[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Lucky]
Chapter 137
Blata’s scream wasn’t heard.
Kane’s focus was on the next and final move of Blood Dance.
The blood mana that had disappeared into the air now revealed itself.
He dropped the two bloodsky blades.
His eyes gleamed purple.
Then, something astonishing happened.
A technique wrapped around his wrist.
The blood mana was absorbed into his palm.
Though there was no blade in his hand, he swung his arm as if wielding a weapon.
“No Blood.”
[Warning! This skill has not been learned..]
[Warning! This skill has not been learned..]
[Warning! This skill has not been learned..]
[Trait <Pure-Blooded (UR)> has been activated.]
The descending Blood Lightning was interrupted mid-attack.
No— it was extinguished by some force.
By a power far stronger than the Blood Lightning itself.
As the Blood Lightning came to a halt, Blata breathed a sigh of relief.
“Phew, I thought I was going to die, Kane.”
He assumed Kane had stopped the technique after hearing his desperate plea for help.
“Be more careful next time.”
He started walking toward Kane but then froze.
Something felt ominous.
So much so that he had to stop in his tracks.
A warning bell rang in his head.
As expected—
The space tore apart.
Literally.
A rift formed between the human realm and the Void realm.
Such was the destructive power of the technique Kane had used.
Though not as visually impactful as the Blood Lightning, it was absurdly powerful.
And this was only the beginning.
Blata couldn’t move, overwhelmed by the force closing in on him.
His eyes widened to their limits.
“Am I going to die?!”
He had accepted(?) his death.
The mana of No Blood filled the cave.
The world turned white.
A completely white world.
Everything was erased, transforming into a void of nothingness.
But it was only for a moment.
The world soon returned to normal.
Blata, who thought he had died, blinked in confusion.
“I’m pretty sure I died?”
He tilted his head, then suddenly jumped up.
“Wait, I’m alive? Haha! I’m alive!”
Filled with excitement, Blata ran around the cave’s chamber.
Then, something shiny caught his eye.
A strange, familiar-looking gem.
“Has the Blood Mana Stone ever been this clear?”
Blood Mana Stones contained both demonic energy and blood energy.
However, neither of those energies remained.
Instead, it now held only pure mana.
“Kane, look at this! The Blood Mana Stone is acting weird,” Blata exclaimed in surprise.
It wasn’t just one stone that had transformed.
The entire Blood Mana Stone mine had changed in the same way.
Kane already knew the reason.
---
[You have absorbed the demonic energy of the Blood Mana Stone.]
[You have absorbed the demonic energy of the Blood Mana Stone.]
[You have absorbed the blood energy of the Blood Mana Stone.]
......
......
......
[You have absorbed the blood energy of the Blood Mana Stone.]
---
Kane had absorbed all the energy from the Blood Mana Stone mine.
This was the final technique of Blood Dance: No Blood.
It eliminates its target and seizes everything.
This was the essence of No Blood.
---
[You have flawlessly executed the skill. <Blood Lightning>.]
[You have flawlessly executed the skill. <No Blood>.]
[You have achieved a miraculous feat.]
[You have mastered all the skills of Blood Dance (SSR+).]
[The trait <Pure-Blooded (UR)> enhances the grade of Blood Dance (SSR+).]
[The grade of Blood Dance has been upgraded to UR.]
[You have met the conditions for Kane Rehinar’s 5-star promotion.]
---
Everything was filled with UR and SSR grades.
A shiver ran down his spine.
If he hadn’t killed Kane as quickly as he did when he was Ray, what would have happened?
Perhaps he would have been the one to die.
“...What is this?”
Even Ray hadn’t reached this level.
But this...
He had no idea it would be to this extent.
It was beyond imagination.
Even before realizing his full power, he had been using strength far greater than his stats suggested.
But still.
Now that his stats had fully adjusted, he possessed a power on an entirely different level.
It was enough to take on an army alone.
Seeing this gave him confidence.
From now on, he wouldn't lose to anyone.
---
* * *
---
They returned from the cave.
Blata kept sneaking glances.
“What is it? Do you have something to say?”
“Kane, I’m definitely next in line, right?”
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“Just answer me. I’m the second-in-command, right?”
“Didn’t you say before that we were equals?”
Blata’s face showed a moment of panic.
“D-did I? I don’t... I don’t remember that...”
He was sweating profusely.
His tail was drooping, and his ears were pinned back.
He looked terrified.
“What’s with you? This isn’t like you.”
“I’m just being myself.”
He was trying to act casual, but he was clearly trembling.
“Did you run into a more powerful Ferocious Species or any mythical divine species?”
“Yeah, a really scary one. So strong, I wouldn’t stand a chance unless I awakened fully.”
“Where are they?”
“Very close by. But don’t worry about it, Kane.”
Kane tilted his head in confusion as Blata slowly slunk away.
“I... I’m tired. I think I’ll sleep.”
Blata curled up and pretended to fall asleep.
Well, he was pretending.
He kept cracking one eye open, sneaking glances at Kane.
Every time their eyes met, Blata would act like he didn’t notice.
‘What’s going on with him?’
This was the first time Blata had ever reacted like this.
Usually, he maintained an arrogant attitude. But now, for the first time, he seemed scared.
Kane couldn't figure out who was causing Blata to act this way.
He had no idea that he was the one making Blata so scared.
Instead, Kane kept thinking of the dangerous Ferocious Species he knew and prepared for any possible threats. Then, he headed to the Magic Tower.
---
[Magic Tower registered in the System.]
---
At the far corner of the first floor, a hidden space appeared as Kane ventured deeper. It was an empty room, without an owner—at least for now.
---
[Magical Engineering Room has been registered.]
---
Without hesitation, Kane used his housing ticket. A card started to spin in the air.
“Please,” he whispered.
There weren’t many magical engineers in the first place, let alone those born with 5-star potential. The chances of him summoning the character he wanted were quite high.
Closing his eyes tightly, Kane pressed the card. A brilliant rainbow light flashed.
As expected—it was a guaranteed 5-star housing ticket.
The card, spinning rapidly, began to slow down. When it finally stopped, the character's image appeared, along with the message:
---
[5-star Engineer of Light, Eki Hughes, will be moving in.]
---
“It actually worked.”
Eki Hughes.
She was 27 years old and would later become the wife of Mikhail Pervartz. In the field of magical engineering, she ranked among the top three talents. However, her name was not widely known at this point. She was only referred to by her moniker, Engineer of Light, and no one truly knew her real identity.
She spent all her time cooped up indoors, endlessly tinkering with machines. In the past, she had been taken hostage by Dirk, but Kane had no intention of letting that happen this time.
The future had already changed.
Dirk had eaten his blood and the Red Poison Bug. If he stepped out of line, Kane could easily trigger the Bug, turning Dirk into a puppet under his control. There was no need to worry anymore.
Now that Kane had risen the form of his Blood Rune to 5th Form “Blood Pact”, he wouldn’t die as easily as he had in the past, even if someone tried to betray him. Instead, his enemies should fear him—because his power was now approaching the level of a high-ranking Twelve Star lord.
And the rewards for his achievements weren't finished yet.
---
[Achievement unlocked: 5-star character housing. Pet awakening materials granted as a reward.]
---
A material suddenly fell from the sky. As Kane grabbed the item, Blata—who had been pretending to sleep—shot up in an instant.
“G-give me that!”
Blata quickly snatched the awakening material with his mouth.
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Lucky]