Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

While the Dragon Emperor was explaining how he was going to help Seraphiel, the new individual who had taken over Azarion’s consciousness stared in the direction where the Dragon Emperor had suddenly vanished. His eyes remained fixed on that distant location for several moments before he narrowed them slightly. ’Hmm, that one might become troublesome if I don’t move right this instant.’

He instantly became cautious just from seeing and sensing the Dragon Emperor’s presence, as if he didn’t even need to properly gauge his strength to understand how dangerous that person could be.

There was something about the Dragon Emperor that made him instinctively avoid underestimating him, which was unusual for someone who had lived for such a long period. With that thought, he shifted his eyes toward the other rulers and the Ancient before focusing on Sylvaris. ’I see, so one of those children’s descendants is here as well...’

He nodded slightly while looking at Sylvaris, causing her to frown in confusion. ’It seems that girl had a Manifestation of her Ability. Well, no matter. I will need all of their souls eventually.’ He thought about the sudden emergence of Seraphiel while Sylvaris continued staring back at him with interest, just like the other rulers who were trying to understand exactly who this new individual was.

Eliana, who had been staring at the man until now, finally looked toward the despair-filled Solaris. Her hands slowly clenched at her sides as she watched her best friend stand there without being able to do anything. ’Solaris...’

She also felt helpless because she couldn’t even help her best friend in this situation. After hearing what Atlas and the Dragon Emperor had discussed, Eliana couldn’t help but feel inferior to the people standing around her.

She couldn’t quite describe how, but she could feel it clearly, as if her current power was simply nowhere near the level of these individuals. For the first time in a long while, she felt as though she had been left behind by the people around her, ’Why... am I so weak?’

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, followed by a familiar voice coming from behind her. ”Master! I am done with my sudden work. Now, what is happening here? Who is that man?”

Eliana turned around and saw Kael standing behind her. However, the moment she turned, Kael immediately noticed a single tear slipping down her cheek. His eyes widened briefly as he stared at her before asking instinctively, ”Master?... Are you crying?”

Eliana arched an eyebrow before quickly turning her face away from him. ”N-No! Why would I cry? That was just dust getting into my eyes because of the fights going on!”

Kael remained silent for a moment, clearly unconvinced, before turning toward the direction where Atlas, Solaris, and the Dragon Emperor had been standing. He then shifted his attention toward the new presence he was sensing from the man named Azarion. ’Who is this now? And why would Master suddenly cry?’ Before he could think any further, his System seemed to answer his question.

[Host, You should be careful at your extreme now. That Individual is from an era forgotten by this world. He somehow resurrected himself by keeping his soul and consciousness safe using unknown methods.]

Kael arched an eyebrow after hearing the System’s explanation. ’Is this one of those events where some ancient old coot from long ago comes back and tries to take everything from the world for his own motives?’ He immediately connected the situation explained by the System to the novels he had read back on Earth, where ancient beings would often return after countless years and attempt to dominate everything around them.

[...]

The System became speechless at his statement. Calling a person an old coot simply because he was from a forgotten era seemed quite accurate, but at the same time, it wasn’t entirely accurate either. The System remained silent for a moment before finally responding.

[...Yes Host, You could interpret it like that, but one warning, Host. Unlike those novels’ descriptions, this person does not act with arrogance or any such emotions. His mind is calculative and perceptive.]

Kael narrowed his eyes at that response. From what he knew and had read in those novels, these types of situations usually ended much more easily than they should have because the ancient villain would eventually become arrogant after experiencing everything in the world for millions of years.

However, the System was telling him that this individual was completely different from those people, which immediately made Kael take the situation more seriously, ’Then I should really be careful. And let me guess, he can also wield Soul Force, right?’

The System answered positively, making Kael’s expression turn slightly irritated. ’Tch, I learnt something good and now other people can also use that? Then what’s the use of the cheat? Sigh...’

With that, Kael turned toward his Master once again before speaking. ”Is that so, Master? If you don’t want to say it, then it’s okay, but the chocolate bun later would have to be cancelled.”

The moment he said those words, Eliana immediately turned toward him with widened eyes before grabbing his collar and pulling him closer. A devilish smile appeared on her face as she asked, ”Would you dare to do that?”

”Yes, I dare. If you don’t speak, then I won’t give you the bun either.”

His words seemed to strike directly into her heart, and Eliana’s expression immediately changed into the same crying face she had been trying to hide moments ago. She released his collar before burying her face in his arms, as if she were embarrassed to show that expression to her own disciple. Without holding herself back any longer, she began explaining everything about her helplessness while quietly sniffing.

Kael gritted his teeth as he listened to her. ’I knew the World Tree could only do so much. System, is there a way to make my Master stronger?’ He asked the System directly because, at this moment, that was the only solution he could think of. If Eliana was stronger, she wouldn’t have to stand helplessly while the people closest to her were placed in danger.

[There is a way, Host, but it is not conventional, and it can only be applied after her Ascension, not while she is here in this world.]

Kael nodded after hearing that answer before gently pulling Eliana out of his arms. He looked at her for a moment before speaking with a small smile, ”Alright, Master, I understand now. But you have no need to worry for now because the Dragon Emperor is helping her, I will explain a way for you to get stronger later. After that, you can help your closest people all you want, hehe.”

Eliana looked at him for a moment, and although the worry in her eyes had not completely disappeared, Kael’s words still gave her something she had been missing since the beginning of the situation.

She didn’t know what method he was talking about, nor did she know whether it would truly be enough to change her strength, but hearing that there was at least a possibility from this Anomaly of a disciple, made her feel slightly less helpless.

On the other hand, the suddenly emerged unknown man continued watching the situation around him before a faint smile appeared on his face. He had already finished observing the people present, and there was no reason for him to continue waiting. ’It is finally time. Let’s begin.’

With that, he extended both of his hands, keeping both palms facing upward toward the sky. A golden and rainbow-coloured light suddenly emerged from the palm of his right hand, constantly changing between different shades as a strange energy gathered around it. At the same time, an Obsidian-black liquid-like substance appeared from his left palm, and its nature was completely different from the Null that had previously appeared in this world.

The two substances continued growing stronger as they remained suspended above his palms. The unknown man slowly brought both of his hands toward a single point, causing the golden and rainbow-coloured light to move closer to the Obsidian-black substance. The moment both forces reached the same point, the surrounding space began reacting to their presence.

A faint smile appeared across his face as he watched the two completely different forces merge together.

’Now, let’s create the Ultimate Ability I have been yearning for!’