I Became the Progenitor Vampire-Chapter 269 - 271: Level 15 Ultimate Transformation, The Birth of the Dark Big Boss (Part 1.2 of the Mega Chapter)
Chapter 269: Chapter 271: Level 15 Ultimate Transformation, The Birth of the Dark Big Boss (Part 1.2 of the Mega Chapter)
Lide took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions welling up inside him,
“Why did the expansion of the Bloodline to the fifth generation and the exceeding of 500 members trigger the Bloodline Transformation when it never happened with the previous Blood Clan Ancestor?”
“Could it be because my soul is from Earth? Or could it simply be the power of the system?”
With too little information, Lide pondered for a moment before resolutely giving up this fruitless endeavor.
This was a tremendous surprise.
Although he was the king of the Bloodline, an Upper Race, his combat strength wasn’t formidable, and he didn’t have a significant advantage even against warriors of the same level.
He only had one talent that he could boast of: that of the Blood Clan Ancestor.
Although the talent of the Blood Clan Ancestor was powerful enough to be near a bug, his personal combat strength didn’t match up to his identity as the Ancestor of an Upper Race.
It was the overwhelming power of the Blood Clan Ancestor talent that masked his other weaknesses. Otherwise, he really had to wonder if the infamous Bloodline, which constantly earned the hatred and fear of countless humans and was sworn as eternal enemies, was exaggerated in legends.
Now, it seemed his previous guess was correct; the potential of the Blood Clan Ancestor went far beyond what he had seen.
Seeing the countdown already ticking on his attribute panel, Lide felt a sense of urgency rise within him. The trigger of the Bloodline Transformation was so sudden that he had no mental preparation for it.
He wasn’t sure how long this transformation would take, so he had to make arrangements for the upcoming work within two Sunshine Hours.
With that thought, he no longer hesitated, turned, and headed straight for the City Hall.
Below, among the group of priests, the girl Nilo noticed the change in Lide’s expression, and sensed the urgency in his heart within the Spiritual Sea.
The girl pursed her lips, wanting to follow him, but Lide seemed preoccupied, turned his head to look at her, and nodded comfortingly toward his Divine Priest.
Their eyes met, and seeing those dark pupils, Nilo’s heart’s worries instantly disappeared, giving him a brilliant smile back.
Even among the many attractive priests, this girl with faintly golden eyes was still the most dazzling star.
However, Lide was in no mood to appreciate his little priest as he hurried back to the City Hall.
Time was of the essence; he had to make some arrangements. Although the system didn’t specify how long this transformation would take, he had a feeling it would be a lengthy process.
After all, the system had specifically prompted him to find a blood pool rich in energy and fresh blood for his transformation.
“Clan Leader…”
Harrison, who saw Lide with furrowed brows and hurried steps entering his office, promptly stood up.
“Is something wrong?”
Lide nodded gravely, “I have touched the true essence of the Bloodline, and I will undergo a Bloodline Transformation soon.
I need to sleep in the blood pool filled with Magic Blood, and I cannot determine how long the transformation will take. All operations in Dawn City will be entrusted to you during this period.
Moreover, we previously prepared the intelligence headquarters; you can go ahead and establish it during this time.
Aggregate all the forces’ intelligence before making any commanding decisions.”
He had been personally steering the development of Dawn City, everything was on the right track, so there wasn’t much need for detailed instructions.
The City Hall’s administration was also capable of handling most issues, and Harrison’s ability was undoubtedly trustworthy.
What he was slightly worried about were the external forces; outside Dawn City, it was another matter. This place was isolated from the world, and the Bloodline had no natural predators.
The risks outside were much greater.
That’s why he wanted Harrison to establish the intelligence headquarters, which had been in preparation for a while. Once they opened up channels for intelligence from various forces, they could issue more effective orders to avoid those unknown risks.
“Additionally, recall Stanley to Dawn City, and have him participate in the establishment of the intelligence headquarters.”
“The mining in Dwarf Valley should proceed as planned. If there are attacks from unstoppable enemies, Dwarf Valley can be temporarily abandoned, and we can withdraw from the Secret Silver Vein.”
“As for the Crimson Mage Tower, pass on the message to Vena that I will be in prolonged seclusion; she’ll know what to do.”
Lide issued orders in rapid succession, not giving Harrison much opportunity to inquire further.
Watching the time trickle on the attribute panel, his expression grew heavier.
There was too little time, and to be prepared for any worst-case scenarios, he could only make the safest arrangements.
“Yes, Clan Leader,” said Harrison with a very serious expression, knowing full well the significance of this matter.
This time was different from the past. Even if Lide was in seclusion, if something important arose, he could be interrupted for decision-making.
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But if it was a Bloodline Transformation, once Lide fell asleep, Harrison wouldn’t dare to disturb him, even if Dawn City faced substantial threats.
