Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

Just as Velmira was about to question him further, both she and Veyron suddenly sensed multiple powerful presences approaching the battlefield at the same time. Their perceptions immediately shifted toward the newcomers, and when they turned in that direction, they saw several figures arriving together.

The Dragon Emperor, Solaris, Eliana, Thorsin, and two other Individuals were among them, one being the Ancient Pope while the other had a mask covering his face.

Velmira only glanced toward them for a brief moment before turning her attention back toward Veyron. The arrival of so many powerful Individuals didn’t seem to concern her nearly as much as the information he had just revealed, ”Is that so? Then who is the one I was contracted with according to you?”

She spoke as though Veyron’s statement had barely affected her, and that reaction immediately made his expression change. A slight frown appeared on his face as he stared at her, clearly not expecting her to remain this calm after hearing something that should have shaken the very foundation of her understanding of the contract.

’Did my ”Lord” fail?’

Veyron’s eyes narrowed slightly as he continued observing Velmira. ’No... Something must be making her fully convinced that she was contracted with Eliomor. Hmm... What should I do in this situation?’

His thoughts moved rapidly as he considered the situation, especially the new presences that had appeared around the battlefield. If those Individuals interfered with whatever plan he had prepared, then he knew there was a very real possibility that he would meet his end before the actual plan could even begin.

Veyron remained silent for a moment before his attention suddenly shifted toward the Human Continent. From his position, he could see a massive invisible barrier covering the entire Continent, separating the battlefield from the countless innocent people living within it. The barrier had been constructed to ensure that the battle between these powerful Individuals would not cause unnecessary destruction or harm to those who had nothing to do with the conflict.

A smile slowly formed across Veyron’s lips as he looked at the barrier.

An idea had suddenly appeared in his mind.

”Well, well, it seems we have some guests now.” He slowly lifted his right hand, his smile becoming slightly more pronounced, ”Why don’t we chat about that topic later and... play a game for now?”

Veyron snapped his fingers.

The moment the sound echoed through the battlefield, Velmira’s expression immediately changed. She couldn’t figure out what the bastard was planning, and that uncertainty made her instincts become even more alert. She quickly spread her perception across the surrounding area, searching for anything that might have changed, but for a few moments, nothing seemed to happen.

Then she sensed it.

Velmira’s eyes suddenly shifted toward the Human Continent.

A figure had appeared directly above the massive invisible barrier covering the entire Continent.

She immediately snapped her head in that direction, and the others noticed the presence as well, turning their attention toward the same location. The figure floating above the barrier looked almost identical to Azarion’s current appearance, with strange organic structures surrounding its body, but there was one obvious difference.

It had a Dragon tail.

Velmira narrowed her eyes as she stared at the Monster, trying to understand what it was and why Veyron had summoned it. She didn’t know what kind of experiment could produce something like this, nor did she understand what Veyron intended to accomplish by bringing another Monster into the battlefield.

Before she could figure it out, the Monster suddenly moved.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

CRAAAAAAACK!!!

A massive impact struck the very top center of the invisible barrier.

The entire barrier shook violently as a gigantic crack appeared across its surface. The fracture immediately began spreading outward in a spider-web pattern, extending farther and farther across the barrier as the structure struggled to withstand the force of the attack.

The moment Velmira saw the crack spreading across the barrier, something inside her snapped.

The anger she had been suppressing throughout all these years, even while fighting Azarion, suddenly erupted all at once. Her eyes became filled with bloodlust as she turned toward Veyron, her expression becoming completely furious.

”YOU BASTARD!!!!”

Her voice shook the surrounding atmosphere.

All of her Spirit Energy erupted from her body at once. The pressure released by it was so overwhelming that the air itself seemed to scream, while the oxygen surrounding the battlefield became almost like burning fire under the sheer intensity of her power.

Kael, who was the weakest among the Individuals present, immediately felt the effects of that pressure. His body became extremely heavy as the suffocating force spread around him, and even his Unique Ability, Yoggototh’s Defense, seemed unable to completely protect him from the overwhelming pressure.

”Ughhhhh!”

Kael groaned in pain as he struggled to breathe, but before the pressure could become any worse, it suddenly disappeared from his body. He immediately raised his head and saw Eliana smiling gently at him, making it clear that she had protected him from Velmira’s overwhelming Spirit Energy.

Kael nodded his head in understanding before turning his attention back toward Velmira. She was already staring at the Monster above the barrier, her eyes filled with bloodlust as enormous amounts of Spirit Energy continued surrounding her body. Her teeth were clenched tightly, and every part of her expression showed that she had completely lost her patience.

The next moment, she vanished.

Velmira reappeared directly above the Monster, her sword already descending toward it with vicious force. Her movement was so fast that even the seemingly slowed passage of time around her couldn’t contain her speed, as though she had completely abandoned every restraint she had placed upon herself earlier.

”DIEEEE BASTAAAARD! HOW DARE A MONSTER LIKE YOU TRY TO EVEN LAY A HAND ON MY PEOPLE!!”

Her shout itself vibrated through the atmosphere as Marvilas descended toward the Monster’s shoulder. The blade was only an inch away from striking when something unexpected happened.

The sword suddenly disappeared.

In the next instant, it reappeared as a horizontal arc directly in front of the Monster’s abdomen, barely an inch away from its body.

The Monster had believed that it was completely safe for some reason, especially when it saw the sword descending toward its shoulder. But the moment Marvilas disappeared and reappeared beside its abdomen, its eyes widened in absolute horror. Every instinct inside its body screamed of danger, yet it couldn’t even react to avoid the attack.

The sword struck its abdomen.

No, it didn’t merely strike.

Marvilas cut through the Monster’s abdomen as easily as a knife cutting through butter. The Null mixed with Spirit Energy that coated the Monster’s entire body failed to protect it from the attack, and the blade passed through its body with almost no resistance.

Yet Veyron smiled from far away.

His eyes remained fixed on the Monster as he watched Velmira’s attack, and instead of showing concern over the damage, he seemed genuinely pleased by what he had just witnessed.

’Hoh... Wonderful Experiment.’

His smile widened slightly.

’Seems like she has figured out how to deal with that mixed Spirit Energy and that strange substance.’

Veyron’s expression became even more amused as he watched the Monster’s body. The result was clearly different from what he had expected, but rather than being disappointed, he seemed to have gained exactly the information he wanted.

’Well then... let the real show begin.’

With that thought, Veyron snapped his fingers again.