《Where Legends Reboot》


 Prologue — Where it all Began

    Standing amid the bustling streets of Zephandrel, he found himself lost in thought.


    Am I truly a transmigrator, or have I become trapped in the game, unable to escape?


    [Pendragon: A Symphony of Blood and Fire] was a wildly popular fantasy RPG, a holographic, online Virtual Reality sensation beloved around the world. And he, a professional VRMMORPG player of that very game, had inexplicably ended up here.


    This world was almost an exact replica of the game''s universe. The only difference? There were no players.No players meant the familiar facilities tied to their presence were missing. No online hubs, no safe zones, no resurrection points. In other words, if you died in this world... well, perhaps you''d really be gone for good.


    His new body, a pre-assigned NPC avatar, was known as Marvin Fontaine, an aristocratic figure in the imperial heart of Zephandrel. His role. A high school history teacher at the local noble academy. Thanks to a generous ancestral inheritance, his family had once enjoyed great wealth, a true second-generation rich lifestyle.


    But fate had taken a dark turn. One day, a mysterious female vampire hypnotized him, robbing him of his normal reasoning. Within mere months, his life unraveled, his parents were murdered, his property seized, and every servant in his household, be they butlers, maids, or other staff, had been transformed into vampires. Only he was left, forced to serve as a living blood reservoir for the creatures that now held his home captive. Had his body not been remarkably resilient, he likely would have perished long ago.


    Then, one fateful night, the vampire mistress decided it was time to broaden her hunting grounds. She sent her maid to convert the neighbors, a modest family of three, a couple living with their young daughter. However, during the maiden''s first attempt to embrace the little girl, something went awry. The startled homeowner''s scream shattered the silence, and in a frantic response, the maid hastily killed the couple and set the house ablaze before fleeing. The blazing inferno was quickly smothered by the city''s diligent fire brigade, but not before the fire threatened the vampire mistress''s own mansion. Enraged, she returned to kill the errant maid.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    What no one knew, however, was that the neighbor''s youngest daughter, Aurora, had been transformed into a vampire during that chaotic encounter, and thus wasn''t completely consumed by the flames. On the very night of her burial, she managed to crawl out of the cemetery. After wandering the streets for several days, she encountered a player and issued a revenge mission.


    That mission was promptly taken up by a guild player, who immediately reported the matter to his guild. The guild''s leadership decided that the church should be informed first, not only to enlist its formidable power in exterminating vampires but also to secure the prestige and benefits that such an alliance would bring. Thus, the church dispatched a unit of armored paladins who, working alongside the guild players, swiftly eradicated that vampire family.


    Amid the chaos, only Marvin, an ordinary human ensnared by supernatural manipulation, escaped the massacre at the hands of both the church and the players. Once the mission was complete, the church sold Marvin''s mansion to the reporting guild as a reward. That guild became the very first to establish a base in Zephandrel, drawing a horde of new players. The entire episode was broadcast across forums, sending ripples of excitement and admiration throughout the server. For a time, countless guilds scoured Zephandrel in search of traces of vampires, werewolves, and witch NPCs.


    As for poor NPC Marvin, his misfortune was pitiful. Stripped of his property and family, he was forced onto the streets, reduced to a beggar. Every day, he endured relentless harassment from players, taunting him with questions like,


    "Do you know any other vampires?"


    "Doesn''t your wife have any siblings?"


    "Aren''t you a vampire too?"


    In time, the constant torment wore him down. Eventually, amid the brutal chaos of a street gang clash, the battered NPC lost his mind entirely and was tragically killed.


    That had been the plot of the NPC Marvin Fontaine in his previous life, a narrative he''d once known all too well. But things were different now.


    Without players roaming this world, Aurora''s mission would go unaccepted, and the church wouldn''t soon become aware of any vampires. Most importantly, as a professional VRMMORPG player armed with complete knowledge of the mission''s twists and turns, he would never simply sit by and wait for his fate to be sealed.

 Chapter 1 - Liquidating Comfort, Fueling Ambition (1)

    At this point, the bodies of the neighboring family of three had already been taken to the nearby cemetery and were being prepared for a dusk burial.


    According to the original game plot, Aurora would only crawl out late at night. So Marvin wasn''t in a rush. Since his soul had been transferred into the body of this bewildered NPC (and had, quite by chance, interrupted the vampire''s mental hypnosis of the original owner), he knew he had to cut off all his previous social ties before the vampires noticed something was amiss and came searching for him.


    The technology tree in this world was a total mess. In the big cities, they had satellites, mobile phones, cars, and subways, while out in the remote countryside people still had to draw water from a well. In developed areas, electronic currency and securities markets thrived, yet in less advanced regions, folks were still using gold, silver, and copper coins or even bartering goods.


    Cold weapons and firearms coexisted, and technology clashed with the supernatural in this weird, contradictory world.


    Zephandrel, where Marvin was based, ranked among the most developed cities in this realm, meaning its public facilities were as complete as they came.


    He hopped on the subway and made his way to the local high school before sauntering into the classroom he was scheduled to teach that day.


    This high school wasn''t cheap; most students were children of middle-class families, so the classroom maintained decent order. As soon as the teacher walked in, every student fell silent at once.


    Marvin stepped up to the lectern and the students opened their textbooks, ready to take notes.


    "Everyone, close your textbooks. Today you won''t have to take any notes," Marvin announced calmly. "Your assignment for today is to choose a topic from everything we''ve studied this semester and write a paper on it."


    He scanned the room and then said loudly, "Once you''ve chosen your topic, head over to the library to gather materials and write a historical paper. This will be your homework for the week. For the next few days, you''ll be on self-study."


    The students immediately erupted into cheers. They might not have known exactly how to write a paper, but the idea of free self-study was exciting enough! With their warm farewells echoing behind him, Marvin left the classroom and headed toward the principal''s office.


    The office door was ajar, and inside the principal was sitting in a high-backed chair, absorbed in a newspaper. Marvin pushed the door open and stated bluntly, "Principal, I''m resigning."


    The principal looked up and, recognizing that the teacher who was resigning was none other than the young master of the Fontaine family, simply nodded. Everyone knew that this history teacher was actually a noble who didn''t really care about his teaching salary. The principal said, "Alright, but Mr. Marvin, please stay on for one more week until we hire a new history teacher, okay?"


    "No thanks," Marvin replied. "I''ve already given the students a week''s homework, and for the next week, history class will be replaced with self-study. They''ll be heading to the library to work on their papers."


    The principal managed a wry smile. "It seems you''re really set on leaving. So, are you planning to go back to running the family business?"


    Marvin shook his head and chuckled. "No, I''m planning to sell my shops and then form an expedition team for some adventures."


    "Sell them?" The principal was taken aback. He knew the Fontaine family owned two shops in Zephandrel, each worth hundreds of pounds.


    Here, ''pounds'' referred to Pendragon pounds¡ªa unit originally for weight that later became the highest currency in the Eastern Pendragon Empire. One pound note was equivalent to an ancient Souledes gold coin, and by the exchange rates from his past game life, one gold coin was worth around thousand dollars.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    By that math, Marvin was a bona fide millionaire. With no loans or debts to speak of.


    To sell everything just to put together an expedition team was as crazy as selling prime property in New York or California just to become a mercenary abroad.


    Not wanting to get too personal, the principal just smiled and arranged Marvin''s resignation without further comment.


    With his resignation finalized, the next step was clear. Buy all the equipment he needed to arm himself.


    As a former professional VRMMORPG player and an expert in early-game leveling strategies, Marvin knew exactly which weapons to wield, which armor to wear, and which missions or dungeons to tackle. In this area, he had no trouble at all.


