"If you had simply departed a month prior, rather than lingering over your 'Pet' like the persistent shadow you've become, I would now be indulging in a succulent blood stake. Have you perhaps forgotten that Lord Rina abhors tardiness?" Hayden's countenance displayed a visible bead of sweat, a testament to his unease.
"Let us refrain from causing any undue disturbance. Approach with a genteel demeanor, donning smiles, laughter, and the deepest of condolences, and we shall swiftly extricate ourselves from this situation.
House Vinci, a venerable ally of our lady, warrants the utmost decorum. Therefore, conduct yourself in the exemplary manner I know you are capable of," Knox advised.
"Why must you consistently harken back to that? I am by no means 'slow'," Hayden retorted, a glint of exasperation in his eyes.
"That remains a subject of debate," Knox quipped, his tone laced with a teasing ambiguity.
Before Hayden could interject, Knox's voice resumed its calm authority, "Let us not digress. The current circumstances do not favor indulging in petty disagreements."
A sigh escaped Hayden's lips, his annoyance palpable. "It's just my unfortunate fortune compelling me to encounter that fat bitch and hideous monster," Hayden grumbled
"But your face tells me you're not as disappointed as you should be," Knox chuckled, observing Hayden's emotions keenly.
"There's no greater joy than seeing that blubber struggling to pick up her fallen fork," Hayden's smile lifted.
"You're truly one sick fucker, you know that kid..." Knox said but his frown deepens…"Hun, a horde of greedy bugs are hot on our tail!" Knox remarked.
"Why even state the obvious, just kill them," Hayden responded dismissively, his eyes already scanning the path ahead.
"Insects should know their place," Knox declared, his complexion, akin to the sweetness of honey, now ablaze in a crimson hue. With the demeanor of a madman, he charged forward, wielding dual blades, and confronted a legion of Grand Knights.
The previous air of lightheartedness had vanished entirely; within an hour, the land was drenched in blood.
"What took you so long, it's already 3:30 am," Hayden looked down at his shadow being illuminated by the moonlight.
"Maybe if our dear Hayden had stirred from his seat, we wouldn't be having this conversation!" Knox retorted.
Hayden smirked, unruffled. "No thanks, uncle. You had everything under control. Besides, I must confess that the only form of battle I prefer occurs under the sheets."
"Damnable, you dare to use my line!" Knox huffed in amused exasperation, "I suppose we could arrive during the morning hours."
"Indeed, isn't that simply a matter of common sense? After all, who pays visits during the night-time?" Hayden replied with a hint of laziness.
"You—"
______________
"Will he keep his word?" Maya wondered aloud, contemplating Oga's promise
"He doesn't seem all that rich. He might be an employee of Barret Trading" Vivian chimed in, she really didn't have a good impression of this shameless man, but he was much more charming than that other bastard.
'Do I just attract asshole?' Vivian contemplated.
"Make sense…" Maya said
"You need not worry, we have Hardlet!" Hanes boldly stated
"I'll help out with the transaction," Hardlet said reassuring his group.
Not long after Oga departed, he too was facing some rather annoying bugs.
The blade given to him by Nuu was soaked with blood. Lucky for Oga he didn't have to search for Glowcap Mushroom a few of his assailants gifted them.
"So damn persistent, these pestering bugs, I can't afford to waste any more time," he muttered in frustration.
Escaping three to five spatial rifts was no joke, and he even got caught in a few, only to be siege by another group of pests.
Unlike Nuu, Oga had never thrived in group battles; his demeanor revealed no illusions about this fact.
He knew all too well that if he failed to accomplish his mission within the next hour. The likelihood of someone beyond the Grand Knight rank appearing was very high.
Oga was self-aware; he knew he was no hero, and there was probably no grandpa to come to his aid.
Even the cheat he currently possessed had not activated until he turned 30 years old, so he defiantly wasn't expecting it to save his life. Besides, Zamira being pregnant didn't mean he wanted to start off as an infant again.
After all, who wouldn't be tempted to confront a seemingly random individual who appeared in the Valley of Despair, claiming to possess a recipe that could elevate their blood potency?
It was almost inevitable that they would rush to this location, eager to extract the information from the fool by any means necessary.
"These types of trope," Oga could only bitterly smile, "How could I allow it to play out?" So, each time a bug was hot on his trail, he simply killed them, not wasting time exchanging words or hearing about their long-lost relative that would avenge them.
