Chapter 14 – Blood flowing
Inside the cave, Kaden stood in still concentration. Around him, blood swirled in a slow, hypnotic dance—like a red tide responding to his will.
It began to transform.
A dozen blood daggers materialized, hovering mid-air. Then, as if melting on command, they dissolved back into fluid, morphing into javelins, then again into a single, massive spear of blood.
And still, it wasn't done.
The spear liquified once more, shifting—stretching—taking on a new form. Not a weapon this time, but something more complex.
A hand.
Sweat beaded on Kaden's forehead as he focused, mana trembling at the edge of his control. The shape of the hand began to take form, rough but distinguishable—
SPLASH—!
His control broke.
Thud—!
Kaden collapsed onto the cave floor, breath ragged.
"Damn it... not yet." His voice was quiet, but laced with frustration.
It had been five days since he began training his blood manipulation abilities. At first, even manifesting seven simple daggers was beyond him. But now, he could summon dozens without breaking a sweat. He'd mastered transforming blood into javelins, swords, spears, and arrows.
His arsenal had grown—but not enough.
Every time he attempted a more intricate form, like a hand, he failed. Something was missing. Something fundamental.
[You cannot expect to achieve that level of manipulation in just five days, Host.]
Kaden sighed. Of course, he knew that. He wasn't delusional. But—
"I'm heading into a dungeon I know nothing about. I need an edge. Something to fall back on when things go south."
Leaning his head against the wall, he exhaled slowly.
"How many Death Coins and stat points do I have?"
[Death Coins: 900 | Stat Points: 15]
Kaden nodded, satisfied.
"Split them—half into INT, half into Mana."
He needed precision and power. INT would help refine his control. Mana would fuel his techniques longer.
[Confirmed.]
A rush surged through him as his mana capacity expanded. The INT boost didn't come with the same immediate sensation, but he trusted it would matter.
"I guess I'll understand the difference soon enough."
"Show me my stats."
⸻
STR: 30
AGL: 30 → 45
CON: 35 → 50
MANA: 25 → 32
INT: 21 → 28
WILL: 8
⸻
He studied the numbers carefully.
"Will it be enough...?" he muttered, heart thudding with unease.
A wry smile crossed his face.
"Ready or not... I don't have a choice."
He had already lingered here for five days. His food would last two more—at best.
So—
"It's time."
...
Kaden moved through the forest, cautious and alert. More than an hour had passed since he resumed his journey toward the dungeon, and so far—not a beast in sight.
A small smirk touched his lips.
"Maybe my luck's finally turning around."
Of course, that was when the world decided to correct him.
Just two steps later, he stumbled upon a pack of green goblins—at least a dozen—armed with clubs and rusted swords, growling and chittering in the shadows.
Kaden immediately ducked into cover.
'Seriously? Right after I said that?'
Worse yet—they were blocking the only path to the dungeon.
Still... he was close. So close.
"It's fine," he whispered to himself. "If I can't avoid them... I'll use them to test my blood skill."
He raised his palm. Blood flowed from it, twisting into shape—a sleek, sharp arrow, humming with condensed mana.
Kaden inhaled deeply—and then struck.
BOOM!
He dashed forward, targeting a goblin just as Reditha shimmered into his grip.
SLASH—!
One clean sweep. A goblin's head flew, severed in a single strike.
At the same time, his blood arrow embedded itself in another goblin's eye. The creature shrieked and crumpled.
The others turned instantly, grotesque snarls twisting their faces.
"KREEEEEK!!!"
Kaden didn't hesitate.
His sword raised high, his stance shifted—pure focus. Blood surged around him, forming a dozen sharp daggers that launched in a split-second.
SLASH—!
A crimson arc burst from Reditha, slicing through the horde like a blade through silk.
BOOM! BOOM!
Shrieks filled the air. Bodies dropped.
Kaden's crimson eyes remained cold, unblinking.
As the blood of the fallen beasts hovered and flowed toward him, Kaden reached out. Sweat gathered at his temples as he channeled his mana.
The blood twisted and condensed. It surged, then solidified—
Into a massive, gleaming spear.
Only four goblins remained. Injured. Crawling.
But Kaden didn't even blink.
"Die."
He released the spear.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A final explosion rocked the forest. The goblins' cries were silenced.
The woods fell still once more.
Kaden walked to each corpse, extracting their monster cores one by one.
'I forgot to do this with the wolves... but not again.'
He needed these cores, to fuel his evolution and to grow.
Once he had them all, he turned and continued his journey.
But even as he walked, something stirred within him.
The way he had controlled the blood... the way the goblins fell...
He smirked.
There was something... thrilling about it.
Something was slowly awakening in him.
—End of Chapter 14—