    He left the school and strolled over to a nearby weapons shop. "I want to buy a sword," he said.


    "Master Fontaine would like to purchase a sword?" the shop owner asked, instantly recognizing the young master of the Fontaine family. Knowing he had plenty of money, the owner eagerly tried to push the exclusive, diamond-encrusted ceremonial swords designed for nobility. "You have great taste. We have all types of swords here. We just got a fresh batch of top-quality pieces¡ªrelics, they say, from the ancient High Elven Empire. Perhaps you''d be interested..."


    "What material?" Marvin asked coolly. "If it''s made of meteoric iron, magical copper, mithril, refined steel, glass, polar ice, blood-forged steel, chaos rock, or even dragon bone, I''ll buy it."


    At the mention of these materials, the shop owner nearly fell over, laughing nervously. "Master Fontaine, my little shop doesn''t stock those high-end materials... I might be able to get some meteoric iron or magical copper off the black market with some effort. Mithril and refined steel are controlled by the Imperial Army, and glass and polar ice are so rare across the continent that I simply don''t have them here!"


    "And what about blood-forged steel, chaos rock, and dragon bone? Aren''t those legendary materials, the stuff of mythical artifacts? I doubt they even exist in reality."


    "Those materials don''t exist, and yet you claim you have everything?" Marvin sighed in exasperation. "Fine. Show me your best stock. And don''t try to fool me with ornate, hollow designs."


    "Very well," the shop owner replied with a sheepish smile. "Right now, we have two types of longswords. One made of iron and another forged from steel. The highest grade we carry is a Damascus Cloud Pattern Steel sword, treated with the church''s most advanced chrome-plating technology and quenched with AO methods. Its quality is top-notch..."


    "What sword models do you have?" Marvin interrupted.


    "We have the standard Spacien cavalry sword from the military, and an Eastern single-edged curved sword called the Paramayen. And if you need something with extra killing power, we also have a Western hybrid sword with a thick spine and a weighted pommel. One swing of it can easily cut through a man''s neck."


    "Just the single-edged curved sword will do. I also want a short sword. An Illybian-style short sword from ancient Pendragon. The blade must be sharpened. Don''t give me an antique that''s all style and no substance."


    "I also need a set of lamellar armor with at least three layers of linen padding, covered by a coarse silk-cotton cuirass. Nothing too flashy. Any standard dye will do."


    "Understood." The shop owner quickly sent an assistant to retrieve the items, adding with an apologetic smile, "Master Fontaine, are you planning to join the royal guard? Just yesterday, a royal guard bought a similar set of equipment here, along with a mace for breaking heavy armor. Would you like to see that as well?"


    "No, thanks," Marvin said. "For breaking heavy armor, a firearm is far more suitable."


    "Of course, of course." The shop owner eagerly agreed, secretly relieved since guns were far too expensive. A single handgun would cost at least two or three pounds, plus the bullets. A mace was much more practical and affordable for knocking someone''s head off.


    Before long, the assistant returned with the items. The shop owner helped Marvin slip into the lamellar armor and drape the silk-cotton cuirass over him. Instantly, he looked every bit the dashing hero.


    He hung the short sword from the buckle on the left side of his leather belt, and in his right hand, he casually swung the refined steel single-edged curved sword. The blade let out a low, menacing hum as it cut through the air.


    "Not bad," Marvin said appreciatively, clearly satisfied with the sword.


    The shop owner gulped nervously, suddenly struck by an inexplicable fear. Watching Marvin swing his sword so effortlessly reminded him of a few hardened veterans he had once encountered. Men so deadly that even standing in their presence made him want to turn and run.


    "This lamellar armor is 5 pounds, and the silk-cotton cuirass is 1 pound. The two swords together cost about 0.3 pounds. I''ll waive the extra small charges for you," the shop owner said cautiously.


    "Alright." Marvin replied as he reached into his money pouch and pulled out a few banknotes.


    He turned and left the shop, and the shop owner, watching his retreating figure, felt a quiet relief that he had narrowly escaped a fate far worse than a simple sale.

 Chapter 2 - Liquidating Comfort, Fueling Ambition (2)

    St. Sophia''s Cathedral was the largest church in Zephandrel and the headquarters of the Imperial Orthodox Church. Surrounding it were several shops. All part of the church''s holdings and run personally by church stewards. Marvin stepped into one establishment specializing in alchemical goods and rapped on the counter.


    "Welcome, guest." Behind the counter, a church steward dressed in a black robe nodded slightly. "May I ask what you need?"


    "I have two shops I wish to sell to the church," Marvin replied.


    "Hmm, you must be Marvin of the Fontaine family," the steward said, recognizing his features. After all, before Marvin''s original parents went missing, they donated large sums to the church every year. The steward was therefore not unfamiliar with the young master of the Fontaine family. "So you intend to sell both of your parents'' shops?"


    "Yes," Marvin said. "Please give me your offer."


    "I know your two shops well. They are golden enterprises, bringing in fortunes daily. The apothecary on Theodosius Avenue, I would value at 700 pounds, and the tavern near Marina High Tower. Since the restaurant trade has been rather sluggish recently. I''d set it at 550 pounds for now."


    "But let me remind you, Mr. Fontaine, that these two properties, left by your parents, yield a steady monthly profit of about 10 pounds. If you''re merely short on cash, you could apply for a mortgage from the Imperial Bank instead of selling them outright."


    "I understand," Marvin fibbed smoothly. "But I''m about to return to my hometown to get married, and I won''t have time to collect the rent. So I need to liquidate them."


    The steward furrowed his brows. Return home to marry? Wasn''t Marvin a native of Zephandrel? Judging by his fully armed appearance, the marriage was clearly a ruse, he was more likely setting off on an adventure.


    Since it was not his place to question another''s career plans, the steward simply retrieved a standard real estate transaction contract from a shelf and placed it on the counter. "In that case, please fill in the names of the shops on the contract and sign at the bottom. Once we verify the property status, we can complete the transfer and pay you immediately."


    With other private buyers, such transactions would involve lawyers reviewing the contract, identity verification, checking property deeds and transaction records, and even a notarization by the church. A process that could take days. This was precisely why Marvin chose to sell directly to the Orthodox Church. It was far simpler.


    After signing, the steward fed the two copies into a fax machine and then invited Marvin to sit down.


    About half an hour later, the steward returned from a phone call and said, "We have verified your properties, and the transfer is complete. Would you like the funds transferred directly to your bank account, or do you prefer cash?"


    "Cash, please," Marvin replied.


    The steward then produced a neat stack of banknotes, counted them, and handed them over.


    Marvin took the money but did not rush to stow it away. Instead, he asked, "Do you have any blank soul contract templates? I''d like to buy two."


    "Soul contracts?" The steward was momentarily taken aback. "May I ask what you need a soul contract for?"


    "To get married back home, to sign a loyalty agreement with my wife," Marvin explained casually.


    The steward gave an understanding hum, thinking that nobles certainly had their peculiar ways.


    A soul contract was a vow bound by extraordinary forces, directly affecting one''s mind and body. For example, a couple might inscribe on such a contract that they would never cheat after marriage. Once signed, the contract would make the very thought of infidelity unbearably repulsive; forcing oneself to break it would likely result in mental collapse. These contracts, however, were very expensive. Around 100 pounds apiece, far beyond the reach of ordinary folk. Even the wealthiest nobles seldom wasted money on them, using them only occasionally during arranged marriages. Essentially, what Marvin called a "loyalty agreement" was merely a safeguard against post-marital betrayal that could ruin one¡¯s reputation.


