Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

Atlas stared at the second page of the Codex while the Sangius Stylus floated back toward him, his brows slowly furrowing beneath the mask as he looked at the newly formed entries and spoke in confusion, ”Three Traits?” The Boss had left behind three S-rank Traits, unlike the Monsters from the previous chamber, making him pause before assimilating them.

The moment those names appeared, the Sangius Stylus flew into his palm on its own and nudged against his hand as though urging him to tap the Traits immediately. Atlas frowned at the unusual reaction and firmly held it in place before speaking, ”Why are you reacting?... I will be the one to decide when to assimilate them.”

His voice turned cold as faint spirit energy flickered behind his pupils, making his eyes glow for a brief moment. Only then did the Stylus stop struggling and remain still in his hand, allowing Atlas to return his attention to the Codex.

His eyes moved across the three names one after another.

[ Spirit Fist - Rank S ]

[ Spirit Physique - Rank S ]

[ Spirit Roar - Rank S ]

Atlas quietly analyzed each of them. Spirit Fist was easy to connect with the punch the Monster had attempted earlier, but it had died before the attack could even land, leaving him with no way to judge how powerful the Trait actually was.

Spirit Physique told him even less. The Monster had been overwhelmed before revealing anything beyond its raw strength, making the Trait impossible to evaluate. Atlas sighed lightly before reaching a simple conclusion. ’Maybe I should have let it attack first and judged its Traits before killing it... Too late now. I’ll remember that the next time.’

Finally, his eyes settled on the last one.

[ Spirit Roar - Rank S ]

That one needed no explanation at all, Atlas had witnessed its effect himself, the roar had shaken the entire Ruin and released enough spirit pressure that there was a high chance the disturbance had reached the city beyond the forest. If the Guild questioned him after this expedition, he would most likely have to explain that incident as well.

Atlas could not be certain whether the roar had truly reached the city, but he still kept that possibility in mind. If the Guild questioned him after clearing the Ruin, he might have to explain what had happened here. That, however, was a matter for later. For now, he raised the Sangius Stylus, finally preparing to assimilate not only the three newly acquired S-rank Traits but every other Trait as well, leaving only that strange Metadata Trait untouched.

His eyes rested on [ Spirit Roar - Rank S ] for another moment before he quietly spoke, ”Roar huh?... I am really becoming a Monster at this rate... Doesn’t matter, I will get my revenge any way I can.”

The tip of the Stylus slowly moved toward the first entry.

[ Spirit Fist - Rank S ]

”Let’s get this over with quickly, as of now my body can handle any Trait of S-rank.”

To anyone else it might have sounded arrogant, but Atlas was only stating a fact. His body had already reached a level where assimilating S-rank Traits posed no burden, and after leaving this Ruin he planned to push every Attribute to one hundred, making himself stronger than ever before.

With that, Atlas got to work.

- - -

Meanwhile, inside the Royal Palace of Celestara, Alberion and Arkas stood before a massive golden double door, elegant carvings stretching across its surface from the center to the edges in intricate patterns. It was the entrance to the Royal Hall of the Angelic Queen, Solaris Clamorious, though according to Arkas someone important was still meeting with Her Majesty, forcing them to wait outside for a short while.

Since they had only just arrived, neither of them minded the delay. Alberion quietly observed the palace around him, from the long corridors he had walked through to the magnificent Royal Hall entrance before him. Compared to the wooden architecture of the Elven Palace, everything here looked far grander, making him unconsciously compare the two for a brief moment before immediately dismissing the thought. ’I shouldn’t be thinking like that... I’m an Elven Knight.’

Only a few moments later Arkas turned toward him and spoke, ”Alberion, it seems Her Majesty has finished speaking with her guest. You’ll be called from inside shortly, so enter when they do.”

”I’ll be taking my leave now, my job ends here.”

As he spoke, Arkas extended his hand. Alberion nodded, shook it once, and watched as Arkas turned around before disappearing from the corridor in an instant, returning to his post outside the palace.

Left alone, Alberion quietly waited until he suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind. Turning around, he saw the massive double doors opening without the slightest sound. A tall, broad-shouldered Angel stepped out from the Royal Hall, and the instant their eyes met, Alberion felt an invisible weight settle over him. It wasn’t Spirit Pressure, there wasn’t even a trace of spirit energy around the man, yet his mere presence was enough to make Alberion instinctively tense.

If one looked closely they could instantly recognize that the Angelic figure was none other than Dravenson Rosaria, Patriarch of the Rosaria Household.

After dealing with the assassin earlier, Dravenson had immediately departed for the Royal Palace to personally deliver the relic he had intended to send through Atlas. Since Atlas had refused the request, he had no choice but to come himself. Now that his audience with Her Majesty had ended, he stepped out of the Royal Hall and his eyes briefly landed on the parchment resting in Alberion’s hand. From that alone, he immediately understood that the Elven Knight had been sent by Queen Eliana.

Without another word, Dravenson looked away and continued down the corridor, his steady footsteps echoing until they gradually faded into the distance. Only then did a calm voice speak directly inside Alberion’s mind.

’Alberion Soberun, the Elven Queen has sent you to deliver a parchment to Her Majesty Solaris, am I correct?’

Alberion nodded once before replying through that same telepathy.

’Yes.’

’Enter the Royal Hall, Her Majesty is waiting.’

And finally, Alberion stepped inside as the massive double doors slowly closed behind him without making even the slightest sound.

The Royal Hall was far larger than he had imagined from outside, rows of towering white pillars stretched to both sides while a long crimson carpet extended straight toward the throne at the far end. Golden carvings covered the walls and ceiling, reflecting the soft light that illuminated the entire hall without a single torch in sight. Alberion unconsciously slowed his steps as he took in the grandeur before lowering his gaze and walking forward once again.

He had barely taken two steps past the threshold when he suddenly felt something pulling at the parchment in his hand. His fingers instinctively tightened around it but the force was overwhelming, the parchment gently slipped free from his grasp without tearing and floated through the air toward the other end of the Royal Hall.

Only then did Alberion properly raise his eyes toward the throne.

A woman sat there with an elegant posture, her long golden hair flowing over the throne as if woven from sunlight itself. Her golden eyes remained calm and unreadable while she watched the parchment arrive before her, Alberion immediately lowered his head.

’The Angelic Queen... Solaris Clamorious.’

Solaris caught the floating parchment with a single hand before resting it on her lap. She neither hurried nor delayed, her golden eyes briefly shifted toward Alberion for only a moment before returning to the parchment. Then she slowly unfolded it and silently read through its contents.

Only a few lines passed before her calm expression paused ever so slightly.

’What?’

Her composure started to turn into seriousness as her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, she started reading through the rest of the content written in it, the more she read the more questions started piling up in her mind.

’Why would she warn me? and about the Human continent’s plans?’ Her mind spiraled more and more as questions continued to come to herself.

’How does she even know all this?’ As she wondered this and came to the end of the content at the far bottom of the parchment, there she saw something other than all those warning and information was written.

The Human King - Azarion is targeting all other continents, If you are not careful Celestara could be destroyed, don’t Underestimate Azarion Solaris, we are close friends that’s exactly why i am warning you beforehand about all this, if it ever comes to you needing help, don’t Hesitate to reach out to me.

~ Your friend Eliana.

After finally reading the last part, she smiled a little and thought ’She still thinks us as friends huh? Then i should take this warning seriously fufu~ I will send a small gift to her later...’

Then she turned to another page of the parchment, that was attached to the front one, as she opened it and started reading her brows furrowed and she questioned internally again before lifting her head and looking at Alberion ’Huh? She wants this brat to stay here?....why?’