Chapter 36: A New Threshold
Kai's laboratory buzzes with energy as he meticulously prepares for bloodline integration. The blood from the shimmering-scaled Nightmare Beast he acquired holds immense potential, but the risks are equally monumental. The AI chip provides simulations of the process, identifying the compatibility rate and potential side effects.
Kai spends days creating a special array to channel and stabilize the energy during the integration. He consumes a refined elixir made from Nightmare Orchids, enhancing his body's resilience. As the ritual begins, the array glows fiercely, and Kai experiences searing pain as the foreign essence merges with his own.
After hours of torment, the process concludes. Kai collapses, his body drenched in sweat but brimming with newfound strength. The AI chip reports a significant increase in physical capabilities and mana reserves. However, it also detects faint traces of instability, warning Kai of potential long-term effects.
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Chapter 37: Encounters in the Nightmare Realm
Eager to test his enhanced abilities, Kai returns to the Nightmare Realm. This time, he feels a stronger connection to the realm's energy, as if the bloodline integration has made him part of its ecosystem.
He ventures deeper than ever, encountering hostile beasts that test his limits. In one confrontation, Kai faces a pack of spectral wolves, their translucent forms phasing in and out of reality. Utilizing his newfound speed and strength, he dispatches them with precision.
During his exploration, Kai stumbles upon a cluster of ruins radiating an ancient aura. The AI chip detects traces of forgotten magic, likely remnants of a civilization that once thrived in the Nightmare Realm. Kai decides to investigate further, hoping to uncover secrets that could aid his research.
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Chapter 38: The Guild's New Opportunities
Back in the Wizard World, Kai's growing reputation within the guild earns him access to higher-level missions and resources. However, his sudden rise also attracts unwanted attention. A senior apprentice named Alric begins to monitor Kai closely, suspecting him of hiding something.
Kai takes on a challenging mission to retrieve a rare alchemical ingredient from a treacherous swamp. During the mission, he teams up with a small group of apprentices, including a cunning rogue named Serena and a stoic warrior named Garret. The mission tests their teamwork as they face deadly creatures and environmental hazards.
Though successful, the mission ends on a sour note when Kai discovers a hidden agenda among his teammates. Serena, under orders from a rival faction, attempts to sabotage him, but Kai outsmarts her with the AI chip's assistance. This betrayal leaves him wary of forming alliances within the guild.
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Chapter 39: Secrets of the Ruins
Kai returns to the Nightmare Realm, driven by curiosity about the ruins he discovered. He deciphers ancient glyphs with the AI chip's help, unraveling a fragmented tale of a long-lost civilization that sought to harness the realm's energy.
As he delves deeper, Kai finds a hidden chamber containing a crystalline artifact pulsing with power. The artifact resonates with his blood key, hinting at a connection between the Nightmare Realm and the Wizard World. However, his exploration is interrupted by a monstrous guardian—a towering beast with multiple eyes and spiked limbs.
The battle is fierce, with the creature's sheer size and strength overwhelming Kai at first. Drawing on his bloodline-enhanced abilities, he counters its attacks and exploits its blind spots. The fight ends with Kai delivering a devastating spell combination, shattering the guardian's core.
The artifact's energy seeps into Kai, providing him with a temporary boost in mana and unlocking a new understanding of the Nightmare Realm's laws.
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Chapter 40: Advancing Through Blood and Shadows
With the newfound knowledge from the ruins, Kai begins experimenting with multi-bloodline integration. The AI chip synthesizes a theory: combining compatible bloodlines could unlock unique abilities, but the process requires precise calculations and immense control.
Kai tests this theory using a minor bloodline he obtained from the spectral wolves. The integration process is smoother than expected, enhancing his perception and agility. Encouraged by this success, he sets his sights on acquiring a higher-tier bloodline.
Meanwhile, tensions within the guild escalate as factions vie for dominance. Kai finds himself caught in the crossfire, with both sides attempting to recruit him. He navigates these political waters carefully, leveraging his growing influence to secure rare resources.
The chapter ends with Kai standing at a crossroads, torn between delving deeper into the Nightmare Realm's mysteries and advancing his position within the Wizard World. Unbeknownst to him, powerful forces in both realms are beginning to take notice of his meteoric rise.