    Having just received 1250 pounds and then promptly spent another 200 pounds, Marvin showed no sign of regret. He carefully stowed away the two soul contracts and then smiled as he asked, "Since we''ve made such a big transaction, how about adding a handgun to the deal?"


    "A handgun?" The steward, now half-convinced that Marvin was indeed planning a marriage, wondered aloud how nervous he must be about his future wife. Signing a loyalty agreement was hardly enough. Buying a handgun to carry around? Is it to shoot a cheating lover or perhaps even your wife?


    "Of course," the steward replied cautiously. "According to our rules, for transactions over 50 pounds I am entitled to a 5% discount. For 10 pounds, you could even buy a semi-automatic rifle, but that would require an automatic weapon permit."


    "I don''t have a permit, so I''ll stick with a handgun. Do you have any with particularly strong firepower? Preferably a large caliber, one with excellent armor-piercing capability."


    "In that case, let me recommend the ''Imperial Eagle.''" The steward reached under the counter and produced a small black box. "Its caliber is 15.2mm. With specially made ultra-heavy elephant hunting rounds, its muzzle energy exceeds 10,000 joules. It can even take down a Titan head-on. In fact, we mostly sell these to the northern Karona Empire for hunting frost giants."


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    He opened the black box, revealing a silver revolver along with a row of gleaming 15.2mm bullets, each as long as an adult''s palm.


    "Excellent," said Marvin. "I''ll take that one. But do you also have a rapid-fire automatic handgun? One preferably with a silencer."


    "You must be referring to the ''Aphrodite''." The steward then retrieved another box from a nearby shelf. "As the name suggests, it is specially made in the Xiris Province. A compact, agile rapid-fire handgun."


    "Goddess above, I must be honest with you. This handgun was originally designed for female nobles of the empire, yet once it came out it became a favorite among mages because its recoil is so minimal that even women and children can handle it."


    "If one handgun can suffice for self-defense, why hire mage guards at all? Still, I suggest you buy this one as a sidearm to the Imperial Eagle."


    "Then I''ll take both," Marvin said. "How much will that be?"


    "11 pounds," the steward replied. "The Imperial Eagle is 7 pounds and the Aphrodite is 4 pounds. I cannot waive the remaining 1 pound; it is already factored into the discount."


    "I''ll give you 20 pounds." Marvin withdrew a banknote. "The balance, please convert entirely into Identification Luminous Scrolls."


    "Identification Luminous Scrolls?" the steward smiled. "A wise choice, indeed. After all, if a scoundrel possesses extraordinary power, even the Imperial Eagle might not guarantee a kill... ahem, pardon me, I momentarily lost track of my thoughts."


    "Ah, rest assured," Marvin said, "there is no such scoundrel."


    "Understood. Your wife, then?" the steward asked with a cough, retrieving two more boxes from the shelf. "Your extraordinary partner is the primary cause of domestic strife after marriage; these two handguns are truly worth the price." He then added, "As compensation for my earlier slip, I will also gift you two boxes of ammunition: one of 15.2mm elephant hunting rounds and another of standard 9mm rounds."


    "You''re far too kind. I forgive you." Marvin accepted the two handguns, ensured the Identification Luminous Scrolls and bullets were secured, and exchanged a quick gesture of blessing before turning to leave.


    "Sigh, love," the steward murmured, watching Marvin''s retreating back. He imagined a once-wealthy young noble, destined for greatness, reduced to a trembling husband, daily abused and humiliated by his wife.


    "Much better to look at now." As Marvin passed a storefront, he caught his own reflection in the window. Clad in armor, sword at his side, and two handguns hanging from his belt, fully armed, like a player who had just regained full battle power.


    In the early stages of the game, firearms far outclassed swords, but as NPC levels steadily rise into mid-game, ordinary guns lose their luster. After all, the damage a bullet delivers is limited by the fixed energy of its gunpowder explosion, while a sword''s power can grow with the wielder''s strength.


    His original NPC body bore a striking resemblance to his pre-transcendence self. As Marvin studied his reflection closely, he noted that aside from slightly sunken eyes and a high cheekbone. The rest of his facial structure was remarkably similar to his real self. After all, the Pendragon people in the game were also black-haired and blue-eyed, with a fair complexion.


    Perhaps his soul and body had merged during the crossing, resulting in this mixed appearance? Or maybe he had simply been kidnapped, had a tube inserted in the back of his head, and was left in a nutrient bath, like something out of The Matrix or Sword Art Online? Or did a lazy programmer just copy his real face and slap it onto his character?


    Marvin shook his head, dismissing these endless speculations, for they were unlikely to have answers.


    Glancing over his gear once more, Marvin fell into deep thought. Although this body was currently level 0 and had long been used by vampires for bloodletting, his strength, agility, and endurance were surprisingly well above that of an average adult male, no one could say why. Now that the vampire hypnosis had been broken by his crossing, and since "Blood and Fire" wasn''t solely about level and attributes, tactical awareness and combat skills were just as important.


    In the current state, Marvin was absolutely confident he could eliminate all ten or so unsuspecting vampires lurking in his family''s estate.


    But now was not the time. He should go find Aurora.


    At dusk, in the nearby cemetery...


    "...The raging fire may have consumed her flesh, but her soul shall find peace in the Lord''s Kingdom. Amen," intoned the priest in his final eulogy.


    "...Amen," echoed everyone in unison. The mourners were all neighbors from the same block.


    Marvin swung his shovel and scooped the final mound of earth onto the coffin. By imperial custom, it was the duty of the closest kin to perform the burial, and since Aurora''s entire family had perished in the fire, Marvin had volunteered for the task.


    The neighbors attending the funeral sighed in relief. After all, who would dare contest with you for a shovel when you look as formidable as you do, fully armored, sword and handguns at your side?


    After the priest and the neighbors departed, Marvin sat on the newly erected tombstone and let out a lazy yawn.


    "It looks like it''s about to rain," he murmured, inhaling the moist scent in the air as he glanced up at the dark, overcast sky.


    In the world of "Blood and Fire," levels and attributes are two separate systems. Attributes derive from extraordinary power, which can be obtained by slaying monsters, consuming spiritual substances, or performing rituals. Incidentally, this extraordinary power is known as EXP for short¡ªessentially equivalent to experience points in the game.


    Once you gain this extraordinary power, you can train or fight to convert it into two types of attributes.


    The first is physical strength, known as Stamina, which increases muscle burst power, control, endurance, and reaction speed.


    The second is mental strength, known as Magicka, used to boost intelligence and willpower. Together, these determine the ''hardware'' of a character''s combat prowess.


    Apart from attributes, levels follow a separate system. Every player and human NPC begins at level 0 and must ingest specific substances to level up.


    In the magically advanced Eastern Pendragon Empire, this substance is called Bloodline Elixir. Whereas in the West Pendragon Empire (now extinct), where traditional technology was preserved, the Pendragon Church now uses a genetic agent. Essentially, both methods fuse spiritual substances into the body, triggering extraordinary transformations and granting special abilities.


    If attribute increases represent a quantitative boost to combat, then leveling up is a qualitative change.


    Marvin, having been transformed into a vampire, naturally possessed the first extraordinary trait¡ª Sanguine''s Sorrow I. By now, her level had increased to 1, granting significant bonuses to burst power, control, endurance, and reaction speed, along with rapid wound healing. Apart from her heart and brain, she no longer had any critical weak points.


    In the public beta storyline, having a companion like this was far more than just a 1+1 benefit for Marvin.

