Story Novel
Chapter 42 Lyraea Awakening
In a hidden room, a silver-haired young man slept peacefully, his face occasionally frowning in pain. Beside him, two cocoons floated in the air, radiating strong energy.
Suddenly, the young man snapped his red eyes open, taking a deep breath. "It was a dream," he murmured, letting out a sigh of relief as he surveyed his surroundings to confirm he was still in the same place.
But was it truly a dream? Everything had felt real—his disdain, sadness, and anger. The bubbling emotions still lingered within him, undeniable and vivid.
---
**System Notification:**
[Host has gained the skill "Blood Manipulation."]
[Host has gained the skill "Vampiric Transformation."]
[Host has gained the skill "Blood Plunder."]
The system's voice pulled Draco from his thoughts as he read the updates.
"Why do I have this?" he muttered in confusion, deep in thought.
"Xylara," Draco called mentally, his voice sharp. He knew who had caused this, and now it was time for an explanation.
"You're awake," Xylara's small figure appeared beside him with her usual nonchalance.
"Explain yourself," Draco commanded coldly, his red eyes emanating a powerful pressure.
Xylara felt the shift in his aura, a shiver running through her.
"Has master awakened his memories?" she wondered silently, observing his demanding gaze.
"Oh, I gave you part of his blood to help you gain some abilities," she answered lightly, brushing off the tension.
Draco's suspicion deepened. "Why?"
"You'll find out in the future. For now, just focus on getting stronger," she replied, preempting his unspoken question.
"What skills did you gain?" she asked, prompting Draco to list them.
"Why do these skills have the word 'Plunder'? Isn't that supposed to be exclusive to me?" Draco asked, puzzled.
"Yes, you're correct, but... you were the one who gave them the Plundering power," Xylara muttered quietly, stroking her chin in thought.
Draco caught her words, his mind racing.
"Oops, I mean, master was responsible for it," she corrected hastily, though Draco's gaze remained suspicious.
"Just use the system to review the characteristics of the skills," she suggested.
---
**Skill Descriptions:**
**[Blood Manipulation]:** Enables manipulation and control of blood for various uses. Can alter the form of blood. **[ 1 MP per Sec]**
**[Vampiric Transformation]:** Allows transformation into a blood demon form. **HP increases by 50%; Stats increase by 2%** (x20).
**[Blood Plunder]:** Grants the ability to plunder attributes from blood. **Note:** Attributes can only be plundered from the blood of living beings.
---
**System Notification:**
[Congratulations! Host has gained a passive skill, "Child of the Night."]
**[Child of the Night]:** During the night, stats increase by 5%; Resistance to Darkness: 150%; Resistance to Light: 0% (x20).
---
Draco examined the skills. The second and third ones seemed less useful to him, though the first skill, *Blood Manipulation*, caught his interest. The passive skill was also promising, especially with its 20x effect.
He checked his status and chuckled. "I miss farming EXP," he muttered.
---
**STATUS:**
**Host Name:** Draco Xandros
**Race:** Human [25%], Dragon [25%], Phoenix [25%], Demon [25%]
**Level:** 25
**EXP:** 3,050,000 / 5,000,000
**Class:** Plunderer, Dragonborn, Demon Lord, Phoenixborn
**Talent:** Plunder, ????? Dragon Power, ????? Phoenix Power
**Skills:** Plunder, Dragon Power, Phoenix Power, Appraisal
**Physique:** None
**Affinity (Energy/Element):** Fire, Earth, Water, Wood, Wind, Sword, Archer, Spear, Lightning, Draconic, Demonic, Phoenix, Dark...
**HP:** 20,000 / 20,000
**MP:** 20,000 / 20,000n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
**STR:** 880
**AGI:** 860
**INT:** 820
**DEX:** 840
**STA:** 880
**DEF:** 980
**Luck:** 98
**SP:** 0
**PP:** 20 million
**Inventory:** Bronze Sword, Weapon of Plunder, Hand Gear...
---
He then asked Xylara how long it would take for the twins to complete their transformation. She informed him it wouldn't take more than a day. With that, Draco started pondering ways to pass the time.
---
**[Missions]**
**Unique Mission (Quest):**
**[Mission 1:** Retrieve your extracted talent and exterminate those who dare use it for their own purposes. A demon, dragon, and phoenix are beings that can't be blasphemed. Show them who's the boss.]**
*Time Limit:* 1 year
*Reward:* Recovery of Memory, Mask of Concealment
*Penalty:* Burn under the Hell of Fire as a mortal
**[Mission 2:** Find the Ten Seats of Demon, awaken them, and assign their system to them (1/10).]**
*Time Limit:* 3 years
*Reward:* Gain abilities of the Seat of Demon each time you awaken them.