"Humph," Oga mused, his attention ensnared by the impressive array of daggers adorning the lifeless figure of the Grand Knight with grey hair.
This particular individual, addressed as Nehil among his forty companions now sprawled around him, seemed to elicit more annoyance than the rest.
The notion that Nori would hold an affection for these finely forged weapons flitted through Oga's thoughts. With a deft touch, the handles could be adjusted, a subtle refinement in the coating applied, and these daggers would achieve an even higher level of craftsmanship.
"I shall claim it, along with everything else." And so it began, the corpses scattered around were torn apart like paper, leaving no trace behind. Oga smiled as he surveyed his handiwork, not even their bones were spared after casting Sonic Wind Sculpting.
After a relentless pursuit, Oga found himself standing in one of the seven craters that inhabitants this strange place, it was currently raining blood in the infamous Forest of Carnage
Meticulously, Oga surveyed his surroundings, taking in the sight of tall, majestic trees and the presence of a ferocious Pteranodon, a monster that could easily carry a three-hundred-pound male.
The night was filled with the sounds of vicious battles. Yet, Oga's true attention wasn't fixated on these fearsome monsters; instead, it was drawn to the cradle of an ancient tree, gnarled Blood Vines intricately wove together to form a protective canopy around the nesting site of a Wyvern—an awe-inspiring creature that commanded both reverence and awe.
Safely ensconced within the canopy were her precious eggs, ensuring comfort and security for the majestic beast and her offspring.
Though the incessant annoyance of swarming bugs surrounded him, left much to desire.
Now, the opportune moment had arrived for him to take action. Fully aware that gathering the Mirth Clouds and Blood Vines required his personal touch.
"Black Curtain!"
The utterance echoed through the ancient woods, as a palpable shroud of darkness descended upon the sprawling expanse of the Blood Vine Canopy tree and its surrounding.
The impact of this phenomenon was nothing short of profound; a mysterious veil enshrouded everything, and seamlessly blended into the night, rendering it an impenetrable sanctuary of silence.
Not a single sound could slip through the enigmatic barrier or gain entry from the outside world. Those caught within the confines of this mystic enclosure could still peer beyond its boundaries, but those on the outside were denied such a privilege.
"This should suffice, although combining Abyssal Shroud with Black Curtain would offer an unparalleled advantage—no escape." Oga mused with a sigh of regret that no entry or escape would have made things so much easier.
The thought of harnessing Nuu's innate ability, with his own seemed tantalizing, especially at this crucial moment. However, he knew he couldn't allow Nuu to accompany him on this venture.
As the old Yargo adage goes: [When the farmer leaves the barnyard, the rats will come out to play.]
"Their mother is most likely out." He was well aware that the mother wyvern habit, diligently scavenging food for her young ones this very night.
Oga's expectations were high; he anticipated discovering two juvenile male electric Wyverns perched nearby, diligently guarding five to six precious eggs.
But how did he possess such knowledge? During his romantic getaway with Nylah, he had ventured here alone.
Regrettably, he couldn't obtain any of the desired ingredients at that time, as this wild Desolate Wyvern had just given birth, and it would have been the worst moment to provoke.
Redscale the mother was no ordinary beast; it belonged to the ranks of the esteemed Desolate Beasts, on par with divine entities like Magus and Divine Knights.
Engaging in a battle with such a majestic being would undoubtedly have spelled the end of his life, especially considering that Oga's bloodline maturity had once stood at a modest 69 percent, a distant memory now, overshadowed by his current state of 78 percent.
Nuu, however, wasn't the sole artisan of his own progress; it seemed as though Blood Spawn adhered to the same enigmatic principles of the Five Exalted Physique, Zamira had shared during the pillow session.
Yet, unlike Nuu's path, which necessitated the indulgence of his sadistic inclinations to propel his bloodline's evolution, Oga had stumbled upon a profound revelation.
The degree to which he shed societal constraints directly correlated with the fluidity of his bloodline's advancement.
His former self would have hesitated in the presence of Madame Cynthia or Lady Vivian, weaving intricate schemes to reach the same destination.
In truth, neither of the twins possessed the capability to transcend their current boundaries. However, such a choice would entail relinquishing their freedom.
The question lingered: were there other Nephilim akin to their existence? The very notion of uncertainty held them captive, rendering the risk unthinkable.
