediate-tier wolf, gaining the upper hand in battle would be more manageable.
[Let''s see. Since it''s a magic beast, it''s naturally stronger than any humans. Considering its tier, I estimate the wolf must have 50 or more strength points right now, if we were to make aparison.]
[With the stat points you possess, you would be ssified as an advanced-tier beast yourself, so this is the minimum difference that must exist.]
"Oh well, fuck me sideways." Ben muttered out loud, a cloud of disappointment could be seen on his face again.
"Excuse me?!?" Freya asked awkwardly, making a weird face.
"Nothing just talking to myself...ignore me please..." - Deeply ashamed Ben Franklin.
Chapter 59: King’s Gaze
Chapter 59: King''s Gaze
"I, the second prince of the human kingdom, request a council with authority," Ray dered, standing in a small room surrounded by walls covered in rainbow-colored crystalline ss, casting pointy lights in various hues around the room.
''MAY THE PRINCE SUBMIT THE REASON FOR THIS COUNCIL''
A resonant oracle voice filled the crystalline room, its source concealed. Ray knelt on his left leg, fist over his chest, in a salute of respect.
"It''s an emergence regarding the sovereignty of the kingdom and the likelihood of a small-scale battle," Ray responded in a subdued tone, conveying his deference to the oracle voice. The room fell silent again, remaining hushed for the next minute or so until an announcing voice broke the stillness.
''THE COUNCIL MAY BEGIN''
In the blink of an eye, the crystalline rainbow room plunged into darkness, and an overwhelming pressure enclosed the space, causing cold beads of sweat to form on Ray''s forehead.
'''''''' YOU MAY LIFT YOUR HEAD''''''''
Synchronized voices spoke, each resonating with domination and authority, emphasizing control over Ray''s presence. Anxiously, he raised his head, only to find the ckened room surrounded by multiple pairs of eyes.
Not one, not two, but numerous eyes fixed upon Ray from all directions, as if they were the only discernible entities in the dark expanse, evoking scenes reminiscent of horror movies.
''This much pressure, just from their gaze...'' Ray nervously chuckled, ncing around. Even in a chilling atmosphere, the beads of sweat continued to trickle down his face.
"All 27 council members at once..." He muttered, looking at the number of eyes in the room.
''What else do you expect? After calling a council about kingdom sovereignty, None of the council members is busy enough to ignore this meeting.'' A deep male voice rang as he responded to Ray''s words.
"Now, now, there is no need to be so impatient. If the second prince called a meeting, then it must be for important reasons. Am I wrong...the prince?" A seductive and yful female voice, sharp but calm, rang in the room.
In response to this, Ray just smiled nervously, as he directly matched the gazesing from his eyes. "I called you here to request a temporary expansion of my authority."
"And why do you think we will let you enjoy an unfair advantage against other princes?" Another voice, that of an old man, scolded, anger evident in his tone.
"You do realize what you are saying, Ray? I am at least expecting a good reason for your demands." Another deep voice, calm and familiar to Ray, sounded.
"Please don''t worry, Master. I didn''t call the council just to spout nonsense." Ray responded to the calm voice with a smile as he stood up. With determination etched on his face, he continued, "My intelligence has revealed an external threat to the country and my vige. This conflict may involve formidable members of the werewolf n and demons."
The room fell silent once again before another pair of eyes manifested in the room. These eyes bore crimson-red pupils simr to Ray''s. The pressure from this gaze alone was greater than all other presencesbined. A booming voice resonated through the room, demanding,
"CONTINUE..."
...
..
.
Present, in the vige©¤
The sun descended below the horizon, casting the world in the gentle moonlight of a waning gibbous moon.
Ben diligently worked on extracting the rabbit''s nails and storing their bodies in a small pit in the ground. The cold weather ensured the meat would likely remain fresh until the next day. As for the rabbit fangs, typically discarded by hunters, Ben had ns for them.
These fangs were infused with a natural poison, which can cause stinging pain and dizziness. Normally, this kind of poison isn''t fatal, but it can be used as a distraction and debuff the enemy. In other words, these fangs will y a good role in uing battles.
"Three days from now..." Ben wiped the sweat from his forehead, gazing at the moon in the sky. Time was ticking away; by the end of the third day and the beginning of the fourth night, the wolf wouldunch its attack.
"Why is the timing so specific, though?" Freya questioned, breaking an hour-long silence between them.
Ben responded withplex expressions. Since he was born into this world, he has experienced only a few emotions: anger, rage, fear, hunger, and satisfaction. Emotions like guilt, regret, or love were now apletely foreign concept to him.
The only guiding force pushing him toward the right path was a sense of justice in his head, the same sense signaling that he was standing before a murderer now. In his mind, Freya was no longer the innocent girl Ben had saved from the enchanted forest, but in his heart, he refused to believe so.
"Tell me honestly, why did you have to kill that man? Don''t you feel any regret about it at all?" Ben asked, ignoring Freya''s earlier question. He stared directly into her eyes while activating a ve skill on his back.
"A person who dares to take advantage of the weak has no ce in society to live. I don''t feel any guilt because what I did was meant to be done," Freya responded firmly. Her resolve was evident on her face. Without a hint of hesitation, she met Ben''s gaze and continued, "What I did was the right thing to do, and one must not feel any guilt or regret in serving justice."
''System?'' Ben inquired in the back of his mind, and the soothing female voice answered his curiosity.
[She is wrong, Ben. Her emotions don''t match her words; she feels as guilty as a normal human would for killing someone.]
"I guess... things don''t work as simple as they used to work in my world," Ben muttered, his internal conflict addressed, and a small smile yed on his lips.
"What the hell are you smiling for?...**GrullllLLl..." Freya started to say, but a groaning sound from her stomach interrupted her, turning her face cherry red in embarrassment.
In response, Ben''s smile widened. He retrieved two rabbits from the pit, covered it, and ced a wooden carpet on top. "These things taste good, you know?"
Chapter 60: Race For The Throne
Chapter 60: Race For The Throne
"Ray! What was the response? Did you get the permissions you required?" Alex stood over the doorway of a nd room.
The room was an office for the chief, surrounded by documents on a table and a wooden chair in the middle.
Ray responded with a slight smile, looking into Alex''s eyes. "I won''t say I got all the results I expected, but I can say the results are positive."
"And how so?" Alex asked, taking a seat in front of Ray.
"I have conditional rights regarding this attack. If the vige were to be attacked, I''m allowed to use my abilities to protect it. Not only that, but I can also hire a temporary army or mercenaries if the vige were to face such danger. Though there is one small catch..."
"And what is that?" Alex inquired, his fist clenched, concern evident on his face.
"We need to prove that the threat I mentioned is real. If I can prove the existence of an attack, it means I would get more funds and full authority over my territory," Ray exined, a slight look of concern on his face.
"And what if you can''t prove it?" Alex asked with a concerned expression on his face.
"In that case, I will have to willingly submit my resignation to any authority over the throne or any inheritance from the kingdom," Ray said with a smile, but it was clear from his looks that he was taking a significant risk for the vige.
"Always pulling things onto your own back... so like you," Alex chuckled, appreciating Ray''s determination despite its recklessness. Their friendship had been forged since childhood.
Alex and Ray had grown up together. While Ray hailed from a royal bloodline, his daily routine involved learning history, politics, andbat. Alex, on the other hand, was the single-born son of the Ironheart family, bound by duty to produce the kingdom''s strongest fighters. His family swore loyalty to protect the royal bloodline.
Ray and Alex would often meet during theirbat training sessions, sharing the same teacher and martial arts. Despite the weight of responsibilities and the harsh realities of life, they found sce in each other.
Ray, born into the royal family,cked the cunning and talent disyed by his siblings, demonstrating little interest in the throne. During training breaks, he always asked Alex about the world outside the castle, eager to know what it was like to talk to new people and make new friends.
The concept of living in luxury was foreign to Ray; he was a bird longing to soar in the sky, not to be confined in a golden cage. Alex, understanding this sentiment, shared simr feelings, having glimpsed the world beyond the castle walls.
Years passed until an unfortunate day arrived. After the battle against the Elvain Empire, the king suffered an incurable injury, and his days were numbered, each second bringing him closer to hisst breath.
To prevent power imbnces and future conflicts, the king devised a n to determine the new heir to the throne. Normally, the eldest of all descendants would be given the right to the throne, but the council expressed concerns about the firstborn.
Rumors circted that the king''s eldest son was a spoiled, indulgent man with a penchant for alcohol and women. His susceptibility to temptation or maniption posed a significant risk to the kingdom''s stability.
After countless debates and proposals, an agreement was reached between the council and the king. They decided to implement a test to identify the rightful ruler of the nation. Each of his seven princes and princesses was assigned a random territory in the kingdom.
