Clay's death hit everyone hard, especially his mentor, Old Man Julius. The sudden loss of his favorite apprentice left the old alchemist puzzled. Being a wise potion mixer, he sensed that there had to be a reason behind Clay's swift decline in Stamina and Health. Determined to unveil the truth, Old Man Julius started his investigation.
His quest for the truth will set him on a path of danger and conspiracy.
Becoming a Grandmaster Alchemist in the human empire is no small feat; it's a big deal. Their significance in society is undeniable, making it a coveted title for most alchemists. Old Man Julius recognized that his newfound position as a Grandmaster Alchemist could be leveraged to gather crucial information.
He sensed that his student's death wasn't just a random event; foul play was in the mix. He knew Clay wouldn't go down quickly unless there was some tricky business involved. After reaching the prestigious Grandmaster realm and gaining social influence, Julius started his quest for connections to his student's mysterious death. With little leads to follow, he reached out to an old buddy deeply involved in the criminal underworld.
At first glance, Julius appeared to have a straightforward mission—uncover the truth and expose the wrongdoers. However, this honorable pursuit took an unexpected twist as he was caught up in a conspiracy, a conspiracy that could even endanger a whole Kingdom.
"Long time, Julius. How have you been?" greeted a cloaked figure donned in a hooded uniform, a contact Grandmaster Julius had traveled 4 kilometers to meet.
"Skip the niceties and spill the beans," Grandmaster Julius sharply retorted, urgency evident in his demeanor and posture, clearly uncomfortable in this unfamiliar territory.
Two months back, upon achieving the prestigious title of Grandmaster Alchemist, Grandmaster Julius enlisted the help of an old confidant ruling over a faction of the Rainy Kingdom's underworld. In a deal where he provided pills at a manufacturing cost rather than the market rate, Grandmaster Julius tasked his friend with uncovering intel about the person or persons behind the acquisition of a bone-chilling poison.
When the hunting party returned with the grim news of Clay's demise, Grandmaster Julius refused to succumb to panic. Instead, he methodically analyzed the situation, drawing upon his years of living with Clay. Aware of Clay's formidable abilities, Grandmaster Julius found it baffling that stamina depletion had led to his death. His deduction pointed to the use of the bone-chilling poison.
"You're not as entertaining as you used to be, Julius," The cloaked figure said in a friendly tone.
"Anyway, around a month before the hunting expedition, the Teye Family heir acquired a vial of bone-chilling poison through an unofficial channel linked to one of my rivals. He paid enough to erase his name from the transaction, but secrets don't stay buried forever in the underworld.
Pausing for emphasis, he continued, "But you and I both know the Teye Family doesn't favor poisons for killing their enemies. This might not be as straightforward as it appears. I think someone manipulated him into getting that poison, and I also think you know who..."
"Celina," Julius confirmed, his expression a mix of contemplation and confusion. "It can't be true; Celina loved my disciple, so she couldn't have played a part in this."
"Don't be too trusting, Julius. People have done unimaginable things to their loved ones for much less. Murder for access to the Deity of War tomb is no exception. The Pity family, masters of mind games, played one with Clay, and sadly, he got entangled. Putting trust in the wrong person cost him his life.
"But that's not the only reason for our meeting today. I'm here to caution you, Julius. Either drop this mission or move forward with extreme care. Things might not be as straightforward as you think."
******
While Grandmaster Julius and the cloaked figure continue their discussion, Rasoul still seating in his lotus posture has smile all over his face as he continue to stare at the messages he received after the intense leveling up he did.
[New Abilities:]
[Imitate: Passive]
>> The Host now possesses the uncanny ability to seamlessly replicate the fighting style of any being, having observed it just once.
>> The Host can elevate and perfect the copied fighting style by assimilating additional techniques.
>> The more the Host follows, the swifter and more comprehensively he can absorb and apply the acquired skills.
Note: The Host is strongly urged to enhance his intelligence to expedite comprehension speed, unlocking the full potential of the Imitate ability.
Ding...
[Musika: Sonic Mastery - Unlocked]
>> The Host can now manipulate emotions and the physical and metaphysical aspects of individuals and Beast kinds through music.