The Bloodline Transformation was a crucial step that any life form greatly valued—one step to heaven, one step to the abyss.
“Empty the blood pool; I will need it within a maximum of one Sunshine Hour.”
After finishing, Lide glanced again at the system’s prompt.
“The Bloodline of the Blood Clan Ancestor is about to undergo a transformation; please find a blood pool abundant in energy and fresh blood to enter slumber.”
“If you choose to abandon this transformation, or if the energy is insufficient and the transformation fails, the Bloodline Ancestor’s talent will be permanently fixed. Please choose carefully.
Transformation countdown: 110 minutes…
Enough energy and fresh blood…
Turning his head, he looked at Harrison, “Move all the Demon Crystal Stones used by the Dwarves to make Alchemy Bombs to the blood pool. I might need to use them.
To prevent any emergencies, immediately notify the Crimson Mage Tower and have Vina prepare the Magic Crystal Stones.”
“Yes, Clan Leader.” At this moment, Harrison did not hesitate for a second and once again wrote down this instruction in his notebook.
After confirming there was nothing else he needed to delegate, Lide returned directly to his office without hesitation.
He ordered the Bloodline members to forbid anyone from entering and then he returned to Earth.
With Harrison and a host of highly capable managers and top combatants working for him, Glory could survive despite the concerns.
He absolutely had to give personal instructions for the Crimson Moon; after all, it was Earth, and if they couldn’t contact their boss for an extended period, people would inevitably become restless.
On Earth, there wasn’t such a thing as absolute loyalty; it wouldn’t be surprising if some financial expert managed to empty out the company.
So, he needed to make some arrangements.
Dialing the phone.
“Mr. Li.”
It was already ten o’clock at night, and Cheng Lu’s expression was a bit strange upon receiving Lide’s call.
Her boss had been contacting her at noon these past few days. Why was he calling her so late now?
The ordinarily looking girl couldn’t help but get carried away with flamboyant fantasies… especially since the boss was so handsome…
“Cheng Lu, I have to travel for important matters for a while, and I’m not sure when I will return, maybe a month or maybe two or three.
Moreover, due to special circumstances, I will not be able to use communication tools and will be unable to contact you during this time.
You need to assist Mr. Zhao in managing the company during this period, and you must ensure to supervise the progress of various projects to guarantee the company’s development.”
Lide’s words made Cheng Lu’s face slightly red. I thought – he was calling me for something else so late…
“No problem, Mr. Li, I will follow up the whole process…”
Lide nodded in satisfaction; this assistant was indeed good, with strong working capability that made things very smooth for him. After delegating some important matters, he then called Zhao Yue.
Zhao Yue reacted to Lide’s departure for several months and the inability to contact him with less surprise than he expected.
While Lide was curious, the other party’s remark stupefied him.
“Anyway, Mr. Li, you’re not that concerned with the company, what’s the difference with you being away on a business trip?”
Damn, that actually sounds quite reasonable.
After dealing with Earth’s matters, Lide kept an eye on the time and returned to Glory.
The time flow of 1:3 didn’t allow him to stay on Earth for too long.
Back in Glory, 35 minutes remained.
Lide breathed a sigh of relief; one Sunshine Hour was enough.
Opening the office door and leaving City Hall, he transformed into a bat and flew across the city to the sacred ground.
Harrison, who had been waiting there, stood beside Frey, who guarded the sacred ground. This Bloodline, once the strongest among the second generation, had quietly become second-tier due to the rapid development of Dawn City’s top combat capabilities.
Nevertheless, Frey was still guarding the sacred ground for him.
“Good evening, Your Excellency,” Frey greeted Lide with a solemn expression.
Lide nodded slightly. At this moment, there was no time for pleasantries; time was running short.
There were now three blood pools within the sacred ground.
The first was the ancient blood pool left by the Bloodline, its blood became imbued with rich Magic Power due to the soaking of Divine remains, turning it into Magic Blood.
Magic Blood had an extremely powerful effect on the Bloodline and had played an important role in several battles of Dawn City.
The two blood pools on either side were newly dug by Lide to collect blood donations from the residents of Dawn City.
The two newly excavated blood pools were thirty blades deep and fifty blades long and wide, the entire area just within the reach of the Holy Spirit’s radiation.
However, due to the immense size of the blood pools, currently only the left one stored fresh blood. Yet the blood stored was negligible compared to the vastness of the blood pool.
The middle blood pool, soaking with the remains of the Divine, had already dropped by one-third in height, with the consumed Magic Blood being drastically depleted in intense battles.
Due to the presence of Divine remains, Lide had the Bloodline build a stone house connected to the cave ceiling around this blood pool, completely shielding it inside.
Usually, only he and Harrison could open the sealed stone house door.