They were strictly forbidden from assembling armies or plotting against each other for the throne. Within six months, the territory that prospered the most would dere its ruler as the next heir to the throne.
Even after ensuring all forms of impartiality and fair chances, favouritism still found a way into the equation. Among the seven descendants, if there was one person the council harbored animosity towards more than anyone else, it was Ray.
Born into a royal bloodline, Ray''s humble nature and interactions withmoners won the hearts of countless people. Simultaneously, they earned him numerous enemies among the nobles and the council. This resentment against Ray led to some behind-the-scenes machinations, resulting in his being assigned a neglected and remote territory on the vige borders.
The majority votes against Ray; the king could only watch as favoritism yed a role in his otherwise fair-standing n. Ray was aware of this, but he simply didn''t care. For him, this was the life he always wanted, the freedom he had dreamt of. However, unbeknownst to him, even in this unfavorable situation, three individuals wanted to see him as the king of the nation. One of them was his friend, Alex.
...
[In Present...]
...
"So, considering the risk you''ve taken, what''s your next move?" Alex inquired, a warm smile on his face, reminiscent of their old days.
"I don''t have many options," Ray replied, crossing his arms with a serious expression. "Even if the vigers are willing to assist us in battle, they simplyck the strength to face an army."
"While you''re formidable, Alex, tackling an advanced-tier beast alone is a stretch. ording to Ben, there were two of them, with one even at the peak of the intermediate tier," Ray contemted, weighing the possibilities.
"You''re right. I can hold my ground against a peak-advanced-tier beast, butsting more than five minutes is uncertain," Alex concurred.
"That''s why we need to hire mercenaries from adventurer guilds to assist us," Ray dered with a straightforward expression. "We''ll use all the funds we have to post amission for silver-grade mercenaries in the adventurer guild."
------------------
Adventurer guild ranking:
Bronze Grade: Equivalent to 1 Normal tier beasts (Very weak)
Silver Grade: Equivalent to multiple normal tier beasts.
Gold Grade: Equivalent to Advanced tier beasts.
Crystal Grade: Equivalent to peak advanced tier beast.
Obsidian Grade: Equivalent to intermidiate tier beasts.
Valleia Grade: Equivalent to king tier beasts.
-----------------
A/N:
New Weekly Target :-
1) 50 Power Stone= 1 extra chapter at weekend.
2) 15 Golden Ticket= 1 Extra chapter at weekend.
3) 10+ members on discord= 2 Extra ch on weekends.
----------------
Chapter 61: Adventure Guild
Chapter 61: Adventure Guild
"I''m going to post a quest in the adventurer guild," Ray dered with determination etched on his face.
"Are you out of your mind?" Alex eximed, rising from his seat. "Have you ever considered how much money it will cost to hire that many mercenaries?"
"And are you even sure the wolves will attack us? What if we hire the mercenaries, and the attack never happens? Think of the economic tragedy it would be," Alex blurted out in rapid session, leaving himself no time to catch his breath.
Ray remained calm and collected in his response as if he had already considered this scenario. "Yes, I fully understand. That''s why I won''t post a subject-specific request in the guild, but apetitive quest instead."
"Rather than hiring a fixed number of people for the quest, we''re going to try something different. We''ll post a quest with the location and time for the hunt."
"While the number of people who can apply for the quest will have no limits, we''ll only pay money per wolf killed."
"In other words, if there is no wolf attack, there will be no hunt, and we won''t lose a single penny," Ray exined with his arms crossed.
"Oh, dayum, what a brilliant n you have?" Alex said in a sarcastic tone, mocking Ray''s n for not thinking it through. "So we just post a quest in the guild, summon the adventurers, and then tell them there''s no such quest, please go back home, right? It must be fantastic, getting banned from the guild and thrown out of the kingdom at the same time, right?"
"Don''t worry about that. In case the quest doesn''t match the given details, it means the quest is fake, and the host will be given a penalty of 15 silver coins to pay to the guild," Ray responded, mimicking the same sarcastic tone as Alex and mocking him for his not-so-thorough thinking.
"There you go... always finding a way with the peanut-sized brain of yours." Alex sat back in his chair, took a deep breath to calm himself, and added, "Even though... I have a little doubt about your n."
"Hmm," Ray nodded and took a side nce to look outside the window. "You always have your fair share of doubts, don''t you?"
"Bruh... Just listen to me for once. Even if ten or twenty mercenaries were to join your quest, do you think this number would be enough to tackle the beast horde?" Alex asked, a little embarrassed that Ray saw directly through him.
"That''s not exactly enough, but this is the best we can do as of now. I will go into the vige and try giving them a speech once more. It will be easier if they were to cooperate with us," Ray let out a long sigh of exhaustion, reflecting on how he had initially just wanted to live a normal, peaceful life.
All he expected was to be assigned to a territory where he could manage his work and enjoy his life. However, things took a blizzard turn from there. First, he was sent to a vige where he was hated by everyone for unknown reasons. Now, he had to face extraordinary threats to protect the vige. Ray was in a dilemma, wondering whether he could seize this opportunity to run away from the vige alongside Ben and start a new life in some unknown ce.
"Will it be the right thing to do?" Ray muttered to himself, looking at the evening sky. As he contemted, rising smoke caught his attention.
It was already evening, and the only source of light was the magicmps inside the room. Still, even in the darkness, Ray''s fire magic allowed him to see the hot smoke rising in the air, surprising him. He stood up and walked towards the edges of the window to see two people chatting near a bonfire. Upon closer inspection, a smile appeared on Ray''s face, and he chuckled as he shouted from the window, "That''s some good meat you guys are cooking. Any space left for me?"
In response, the figure near the bonfire shouted, "1 silver per rabbit."
"Dayum, that''s a daylight robbery," Rayined in an annoyed voice.
"Take it or leave it," the other voice responded.
Ray just sighed in response before he jumped off the window, directly from the second floor. Alex on the other hand, identified where Ray was going before he shut the window from inside and took the normal stairs route to get down.
"So you guys decided to stay in the vige?" Ray exhaustively asked walking close to the two people near the bonfire. Closing on the distance, he saw Ben rxing on the ground while Freya was munching on the rabbit meat.
"I was so tired of eating rice porridge all the time, give me some of the meat as well." Ray sat near Ben, asking for his share, but his request was just ignored by Freya with a few brutal words: Cook them on your own.
"Just because I am staying for now, this doesn''t mean I am going to stay here, you know," Ben responded to Ray''s earlier question while his eyes were observing a few things with his blood vision skill.
"Can''t you be more straightforward for once in your life? Just say yes or no?" Ray asked, clearly annoyed by Ben''s calcted response.
In against, Ben just pointed his finger towards Freya, "If she decides to stay then I will stay. That''s your clear answer."
Freya, who was munching on the meat, avoided any contact of sight, as she embarrassingly looked in the other direction. "My n is clear if the wolves attack the vige, then I will run away, don''t expect any other response from me."
Conflicted by her answer, Ray looked at Ben who just nodded his head in the response. ''''We are not bound to stay by your side, you said so yourself."
The atmosphere between them fell silent all of a sudden before Ray chuckled and his chuckles turned into a loudugh...
Chapter 62: Update Delayed
Chapter 62: Update Dyed
Next ch will be published on 12 hrs from now, sorry for inconvenience.
Chapter 63: God’s Essence
Chapter 63: God''s Essence
"Hey, can''t you be just a little more polite? It''s not like I am begging for your help or anything; I just want to know whether you want to stay or not."
"You don''t need to ask me to prove how desperate you are..."
While both Freya and Ray were engaged in an argument, Ben''s gaze was fixed somewhere else. The whole time, his blood vision remained active, tracking every movement of the vigers. Without much effort, he identified the targets he wanted.
[So, they are the members of the Fane. They are quite a lot if you were to ask me.]
"Yes, they are. Not only are there 6 to 10 of them, but they are also stronger than normal vigers. Especially the one who is leading them," Ben muttered under his breath, loud enough for others to hear that he was speaking but not clear enough to discern what he was saying.
"Did you say something?" Ray asked, surprised by Ben talking seemingly to thin air.
"Don''t mind him; his inner voice is kinda loud..." Freya chuckled, finding it amusing that Ben asionally seemed to be engaged in conversations with himself. Sometimes he even got hyped up and started jumping around like a toad.
"My inner voice asked me to take a stroll, that''s all," Ben replied nonchntly. He didn''t bother exining much, offering a cryptic exnation before he stood up and walked towards the vige.
As Ben''s pace increased, he distanced himself from the bonfire until he finally started running. His eyes remained fixed on the church, and he scrolled through his inventory to summon his new Soul Equipment.
"Activate bunny boots," Benmanded, and soon the brown windwalk shoes on his legs disappeared into white light particles, reced by more stuffed-up pink shoes. It was clear that the shoes wererger than Ben''s legs, evident in the significant decrease in his running speed.
