Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!

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It has been an hour and a half since everyone began evolving, and I think we were already midway through. Perhaps in another hour or two, they would be finally done. The process was faster than I imagined, albeit slower than my own evolution. For now, to pass the time and perhaps gain more strength, I checked the items I had acquired from the Raid Shop.

Aside from the Bloodline Ring, which I haven't activated yet because I might need the blood or bone marrow of Partner as I have no blood myself, there were two other items in my eyes, both consumable and Skill related.

The [Pure-Blooded Vampire Themed Skill Fusion Ticket (SSS Grade)] and the [Bloodline Absorption Technique Skill Book (S Grade)]!

The first was a crimson-colored metallic ticket, containing the small painting of a blood drop and a bat on it. By reading the description, it said I could fuse up to five Skills together into a powerful Divine Vampire Skill.

The combined Skills will gain the powers of a Vampiric Skill, becoming incredibly unique and also a core ability for whoever dares to sacrifice five Skills for that. I have so many Skills that it wouldn't really hurt me to combine five out of them, and it doesn't cost any System Points either.

At the end, this was a rather obvious choice!

And lastly, the Skill Book, it seems to give me a single powerful Skill named Bloodline Absorption Technique. Now that I have flesh and some sort of weird blood coursing through me (I think?), I might as well begin collecting these Bloodlines and combine them to gain many benefits.

Let's use the book first!

With a mere mental command and by opening the Skill Book, the pages started moving rapidly. Countless runes appeared, imbuing their knowledge and information into the depths of my mind and soul, engraving them completely into my body, and then making the book disappear on an explosion of red light.

FLAAASH!

[You have used the [Bloodline Absorption Technique Skill Book (S Grade)]!]

[You have absorbed the contents and magic power of the [Bloodline Absorption Technique Skill Book (S Grade)] successfully!]

[You learned the [Bloodline Absorption Technique: Lv1] Physical Skill!]

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[Bloodline Absorption Technique: Lv1]

A powerful and ancient ability that the Vampires of the World of Umbralheim utilize to steal the Bloodlines of Beasts and other living beings. The more Bloodlines they stack together and combine into one, the more innate abilities they can acquire, modifying their bodies, strengthening their physiques, and obtaining powerful new abilities in the process.

The Bloodline Absorption Process is simple, yet at the same time rather complicated for some that are always killing before thinking. To absorb Bloodlines you must have a living, weakened target first. Drinking their blood while activating this Skill, as long as the target does not resist too much, will make it possible for their Bloodline to be slowly assimilated.

Consuming only a single target will never net a complete Bloodline, however, and will only raise its percentage of absorption. Many targets of the same bloodline are often required to obtain it, the stronger the bloodline, the more targets might be needed, or sometimes, an incredibly overwhelmingly strong target might also do the trick.

When absorbing Bloodlines from a living target, increases Absorption Speed by +100% with an additional +15% with each Skill Level. When stealing the Bloodline of a foe, decreases that foe's Stats by up to -50% and has a 30% chance to paralyze them for 1 minute.

Based on the Bloodlines you absorb and complete to 100%, you gain bonuses to your Skills Powers and Effects and Basic Stats.

+1% = Low Rank Bloodlines.

+4% = Mid Rank Bloodlines.

+8% = High Rank Bloodlines.

+15% = Divine Rank Bloodlines.

Bloodline Slots will increase by +2 with each Skill Level. You can free Bloodline Slots by combining Bloodlines together. Some Bloodlines will be incompatible with one another for Fusion, however.

Available Bloodlines (0/4):

None

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"Ah, I suppose I am starting with a clean slate on this, huh?" I wondered, rubbing my chin as I watched the skill description in fine detail. "Well, well, this is not so bad. I might be able to steal the bloodlines of those Zombie Vampires? I wonder if it could work."

"What are you talking about?" Jonathan was curious. "Bloodlines?"

"Yes, I acquired a rather unique new Skill, it'll help me steal Bloodlines to start up my own." I smiled. "It'll give me boosts to my stats and skills depending on the ranks they have! Pretty neat, right? Alright, hey you Vampires, come here."

I summoned all the fresh Vampire Zombies and told them to open a small wound on their hands, still fresh blood came oozing out. The skill description did say they needed to be alive though, so maybe it won't work… Well, it's better to try first.

"L-Lady Maria, what are you planning to do?" Kimiko asked me shyly.

"Shut up and stay still." I said with a stern voice. "[Bloodline Absorption Technique]!"

FLUOSH!

A sphere of red Blood Energy surged from my hands, as it started absorbing the blood I was draining from the over twenty Zombie Vampires. I kept absorbing and letting the sphere drink it all. Over time, its size and volume increased more and more. The Vampire Zombies were completely dried out of their blood, resembling old mummies.

"Gehh… M-My blood…?!" Kimiko cried with a dried, grandma voice.

"[Undead Restoration]"

FLASH!

However, I quickly healed them, as they came back to normal. The sphere wasn't reacting yet, so I kept draining their blood and regenerating it, until something happened after the thirtieth session.

The sphere fused itself into my chest, as I saw slight visions of Vampires being born within the depths of the dark world of Umbralheim, born from red cocoons of blood, from ancient, primordial lakes born from the blood of an immemorial, fallen deity.

They rose, killed, and fought for supremacy, every one of them born cunning and malicious by nature, slowly awakening their own powers and creating their bloodlines. Four powerful families governing this world.

However, before I could see more, I was back to normal.

Ding!

[Blood Absorption Successful! You have absorbed the following Bloodlines to 100%: [Lesser Bloodline of the Bloodheart Vampire Family: 100% (Low-Rank)] [Weakened Bloodline of the Black Lotus Ronin Family: 100% (Low-Rank)]!]

"Woah…"

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