In the depths of the Flesh and Blood Forest, twisted clusters of organs cast mottled shadows under an eerie phosphorescent glow.
Ron stood silently behind a gigantic "Heart Tree," its heart as large as a house, pulsing slowly and powerfully.
Every contraction seeped a viscous, blood-red liquid through its densely packed pores.
These liquids congealed into tiny blood beads in the air, making a brittle, wind chime-like sound eerily.
He activated "Extraordinary Recognition," observing the approaching white-haired figure through a special view.
Beyond that beautiful facade, Uphemia’s true structure was as clear as an anatomical diagram before his eyes.
The bloodline structure of the White-haired Witch was extremely complex.
In her veins, Ron could see three distinctly different forces circulating:
The pure human bloodline emanated white light, the foundation of her original body;
The deep red Blood Race traits, like molten lava, granted her powerful life energy and regeneration ability;
The most unsettling was the third force, a deep abyss-like black energy, serpentining along the vessel walls, exuding a nauseating decay aura.
This was an astounding "work of art."
"Triple bloodline fusion..." Ron analyzed in his heart:
"Such a degree of modification, even top-tier Bloodline Modifiers would struggle to achieve such perfect balance."
He recalled the legend of Aiden, King of Blood, who reached the pinnacle in the field of Bloodline Studies but was ultimately devoured by his own ambition.
"It seems the rumors are true, Aiden’s bloodline modulation techniques indeed reached unprecedented heights."
However, Ron quickly noticed a more important detail.
A barely visible silver mark was on Uphemia’s neck.
That mark exuded familiar Void Remains energy fluctuations, precisely the power trait of Uther.
"The professor’s monitoring rune... It seems the observation station has already discovered her true identity."
At that moment, the warmth of a rune stone on his waist suddenly transmitted a warm sensation.
Ron’s heart stirred, immediately initiating an emergency connection with Uther.
The old professor’s voice echoed in his consciousness, filled with urgency and warning:
"Ron, that woman is no ordinary individual. She is an experimental subject of Aiden, the King of Blood, codenamed ’Number 18.’ Her purpose is likely some form of bloodline erosion or spiritual control against you."
Uther’s voice carried deep disdain:
"I have placed a monitoring mark on her, but the sigil structure within her body is extraordinarily complex. You must be especially careful and never allow her an opportunity for skin contact."
"Additionally," the old professor’s tone became even more grave:
"She likely carries other tasks as well. Based on my speculation, the recent anomalies from Blood Tear Duke Asmond and the attention from several Abyssal Apostles concerning you are all related to this woman’s appearance."
After the connection broke, Ron gained a clearer understanding of the current situation.
A "weapon" meticulously crafted by the King of Blood, specifically to deal with him.
But this also meant the opponent could likewise become a pawn in his hands.
While he was contemplating countermeasures, a heart-wrenching, deep rumble suddenly came from afar.
The sound, like the roar of an ancient giant beast, carried primeval and frenzied power, causing the entire Flesh and Blood Forest to start trembling.
The concentration of Magic Power in the air began to rise sharply, and the already twisted structure of reality became even more unstable.
"Nari has begun acting..."
Through a spiritual link with the Stand-In Puppet, Ron could clearly sense the emotional state of the ancient creature.
At this moment, Nari was in an unprecedented excitement, like a mother about to see her long-lost child returning from afar.
But this expression of "motherly love" was enough to devastate a Chaos Storm spanning hundreds of miles.
Rumble—
The sky of the Abyss Fourth Layer began undergoing dramatic changes.
The originally deep purple firmament was suddenly torn apart by countless cracks, from which surged vast amounts of chaotic matter.
This matter had no fixed form, sometimes flowing like liquid, sometimes drifting like gas, occasionally coalescing into various indescribably bizarre shapes.
The center of the storm was approaching the Flesh and Blood Forest, where it passed, even the distorted rules of the Abyss itself were further twisted.
Some flesh and blood trees began melting into viscous liquid, while others suddenly erupted in dazzling light, burning like miniature suns.
Even more terrifying, the concepts of time and space became blurred under the storm’s influence.
Ron saw a tree in the distance simultaneously exist in three different temporal states: growth, maturity, and decay, like an eerie triple-exposed image.
"The chaos control ability of the Innate Apostle..."
He marveled at this power beyond comprehension while making preparations to respond.
Although Nari created this storm to protect him, chaos itself does not distinguish between friend and foe.
In such an environment, even the creator must be exceptionally cautious.
Ron retrieved a pre-prepared "Abyss Adaptation Potion" from his storage bag.
This was a special potion he crafted based on the traits of spore bloodlines combined with otherworldly technology provided by Cassandra.
It could greatly enhance adaptability to chaotic environments in a short time.
After taking the deep blue potion, a unique effect quickly manifested.
Ron felt his perception ability becoming more acute, simultaneously forming a sort of "affinity" with the chaotic energy fluctuations surrounding him.