Drifting Embers
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[MGM]: 21 - Undercurrents
🕑 Added 2025-01-20 14:30:01 +0000 UTCBlood Monarch.
A talent that gave one dominion over blood. Not water, and certainly not liquid in general, just blood. An SSS-Rank talent and yet with such an imposed limitation. One would argue that it was Blood Monarch, not Water or Ocean Monarch. But one would fail to see the true terror of an SSS-Rank talent.
Despite such limitation, it managed to acquire the rank of SSS. How? Why would an SSS-Rank talent provide control over a resource that was limited in general?
The answer lay in the fact that Blood Monarch at its core dealt with the concept of the blood more than the blood itself. And blood was represented as vitality, a connection that existed between all living things embodying a physical state. And Blood Monarch granted control over that aspect.
Every talent came with the bare minimum knowledge of its usage, and Blood Monarch was no different. Even without having used it, I instinctively knew how to activate the talent.
My own blood heeded the call and coated the sword, extending the blade far beyond it had any right to. And that provided me with an edge. Heh!
As the wolf head hit the ground, I took a quick stock of our situation. There were a total of 6 monsters that surrounded us and 4 humans besides the leader. With me in the equation, the numbers had dipped into our favor.
"Fight first; talk later." The leader said to me, and I nodded in return. With my recent level up, I was faster, stronger and overall a much better brute. Though still a brute.
My entire experience with the sword amounted to slashing, stabbing, and parrying. I wasn't very confident about executing the latter with remote chances of success. Of course, my level up also signified an increase in Amara's attributes. That was added relief.
With that much, she should be able to fell a monster successfully. In the meantime, the older warrior and I fought the monsters with relentless intensity.
Without the element of surprise, I found it harder to land a fatal blow. That said, I was able to provide more openings for the armored man, who didn't let a single chance go to waste. With the support from others, we were able to keep the monsters at bay and inflict debilitating injuries.
Each of my nicks drained more blood from the wolves, incurring their wrath and thus leaving an opening for the leader to exploit.
I ducked beneath a claw and swung my sword across the beast's belly. It let out a pain-filled howl and staggered. Big mistake, as the next second a broadsword skewered it right through the middle. I delivered my own crude strike, cutting across its throat.
[+58.36%]
Just as I was about to round onto another monster, I heard a crash sound nearby. It was followed by a tremor that went through the ground, and a look of concern was exchanged among the group of armored warriors.
"What was that?" I heard one of them mumble.
Unlike them, I felt a mote of concern take root in my heart. I sincerely hoped that Amara was alright.
Then my vision was swarmed by a stream of notifications.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Your summon has slain a level 56 monster: Saber-Tooth Tiger (C)!
Due to a large difference in levels, extra XP is being rewarded.
You have earned XP (690%).
You have leveled up! (×7 times)
You have 45 unallocated stat points.
Holy...!
I couldn't accurately describe the feeling that passed through my entire being, but it was like my mind expanded and opened to the world, and everything surged into my being all at once.
A sense of unbridled strength coursed through my entire body, and I nearly doubled down. My vision swam while everything was heightened to an extreme. I could hear the force of my heartbeat as it pumped blood and mana into my body.
It took moments for the world to shift back into focus and effort to keep the glowing signs hampering at the edge of senses. Blood Monarch provided me with such a detailed clarity of my accomplices that I could even feel the existing variations between their vital auras.
As my vision adjusted to the enhanced limpidity, I saw one of the monsters cashing in on the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. Before I could even react or dodge, a whistling sound cut through the air, and the monster was blown sideways, sending waves of compressed air in all directions.
Amara landed right beside me with an air of authority, an almost palpable sense of imperial charisma radiating outward. "You alright?" She asked with a concerned tone.
I nodded and straightened my back. "That was something, alright."
To leap across seven entire levels in one go, especially when each level rewarded 100 stat points, was an insane experience. I glanced at the monster that was blown away, seeing a spear of ornate crimson design embedded inside its belly.
[+65.85%]
Only two monsters remained, but they seemed fearful to charge in right away. On the other hand, the leader shifted his glance between me and Amara, a heavy concern weighing on his back.
"Fight first; talk later." I echoed his words and received a nod in return. I was relieved to see the man had his priorities straight at least. With only two monsters remaining, Amara could've finished both in a heartbeat, but I gestured for her to stay put and not interfere in my fight.
With my attributes now more than doubled, I flourished my sword and burst forth. Even the armored leader found it hard to keep up with me but at least managed to act as a distraction. Exactly what I needed to finish the remaining wolves in an efficient manner.
[+78.33%]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
You have slain a level 32 monster: Dire-Wolf (D)!
You have earned XP (78.33%).
You have leveled up! (×2 times)
You have 55 unallocated stat points.
I breathed out lightly, savoring the feel of my body embracing the changes. I had managed to fight and kill a D-Rank monster whilst not even being at the peak of E-Rank. I doubted anyone would easily believe my words, but I wasn't keen to share in the first place.
That said, I took a glance at my Soul Record.
Name: Markus White
Race: Human [Awakened] (Dragon Heart: Compatibility at 76%)
Age: 19
Origin: Celestial Archive [Supreme???]
Level: 15 | XP: 5.78%
Rank: E
Attributes
Strength: 155
Agility: 177
Vitality: 223
Intelligence: 290
Perception: 149
Spirit: 505
Free Stat Points: 55
Talents
[Summon - D]
[Talent Copy - N/A]
[Blood Monarch - SSS]
Summons (1/2)
[Amara - SSS]
Favorability: 35% (Trusted Companion)
Power Sync: -92.78%
My compatibility had risen by another percent, and while it was a delight to see my level nearly double the previous, even more delightful was the surge in my attributes. I took note of Amara's Favorability experiencing a minor increase once more.
I called up her Soul Record.
Name: Amara
Race: Vampire [Ascended]
Age: 2,198
Origin: Night Queen [Divine]
Rank: ???
Attributes
Strength: 224
Agility: 447
Vitality: 300
Intelligence: 368
Perception: 181
Wow!
Her current attributes were incomparable to her previous ones. In fact, the difference was so big that I couldn't help but wonder just how strong she would grow if I became a C-Rank or even B-Rank hunter. The concept felt utterly ridiculous.
"Sigh..." I heard the old leader relax his shoulder as the carnage around us died down. One tree was still on fire, but the flames were being doused by one of the armored men.
"Thank you." He gestured at me and then at Amara. "If you hadn't arrived when you did, it would've been a difficult battle. So, I'm thanking you on behalf of myself and my group."
"It's alright." I replied and offered a harmless smile. "We were just passing by."
"You aren't from the guild?" The leader asked, confused.
"We are." I nodded, not bothering to elaborate on Amara's status. I concurred it would be better to keep her status obscure so as to avoid any complications.
"Then you must already know of our mission." The man spoke. "We were responsible for the South-Western region, while the guild claimed the South-Eastern region."
A look of perplexity took over my features, and I frowned. A quick glance with Amara let me know I wasn't hearing things.
"I'm sorry, but we were just leaving the End Forest after staying inside for three days. I'm not as apprised of the matters of Erdwatch as you seem to mistake."
"Oh, is that so?" The man's eyes widened as he looked at me and Amara with a peculiar gaze. "Where are my manners? Let me introduce myself—my name's Jacob of the Red Tower, under Sir Zeke's banner. We come from the Vaelin city, and these are the acolytes training under me."
Of the four people, three were men and one was a woman. Jacob introduced all four of them and then looked at me and Amara expectantly.
"Ah yes, my name is Markus," I said and pointed at Amara, "and this is Amara.
"Now, please tell me what exactly is going on."
