Isaac and Emily reached the training room.
Emily looked nervous as she stepped inside.
She kept rubbing her hands together, knowing she had to drink a ridiculous number of potions today.
Isaac gave her a small, wry smile.
"Don’t think too much about it. If you keep thinking, it will be only harder to drink all the potions," he said.
He opened the system interface and focused.
A few taps later, the purchases began rolling in.
Strength Stat Potion bundle purchased. X10
Agility Stat Potion bundle purchased. X8
.
Spirit Power Stat Potion bundle purchased. X12
.
AP Balance: 1,00.1
Isaac sucked in a sharp breath.
His AP had dropped from almost five hundred thousand to barely one thousand.
His chest hurt a little.
After his death, his AP gain had surged. Each of his wives gave him a lot more AP now.
Also, Professor Catherine marrying him and Alice’s affection hitting 150 gave him a huge amount of daily AP.
That amount was supposed to make him feel rich.
Right now, he only felt broke.
He wiped imaginary tears from his eyes and stared at the potion boxes appearing on the ground.
Each bundle had five potions.
Each potion increased a stat by ten.
Given how many he bought, Emily’s stats were about to be pushed through the roof.
Emily froze when she saw the pile.
It was even larger than last time.
She did not complain though.
Instead, she took a slow breath.
"We should start now. I need to be strong so I can help everyone," she said.
Isaac nodded.
"Alright. Let’s do it."
Emily picked up the first potion.
Then the next.
Then the next.
The number felt endless.
Even for Isaac, this looked insane.
Nearly two hundred and seventy-two potions.
She had to take several breaks.
Her face turned pale between sets.
She sat down more than once, breathing hard, before going again.
But she never stopped.
And finally, all the bottles were empty.
Isaac opened her status window.
Strength: 511 → 1000 [11]
Agility: 610 → 1000 [10]
Constitution: 445 → 1000 [5]
Spirit Power: 423 → 1000 [3]
Mana: 451 → 1000 [1]
Isaac grinned wide.
"All five are maxed out."
But the screen wasn’t done yet.
More notifications appeared, one after another.
Strength stat has reached the limit. Title: None → Extreme Colossus Will
Agility stat has reached the limit. Title: Wind-Kissed → Extreme Wind-Kissed
Constitution stat has reached the limit. Title: None → Extreme Formlock
Spirit Power stat has reached the limit. Title: None → Extreme Mind Echo
Mana stat has reached the limit. Title: None → Extreme Mana Resonance
Isaac leaned back in the chair.
"She got all Extreme titles," he said softly.
He knew that at one hundred points, most people unlocked a normal title.
But one thousand?
That gave the extreme version of that title.
Getting all five at Initiate rank was absurd.
Then another line appeared.
Emily Warren has reached 1000 in all primary stats.
She has achieved a perfect foundation.
New Title unlocked: [Perfect Resonance].
As a result of reaching Perfect Foundation, Emily Warren will undergo Body Evolution.
Her Hollow Crown Physique is undergoing significant transformation.
Isaac’s expression steadied.
This time, he was ready for it.
A powerful force erupted from Emily.
Cold burst through the room.
Frost covered the floor.
A thin mist spread out.
Emily rose into the air without even realizing it.
Her clothes fluttered as the temperature dropped even further.
Her eyes opened slightly.
Her gaze was distant and sharp, nothing like her usual self.
For a moment, she looked like a ruler who carried absolute authority.
Her platinum hair shifted, the tips taking on an icy blue color.
Isaac kept an eye on the status updates.
Emily Warren’s Physique Evolution has been completed.
Her Netherborne Phantom traits have been strengthened.
Demonic Eyes (SSS rank) → Demonic Eyes (SSS+ rank)
Spirit Affinity: Level 4 → Level 5
Curse Affinity: Level 3 → Level 4
Ice Affinity: Level 5 → Level 6
Her body slowly stopped rising.
Then she began to fall.
Isaac dashed forward and caught her in time.
Emily blinked weakly.
Her frost-like expression melted into a warm smile.
"Isaac..." she whispered.
Then she giggled softly.
"Hehehe... I reached 1000 stats. I’m stronger now."
Her body was freezing cold, enough to make anyone else recoil.
But Isaac barely felt it because of his high Constitution.
What he did notice was how weak she felt.
Her physique evolution had drained her heavily.
He took out a few Vitality grains and placed them in her hand.
"Eat these. You need your stamina back."
Emily chewed them slowly, still breathing a little hard.
"Good work," Isaac said. "Now you should rest."
Emily shook her head.
"No. I still need to rank up and get my class."
Isaac paused.
She was serious.
Her eyes told him she wasn’t going to step back.
He sighed.
"Alright... but at least rest for a few minutes first."
Emily nodded and leaned back against the training room wall.
Isaac called the Calloway family doctor, who had been waiting nearby.
The doctor checked Emily carefully.
After a few minutes, he nodded.