[Bunny Boots - Advanced Tier Equipment]
[Defence©¤?(0); Agility©¤?(-20%)]
[Special Ability©¤? High Jump]
[Description: By decreasing your agility, this boot allows you to store kic energy from your body and use it tounch a high jump.]
Ben acquired this equipment from his hunt today, merging over 45 basic-tier pieces to gain advanced-tier equipment.
As he kept running, with each step, the long white stuffed ears in the bunny boots started to glow with pink radiating light, filling it.
[Charged: 100%]
As if waiting for this notification, Ben stopped running and assumed a jumping stance to throw himself into the air. In the next instant, the pink energy from the shoe burst out like a bunch of sparkles, popping without sound. And the next second, Ben was thrown 30 meters up in the air.
"Holy fuck... It''s higher than I expected." Ben bit his lips to stifle a shout as he dropped to the top of the old church, barely avoiding making any loud noise, thanks to his vampire reflexes.
[Woo, you got some serious spinal damage; even your HP decreased by 3.]
"Shut up and heal me already..." Benmanded, hands over his mouth to suppress any screams.
--Inside the church:
"Boss, I felt like I heard a falling sound from the roof," a man in a dark cloak whispered, carefully examining the broken roof.
"If you nned to make me scared, then you sessfully failed. Now get your ass up here and help me with the ritual," another voice said in a low but angry tone, dressed in a ck cloak and an oni mask on his face.
The person tightly gripped arge wooden magic wand with a blue gemstone in one hand while holding a ck book with golden linings in the other. His overall appearance signified he was a wizard ss.
Without wasting any more time, the mysterious figure in ck started mumbling enchantments from the ck book, while the blue stone on the wooden wand glowed with faint blue light.
BEN''S P.O.V...
[3 Blood Essence consumed.]
[HP: 100/100]
Ben internally cursed upon seeing the notification. "I wasted so much freaking time on it. Not to mention the whole church is flowing with such high-intensity energy; I can''t even use the blood vision skill to see inside."
[It''s simr to how you don''t see mes clearly in the presence of sunlight. I guess the blood vision skill isn''t that high level yet.]
"Makes sense, but we can talk about thatter." Ben slowly walked towards a broken part of the roof, seemingly where there was a big hole, allowing him to peer inside the church without making any noise. He wanted to see what the mysterious figure was up to.
"Don''t tell me they are trying to summon a devil again... I don''t wanna get another annoying ve on my back, you know." Ben hesitated as he looked at the magic patterns and lightning symbols, which brought back unpleasant memories from the past.
Contrary to his expectations, the mysterious figure in the ck hood mmed the wand on the ground, and suddenly the whole room lit up like a winding circuitry.
In the next second, the metallic Royal emblem on the wall slid open, revealing a narrow path underground. The path was wide enough for one person to passfortably at a time.
[Looks like we found a secret way to a treasure vault.]
"I won''t be surprised if there''s an Egyptian mummy inside it." Ben looked at the long, descending staircase going underground. Even with his vampire senses, he couldn''t see the end of it.
[ Ya, now let''s avoid interfering more, and go back to Ray to report this to him. This information might be very helpful to the vigers.]
"Ya I shouldn''t get more involved than this, I clearly remember what happenedst©¤" Ben slowly crawled back away, but before he couldplete his sentence, a cracking sound in his ears gave him his whole life shbacks.
...
"You stay here to guard the door while we go inside." The mysterious figuremanded, pointing towards one of the men in a ck hood as it walked inside the gate. But before the figure could enter the gate, a crashing sound reverberated through the room followed by an innocent apology.
"Trust me, I was just passing by here..."
Chapter 64: No Title, just read the (-_-)
Chapter 64: No Title, just read the chapter (-_-)
"You don''t understand, do you? If you want to leave here alive, then give us all your meat and run away as fast as your legs can take you," the man threatened before turning his gaze to Freya with a sinister smile. "Though, if the girl over there is ready to serve me, I can spare you a rabbit or two."
"Just like a crappy old viin, about to be exp points for MC," Ben muttered, rubbing his forehead. Until now, he believed that people like him existed only in fictional novels.
"What did you say, punk, say out loud?" The lean guy from the right shouted as he walked towards Ben, trying to grab his cor. But in just the next second, the world before him turned upside down, and a ringing sound filled his ears. The lean guy had fallen to the ground while Ben was standing with one step on his chest.
"So then, who ising next?" He asked, softly licking the tinge of blood on his finger as a notification sounded on his screen.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
Seeing one of their men fall to the ground came as a shock to the group, but it didn''tst very long as the expression turned into anger and rage. Without caring for anything, all of them attacked Ben and Freya at once.
[Waow, so you nned this blood buffet all along, didn''t you?]
Ben just let out a small chuckle before he let his body loose, almost falling to the ground. He used the palm of his hands to rotate his body,nding a slide kick on his opponent''s legs. This alone was enough to make a few of his opponents fall to the ground, giving him time to summon his ancient spear.
Freya, on the other hand, was also able to cast a consecutive wind de to keep the enemies away. Normally, this attack wasn''t very effective inbat, but against non-mages, it was more than enough to scare a person or two.
.
Ben continued the battle, swiftly swinging his spear to make an opening. He escaped out of the crown towards a more open area. With his agility, he was at least twice as fast as normal humans, if not more.
"Now, then, who''sing next?" He asked with a sharp smile, a gazing mockery directed towards the chief''s eyes.
"Kill him!!" The middle-aged man ordered in rage as all of the men, about 20 of them, ran towards Ben. The sun was getting red, about to fall to the horizon. The hot wind was blowing, making a ruffling sound in the long green grass. While twenty or so men were running towards Ben with weapons in their hands, they ran like hyenas, with an intent to kill.
Amid this chaotic yet beautiful scene, Ben was standing with a genuine smile. As the first enemy entered within a radius of 5 meters, Ben''s hand moved slightly, and his position changed in a rhythm as smooth as flowing water.
With a swing of his spear, there was a cut on the enemy''s chest. The cut was long but not deep, enough to distract the enemy and injure it but still not fatal enough to kill it. While the man was distracted with pain, Bense seized the opportunity and threw a punch directly at the middle of his chest, putting him unconscious in the process.
Ben, then again, took steps back, making distance from other hunters. He slightly licked the blood on the spearhead.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
With calctive sight, he looked at the three more huntersing towards him; their speed seemed equal, so he had to take those three all at once. Ben, without hesitation, charged towards the hunter again and swung the back end of the ancient spear in upside-down motion.
The under, who was the target of the attack, raised his wooden shield to block the attack, but there were two consecutive cracking sounds. The first sound was the breaking of the shield, and the second sound was the broken bone on his right arm, which was now bent at an unnatural angle.
The hunter screamed in pain, his eyes wide open. He copsed on his knees, giving up on battle, and while others looked at him, their resolve to fight was weaving.
But Ben wasn''t free enough to focus on the hunter''s gazes and expressions; he quickly side past the fallen hunter, leaving a slight cut on the hunter''s neck. He licked the blood on his finger.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
Without looking at the notification screen, Ben threw his spear towards a hunter who was standing a little far; his weapon was a bow and arrow, targeted towards Ben, ready to shoot at any point in time.
The spear hit the underside of his foot, piercing through it while pinning it to the ground. Looking like a few more members of their group were easily taken down, the hunters in the back stopped in their tracks, rethinking whether they should fight or not.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
In the meantime, Ben dealt with two more hunters, putting them unconscious while getting a drop of their blood in the process. This turn of events was more than enough to scare the other half of the hunters into running their tails behind their legs.
[Human Blood Consumed]
[Strength: +1; Exp: +5]
"You son of a b*tch, I am going to give you a dog''s death!" The middle-aged man gritted his teeth in anger, and seeing that his men were running away, he decided to enter the battle himself.
The middle-aged man gripped tightly on his spear, ready tounch toward Ben, but suddenly a crescent de of green wind shot from behind, leaving a cut on his leather armor. The sheer force of the attack threw him off bnce with his legs.
"Running so fast? I thought you wanted to have some fun with me." A mocking voice sounded from behind. The middle-aged man turned his head around to look at the source of the voice.
I was none other than the silver-haired girl, Freya. And before her were lying another five hunters, bleeding and disintegrating, even worse than what Ben did just now.
Chapter 65: Copy Cat
Chapter 65: Copy Cat
"Running so fast? I thought you wanted to have some fun with me." Freya said, with a sharp smile on her face, she walked forward. The air around her was cracking with the immense use of Aether.
Ben looked at her, and of the number of people on the ground, they weren''t put unconscious or mildly injured like Ben had to them. They had been fatally injured and left bleeding on the ground.
