Vladis's energy ran out of control as he was attacked. The mummy blood having messed up his senses enough during his training before he could explore it fully. The fairy Noin had slipped out somewhere, and still had not come back.
"Shit!" Vladis cursed as he slid back. The first merfolk that attacked paid for it instantly. A strike from the axe boosted by his anger, ripped through the body like toilet paper. Now angry, he started to lash out. "Fish soup time!"
The next slash created a small gale. The water turning in certain spots then churning in the opposite direction as the energy stirred everything up.
This only slowed the creatures down a little. Vladis pushed his mana out creating a few wraps from his sleeves. Instead of using them in a way to bind his opponents, he forced the wraps straight. Using them to stab the Merfolk with precision.
"Eh, worth a shot!" Vladis's attack barely pierced the outer scales. But it did create enough damage that blood seeped into the water a little. Instead of breaking the connection quickly, he forced more mana inside instead. 'Maybe a sudden jolt can cut some flesh off?'
The wraps tightened and harden. With a pull, more blood spilled in the water but no flesh. A long way to go to bring that up on some levels.
*Tap!* Vladis foot landed on a single Merfolk's head before he kicked off back into the air. Catching sight of so many now that was higher up again, it was best to expend mana then dig in for physical confrontation more.
With a wave of his hand, streams of light shot forward. Not really an attack but a means to push the enemy out of the water to get an accurate number of the stronger ones. The Merfolk, not taking chances moved around to avoid the perceived attack.
2-foot long light columns landed in the water. Mostly composed of loose mana and mental energy. An odd occurrence happened, however. The columns reacted to the blood in the water. Absorbing into the columns rattling the control Vladis had.
The water started to bubble just slightly from the blood heating up as essence was produced at a rapid pace.
*Woosh!* A net sailed through the air at Vladis. With a slight push, his telekinesis catching and sending it right back in an instant.
Several other merfolk put their nets away. Not wanting to waste them like the other did. They were not to stupid after all. Adapting pretty quickly from one instance. Telekinesis started to loose control due to the blood exposure.
A slight tickle in his mind broke his concentration. Almost sending him back into the water. Wanting to gain a little time to recuperate, he used Shift to move further away. But the tickle came once more.
Caused by the blood he moved himself further from. Vladis had a lot to learn about his new setup. His mind a bit of a mess.
*Scatter!* Vladis went further than the usual distance of his technique. His mana dropped to 0 next in the confusion. Landing against a small rock formation, he was pissed with himself.
"Well damn it!" Vladis felt his skin tighten as his body rebelled once more. The Mummy blood active with the few traces of Merfolk blood that entered with the essence that pulled in. "Argh!" The fang pushed outward. His gums itching slightly.
Information assaulting his mind on what he could do as a Vampire. But information on Mummy's hitting against it. A fight for dominance in his mind taking place.
"I was stupid and careless!" Vladis admonished himself. Having thought it would be so simple to abate the Mummy blood until later when he time. He just didn't know that the Vampire blood would react in such a way. 'Not making this mistake again!'
As he works to settle down, he made sure to make a note in his game logs. A notification would remind him the next time he received blood from a powerful source to deal with it quickly.
Usually, this was meant for reminders about sales and custom item releases, some family events, and stuff. Day-to-day things that could be used to help in-game.
*Boop!* A small light popped above his head. The Fairy Queen appeared for a moment with an egg. The out-of-control energy flowed towards the egg in an instant. It shined brightly then the Queen and the egg returned to his hair.
Noin flew around Vladis head for a little bit, then poked his forehead. A bit of his game code was blocked from server logs.
'I know a swimming technique.. just have to remember it!' Vladis gritted his teeth a little. His fangs cutting a little into his flesh. Absently, he licked the blood away. 'Got it!' As he rembered the swimming motions, the Merfolk blood activated.
(User has acquired a racial ability. Error detected! Personal knowledge combining with lock ability. Error Detected!)
(Error Detected! Confliction.. resolve found!)
(Swimming Affinity acquired: Grants the User the ability to move in water as if on land. No additional ability awarded.)
Vladis felt it was odd but left it alone. No new anything but he could feel what he rembered for his swimming changing in a way. A slight glare going towards Noin as she was the only one that could do something like this.
'It is for your protection.' Noin thought to him quickly. 'Better than you having a high attainment in the swimming technique. As well as having a racial ability from another race so quickly.' She shook her little head at him. 'What was gained from the mummy won't bring anything up really, but this would be odd.'
'Yeah... makes sense. However, I rather not get nerfed or handicapped.' Vladis thought back. The difference in what he knew and how he played would cause to much of an issue to fight against his instincts. 'This training area should be the perfect place for me to lay the foundation of what I learned and apply it.'
Noin said nothing as she watched him work.
Vladis thought about his first weapon previously. The use of the sword that he had to give up due to medical reasons. His use of the axe was high up there, but he always wondered how high he would go with a sword.
*Swirl!* With a pull of the mental energy he recovered so far, it spun into a shape. A simple longsword made of Telekinetic energy. Small traces of water essence inside.
