Chapter 44: More Bloodline Spells
"Where should we go next?" Jacob asked, his tone polite yet curious as the carriage wheels rolled to a halt before the street's edge.
Raven leaned back against the padded seat, eyes half-lidded in thought. The steady rhythm of hooves outside filled the silence between them.
"Let's return to the resort," he finally said, exhaling softly. "I wanted to visit the Royal City Library, but… I've changed my mind."
"As you wish, My Lord." Jacob gave a short bow and tapped on the carriage wall, signaling the coachman to turn toward Garden Street.
The horses snorted and shifted direction. As the carriage lurched forward, Raven's calm gaze turned toward his aide.
"So, did you finish your task?"
"Yes, My Lord," Jacob replied, his tone faintly proud.
"Good. Tell me the details after we return to the mansion."
The rest of the ride was silent, broken only by the sound of iron wheels crunching against the cobblestone road.
…
When they arrived at the mansion Raven had rented, the sun was dipping lower, painting the street in amber hues. The clock above the gates struck three.
"You may all rest," Raven said as he stepped down from the carriage, the hem of his black coat brushing the ground. He turned toward the elderly butler who stood waiting near the entrance. "Is there a basement in this mansion?"
"Yes, Sir Thomas." The butler—Harold—bowed slightly. "I can guide you, if you wish."
Raven nodded once. "Lead the way."
Harold moved with quiet grace through the left-hand corridor, the faint scent of polished wood and candle wax following their steps. At the end of the passage, he stopped before a narrow staircase that spiraled down into darkness.
The air grew cooler with each step. Damp stone and the faint musk of age filled the air. Raven's sharp eyes adjusted to the dim light, tracing every crack and shadow along the walls.
"This is it, Sir Thomas." Harold took a brass key from his pocket, its faint jingle echoing faintly in the stairwell. The iron door groaned open, revealing a broad underground chamber swallowed in shadow.
'Oh? This chamber's about the size of the mansion's main hall,' Raven thought as he stepped forward, his vision piercing the gloom with ease.
"It's rarely used," Harold explained, his voice respectful. "But it remains in good condition. Would you like me to bring anything down?"
"Bring a few Aether Lamps. I'll need light."
"Yes, Sir Thomas."
The butler left swiftly, his footsteps fading up the stairway. Within minutes, he returned with several lamps, their faint blue glow illuminating the chamber's stone pillars and polished floor. Once the last one was lit, warm light filled the underground space.
"Good." Raven's voice echoed lightly off the walls. "You may leave. Until I come out, no one approaches this place."
Harold bowed deeply. "Understood, Sir." Then he vanished up the stairs, closing the door behind him with a muted thud.
Raven stood alone now, the silence deep and almost expectant.
He exhaled once, gaze sweeping across the stone walls. "Time to get more bloodline spells."
He touched his spatial ring, and with a flicker of violet light, a massive glass capsule materialized before him. Inside lay a colossal humanoid corpse.
The chamber shook slightly under its weight.
"Wow…" Raven muttered, walking closer. "This thing almost fills the entire room."
He released the glass seal with a twist of his wrist. The air inside hissed out, stale and heavy. The corpse of the Three-Eyed Cyclops rested within—muscles thick as tree trunks, its third eye forever shut in death.
Raven pressed his palm against its cold arm.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is activated!]
[Three-Eyed Giant's bloodline has been found!]
[Analyzing purity…]
[Calculation complete.]
[The corpse has 34% purity of Rank-1 Three-Eyed Giant's bloodline essence.]
[Extraction possible: One Bloodline Spell detected.]
[Proceed with extraction? Yes/No.]
"Yes," Raven said without hesitation.
[Commencing Bloodline Devouring.]
[Randomizing bloodline spell extraction…]
[Result: Rank-1 Three-Eyed Giant's "Eye of Destruction."]
[Host has obtained "Eye of Destruction."]
[Host has absorbed 34% of bloodline essence.]
[Spirit +0.09 | Vitality +0.7 | Strength +0.8 | Agility +0.7.]
[Warning: Mutation process initiated. Duration: 4 minutes, 5 seconds.]
…
Pain struck like lightning.
Raven staggered, a sharp breath escaping his lips as his muscles tensed and bulged. He gritted his teeth, forcing his breathing to steady as the mutation continued.
Then—something burned across his forehead.
He grabbed a small mirror from his ring and froze.
"What… the hell?" he whispered.
A vertical slit had appeared in the center of his forehead—an eyelid. It remained closed, yet its mere presence carried an oppressive weight.
His features had shifted too, returning to his original face.
"So, this spell can only be used in my real form, huh?"
He muttered under his breath, then focused inward.