"Is she possessed again?" Ben wondered, his gaze fixed on the faint hint of purple in her eyes. If she were possessed at this moment, it would catch himpletely off guard.
[No, she''s in full control.]
"Tsk, well, I just need some blood right now," Ben chuckled. He aimed, preparing tounch a blood bullet at the middle-aged man. However, before he could execute his attack, a razor-sharp gust of wind sliced into the ground in front of him.
"This one''s my mark," Freya dered, her eyes not leaving the middle-aged man. She harnessed her wind element to enhance her agility as she ran towards the middle-aged man with the wooden sword in her hand.
The middle-aged man seized the opportunity to rise from the ground and swiftly swung his wooden spear to intercept Freya''s attack.
A resonating sh echoed through the surroundings as the magical force of Freya''s weapon met the man''s wooden spear. The unexpected resistance took her by surprise.
"Surprised?" The middle-aged man taunted, holding his ground against the force of the sword. He leaned to the left with calcted precision, evading the sword''s path. "You''re not the only one who wields magic. Witness this and despair, for there are individuals with even greater powers than you can ever fathom."
With precise footwork, he manoeuvred into Freya''s blind spot, delivering a shing blow to her back with the sharp edge of the spear. Surprisingly, the aged, rusty spear managed to cut through her leather armour, drawing blood.
Infuriated, Freya leaped backward, putting some distance between them. She channelled healing magic to stop the bleeding and mend her wounds.
[A/N: Freya''s healing magic isn''t that strong; she can only stop bleeding with it. Healing a wound will require much more magic and time. ]
"With my ability, I can enhance or reduce the ss of any weapon Ie into contact with. This wooden spear you see in my hands is even mightier than an advanced-ss weapon," the middle-aged man proudly dered, using his spear to fend off the approaching wind sashes.
In her fury, Freya closed the distance to the man once more, infusing her sword with wind magic to heighten its sharpness. With a swift sh, she aimed her de at the middle-aged man.
However, to her astonishment, the man remained standing nonchntly. He extended his hand, effortlessly catching the sword in midair. A metallic sound echoed as Freya''s sword came to a halt in his grasp, with only a few drops of blood trickling down his palm.
"Decay," hemanded, and in the next moment, Freya''s sword shattered into pieces, as though it had weathered countless years of exposure to sunlight and rain, turning into crumbling wood.
"And when I say the things I touch, it also includes my own body," the middle-aged man continued, shing his spear once more and inflicting a wound on Freya''s belly.
"Should I join the battle right now? Maybe...not," Ben contemted, observing the middle-aged man gaining the upper hand in the confrontation with Freya.
[You can intervene if there''s immediate danger, which doesn''t seem to be the case here, fortunately.]
"Ya, right," Ben replied, returning his attention to the ongoing battle. He decided to consume the blood of those injured by Freya to bolster his strength.
On the battlefield, the middle-aged man charged toward Freya, and Freya reciprocated by running toward her opponent, preparing a wind de in her left hand and a water ball in her right. Just as the man was about to attack, she unleashed a powerful water ball towards him.
''Boom!''
A deafening explosion filled the air as the middle-aged man halted in his tracks to fend off the oing water assault.
Meanwhile, Freya continued her charge, her agility heightened by wind magic. She slid along the ground, mirroring Ben''s earlier kick, and executed a spin on her palms to strike the man''s legs,unching him into the air.
The sequence of attacks caught him off guard, and before he could regain his footing, a powerful punch connected with his chest. This move was borrowed from Ray: infusing the punch with high-density fire magic that sts upon contact; however, in Freya''s case, this was with a high-density wind de.
She prepared several wind des in her hand, but instead ofunching them, shepressed the attack around her fist, making a green orb surrounding her fist.
As her fist made contact, the wind magic around it erupted into numerous wind des. With precise force and uracy, each de cut deeply into the man''s enhanced body, tearing his leather armour to shreds. He was flung backward, colliding with a cart that toppled over.
"If it weren''t for my enhanced physique, I''d be fatally injured already. What kind of technique is this?" he pondered, grimacing as he coughed up blood.
"You...bitch..." The man cursed Freya, attempting to rise to his knees. But Freya''s expression remained cold and unchanging as she extended her hand towards the man, casting a water ball spell.
Tiny droplets materialised out of thin air, converging in her hand. However, this time, instead of forming a spherical shape, the water took on a sharper, smaller, and more bullet-like form, rotating on its axis like a drill.
"This is...my blood bullet attack," Ben eximed, realising that Freya had adapted his and Ray''s techniques to create her spell.
''Boom!''
While Ben was still in disbelief, a thunderous sound reverberated across the in as the water bullet struck the man''s forehead, ending his life in an instant.
"Die like the filth you are," Freya remarked with a chilling expression, her eyes aglow inplete purple, showing no emotion in the face of the bloody spectacle before her.
Chapter 66: No Regrets
Chapter 66: No Regrets
"Die like the filth you are," Freya remarked with a chilling expression, her eyes aglow inplete purple, showing no emotion in the face of the bloody spectacle before her.
"BAaAANNNggGG"
With a sting sound, a water bullet pierced through the man''s head, shattering through it like a velocity stone against a watermelon.
A heavy silence descended upon the battlefield. Those who remained, either still conscious or fortunate enough to escape, stood frozen, wide-eyed, staring at the lifeless body now sprawled on the ground. It was just one spell, that''s all it took to free such a formidable opponent from his life.
"Is the chief dead...?" a man uttered, his words shattering the eerie stillness.
"No way... there''s just... no fucking way," another guy responded, his mental state shattered as he sank to his knees.
"What the hell just happened?" Ben questioned in surprise. His original n was to impart a lesson and extract a drop of blood. Taking a life was something he would contemte multiple times before considering it.
[Be cautious, Ben. At this point, Freya might be stronger than you or Ray in a one-on-one battle.]
Ben shifted his gaze to Freya, her cold eyes meeting his. He observed the touch of purple in her eyes and the unyielding expression on her face, silently seeking an exnation.
However, Freya approached him, devoid of regret or remorse, and effortlessly lifted the overturned cart. "People like him don''t deserve to live in this world. Someone had to clean up the mess anyways."
[She''s not possessed, but whether she''s being manipted or not... I have no idea.]
Ben pondered the system''s words, sensing something amiss about her. Yet, in the current situation, the wisest move for Ben was to leave, but not without a warning.
He walked forward and pped his hands twice, capturing the attention of everyone in the field. The hum of whispers ceased, and silence enveloped the area once again as he addressed them, "What you just witnessed is the least punishment for those who dare to oppose me."
A brief pause followed as Ben surveyed the expressions on everyone''s faces, all marked by fear. In an unaffected,manding voice, he dered, "Consider this your first and final warning. Should anyone dare to challenge me again, your death will be neither peaceful nor swift."
Without awaiting any response, Ben proceeded to stride back towards the vige. As he passed by Freya, who had finished arranging the hunts back on the cart, he cast her a sidelong nce. Without pausing, he uttered, "Let''s go."
Freya obediently followed Ben, pulling the cart on her own, her actions seemingly a form of atonement for the earlier confrontation.
The journey back to the vige transpired in silence, a ten-minute walk filled with unspoken tension. Freya, in the meantime, continued to heal her wounds, erasing any traces without leaving a mark.
[I suppose your n is now in disarray after that dramatic disy, isn''t it?]
''Not entirely. I aimed to instill fear in the vige, though I didn''t intend to achieve it this way. Nheless, it still aligns with the overall n.''
[And what''s your intention after instilling fear? Aren''t they already hostile towards outsiders?]
''No, they aren''t afraid. They were hateful, not fearful. I needed them to fear me. As for what I n to do with that fear, you''ll find out soon,'' Ben replied, checking the status screen. A sour expression crossed his face as he read thetest notification.
[ CONSUMPTION LIMIT REACHED]
[ you have already consumed more than 10 different human blood types. You can''t gain any more strength by consuming human blood]
[ This restriction will only be removed after evolution]
"This was thest thing I expected to face in a time like this," Ben chuckled in disappointment, thinking that now he had to rely on other methods to evolve further.
[ Be positive Ben, there is still the other side to look at. You have gained 10 strength points in just one day, which in other words means that you are now at least 1.5 times stronger than you were before.]
[ Not to mention, you have yet to check the new quest in your quest board.]
''What''s in my quest board? Some new death gambling targets?'' Ben asked switching through the tabs in the air, he tapped to open the new quest.
[It is something which can get us closer to our main goal]
---------------------
¨p¨T?Quest Update?¨T¨p
?MAIN QUEST: Evolve Into Vampire Noble
[Reward: Exclusive Skill x1 + Aether Core + Soul Merchant ]
[ Required Level: Level 20 ]
--------------------
Observing the quest on his board, a sharp smile reced the disappointment on Ben''s face. As hemanded, "Show me the status," his smile transformed into a wide grin, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.
