[The Catacombs, level 6, Skull Sect Temple]
Malakor led Greem down a narrow passage deep into the temple. The air grew thick and cold. They stopped before a large stone door covered in ancient runes. Malakor pushed it open.
Greem stepped inside and froze.
The room was vast. In the center lay a massive creature, larger than any house. It was a wyvern, covered in scales as dark as night. One of its wings was torn and hung limply. Its chest rose and fell slowly in a deep sleep. This was the Shadow Wyvern.
Greem felt a terrifying pressure just from being near it.
[Shadow Wyvern - Lv. 25 Magical Beast (Rank 1)]
It was a magus-level powerhouse on its own right. The strongest being he had crossed path with was Elizabeth, and though terrifying, she did not emit a fraction of the shadow wyvern's pressure. Greem could feel his arms trembling, his knees weak as well. It was as if his soul itself was being shaken.
Malakor walked to a small, dark pool at the wyvern's feet. The pool shimmered with a red light. It was filled with a thick, condensed liquid.
"This is the blood essence," Malakor said. "We collect it from our offerings. The woman acolyte you just killed, her blood is already here. Along with many others. Goblin shamans, kobold mages, wandering acolytes... they all feed the Wyvern."
Greem looked at the pool. He felt a chill. He had just added to it.
"The Wyvern needs magical blood to heal," Malakor continued. "In return, it grants us a fraction of its power."
As he spoke, the Wyvern's closed eye twitched. The eyelid opened slightly, revealing a giant eye that glowed a fierce red. A single, glowing drop of blood formed at the corner of the eye. Malakor held out his hand, and using his mana, he guided the drop into a small crystal vial.
"Drink this," Malakor said, handing the vial to Greem. "It is a purified drop of the Wyvern's blood essence. It will bind you to us, to our c ause."
Greem took the vial. His hand shook slightly. He brought it to his lips and gulped it down.
The effect was immediate. A fiery power surged through his veins. It felt like shadows and fire mixing inside him. His muscles tightened and grew stronger. His senses sharpened. For a moment, he felt a connection to the slumbering beast—a deep, primal link.
Notifications flashed in his mind.
[You have consumed Shadow Wyvern Blood Essence!]
[You have gained the perk: Shadow Wyvern Bloodline]
[Your physical stats have increased!]
[You have become a knight!]
[Your affinity with shadow magic has strengthened!]
[Mission Accomplished: Infiltrate the Skull Sect. 200 EXP gained]
Greem took a deep breath. The power was terrifying, but it was his now.
[Greem Southport - Lv. 7 Beginner Rank Acolyte (428 → 664 / 800 EXP)
Strength - 4 → 5 | Agility - 3 → 4 | Vitality - 4 → 5 | MagicPower - 7
Perks: Grade IV Shadow Elemental Affinity, Shadow Wyvern Bloodline
Spells: Dark Illusion (81), Shadow Hand (65), Ombre Curse (29) → (30), Shadow Cloak (3)
Skills: Shadow Elemental Knowledge (62) → (65), Magical Knowledge (48) → (50), Swordsmanship (27) → (33), Crossbow Mastery (11) → (12)
Miscellaneous skills: Accounting (61), Eloquence (36), Charm (25)
Magical Artefact: Soul Ring [SSS], Thread of Fate Pendant (+1 Perception) [Low-grade Rank 0]]
He was one step closer to the intermediate rank realm. He could feel the power surging in his body.
Knighthood.
His stats were all above 4, and he could feel the inner energy in his body. He was now a proper knight. If the [Breath of the Dusk Hound] had elevated him to the preparatory knight realm, the bloodline awakened his very core potential.
But perhaps this was not the biggest gain.
Grade IV magical talent. From the lowest grade 1 to the highest grade 5, he was now in possession of the highest talent he had encountered so far. Even Elizabeth Blackhope, founder of the Black Widow Association, was only a grade 3 talent. Yet, he exceeded even that.
Malakor grinned: "Feeling it already? Your body and magical powers will be strengthened. You are now a proper bloodline path acolyte. Give it a couple months, and you will probably awaken your innate spell"
"Innate spell?", Greem titled his head
Malakor nodded: "Yes, bloodline path acolytes can use innate spells. Perhaps you have heard it under the name of Bloodline spell. Your vampire friend probably uses one too"
Greem nodded. Blood curse, Willem's trump card, was terrifyingly powerful, bordering that of modified spells from the Magical Court. Yet, he could cast it effortlessly.
Innate spells came from the bloodline, rather than knowledge. It was terrifying.
Malakor continued: "You have already seen mine, Shadow Scales. They grant me a protection that saved my life more than once. Only a handful of us awakens innate spells, but considering your talent, I am sure you will have a worthy one"
Greem nodded, but felt a wave of exhaustion
A slow smile spread across Malakor's face. "Excellent. Then you'll stay here as our 'prisoner' to maintain your disguise. After you've rested, we will fabricate a reason to move you to the torture cells. Use that time to study this fortress. Learn its secrets. When the moment is right, you'll stage your escape, solidifying your value to our organization. Flawless, isn't it?"
Greem could not answer and fell in a deep slumber.