The gamble for the bloodline proceeded with relative ease and a lighthearted atmosphere among the candidate and his assistant. Nina hovered with her little finger teetering over the edge of the wheel, and Hunter idly lounged around without anything productive to do.
As they waited for the rotation to halt, the two delved deeper into the particulars surrounding the bloodline perk. Nina mentioned that this perk was also classified into thirteen tiers akin to the army one, giving Hunter an idea as to what kind of quality to expect from the final result.
The lowest tier was dubbed Mundane and the loftiest tier was called Apotheos, these were bloodlines of races that governed the multiverse and its laws. Hunter was exceptionally interested in races with these so-called Apotheos bloodlines and pestered Nina for even an iota of information, but all he received was silence and a few stinging comments. Nina explicitly stated that any untoward mention of such species to lower-level lifeforms was blasphemy, and unless Hunter assimilated with one of those bloodlines he was forbidden from learning about them.
Nina also slyly insinuated that the bloodline coursing through Hunter's veins, even after being invigorated and fundamentally strengthened through body reconstruction, would barely be considered a Mundane-tier bloodline, if even.
During the conversation, the subject veered to the influence bloodline could have on an individual's fighting ability and its viability in a brutal conflict. Although Hunter understood the power of a potent bloodline through Nina's explanation, he remained skeptical as to its sway on the war's final result. He postulated that those Exalted candidates slapped with double-digit penalties would undoubtedly carry rather high-tier lineages, so acquiring a bloodline through the wager didn't seem like the most profitable of scenarios.
Nina recited a tale in response to demonstrate the importance of this perk.
It was an anecdote Nina had heard from one of her more experienced assistant friends. It featured a random candidate who had been judged worthy of receiving eight perks, a member of a moderately weak civilization. Although this candidate's perk acquisition journey had been one riddled with misfortune, one of the final perks this candidate stumbled into was the bloodline one, and it was an unspecified perk, calling for a wager.
Not risking everything on their inconsistent luck, the candidate's bet was simple and straightforward. The candidate wagered that the definitive compartment amongst a few hundred wouldn't hold the lowest-tier bloodline, and they would forfeit the perk if they lost. Against all expectations, they managed to secure a relatively mighty bloodline, that of the Zenith tier, the eleventh rank out of the thirteen. Based on that single attribute, they managed to make a name for themselves across the battlefield. Though they were nowhere close to the strongest, it still demonstrated the impact a high-tier perk could have.
Listening to the story and the conclusion, Hunter couldn't help but reevaluate his miraculous talent and circumstances. A heartfelt sigh of reassurance escaped his soul as he was made aware for the Nth time that his position was one that nonillions would envy. Nina had offhandedly declared that if certain existences could run rampant with a single high-tier perk and nothing else, then Hunter, as someone who had already accumulated an impressive repertoire of perks with endless potential in the remaining five would surely succeed in the cutthroat realm of warfare.
Albeit it didn't do much to diminish Hunter's apprehension at being coerced to partake in a war where he would presumably stake his life while being ignorant of the intricacies, he was at least soothed by the fact that his talent made his situation comparatively agreeable. As the conversation flowed, Nina recounted a couple more anecdotes, but this time involving those belonging to relatively high-tier species.
The dichotomy between multiversal juggernauts that thundered through the incomprehensibly vast cosmos unimpeded and Hunter, an existence from a relatively peaceful community with meager strength, going against those very mammoths with nothing but a promise from a tiny fairy-like assistant and some words on a holographic screen truly tore at his consciousness from two directions.
Such introspections populated Hunter's mind as the wheel came to a screeching halt. Hunter was preoccupied to such an absurd degree that even an event that could potentially cost him everything except his life managed to escape his attention.
[Candidate {Hunter Tamaniel} has been granted {Fyn'tharyn Sorvhaleth Bloodline} ]
[Description: ???]
"Huh?"
The flashing text blaring at his retina startled Hunter out of his idle wonderment, but the words didn't do much to paint a comprehensive picture. The question marks themselves were what they were, and Hunter couldn't even pretend to be surprised anymore, but the bloodline's name did elicit a gasp of surprise from his throat.
"F-fyntha- Fynthai- What the hell?"
Hunter attempted to enunciate the name several more times, but his tongue just refused to roll in that manner. According to Nina, every linguistic piece he had been exposed to during his time in this space had been translated for him, and even though many translations failed to capture the true intended essence, the system was necessary for a candidate's comprehension.
Hunter gazed at Nina for an explanation. She had departed the lottery wheel's side and was gliding over to him with her arm outstretched, clearly aiming for the bag of chocolate-covered peanuts in his arms. Hunter didn't resist and allowed Nina to collect the bag. Nina twirled in the air with the bag and settled on Hunter's lap, her mouth immediately overrun with the sugary treats.