¨p¨T?STATUS?¨T¨p
©°Name: Ben Franklin
©°Race: Vampire
¨X¨TLEVEL: 3; Hunger: slight
¨UExp: 60/400; Magic: 000/006
¨^¨THealth: 98/100; B.E: 100/100
©° Strength: 36
©° Agility: 30 (+2 free stat point)
©°Stamina: 25
¨d¨T ACTIVE SKILLS ¨T¨g
? Blood Bullet
? Influence
? [Locked]: Reach Level 5 to unlock
¨d¨T Soul Essence ¨T¨g
? Inferno Stringer: (Enhancement Type) Normal tier
? Ancient Spear: (Weapon Type) Mid-Normal Tear
? Silver Fang: (Assocery Type) Mid-Normal Tier
? Cute Bunny Boots: (Assocery type) Top-Basic Tier x20
----------------------------
"Look at that, with this strength, what do you think, System? Am I stronger than that almost intermediate-tier wolf?" Ben expressed satisfaction with his significant improvement. If there was even one area where he could surpass the almost intermediate-tier wolf, gaining the upper hand in battle would be more manageable.
[Let''s see. Since it''s a magic beast, it''s naturally stronger than any humans. Considering its tier, I estimate the wolf must have 50 or more strength points right now, if we were to make aparison.]
[With the stat points you possess, you would be ssified as an advanced-tier beast yourself, so this is the minimum difference that must exist.]
"Oh well, fuck me sideways." Ben muttered out loud, a cloud of disappointment could be seen on his face again.
"Excuse me?!?" Freya asked awkwardly, making a weird face.
"Nothing just talking to myself...ignore me please..." - Deeply ashamed Ben Franklin.
Chapter 67: King’s Gaze
Chapter 67: King''s Gaze
"I, the second prince of the human kingdom, request a council with authority," Ray dered, standing in a small room surrounded by walls covered in rainbow-colored crystalline ss, casting pointy lights in various hues around the room.
''MAY THE PRINCE SUBMIT THE REASON FOR THIS COUNCIL''
A resonant oracle voice filled the crystalline room, its source concealed. Ray knelt on his left leg, fist over his chest, in a salute of respect.
"It''s an emergence regarding the sovereignty of the kingdom and the likelihood of a small-scale battle," Ray responded in a subdued tone, conveying his deference to the oracle voice. The room fell silent again, remaining hushed for the next minute or so until an announcing voice broke the stillness.
''THE COUNCIL MAY BEGIN''
In the blink of an eye, the crystalline rainbow room plunged into darkness, and an overwhelming pressure enclosed the space, causing cold beads of sweat to form on Ray''s forehead.
'''''''' YOU MAY LIFT YOUR HEAD''''''''
Synchronized voices spoke, each resonating with domination and authority, emphasizing control over Ray''s presence. Anxiously, he raised his head, only to find the ckened room surrounded by multiple pairs of eyes.
Not one, not two, but numerous eyes fixed upon Ray from all directions, as if they were the only discernible entities in the dark expanse, evoking scenes reminiscent of horror movies.
''This much pressure, just from their gaze...'' Ray nervously chuckled, ncing around. Even in a chilling atmosphere, the beads of sweat continued to trickle down his face.
"All 27 council members at once..." He muttered, looking at the number of eyes in the room.
''What else do you expect? After calling a council about kingdom sovereignty, None of the council members is busy enough to ignore this meeting.'' A deep male voice rang as he responded to Ray''s words.
"Now, now, there is no need to be so impatient. If the second prince called a meeting, then it must be for important reasons. Am I wrong...the prince?" A seductive and yful female voice, sharp but calm, rang in the room.
In response to this, Ray just smiled nervously, as he directly matched the gazesing from his eyes. "I called you here to request a temporary expansion of my authority."
"And why do you think we will let you enjoy an unfair advantage against other princes?" Another voice, that of an old man, scolded, anger evident in his tone.
"You do realize what you are saying, Ray? I am at least expecting a good reason for your demands." Another deep voice, calm and familiar to Ray, sounded.
"Please don''t worry, Master. I didn''t call the council just to spout nonsense." Ray responded to the calm voice with a smile as he stood up. With determination etched on his face, he continued, "My intelligence has revealed an external threat to the country and my vige. This conflict may involve formidable members of the werewolf n and demons."
The room fell silent once again before another pair of eyes manifested in the room. These eyes bore crimson-red pupils simr to Ray''s. The pressure from this gaze alone was greater than all other presencesbined. A booming voice resonated through the room, demanding,
"CONTINUE..."
...
..
.
Present, in the vige©¤
The sun descended below the horizon, casting the world in the gentle moonlight of a waning gibbous moon.
Ben diligently worked on extracting the rabbit''s nails and storing their bodies in a small pit in the ground. The cold weather ensured the meat would likely remain fresh until the next day. As for the rabbit fangs, typically discarded by hunters, Ben had ns for them.
These fangs were infused with a natural poison, which can cause stinging pain and dizziness. Normally, this kind of poison isn''t fatal, but it can be used as a distraction and debuff the enemy. In other words, these fangs will y a good role in uing battles.
"Three days from now..." Ben wiped the sweat from his forehead, gazing at the moon in the sky. Time was ticking away; by the end of the third day and the beginning of the fourth night, the wolf wouldunch its attack.
"Why is the timing so specific, though?" Freya questioned, breaking an hour-long silence between them.
Ben responded withplex expressions. Since he was born into this world, he has experienced only a few emotions: anger, rage, fear, hunger, and satisfaction. Emotions like guilt, regret, or love were now apletely foreign concept to him.
The only guiding force pushing him toward the right path was a sense of justice in his head, the same sense signaling that he was standing before a murderer now. In his mind, Freya was no longer the innocent girl Ben had saved from the enchanted forest, but in his heart, he refused to believe so.
"Tell me honestly, why did you have to kill that man? Don''t you feel any regret about it at all?" Ben asked, ignoring Freya''s earlier question. He stared directly into her eyes while activating a ve skill on his back.
"A person who dares to take advantage of the weak has no ce in society to live. I don''t feel any guilt because what I did was meant to be done," Freya responded firmly. Her resolve was evident on her face. Without a hint of hesitation, she met Ben''s gaze and continued, "What I did was the right thing to do, and one must not feel any guilt or regret in serving justice."
''System?'' Ben inquired in the back of his mind, and the soothing female voice answered his curiosity.
[She is wrong, Ben. Her emotions don''t match her words; she feels as guilty as a normal human would for killing someone.]
"I guess... things don''t work as simple as they used to work in my world," Ben muttered, his internal conflict addressed, and a small smile yed on his lips.
"What the hell are you smiling for?...**GrullllLLl..." Freya started to say, but a groaning sound from her stomach interrupted her, turning her face cherry red in embarrassment.
In response, Ben''s smile widened. He retrieved two rabbits from the pit, covered it, and ced a wooden carpet on top. "These things taste good, you know?"
Chapter 68: Race For The Throne
Chapter 68: Race For The Throne
"Ray! What was the response? Did you get the permissions you required?" Alex stood over the doorway of a nd room.
The room was an office for the chief, surrounded by documents on a table and a wooden chair in the middle.
Ray responded with a slight smile, looking into Alex''s eyes. "I won''t say I got all the results I expected, but I can say the results are positive."
"And how so?" Alex asked, taking a seat in front of Ray.
"I have conditional rights regarding this attack. If the vige were to be attacked, I''m allowed to use my abilities to protect it. Not only that, but I can also hire a temporary army or mercenaries if the vige were to face such danger. Though there is one small catch..."
"And what is that?" Alex inquired, his fist clenched, concern evident on his face.
"We need to prove that the threat I mentioned is real. If I can prove the existence of an attack, it means I would get more funds and full authority over my territory," Ray exined, a slight look of concern on his face.
"And what if you can''t prove it?" Alex asked with a concerned expression on his face.
"In that case, I will have to willingly submit my resignation to any authority over the throne or any inheritance from the kingdom," Ray said with a smile, but it was clear from his looks that he was taking a significant risk for the vige.
"Always pulling things onto your own back... so like you," Alex chuckled, appreciating Ray''s determination despite its recklessness. Their friendship had been forged since childhood.
Alex and Ray had grown up together. While Ray hailed from a royal bloodline, his daily routine involved learning history, politics, andbat. Alex, on the other hand, was the single-born son of the Ironheart family, bound by duty to produce the kingdom''s strongest fighters. His family swore loyalty to protect the royal bloodline.
Ray and Alex would often meet during theirbat training sessions, sharing the same teacher and martial arts. Despite the weight of responsibilities and the harsh realities of life, they found sce in each other.
