"Where the hell am I?" Opening his eyes, Kang found himself in a different place compared to before, yet not entirely different. The same shallow sea of blood that had been absorbed into the mask now submerged his feet, with thick drops of blood continuing to rain from above. Kang's confusion faded instantly as the familiar panel appeared in front of his face.
[Ding!]
[Trial Quest: Defeat the 1st Blood Knight or earn his approval]
[Rewards: {Humankind -> Bloodkind Race}, {Class: Blood Knight (F)}]
[Failure Punishment: True Death]
"A system? I thought those were only in games and fiction. But how am I supposed to defeat him when I can't even see him?" Making up his mind, Kang dismissed the panel in front of him. Suddenly, the shallow blood at his feet began forming into tendrils, clawing at each other before shaping into a humanoid figure much taller than Kang, and somehow far older.
The figure's pitch-black pupils had a soft red hue beneath them. Thick, silver hair flowed from both sides of his head, forming a lion's mane. While the figure bore a lion's head, the rest of his body was entirely human, dressed in a blue suit similar to what Strife wore.
"Welcome to the Blood Memories, stranger. I'm Argon, the first Blood Knight."
"As you may already know, either you defeat me and return me to the blood realms, stealing my powers, or you earn my recognition by impressing me."
"Shall we proceed?" Tilting his head, Argon beckoned Kang to prepare himself before continuing, "As a courtesy, I will grant you a weapon and refrain from using any abilities against you in the first duel. So, tell me, what weapon do you prefer?"
"A short sword will do." Although Kang wasn't confident he could defeat his opponent on the first attempt, especially since he didn't know Argon's swordsmanship, swordsmanship was an art his clan was renowned for.
Without a word, Argon muttered something quietly, causing the blood to rise from the shallow sea, forming a short, crimson sword in front of Kang.
Choosing decisiveness, Kang grabbed the sword and rushed toward Argon. Although the sword was heavier than anything he had wielded before, it didn't stop him from taking the initiative to attack.
Closing in, Kang dragged the sword before swinging it with all his might at Argon, slicing him in half. Elated by his victory, Kang took a breath while eyeing the corpse below. However, it didn't take long for him to realize something was wrong when the system failed to acknowledge his victory—Argon's clapping sound echoed around him.
"Impressive, but not enough. I can certainly tell you have some talent," Argon said, lying flat on the bloody ground as tendrils formed from the ends of his severed parts, reattaching them and restoring his body to normal.
"Try again. You might really defeat me this time," Argon said, standing up as he watched Kang back away. He beckoned for Kang to charge once more.
"No, if that didn't count as a defeat, then what will? Does it mean I have to defeat you when you're going all out? Otherwise, I don't see any other way," Kang asked, ignoring Argon's taunting. He was unwilling to engage in another fight until he got an answer.
"Hah! Clever one, aren't you? Yes, to truly defeat me and gain my power, you must earn your victory while I'm fighting at full strength. I can't remain defensive. That's why there's another option."
"Of course, we can skip to the final duel right away if you wish."
"I'm coming!!!" Kang shouted, taking an offensive stance, intent on ending it quickly. Out of nowhere, his vision began to spin before fading to black.
"That was your first death. You've got nine more before you're considered a failure." Argon's voice greeted Kang as he stood up, surprised to find his head back on his shoulders.
'Matching his speed isn't an option. A sneak attack might be better in this situation. But would it count if it's a sneak attack?' Unable to figure out the rules on his own, Kang decided to ask Argon directly, since he knew better.
"Negative, it won't count if you kill me by surprise. Otherwise, you're fine to use it as an advantage to get ahead. Of course, I won't punish you like before unless you make a mistake, so learn!"
"Simply don't announce your attack to your opponent. Understood?"
"Yes, thank you!" Bowing deeply in respect, Kang heard Argon's voice once more, urging him to come at him and pick up his sword again.
"Slashing isn't all you can do with a sword. Didn't your elders teach you that?" Kang relentlessly attacked with his family's sword art, but his flurry of strikes was interrupted by a stab that pierced his stomach, dropping him to the ground.
"Your blind slashing is flawed. Get up, and I'll show you how to slash correctly." Argon pulled his sword free, and Kang fell motionless before the blood healed him back to perfect health.
"Eight more attempts. Come at me," Argon said, waving his hand and taking a defensive stance. Kang charged again, as fast as he could.
"This is how you slash!" After calmly defending against Kang's attacks, Argon swiftly moved behind him, leaving a large wound on his back.
"You observe your opponent and attack their blind and defenseless spots. Seven more attempts. Get up and fight!"
Kang stood up, nodding at his opponent. He made up his mind to change his strategy and make his attacks less predictable. Charging at Argon, Kang started with a slash but quickly altered it by shifting to the side, exposing Argon's back.
As he drove his sword toward his opponent, Kang was surprised when a sword rose from the sea below, protecting Argon's blind spot.
"Impressive! You learn fast, don't you? A little more and we can improve your reaction speed. But that's it—six more attempts." Argon said as hundreds of spikes materialized around Kang, trapping him in the center.
"FUC—" Kang screamed, realizing he had no escape from the spikes surrounding him as the spears lunged at him, piercing almost every part of his body. It made him wonder whether he could fight against something like that or not. Was this fight even fair to begin with?
***
"Reaction speed, was it? But this... I think it was a bit unnecessary," Kang grumbled as he woke up again, glancing at the spike formation near him, the place where he had previously died.
"It saddens me to say this, but it will happen every time from now on. Unless you figure out a way out on your own, I'm afraid you will truly die." Hearing Argon's words, Kang sank into deep thought, contemplating a better strategy to defeat his opponent.
'Even if I can't defeat him, maybe I shouldn't stop trying. Perhaps I can impress him more and earn his approval.'
