Ares stood still in the cold, gleaming laboratory, feeling like his heartbeat was the only noise breaking the silence.
His mind raced, yet it was also eerily calm. It pulsed with a quiet, steady rhythm of panic and determination that coursed through him.
Ares did his best to not allow his emotions to show on his face. His gaze remained steady and expressionless.
He couldn't look weak now, not in front of the sharp-eyed scientist who was still waiting with an impatient look.
The man's fingers drummed on the sleek device that pulsed ominously, waiting for Ares' compliance.
Summoning his courage, Ares took a deep breath and, with a firm tone, spoke. "I'm not taking the test right now."
The scientist blinked, visibly taken aback. His absurdly thin eyebrows knitted together in a look of mild confusion. It looked like he was almost doubting his hearing.
"What's the matter? You realise that an SS-grade bloodline is possibly within your reach, right?" he said, his voice edged with persuasion.
Ares nodded.
"Don't you want to find out the exact grade of the power within you? What if it turns out to be SS-grade? Imagine the benefits—the power and rank you'd acquire. An opportunity like this isn't just rare; it's almost unheard of."
Despite the obvious attempts to convince him, Ares held his ground. He met the scientists gaze despite the fact that his heart was pounding loudly in his chest.
"I understand the importance," he said, holding the scientist's gaze. "But right now, I'm just not ready."
The scientist's expression turned colder, his tone hardening. His friendly expression was gone and replaced by a cold stoicism.
"This isn't a request, Ares, refusing isn't an option." he warned, his voice laced with authority. "Camp 54 has strict regulations, and if you refuse to comply, you'll face penalties according to camp law. It's your duty to follow orders."
Ares set his jaw, countering with a cool confidence that made his presence feel heavier. "I have the right to choose when to take the test," he said, emphasising each word. "And right now, I'm choosing to wait."
The scientist's jaw tightened, frustration simmering in his eyes as if he was one second away from forcing Ares onto the machine.
Chiii!
But just then, the lab doors slid open with a hiss, and a young military woman with fiery red hair and emerald green eyes stepped inside.
Ares' heart lifted slightly; she was the same woman who had saved him from the jaws of death during his encounter with the terrifying cat Primordial Fragment.
He hadn't expected her here but was grateful to see her nonetheless.
The scientist's whole demeanour shifted in an instant. He straightened, looking respectful, even slightly nervous. "Commander Selene," he greeted, his voice taking on a more formal tone. "To what do we owe this honour?"
Selene's gaze moved from the scientist to Ares, calm and piercing. "I'm here on orders from the higher-ups," she replied evenly. "They're interested in seeing the results of Ares' test."
Her voice was steady, hinting that she already knew more about the situation than she let on.
The scientist's eyes darted to Ares with something like frustration. "Well, Ares here is… refusing to take the test," he said, barely able to hide his irritation.
Ares took the opportunity to clarify, looking directly at Selene. "I'm not refusing," he said quickly. "I just need a bit more time. I don't feel ready yet."
Selene's piercing eyes met his, and after a moment, she gave a small nod.
"That's perfectly understandable," she replied. Her voice was surprisingly reassuring. "How much time would you need?"
Ares felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Just an hour."
The scientist's jaw tightened, clearly irked, but he held his tongue. He found it baseless and stupid to waste time over something that was bound to happen, but with Commander Selene's approval, there was nothing he could say.
The reason for his impatience was no secret; tomorrow was the Bloodline Unsealing ceremony, and it was vital that they knew Ares' Bloodline grade beforehand.
"An hour it is," Selene said calmly, giving Ares a slight encouraging nod. Ares smiled gratefully, a silent thank you in his eyes.
Once Selene and the scientist left the room, he took a deep, steadying breath.
[Bloodline Absorption: 99%]
The system notification in his mind gleamed, the bloodline absorption process had quietly crept up to 99%.
With each passing minute, he felt the warmth growing within him, a slow, powerful surge. He could feel it... he was so close.
Fifteen minutes later, the counter finally reached its peak.
[Ding! Bloodline Absorption Complete! Congratulations, Host, on your first Bloodline absorption!]
A gentle warmth spread through his body, filling him with a calm, revitalising energy.
He summoned his System interface, excitement mixing with a sense of resolve as he glanced over his new status.
[Bloodlines.
Primordial Predator (SSS)
Parallel World (SS)]
Two Bloodlines.
"System, hide my SSS Bloodline."
After giving this command, Ares felt his vision go white for a split second before returning to normal.
He checked the System interface once again and saw that there was a new (Hidden) information behind his original bloodline.
Now, Only his SS-grade Bloodline would appear on any test. Hopefully...
With his decision set, he straightened his shoulders and opened the door to the lab. "I'm ready."
The scientist's gaze was sharp and unreadable, a flicker of annoyance still evident.
He led Ares to the testing device, a sleek, ominous contraption designed to detect and quantify Bloodline quality.
He placed his hand on the cold, metal panel, his heart pounding with nerves that he managed to keep hidden.
The machine hummed to life, its lights flickering in rapid patterns.
The room held its breath with him, the scientist staring at the screen as it calculated the results.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, a beep sounded, and the result flashed brightly.
Bloodline Grade: Peak SS
A small, triumphant smile touched Ares' lips.
He had done it!