"So?"
Hunter urged as he chuckled at Nina's squirrel-like visage.
"That's the name of the species~" Nina managed to string together a line of words before she dove into the bag again. "It doesn't have a translation in Hunter's language~!"
Hunter scratched his chin and fell into contemplation. Be it the battlefield tokens, armies, or the location, these were benifits he wouldn't truly experience the gravity of before reaching the battlefield. Hunter still felt a little detached from the concept since all indications of a 'perk' had been some text on a floating screen and Nina's exaggeratory words.
Bloodline would be the first perk Hunter could directly gauge the effectiveness of. This would be the perk that would demonstrate the true significance of his talent and all those question marks his rewards were shrouded in.
"Ah, alright. What now? Are you going to ask a supervisor again?"
"Hehe~ This time Nina won't need to ask a supervisor~! Nina knows about this species~!"
Nina cheerfully hollered and inhaled a few peanuts in her excitement. She was immensely pleased at the prospect of finally having answers for Hunter. Before Hunter could ask a question, Nina audibly swallowed and continued.
"Nina received a message from the Overseer~ The procedure is being prepared, so Hun—"
Nina's long ears twitched and she closed her eyes. She communicated for a few dozen seconds before raising her eyelids, her expression apologetic.
"The Overseer sends their apologies~ Normally the process is instantaneous, but Hunter's bestowal will have to be delayed for some time~"
Nina adorably bowed, but the chocolaty stains around her mouth dampened the impact. Her words caused Hunter to narrow his eyes in worry.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"This particular bloodline is secured exceptionally heavily, and Mother is the only one who can authorize the bestowal~ Hunter does not need to worry though, there aren't any problems~! The assimilation should commence in a few minutes, the notification will be displayed on Hunter's terminal~!"
"Is that so...?"
Hunter didn't have many options regardless of his thoughts on the matter. He just relaxed and allowed Nina to rest her back on his abdomen.
"Aren't you going to inform me about this species? I should know what bloodline I am merging with, right?"
"Mm~? Nina will do so after Hunter successfully undergoes the procedure~ Remember when Nina mentioned that learning about these races without assimilating with their bloodlines is considered blasphemy?"
"Huh? But I already have the bloodline? It's just that the procedure hasn't gone through, right?"
"That is how it works, Hunter~ Nina can't do anything about it~"
Hunter gazed down at Nina and questioned with astonishment. He couldn't wrap his head around the argument.
"Seems like a stupid system..."
"Hmph~ Hunter should be grateful to Nina~! Normally Nina wouldn't be privy to such confidential information and Hunter would have to wait for a supervisor response like the previous issues~!"
Hunter's comment seemed to have set Nina off as she voiced her displeasure with her arms crossed and cheeks puffed.
"Nina is knowledgeable about this particular species since one of Nina's seniors explained them extensively to Nina~! And rather than being happy Hunter is mouthing off about stupid this and stupid that~!"
'Isn't that her job, though?'
Although Hunter had such thoughts, he would rather defuse the situation than argue with the tiny nonsense machine.
"I-I got it, okay, calm down..."
Hunter retrieved more snacks from the pile and stuffed them into Nina's arms to calm her down.
The two engaged in idle banter as the inevitable time for the bloodline assimilation dawned upon Hunter.
[Commencing the bestowal of {Fyn'tharyn Sorvhaleth Bloodline} to candidate Hunter Tamaniel.]
Only a dozen or so minutes had elapsed when the notification lit up Hunter's holographic window, seizing the duo's attention. Nina had spent the time hounding Hunter on how excruciating the process would be, sometimes passing it off as a joke and at other times stating it with an incomparably serious demeanor. Now, Hunter didn't know if she had successfully played a prank or would the process be as unbearable as Nina had claimed.
"Is it really gonna hurt that bad?"
Hunter apprehensively mumbled under his breath as the impending crisis ultimately punctured his indifferent facade. The unrelenting vicious torment of the body reconstruction process still lingered in his body and conciousness even though his brain had done its best to erase most of the memories of that experience to keep his sanity intact.
"Hehe~ It's only going to hurt at the start~ Then Hunter will pass out from the discomfort~ Unless Hunter regains conciousness from the pain multiple times, Hunter should be fine~"
Nina chuckled with schadenfreude as her eyes turned into crescents. Hunter swallowed nervously as Nina zipped around him, giggling all the way, adding to his trepidation.
Voooom!
Suddenly, a piercing sound from overhead attracted Hunter's gaze, and what he witnessed made him drop his jaw in stupefaction and dread.