Chapter 198: Bloodline
"VICKY, NOOO!"
With a shout, my heart shattered into pieces, my legs trembled, and my hands went cold. I could feel the hot tears forming in the corners of my eyes as my world became dark. The only thing I could see was the portal in front of me that kept getting closer to me. Or am I the one getting closer to it?
"MORGANA, STOP!" someone shouted my name from behind, yet I didn't care. My sister was taken from me.
'I need to save her, I must save her... it's all my fault, I should have–'
SLAP!
"!!!" My face turned left as a strong pain was felt on the right side of my cheek. I didn't know why, but the sudden slap snapped me out of my daze, and my vision cleared.
"Dad, what–"
"Morgana, stop. Take hold of yourself," my father was the one who slapped me, and he did a good job since I was two feet away from jumping into the portal, unprepared.
"I can't... Victoria," I whispered, looking at the portal, then the ground. I had to save her. I had no choice.
"Don't worry, we'll save her, together," my dad spoke, patting my head. His warm hand and the gentle stroke were like a balm, soothing the pain and the anxiety I was feeling inside.
"Don't forget about us," my grandpa suddenly spoke, arriving with my uncle and the remaining knights. "No one messes with my family and walks away."
"..." My father simply nodded at the men before turning to look at me and the portal.
"So, how do we do this?" my uncle Alexander asked. He was a tall man, still wearing his expensive attire, but it was all covered in blood.
"Simple, we charge in," Grandpa said, pointing at the portal. "That thing is like a door leading somewhere else, so we simply walk in."
"We don't know what's in there," my uncle spoke, crossing his arms, "and there is no way to prepare."
"You have a point," Grandpa muttered, "yet the longer we wait, the riskier it will get for our little lady."
"Don't worry," my father spoke, stepping forward with a heavy shield. "I'll go first, and you follow me after a few seconds."
"Alright, we'll follow you in ten seconds, and make sure to be careful."
"I will," my dad spoke, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes and began walking towards the portal, with steady and firm steps, while keeping his shield up in front of him, ready for anything.
I watched, ready to jump after him. However, the moment Dad was about to pass through the portal, an invisible force pushed him back, forcing him to take a few steps backward.
"What the..." the old man muttered, surprised by what just happened. I was surprised too, and a thought instantly came to mind.
"Vlad, what just happened?" Grandpa said as he and the knights were standing behind Dad.
"I don't know," my father replied, looking confused at the portal. "Something pushed me back; it felt like a strong wind."
"Do it again."
"Alright," my father nodded, and once again, he moved forward with his shield up, and once again, he was pushed back.
"Everyone, try to go, one by one," the old man ordered the knights and the soldiers. However, not a single one was able to pass through the portal.
"What's happening here?" Grandpa muttered, scratching his chin. "Something is wrong. This is not normal."
"..." I didn't say anything and simply walked to the portal and extended my hand. To everyone's surprise, no invisible force stopped me, and my hand passed through.
"How did you do that, Morgana?" Grandpa asked, surprised and shocked. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.
"Do you remember what that bastard said before jumping inside the portal?" I asked, turning to look at the old man, and everyone shook their heads.
"He said that he would be waiting for me and that if I wanted my sister back, I must follow him."
"So only you can pass?" my dad asked, quickly catching up and understanding what I was trying to say.
"Yes."
"It's a trap," my uncle muttered, frowning his brow.
"Definitely," I replied, "but I have to save my sister, no matter what."
"No, I can't let you go alone," my father quickly said, taking a step forward, and blocking my path.
"There is no other choice, Dad," I shook my head. "Moreover, you have an important thing to do."
"Important thing?"
"Yes, my mother and aunt," I said, staring at him in the eyes. "They were with Victoria, escaping from the ceremony. Find them and make sure that they are safe."
"Understood," the old man nodded. "I'll do it. Be careful."
"Yes," I nodded, taking his shield and turning to the knights. "Give me the gunpowder bombs."
"Here you go, Countess," one of the knights replied, giving me a bag of bombs.
"Good luck," my uncle said, placing his hand on my shoulder. Yet he was confused when I extended my hand to him.
"Give me one," I said, looking at him.
"Excuse me?" the man said, confused.
"Give me one of your cigars, Uncle," I repeated.