Looking at the calm blood pool through the open stone house, Lide took a deep breath, “Harrison, place the summoned Demon Crystal Stones around the blood pool; I might be able to use them at a critical moment.”
Magic Blood contained immense energy, but whether it was enough, he couldn’t be sure, so he had to make extra arrangements, just in case.
“Furthermore, if the energy or blood in the blood pool isn’t sufficient, immediately inject the newly donated blood into the blood pool where I am.”
“Seal off the holy land completely during this period, prohibiting anyone from entering, and call Kosso back from Dwarf Valley.”
Lide turned his head to look at Harrison and Frey, two second-generation Bloodlines, making the final arrangements before the transformation.
“Yes, Clan Leader.”
Harrison and Frey had solemn expressions.
The more arrangements Lide made, the more they felt that this event might surpass his expectations, especially for Harrison, who had never seen the always-calculating Lide be this cautious.
Lide looked deeply into their eyes, nodded, and then transformed into a Vampire.
Sharp fangs in his mouth, bat wings on his back, an aura of elegance, and a handsomeness that was to the extreme—all these were the very image of a Vampire.
With a slight stretch of his wings, akin to those of a demon, Lide stepped into the blood pool, which was soaking with the divine remains.
The crystal-like translucent divine remains floated slightly in the milky-white blood pool.
The Holy Spirit didn’t have a hint of terror but was filled with a sacred aura, constantly attracting and infusing free-floating Magic Energy into the blood pool.
Plop~
Magic Blood rose above his waist, and Lide stood at the bottom of the pool, surrounded by abundant Magic Energy.
The Magic Blood also contained a unique substance from human blood, a mysterious material necessary for the survival of a Bloodline. The rich density made him feel incredibly comfortable.
His body’s cells instantly activated.
Lide took a deep breath, watching the countdown on the attribute panel tick away, and he slowly closed his eyes.
This sudden change had disrupted many of his plans, but he knew he couldn’t let go of this opportunity.
After the last second disappeared.
“Ding~ The Bloodline shackles begin to unlock, the Ancestor Bloodline begins to release potential…”
The system’s prompt was the last sound Lide heard.
His consciousness gradually slipped into a slumber, and Lide’s body could no longer stand as he sank into the blood pool.
Instead of causing him breathing difficulties, sinking into the blood pool made him feel as safe as if he were in his mother’s embrace.
After Lide fell asleep, the deeply hidden chains within his body’s Bloodline slowly snapped, and a surge of crimson energy permeated from his blood.
This crimson energy was something Lide had never noticed before, but it was not friendly to him.
The crimson energy rampaged through his body like a thieving demon or a marauder.
His bones fragmented inch by inch under its erosion, his muscles withered and broke wherever it passed, and even the blood became thick and dried up with its erosion.
Once a vibrant body, it now resembled withered deadwood, ready to shatter at any moment.
However, after the destruction, that energy actively summoned power to heal his body, the exceptional healing ability restoring Lide’s severely damaged body to a perfect state.
Yet the repaired body remained fragile; the crimson energy assaulted it again, and then the body shattered once again.
After ten times, a hundred times, the crimson energy seemed to realize this was ineffective and began to focus on eroding the bones, only moving on to the next target after newly grown bones could withstand the crimson energy’s erosion…
At this moment, Lide’s body had become a crushing machine, every part shattered to pieces under the invasion of the crimson energy.
But after the destruction, it was reshaped by that energy—the muscles turned from cotton to steel wires, and bones from twigs to steel…
However, this cycle of destruction and reconstruction was immensely draining on energy, depleting Lide’s internal energy within just a few minutes.
At this point, the Magic Blood in the blood pool became the best source of energy.
His body became like a black hole that devoured everything, with every pore absorbing the surrounding energy.
Harrison, who had been watching the scene, was filled with anxiety. Lide’s exploitation of the Bloodline Power was undoubtedly a great thing for the Bloodline.
With the increasing strength of Dawn City, Lide, the once most powerful Blood Clan Ancestor, became the enemy’s most vulnerable point.
It’s a dangerous world where the king of a race is often the most powerful being, with only the strong leading a race to prosperity.
It had been that way for the Bloodline.
And perhaps, it will remain so.
Sensing something like a giant dragon hatchling slowly rising in the blood pool, Harrison’s expression was slightly excited.
“Frey, transport the Magic Crystals in here, the absorption rate of Magic Energy around us has clearly accelerated…”
“Okay…”
——
——
——
On the second day of the Dawn Festival,
people were still immersed in revelry, as if nothing had changed.
The only difference was that in the eastern district of Dawn City, the patrols of the Holy Light Bloodline had intensified, and the surrounding area was turned into an off-limits zone.