*Penalty:* Loss of manhood
**[Mission 3:** Let your name echo across Cerulean and make it instill fear in everyone who hears it (2%).]**
*Time Limit:* 3 years
*Reward:* Unknown (depends on star and rate of completion)
*Penalty:* Unknown (depends on rate of completion)
**Normal Mission:**
- Eliminate 1000 Bronze Rank Volkoid [1000/1000]
*Rewards:* 10,000 PP
- Eliminate 1000 Silver Rank Volkoid [1000/1000]
*Rewards:* 100,000 PP
- Eliminate 1000 Gold Rank Volkoid [800/1000]
*Rewards:* 500,000 PP
- Eliminate 500 Platinum Rank Volkoid [200/500]
*Rewards:* 1,000,000 PP
---
He had only found one out of the ten, leaving a long journey ahead. He also felt that finding the *Seat of the Demon* might help him uncover more about what had happened during the memory fragment.
"Did you experience anything else apart from gaining these skills?" Xylara asked suspiciously, snapping Draco out of his thoughts.
Draco's attitude and demeanor had changed slightly—a shift Xylara didn't miss. His voice carried a touch of command and authority, making her wonder if he had awakened.
"What do you mean?" Draco frowned, feigning confusion. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell Xylara, but his instincts told him to keep it a secret for now.
"No worries," Xylara replied with a smile, though she remained slightly suspicious. If Draco had answered "No" or "Nothing," her suspicions would have been confirmed.
Draco recognized the trap in her question. With his sharp intelligence, he sidestepped it easily, shrugging his shoulders as he waited for the twins to complete their transformation.
By the next morning, Draco was sure the Shadow Mercenaries would be wondering about his absence and waiting for his return.
The previous night, after seeing the message Draco had left behind, the group had gone to dinner, expecting him back soon. Later, when they checked his room and realized he hadn't returned, they grew concerned.
Despite their worries, they eventually went to bed, understanding that those below Level 50 still needed proper care for their bodies. Eating and sleeping were essential; their bodies could only endure fasting for about a week before it started affecting their health. Only those above Level 50, who had shed part of their mortality, could go without food or rest for a year.
By the next day, their concern deepened as lunch approached, and Draco still hadn't returned.
---
"Sorry to keep you all worried," a familiar voice called out.
Brad and his four companions, who were just leaving the inn, turned to see Draco. Dressed in his black coat, with silver hair, red eyes, and a black mask, he looked as composed as ever.
They sighed in relief, reassured by his presence.
Draco chuckled, amused by their reactions. They had only been strangers the day before, yet now they acted as though they had known him for years.
"Mr. Draco, we're glad you're okay," Brad said with a smile.
Draco raised a hand, cutting him off. "Just call me Draco."
Brad blinked in surprise before smiling wider. Draco's request meant he was beginning to trust them—a sign of mutual respect and the start of a potential friendship.
"Okay, Draco. I wonder who..." Brad began, trailing off as his curious gaze shifted to the twins standing beside Draco.
"These are Adria Carper and Adrian Carper," Draco introduced. "Adria, Adrian—meet Brad, Dell, Ivory, Sam, and Flora."
Draco made the introductions, and Brad stepped forward with a chuckle. "It's nice to meet you both."
Adria returned the greeting, but Adrian remained silent.
Having awakened part of his memory, Adrian now knew his origin as a Vampire God. His pride prevented him from associating closely with humans.
"Adrian," Draco said, his tone calm yet firm, his eyes glowing with a dangerous aura that sent chills down Adrian's spine.
Despite being a Vampire God, Adrian instinctively felt the inborn fear of his master. Draco's behavior reminded him so much of his master, even though he had no memory of how both he and his master had died. The resemblance in demeanor and command was uncanny.
Feeling the tension, Brad chuckled to lighten the mood. Draco smirked faintly, realizing Adrian's behavior had undergone a drastic change since awakening.
"We're heading out for lunch. Would you like to join us?" Brad asked.
Draco considered the offer. He hadn't eaten, nor had the twins, so it seemed like a reasonable idea.
Just as he was about to agree, he changed his mind. "Take the twins along. I've got something to do," he said before heading back to his room.
---
"Is it true?" Draco asked as Xylara appeared beside him.
"Yes," she said with a chuckle. "I didn't expect her to awaken this quickly. I was expecting it to take a year."
Once inside the room, Xylara waved her hand, causing a massive egg, as tall as a human, to materialize in the center of the room.
**CRACK!**
The egg began to hatch, and Draco's eyes locked on it, filled with excitement.
Since his rebirth, he had never felt happiness like this.
A surge of *Originat* energy flowed into the egg as it continued to crack.
**BOOM!**
The egg exploded, releasing a silver-blinding light so intense that Draco couldn't make out the figure within.
As the light gradually faded, a familiar figure was revealed.
"PAPA!"
The unexpected word made Draco cough as he turned to look at the exposed figure. His expression froze in disbelief as the figure shouted, "....."