Ray, born into the royal family,cked the cunning and talent disyed by his siblings, demonstrating little interest in the throne. During training breaks, he always asked Alex about the world outside the castle, eager to know what it was like to talk to new people and make new friends.
The concept of living in luxury was foreign to Ray; he was a bird longing to soar in the sky, not to be confined in a golden cage. Alex, understanding this sentiment, shared simr feelings, having glimpsed the world beyond the castle walls.
Years passed until an unfortunate day arrived. After the battle against the Elvain Empire, the king suffered an incurable injury, and his days were numbered, each second bringing him closer to hisst breath.
To prevent power imbnces and future conflicts, the king devised a n to determine the new heir to the throne. Normally, the eldest of all descendants would be given the right to the throne, but the council expressed concerns about the firstborn.
Rumors circted that the king''s eldest son was a spoiled, indulgent man with a penchant for alcohol and women. His susceptibility to temptation or maniption posed a significant risk to the kingdom''s stability.
After countless debates and proposals, an agreement was reached between the council and the king. They decided to implement a test to identify the rightful ruler of the nation. Each of his seven princes and princesses was assigned a random territory in the kingdom.
They were strictly forbidden from assembling armies or plotting against each other for the throne. Within six months, the territory that prospered the most would dere its ruler as the next heir to the throne.
Even after ensuring all forms of impartiality and fair chances, favouritism still found a way into the equation. Among the seven descendants, if there was one person the council harbored animosity towards more than anyone else, it was Ray.
Born into a royal bloodline, Ray''s humble nature and interactions withmoners won the hearts of countless people. Simultaneously, they earned him numerous enemies among the nobles and the council. This resentment against Ray led to some behind-the-scenes machinations, resulting in his being assigned a neglected and remote territory on the vige borders.
The majority votes against Ray; the king could only watch as favoritism yed a role in his otherwise fair-standing n. Ray was aware of this, but he simply didn''t care. For him, this was the life he always wanted, the freedom he had dreamt of. However, unbeknownst to him, even in this unfavorable situation, three individuals wanted to see him as the king of the nation. One of them was his friend, Alex.
...
[In Present...]
...
"So, considering the risk you''ve taken, what''s your next move?" Alex inquired, a warm smile on his face, reminiscent of their old days.
"I don''t have many options," Ray replied, crossing his arms with a serious expression. "Even if the vigers are willing to assist us in battle, they simplyck the strength to face an army."
"While you''re formidable, Alex, tackling an advanced-tier beast alone is a stretch. ording to Ben, there were two of them, with one even at the peak of the intermediate tier," Ray contemted, weighing the possibilities.
"You''re right. I can hold my ground against a peak-advanced-tier beast, butsting more than five minutes is uncertain," Alex concurred.
"That''s why we need to hire mercenaries from adventurer guilds to assist us," Ray dered with a straightforward expression. "We''ll use all the funds we have to post amission for silver-grade mercenaries in the adventurer guild."
------------------
Adventurer guild ranking:
Bronze Grade: Equivalent to 1 Normal tier beasts (Very weak)
Silver Grade: Equivalent to multiple normal tier beasts.
Gold Grade: Equivalent to Advanced tier beasts.
Crystal Grade: Equivalent to peak advanced tier beast.
Obsidian Grade: Equivalent to intermidiate tier beasts.
Valleia Grade: Equivalent to king tier beasts.
-----------------
A/N:
New Weekly Target :-
1) 50 Power Stone= 1 extra chapter at weekend.
2) 15 Golden Ticket= 1 Extra chapter at weekend.
3) 10+ members on discord= 2 Extra ch on weekends.
----------------
Chapter 69: Adventure Guild
Chapter 69: Adventure Guild
"I''m going to post a quest in the adventurer guild," Ray dered with determination etched on his face.
"Are you out of your mind?" Alex eximed, rising from his seat. "Have you ever considered how much money it will cost to hire that many mercenaries?"
"And are you even sure the wolves will attack us? What if we hire the mercenaries, and the attack never happens? Think of the economic tragedy it would be," Alex blurted out in rapid session, leaving himself no time to catch his breath.
Ray remained calm and collected in his response as if he had already considered this scenario. "Yes, I fully understand. That''s why I won''t post a subject-specific request in the guild, but apetitive quest instead."
"Rather than hiring a fixed number of people for the quest, we''re going to try something different. We''ll post a quest with the location and time for the hunt."
"While the number of people who can apply for the quest will have no limits, we''ll only pay money per wolf killed."
"In other words, if there is no wolf attack, there will be no hunt, and we won''t lose a single penny," Ray exined with his arms crossed.
"Oh, dayum, what a brilliant n you have?" Alex said in a sarcastic tone, mocking Ray''s n for not thinking it through. "So we just post a quest in the guild, summon the adventurers, and then tell them there''s no such quest, please go back home, right? It must be fantastic, getting banned from the guild and thrown out of the kingdom at the same time, right?"
"Don''t worry about that. In case the quest doesn''t match the given details, it means the quest is fake, and the host will be given a penalty of 15 silver coins to pay to the guild," Ray responded, mimicking the same sarcastic tone as Alex and mocking him for his not-so-thorough thinking.
"There you go... always finding a way with the peanut-sized brain of yours." Alex sat back in his chair, took a deep breath to calm himself, and added, "Even though... I have a little doubt about your n."
"Hmm," Ray nodded and took a side nce to look outside the window. "You always have your fair share of doubts, don''t you?"
"Bruh... Just listen to me for once. Even if ten or twenty mercenaries were to join your quest, do you think this number would be enough to tackle the beast horde?" Alex asked, a little embarrassed that Ray saw directly through him.
"That''s not exactly enough, but this is the best we can do as of now. I will go into the vige and try giving them a speech once more. It will be easier if they were to cooperate with us," Ray let out a long sigh of exhaustion, reflecting on how he had initially just wanted to live a normal, peaceful life.
All he expected was to be assigned to a territory where he could manage his work and enjoy his life. However, things took a blizzard turn from there. First, he was sent to a vige where he was hated by everyone for unknown reasons. Now, he had to face extraordinary threats to protect the vige. Ray was in a dilemma, wondering whether he could seize this opportunity to run away from the vige alongside Ben and start a new life in some unknown ce.
"Will it be the right thing to do?" Ray muttered to himself, looking at the evening sky. As he contemted, rising smoke caught his attention.
It was already evening, and the only source of light was the magicmps inside the room. Still, even in the darkness, Ray''s fire magic allowed him to see the hot smoke rising in the air, surprising him. He stood up and walked towards the edges of the window to see two people chatting near a bonfire. Upon closer inspection, a smile appeared on Ray''s face, and he chuckled as he shouted from the window, "That''s some good meat you guys are cooking. Any space left for me?"
In response, the figure near the bonfire shouted, "1 silver per rabbit."
"Dayum, that''s a daylight robbery," Rayined in an annoyed voice.
"Take it or leave it," the other voice responded.
Ray just sighed in response before he jumped off the window, directly from the second floor. Alex on the other hand, identified where Ray was going before he shut the window from inside and took the normal stairs route to get down.
"So you guys decided to stay in the vige?" Ray exhaustively asked walking close to the two people near the bonfire. Closing on the distance, he saw Ben rxing on the ground while Freya was munching on the rabbit meat.
"I was so tired of eating rice porridge all the time, give me some of the meat as well." Ray sat near Ben, asking for his share, but his request was just ignored by Freya with a few brutal words: Cook them on your own.
"Just because I am staying for now, this doesn''t mean I am going to stay here, you know," Ben responded to Ray''s earlier question while his eyes were observing a few things with his blood vision skill.
"Can''t you be more straightforward for once in your life? Just say yes or no?" Ray asked, clearly annoyed by Ben''s calcted response.
In against, Ben just pointed his finger towards Freya, "If she decides to stay then I will stay. That''s your clear answer."
Freya, who was munching on the meat, avoided any contact of sight, as she embarrassingly looked in the other direction. "My n is clear if the wolves attack the vige, then I will run away, don''t expect any other response from me."
Conflicted by her answer, Ray looked at Ben who just nodded his head in the response. ''''We are not bound to stay by your side, you said so yourself."
The atmosphere between them fell silent all of a sudden before Ray chuckled and his chuckles turned into a loudugh...
Chapter 70: God’s Essence
Chapter 70: God''s Essence
"Hey, can''t you be just a little more polite? It''s not like I am begging for your help or anything; I just want to know whether you want to stay or not."
"You don''t need to ask me to prove how desperate you are..."
While both Freya and Ray were engaged in an argument, Ben''s gaze was fixed somewhere else. The whole time, his blood vision remained active, tracking every movement of the vigers. Without much effort, he identified the targets he wanted.
[So, they are the members of the Fane. They are quite a lot if you were to ask me.]
