Chapter 67: The First Step II
---
Chaos Rank 5 begins at 50,000 overall battle power. At this level, mortals begin to be treated as near-superhuman threats by weaker factions. Their chaos presence can intimidate lesser beings simply by standing near them. Many organizations offer heavy incentives to recruit them.
Chaos Rank 6 begins at 60,000 overall battle power. At this rank, a mortal’s body becomes extremely difficult to kill by conventional means. Their recovery, endurance, and chaos reinforcement become high enough that only strong opponents or specialized methods can put them down reliably.
Chaos Rank 7 begins at 70,000 overall battle power. This level is rare among mortals. Those who reach it often become legends in the lower domains, warlords in the middle, or champions of great houses. Their chaos techniques begin to show unique personal signatures.
Chaos Rank 8 begins at 80,000 overall battle power. At this rank, mortals approach the edge of half-god territory. Many factions will treat a Rank 8 like a living disaster. Killing one requires careful planning, multiple elites, or god-tier intervention.
Chaos Rank 9 begins at 90,000 overall battle power. This rank is the peak of mortal classification. It is extremely rare. Those who stand here are one step away from transcendence.
When a being crosses from 90,000 to 91,000 overall battle power, they enter half-god territory. Half-gods typically range from 91,000 to 100,000. Their bodies and chaos energy begin to show partial divine traits, but they are not yet true gods.
When a being crosses 100,000 and reaches 101,000 overall battle power, they become a low-rank god. These are the lowest of low-level gods, but even the weakest god is still fundamentally different from a mortal or half-god. The gap is not only power. It is the law. It is existence. It is how the realm recognizes them.)
Sekhmet stared at the explanation for a long moment.
It made his earlier fear make sense.
Benimaru’s ninety-nine thousand had placed him at Chaos Rank 9, deep half-god territory. He had been on the edge of godhood, trapped at the top of the mortal ladder, furious enough to gamble on blood god essence.
Sekhmet clenched his jaw.
"And I am only Rank 1."
Only.
He almost laughed at how ridiculous that thought sounded. Ten thousand five hundred would have been terrifying to his old self.
Yet here, it was the first rung.
Sekhmet exhaled slowly, then leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
"Godhood," he murmured. "It is farther than I thought."
Bat Bat listened to that self comment flapped closer and landed on the bed, head tilted.
"You become god," Bat Bat said confidently, as if it were a simple errand like buying bread.
Sekhmet looked at it.
"You say that it is like a morning walk," he replied.
Bat Bat nodded seriously.
"Morning walk," it agreed.
Sekhmet’s mouth twitched slightly, then he forced himself back into focus.
The system chimed again.
[Ding! Chaos Rank 1 reward granted.]
Sekhmet’s eyes narrowed.
"Reward," he repeated quietly.
A new notification unfolded.
[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Blood Outcome Control.
Description: Host gains control over blood infection outcomes after feeding.
Effects:
The host may choose whether a living target becomes infected by host blood after feeding.
The host may delay infection and trigger conversion within a certain distance, provided the host has fed on the target at least once.
At current Blood Awakening 2%, hosts can only create lowest-tier conversions Ghouls.
Higher Blood Awakening unlocks higher-tier conversions.]
Sekhmet’s breath caught.
Then relief hit him so hard his shoulders sagged.
He leaned forward, elbows on knees, and laughed once under his breath, the sound rough and quiet.
"So I can feed without risking..." he murmured, then stopped, because the rest of the sentence was a knife.
Without risking turning more people into ghouls.
Without risking destroying what little humanity he still held onto.
Sekhmet’s eyes sharpened as a new question rose instantly.
"Can I turn them back," he asked aloud, unable to keep it inside.
Bat Bat blinked at him as if he had asked if the sky could be folded.
Sekhmet spoke internally again, faster.
"System. If I can control the infection now, can I reverse it? Can I return ghouls to humans?"
The system answered immediately, calm and absolute.
[Ding! System Response: No.
Conversion is a permanent alteration at the host’s current stage.
Note: Reversal is not available until the host reaches godhood.]
Sekhmet’s chest tightened.
Disappointment slid into him like cold water, but it did not drown the relief.
He exhaled slowly.
"Not yet," he murmured.
He stared at his hands.
He thought of the two guards he had turned. He thought of the man he had fed on last night and stored away in the void land, hidden like a sin he had not confessed.
He swallowed hard.
Then his expression steadied.
He was still happy. Not because he had gained a new power.
Because he had gained restraint.
Control.
The ability to stop making monsters by accident.
Sekhmet closed his eyes for a moment and let the feeling settle.
Then the world interrupted him.
Knock! knock! knock!
Sekhmet’s eyes opened instantly, sharp as a blade. His body was still adjusting, but his instincts were unchanged. Even in Dawn House, he responded to a knock like it might be a threat.
"Enter," he said.
The door opened slowly.
The older servant woman stepped in, posture upright, eyes attentive. Her hair was streaked with gray, her face lined by years of order and responsibility. She carried herself like someone who could silence a room with a glance and then scold the silence for being too loud.
"Auntie Elena." Sekhmet said out loud. "Headmaid of Dawn House."
She paused when she felt the subtle pressure in the room, the echo of Sekhmet’s newly restored chaos presence. Her eyes narrowed, not in fear, but in recognition.
"You removed it," she said quietly.
Sekhmet nodded once.
Elena walked in and closed the door behind her with care, as if sealing privacy into the room. She faced Sekhmet, and for the first time since he returned, her stern expression softened into something warmer.