As I sat there, the stillness pressing down on me, my mind spun in endless circles. What had happened? Had I died? Or was I reborn? This body—this new vessel—I could feel it was different. Not just physically, but somehow... more powerful. There was a strange, almost electric energy inside me, a force that hadn't existed before. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.
I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers as if trying to reconnect with the person I once was. But there was nothing. The life I had lived before felt distant, like a fading memory. Almost like a dream that slipped through my fingers whenever I tried to grasp it.
Then the question hit me, sharp and clear: What was so special about my blood? Why had the spirit of the book—the glowing, ethereal fairy-like creature—reacted to it so strongly? There had to be something important, something I was missing.
Gathering what little courage I had, I asked, "What's so special about my blood?"
The fairy hovered in front of me, her tiny form shimmering with a soft, otherworldly glow. She regarded me quietly for a moment, her presence both calming and overwhelming—like being near an immense, living force of nature. Then, her voice, soft and melodic, echoed in the air, carrying an ancient weight.
"I'm not sure of the full history of your bloodline," she began slowly, her tone mysterious. "I... I am incomplete. But what I do know is that your bloodline... it has the ability to integrate other magical bloodlines."
My heart skipped a beat. That was far beyond what I had expected. The idea that my blood could absorb other magical powers was... incredible. The possibilities felt endless. I could tap into abilities beyond my own, harness strengths that weren't even mine. The thought of it made my pulse quicken.
But before my mind could race further, the fairy spoke again, her tone shifting. It became somber, almost heavy, as though she carried the weight of a warning in her words.
"However," she continued, her eyes locking onto mine, "there is a catch. You can only absorb ten bloodlines. If you exceed that limit... you'll lose yourself. You'll become a mindless beast, controlled by the bloodlines inside you."
The excitement that had been building in me evaporated in an instant. Ten? Only ten? It felt like a cruel limitation. I had imagined endless possibilities, a boundless potential to become stronger, unstoppable even. But now, it seemed there was a strict ceiling—a cap on my growth. If I pushed too far, I could lose everything that made me who I was.
A wave of frustration surged through me, but I couldn't back down. There had to be more to it. I couldn't just accept this limitation.
"Is there any way to change this?" I asked, my voice edged with frustration. "To break the limit?"
The fairy's wings fluttered gently as if she was considering my question carefully. Then, she spoke, her tone softer now, almost hopeful.
"There is a way," she said slowly. "But it won't be easy. You must seek the Life Code Gem of the book. With it, I can help you integrate more bloodlines—more than just ten."
My heart skipped another beat. The Life Code Gem? I didn't even know what that was, but the urgency in her voice told me it was important. If it could break the limit, then it was worth whatever it took to find it.
"Where can I find this gem?" I asked, already plotting possibilities in my mind. I needed to know everything about this gem. It was my key to more power, to breaking through the restrictions.
"I don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "I don't have enough energy to access that information. That's why I need you. You have the potential to find it. Together, we can search for it."
A mixture of disappointment and determination coursed through me. It wasn't going to be easy, and there were no guarantees. But if there was even a chance—any chance—to unlock my full potential, I had to pursue it.
"Alright," I said, steeling myself. "I'll help you find it. But first... where are we? What is this place?"
The fairy seemed to pause, her wings fluttering as if she was pondering the question. She glanced around, and I followed her gaze. We were surrounded by towering trees, their thick trunks stretching high into the sky. The air was thick with the scent of moss and earth, and the ground beneath us was soft, covered in the weight of fallen leaves. This place felt ancient, untouched by time, yet there was something unsettling about it. It felt isolated. There was no sign of civilization anywhere.
"I don't know," she said after a long pause, her voice quiet, regret lacing her words. "I don't know where we are. I've lost much of my knowledge."
I couldn't hold back my frustration. "Wait. You don't know? How are we supposed to get out of here if you don't even know where we are?"
The fairy seemed to shudder, as if she could feel the weight of my frustration. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm incomplete. But I can still guide you. I still have enough power to help you."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. This wasn't the time to lose my composure. She was all I had. If I wanted to get out of here, I had to rely on her.
"Alright," I said, my voice steady but firm. "So, we're stuck here. But how do we get out? How do we start looking for this gem?"
The fairy spirit's form glowed faintly, as if something had sparked within her. "There may be a way out," she said softly, "but it will require you to cultivate, to unlock your true potential. You need to grow stronger."
I frowned, confusion rising. "Cultivate? What do you mean?"
The fairy's wings fluttered as though she was smiling, though her face remained neutral. "You have the ability to cultivate magic, to harness the power within you. But you'll need to train. The more you grow, the more you'll be able to access. Only then will you have the strength to leave this place and seek the Life Code Gem."
I wasn't sure I understood everything she said, but one thing was clear: if I wanted to leave this forest, if I wanted to find the Life Code Gem, I had to get stronger. And that meant cultivating the magic inside me.
"Okay," I said, a surge of determination rising in my chest. "I'll do it. I'll cultivate. I'll get stronger. And we'll find the gem."
The fairy nodded, her form glowing brighter. "Good. You have the spirit of a true seeker."
"Then tell me how I can cultivate," I asked, my voice firm.
"You can cultivate," she replied, "but first, you must absorb ten bloodlines."
I frowned, confused. "Why shouldn't I wait to get stronger so I can absorb more powerful bloodlines?"
"There's a loophole in your bloodline," the fairy explained. "When a person reaches the R1 stage of cultivation, if they possess two or more bloodlines, those bloodlines merge and become a unique, more powerful bloodline."
My eyes widened. "How does that help me?"
"It means that if you absorb ten bloodlines now, in the R1 stage, they will merge with your existing bloodline. After that, you'll be able to absorb ten more bloodlines."
The implications were staggering. If I timed it right, I could bypass the ten-bloodline limit. This wasn't just an opportunity—it was a necessity.