Simon laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the dusty library.
"Listen to this trash! He actually thinks he can talk back today?"
Marcus cracked his neck, muscles bulging under his uniform thanks to his Strength Enhancement bloodline. "Let's make it quick. I don't want to waste too much time on a nobody."
Carl, the weakest of the three, pulled out a small dagger with a smug grin. "I'll hold him down. You guys break his arms. That way he won't even be able to write the withdrawal form tomorrow."
Easton stood completely still, heart hammering, but not from fear this time.
The blue system screen hovered in front of his eyes, invisible to the others.
[Three viable targets detected.]
[Simon – Wind Blade Bloodline (C-rank) – High plunder value]
[Marcus – Strength Enhancement Bloodline (D-rank) – Medium plunder value]
[Carl – Basic Agility Bloodline (E-rank) – Low plunder value]
[Warning: Host is currently Level 1 with zero combat skills. Direct confrontation carries high risk of injury.]
[Recommended strategy: Isolate and devour one at a time.]
Easton's mind raced. He had never won a fight in his life. But the System had given him a chance — a real one. He wasn't going to waste it.
He took a slow step backward, pretending to be scared. "W-wait… please… I was just joking…"
The bullies laughed harder.
"Too late for begging!" Simon flicked his wrist. A sharp gust of wind gathered around his hand, forming a translucent green blade. "Let's start with your legs so you can crawl out of here."
He lunged.
Easton dodged to the side at the last second — his Night Eye bloodline letting him see the blade's trajectory clearly even in the dim library. The wind blade sliced through a wooden table behind him, splitting it cleanly in two.
"Hold still, trash!" Simon snarled and sent another slash.
This time Easton didn't dodge. He grabbed a heavy old book from the nearest shelf and hurled it straight at Simon's face.
The book connected with a loud thud. Simon staggered, blood trickling from his nose.
"You—!"
Seizing the moment, Easton bolted deeper into the library, weaving between the tall shelves.
"After him!" Marcus roared, charging like a bull.
The three bullies gave chase, knocking over shelves and sending clouds of dust into the air.
Easton's breath came in short gasps. His legs burned, but adrenaline and the faint silver glow of his bloodline kept him moving faster than usual. He turned a sharp corner and hid behind a massive collapsed bookshelf.
[Blood Essence Hunger: 12%]
[Reminder: Prolonged delay will increase hunger and weaken Host.]
"Come out, coward!" Simon's voice echoed. "When I catch you, I'll cut off more than just your legs!"
Easton peeked through a gap in the wood. Simon was closest, wiping blood from his nose, wind blades still swirling around his hands. Marcus and Carl were a few steps behind, searching other rows.
This was his only chance.
He picked up a broken chair leg from the floor — heavy wood, about the length of a short club.
Then he moved.
Silent as a shadow, he slipped behind Simon and swung with everything he had.
**Crack!**
The chair leg smashed into the back of Simon's head. The bully dropped like a sack of rice, wind blades dissipating instantly.
One down.
Before the other two could react, Easton dropped the improvised weapon and pounced on Simon's unconscious body.
His hands grabbed the boy's collar. Instinct took over.
"Devour," he whispered.
[Bloodline Plunder Activated!]
[Target: Simon – Wind Blade Bloodline (C-rank)]
[Extracting Blood Essence…]
A crimson glow enveloped Easton's hands. Thin threads of green energy flowed out of Simon's body and into Easton's palms. It felt like drinking ice-cold lightning — invigorating, addictive, and terrifying.
Simon's body twitched once, then went still.
[Plunder successful!]
[Gained 180 Blood Essence]
[Extracted Bloodline Fragment: Wind Blade (C-rank)]
[Would you like to:]
**1. Absorb into current bloodline (upgrade Night Eye)**
**2. Store as secondary bloodline**
**3. Fuse later**
Easton didn't hesitate. "Store as secondary!"
[Wind Blade Bloodline Fragment stored. Current Blood Essence: 180/100]
[Level Up!]
[You are now Level 2 (Beginner Devourer)]
[All stats slightly increased. New passive unlocked: Minor Bloodline Stability (reduces backlash when fusing bloodlines)]
Power surged through his veins. His muscles felt tighter, his senses sharper. The silver glow around his body brightened for a moment before settling.