 Chapter 3 - The Girl who crawled out of her coffin

    Cold.


    So cold.


    Aurora lay in a narrow coffin, her eyes unclosed in death yet slowly regaining awareness. Every inch of her body burned with a searing pain, as if countless tiny creatures were burrowing under her skin, creating an unbearable, maddening itch.


    Father, dead.


    Mother, dead.


    The house, burned to cinders.


    Even me¡­


    In an instant, images from her final moments flooded her mind.


    The killer had sunk his teeth into her neck. She had struggled and screamed with all her might but could not break free. Her bloodcurdling cries had awakened her parents, who rushed in to see what was happening. Then, the killer''s claw had slashed through her father¡¯s windpipe and pierced her mother''s chest.


    She turned her head to see the sight of a woman, lips still stained with blood¡ªFontaine''s family servant, Livet. Aurora remembered greeting her when she was in high school, standing by the door.


    Then the killer had set a fire, transforming the entire bedroom into a raging inferno¡­


    It hurt. It hurt so so much.


    Inside the coffin, Aurora cried out hoarsely. Her voice was grating like a dying dove, full of the agony of unfulfilled dreams, mourning, and loathing for death.


    At last, with a tremendous effort, she pushed open the coffin lid. One hand burst through the wood and soil, feeling the long-missed cool air.


    "Hmm?" Marvin, who was sitting on the tombstone, looked over.


    This fellow woke up so soon? I thought I would have to wait until late night¡­


    Aurora pulled herself clumsily out of the grave. Her body was covered with dirt and fallen leaves. She looked like seventeen year old girl of Armenian descent. Her jet-black hair fell loosely over the back, while the hair at the sides was braided into small plaits.


    Her features showed a clear mix of East and West. She had the deep, sculpted features of a Westerner along with the delicate, fair skin typical of the East. In every way, she was an exquisite little beauty NPC. It was no wonder that in her past life when she had been left homeless, passing players had taken notice of her at once.


    The scabs that had formed from the burns in the fire began to flake off like shedding skin, revealing smooth, unblemished flesh underneath. Gasping softly, she pushed herself up using the edge of the coffin.


    And then she saw Marvin sitting on the tombstone.


    "Resurrected from death," Marvin clapped his hands, his tone both congratulatory and amused. "Truly worth celebrating."


    "Fontaine!" Rage erupted from deep within Aurora. In an instant, she sprang from the ground, her right hand extended like deadly claws toward Marvin. She intended to tear that murderer to shreds!


    But before she could reach him, a flash of cold light met her, and she was flung backward.


    Crash!


    At the same moment that Aurora lunged forward, Marvin had leaped off the tombstone, sword in both hands coming down in a mighty slash. It was the fighting technique known as Mountain Break from the holy Pendragon Empire. In this style, the swordsman raises his weapons high overhead and then brings them down forcefully. A single hit was enough to end a fight.


    Yet Aurora was no ordinary person. Though she wavered and staggered, she managed to rise. A horrid gash ran from her left shoulder to her right lower abdomen, exposing rib and gut beneath. The knowledge of Sanguine''s Thirst I surged into her consciousness, guiding her to channel her physical strength toward the wound. In mere moments, the torn flesh began to writhe and knit itself back together until it looked whole once more.


    "Not bad," Marvin said, clearly satisfied.


    This extraordinary ability was invaluable. With it, Aurora could not only deal damage but, if necessary, serve as a temporary shield for the team. It made her the perfect addition.


    Once again, Aurora surged forward. This time, she did not rush head-on but instead moved in a swift, short arc behind Marvin, aiming for his unguarded back. Yet another flash of cold light intercepted her, and she was once again hurled away. The sword left a ghastly wound across her head.


    "Let me give you a tip," Marvin said, turning to face her with his sword casually resting on his shoulder. "When you try to attack from behind, don''t glance to the side. Fix your eyes on me as if you were coming straight for me. Concealing your tactical intent is essential."


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "It was you!" Aurora cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground as her wound slowly mended under the flow of her own flesh. Exhausted, her spiritual energy began to fade and her consciousness nearly slipped away. "Fontaine! It was you who killed my parents, wasn''t it?!"


    "No," Marvin replied bluntly.


    Aurora paused, her face stiffening in shock. After the two exchanges, she realized that she was no match for Marvin. Although she did not know how the formerly careless noble had suddenly become such a formidable swordsman, she reasoned that if he could kill her so easily, there was no point in deceiving her with lies.


    "The killer was your family''s servant, Livet," Aurora stated, each word deliberate.


    "Yes, but I did not act on their orders," Marvin explained calmly. "In fact, they only obey the current mistress of my family, and she is a vampire."


    Aurora trembled, as the clues in her mind finally began to connect.


    "Aren''t you?" she asked hesitantly.


    "I''m not," Marvin said. "You are."


    "I am... I am..." Aurora looked down at her hands, her face draining of color. "A vampire."


    A fierce summer thunderstorm had broken, and in an instant, rain began to fall in dense sheets.


    Marvin stood in the rain with his sword at the ready, watching as the girl before him knelt in the mud, her body curled up with pain and her fingers dug deep into the earth. Her heart-wrenching wails were lost amid the pounding wind and rain, inaudible to anyone.


    The rain fell harder and showed no signs of stopping.


    Marvin sighed and walked over to hoist Aurora in his arms. She did not struggle or resist but let him carry her as if she were nothing more than a lifeless heap.


    This cemetery was set upon a small hill, with an old abandoned house at its peak where the night watchman sometimes stayed. Marvin reached the ruined house and knocked on the door. When no one answered, he pushed it open. In a dark corner, he found some half-burned wood and quickly started a fire. He laid Aurora by the fire; her eyes were empty as she lay on the ground, as if all reason and consciousness had been stripped away.


    "Being a vampire isn''t all bad," Marvin said as he removed his sodden cotton cuirass and tried to warm it by the fire. "Look on the bright side, your appearance is now forever frozen at 18. That is the most charming age. Eternal 18 is something many would envy. And you don''t need to eat, drink, or even breathe. A steady supply of blood will keep you forever youthful. Ha ha. While other women bleed every month, you get to draw blood each month."


    "I''m a monster," Aurora mumbled, her mouth moving listlessly.


    "So what if you are a monster?" Marvin said. "If you were still ugly after transforming then you may be mistaken for a monster, but you''re still beautiful... still a lady."


    "Is there really a difference?" Aurora laughed bitterly.


    "Of course there is," Marvin replied as he stoked the fire, its flames crackling merrily. "Have you ever heard of the Magic Tide?"


    Aurora fell silent.


    "When the Magic Tide arrives, chaos will break out and heroes will emerge," Marvin said. "Right now, the extraordinary level cap has been raised to 5, and the secret of bloodline knowledge is about to be revealed. Let me give you an example. At the end of the Third Epoch, you know the last three titans of the Pendragon Republic? Oregion chose the Dragon Bloodline, Mark Lucus chose the Devil Bloodline, while Rebecca was a pureblood human who refused to select an extraordinary bloodline."


    "And so Rebecca was the first to fall. In the end, Oregion emerged victorious in the civil war and declared himself the Republic''s lifelong leader. This act was seen as the milestone marking the transformation of the republic into an empire," Marvin continued. "In his later years, the Dragon Bloodline had completely corrupted his human blood. When he died, his extraordinary power dissipated, and he could no longer maintain his human form. He revealed his true form as a nearly twenty-meter-long dragon. The authorities had to deploy 40 armored knights to carry his massive carcass out of the palace."