"But why?"
"Just do it," I said, my tone commanding, leaving no room for him.
"Fine," the old man sighed, pulling a golden case from his chest and handing me a cigar, which I gladly accepted and placed inside my gauntlet, and turned toward the portal.
"Alright, I'm leaving."
"Be safe."
"Come back soon."
"Save our lady, Countess."
I nodded and walked forward, passing through the portal, and leaving everyone behind.
Ding!
"Huh?"
The moment I passed through the portal, a familiar noise sounded, and a blue screen appeared.
[Rank-D dungeon found]
[Warning: You have entered a higher-level dungeon than yours.]
"Higher dungeon, huh," I muttered, scanning my surroundings. I was inside a cave, surrounded by walls made of rocks and dirt. There was a single path ahead, and I knew where it led—to that bastard's trap.
Ding!
Another system window materialized.
[Recommendations: Awaken your exotic bloodline for a better chance of survival.]
"Now that you mentioned it," I smiled, opening the previous notification.
[An exotic bloodline was detected.]
[Would you like to awaken it?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes," I didn't waste time and clicked yes.
Ding!
The moment I did so, I felt a strange sensation coursing through my body. It was as if something was crawling inside me. Yet it didn't hurt or cause any damage. On the contrary, I could feel myself getting stronger and more powerful. Blood started leaking from my nose and mouth, and a strong headache came out of nowhere.
Badump!
"UGHH..."
My heart raced, and a sharp pain was felt from the center of my chest. As more blood dripped, this time from my eyes and fingernails,
"AAAARGH... Fuck you, bastard!"
I collapsed on the floor, clutching my chest, unaware that the blood that leaked began to rise in the air and gather around me.
Badump! Badump! Badump!
My heart was beating like crazy. It felt as if it was about to rip apart from my chest. My vision also became blurry, and I could barely see anything. Yet I could feel that my body was changing somehow.
A minute later.
"UGHH...." I groaned. The pain slowly vanished, and the headache was gone. My vision cleared, and the first thing I saw was the system's blue screens.
Ding!
[Congratulations, your exotic bloodline has successfully been awakened.]
[Exotic Bloodline: The Night Mother.
The harbinger of eternal dusk, the first to tread the path of shadows and blood. The Night Mother, the progenitor of all that walks in darkness, the Vampyr, a whisper in the darkness and a scream in the silence—a being who transcends mortal limitations, whose veins carry the essence of darkness and immortality. With your awakening, the ancient hunger stirs, and the air grows heavy with the promise of eternal dusk. Your gifts are both curse and salvation, a symphony of power and loss.]
[Abilities unlocked:
Blood Dominion – Command the very essence of life, shaping it to your will.
Umbral Vision – Pierce the veil of light and shadow, seeing truths hidden in darkness.
Eternal Vitality – Mend the flesh and rekindle strength through the flow of lifeblood.
Oblivion's Embrace – Dissolve into the void, unseen and intangible, yet ever-present.]
As I stared at the words, my breath caught. Crimson markings on my skin pulsed faintly, as if in rhythm with my heart, but slower, more deliberate. The air around me thickened, an ancient presence settling upon me like a shroud. I wasn't just Morgana anymore. I was something else—something that I knew too well; forgotten, ancient, and eternal.
Standing on my feet, a strong aura emanated around me, an aura of power and cold. Staring at my reflection through the metal shield, I realized I was changed—or, more accurately, this version of me was back to the old me.
Pale skin, long silver hair, and glowing crimson eyes. My appearance now was the same as that day I awakened in Lilith's new world, minus the lovely rod that I missed too much.
"I don't have time for this."
Activating one of the new skills, "Umbral Vision," I saw through the darkness. Hundreds of creatures similar to wolves and goblins in the cave, not far from my position, waiting to ambush me. I wasn't scared. The only feeling I had right now was a will to kill—a deep desire to suck the blood from every living thing I came across.
"Wait for me, Victoria. Your sister is coming." Drawing my sword from its sheath, I placed the blade in my left palm and cut through the skin. A sharp pain was felt, but not for long. Drops of blood landed on the ground. And with the advanced knowledge I had of blood magic, I knew the perfect way to use my new gifts.
"Arise, children of the night."
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