Moreover, the old residents also keenly observed that even Kosso, the One-eyed Giant Lord who hadn’t been seen in a long time, appeared at the foot of the mountain in the eastern district wearing armor to patrol, this powerful being who had submitted to the Kachar City Lord seemed to be guarding something.
Residents didn’t feel much change in their lives, merely enjoying a rare holiday.
But after Lide underwent a Bloodline Transformation, the higher-ups of Dawn City immediately entered a state of heightened alert.
In the following days, a large amount of forces were withdrawn back to Dawn City, and even the acts of population plunder had ceased once the critical figure of 50,000 inhabitants was reached, under orders from Harrison.
The King’s Blade formed the outer patrol teams, managing the entire city’s security.
Castro, Withered Bone, Kosso, these three hulks were on guard day and night under the eastern mountain range where the sanctuary was located.
Stanley, having been called back, promptly established the long-prepared intelligence headquarters.
During this time, this highly intelligent Second Generation Bloodline, once a follower of the Evil God, would govern the strategic direction of several massive powers, providing Dawn City with enough intelligence support.
If it were not for the fact that the Crimson Mage Tower and Dark Contract both required top-tier combat forces for guardianship during this time, Betty and Groot would undoubtedly be recalled by Stanley.
But even without a few top-tier combatants, the current forces guarding the sanctuary already had four individuals above Level 15, which could certainly be described as impregnable.
One day, two days…
One week, two weeks…
Time flew by, and as Lide slumbered in the pool of blood, his aura grew ever stronger, like a giant dragon in hiding, yet he remained unawakened.
This transformation was taking much longer than anyone had anticipated.
Crimson Mage Tower, third-floor study.
Wearing a blue mage robe, Vina sat in Lide’s favorite spot, her brow furrowed as she read a letter, her sapphire-like eyes filled with indescribable worry.
“Vina Sister, has the teacher not awakened yet?” Little Yisha asked with a nervous tone, her ruby-like eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness, that was heart-wrenching.
Vina nodded and handed the letter to Yisha.
Her eyes dimmed a bit, her tone somber.
“Stanley says that Lord Lide is still in slumber…”
Lide’s weeks-long slumber undoubtedly had Vina’s heart caught in her throat; that man was the refuge of her life, her everything, and she couldn’t bear the thought of any mishap happening to him.
But this time was dragging on for so long… a full three weeks…
Seated across the desk, Betty slightly raised her head.
This Northern Land Valkyrie, clad in black close-fitting leather armor with a temperament as wild as a cheetah, was gently caressing the handle of a broadsword three palms wide, her dark eyes reflecting contemplation.
“When I initially awakened, it took 7 days to transform… now it’s already the third week…”
Betty turned her head to look at the wooden wall where a calendar crafted by an elf hung, with the number 21 on it standing out prominently.
It was a mark made by Little Yisha.
Hearing Betty’s words made Yisha’s concern grow even more, her hands tightly clutching the letter, which she read over and over again numerous times before finally raising her head.
Her lips pressed tightly together, her ruby-like eyes filled with an unyielding resolve, “Vina Sister, I…”
Seeing the girl’s demeanor, Vina knew what she wanted to say and shook her head, stopping Yisha mid-sentence.
“Lord Lide specifically instructed that there will be no life-threatening danger this time, and you must not do something foolish again.
Yisha, your body is still weak; you can’t waste your own blood like last time…”
Although Vina herself was no less worried than anyone else, she dared not forget the repeated reminders from Lide.
After speaking, she turned her head to look at Betty, “Lady Betty, please make sure to take good care of Yisha. This is the will of Lord Lide, and Yisha’s body can’t withstand a second ordeal.”
Betty gently stood up, her slender figure commanding attention as she held the large sword.
This girl with noble warrior blood flowing through her veins looked at Yisha who was stubbornly biting her lips, her eyes softening.
“Yisha, your teacher is not as frail as you imagine. Though a Bloodline Transformation is complex,
such transformations don’t pose a life-threatening risk; at worst, one’s Talent degrades, and their strength weakens.
The blood within you is incredibly precious; if wasted again, it might affect your growth.
Don’t you want to become strong quickly to protect the Crimson Mage Tower, to protect your teacher?”
Yisha looked at the two serious faces and finally remembered Lide’s strict instructions to her last time; the little girl tightly pursed her lips.
“Yisha understands, but I want to see the teacher…”
In the heart of this little girl, Lide’s place almost transcended her own life; for him, she could give her all, whether it be her soul or her life.
Vina and Betty exchanged glances, “Lady Betty, I entrust this to you.
This time, I’ve acquired 200,000 Gold Puck worth of Magic Crystal Stones; please help transport them…”
Betty nodded, her face—a distinctive blend of mixed-race features—smiled softly.
“Leave it to me. The man you both are concerned about, he’s not that fragile.”