    "Doesn''t that terrify people?" Aurora asked, lifting her head and biting her lip.


    "Not at all," Marvin explained. "At that time, there was no Pendragon Church. Under a pantheon belief system, people took pride in their family''s extraordinary bloodline. In fact, after Oregion died, his dragon carcass was enshrined in the Temple of Pendragon Gods, and he was proclaimed Dragon King Sinaphor October. Since then, every emperor has taken the name October to evoke the power of the dragon god to help them rule."


    Aurora hugged her knees uncertainly. Though somewhat persuaded by Marvin''s words, a deep-seated fear still lingered. After all, she had grown up knowing nothing beyond Zephandrel. But Marvin''s explanation filled her with hope; the vampire bloodline was not to be feared, merely one of many extraordinary bloodlines.


    "Why are you helping me?" Aurora asked quietly as she stared into the fire, its light playing over her shifting expression.


    "Because we share the same goal," Marvin answered. "You want to avenge your family, don''t you?"


    "Yes," Aurora whispered, clutching the edge of her linen shroud that had been changed before the burial. Its coarse texture made her feel as if she were in a daze. "Then what do you plan to do?"


    "To kill them all," Marvin said as he tossed a log into the fire. "Of course, I mean my entire family."


    Aurora turned her head in shock.


    "Don''t look at me like that," Marvin said with a wry smile. "My parents were killed by that woman. The servants and staff were all turned into vampires, and they still occupy my ancestral home. Although I am not particularly attached to that house, it remains the inheritance my parents left me. I cannot allow those outsiders to benefit from it."


    Although since he was just an outsider who took over this body, he didn''t have any sense of attachment to his family either.


    If this body''s parents were still alive, then he naturally wouldn''t ignore them as he would be taking over the responsibilities of the NPC Marvin Fontaine, whether he was forced into this or not.


    "I understand," Aurora murmured. "We have a common enemy."


    "Indeed," Marvin said. "In the short term, your enemy is the vampires who killed your parents. In the long run, the church, the night watch, and the demon hunters are your sworn foes. Without the necessary extraordinary strength, as a member of the bloodline, you will soon be found and killed if exposed."


    "You possess the extraordinary trait of Sanguine''s Thirst I. In many ways, your starting point is higher than that of most people in this city, including me. What you lack now is the ability to convert your extraordinary power into physical strength and the experience to use it. I can teach you that, but not without a price. You will need to sign a soul contract."

 Chapter 4 - Girl, Sign this Slav— Err... Soul Contract...

    Marvin reached into his bag and pulled out a soul contract with all its terms already written. Aurora took it and scanned every clause. The contract mostly detailed necessary team cooperation rules such as both parties agreeing not to harm each other in any direct or indirect manner. One clause in particular caught her eye at the end:


    The contract shall remain in effect for 5 years. Party A (Marvin) will provide Party B (Aurora) with sufficient knowledge and training to help her grow strong enough to protect herself. In return, as long as Party B does not violate the terms of our cooperation, she must follow Party A''s instructions. All spoils acquired by the team shall be distributed by Party A.


    It was a standard mercenary apprentice agreement.


    "So you mean you will teach me combat skills in exchange for my service?" Aurora asked.


    "Exactly," Marvin replied with a smile. "You now possess initial extraordinary power, but you do not yet know how to use it properly. I will show you how to make effective use of your own strength. In return, you will work for me for a period of time. It seems only fair."


    "One more thing," Aurora said. "Help me get my revenge. Kill those vampires in your house. And set a time limit for that."


    It was clear that the girl still harbored a measure of caution and mistrust toward him. Marvin was not troubled by it. In fact, according to the main storyline, a world-class total war was only a few years away. No matter how powerful an extraordinary individual may be, going solo would eventually lead to their downfall.


    That was why there was every reason for Marvin to build a high-level combat team that obeyed his orders. As for those teammates, whether they trusted him at first or not did not matter; once they tasted the rewards, they would naturally be bound by mutual interests.


    "Very well," Marvin wrote with his pen. "Within one week."


    Revenge in one week? Aurora felt a surge of excitement, but in front of Marvin she suppressed it fiercely and coldly watched him sign his name on the soul contract.


    "Done," Marvin said as he handed her the contract. "Take a look."


    Aurora re-examined the contract. In her heart, she confirmed the key terms: Marvin would teach her to harness her extraordinary power in exchange for her service for 5 years. The revenge clause was merely an extra bonus.


    To her, it was not an unacceptable arrangement. If she could obtain extraordinary power that very night, then her parents would never have been slain by those vampires breaking into the house. And now that she was a member of the bloodline, if she lacked the power to defend herself, it was only a matter of time before the church discovered her and executed her.


    With these thoughts, Aurora signed her name at the end of the contract under Party B.


    "Good. Now we are partners for life and death," Marvin said with a smile as he folded the contract, feeling an invisible extraordinary force bind them together.


    "Remember to help me get my revenge, Mr. Marvin," Aurora said coldly.


    "Do not call me ''Mr. Marvin.'' Just call me by my name," he replied as he unbuckled the short sword from his waist. "This is a weapon for you."


    "A weapon?" Aurora took the short sword from him.


    "Some among the bloodline believe that claws and magic are the best weapons of all. But that is not so. Until you reach Level 5, an excellent weapon remains essential. Do you know why your previous attempts to attack me were always blocked by my sword?"


    "Why?" Aurora asked.


    "Because my sword may be short, but its reach is enough," Marvin explained matter-of-factly. "Before you can land a hit, my sword has already met you."


    "If that is the case, then why not use a longer weapon?" Aurora tried to reason. "For example, a longsword or a spear."


    "If you chase only distance, why not choose a sniper rifle?" Marvin shook his head. "Weapons with a longer range become more fragile in close combat. Longer means stronger, shorter means riskier. That is the way it is."


    "For bloodline members with great agility, short swords and daggers are the most suitable. Daggers are strong in offense but weak in defense, while short swords offer a more balanced approach."


    "You have only just become a bloodline member. You are not yet familiar with your own extraordinary power," Marvin continued. "Extraordinary power must be assimilated through practical training so that it can be transformed into either physical strength or mental strength. Besides, bloodline members are nocturnal creatures who do not require sleep. Our first training session starts tonight."


    "Run with all your might across the hill to the cemetery on the opposite side, use your short sword to hack off a branch from the shrub beyond the fence, then sprint back and toss it into the fire so that the flames never die out throughout the night. That is all."


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "And you?" Aurora asked. "Will you watch me?"


    "Of course not," Marvin said. "I am human. I need to sleep."


    He removed his damp cotton cuirass and chainmail, and found a flat spot near the fire where he lay down to rest.


    Aurora watched him silently. Then she took her short sword, turned, and left.


    Running under the moonlight was a novel experience for Aurora. In her past life she had always been the obedient type who never ventured out after 7 o''clock in the evening. Now, as a bloodline member, she adapted to the night surprisingly well, and deep inside she felt a stirring impulse. It was a hunger for killing and a thirst for the hunt.


    She raced to the far end of the cemetery. Outside the fence, dry, withered shrubs lay scattered. In a flash, Aurora vaulted over the fence and swung her short sword fiercely at the nearest shrub.


    The shrub was pressed down by the blade, then bounced back unscathed.


    After a moment of silence, Aurora realized why: her short sword was not particularly sharp and the shrub was elastic. Pure hacking could only deform it.


    She reached out, grasped a clump of the shrub, and with her right hand, used the short sword to cut the branch at its base. Then she grabbed the branch and sprinted back.


