CHAPTER 285: BLOOD MARK

Not too early, not too late, or the mastermind behind it all would probably slip away.

If he couldn’t take out the mastermind, the blood disaster would definitely blow up a second time.

Speaking of which, the location of the blood disaster’s second eruption was exactly the Dotruu Kingdom that Ginya had recently hit up.

If he whacked the person behind it all in the Yaba Kingdom, he’d basically save the Dotruu Kingdom again.

Thinking this way, grabbing that palace treasury felt even more legit.

Getting back to Blood Silver, Carlos was stumped.

It clearly had Moon-Devouring Power, so why would it also have the Blood Mother’s mark?

No time to puzzle it out further. In the hall, Blood Silver let out a long moo toward the sky, spread its blood claw-like wings behind it, and took flight, looking down like it owned the place at the big dummy below.

Ginya got the message, its mouth splitting into a nasty grin under its bone armor as soul fire went ice-cold:

"Good, real good."

Before the words were out, Blood Silver launched an attack. The giant blood claws behind it instantly struck, their brutal killing intent nearly solid. If they connected, even solid rock would get crushed to dust—not to be messed with!

Ginya snorted, casually blocking with its lance and effortlessly stopping the strike. With another shove, a loud clang sent both blood claws flying back, along with Blood Silver’s wobbly form in midair, backing up several spots.

Blood Silver shook its head, looking at the golden knight below who wasn’t even winded and stayed cool as a cucumber. Its brain, all puffed up from awakening new power, gradually cooled down.

"Moo!"

So damn annoying—couldn’t win!!!

Blood Silver had to face this harsh reality, but it didn’t want to bow down to this cursed big dummy.

Rolling its eyes, it made a face at Ginya, then beat its blood wings and smashed through the window, breaking free outside.

Moo~

Once out in the sky, Blood Silver danced with pure joy. First, it had escaped the bad big guy’s bullying, and second, it was experiencing the rush of flight for the first time—free and wild, couldn’t be happier.

Just then, two figures silently blocked Blood Silver’s flight path.

Moo?

Who! Dares block me!

Blood Silver was about to ram through when it suddenly caught a familiar scent and quickly hit the brakes.

A blood light flashed as Blood Silver dove into Carlos’s arms, its bright red eyes dripping blood pearls.

"Moo~ moo~"

Its calls were extremely pitiful, tattling to ’mommy’ about its suffering.

"Alright, alright. I’ll deal with Ginya later—its joke went way too far."

Carlos stroked Blood Silver’s soft fur, but his eyes locked onto the blood wings condensed behind it. They looked like two vicious blood hands, radiating waves of disturbing killing intent and blood energy.

So damn similar, too similar!

Almost identical to the Blood Mother’s blood wing appearance in the records, except the Blood Mother’s blood wings were way bigger—when spread, they nearly blotted out the sky, and she had a full six pairs.

"Moo! Moo!"

Blood Silver stopped crying, pouting as if saying mommy must seriously punish that bad big guy.

Carlos nodded, taking this chance to check Blood Silver’s status panel.

[Blood Silver: Super Alchemical Life Form (Growth Stage II)]

[A super alchemical life form born after Carlos Valois contributed massive amounts of blood to complete the final nurturing stage.

Having entered the growth stage, it has initially unleashed Moon-Devouring Power and further unleashed the Blood Mark.]

[Moon-Devouring Power: Born chasing the moon, loves lunar essence, devours lunar source, possesses endless spiritual power.]

[Blood Mark: The mark from the Blood Mother within has activated, massively enhancing blood control abilities.]

Carlos sighed. It really was the Blood Mark.

He had no clue where the Necromancer had swiped Blood Silver from—two completely different powers actually living together in its body.

It looked like the plan to transform Blood Silver into a retainer had to get bumped up on the priority list.

...

In the Ersbah United Kingdom Merit Exchange ruins, outside the magnificent pyramid, a girl lay lazily in a chair.

Beside her floated a round-topped, square-bottomed alchemical life form with red surface light flashing like crazy:

"Apprentice Demi has violated apprentice management regulations by ditching study—warning one!"

The girl glanced at Auxiliary Type I and kept lounging.

Auxiliary Type I’s red light flashed more urgently, radiating dangerous vibes:

"Apprentice Demi’s study-ditching behavior is serious—warning two!"

The girl yawned and switched positions, still lounging.

Seconds later, seeing the girl hadn’t budged, Auxiliary Type I’s surface glowed with cold red light:

"Warning ineffective. According to apprentice management regulations, implementing primary punishment measures."

The girl’s mouth curved into a wicked grin:

"I’ve been waiting for this move!"

She sneered, suddenly jumping up and smashing a homemade alchemical vapor bomb on Auxiliary Type I with a bang.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

The gem at Auxiliary Type I’s core flashed, and the lightning it originally shot out, thanks to water’s conductive properties, predictably nailed itself.

Electric current ripped through Auxiliary Type I’s entire body with crackling sounds:

"Under attack! Under attack!"

"Initiating counterattack! Initiating counterattack!"

Sizzle!

Another bigger current shot through. Auxiliary Type I’s gem flickered like crazy, bright and dim, its metallic voice breaking up:

"Under... sizzle sizzle... under attack... counterattack..."

Current kept crackling, each wave nastier than the last. Auxiliary Type I’s whole body started smoking black...

Demi felt satisfied at first, but seeing Auxiliary Type I’s self-harm getting worse, her pleasure vanished as she said frantically:

"Auxiliary Type I, stop attacking!"

"Apprentice Demi lacks authority! Sizzle sizzle... lacks authority!"

Auxiliary Type I kept crackling, black smoke billowing as parts flew out one after another.

"Auxiliary Type I, stop!"

Demi sweated bullets, pulling out her toolbox to clean the water from Auxiliary Type I. But she’d used super sticky cloud water that spread like crazy when electrified—no way to get started.

"Sizzle... sizzle... enemy too powerful, cannot lock on... cannot lock on... requesting backup... requesting backup"

After Auxiliary Type I’s core gem sent out its final signal, it suddenly went dark.

With a thud, it couldn’t float anymore and dropped to the sand, spilling parts everywhere.

Demi held the blackened Auxiliary Type I in both hands, tears slowly forming in her eyes:

"Auxiliary Type I, I’m sorry."

Wiping her tears, Demi carefully collected Auxiliary Type I’s scattered parts, secretly swearing to fix it!

Just then, eight black shadows quietly showed up around Demi. They looked almost identical to Auxiliary Type I.

"Auxiliary Type I?"

Demi’s eyes lit up with hope, but suddenly noticed the gems at these eight Auxiliary Type I’s centers starting to glow with cold red light.

"Apprentice Demi deliberately damaged United Kingdom assets—behavior extremely serious. According to apprentice management regulations, implementing intermediate punishment measures."

"Oh shit!!!"

Her pupils shrank as she turned to run, but it was too late!

Sizzle~

Sizzle~

...

Lightning torrents rained from above, instantly zapping Demi.

She collapsed on the sand with a thud, black smoke rising from her head, eyes rolled back white, hands and feet twitching occasionally.

"Spare..."

Sizzle~

"...me..."

Sizzle~

Wave after wave of lightning fell. Demi felt her soul floating away, an unprecedented out-of-body sensation washing over her.

She seemed to see her dead mother.

Mom, have you come for me?