"She’s fine. Just tired from the evolution," the doctor said before leaving.
Isaac finally relaxed.
Even though he trusted the system, he didn’t want to take any chances.
He needed to know Emily was safe.
Half an hour passed.
Emily had regained a good amount of stamina.
She had also cleaned herself up, washing away the impurities pushed out during her evolution.
She stretched her arms and looked at Isaac.
"I will start my breakthrough," she said.
"Okay. I will be waiting outside."
"Wait, Isaac!"
Isaac stopped and turned back to her.
"Yes?"
"Can you..." Emily hesitated. "Can you stay here?"
"Okay," Isaac said right away.
He understood what she was feeling.
Breakthroughs could fail.
During a breakthrough, the one would instinctively know how to move mana, how to guide it, how to control it.
For most people, it was manageable at lower ranks.
But the higher the class or the higher the rank they aimed for, the more difficult it became.
Emily should have an easier time with her current mana control.
But there was always a small chance something could go wrong.
And because this was her first breakthrough, fear was normal.
Isaac stayed close by while Emily settled down.
She sat on her cushion, closed her eyes, and let her mana flow.
Soon, her body lifted into the air on its own.
Her breakthrough was going smoothy.
Until it wasn’t.
Waves of impure blood, red energy rattled out from her.
Isaac froze.
"What is this?"
He was sure this energy wasn’t Emily’s.
The energy climbed higher and higher.
Most of it stayed trapped inside her, as if it was trying to escape but couldn’t.
Emily’s face twisted in pain.
Unlike Emily’s usual icy blue aura, this energy was dark red.
Isaac took a step forward, unsure if he should interrupt or wait.
The breakthrough finally ended, and a wave of cold air burst from Emily.
She floated down slowly.
She felt stronger.
Her presence was sharper.
Then Emily opened her eyes.
Isaac’s heart dropped.
Those eyes weren’t hers.
They were pure blood red.
Her face held no warmth.
She looked bored, almost annoyed.
She looked around the room like she didn’t recognize anything.
Isaac felt alarms going off in his mind.
He was about to act when Emily—no, the thing inside her—spoke.
"Finally, I’m free—"
Before she could finish her sentence, chains appeared out of thin air.
They wrapped tightly around her arms, legs, and neck.
Emily choked.
"Emily!" Isaac shouted and rushed forward.
But the blood red energy exploded outward and threw him back.
He hit the floor.
"What is— cough— damn it! Why is this seal acting up? I already broke it—" the monster possessing Emily spoke, trying to resist the chains.
The chains rattled.
The sound felt like it could claw into a person’s soul.
They twisted, tightening around her.
"Broke the seal...?" Isaac thought, feeling cold inside.
He could tell this was the monster sealed within Emily.
But how did it break free?
Was it because of the breakthrough?
The creature inside Emily pulled against the chains, snarling in frustration.
"Argh— damn it, this seal is tightening—"
Her voice was Emily’s, but her tone was completely different.
She scratched at the chains, trying to rip them off, but nothing worked.
Then her eyes landed on Isaac.
"You— yes, I can change hosts! There is no way I’m getting sealed again after waiting for so long—"
Emily lunged at him.
Isaac moved instantly.
He dodged at the last second, barely avoiding her claws.
He tried to restrain her, but the blood-red aura surged and shoved him back again.
At the same time, a loud roar echoed from outside the training room.
It sounded like it came from the sky.
Isaac’s eyes narrowed.
’Is the Catastrophe reacting to this monster possessing Emily?’
Both were Catastrophes so that was possible.
’Dammit.’
Emily must have felt danger before the breakthrough.
No wonder she asked him to stay.
Even if she didn’t know exactly what was wrong, her instincts had warned her.
"What should I do?" Isaac muttered.
Emily lunged again.
Her speed was much faster this time.
Isaac couldn’t dodge in time.
Just then, someone grabbed his collar and yanked him aside.
Isaac stumbled and turned his head.
An elderly woman with white hair and blue eyes stood there.
She held an unsheathed sword in her hand.
"Sword Empress? What are you doing here?" Isaac asked.
"I sensed the malevolent energy and came as soon as I could," she said.
Her gaze didn’t leave Emily, who was still wrapped in chains but struggling.
"Do you have any idea—"
"It’s you!" Emily suddenly roared, cutting off Isaac.
She glared at the Sword Empress with pure hatred.
"The sister of that Sword God bastard! I’m going to kill you!"
Emily shot forward again.
Her speed had increased even more.
Isaac realized the monster was slowly accessing its own original stats.
This was getting worse by the second.
But to his surprise, the Sword Empress calmly blocked Emily’s claws with her sword.
She diverted the attack like it was nothing and kicked Emily in the stomach, sending her flying back.
Then she spoke again, her voice steady.
"Isaac. Calm down and listen. The seal is still there. The monster is only using the opening from the breakthrough to slip out temporarily. We only need to hold her off for a minute, and Emily will return."