    Running back into the abandoned house, Aurora was shocked to see that the fire had dwindled considerably. Apparently, no one had added more wood, and the pile had nearly burned out. She quickly tossed the branch into the fire and then dashed back toward the far end of the cemetery.


    After several trips, Aurora finally grasped Marvin''s training plan. Each time she could only cut off one branch, and the fire burned down quickly. Therefore, the time spent running back and forth had to be minimized. Her sprint speed had to be maximized.


    Stopping to cut another branch was a waste of time. Instead, during her sprints she could grab a branch from the shrub, press her right-hand short sword against its base, and, using the momentum of her sprint, cut the branch off directly. This method would even save the motion of swinging her arm.


    Back in the abandoned house, there was no need to run all the way to the fire pile. Within just a few steps she could toss the branch into the fire, saving a few precious seconds.


    After running back and forth more than a hundred times, Aurora finally noticed her physical strength had grown. Her explosive leg power, her ability to maintain balance on rough ground, and her reaction speed to swiftly cut her target all improved noticeably.


    The bloodline trait she had acquired during her first embrace, along with the enormous extraordinary power within her, was continuously strengthening her body. She was growing stronger at a pace she could see with her own eyes!


    Morning.


    Marvin sat up and patted his sore shoulders. Sleeping on the ground was not pleasant at all. There was reason why everyone in the world used pillows when they slept. He opened his eyes and looked toward the small fire at the center of the abandoned house.


    The fire had dwindled but was not completely out. A few branches still crackled inside. Suddenly, a branch flew in and landed in the fire. Aurora stood at the doorway of the abandoned house, expressionless as she watched him.


    "You are awake," she said.


    "I am awake," Marvin replied, rising and donning his armor once more. He secured his longsword and handgun. His mouth felt dry. He longed to brush his teeth.


    "The training is effective, isn''t it?" Marvin said. "We should leave this place now."


    "During training, I felt a bloodthirsty impulse. I had a desire to rip apart or chew on some creature. I do not know if it is merely my imagination," Aurora began hesitantly.


    "That is the extraordinary trait of Sanguine''s Thirst I at work. It contains a trace of alien emotion. When you absorb it, it may cause a change in your own consciousness. But you are only at Level 1 now, so the negative impact should be minimal. I believe if you concentrate your attention, you will be able to suppress that impulse," Marvin said with a dismissive wave of his hand.


    "Yes," Aurora replied.


    "Then that is settled," Marvin said as he stepped out of the abandoned house.


    The two of them walked down the hill and left the cemetery. Marvin stopped by a nearby clothing shop and purchased a black robe. He changed Aurora''s linen shroud and covered her face, so that familiar onlookers would not think she had risen from the dead.


    Without delay, they rushed to the next shop, the same blacksmith shop they had visited last time near the school where Marvin worked.


    "Boss," Marvin said as he walked in, pointing to Aurora draped in a black robe behind him. The shop owner hurried forward. "Give this lady a set of chainmail made entirely of steel rings that do not restrict normal movement."


    "Also include a set of fitted leather armor. It should be fully tanned with extra supple joints, with shoulder plates that help distribute weight. And of course, there must be three layers of linen padding inside," Marvin continued.


    "Certainly, Master Fontaine," the shop owner bowed deeply. He had already decided that Marvin was a major patron. "However, a full steel chainmail must be custom-made by our smiths. Delivery may take one month."


    "Five days," Marvin said. "I will give you 50 pounds. For the steel rings, go to the factory across from Gold Horn Bay. You may hire other smiths to work on the chain. In five days I will come to pick it up. I will prepay a deposit of 20 pounds."


    The shop owner quickly calculated his potential profit of 5 to 15 pounds and immediately agreed. "No problem, Master Fontaine. Nordric! Quickly go to the factory across from Gold Horn Bay and order 15000 steel rings for the chainmail. You must finish before 5 in the afternoon so you can have dinner on time!"


    Under the shop owner''s frantic instructions, the entire blacksmith shop erupted into chaos. Soon, a worker''s wife timidly came out and led Aurora to an inner room to take her measurements. Marvin stood outside the shop and watched the bustling street. After a while, Aurora emerged wearing fitted leather armor.


    "Because you were afraid of being recognized, I had a mask made for you," Aurora said as she lifted the hood of her black robe to reveal a mask underneath. It was a simple black tear-face mask, the sort worn by tragic actors in ancient Xiris dramas.


    "Very well," Marvin nodded. "Next, we must take care of your revenge."


    They headed to the district where Marvin''s ancestral home was located and checked into a hotel, booking a room on the fifth floor. From the room''s window, they could clearly see the street outside the gate of the ancestral home.


    "Are you planning to use a sniper rifle to take out the vampires that come out from that position?" Aurora asked.


    "No," Marvin replied. "This room is for you. You are here to watch your enemies fall."


    "Oh," Aurora said, understanding at last. She assumed that because her own strength was still too low, Marvin would go out and kill them alone while she remained safely behind to witness the result.


    Leaving Aurora in the hotel room, Marvin quickly left the hotel and returned to the Saint Sophia district where he had purchased his gun the previous day. He strode straight into the great church.


    "I want to report a crime," he announced at the pulpit to the chief bishop.

 Chapter 5 - Reporting a Supernatural while hiding a Supernatural

    Vampires.


    Today the bishop who came to preach was Bishop Althidos Cadric of the St. Sophia district. He was a vigorous elder in his fifties with a broad forehead and a luxuriant white beard. He wore an exquisitely elegant orthodox robe and held a silver cross in his hand. When he heard the word "report" his sharp eyes immediately turned toward the speaker.


    "Child, who are you reporting?" Bishop Althidos asked in a commanding tone.


    "I am reporting my cohabitant who is also the lady of my household, along with my steward, my personal male servant, my head maid, and 24 other servants. They are all evil vampires," Marvin declared with righteous fervor. "They murdered my parents and kept me in the dark. Now that I have discovered their true identities I have come straight to inform you."


    "Vampires?" Bishop Althidos furrowed his brows. "In the Eastern Pendragon Empire the bloodline supernaturals are not legally subject to be hunted as long as they have been officially registered with the church and reside in designated places. If what you say is true then there is no doubt that these unregistered filthy vampires are foreign pests that must be purged."


    Marvin stood motionless when he suddenly felt a subtle light. The faint radiance swirled about him as if passing through every inch of his hair and skin, carrying a meticulous inspecting quality. There was no doubt that this bishop was not an ordinary man but a powerful individual of at least rank seven who commanded the force of the laws and could secretly activate diagnostic spiritual light.


    Considering that the magical tide of the Sixth Epoch had only just begun to rise it indicated that this bishop was at least born in the Fifth Epoch and must be an ancient man of no less than 200 years.


    "Since that is the case," Bishop Althidos said after confirming that the man before him was pure-blood human, nodding solemnly, "I will dispatch a team of church-affiliated armored holy knights. You will lead them to your mansion to complete the purification task. May the Lord bless you, child."


    "May the Lord bless you," Marvin replied immediately with reverence.


    Stepping briskly out of the church doors, Marvin soon saw a team of knights approaching from the left. They were clad in pure white power armor decorated with various sacred rune formations, and each carried either a high frequency oscillation sword or an engine boosted war hammer.


    "I am Solvin Brelins," announced the captain of the armored holy knights, hefting his war hammer with both hands and speaking in an air of superiority. "You are the citizen who reported that your household had vampires?"


    "It is I," Marvin answered.


    "Very well," the captain said. "We are not as obliging as the bishop in the church. If you are merely playing a mercenary game and falsely reporting the case, the cost of a single deployment of our armored holy knights will leave you without even enough money to buy a coffin in this lifetime."