Betty couldn’t help but recall the scene where the entire city was singing high praises for Lide.
These two girls probably have no idea how much power that man holds in his hands. Could such a being really be harmed because of a transformation?
Betty shook her head. She didn’t believe that man could be so feeble.
And moreover, even if he lost all his powers, relying on his cleverness alone, he could still dominate in this world.
Lide left a deep impression on Betty, not because of his combat prowess, but because of his cunning and wisdom.
And also those deep, calm eyes that seemed eternally unfazed, as if the greatest of difficulties were nothing but trifles in his view.
—
—
—
During the time Lide was undergoing his transformation.
The abrupt end of the game’s internal test sent players on Earth into an uproar.
Especially those who were in the middle of completing quests practically went insane; the sudden closure of the internal test meant that the vast majority of players couldn’t make any preparations, and at least 99% of the players were soon going to die after the closure.
The official forum’s visit count these past few days had almost peaked, with tens of thousands of posts jumping every second.
The most discussed topics were undoubtedly the reasons behind the sudden closure of the internal test and the time of the next internal test opening.
Of course, the person mentioned the most during this process was the culprit behind the closure of the internal test.
The first player to reach level 5 among all the players was none other than the super player—the Knight of Broken Swords.
This top player who single-handedly orchestrated the undead calamity had, in just a few months, reached level 5, something unfathomable to most players.
Previous posts by the Knight of Broken Swords were once again propelled to the top by countless players, filled with grief and anger.
“Damn it, damn you, Knight of Broken Swords, you owe me a legendary quest!! I was at the very last step of the quest walkthrough, and then you level up to 5! This is unbearable!!”
“Shit, the Knight of Broken Swords must have cheated. Otherwise, how could he reach level 5 when I am still at two levels? I, Wang Laosan, refuse to accept this!”
“F*ck this, it’s been 5 months since the open beta, am I the only person who still hasn’t changed classes?? Why did you get to level 5? I’m going to report you for cheating to the officials.”
“The one above, you’re not alone. I was born in a small village surrounded by forests and get killed by various demon beasts of levels eleven and twelve the moment I step outside.
I’ve been trapped and dead here and can’t even find a level 2 class, let alone change class. I really want to curse so badly, damn game planners!”
“…”
It’s not scarcity but inequity that is the source of discontent; when the vast majority of people are hanging around levels 2 and 3, and some haven’t even changed classes yet, the sudden appearance of a level 5 player turns everyone green with envy.
If it weren’t for confirming that the undead calamity quest in the Radiant Empire was personally initiated by this individual, the players would have been even more dejected.
At least now they had something to trace.
But the mood of the internal testing players didn’t fare much better, thinking we were all going to be broke together, so why did you stealthily become a high-flying rich guy? Unforgivable.
Of course, the object of the players’ favor was also the official game of “Glory.”
Countless posts cursing and wishing ill on the game officials’ families virtually took up most of the forum’s space.
“Shocking, last night the game planner didn’t return home, and his wife actually…”
“Fuck, it took me three long months to chase after a tall, noble girl. Three months!! Who knows how many classic poems I brought from Earth, how many classic songs I had to sing to win her over. And right at the moment when I turned off the Magic Lamp, the internal test ended!! I hate it, I hate it, ahh! Where in the hell is this damn game company’s address?? Why does nobody know?!”
“Please, game developers, be human. It’s been five months, and I’ve only leveled up to 3, and even more critical is that after reaching level 3, I couldn’t even beat the stray dogs outside the city!”
“Woe is me, the moment I entered the game I was sold to an old noblewoman by a slave trader… Five months, heaven only knows how I’ve survived.”
“Blood-signed petition to slay the dog game planners in sacrifice to heaven…”
But no matter how much these posts railed against the game planners for being imbeciles, loudly demanding game reform, letting the players have a chance to survive…
What was rare was that despite all the commotion by the players, there seemed to be no posts about anyone quitting the game.
After nearly half a year of gameplay, these players had already been conquered by the magnificent world of “Glory.”
Even though the players’ lives were incredibly tough and numerous aspects were criticized by the players.
But this real world was simply too charming, a charm that virtual games couldn’t satisfy.
They could do whatever they wanted in this world, yes, everything!
Kill and set fires, plunder and loot, as long as they weren’t afraid to die, even forcibly abducting a woman in the street was possible.
And the NPCs in this world were so realistic that they often forgot that the world they were in was a “game world.”
Even many influential players submitted the speculation that “Glory” was not a gaming world to the officials at the higher echelons, but it was as if nothing had happened.
Behind this game, there seemed to be an unimaginable entity pushing everything forward.
Hun Yuan Thunderclap Hand looked at Cheng Kun and Thunderclap Hand before him with a complex expression.