The precipice of one hundred percent bloodline purity bore an arduous truth: the closer one drew to this zenith, the more impervious they became to external manipulation of their fate, to the puppet strings of life and death.
[Consider, for instance, their current situation Oga with 78, while Nuu maturity is 77 percent Superficially, the variance might appear negligible, hardly worth noting.
Yet, herein lay the crux of the matter—an intricacy of survival and demise. A mere fraction in purity could wield the power to shackle one's existence, a grim servitude or the final embrace of mortality, predicated on the dominance conferred by a shared lineage. ]
If Oga solely desires he could force Nuu to his death, with a single command.
This shackle applies to all with bloodlines.
With Black curtain activated an eerie silence, shrouding the surroundings in an unsettling hush. Even the rain made no sound.
This was the moment when the protective power of the Blood Vines, favored by wyverns was rendered null and void.
In the hushed stillness of the night, Oga's heart pounded with anxious anticipation, a thrilling mix of danger and excitement intertwining within him.
"Here they come," Oga thought to himself, feeling an unusual surge of excitement as he faced two formidable Rank 3 Ferocious Monsters. The crackling air around him hinted at the lethal power they possessed.
With adrenaline surging through his veins, Oga reached into his Flesh Pouch and retrieved a massive shadowsnout [Boar] a delicacy favored by wyverns during leisurely moments. With a swift draw of his blade, he cunningly executed a desperate plan to separate the two monsters.
The alluring scent of the succulent meat captured the attention of the female Greyscale, causing her electrified form to come to an abrupt standstill.
Towering at a remarkable four meters in height, the Greyscale exhibited a subtle sway in her colossal, elongated spinal tail. Her pupils dilated, and her mouth instinctively watered in response to the delectable morsel that Oga held within his grasp.
In a scene reminiscent of the playful interaction between a devoted canine and his human companion engaged in a game of fetch, Oga skillfully propelled the meat in a trajectory opposite to their current position.
Ensuring her engagement, Oga thoughtfully placed an additional layer of the Black Curtain over the succulent meat.
As she savored each delectable bite, a delicate yet potent sphere of soundproof enchantment enveloped her, cocooning her voluminous form and effectively partitioning her from the presence of her kin, Blackscale.
"Indeed, that should occupy her time," Oga mused, his mind turning towards Blackscale, a formidable figure. Despite his lips moistening in anticipation, he refrained from taking the bait, a trait his sister couldn't quite master.
"It is truly a pity," Oga mused, his words laced with a subtle sense of regret, "for you could have savored the exquisite delight of prime, meticulously graded meat."
Despite Oga's attempt to bridge the gap of understanding with the Blackscale wyvern before him, the only retort that graced his ears was a magnificent lightning bolt, thrusting forth with unrelenting intensity, aimed unswervingly at his very countenance.
The male wyvern displayed a cunning intellect that refused to be deceived by Oga's ploys. Unleashing relentless electrical blasts, it remained unyielding to any pathetic attempts at bribery.
Oga understood that a formidable strike, akin to the might of Thor's hammer, was bound to follow, threatening to crash down upon his head. Swiftly, he retreated, narrowly escaping.
Oga's keen eyes never left the female wyvern, although she couldn't hear their battle, that didn't mean attacks couldn't enter.
Oga's heart pounded with excitement and admiration for the creature's intelligence. With each attempt to draw near, the wyvern responded with a fearsome move known as the Raging Bullet—an attack that relentlessly tracked enemies, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Trees and rocks bore the brunt of the devastating attacks, but Oga's remarkable leap frog agility prevented Blackscale from pinning him down. The deadly dance between Oga and Blackscale seemed to stretch into eternity.
Each time the Raging Bullet was unleashed, Oga was forced to keep moving, dodging and evading the deadly onslaught.
Yet, his relentless efforts occasionally led him into the male wyvern's line of sight, facing scorching blasts of fiery breath.
Boom!
Beneath them, the very ground quivered under the weight of a formidable assault, sparking a momentary doubt within Oga's mind.
"Was it mere imagination, or did that scoundrel smirk?" Oga pondered quietly, his uncertainty fleeting.
For Oga, the path ahead was illuminated - he needed to draw upon more mana, unleashing crescent-shaped strikes that intercepted the encroaching lightning.