    "That is acceptable," Marvin said. "In fact, once you reach my home, you will know whether what I say is true."


    "Let''s hope that''s the case," the captain replied. "I am not sure whether the crowd near the church has any eyes planted by your household vampires. Let us hurry to the destination."


    The knight soldiers, barely out of the church, immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding crowd. There was no avoiding it; these full-cover power armors were simply too eye catching and exuded an unparalleled deterrent merely by their appearance. Marvin understood their meaning and quickly led the knights to the ancestral mansion, pointing inside as he said, "It''s right here."


    Inside a hotel room, Aurora stood in the washroom staring at her pale self in the mirror.


    The reflection remained youthful and beautiful but had lost some of its natural flush and instead appeared paler. Her lips, once a full tender red, had dulled as if she were stricken by a grave illness.


    She knew this was because she had not consumed blood. The knowledge gleaned from her supernatural traits taught her that an owner of the Sanguine''s Thirst I trait must ingest at least 2 milliliters of fresh blood every day to maintain a youthful appearance; otherwise the face would age rapidly and eventually resemble that of a living corpse.


    Of course not drinking blood only affected her appearance; it did not diminish the strength of the vampire itself.


    She retrieved a razor blade from the medicine cabinet and, after a brief moment of silence, forcefully slashed her wrist.


    Fresh blood immediately flowed profusely, causing her already pale face to lose even more color. Yet after a short while the flesh at the wound began to curl and bond together, healing as if uninjured.


    I am already... no longer human.


    Disconsolate she moved to the window and, drawing her slender legs close in a hug, stared blankly outside. The house in the distance, once her home, had now been burned to ruins. Her parents were gone.


    If they were still alive what reaction would they have had upon seeing their beloved daughter transformed into a monster?


    Suddenly she saw a team of church armored knights running straight down the opposite street and coming to a stop in front of the ruins beside her former home.


    Was that Marvin? Had he reported the vampires to the church? Aurora suddenly understood. It was all so simple. Because she had become a vampire and feared the church, she had subconsciously not considered this possibility. In truth even if she could not act herself she could, under an anonymous identity, incite others to report on her behalf and use the churchs power to kill those vampires.


    She held her breath as she watched the street below where the onlookers huddled with their heads down. As citizens of the empire they had grown accustomed to various supernatural incidents and cooperated fully with official directives.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    The church knights had already unfurled their scrolls, and a great deal of diagnostic spiritual light shone, enveloping the entire vicinity of the house.


    Among the huddled crowd an unusual red glow suddenly appeared on someone¡¯s body. Aurora squinted and recognized that it was the steward from Marvin''s household!


    Before the steward could react, the nearest armored knight swung his sword downward. The high frequency oscillation sword sliced through his upper body as smoothly as a hot knife through butter. The steward was cut into two parts and although his severed corpse writhed desperately in an attempt to reunite, it soon ceased its struggle.


    Marvin stared at the steward s corpse as a sanguine glow gradually emanated from it and condensed on the surface into a sticky red droplet. This was the tangible remnant of the Sanguine''s Thirst I supernatural trait formed upon the steward s death. With a gentle pinch the knight could easily absorb this ownerless supernatural power. Were proper ingredients added and a Sanguine''s Thirst I potion made from it, one could be transformed into a level one vampire.


    Of course he had no intention of doing that.


    The church knight who had acted reached into his pack and produced a small box made of magical copper. Inside lay a pair of gleaming yellow tweezers. Using them he carefully plucked the droplet and solemnly placed it into the box. As soon as he closed the lid the surface of the magical copper box shone with light as if some sealing rune formation had been activated.


    Raising his head he nodded toward Marvin who had been watching intently. "The energy that seeps from a vampire after death is a dangerous substance. If it is not properly handled it could kill all the residents of this block."


    "I understand, sir," Marvin replied.


    Two church knights rushed to the door carrying engine boosted war hammers and began battering it. The end of each war hammer was equipped with a jet device that expelled a tail flame as it swung, accelerating the weapon until the door shattered into pieces. Soon the church knights surged inside, and the entire house was filled instantly with the sounds of chaos, screams, roars, and the clashing of steel with flesh.


    In less than five minutes the captain reappeared at the door. His power armor engraved with sacred runes still shone brightly though now it was adorned with clumps of red flesh, white bone marrow, and long strands resembling intestines. He tapped one of the runes on his body, which caused a divine light to cleanse his armor, then descended the steps and said to Marvin.


    "All have been purified. Including the corpse outside the door there are 23 vampires. Moreover your cohabitant was not found inside the house. She has become a loose fish. I suggest you spend tonight in the church to avoid the retaliatory harm of the counterattacking enemy. Women are known for their vengeful hearts. Yesterday morning I left the house and forgot to take out the trash and my wife did not even prepare dinner."


    "Thank you for your suggestion, sir," Marvin bowed. "However I believe that my cohabitant is no fool. Unless I hide in the church for so many days until she loses her patience, she can wait for me to emerge a few days later to take her revenge. Accepting the church''s protection is not free, is it?"


    "As a reward for a valid report," the knight captain said after a pause, "the first week of church protection is free for you and thereafter you will be charged one pound per day."


    "In that case, never mind," Marvin replied lightly. "I believe that even if I do not hide in the church you will have placed surveillance nearby. Perhaps this very vampire will expose herself even more quickly in order to take revenge on me."


    "Of course," the captain said. "In that case Mr. Marvin you are not allowed to leave this district within this month unless the target vampire exposes herself prematurely."


    "That is acceptable," Marvin agreed.


    Aurora stood at the window watching everything from afar. Half an hour later Marvin returned to the hotel room.


    "All the vampires are dead except the ringleader," Marvin said.


    "That does not count as complete revenge," Aurora reminded him subtly in reference to their soul contract.


    "I know where she is," Marvin said. "Let us go."


    "Currently the church knights are monitoring this district, correct?" Aurora asked warily. "If I join you will I be discovered?"


    "The diagnostic spiritual light scroll is very expensive. The church knights would not cast it on someone every time they see a person. As long as you do not wear a mask to avoid unnecessary suspicion, five days later when your chainmail arrives, we will go hunting."


    "Very well," Aurora replied coolly.


    "Now let us go train," Marvin said.


    In the basement of the hotel there was a training ground open to the public. It included steel cast dummies for melee warriors, mobile targets for marksmen, and meditation rooms for spellcasters. Why did the hotel have a training ground below? This inevitably led to a discussion of the history of the Eastern Pendragon Empire.


    Since the early days of the Sixth Epoch, with the rapid development of commerce and industry in the Pendragon Empire the quality of the empire''s soldiers had been rapidly declining. On one hand complacency is inherent in human nature and on the other hand the number of supernatural beings within the empire had been dwindling.


    On the Britanica Plateau of the Anatolian Peninsula the empire designated vast tracts of jungle as Primitive Conservation Zones for Supernaturals in an attempt to contain them and periodically harvest their supernatural power. However, the results were not very satisfactory. After all supernatural beings require vast territories to breed. Low level goblins might only need a small hill to support a family while high level cyclops required broad wastelands and an extensive ecosystem to survive.


    This conflicted with the development needs of the empire itself. Agriculture demanded vast tracts of land, industry required plentiful minerals, and transportation needed a well developed road network. As long as human society continued to develop the territories of supernatural beings would inevitably be encroached upon. Since only supernatural beings could draw on the magical tide for supernatural power, their reduction inevitably led to a decline in the quality of the empire''s soldiers.