“I’ve made up my mind. Are you sure you want to follow me in this?”
Cheng Kun chuckled and slung an arm around Hun Yuan Thunderclap Hand’s shoulder, “Of course, have you ever heard of Hun Yuan Thunderclap Hand Cheng Kun splitting up?”
Thunderclap Hand nodded but his face carried a hint of hesitation, “Starting a company is fine, but do we really need to name it Dark Contract?”
“We’re not seriously going to let an NPC boss us around, right…”
Hun Yuan’s complexion stiffened as if he remembered that NPC with an unnaturally high IQ.
He shook his head, “Do you still think that the NPCs of Glory are just simple NPCs?”
The two exchanged a glance and fell silent. Yeah, are they really just NPCs?
Thinking about the so-called intelligence and performance of those NPCs, who would dare to simply regard them simply as NPCs now?
“So, it’s not so much that we’re being directed by that NPC, it’s more like a partnership. We need the power of the Dark Contract to develop and grow, and the Dark Contract needs us to gather players.
It’s a win-win situation, just as Vice President Stanley said…”
“But we don’t necessarily have to name it Dark Contract, do we? Aren’t there many other names to choose from?”
Cheng Kun had some objections to this, after all, it was their own company, and being forcibly named by an NPC was quite infuriating.
“And he doesn’t know the name of our company anyway, right? We could just tell him we’ve decided to call it Dark Contract.”
Hun Yuan laughed at himself, “Do you really think that with Stanley’s intelligence, a native of ‘Glory’, finding out this information would be difficult?”
The two thought of that NPC with terrifying intelligence who had them establish a branch of the Dark Contract on Earth, and they immediately lost their fire.
It seemed too easy for him to discover this news; he just needed to randomly find a player who could search the information through the real-world network.
As for whether any player would be willing, damn it, as long as the reward is enough, there’s nothing a player wouldn’t do, not to mention they still had to recruit professional players to join the Dark Contract in the future. This wouldn’t be something they could hide.
“But we have no funds… What can we do with just a few ten thousand?” Thunderclap Hand couldn’t help but throw in a dampener.
Hun Yuan’s expression was complicated as he took out his cellphone, opened his bank app, and showed the balance to the two others.
“10 million?!” Cheng Kun and Thunderclap Hand widened their eyes in disbelief at the amount displayed.
“Holy shit, did you win the lottery or something?? How did you make so much money?!”
Hun Yuan sighed lightly, “A few days ago, Vice President Grote came to find me, saying that Vice President Stanley asked me to make a decision quickly.
If I don’t start a branch of the Dark Contract on Earth, he’d support another group of players to do it.
But by then, we’d lose his support and the status and treatment we’re currently enjoying.
After serious consideration, I decided to agree.
And this 10 million was exchanged in the past few days using the Gold Pucks that Vice President Stanley gave me…
The reason I hesitated until now was that I was also considering deleting our accounts, and then the three of us splitting this 10 million to start anew somewhere else…”
Cheng Kun and Thunderclap Hand didn’t object, they naturally trusted Hun Yuan’s character.
“But after deep thought, I decided to go with Vice President Stanley’s arrangement, after all, we might earn more this way.
Leaving the Dark Contract at this point would mean too much potential loss.”
Thinking of this, Hun Yuan felt a sense of powerlessness; every step he took was being controlled by the other party.
Yet, he couldn’t resist or rather, didn’t want to resist, because as long as he followed the other’s arrangement, he could profit more. If he followed his own ideas, he might end up with nothing.
This blatant strategy left him with no means to avoid it.
“After all this time, I’ve finally been outsmarted by the intelligence of an NPC…”
That day, Hun Yuan and the two other players found an agency to register a company, and they officially named it Dark Contract…
The Earth branch of the Dark Contract was officially established.
—
—
—
Time passed day by day.
On March 1 of the Era of Glory, year 3523, dry branches along the streets of Dawn City began to sprout new buds, and the long-lost rhododendrons once again chirped softly on the branches, their crisp sounds infusing new vitality into the city that had just emerged from frost.
The planting season had arrived.
The Dawn Festival had already become a memory.
This frost month was a busy and fulfilling winter for Dawn City.
Because the city was located in a valley, there were no particularly cold winds, and with sufficient food and warm cotton clothes to shield from the cold, the usually difficult winter was exceptionally easy this year.
The refugees who had been plundered were also very satisfied with this winter, and, what satisfied them even more, was being allocated land.
Yes, a piece of land of their own.
Residents who initially felt insecure and adrift, upon receiving their land, suddenly felt a familiar connection and an indescribable sense of belonging to the city.
They had become part of the city.
Several large construction projects organized by the city hall were also not delayed too much by the snowstorms, with schools and breeding farms expected to be completed by mid-April.