He could feel it — the faint whisper of wind around his fingertips, waiting to be used.
But there was no time to celebrate.
"Simon!" Marcus's furious shout came from the next row. "Where are you?!"
Footsteps pounded closer.
Easton stood up, breathing hard. His eyes had changed — still mostly black, but now with a faint crimson ring around the iris.
He stepped out from behind the shelf.
Marcus and Carl froze when they saw him standing over their unconscious friend.
"You… what did you do to him?!" Marcus growled, charging forward with enhanced strength, fists glowing brown.
Easton raised his right hand on pure instinct.
A small, translucent green wind blade formed above his palm — weaker than Simon's, but real.
He slashed downward.
The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle and sliced across Marcus's shoulder, drawing blood and tearing his uniform.
Marcus roared in pain and swung wildly.
Easton dodged, faster than before, and drove his knee into the bigger boy's stomach. The Strength Enhancement bloodline made Marcus tough, but the surprise and pain slowed him.
Carl tried to stab with his dagger from the side.
Easton spun and caught the boy's wrist. With his new strength, he twisted hard. The dagger clattered to the floor.
"Devour," he said again, voice colder this time.
[Bloodline Plunder Activated!]
[Target: Marcus – Strength Enhancement Bloodline (D-rank)]
[Extracting…]
Crimson threads pulled brown energy from Marcus. The bully's muscles visibly shrank slightly as the essence flowed into Easton.
[Plunder successful!]
[Gained 95 Blood Essence]
[Extracted Bloodline Fragment: Strength Enhancement (D-rank)]
[Current Blood Essence: 275/100]
[Level Up!]
[You are now Level 3 (Beginner Devourer)]
[New skill unlocked: Basic Bloodline Scan (allows scanning of nearby bloodlines without physical contact)]
Carl's face had gone pale. He turned to run.
Easton flicked his wrist. A weak wind blade — boosted slightly by his new level — caught the boy in the back of the leg, making him stumble.
In three quick steps Easton was on him.
One final plunder.
[Bloodline Plunder Activated!]
[Target: Carl – Basic Agility Bloodline (E-rank)]
[Gained 45 Blood Essence]
[Extracted Bloodline Fragment: Basic Agility (E-rank)]
[Current Blood Essence: 320/100]
[System Alert: Blood Essence overflow detected. Converting excess to permanent stat points.]
[+5 Strength, +4 Agility, +3 Perception]
The rush of power made Easton's head spin for a moment. He felt stronger, faster, sharper. The constant dull ache he had carried for years from malnutrition and stress was gone.
He looked down at the three unconscious bullies.
They were still alive — breathing, just severely weakened and drained of part of their bloodline potential. They would recover in a few days, but their bloodlines would never be as strong as before.
Easton's hands were trembling, not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of what had just happened.
He had done it.
He had taken their power.
The system's voice rang again, almost sounding pleased.
[First Plunder Quest Completed!]
[Rewards: 200 Blood Essence (already added) + Random Bloodline Fragment Ticket + System Shop Unlocked]
[New Quest Generated]
**Second Plunder**
**Task:** Devour blood essence from at least one mid-tier bloodline (B-rank or higher) within 7 days.
**Reward:** Advanced Bloodline Fusion Manual + 500 Blood Essence + Mystery Box
**Penalty:** Severe Bloodline Decay (random permanent debuff)
Easton exhaled shakily and opened the new System Shop with a thought.
**System Shop**
- Low-grade Bloodline Stabilizer Potion: 100 Blood Essence
- Basic Storage Ring: 300 Blood Essence
- Random Bloodline Fragment (F to C-rank): 150 Blood Essence
- … (more options locked until higher level)
He quickly used 100 Blood Essence to buy a Stabilizer Potion and drank it. A cool sensation spread through his body, preventing any immediate backlash from the three new fragments.
Then he looked at the three unconscious boys one last time.
"No more," he whispered. "From today onward… I'm not the one getting stepped on."
He turned and walked out of the library, the afternoon sun now feeling warmer on his skin.
Behind him, the old black tablet lay forgotten on the floor, its glow completely gone.
Outside, the academy bells rang, signaling the end of the day.
Easton's lips curved into a small, dangerous smile as he headed toward the dorms.