(User has developed Sword Understanding, Gathering Rank XII)
(User has developed Sword Intent, Pillar Forming Rank XII)
(User has developed Sword Manifestation, Realization Rank XII)
(User has devloped Sword Creation, Reformation Rank XII)
All the energy that generated was forced inside of his body to battle the Mummy Blood. If it would not yield completely, he would destroy it. But that was not needed.
As if facing a natural enemy, the Mummy blood calmed down and was devoured by the Vampire blood along with the Merfolk blood. As well as small traces of Fairy blood somehow.
No stats were awarded due to Noin's interference. She created a glitch in the logs to reflect what happened. Any check would show that Vladis was contemplating something from an encounter with the fairies, specifically, the Fairy Queen when a system glitch allowed him to understand the sword better with his own knowledge but not give any benefits.
'A bit of compensation will come quickly on the matter.' Noin thought seeing the scowl on Vladis. She was right. As no sooner did she finish, Vladis received additional essences as compensation. But it was volatile and dangerous to absorb. 'Perfect for someone like you.'
Swirls of essence left the Fairy Ring and the surroundings next. This gave the Merfolk a trail to follow now, but they would have to travel a ways to reach him. The water turning even more turbulent for the natives.
As Vladis pushed the confines of his cultivation to gain control of the essence, he floated into the air to take it all in. He was greedy but justly so. The Mummy blood was calling for a type of hunger as it was absorbed into his Vampire blood finally. Strengthening him in the process as a vampire.
'The unknown always causes issues. Not like I have refined something like this before.' Vladis thought it over for a moment. Slightly admonishing himself at thinking it would be the same as other energy. 'If not for this blasted merfolk, I could enjoy studying all this blood had to offer.'
If he did not control it well enough, he would shoot up onto a dangerous path quickly. Which was not going to happen if he could help it. His fangs retreated, giving a great bit of relief.
With an experienced mind, the energy was pulled under his control and accepted. A small percentage of the Mummy Blood trace would remain. Identifying him to members of the race to keep issues from happening. His own power as a vampire was tempered due to the age of it.
*Schlick!* Fangs poked out wanting to drink blood from anyone or anything until the final drops were removed from the very bones. The Bloodfeed was a power like no other, and could only be tamed with understanding, trial and error, and... satiating it.
Right now, the understanding was taking place as Blood Memories from the Mummy circulated in his mind. Her history was that of decadence and a bit of a spoiled princess. However, in her young adult years, she wised up.
Dealing with a plague by those with a terrible aim for her country turned her into a hard leader quickly. But she did not crumble. No, she excelled and turned into a prominent leader. Crushing her foes and righting several wrongs within her own kingdom.
Even one that came about due to her young foolishness in the past. Her people rallied to her side and worked together. But a few never forgot the past and turned into a "Shadow Guard."
Shadow Guard to stay mindful of signs of corruption. At her death, the people couldn't let go. The body was preserved with various magics after the mummification process.
The successor did adequate but the grandchild did not. Committing the worst acts in the first month in power. It did not last longer than that, as the Shadow Guard swept in ripping him and his confidants apart. The people wept and cried.
Not of sadness, but of joy. Their joy was a type of magic that clung to the body. Even in death. it reached into the afterlife over time, and searched for the past Queen.
A curse formed from the killed monarch. But the former Queen did not let it go untouched. From beyond, she reached out and dragged her descendants' soul into the afterlife and destroyed him. Power radiated bringing her corpse to life from the act.
The people watched as their beloved leader returned and instructed them on ways to better themselves. Taking an advisor role after receiving a blood offering. After some time it was discovered the entire country had changed due to this.
Close to death, bandages would form around the bodies, giving them a new life. Creating the first mummies. Those alive started the mummification process to get away from the throes of life. Feeding on essence to sustain themselves.
In less than a 1000 years, everyone within the country were mummies. But a problem arose after an invasion. A neighboring country jealous of the peace and prosperity of the lush country attacked. Wanting to steal the bountiful land since they no longer needed it to sustain themselves.
Unwilling to share with the mummies due to various reasons. The predominant one, that they were those that cheated death. The Druidic Country still feels to this day the error of their ways. Their dead hounded even in the afterlife from what they had done from killing the innocent.
'That was a lot of info.' Vladis came to and noticed he was floating in the air with wisps of clear essences around him. They were infused with traces of water. "Ok.." Vladis was slightly confused but the combat log left no trail. He was now descending over an ocean. 'I would need more of her blood to find out what is going on. But... I am not going back there. Something to look into later. Seems pretty interesting anyway.'
The lore he learned was enough to placate any anger he currently had. Noin floated around then landed in his hair once more. Content that the sour mood was gone. Only a small passing thought on the progress of the Heroine and how she handled things that were given to deal with.
"Swimming yay." Vladis took a breath and dropped down into the water. The idea of jumping forward using mana was thrown out the window. Moving to the next area not to far away was better. "Need to push this blood issue before moving on though."