"Another Entry that can be upgraded. This description is as good as no description, but after equipping it, I seem to be able to perceive 'Qi', and also vaguely sense how to enhance them. It seems like 'Qi' can be enhanced even if I do nothing."
Akira extended a finger, activating the power of Busoshoku Haki. Instantly, an invisible and colorless substance attached to his finger. Akira drew a line on the table in front of him, and a deep scratch appeared on the tabletop.
After some thought, Akira again called upon the 'Qi' within his body, enhancing his Busoshoku Haki. He once again drew his finger across the table, and this time a penetrating hole appeared directly.
"The power has increased a lot. It seems 'Qi' can also be used to enhance Busoshoku Haki. I wonder what else it can be used for; I can try more."
Makima's voice rang out, interrupting Akira's thoughts.
"Why are you testing your abilities on the table? The table is unusable now."
Only then did Akira realize that he had been so focused on his new abilities that he had casually used the table in front of him for his experiments. Now, the table had gloriously sacrificed itself.
Akira said awkwardly, "I was so engrossed in testing my abilities that I forgot the table was still useful. I'll just have to buy a new one tomorrow."
---
Inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. Base.
"..., that's how it is. Alexandra, a finger of The Hand, will hold a demon summoning ritual in New York. We should send more people to investigate and prevent it," Coulson reported into the darkness.
"The situation looks serious. There really are demons. I will dispatch Hawkeye and a S.H.I.E.L.D. team to assist you. Find Alexandra's hiding place before the demon is summoned. I don't want to see a demon strolling through New York!"
In the darkness, two rows of white teeth flashed continuously. This was Fury's racial talent; as long as he didn't open his mouth, no one could spot him in the dark.
Coulson never mentioned the Dragon Bone from beginning to end, because in the memory Makima fabricated for him, there was no Dragon Bone at all. The Hand's cooperation with Kingpin's Gang was solely for the purpose of summoning the demon beast.
After Coulson left, Fury, who had merged into the darkness, pondered the intelligence.
"Summoning a demon requires a lot of blood, so those guys should have caught wind of something."
Fury dialed a special number.
---
"Madame Gao, that indecisive fellow, should have died long ago!"
Although Alexandra had no direct way to contact Madame Gao, she could still tell if her old adversary was dead or not.
"The blood you need will be ready the day after tomorrow. We can't make too much of a commotion, otherwise, we could give it to you tomorrow!"
The speaker was a man. He sat opposite Alexandra, his face handsome, but his complexion was unnaturally pale.
The man spoke, "You don't look well. Would you like to become a noble Vampire? It can also grant you eternal life!"
"You don't need to worry about that, Deacon Frost!" Alexandra was unmoved.
The man called Deacon Frost said,
"There's nothing bad about becoming a Vampire. Long life, powerful strength, an immortal body."
Alexandra scoffed, "When I established my power in the U.S., Frost, you weren't even born yet!"
Deacon Frost laughed, "That's right, I almost forgot, you're also an old monster who won't die. A monster who has lived for hundreds of years, I have some information about you. Would you like to hear it?"
"Speak. What are your terms?" Alexandra's tone was devoid of emotion.
Deacon Frost stated the terms he had already prepared:
"You've lived so long, you should be quite knowledgeable about some ancient scripts. I happen to have a few ancient texts that need deciphering. If you can help me decipher them, I'll tell you, and I'll contribute to the summoning ritual!"
"Alright, I agree. First, tell me what the information is." Alexandra thought for a moment and then agreed. She had nothing to lose, only deciphering some ancient texts.
"I received secret intelligence that those S.H.I.E.L.D. guys are looking for the mastermind behind the New York disappearances, as well as you, The Hand. In other words, Alexandra, your plan has been exposed!"
Deacon Frost revealed information that Alexandra hadn't anticipated.
Alexandra frowned, thinking to herself, "Only Madame Gao, Murakami, and Kingpin knew I was going to summon the beast. But Madame Gao is dead, Murakami wouldn't leak it, so could it be Kingpin? But if so, then it would be impossible for us to resurrect his deceased wife and daughter, so Kingpin wouldn't do that. How exactly did it get leaked?"
Alexandra said with a frown, "Very important intelligence. It seems the location for the ritual needs to be changed. The original place might already be surrounded by S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel. Frost, do you have a suitable place?"
"Of course, my eyes and ears are everywhere in New York, but you have to help me decipher these ancient texts first."
Deacon Frost clapped his hands, and a Vampire walked in, bringing a yellowed paper framed in glass to Deacon.
"This is the part that has already been deciphered. I need to verify if you can decipher it correctly first."
Deacon handed the glass frame to Alexandra.
"Looks like an antique."
Alexandra took the ancient text, picked up the magnifying glass offered by the Vampire attendant, and began to study it carefully.
After about half an hour, Alexandra put down the ancient text and rubbed her eyes. Her physical condition had worsened, and she said wearily,
"These are primitive Roman symbols. I can recognize this part. It means: 'God grew weary of eternal life and entrusted the power of blood to the progenitor, but before that, His blood had already spread through descendants within the Vampire race. The 13 Vampire descendants will be the key.' The rest, I need to decipher slowly."
Having used up the Dragon Bone, her life was once again controlled by time, no longer immune to aging and illness.
"Excellent!"
Deacon Frost stood up from his chair excitedly. The content Alexandra translated was similar to what he had deciphered over the years—no, Alexandra's deciphering was more accurate and aligned better with his expectations.
"You truly can decipher it. Come with me, I'll take you to see the rest of the ancient texts!"
Deacon Frost eagerly wanted to take Alexandra to see the remaining ancient texts.
"Wait."
Alexandra did not move, still sitting in her seat, taking a sip from the cup on the table.
Deacon Frost turned back confused, asking, "Why wait?"
"As you said, I don't look well. Now I'm tired and need to rest."
Alexandra was genuinely tired, but more importantly, she wanted to show an attitude, so that young Frost wouldn't get too complacent.
Deacon Frost narrowed his eyes and stared for a while, finally relenting,
"Alright, I'll prepare a guest room for you. Go and rest well. I'll handle the blood matter for you."
"Very good." Alexandra nodded in satisfaction... "This sentence means: 'There are two ways to awaken the power of God: one is by using the blood of the progenitor as a guide, and the other is by using the blood of a daywalker as a guide.'"
Sitting beside a desk, Alexandra relayed the content of the yellowed paper to Deacon Frost.