In his mind space, a golden hexagonal structure pulsed faintly with blue sparks. Knowledge flooded his thoughts—the nature, activation, and power of the spell.
'A lightning-based destructive spell,' he realized, eyes narrowing slightly. 'Better not use it here.'
When the pain faded, Raven sealed the Cyclops' body back into his spatial ring. Then, with another wave of his hand, he brought out the corpse of a Twin Shadow Viper—its two heads draped across the floor, scales gleaming black like polished obsidian.
Without hesitation, Raven crouched and placed his palm upon its scaled abdomen.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is activated!]
[Twin Shadow Viper's bloodline found.]
[Purity: 84% — Extraction viable.]
[Proceed? Yes/No.]
"Yes."
[Randomizing bloodline spell extraction…]
[Result: "Shadow Shift."]
[Host has obtained Rank-1 Twin Shadow Viper's "Shadow Shift."]
[Host has absorbed bloodline essence.]
[Vitality +1 | Strength +0.6 | Agility +1.]
[Mutation duration: 14 minutes, 5 seconds.]
…
The mutation was harsher this time. A pressure built behind his eyes until it felt like his skull might split open. He clenched his jaw, riding through the pain until it finally ebbed away—only for a sharp headache to remain.
'Tch… this feels different.'
[Warlocks and Wizards often face this when their spirit power nears its limit.]
[The human soul can safely sustain up to fourteen spells or skills. Forcing more may cause damage.] Zera's calm voice resonated in his mind.
'Oh? So I'm close to the limit already?' Raven massaged his temples, then sighed. "Fine. Let's test one more."
He took out another corpse—this time, that of a Dawn Goblin, small and wiry, with pale green skin.
Placing his hand on its chest, he activated the ability again.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability activated.]
[Dawn Goblin's bloodline detected.]
[Purity: 54%. Extraction viable.]
[Proceed? Yes/No.]
"Yes."
[Randomizing…]
[Result: "Memory Seal."]
[Conflict detected: Host possesses "Instant Memorize."]
[Possible merge found. Proceed? Yes/No.]
'Yes.'
["Memory Seal" successfully merged with "Instant Memorize."]
[New spell model constructed.]
[Vitality +0.3 | Strength +0.09 | Agility +0.42.]
[Mutation in progress: 19 minutes, 12 seconds.]
…
The pain came again, deeper this time—like someone carving symbols into his bones. But when it faded, a new glow appeared in his mind space.
The eleventh spell model took shape—pure white and luminous.
'Eleven spells already,' Raven thought, a faint smile touching his lips.
He glanced at his invisible status screen.
…
[Name: Raven Sillalus Jorvot]
[Age: 15 | Nationality: Zenith Empire]
[Title: 66th Prince of the Zenith Empire]
[Level: 9 | Class: Acolyte Warlock (3rd Circle)]
[Soul Rank: Mortal | Life Pathway: Beginner Alchemist]
[Health: Normal]
Attributes:
Strength: 9.9
Agility: 9.9
Vitality: 9.9
Luck: 0
Spirit: 19.99
Bloodline Spells:
Iron Resilience, Poison Touch (Poison Immunity), Fortuitous Finder (Completed), Blood Control, Face Morph, Mind Eye, Cold Breath, Past Self, Eye of Destruction, Shadow Shift, Memory Seal.
Additional Skill:
Basic Spearmanship (78%)
Affinities:
Life (Low), Ice (Genius), Spear (Low)
…
'So this is the limit of my current soul capacity,' Raven thought, expression calm but resolute. 'Once I assimilate these spell models into my Elemental Circlets, I'll break through to the next stage.'
He tilted his head slightly.
'Zera, what about "Memory Seal"? Its nature feels different. Is it part of the Wisdom affinity?'
[No. It belongs to your Mind, not Wisdom.]
[Two of your spells—Face Morph and Memory Seal—are not bound by elemental affinity. They won't cause backlash or require elemental energy to activate.]
[They enchant the body or consciousness directly, using minimal spirit power.]
Raven's brows rose slightly. 'So Face Morph and Memory Seal… both enchant my body. That's useful.'
[Exactly.] Zera's tone was faintly approving. [Face Morph alters facial structure and pigmentation—nothing beyond human range. Memory Seal connects your conscious mind with your Sea of Consciousness, strengthening memory and recall.]
'Huh. That'll make spell comprehension faster.' Raven's faint smile returned.
He paused, thinking ahead.
'Still, I'll need Affinity Potions for the rest—Poison, Blood, Darkness, Lightning, Time, and Luck. Except for Luck, the others can be brewed.'
[Indeed. Once you acquire all affinities, assimilate the models into your Circlet Techniques. But only after fully comprehending them.]