'Hmm… not a bad idea. Although I doubt it will work, given the difference in our strength, I might at least be able to disarm him.'
Resolving himself, Kang took an offensive stance once more and charged at his opponent. However, instead of attacking with his sword, Kang threw his full weight behind it, crashing into Argon in an attempt to knock him over. Although it didn't work, Argon lost his balance, giving Kang the opportunity to snatch the sword from his hands. Kang quickly dashed back, distancing himself—only to find the jagged spikes waiting for him again.
"Good, good, good. But you repeated the same mistake, and then added another on top of it." Clapping softly, Argon spoke, impressed by Kang's progress, before casually announcing how many attempts Kang had left.
Standing up, Kang thought carefully about his previous actions. The problem was clear: his disengagement was too predictable, allowing Argon to exploit his recovery time.
'I wonder what he'll do if I try the same thing again, but with a twist to avoid unnecessary punishment...' A while later, Kang began his fifth attempt. This time, instead of pushing Argon away, he stabbed his opponent's sword hand, causing him to drop the weapon with a barely audible clatter.
Remembering what had happened before, Kang quickly dashed back and rolled violently in the right direction to avoid the spikes. Hearing Argon's approving claps, Kang smiled in relief—only to have his vision filled with a large foot before he blacked out again.
"Four left. You've solved one problem, which is admirable. As a reward, I'll tell you what you did wrong this time."
"Simply put, if you disarm your opponent, take the opportunity to attack again. Don't disengage when your opponent is vulnerable." As Kang's body reformed and the blood brought him back to life, Argon lifted his sword and continued speaking.
For his fourth attempt, Kang repeated some of his previous actions with subtle changes, this time planning to steal Argon's weapon and use it against him.
It seemed Argon wouldn't respond drastically unless Kang made a fatal mistake or repeated the same strategy without variation. This allowed Kang's plan to succeed, and he soon found himself holding Argon's sword in his second hand after knocking it free.
Determined not to repeat his previous error, Kang seized the moment and rushed at Argon again. This time, he leapt into the air, swinging both swords down at his opponent. Argon's true form was revealed as thick blood surged toward his body, forming the familiar blood armor.
As Kang's swords collided with Argon's helmet, he was sent flying backward from the shock of being deflected. Catching his breath, Kang locked eyes with Argon's glowing embers just as the system's irritating noise filled his ears, the panel appearing before his face."
[Ding!]
[Hidden Quest Cleared: Push the 1st Blood Knight to mobilize his life achievement.]
[Reward: 1st Blood Knight life achievement: {Ability:Crimson Armor(S)}]
[Ding!]
[Trial Quest Cleared: Defeat the 1st Blood Knight or earn his approval]
[Rewards: {Race alteration: Humankind -> False Bloodfiend}, {Class: Blood Knight (F)}]
[Failure Punishment: True Death]
[Status window unlocked, use your will to display it!]
Dismissing the open windows, Kang called his main status window to take a look at it.
{Blood Warlock System}
[Name: Liu Kang]
[Mind Potential: EX]
[Blood: 500 | Lifespan: 70]
[Class: Blood Knight (F)]
[Class Evolution Path: Unavailable]
[Class Upgrade Requirements: 5000 Blood]
[Level: 1 | Exp: 0/100]
[Strengh: 27]
[Dexterity: 14]
[Constitution: 31]
[Attribute Points: 0]
[Race Abilities]
[Detect(EX): Get a basic report on a target]
[Disguse(EX): Imitate the form of one of your victims and hide your true status]
[Lifesteal(B): Steal 10% of the blood and life force from those you kill]
[Power Absorption(SSS): Absorb, alter, or merge one ability from those you kill]
[Class Abilities (2\5)]
[Crimson Armor(S): Consume 5 blood per second to summon the crimson armor. Minimum blood: 50]
[Blood Weapon(C): Consume 1 blood per second to transform one of your limbs into a weapon.]
[Absorbed Abilities (0\10)]
[N/A]
"Amazing, but I don't see anything that allows me to form those tendrils or weapons like you do. How do I do that?" Kang asked as he dismissed his status window and approached Argon, who stood frozen, staring at him.
"What tendrils? Weapon summoning was the result of stolen—or rather, absorbed—abilities that were altered and merged to create that power. Naturally, you won't get that, but you're free to recreate it on your own. I believe it's not too difficult with your potential."
"I believe you've gotten everything you came for. If there's anything else, don't hesitate to ask, because meeting me again won't be possible unless you make it to the Blood Realms."
"Yes! Just one rude question to satisfy my curiosity: what race and world are you from? I've never encountered any intelligent species besides my own where I live."
"It's fine. As much as I can tell you what I am, I have no intention of telling you where I come from. We are called divine beasts, and we definitely exist somewhere you could naturally find—if you're lucky enough."
"Anything else?"
"No, thank you! I appreciate your guidance so far. Thank you once again!"
Hearing Kang's response, Argon waved his hand one last time before transforming into a swirling stream of blood that made its way toward Kang. Feeling no malice from the approaching bloodstream, Kang allowed it to envelop him. He blacked out after seeing the system's message and closing his eyes.
[Alteration resumed... 43%... 51%...]
A few hours passed as the mask did its work, transforming Kang's body into that of a blood fiend while he remained unconscious. Finally, the system message rang inside Kang's head, bringing him back to consciousness.
[Ding!]
[Altering successful…abilities are available to the host.]
[Congratulations on becoming the bearer of the Golden Sun, issuing the main quest!]
[Ding!]
[Main Quest: Achieve the Warlock(??) and restore the blood fiend race or forge your own path and go beyond the Blood Monarch(SS)]
[Rewards: Eternal rest in the blood realms upon death, System restrictions removal, Full access to the system, and Face]
[Failure: True Death]