"Yes, they are. Not only are there 6 to 10 of them, but they are also stronger than normal vigers. Especially the one who is leading them," Ben muttered under his breath, loud enough for others to hear that he was speaking but not clear enough to discern what he was saying.
"Did you say something?" Ray asked, surprised by Ben talking seemingly to thin air.
"Don''t mind him; his inner voice is kinda loud..." Freya chuckled, finding it amusing that Ben asionally seemed to be engaged in conversations with himself. Sometimes he even got hyped up and started jumping around like a toad.
"My inner voice asked me to take a stroll, that''s all," Ben replied nonchntly. He didn''t bother exining much, offering a cryptic exnation before he stood up and walked towards the vige.
As Ben''s pace increased, he distanced himself from the bonfire until he finally started running. His eyes remained fixed on the church, and he scrolled through his inventory to summon his new Soul Equipment.
"Activate bunny boots," Benmanded, and soon the brown windwalk shoes on his legs disappeared into white light particles, reced by more stuffed-up pink shoes. It was clear that the shoes wererger than Ben''s legs, evident in the significant decrease in his running speed.
[Bunny Boots - Advanced Tier Equipment]
[Defence©¤?(0); Agility©¤?(-20%)]
[Special Ability©¤? High Jump]
[Description: By decreasing your agility, this boot allows you to store kic energy from your body and use it tounch a high jump.]
Ben acquired this equipment from his hunt today, merging over 45 basic-tier pieces to gain advanced-tier equipment.
As he kept running, with each step, the long white stuffed ears in the bunny boots started to glow with pink radiating light, filling it.
[Charged: 100%]
As if waiting for this notification, Ben stopped running and assumed a jumping stance to throw himself into the air. In the next instant, the pink energy from the shoe burst out like a bunch of sparkles, popping without sound. And the next second, Ben was thrown 30 meters up in the air.
"Holy fuck... It''s higher than I expected." Ben bit his lips to stifle a shout as he dropped to the top of the old church, barely avoiding making any loud noise, thanks to his vampire reflexes.
[Woo, you got some serious spinal damage; even your HP decreased by 3.]
"Shut up and heal me already..." Benmanded, hands over his mouth to suppress any screams.
--Inside the church:
"Boss, I felt like I heard a falling sound from the roof," a man in a dark cloak whispered, carefully examining the broken roof.
"If you nned to make me scared, then you sessfully failed. Now get your ass up here and help me with the ritual," another voice said in a low but angry tone, dressed in a ck cloak and an oni mask on his face.
The person tightly gripped arge wooden magic wand with a blue gemstone in one hand while holding a ck book with golden linings in the other. His overall appearance signified he was a wizard ss.
Without wasting any more time, the mysterious figure in ck started mumbling enchantments from the ck book, while the blue stone on the wooden wand glowed with faint blue light.
BEN''S P.O.V...
[3 Blood Essence consumed.]
[HP: 100/100]
Ben internally cursed upon seeing the notification. "I wasted so much freaking time on it. Not to mention the whole church is flowing with such high-intensity energy; I can''t even use the blood vision skill to see inside."
[It''s simr to how you don''t see mes clearly in the presence of sunlight. I guess the blood vision skill isn''t that high level yet.]
"Makes sense, but we can talk about thatter." Ben slowly walked towards a broken part of the roof, seemingly where there was a big hole, allowing him to peer inside the church without making any noise. He wanted to see what the mysterious figure was up to.
"Don''t tell me they are trying to summon a devil again... I don''t wanna get another annoying ve on my back, you know." Ben hesitated as he looked at the magic patterns and lightning symbols, which brought back unpleasant memories from the past.
Contrary to his expectations, the mysterious figure in the ck hood mmed the wand on the ground, and suddenly the whole room lit up like a winding circuitry.
In the next second, the metallic Royal emblem on the wall slid open, revealing a narrow path underground. The path was wide enough for one person to passfortably at a time.
[Looks like we found a secret way to a treasure vault.]
"I won''t be surprised if there''s an Egyptian mummy inside it." Ben looked at the long, descending staircase going underground. Even with his vampire senses, he couldn''t see the end of it.
[ Ya, now let''s avoid interfering more, and go back to Ray to report this to him. This information might be very helpful to the vigers.]
"Ya I shouldn''t get more involved than this, I clearly remember what happenedst©¤" Ben slowly crawled back away, but before he couldplete his sentence, a cracking sound in his ears gave him his whole life shbacks.
...
"You stay here to guard the door while we go inside." The mysterious figuremanded, pointing towards one of the men in a ck hood as it walked inside the gate. But before the figure could enter the gate, a crashing sound reverberated through the room followed by an innocent apology.
"Trust me, I was just passing by here..."
Chapter 71: Fable of a new god
Chapter 71: Fable of a new god
"Guard the door while we go inside,"manded the mysterious figure, pointing to a hoodedpanion as they entered the gate. However, a sudden crash interrupted their advance. The figure, now on high alert, turned to locate the source¡ªa fallen part of the roof, apanied by a person d in leather armor. None other than Ben himself.
"Trust me, I was just passing by here." Ben nervously smiled, lifting both his hands up in a surrender position. But the other party was too upied by shock to trust his words.
"Kill him!!" The masked figure shouted, pointing the staff towards Ben, and in the next second, a yellow ball of fire materialized meters from thin air and shot towards him.
"Why am I not surprised?" Ben muttered under his breath before he moved slightly to dodge theing attack. The fireball hit the wall behind him and sted with impact.
''BOOM''
With a shattering sound, the whole structure reverberated, as if, at any moment, it could copse on the ground. Both parties were surprised by the impact on the building, and Ben too stepped back in an open-roofed area, wary of the impact on the building.
"Tsk... Kill him with physical weapons; try not to use any magic." The masked figuremanded as it stepped back from the fight, walking down the stairs. And the thick iron gate closed behind him.
"Well, at least they are not dumb." Ben sighed, focusing his attention back on the battle.
"Die, you spy from Capital!" Two hooded figures attacked him with their swords at once; they didn''t look very skilled in swords, but their sword was imbued with magic, making them fatal.
Ben, without thinking for a second, made a backflip and dodged theing blows. As the sword hit the ground, the rubble on the ground started to slowly show a decay effect before it caught fire.
[Beware, Ben; one of them has a very strong poison element; the other with a fire element doesn''t seem that much of a threat.]
''You don''t need to say that for me to notice.'' Ben responded in his mind; he instantly picked up a rock from the ground and threw it towards the position mage with all his strength. The mage, on the other hand, quickly cast a small barrier spell to block the attack. Unfortunately for him, he had underestimated Ben''s strength too much.
With the increase in strength points, Ben was officially at inhumane strength without even realizing it. The rock hit the small barrier without any sign of stopping; it shattered through the barrier like a ss wall and hit the mage, knocking him off to the ground.
"How the hell did that happen?" Ben asked for amusement; he was expecting the rock to distract the enemy and not knock him off the ground.
"Beware, he has some kind of enhancement magic." One of the mages shouted in a panic, and he shot out several thunder attacks on Ben.
"Bang-Bang-Bangg!!!"
Three consecutive thunders sounded as the sma of electricity hit Ben all three times. He tried to dodge with his fast movements, but it seemed as if the thunder attack was directed at an area, even hitting the mages within it.
[HP: 67/100]
Ben fell to the ground, his teeth gritted, his body shaking uncontrobly, and an unusual heat surged in him as if his veins were burning from inside. But it wasn''t just him; three more of the mages were caught up in the attack, and though their cloak had some kind of magic resistance, which reduced the effect of thunder, they still felt a huge shock, enough to fully knock the poison mage unconscious.
As the electrically charged atmosphere settled, Ben mustered the strength to get back on his feet, his resilience shining through. The mysterious hooded figures, momentarily disoriented by their attack, regrouped with renewed determination.
"You won''t escape, intruder!" one of the mages shouted, conjuring a swirling vortex of wind and aiming it directly at Ben.
In response, Ben, fueled by his vampire reflexes, swiftly dodged the iing wind attack. His movements, though slightly hampered by the lingering effects of the thunder assault, remained agile enough to avoid direct hits.
Unfazed by the adversaries, Ben assessed the situation. The poison mage was still unconscious, the fire mage looked unnerved, and the others were preparing for the next onught.
[HP: 60/100]
The battle continued, with Ben strategically countering the magic-wielding foes. He utilized his enhanced strength to disarm one of the sword-wielding assants while evading the relentless magical barrages from the remaining mages.
''They are all attacking in formation; I don''t even have a chance to get close to them. Tsk, only if they weren''t using magic." Ben''s mind raced, considering his options. He couldn''t take on all of them head-on, especially with the poison mage potentially recovering. He needed a strategic advantage. As the mages closed in, he spotted a pile of debris near the entrance that seemed unstable.
