Born in Blood



The crowd roared, men and women, old and young, shouting from the top of their lungs.

Within Ucladd's underground, Lloyd and Rogan started to punch the air in joy, smashing mugs of beer on each other's heads.

Entire regions did the same, yet the nobles ruling over them looked dreadful.

Liam's eyes flickered as he snapped back to reality.

His body threatened to buckle at any moment – as his calves and thighs had see-through holes in them, but he didn't allow himself to fall.

At the same time, Liam noticed something different about himself.

The state he was in didn't change.

Liam still felt like all his senses were heightened, just lesser than a moment ago. It was like a mental fog had cleared in his head, removing the thin barrier between body and mind.

Liam shifted his gaze towards the night sky. 

It was way past midnight, but the stars, cosmos and nebulae were perfectly visible.

A slight smile appeared on Liam's solemn face, covered by the mask.

'One more step closer to the stars.'

The Sisters descended and tended to Gerard's wounds first. The noble looked anemically pale, a puddle of blood forming on the ground where he laid.

Meanwhile, in the Royce family booth, those present looked more dire than ever.

"They're all failures, every single one of them!" Lisa hissed with a growl, shattering the glass of wine in her hands.

Adrian looked like his entire world was crashing down in flames, his blood pressure both rising and lowering at the same time.

"Just admit defeat. We were bested at every turn, both by the boy and the hands we were dealt." 

Richard seemed to react the most maturely, but even he couldn't hide his anger.

Before long, the Sisters shifted their attention to Liam next, assessing the masked peasant's wounds.

"How are you even standing?" they asked incredulously, staring at Liam's broken and bruised body. 

At least four bones had shattered during the fight (mainly his fingers and toes), with not a single handspan on his skin that didn't have a scar or bloody gash.

The Sisters covered Liam's body head to toe with their magical cloth, explaining a few things as they healed him.

"A servant will bring you to your new quarters. A celebration will take place in the grand hall, and you'll need to meet with the ruling families as the guest of honor."

Liam remained silent, but scowled at the last line. With his voice muffled behind the mask, he asked:

"When do I get my rewards?" 

The Sisters flashed a dazzling smile, then clarified in unison:

"Your rewards will be brought to your room, along with your prize money. Before that, the rulers will decide what Rank 4 body tempering method they are to bestow upon you."

'If it's up to them, they'll give the most basic and trashy technique possible,' Liam grimaced.

By the time they were done, Liam's wounds had more or less recovered. 

He'd used the King's Eye on their cloth, realizing it was a puzzle piece of sorts – the black side connected with the white to produce that powerful regenerative effect.

Soon enough, a beautiful group of servants pulled him away, leading him inside the mansion and through its many lavish corridors. 

Eventually, Liam faced two giant doors at the end of a hallway – it looked like a grand bedroom belonging to a king.

"Would you like any… 'pleasantries' to arrive at your quarters, sir? No request is too big," a shrewd-looking maid asked, her cheeks blushed.

Liam ignored her and entered, closing the doors behind him. 

The inside looked like it actually did belong to a king, filled with all kinds of adornments and expensive furnishings.

Liam made his way to the bed and sat cross-legged, exhausted beyond measure, both mentally and physically. 

Although sleep was ideal, he didn't feel like he could – instead choosing to meditate and nourish his body and mind.

Very soon, Liam had to make his move. 

His element was exposed, the Royce family was offended beyond measure, and his mother was dead. 

There was no reason for him to stay behind anymore. 

Rogan had taught him everything about Primordial Forging – anything else depended on Liam himself. 

The same exact thing with Lloyd, and his departed inscription master.

Like puzzle pieces clicking into place, Liam put together a blueprint.

///

Two hours passed. 

The Yin & Yang Sisters knocked on Liam's door and opened it, held in their hands was a small-sized chest, glimmering with a golden sheen.

"You have entertained the nobles thoroughly," They began with a smile, showing their pearly teeth. "They've never been so lenient with peasants, but for you, they'll be making an exception."

They handed Liam the chest. There was no keyhole, but a small inscribed surface the size of a palm.

Liam imbued that spot with 'Ora', and the chest clicked open.

Inside was a black ring, resting on a red satin pillow – alongside a pearly white robe, with the Echorian characters of 'victor' on its back.

Liam instantly inspected the ring.

The space inside was 70 square meters, filled with 'Ora' Crystals all around it – more or less 10,000 in number. In the middle, rested a small scroll.

The storage alone made Liam's smile widen.

"There's a few things you need to know about a Zenith ranked technique. The ruling board – with the exception of the Royce family – has voted to give you a technique that's attuned with your element. They expect gratitude."

Liam raised his brows momentarily, before firmly nodding. 

'They really want me to become a slave to them, don't they?'

"Secondly, when bringing a center of power into the Zenith ranks, there will be a tribulation – a test that will determine whether or not you advance," The Sister's revealed. "For the body… it's Struggle."

Liam paused. 

"Struggle?"

The Sister's smiled ominously, turning around to leave.

"You'll see. Everyone will be waiting for you at the grand hall. You'll have to take off the mask – they might be offended if you keep it on."

Liam grimaced at the last line, almost clicking his tongue in annoyance.

Alone again, Liam took out the scroll to see the technique he was given.

'Dark Wraith Body.'

'Improves regeneration ability significantly. When completed, advances the user to a Rank 4 Body, with the ability to transform into a dark ethereal mist for a short period of time, bolstering the user's speed. Limbs can freely turn ethereal, but require small amounts of mental energy and 'Ora'.'

Liam grinned ear-to-ear. Not only was the method in line with his fighting style, it also enhanced his regeneration capabilities. 

'Upon activation, it pulverizes certain bones, then combines it with the darkness element to attune with cultivation. Requires immense focus.'

Liam snorted with a chuckle.

'They haven't seen my previous tempering methods.'