Damon didn't move. "Run?" he repeated, shaking his head. "Absolutely not. Have you forgotten? Now it's not just you. It's you and me, buddy. We are going to win this whole thing."

"No, you don't get it. It's basically a SSS rank quest scenario. Do you understand? And there are consequences for failing. I am basically useless right now. Sure, my stats are somewhat up, but my legendary staff is still just a stick. Unless I cross 2000 in my intelligence stat, I just can't use it. I am no longer as strong as I was before."

"Ok. So you need 2000? That's fine. We can do that."

"What the hell are you talking about? Don't talk out of your ass. Don't you have a special primordial status? Why do you want to risk all of that just for this event? We should just wait it out and keep diving into the normal memory storms. Eventually, the event will end, and we can return. Listen to me, it is very risky-"

Interrupting him, Damon silently conjured another six blood spears and sent them towards Necrogod, making the guy's mouth hang open dumbly. "I was not done yet, by the way. I only slowed down to ensure your body can integrate with everything well. That's all. Now stop being a pussy and get into it."

Necrogod could only stare speechlessly as he watched one notification after another continue to pop up in front of him. Power was being pumped into his body at a ridiculous pace, energizing him and rewriting him from the inside out.

His vision was filled with cascading blue notifications.

[+150 Intelligence]

[+90 Vitality]

[+120 Strength]

[+…]

[+…]

It didn't stop.

Each blood spear dissolved into him like molten light. Raw essence flooded his core. His mana pool, which had felt like a cracked basin hours ago, began swelling violently, stretching, stabilizing, and reinforcing itself under the pressure.

Necrogod staggered backward. "What are you…" His voice broke as another surge slammed into him. Damon had already conjured yet another set of blood spears.

Everything that Necrogod had lost to this world was being slammed into him. His bones hummed. His nerves burned. The air around him distorted as black mist leaked from his skin, then was reabsorbed, refined.

[1,642 Intelligence → 1,781 → 1,924 → 2,003]

The moment the number crossed 2000… Necrogod's staff reacted. The staff that looked like a dull wooden stick suddenly trembled in his grip. Runes ignited along its length. A skull-shaped gem at the top flickered with deep violet fire.

Necrogod sucked in a breath. The suppression had been successfully lifted. He was worried that his becoming a vampire might make it not recognize him anymore, but it looked like that was not the case. The staff was definitely no longer dormant. It was fully awake. Mana roared outward in a violent shockwave, and a powerful aura rippled from the little figure. Necrogod's back straightened, and a defiant fire lit up in his eyes. So this was what being a primordial meant? This damned bastard could do whatever he wanted?

"I am ready," Necrogod spoke with many things clearly running in his mind. "Blood God, let me make something clear."

"Hmm?"

"I will follow you to the ends of hell. I will follow you no matter where you go or what danger stands ahead of us, but that is only until I overtake you. One day, I will walk in front of you, and not just follow you. But that wouldn't change anything." "I will from now on be your best ally forever. No matter what kind of situation you are up against, you can count on me. Doesn't matter if I am ahead of you or behind you. If you do not like this, then feel free to take away everything that you have given me."

Damon chuckled. Anyone else might have been insulted, but he knew the guy well enough to understand his intentions. "Sounds like a good deal to me. You'd better keep your word. Especially if you surpass me."

Without lingering on the matter further, he turned and headed for the golden storm. Necrogod followed him, no longer hesitant. He knew he had most of his power back now, but that did not make him happy. For the first time, he hated the legendary weapon in his hand. Necrogod stared at it as they walked toward the golden storm.

The golden storm did not feel any different from a normal memory storm. The tearing sensation. The twisting of space. The brief, nauseating dislocation of soul and flesh. All of it was familiar. However, the world inside was…

Damon blinked. He was not standing in a wasteland. Not inside a colosseum. Not in the middle of a battlefield. He was sitting at the head of a huge dinner table inside what looked like a royal palace. There were massive chandeliers, decorated walls, and sparkly stuff all around. Every place setting was immaculate, silver cutlery, crystal goblets, plates adorned with delicacies that smelled impossibly rich.

And every single seat on the table was occupied. The men and women were dressed in royal attire and not just ordinary noble clothes. They were enchanted and made from precious materials. Damon could tell just from looking that the robes were cloth type armor and were also pretty powerful. It could most definitely block a C rank attack, perhaps even more. He looked down, and his own clothes were just as powerful and then some more. His stats and his levels were intact. He did not have any handicap of any sort. He was not in any apparent danger. What was going on?

"Hmmm… For a golden storm, this seems surprisingly upbeat?" Damon frowned.

Just then, one of the figures around the table rose and looked at some sort of crystal. He then rushed over to Damon.

"Vlad?" Damon mumbled, looking at the guy, but the guy seemed as if he had no idea what Damon was saying. To make things less awkward, Damon cleared his throat and took a sip of the wine. "Go on." He said, waving at the guy.

"My Lord, I have received news. It is happening soon."