Emily sneered.
"Heh. This guy will hold me off? Can’t you see how scared he looks—"
Before she could finish, Isaac blurred.
He appeared in front of her in an instant, grabbed her neck, and slammed her into the ground.
The monster inside Emily froze in shock.
It opened its mouth to curse, but Isaac tightened his grip.
"Cough! Are you going to kill this woman!? Isn’t she important to— cough!"
Isaac’s eyes didn’t waver.
His grip only tightened, stopping the monster’s voice completely.
The monster tried to attack him, but roots burst out from the floor and wrapped around her body.
Then she tried to turn incorporeal, but Isaac pushed so much mana into her that her form couldn’t phase through him.
"You—"
The monster thrashed on the ground.
Her glare was full of hatred.
Isaac simply stared at her with cold eyes.
His expression didn’t change at all.
That emotionless look was more frightening than anger. The monster couldn’t escape. It realized the earlier attacks had taken Isaac by surprise, but his true strength was quite high.
He tightened his grip around Emily’s neck.
The monster began to panic.
She realized Isaac wasn’t bluffing.
He would kill Emily if he had to do that to stop the Blood Lord from taking complete control over Emily.
She tried to send a thread of energy into Isaac’s body to possess him instead.
But the Sword Empress swung her sword and cut the thread cleanly.
Seconds passed.
Isaac kept his gaze locked on Emily—the monster inside her—with an icy expression.
He didn’t say a word.
The chains around her body tightened slowly.
One minute passed.
Isaac could feel it.
The monster was being sealed again.
But now he also knew the truth.
This monster would come out again during Emily’s next breakthrough.
He leaned closer.
His voice was calm but chilling.
"If you dare to come out next time, I will rip your soul out of Emily, and I’ll make you go through a hell that you would wish to die."
The monster glared back, but before she could speak, Emily’s eyes closed and her body went limp.
"It’s done. The Blood Lord was dragged back into the seal," the Sword Empress said as she sheathed her sword.
She looked surprised.
This was the first time she had seen Isaac this angry, but she didn’t mention it.
"Did you know?" Isaac asked.
His voice held no warmth.
Just now, he had felt like he was about to lose Emily forever.
Like she was going to disappear inside that monster.
Thinking the Sword Empress might have known this could happen made his anger flare up again.
His dragonic traits stirred.
They demanded blood.
"I did not," the Sword Empress replied. "I doubt even Emily’s parents could’ve predicted this."
Isaac didn’t respond.
His skill told her she was saying the truth, but he still used Inspect on her.
[Status: Worried about Emily. Shocked by the Blood Lord’s ability to break the seal, even if temporarily. Surprised to see you angry.]
"Isaac, I know you’re angry, but we don’t have time for this. The Crimson Sky Wyrm began lashing out when the Blood Lord possessed Emily. We need to start our plan," she said.
"Will the Blood Lord possess her again the next time she breaks through?" Isaac asked.
His voice was steady, but he already had a feeling about the answer.
Sword Empress didn’t answer right away.
Then, she nodded.
"From what I saw, it’s likely the Blood Lord can try again during her breakthrough. And it will probably be stronger next time."
Isaac bit his lip.
He wanted to punch a wall, but he didn’t move.
Before he could say anything more, Emily slowly opened her eyes.
"Isaac...?"
She blinked a few times and looked around.
She saw Isaac kneeling beside her.
She saw the cracked ground.
She saw the Sword Empress.
"What happened? Why am I lying here— ouch!"
Emily held her neck, feeling a sharp pain.
Isaac realized she had no memory of what happened.
He looked at the Sword Empress.
She met his eyes for a moment.
She understood the signal.
Don’t tell Emily.
This would stay between them.
Sword Empress nodded slightly.
Emily was too focused on her neck to notice the exchange.
"It’s nothing," Isaac said gently. "Just normal aftereffects of your breakthrough."
He used Miracle of Grace to heal her.
"But... the room looks destroyed," Emily said, confused.
"You broke through to Adept rank with an SSS+ rank Class. Of course, the shockwaves were strong. The room couldn’t handle it," Isaac said.
Emily felt something was odd about that explanation, but she didn’t question it.
Her pain faded, and she sat up slowly.
Then she smiled.
Her eyes lit up at the messages appearing before her.
"Isaac, I’m finally at Adept rank!"
"Yes, you are," Isaac said.
He smiled back, hiding everything he felt.
Inside, he made a decision.
He would complete his Lord Quest as fast as possible.
He would find a way to deal with the Blood Lord forever.
"Now, drink these Life Potions," he said, handing her a few bottles from his spatial ring.
Emily nodded and drank them.
More notifications appeared in front of her.
You have reached Level 20.
Strength +100
Agility +100
Constitution +100
Mana +100
Spirit Power +100
Free Stat Points +250
You have unlocked Sovereign Summons (SSS+ rank) skill.
You have unlocked Call of the Fallen (SSS+ rank) skill.