"But still, there’s something I don’t understand," Ryuk muttered as he sat up in bed.
"Possessing the Knull bloodline gave me the power to wield Abyssal Energy, while the Jade Dragon bloodline allowed me to use Aetheris."
"But Apex Energy... it was an energy I gained from my pets — Frost from Isha, and Void energy from Void. Why are they both gone?" he wondered, his eyebrows tightly knitted.
Even though he knew that even if his previous bloodlines were stripped away from him, he would lose Aetheris and Abyssal Energy.
But he should still possess his Frost and Void cultivation, which had been a certainty in his heart. And yet somehow, they were gone?
That was beyond his calculations, and it left him frowning deeply.
"System... where are my Void and Apex Frost Energies? They weren’t tied to either of my bloodlines. Why are they gone, too?"
[Query registered.]
[Explanation incoming...]
A pause — then line after line began flowing across his interface.
[Notice: Upon transition into the Beyonder Dragon bloodline, all prior Essence Channels were forcibly restructured.]
[Your new race, Beyonder Dragon, possesses the trait — Null-Rejection.]
[Null-Rejection: All pre-existing energy types and channels are forcibly purged from the host’s Essence Circuit. This includes any bond-based energy traces that are not innate to the host’s current soul-thread.]
[Your Primordial Gate, once tied to your former bloodlines, has also sealed itself.]
[Access to the House of Apex and Void Energies has been revoked until alternate methods of reintegration are discovered.]
Ryuk’s eyes narrowed.
"So... I’ve lost them for good?"
"Tsk, all that pain from cultivating that Asura Void Manual."
’All the mutation skills, Abyssal Claws, Abyssal Void Steps, Abyssal Spine, Monarch’s core, the Void Domain Expansion, my frost domain expansion, all those comprehension... All gone,’ Ryuk thought, a feeling of soreness enveloping his heart.
But then, the system notification panel pulsed again, a new set of words appearing that drew back his attention.
[Not necessarily.]
"What do you mean?"
[Why not check out your New Skill Tabs?]
The system’s tone was almost cryptic. Without wasting another second, Ryuk immediately navigated to the Skills and Abilities tab.
Something popped up the moment he shifted his attention:
╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [ SKILLS & ABILITIES ] ║ ╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
🐾 BEAST SOVEREIGN CLASS SKILLS
— Rooted in Host’s original role as a Beast Master Sovereign — ══════════════════════════════════════════════
🔹 [King’s Aura] (Lv.1) Type: Beast Sovereign Skill | Mode: Passive-Active Hybrid
Description: Exudes a commanding aura that enhances the combat potential of bonded beasts. ▸ +50% Attack Boost to all bonded beasts ▸ Enemy beasts in range lose morale ▸ Wild beasts are more likely to submit to the Host’s will
Bonus Trait: Beast Magnetism — Natural affinity with wild creatures
══════════════════════════════════════════════
🧬 ANNUNAKI TYPEFORM SKILLS
— A class of skills developed from Host’s unique body-structure upgrades — ══════════════════════════════════════════════
🔹 [Sovereign Rewriting] (MAX LEVEL) Type: Annunaki Typeform Skill | Mode: Active
Description: Originally limited to simple atomic adjustments, this skill has now evolved into its final form due to the host achieving sufficient Intelligence. The user can now alter matter, energy, and even basic lifeforms by rewriting their core structure and properties.
NEW CAPABILITIES AT MAX LEVEL:
▸ Living Rewrite: Modify or restore basic lifeforms, including beast companions (excludes divine entities)
▸ Energy Rewriting: Deconstruct, merge, or reforge energy techniques and unstable energy types
▸ Memory Fabrication: Save and recreate objects or constructs that the user has previously rewritten
▸ Time Locking: Freeze any rewritten object at a specific moment in its condition or state
⚠️ Excessive or repeated use may increase Entropy Fallout, leading to temporary debuffs or system strain.
══════════════════════════════════════════════
🧿 NEW BLOODLINE SKILLS
— Abilities born from the Host’s transformation into a Beyonder Dragon — ══════════════════════════════════════════════
🔷 [Beyonder Dragon] (Lv.1) Type: Bloodline Core Skill | Mode: Passive/Active
Description: Inherited from a transcendent dragon species erased from recorded time.
Effects:
▸ Base Stat Override: Any Physical Stat under 20,000 is temporarily raised to 20,000
▸ Fate Lock (Passive): Chosen actions succeed unless overruled by a stronger concept than Beyond
▸ Presence Compression: Within 3m, enemies suffer: • -80% Resistance • -70% Action Speed • -50% Mental Clarity • Auto-fail for skills below Eternal Tier
🔒 More abilities unlock as this skill levels up
🔓 Potential Unlocked Paths: Time Eclipse, Beyond Breath, Multiversal Step
—
🔷 [Echo Library] (Lv.1) Type: Bloodline Memory Construct | Mode: Passive/Active
Description: A metaphysical library embedded within the Host’s Soul Space. It contains resonance echoes of energies, elements, and techniques the Host has once mastered.
Key Functions:
▸ Mimics techniques from lost energies via Hurricane Essence Imitation
▸ Requires vivid memory recall to access each echo
▸ Skills accessed are partial but usable based on memory clarity
╠════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ 🔹 SKILL SLOTS: 4 / 24 (Unlocked) ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
║ 🔹 Ability Upgrade Cards Possessed: 101 ║
║ 🔹 Special Evolution Cards Possessed: 1 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
"If I remember correctly, last time, I was trying to free up two spaces from my skill slots. I only succeeded in removing one, bringing my total unlocked slots to 23."
"But now, all my skills are down to 4?"
"Seems like those lost bloodlines truly played a big part in what skills I could hold," he said aloud.
At that flash of realization, a memory returned to him — the Knullic words echoing through his mind:
_____
"If you weren’t Half-Knull and Half-Jade Dragon, then what would you be, if not nothing?"
______
"Well, do I look down bad right now?" Ryuk said out loud, but then his expression crumbled soon enough as he whispered.
"Yes."
"My Skills and Abilities tab ain’t what it used to be. It used to be filled with power, and now, it’s nearly empty. It looks dull. That’s true."
[You have been pummeled to the 1st floor from the 23rd.] The system dished from the side.
"Can’t argue that," Ryuk said downcast, but suddenly his eyes lit up.
"But hey, look on the bright side. I finally have space for new skills. A total of 20 open slots."
"I can now begin gaining new skills without worrying about random skill activations, my body forcefully fusing techniques, or regressing into an Apex Predator stage that could override my identity." He said, listing out the dangers the system had warned him of, having his skills slot used up.
"And you know what the Scrap Hunters say?"
"Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you start to pummel down?" He added, trying to motivate himself, though his brow creased.
"Wait... that doesn’t sound right."
[I think it is: Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can start to climb back up.]
"That’s what I wanted to say?"
"And hey system, you know what we’ll do now?"
[What?]
"Now, we start climbing..."