>> Employing any musical instrument, the Host can swiftly and precisely alter emotions, regardless of the target's mental state.
>> The Host can unleash sonic attacks on the souls of others, inducing profound effects, provided the Host's soul strength surpasses that of the target.
Note: The Host strongly recommends employing Soul Gaze to assess the target's soul strength before utilizing Musika's advanced capabilities. Experimentation is encouraged to unlock the full spectrum of this Sonic Mastery.
[The Host is advised to maximize attributes and absorb one of the available blood essences for optimal development.]
'Will I acquire blood essence from all the wills I possess?
[Yes, the blood essence will become accessible once the Host meets the requirement.]
'What requirement are we talking about here?
[Why don't you focus on absorbing this one and forget about future problems]
'Chill Girl, no need to be that harsh. I choose to absorb the Golden bloodline first; please initiate the absorption process.
[Acknowledged]
Ding...
[Bloodline absorption system activated]
[Blood essence absorption commencing... Time remaining until completion: 2 hours]
[It is recommended that the Host maintain a lotus position throughout the absorption process.]
*****
Simultaneously, in a remote location far from the capital of the Rainy Kingdom, the ongoing meeting between Grandmaster Julius and the mysterious figure continued.
"What do you mean by nothing is as simple as it seems?" queried Grandmaster Julius in a curious tone.
"Nothing to worry about; just exercise caution out there," replied the figure, adopting a carefree demeanor.
"I don't possess much patience, Matthew. What do you mean by 'nothing is as simple as it seems'?" Grandmaster Julius asked again, a frown wrinkling his face.
"You're not as entertaining as you used to be, Julius. Anyway, two weeks ago, the underworld had a meeting with all seven heads of the great families. The gathering was linked to an event scheduled at the Opening of the Tomb. Although I was not granted access, I gleaned a few details. The great families have uncovered something monumental, and they all desire it. Your student's death and this meeting are not mere coincidences. I think something big will happen in this year's Opening of the tomb, and the seven great families throughout the empire will do anything to have it.
"If heirs of noble families are resorting to murder for entry, envision the repercussions if other kingdoms take action. I'm uncertain about the underworld's motives, but nothing good comes from dealings with them. Tread carefully, Julius; it's dangerous to walk into forbidden territories."
*****
Meanwhile, back in the forest, nearly two hours later...
Ding...
[Absorption complete]
[Bloodline integrated: 10%]
[Host is advised to absorb the essence gradually as he ascends in ranks for optimal effects]
Ding...
[Abilities unlocked]
[Golden Body: Passive]
- The Host's body is now one with the blood essence of The Golden Tiger.
>> Host's defense increased by 200%
>> Host's charm has elevated
>> The Tigerkin species will regard the Host as royalty.
[Thunder Domain: Active]
- Lightning and thunder mastery extend control over the battlefield
>> The Host can create a 200-meter encirclement on the battlefield, continuously showering thunder down,
>> The Host's lightning-based abilities receive a 300% boost within this domain
- Duration: 10 mins
"Wow, I feel revitalized. Bloodlines are truly extraordinary. I can hardly wait to witness the effects of absorbing the remaining bloodlines." Julius said, his face beaming with satisfaction.
Glancing upward, he continued, "To whomever you may be, thank you. I pledge to use this power judiciously and unleash its utmost potential." He thanked the one that left the Golden Tiger bloodline
The path Rasoul is traversing harbors the potential to unlock the full capabilities of these bloodlines. The divine warrior physique, in particular, behaves like a cultivation method. The more levels unlock in its mastery, the higher the chances of enhancing and even purifying bloodlines.
[The Host can now absorb the God of War blood essence]
'Start the process.'
[Blood essence absorption initiated... Time remaining until completion: 3 hours]
[The Host is advised to maintain a lotus position throughout Absorption.]
Rasoul remained in the lotus position, eyes closed, as the bloodline absorption started. The transformative changes occurring in Rasoul's body would undoubtedly astonish any observer. Shapes began manifesting on his physique, muscles sculpted into a defined six-pack, and his once-colored hair transitioned into a snowy white, fashioned into a dreadlock ponytail. His external appearance continued to refine, exuding an intimidating aura.
After 3 hours
Ding...