The collision of these two forces created a billowing smog, casting an eerie haze over the battlefield.
Oga's eyes widened as he finally deciphered Blackscale's strategic dance. The wyvern's confidence relied on its ranged barrage, a tactic it tenaciously clung to in order to deplete Oga's time and mana.
The longer the battle extended, the graver the situation became for Oga. This revelation left Oga momentarily speechless, prompting him to take immediate action.
A searing explosion erupted, serving as a timely smokescreen. Without a heartbeat's hesitation, Oga seized this opening, akin to a swift breeze propelling him forward.
The very air resonated with the clash of Blackscale's talon and Oga's blade, an agonized roar accompanying the wyverns forced to retreat in their frontal clash.
That slight retreat provided Oga with the opportunity he needed; his blade found its mark in the wyvern's right-wing, cleanly slicing it in half.
Searing pain enveloped Blackscale, causing it to thrash about, crimson staining the earth. Oga's unyielding assault was like a malevolent spirit taking possession, his strikes tearing into the writhing beast, leaving it unable to escape.
Amidst his fierce engagement, Oga remained acutely aware of the continuous threat posed by the insatiable female wyvern, engrossed in her gruesome meal.
Oga's movements flowed seamlessly, an orchestration guided by the very wind itself. His graceful sidestep elegantly dodged another crackling electric arc.
Blackscale seized a daring opportunity, hurtling directly towards the soaring Oga. A tremor reverberated through the atmosphere as a colossal tail swipe unfurled, its power capable of demolishing even the sturdiest fortress.
However, Oga stood unwavering, his forearm absorbing the tail's weight without yielding.
Blackscale's eyes widened, a mixture of incredulity and fear dancing within them. Its only thought was to flee, yet that notion was swiftly crushed before it could fully take form.
The human before it seized the monstrous tail and abruptly lifted, sending Blackscale hurtling toward the unyielding ground in a bone-rattling suplex.
A derisive huff escaped Oga's lips, his words cutting through the chaotic clash, exuding palpable frustration.
Blackscale's focus wavered for a fleeting moment, but Oga's wrath remained far from quenched. Descending like a vengeful specter, his blade arced down for the final cleaving of the wyvern's neck.
However, Blackscale refused to surrender to oblivion. With venomous determination, it channeled its dwindling energy into an assault aimed at the man who dared to challenge it.
"Futile effort!" Oga's voice dripped with exasperation as his legs propelled him away, manipulating the gusting wind to pivot his body and evade the pinpoint attack.
Blackscale glimpsed a momentary opening, conjuring another electric arc aimed not only at its sibling but also releasing a diversionary burst outside the ensuing maelstrom.
The intention was clear – shatter Oga's focus. Yet, as Blackscale's malevolent gambit unfolded, another ominous figure slithered forth from the shadows – Greyscale, a creature inherently inclined towards visceral confrontation.
With unwavering determination, Greyscale surged forward, an unrelenting harbinger of impending doom hurtling toward Oga's unsuspecting back.
"I cannot afford to be entangled in this," Oga thought, sensing the weight of time pressing down on him. With Blackscale's lone eye fixed on him and Greyscale relentlessly pursuing, he recognized the need for decisive action.
Harnessing half the power of his affinity, Oga unleashed an awe-inspiring Rank 3 spell – the Silent Breath.
It was a variant of the Silent Film, focusing more on his wind affinity. Greyscale's charging nature played into Oga's advantage, unlike Blackscale, who had used it to maintain distance.
The technique of the Silent Breath, akin to an astronaut gasping for air in the void of space, wielded a vacuum-like force that ruthlessly stripped atoms from the electrically charged wyvern.
The fearsome creature found herself gasping for breath, her struggles intensifying as she thrashed around, her attempts to escape only consuming more of her waning energy.
Ingeniously, Oga converted the surrounding oxygenated air into a makeshift bubble, ensuring his own survival.
Yet, the consequences of his power extended beyond the wyverns; all plant life within a two-mile radius began to wither and decay under the influence of this immense force.
As the wyvern's eyes rolled back, a sign of her impending defeat, Oga's heart raced within his chest. There was no room for hesitation. Swiftly, he moved to deliver the final blow to both adversaries.
With the sister headless and the brother torn asunder, Oga shifted his focus back to the nest. He couldn't help but ponder whether Blackscale, given the chance, would have evolved into a local tyrant.