"Twenty drops of blood—not one less."
Carmilla flashed Kurose Akira a cheeky grin, then dove back into her coffin.
Kurose Akira's curiosity piqued. Did her coffin have some hidden spatial pocket?
"Got it!"
Moments later, Carmilla emerged clutching a dazzling golden-yellow gem.
Kurose Akira's gaze swept over it, pulling up its details in his vision.
[Sun Stone (Mythic): A stone brimming with solar divine power, symbolizing papal authority.]
"Mythic-grade item…"
Kurose Akira eyed it, a glint sparking in his eyes.
If this Sun Stone was mythic, didn't that make the one on Lucia's Sun Scepter mythic gear too?
Hiss~
Lucia rolled with a built-in mythic adventurer!
"Here."
Carmilla tossed the Sun Stone straight to Lucia.
Lucia caught it, inspecting the Sun Crown. Perfect fusion needed expert reforging.
Her eyes flicked to Kurose Akira, carrying a subtle plea.
He caught the shift. "Need a hand?"
Lucia nodded faintly. "Mm."
She handed him both the crown and stone.
"Can't let the Church know yet," she explained softly. "The full story… I'll fill you in later."
"Got it."
Kurose Akira pocketed them. Reforging went to his go-to smith, 'Red.'
Carmilla licked her lips, blood-hunger gleaming. "Human, when do I get my twenty drops?"
"Relax—I keep promises." Kurose Akira fired off the items to his smith.
No instant reply this time—probably swamped.
He clapped lightly, refocusing everyone. "Alright, time's up. Let's grab some quest commissions."
Perfect timing—Elven sisters arrived. Full roster.
Kurose Akira split the guild into two teams.
He led one for C-rank commissions.
Lothelrin headed the other with Ivysa and the elves for daily C-rank quests.
Commission Quest 1 (C-rank): Slay Death Serpent (0/1)
Rewards: 20 gold, 200k EXP, Sublimation Crystals x5
Warning: High danger—proceed with caution!
Teleport light flashed; they hit the quest site.
"Death Serpent…" Kurose Akira scanned the panel, brow furrowing in doubt.
First time seeing a "warning" tag.
"Is our target the epic Death Serpent from legend?" Lucia asked softly beside him.
"Yeah." Kurose Akira nodded her way. "Know anything about it, Lucia?"
"A bit."
"Legends call it a beast that devoured demigod blood. Records say a Solar Theocracy purple-robed priest sealed it decades ago. Guess it broke free."
"Why seal instead of kill?" Kurose Akira puzzled.
"No clue—ancient history." Lucia shook her head.
"…"
Kurose Akira rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
Marei Rhein's group touched down meanwhile.
Overlooking the black water below, a nauseating stench hit like a wall.
"What hellhole is this? Stinks!" Marei Rhein flapped wings in disgust, nose wrinkled.
"Old battlefield—lakebed's a mass grave." Lucia explained.
"Hate this place. Not going in." Marei Rhein grumbled.
"This progenitor agrees."
Carmilla chimed—new outfit couldn't get filthy.
Lucia pondered. "Death Serpent loathes light aura. We bait it out."
She pulled a golden orb, tossing it lakeward.
It hovered over the dark surface, blazing holy light.
"Wait and see."
"Roger."
Kurose Akira nodded from Marei's dragonback, patient.
During downtime, he leaned to Lucia. "Lucia…"
She cut in: "Don't worry—I keep word. Your favorite way."
"Actually…"
Kurose Akira blinked, trying again—interrupted: "But within reason. No weird stuff."
Her resentful glance screamed morning grudge.
Following his odd demands? Beyond her line.
Kurose Akira rubbed his nose, helpless chuckle. Still salty, huh.
"Ahem~"
He cleared throat, dropping it. "Haven't decided. I'll let you know."
"Fine. Waiting."
Lucia nodded.
That instant, the lake erupted in tremors.
"It's here!"
Everyone rose, eyes locked on the roiling water.
A hundred-meter black serpent exploded out, lunging for the glowing orb.
[Death Serpent (Epic)]
Level: 65 (?/45500)
Race: Giant Serpent
Strength: 1602 / Agility: 1322 / Magic: 884 / Constitution: 2214
Growth: 10 (10 all-stats per level)
Skills: (Expand)
Traits: [Death Serpent] (Defeat to gain player trait—Death Tongue!)
"Hm?"
Kurose Akira skimmed the panel, puzzled.
Why [Death Tongue] for beating it?
No time—jaws gaped to swallow the orb.
Lucia's fingertip twitched; the orb yanked free, landing safe in her palm.
"Hiss hiss hiss—"
Targetless, the serpent whirled fury on airborne Marei Rhein, coils lashing.
"You dumb snake, baring fangs at a dragon? Dead meat!"
Marei Rhein snorted cold. Massive claw slammed down.
No dodge—serpent reeled, crashing back into the lake with a colossal splash.
"Hiss—!"
Gap dawning, it sought escape.
Lucia's light magic primed.
Golden chains lanced like lightning, binding its bulk rigid to the surface.
Kurose Akira eyed Carmilla. "Your turn. Show us."
"Hmph, me for this small fry?" Carmilla griped, but moved swift.
She stepped up, raising a slender finger.
Crimson blood orb coalesced at its tip.
A point—bloodshot pierced the serpent's brow.
Instantly, its massive frame deflated visibly. Life ebbed; it shriveled to a lifeless husk, sinking.
"?"
Kurose Akira baffled. Drained its blood with her own mana?
Next beat, the blood drop returned to her finger. She offered it grinning: "Human, yours now. Progenitor passes on this swill."
It hit his mouth.
[Gained Death Serpent blood: Constitution +50!]
"?"
Kurose Akira stared at the prompt.
She could weaponize enemy blood into stat boosters?
[Congrats on defeating Death Serpent: Gained player trait—Death Tongue!]
[Death Tongue: Epic tongue enhancement! Attack speed +500%! Attack power +500%! Tongue gains invincibility!]
"?"
[Death Tongue]'s description twisted Kurose Akira's face. Boosts made sense—but "invincibility"?
Fatal body-wrecker hits, tongue survives?
This…
Kurose Akira froze, glancing at Lucia.
"Hm?"
Lucia blinked back, lost why he stared so weirdly.