Death Crow took the elder's head and the blood gem ignited immediately, a sharp, brilliant pulse of light, and something formless was drawn into it, struggling, wearing the elder's features like a mask it hadn't finished putting on.
[Hunt complete.]
[Sin acquired: +18.9.]
[Current Sin: 43.56 / 160.]
The weapon was freshly fed and had no interest yet in consuming what it held. The elder's soul sat sealed inside the gem.
After a moment, the System produced a separate notification.
[Error: Target soul cannot be detected by First Hunting Ground. Connection to First Hunting Ground failed.]
"As expected."
The First Hunting Ground worked by capturing the prey at the moment of death, locking them in that final instant to preserve a kind of living state, the foundation that made contracts possible.
One necessary condition was absent here, and the connection simply hadn't formed.
Not that he wanted a contract with this one. Her demonstrated abilities had nothing useful in them.
