"What's the catch? Tell me," Eclipse inquired, his tone filled with curiosity and a hint of anxiety.
"The catch, my dear Eclipse, is that for every life you grant, there's a price to pay. It might be your own life, or the life of someone you hold dear. That's the fun part, hehehe. A little game of fate, you see," The Soulshifter responded with a sinister delight in its voice.
Eclipse was momentarily shocked, contemplating the steep cost of granting someone life using the Soulshifter. It equated to the number of days of his own life, combined with the tally of souls the dagger had absorbed.
This was a question about the value of life - whether it was his own or someone dear to him. As he pondered further, Eclipse arrived at a resolute decision.
Even if it meant sacrificing his own life, it no longer held the same significance as before. He had been granted a new life by his master, and now he was prepared to give it back, all for the sake of his master's cause.
With determination burning in his heart, he summoned the courage to approach Bong.
"Master, I want to say something... I have a way to revive the boss, if...." Eclipse knelt before his master, determination in his heart.
"Do it. I don't need to know anymore, Eclipse. I trust you completely, as you well know," Before Eclipse could finish his sentence, Bong interrupted him, his voice filled with hope.
A tense atmosphere filled the Dungeon as Bong gently placed the boss on the floor, stepping back to give Eclipse space. Eclipse, mustering all the courage he could find, summoned a dagger into his hand and seated himself in front of the boss. It was a moment fraught with uncertainty, as this was the first time he had attempted such a thing.
As Eclipse sat down, a palpable tension hung in the air. He summoned the dagger and with a resolute look on his face, he drove it into the boss's core. What followed was an eerie and intense moment.
A swirling vortex of dark souls and shadows enveloped the boss, The cries of tormented souls echoed in the chamber as they were inexorably drawn into the boss's essence, a haunting chorus of agony. It was a ritual that defied the laws of nature, a transfer of life that came at a price known only to Eclipse and the Soulshifter.
"Ding... ding... hehehe, it is done. Now, just wait and oops... with the souls you had, I can only grant 12 hours of life... hehe... and now I will take your 12 hours of life..." The Soulshifter's voice took on a chilling and malevolent tone, a disturbing combination that sent shivers down Eclipse's spine.
"Eclipse, did it succeed? Is she all right?" Bong's voice trembled with a mix of hope and anxiety.
"Yes, Master. But... I could only grant her 12 hours of life." Eclipse, his eyes heavy with emotion, turned to face his master.
[ALERT]
[Master, this is enough for now. We can try again. If the transformation succeeds this time and she recovers, she can reclaim her life by feeding on human blood, as she is a vampire]
After hearing the System's message, Bong burst into laughter, his eerie laughter filling the entire Dungeon.
"Eclipse, there's no need for sorrow. Your actions suffice and more. Remember, my dear, vampires can extend their lifespan through the consumption of human blood," Bong reassured Eclipse.
As Bong initiated the process again, a profound change overtook the weakened boss. Her body seemed to absorb the surrounding shadows, and a newfound strength surged within her. The once feeble and lifeless figure began to emanate an eerie, ethereal aura. Gradually, color returned to her ashen skin, and her eyes, once dull, now gleamed with a crimson light.
She took her first breath, gasping for air as if being reborn. The chains that had once bound her fell to the ground, shattered by an unseen force. Her transformation was complete, and she had been granted a new lease on life, not as a victim but as a creature of the night.
[ALERT]
[Companion Obtained]
[Name : Sirena Bloodmoon ]
[Level : 200]
[Race : Nocturne Sanguina]
[Blood : Pure blood]
She gradually opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Bong's face. She weakly attempted to shake his hand a little, and then she brought her hand to her head, her expression showing a hint of discomfort, as if her heart was hurting a little.
After a brief moment, she drifted back to sleep. It was evident that she was incredibly weak, likely due to her extended time in the Dungeon's imprisonment. Bong understood her condition and realized that she needed more time to recover.
As Bong carried her on his back, he instructed Eclipse to make another attempt to leave. With their first step forward, they felt no resistance, and no alerts interrupted their progress.
[ALERT]
[You received a special reward item for clearing the dungeon: the "Forbidden Blood"]
[Forbidden Blood: A mysterious elixir that, when consumed, increases the user's level and grants them one random skill]
As Bong and Eclipse exited the Dungeon, the forest around them felt strangely empty. They had dealt with anyone who had dared to enter, leaving it silent and devoid of guards or adventurers.
And also Seraphina, who had been away gathering intelligence and building alliances with the Silverwood faction, finally returned. She descended from the sky and landed nearby.
And as Seraphina laid her eyes on Bong carrying the vampire girl, a wave of complex emotions swept over her. Her gaze widened with surprise, and her lips slightly pursed as her eyebrows subtly knitted together. Her normally confident demeanor wavered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty.
"Master, who is she? Um... huh huh... who... is she?" Seraphina's voice wavered slightly as she tried to maintain her composure, but her curiosity and unease were evident in her words.
She glanced towards the vampire girl, her gaze filled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. A subtle tremor ran through her legs, making her stance a bit unsteady, as if the presence of the new girl on Bong's back had thrown her off balance.
While Bong and Seraphina remained unaware of the unfolding events, Eclipse, left alone with his sinister companion, became the target of the Soulshifter's intentions.
"Hehe, it's time for my payment. Now, what do you hold dear, I wonder?" The Soulshifter's voice took on a sinister tone.
"It's quite obvious, isn't it? Your master, the one you hold dear. I'll claim 12 years of his life in exchange for the 12 hours I granted," It chuckled darkly.
"What? No! What are you doing? I thought you'd take my years, not my Master's! I dare not to do such a thing!" Eclipse protested desperately.