The arms factory and alchemy factory had risen during this winter season.
However, disproportionate to the scale of these two factories was how quiet they seemed; the goblins, lacking magic crystals, were bored and aimlessly wandered the city streets or holed up in the first tavern of Dawn City, drinking all day without venturing outside.
The dwarves had sealed off their long-unlit furnaces, and with too much idle time on their hands, most had left for the Giant Valley to mine for ore. The rest nestled in the tavern like the goblins, stepping not a foot outside.
Although the city was operating normally, many projects previously deemed critical were no longer prioritized, and their progress had noticeably slowed.
In contrast, the streets were swarming with patrol armies maintaining law and order, and giant bats tirelessly soared through the skies, vigilantly overseeing the city.
What puzzled the residents even more was the bone dragon flapping its tattered dragon wings. This sovereign of the skies never seemed to tire, circling Dawn City day after day, asserting its dragon might.
The martial law in the East District only intensified with time rather than abating.
Not just the Bloodline, but even the newly transformed Fifth Generation Bloodline were all summoned to the East District. Kosso, the One-eyed Giant, had stood guard at the entrance of the holy cave for three months without budging an inch.
His immense seven-blade-high stature nearly occupied half of the spacious cavern.
Castro, transformed into a minuscule bat, hung upside down at the top of the cave, wrapped in diminutive armor. Though his eyes appeared shut, should any alien enemy invade, this nascent ruler was ready to morph into his formidable form and devour all trespassers.
“Lord Stanley, Lord Harrison, this batch of magic crystals has arrived…”
A Bloodline, with an expression of respect, reported to Harrison and Stanley, who were standing at the mouth of the cave, overlooking the city below.
Stanley turned his head, his gruesome scar more terrifying than ever, “Transport them into the blood pool, and remember not to disturb His Excellency’s slumber.”
“Yes~”
The Bloodline nodded respectfully, turned, and directed the Bloodline carrying the magic crystals in oak boxes into the cave.
Yet as they entered the cave, each crystal was scanned by the Bloodline guards with magic to ensure there were no dangers before proceeding with the transport.
Such scenes had occurred every half month over the last three months.
“Lord Stanley, the Clan Leader has been in slumber for a full three months… Should we prepare anything else?”
Harrison, watching the Bloodlines move the magic crystals, had a somber expression on his face.
Lide’s presence was growing stronger, but his prolonged slumber exceeded everyone’s expectations.
To ensure Lide’s safety, Stanley and Harrison cared for nothing else and had mobilized all their forces to defend the sanctity from outside threats.
Now in Dawn City, apart from the breeding grounds and school constructions, most projects had come to a halt.
Even the completed alchemy factory and weapon foundry hadn’t begun operations, because all minds were preoccupied.
Their overlord was undergoing a transformation so critical, nothing else compared to their master’s safe emergence.
“No need, His Excellency has absorbed a vast quantity of magic crystals, and the ensuing energy is too staggering, requiring slumber to digest…”
Stanley shook his head, for in these past three months, the Crimson Mage Tower had sent over magic crystals worth more than a million Gold Pucks.
A small magic crystal ore vein couldn’t even produce so many crystals, and all this tremendous energy was absorbed by Lide, slumbering beneath the blood pool.
An inconceivable notion—how immense was the energy from a million Gold Puck’s worth of magic crystals?
Unleashed, it was enough to annihilate five Dawn Cities.
Yet all this energy was being absorbed solely by Lide.
And still, there seemed to be no end in sight, which was utterly astounding.
Though fearful something might go wrong, they dared not cease the supply of magic crystals; a failure in the transformation due to a lack of energy was an error they couldn’t compensate for with a hundred deaths.
“His Excellency…” Stanley turned and glanced at the cave behind him, his expression carrying an indescribable gravity.
Despite his worries, deep down, Stanley had immense trust in Lide. He admired His Excellency’s wisdom and strategy and could find no reason for his failure.
Inside the blood pool.
Lide, submerged at the bottom, was repeatedly eroded by that crimson energy, which grew more vigorous with the abundant energy supply.
Eventually, it enveloped every inch of his flesh.
Collapse, reorganization.
This cycle, repeated countless times, was the main theme within Lide’s body.
After innumerable cycles of collapse and reorganization, Lide’s body underwent a subtle change.
Every inch of his flesh and bones were tinged with that faint crimson energy, and the more this energy infused, the greater his body’s resilience became.
After countless collapses, finally, Lide’s body became so solid that the crimson energy could no longer erode it.
Unexpectedly, instead of further erosion, the crimson energy started merging into Lide’s body through every pore, and his body offered no resistance, as if this was naturally a part of his own power.
Sinking deep in the blood pool, Lide could vaguely sense the changes in his body, oblivious to what was specifically occurring within. In a semi-conscious state, he slumbered.