Raven chuckled softly. "Always the patient one, aren't you, Zera?"
[Patience prevents death.]
He rolled his eyes lightly. 'Fair enough.'
His gaze drifted toward the Aether Lamps. Their pale light flickered across the chamber's stone pillars, casting long shadows across his face.
'Haa… looks like I still have a long way to go.' He straightened, brushing dust from his coat. 'For now, I'll focus on concocting the Time Affinity potion before the final hearing.'
Raven left the chamber, giving quiet orders to Harold to move a few tables and benches below. He also instructed Jacob to acquire the Empire's Constitutional Book.
By the time he returned to the basement, the air already smelled faintly of herbs and reagents.
He rolled up his sleeves and laid out his tools, silver instruments gleaming under the Aether light.
"Let's begin," he murmured, eyes steady.
The underground chamber smelled faintly of herbs and iron. Dust motes floated in the light of a single glowing crystal as Raven wiped the wooden table clean with a sterilized solution. His movements were calm, practiced—almost ritualistic.
He laid each ingredient with care, like a jeweler setting gemstones. The Temporal Lotus petals shimmered faintly, shedding ripples of silvery light. Crystallinewine resin glistened like molten glass under a forge. The powdered Stardew Lizard bone gleamed with a ghostly sheen, while the Bluefire Ash pulsed with a dying ember's warmth. A small flask of Ethereal Water swirled with an unnatural density, its surface refusing to settle. Last came the Dark Root Oil—thick, black, and still, as if the shadows themselves had been condensed within the vial.
Raven rolled up his sleeves and muttered, "Let's begin." His eyes sharpened, and the faint glow of magic danced across his pupils.
'Mind Eye.'
The world shifted. Every motion, every flicker of energy—he could feel them, as if time itself slowed to let him observe.
He arranged his alchemical kit: a rune-etched furnace, delicate flasks, and a glass beaker with stabilizing runes. The faint hum of the magic circle under the table resonated with the runes, giving a rhythmic pulse to the air.
He placed a Temporal Lotus petal in a bowl and began grinding it with a jade pestle. A sweet, almost nostalgic scent filled the chamber, stirring faint memories of rain over moonlit ponds.
"First, the Lotus."
He poured fifty milliliters of ethereal water into the flask and dropped the crushed petals in. The water shimmered—then glowed with a faint silver hue.
Drop by drop, he added Crystallinewine resin. The mixture thickened, forming threads of liquid mercury. Raven's hand didn't tremble even once.
Half a teaspoon of powdered Stardew Lizard bone came next. The instant the powder touched the surface, the potion hissed and exhaled a faint blue mist. Raven's eyes narrowed.
Not enough reaction.
He stirred slowly, waiting for the mist to fade before adding Bluefire Ash. The ash flared bright blue for a heartbeat before dying down, leaving the potion shimmering like moonlight caught in ripples.
"Now… the tricky part."
He lifted the vial of dark root oil. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Too fast, it collapses. Too slow, the time essence will scatter."
One drop.
Two.
Three.
Each fall of ink-black oil sent ripples through the silver liquid. The potion shivered, light warping around it as if the air itself grew heavier. A faint hum spread across the table, vibrating through the flask's glass.
The glow brightened to purple—then fizzled.
Raven frowned. The potion dulled to gray sludge.
"Failure."
His tone was flat, but his jaw tightened.
He exhaled, closing his eyes. 'Where did I go wrong?'
[You added the bone powder too early.] Zera's voice was calm, echoing faintly in his mind.
"I see…" He murmured. "Let's start again."
Without hesitation, Raven cleaned the flask and restarted. His fingers moved faster, guided by memory and precision.
This time, the mist deepened to an azure hue—the color he wanted. His lips curled faintly. "Perfect."
The ash stabilized the mixture, its glow steady and calm. Then came the oil—slow, deliberate. Each drop resonated like the ticking of a clock. The air thickened, humming in rhythm with the potion's pulse.
A final drop.
The potion flared violet, then turned into a translucent silver liquid threaded with swirling purple lines.
Raven leaned back. "Failure again…" His voice was softer this time. His eyes, however, burned with focus.
He analyzed every motion, every breath he took. "It's the oil. A drop too much."
He began again.
The third attempt was different. His body moved automatically, guided not by sight but instinct. The chamber grew silent save for the crackle of the furnace and the occasional hiss of energy.
When the last drop fell, the potion let out a soft hum—melodic, rhythmic, alive.
The glow steadied. Silver and violet intertwined like twin serpents.
Raven smiled faintly. "It's done."
[Amazing! Your success rate of concocting beginner-rank potions has increased from 10% to 33%. You can consider yourself a peak-rank Beginner Alchemist now.]