In a daring move, Ben somersaulted over his attackers, leading them towards the precarious pile. As they followed, he swiftly grabbed a wooden beam and, with his enhanced strength, mmed it into the unstable debris. The structure copsed, creating a barrier between Ben and his pursuers.
"Imbue Inferno Stringer in blood skills and use 20 Blood Essences to recover my HP," Benmanded as he took cover, debris obstacles, and used blood vision to track the enemy''s movements.
[HP: 80/100; B.E:77/100 ]
"Blood Bullet"
Ben chanted as soon as he saw enemy movement, and soon the zing golden bullet of fire hit one of the mages trying to cross the obstacle in his way.
"Argh!!" He screamed in pain as he fell to the ground. The blood bullet had not only pierced his throat but, with the burning effect it directly pierced, passed it, even making its way through his bones.
The pain was so great that the mage fell unconscious, not much after. This raised concern in the remaining five mages; they instructively stepped back, feeling threatened by the unknown attack.
"Fuck that bastard; he can use dual-element magic." One of the mages shouted; he sheathed his sword back and held the staff in his other hand, firmly pointing at Debrees.
"Hey, you...hold on! Master instructed us not to use any magic or it will attract unwanted attention." The other mage shouted, still holding on to his sword in preparation for any surprise attacks.
The other mage grated his teeth in anger, looking at the lightning mage, who was standing in a corner, shivering from the intense attacks. He shouted, "Shut up; the damage is already done when that newbie bastard used lightning elements to attack."
And he wasn''t wrong either. Back in the vige, Ray and Alex had already noticed the series of lightning shes and sounds, and they were already moving towards the source of them.
Isn''t this the same direction Ben went?"Ray asked. He was using his magic to slightly enhance his physical abilities, making him able to run faster than normal humans.
Freya, on the other hand, was way faster with her wind magic; inparison, she was barely slower than Ben running at full speed, but what came as a surprise to her was that Alex was easily able to match up with her speed, and he wasn''t even using a tinge of magic. There was no expression of exhaustion on his face.
"Is Ben able to use the thunder element or the lightning element?" Alex asked with a calm expression; his tone of voice indicated that he wasn''t even running at his full speed.
[A/N: Both thunder and lightning are different forms of magic. You will know why in further chapters.]
"I have never seen him using that magic or any kind of magic rted to it," Freya responded, thinking about Ben''s fight in the past; after all, she didn''t know very much about Ben herself.
"I guess then we can expect some stronger foes soon. As long as it''s not the intermediate-tier wolf Ben was talking about, we can expect a chance to win." Alex said with concern in his voice, Wolves are one of the creatures in nature who could use lightning and sonic element magic. This was also the reason why Warewolf was one of the top ns in the world; at least in the Beast Kingdom, they were 7th rank in the Beast Kingdom.
While Alex was tensed, thinking about possibilities, arge explosion attracted his attention. It wasing from the same source where the lightning attack was detected. The church is barely 50 meters ahead of them.
With a booming sound, the roof of the whole structure exploded. Ray and Freya stopped on their way to look at the rising tornado of fire. It didn''t take them long to guess it was abo spell of wind magic and me magic, and levitating amid the me was none other than Ben.
-------------
A/N: Okey guys, just one important question: You guys like shorter chapter or long chapters? Like this chapter is 1500+ words, so this one or 1000words like previous chapters?
Chapter 72: Backup arrived
Chapter 72: Backup arrived
"Hey, you...hold on! Master instructed us not to use any magic or it will attract unwanted attention," the other mage shouted, still clutching his sword in anticipation of surprise attacks.
The anger on the face of the other mage was palpable as he red at the lightning mage standing in a corner, visibly shivering from the intense attacks. He retorted, "Shut up; the damage is already done when that newbie bastard used lightning elements to attack."
The realization of the dire situation struck them. Their best chance now was to eliminate the enemy swiftly and escape before their cult''s identity was exposed.
"O lord of mes, I request upon your powers. Erupt from the river of me, and let the sinner witness your power."
Three mages began chanting, and magic circles manifested on the ground beneath them. Ben''s instincts tingled, signaling impending danger, but he couldn''t fathom the extent of the threat.
[Beware, Ben, that''s a fully chanted spell. If you''re caught in it, you''re as good as dead.]
Gritting his teeth, Ben stood up and peeked from behind the cover of a boulder. He couldn''t take the system''s warning lightly. Surveying his surroundings, he found himself enclosed by boulders and thick walls.
Jumping outside his cover would make him an easy target. Quickly assessing the possibilities, Ben nced at the open roof as a potential escape route. He summed his Rabbit Shoes, radiating in pink, indicating they were fully charged.
-Dragon Breath-
All three mages chanted simultaneously, and a massive golden magic circle materialized behind them. Ben, anticipating danger, took his stance to jump just as the spell was about to be unleashed.
"BOOM!"
A roar, resembling an animalistic burst of fire, surged towards Ben. It was akin to the release of a dam''s watergate, obliterating anything in its path. Thanks to Raboot''s charged shoes, Ben leaped high into the air with unmatched speed.
The impulse from the shoe skill was intense, causing Ben''s leg muscles to strain. However, luck wasn''t on his side this time. He had underestimated the strength of his adversaries significantly.
The fiery explosion engulfed the entire church, its temperature melting even the church walls. To onlookers, it resembled a blinding light, turning the night as bright as day.
Although Ben managed to avoid the central st, he couldn''t escape the melted debris and the searing heat. In seconds, he found himself 25 meters in the air, mes surrounding his body. His once-pink Raboot shoes were reduced to ashes, and his exposed skin bore burns at an rming rate.
In a matter of moments, Ben''s health plummeted.
[Raboot Shoes are damaged beyond repair.]
[Warning: Your HP level is critical.]
[HP: 12/100]
[HP: 8/100]
[HP: 5/100]
[Emergency! Blood essence is forced to heal your body.]
[HP: 6/100]
[HP: 20/100]
[HP: 33/100]
[50 BE have been consumed. Your hunger level is mild.]
[Raboot Shoes have been destroyed.]
[Raboot Shoes have been destroyed.]
Ben plummeted to the ground headfirst, but this pain paled inparison to the agony he had just endured moments ago. The rapid cycle of healing and burning, coupled with the shock from the sudden fall, momentarily overwhelmed his senses, leaving him in a state of nkness.
...
...
[Outside-]
"I am resistant to mes; I will go first," Ray shouted, taking charge. Freya and Alex remained frozen in their ces as Ray boldly rushed into the remnants of the gigantic mes. Being a me magic user, his body disyed remarkable resistance to normal mes. With the spell now subsided, the once-majestic churchy in ruins, its destruction extending hundreds of meters around.
Spotting the retreating figures in ck cloaks, Ray wasted no time. "Fireball burst," he chanted, his hands moving in a practiced pattern. Within seconds, five zing orbs shot towards the enemy group. In a swift reaction, one of the opposing mages retaliated with a volley of fireballs. However, Ray''s attack exhibited clear superiority.
"Boom-Boom-Boom."
Consecutive sts resonated as the fireballs collided. Unexpectedly, Ray''s attack pierced through the other party''s weakened fireball, hitting the mage who cast the spell.
While the impact wasn''t as potent due to the earlier collision, it created a diversion. Seizing the opportunity, Ray closed the distance and delivered a powerful punch to the mage''s chest, sending him flying 5 meters away, unconscious. Ray wasted no time and cast another series of fireball spells at the remaining two mages. However, their agility proved sufficient to evade the attacks, allowing them to escape.
-Water Bullet-
As the mages stepped beyond the church''s range, a sharp pain coursed through their bodies as if an unseen force had pierced their very essence. Before copsing to the ground, thest sight they witnessed was a silver-haired girl, her palm pointed menacingly in their direction.
"Good aim. Let''s find out where Ben is," Ray walked out of the mes, dragging the first mage along with him. The unique skill disyed by the silver-haired girl had surprised him, but the urgency of the situation left no room for pondering.
"No need for that, I am here," Ben dered as he approached the group. Despite his body being half healed, he still bore visible bruises and ck ash. Most of his clothes had been burned away, leaving only the part he used to cover his water gun intact.
Initially, Ben consideredpletely healing his body, but the system advised against it. Escaping the attack unscathed would raise suspicion among the others. Throughout this ordeal, Ben learned a valuable lesson ¨C he had been overly confident in his skills.
In this unfamiliar world, creatures far stronger and more skilled than him existed. From royal mages to the devil and Eone, whose very presence defied the basicws of the universe. Ben realized that he needed to adapt and grow stronger if he hoped to navigate the challenges ahead. All he knew for now was that he had a role to y in a significant event and to fulfill it, he had to be stronger.
"Now then, who will get them to open their mouth?" Ben gritted his teeth as he looked at the fallen mages struggling on the ground, subconsciously his eyes glowing in crimson red.
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