In his dazed consciousness,
His body collapsed and reorganized over and over, but the agonizing pain was unfelt, muted by his sinking subconsciousness.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
He couldn’t remember the time, his purpose, or even his own identity.
Sinking, descending into the murky, chaotic world.
Until a moment arrived when his transformation neared completion, and Lide’s consciousness slowly sharpened.
His body was calling to him, his potent inner strength awaiting its master.
Just as Lord Lide’s consciousness was about to fully awaken, his pervasive spiritual power sensed an indescribable temptation.
Desire, endless desire, rose in his mind like a starving refugee encountering delicious, appetizing bread, hunger.
His released spiritual power easily located the source of his yearning.
It was—the remains of a Divine.
In his perception, the remains, which should have been crystal semi-transparent, had undergone a different change, a blue substance twinkling like the stars slowly flowing through the Divine skeleton.
Desire.
Madness.
Lide’s not yet fully awakened will could not resist this deadly temptation; his spiritual power spread wildly, wrapping around the Crystal Skeleton and began to fervently absorb the pale blue mysterious substance.
And that pale blue mysterious substance, once entering Lide’s Spiritual Sea, started to disperse bit by bit, like the most nourishing sustenance, providing the strongest moisture to everything around.
His once cotton-like spiritual power slowly started to trend towards that of steel wire.
And due to the large amount of the blue mysterious substance entering his body, the transformation that was about to complete began a new round of changes, his resilient body, under the nourishment of that mysterious substance, started to become even more perfect.
Muscle damage was repaired, bones solidified, blood transformed…
Around the blood pool, piled-up Demon Crystal Stones seemed to be drawn by something, as energy quickly flowed into the pool.
Piles of Demon Crystal Stones quietly crumbled into rocks, all energy gone…
Day after day…
Month after month…
Until a critical point, Lide’s originally muddled spirit suddenly jolted.
A tidal wave of memories came rushing.
His consciousness, which had fallen into chaos, suddenly became clear.
Opening his mouth subconsciously to breathe, but a gulp of Magic Blood poured directly into his mouth.
Cough, cough.
The choked Lide stood up, his Vampire body with bat wings emerging in the milky white Magic Blood.
The distinct cool air of the cave emerged, and the vibrant world reappeared before his eyes.
Lide stood in the blood pool, surrounded by a circle of Demon Crystal Stone walls as high as half a person, with a few Bloodline descendants carefully using fist-sized Crystal Stones like those of crystals to build up, seemingly to prevent the crystals from collapsing.
The cave’s lighting was not dark, the warm yellow light from Magic Lamps illuminated every corner of the space, and outside the stone house that isolated the blood pool opened a door right in the center, just as Harrison and Stanley’s figures appeared in front of Lide.
“Clan Leader!”
“Lord!”
Harrison and Stanley shouted in unison, their faces brimming with excitement.
It was only then that Lide came back to his senses, just about to speak, when a powerful, indescribable force emerged from his body.
His heart pumped like a water pump, each beat bringing an indescribable, terrifying power to his entire body.
Lide’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his pale red eyes, the Power of Crimson, held a demon’s abyssal pressure.
With just a slight movement of the power within his body, an extremely horrifying aura filled the air, plunging the entire cave into an unspeakable terror.
As if an Extraordinary Rank Evil Dragon had opened its bloody maw to devour their souls.
Harrison and Stanley’s bodies stiffened in place, as if one more step would lead them to be devoured by the dragon.
“Such a powerful force, is this the Bloodline Transformation??” Lide’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise,
Just as he was about to make a move, a series of system prompts made his face incredibly expressive.
“Ding~ Bloodline Transformation successful, all locks hidden in the bloodline completely abolished, full potential of the Blood Clan Ancestor’s bloodline released.”
“Ding~ You’ve obtained a new Bloodline-restricted Talent.”
“Ding~ You have absorbed divine material, your exclusive Skills and Talents have been strengthened.”
“Ding~ Your Divine Position, ‘Blood,’ ‘Bloodline,’ has successfully activated, with current development at 1%.”
“Ding~ You’ve reached Level 15, Bloodline’s exclusive Profession unlocked, you can manage the Bloodline’s Class transfer on the attribute panel.”
“Ding~ You’ve activated Bloodline’s hidden Profession—Crimson Reaper, you can Class transfer on the attribute panel.”
“Ding~ You’ve activated Bloodline’s exclusive feature—Power of Crimson…”
“Ding~ Your strength has received a tremendous enhancement, you’ve obtained a new title—Master of Crimson, Immortal King.”
Lide listened to the voice ringing in his ears, his expression instantly froze.
Then, with a trembling heart, he took a glance at his attribute panel… And in his mind, there was only one thought.
This time, to defy the heavens.
