The forest echoed with tension, the faint cries of pursuit growing closer. Rain pattered against the cracked stone of the ruin where Archi layed, his infant form barely able to process the chaos around him. Yet, he felt it — the weight of the man stumbling toward him, his presence an overwhelming tide of energy.
Archi's focus sharpened. The system's Insight ability activated instinctively, flooding his mind with a torrent of information:
[INSIGHT]
Name: Philip Peristine
Race/Bloodline: Pureblood Lycan
Level: 14 [39/2800]
Strength: 37
Endurance: 39
Agility: 35
Mana/Qi/Spirit: 32
Skills:
• 7 Myriad's Bloodpath
• Physical Enhancement
• Bloodline Transformation
• Simon Swordstyle
Archi's mind raced. 'This man... he must be the father of this body's owner one could say, my new father'
Philip staggered closer, coughing violently, crimson blood splattering onto the rain-soaked ground. His silver hair, matted and streaked with grime, clung to his face.
His glowing red eyes pierced through the dim light of the ruins, filled with exhaustion but unyielding resolve.
"I guess..." Philip wheezed, collapsing onto his knees, his voice barely audible over the storm. "That old man... was right..."
A violent cough wracked his body, but he pressed forward, crawling toward Archi.
When he finally reached him, Philip raised a trembling hand and pressed his finger firmly against Archi's forehead.
A surge of energy passed through the contact, and Archi felt his chest tighten as a thick red mist swirled around him, coiling like a living serpent. It converged on the right side of his chest, leaving behind a crimson mark etched deep into his skin — a fang-like sigil that pulsed with latent power.
"Release," Philip whispered, his voice carrying an unspoken finality.
[NOTIFICATION]
You have acquired the 7 Myriad Bloodpath Technique.
Achi's thoughts surged. Inheritance? No... this feels too alien to this body. Inheritances are usually tied to bloodlines, clan techniques, or species-specific skills... but this...
Philip's pale face managed a faint, pained smile. "You'll awaken the bloodline transformation on your own... in time. ..Cough, Cough..You really are..your mother's child... so calm, even now." Philip said
"I won't be around much longer, Arch, but I'll divert their attention. No one will search every ruin in this forest." His voice faltered, and his trembling hand fell to his side. "Just remember... your old man tried."Philip continued
With visible effort, Philip staggered to his feet, limping away from the ruins. The mist around him thickened, obscuring his figure as he vanished into the rain-soaked shadows.
In the distance, angry voices pierced through the storm. "I think I saw something over there!"
Archi remained silent, his infant body incapable of expression, but his mind churned with calculated thoughts. 'Typical... Nothing in life comes easy. My old man's a Lycan, so my mother must be human. System, show me the 7 Myriad Bloodpath skill information.'
[SKILL INFO]
[7 MYRIAD BLOODPATH TECHNIQUE] -Turns Blood into Qi, Qi into Blood. Instead of absorbing Qi from the environment, you can draw it from blood consumption, circulating it freely throughout the body, however there is a chance of unstable foundation.
'Interesting... The only blood-related species in the outer zones are vampires. This raises more questions...'Archi thought
'There are many zones where there are countless worlds in each zone, this world, seem's to be in the Outer Zone, Why?, because the density of Qi here is thin, A low Tier planet, that the God's won't suspect the rise of any threat' Archi thought
Achi's gaze turned inward, focusing on the energy flowing through his weakened body. Not bad, but I'm in no shape to hunt right now. I'll have to rely on absorbing the surrounding Qi to sustain this body. Still, that won't be enough for growth, I'd have to create a mana body' Archi thought
*Mana/Qi Body: A body sustained entirely by mana or Qi.*
'For now, I'll focus on gathering energy. This body isn't ready for advanced techniques, but I can manage with something basic gathering' Archi thought
Trying to settle into a meditative state, As his Body was still that of a Newborn Archi drew upon the faint threads of energy lingering in the ruin. 'The area is barren' Archi continued to think as he still couldn't speak
The rain softened, the blue threads of Qi beginning to drift toward him. They coiled gently around his form, sinking into his body in slow, rhythmic waves.
[NOTIFICATION]
Through effort, the host has gained a basic Mana/Qi extraction method.
You have acquired: Wave Breathing.
SPIRIT +2
SPIRIT +1
'Every zone has this energy, though it's called different things depending where one is, zone zones refer to it as Mana or even Qi.'Archi thought
'I wonder what they call it here... but the system always refers to it as Spirit, System, show me my status.' Archi continued
[STATUS]
Name: Archivold Peristine
Race/Bloodline: Half Human / Half Lycan]
Level: 1 [0/100]
Strength: 1
Endurance: 1
Agility: 1
Spirit: 8
Divinity Content: 0%
Skills:
• 7 Myriad Bloodpath
• Wave Breathing
Archi exhaled slowly, his mind steady despite the storm raging around him. 'This is only the beginning. The body's weak, but with each breath, I'll grow stronger. The gods might abandon their pawns, but I'm no ordinary player. They will know soon enough' Archi thought
The rain continued to fall, but within the ruin, the faint glow of crimson and blue pulsed steadily, a sign of life rekindling against all odds.