Zera's tone was almost proud.
Raven examined the vial with a monocle. A faint blue screen appeared.
…
[Name: Time Affinity Potion]
[Grade: Beginner]
[Effect: 90% chance to increase user's Time Affinity from 'Nil' → 'Low'.]
…
"Not bad."
He uncorked the flask and drank.
The taste was sharp and metallic. The moment it slid down his throat, his surroundings warped. Every droplet in the air seemed frozen mid-fall. The faint hum of the furnace stretched into eternity.
Then, with a pulse, the world resumed.
Raven opened his eyes, his heartbeat slow but steady. "It worked."
A faint shimmer appeared beside his vision.
[Time Affinity: Low]
He exhaled in relief, then sat cross-legged on the floor. "Let's complete the Fourth Circlet."
His consciousness slipped into the Mind Space.
Darkness surrounded him, vast and endless. Floating runes drifted through the void like glowing stars. He focused, weaving the hexagonal formation that would form the Time Circlet.
Runic words etched themselves into existence, glowing white and gold.
The structure pulsed—alive.
Two spell models descended from above, crystalline and brilliant. Past Self.Mind Eye.
As the Circlet absorbed them, a wave of energy spread through the Mind Space. Raven's eyes opened back in reality, silver light fading from his irises.
He whispered, "Past Self."
A ripple passed through him, and suddenly—he was standing a few feet away, watching himself at the table, repeating the same motions as before.
The clone looked so real it might've been breathing. When it vanished thirty seconds later, Raven felt the faint drain of energy and smirked.
"Thirty seconds of duplication… recharge in five minutes. Acceptable."
He cleaned his workspace and climbed the stone stairs back to the manor.
Servants bowed as he entered the main hall.
"Tell Jacob to come to my room," he said, already heading upstairs.
The oak door closed behind him with a soft click.
The warmth of the Aether lamp spread across his polished desk and ornate furniture. He loosened his robe and exhaled. "Four more affinities to brew. That should be enough for now."
He changed clothes, bathed, and by the time he stepped out, Jacob was waiting outside.
"Come in," Raven said, drying his hair.
Jacob entered, holding a thick book. "The Empire's Constitution Law Book, my lord. I couldn't buy it, but Toby helped me borrow it from the Court Library. We must return it by Monday."
"One day is enough." Raven sat, flipping through the pages. "Any information?"
"Yes, my lord." Jacob's tone lowered. "Toby's uncle works at the Supreme Court. He said all bribes to the Judges go through a man named Everett. He manages the Court building and has ties with nobles—and the Crows Misery wizards. On Sundays, only patrols and cleaners enter the building."
"Good." Raven looked up. "Find out who handles the cleaning of the main hearing room this Sunday." He paused, then added, "I need two hours inside. Alone. Bribe Everett if needed."
He tossed a heavy leather pouch onto the table. Gold coins clinked.
Jacob blinked. "My lord… this is—"
"Five hundred gold," Raven said evenly. "Make sure it's anonymous."
Jacob bowed. "Yes, my lord."
"Also," Raven handed over a ring. "Sell the unused materials at Mystic Cauldron and buy the rest from this list. Use the remaining funds wisely."
"Yes, my lord. Anything else?"
"You and Selene can use the spirit pool. I won't be using it this week."
Jacob's eyes widened. Gratitude replaced shock. "Thank you, my lord. We'll not waste this chance."
"Go."
When the door closed, Raven leaned back and shut his eyes.
…
He awoke at 8 P.M., ate dinner with Jacob and the others, then entered the illusionary world again. Hours of spear practice left him drenched in sweat.
By 2 A.M., he sat back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Zera. Show me Charles Nightwind's memories."
[You'll find them on the twenty-fifth shelf of Runeth's section. There aren't many, but they're worth reading.]
Raven's consciousness entered the library of memories. Rows of shelves stretched into infinity. He followed the faint blue glow to the twenty-fifth shelf and pulled out a book.
The pages unfolded before his eyes—not paper, but living scenes.
He saw Charles and Runeth meeting as enemies. He saw contracts, betrayals, and a battle against a Goddess's incarnation. He watched Charles trick gods and mortals alike, wielding fire as if it were alive.
When the visions ended, Raven stood still, breathing heavily.
"He built a Magic Tower… and killed a Goddess's vessel." His voice trembled with awe. "And he was only at the Expert Realm."
He memorized the tower's blueprints and shut the book.
Back in the waking world, dawn crept through the window.
[What will you do today?] Zera asked.
Raven's eyes glowed faintly. "It's September 20th. Time to perfect the plan. No mistakes this time. If I want to save my aunt… I'll use every advantage."