    Now the entire world had fallen into this vicious cycle. The more powerful the civilized nation, the fewer supernatural beings within its territory, and thus the less supernatural power could be harnessed. Then the civilized nation would be defeated by a barbaric nation and after harvesting immense wealth the barbaric nation would begin to develop. The barbaric nation would become a civilized nation and once again set upon the path of decline. From the ancient Hekrises City State League to the ancient Pendragon Republic, from the Pendragon Empire to the Harkosh Kingdom, and even now in this era of divided nations, the cycle remained unchanged.


    To solve this problem the Western Pendragon Empire once chose to hire foreign mercenaries. The result was that the mercenaries turned the tables, leading to the emperor''s death and the collapse of the state. The Eastern Pendragon Empire learned from that lesson. The former emperor Leonidus II had proposed that the national army should serve as the main force while foreign mercenaries were responsible for the assault. This dual approach to national defense influenced the entire Macedonian dynasty and in recent years led many Western mercenaries to come to Zephandrel in search of fortune. For example the empire''s premier Royal Shield Guard is composed of northern Fulgian mercenaries known as the Narantia Guard.


    In Zephandrel if you see someone clad in armor and carrying weapons as they walk about do not be surprised if they are armed mercenaries. Precisely because of this, taverns and training grounds are particularly numerous in Zephandrel. Lower level mercenaries could vent their excess energy on any open space, and the training ground in the basement of this hotel was already considered to be of medium quality, open to those mercenaries who required specialized training equipment.

 Chapter 6 - Underground Training Arena

    The two of them took the elevator down to the hotel''s second basement level.


    Along the corridor leading to the training ground, small groups of mercenaries gathered and chatted idly. In one corner, two church informants sat at a low table. They pretended to drink and talk, all the while silently scanning the area.


    "That young master Fontaine has just come out of the elevator," one informant said in a low voice as he sipped his drink.


    "He is still alive? How odd," the other replied with a slight shake of his head. "And the high school girl by his side... far too beautiful, and suspicious."


    "What is there to suspect? Her height does not match his," the first informant chuckled quietly. "No illusion of a vampire can change one''s physical stature."


    "Perhaps she is a new blood servant freshly turned by that vampire, sent over to lure him," the second informant said coldly. "If we follow them, we might trace the trail and catch a big fish."


    "You think the church never considered that?" the first informant scoffed. "That useless young master may be a noble, and his debauched lifestyle is well known. But if you catch him secretly playing with women, what good would that do you? In short, if he is seduced and assassinated by a vampire, that is his own problem; yet if you trail him and get caught, later when he causes a scene in the noble council, how will the church save face? In the end, they will push you and me out to take the blame."


    "True enough. Our goal is simply to find that vampire," the second informant sighed. "Let him go his way. Since he insists on leaving the church and roaming about, if he dies, he dies. It is no wonder it falls on us."


    The two informants resumed drinking as Marvin, seemingly oblivious to the murmurs around him, walked up to the counter with Aurora at his side. He slid a banknote across the counter and said, "Which melee training ground is available?"


    "Number 3," replied the counter clerk.


    They arrived at Training Ground Number 3, a spacious area roughly the size of four basketball courts placed side by side. One side of the field was lined with cast-iron dummies for warriors to practice their strikes, while the other side featured arenas of various sizes enclosed by chains, where mercenaries sparred with one another.


    "Put on your mask," Marvin told Aurora. "We will head to the arena to practice. I want to see how your skills are now."


    Aurora nodded and pulled on the tear-face mask, the kind used by tragic actors in ancient Xiris dramas. She then drew the short sword strapped to her thigh.


    Marvin selected the largest arena, the one usually reserved for team battles of five versus five. Several nearby mercenaries glanced over with curious eyes. As they entered the arena, Marvin unsheathed his longsword and casually flicked it to produce a flourish of sword light.


    "Come on, attack," he called to Aurora. "Give it your all. Do not fear that I cannot catch you."


    Aurora nodded and, bending her body slightly, pushed off with her back foot to launch herself forward. In an instant she disappeared from sight.


    "That is fast!" a mercenary nearby gasped, his hand pausing mid-motion as he glanced over.


    In the blink of an eye, Aurora''s figure closed in on Marvin, only to be flung away in the next moment. Her speed was such that it was impossible to see clearly how Marvin countered. Aurora hit the ground and rolled a few times before struggling to rise again. Her movements were distorted by excruciating pain.


    "With such a rapid charge, can you control your speed?" Marvin said coldly, holding his longsword as he fixed his gaze on Aurora. "Do not aim too high. Start with the pace you can control."


    Aurora nodded and mustered her strength to charge again. This time she curved her attack into a short-angle flanking maneuver, her short sword lunging toward Marvin''s unguarded back.


    There was a crisp sound of metal meeting metal. As if Marvin had eyes on his back, his longsword swung to intercept the strike. Aurora spun her blade in a reverse slash, only to have her short sword caught and disarmed by Marvin. In one fluid motion, he swept his leg like a whip, kicking her midsection and sending her flying.


    "The key for agile melee fighters is to strike and then retreat a thousand miles away," Marvin said coolly. "If your attack is blocked and you remain in place, you are just waiting for a counterattack. When you land, be sure to absorb the impact properly. Landing on your back is the worst. Land on your front with both hands bent to cushion and then roll quickly. Otherwise, you will be open to follow-up strikes!"


    "I understand," Aurora murmured as she picked up her short sword and assumed a fighting stance before charging once more.


    For a time, the clashing of metal rang out continuously, interspersed with Marvin''s relentless instructions:


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Mix feints with your real attacks! Every time your real move is blocked, you drain your energy. Use your head!"


    "Where is the variation in your footwork? If the enemy sees through your pattern, you are done for! Do not simply circle around!"


    "Watch my field of vision! Think of how you can attack from outside my blind spot instead of just circling around! You are on the outer circle and I am at the center. Can you really outmaneuver me?"


    More and more mercenaries gathered to watch. Aurora''s sprinting speed far exceeded that of a normal person, and she exploited her agility to vary her approach constantly. Yet Marvin stood firm, his longsword moving effortlessly to block every attack. He not only defended with impenetrable precision but also managed to send Aurora flying with a few well-placed moves. Countless times she was thrown to the ground, yet each time she rose as if her strength were inexhaustible.


    These two were monsters indeed! The gathered mercenaries marveled in astonishment. That little warrior with the tear-face mask was astonishing, her super-speed giving her an almost limitless advantage on the field. Ordinary mercenaries could not hope to match her, and those slower by nature were left completely overwhelmed. In just a few moves, she was repeatedly tossed aside by Marvin, who was clearly on another level altogether.


    After another violent fall, Aurora used both hands to push herself up with a roll. Thanks to the boost from Sanguine''s Thirst I, her body could endure the punishment. She lay panting, every bone in her body aching.


    "That is enough for now," Marvin said quietly, resting his longsword against his side. "Think over what I have taught you and organize your thoughts."


    Aurora nodded and moved over to a stone bench set against the wall where she sat in deep contemplation.


    Marvin sheathed his sword and was about to leave the arena when someone in the crowd raised a hand.


    "Hello there! If you do not have an opponent, might I spar with you?" called a voice.


    A fully armed warrior stepped forward from the crowd. Judging by her voice, she was a young woman. She wore the stamped steel plate armor typical of Jamanni warriors, along with a Gothic double-wing helmet and faceplate. Her lower body was clad in an armored skirt and steel boots. In her left hand she held a patterned stripe shield, and in her right, a long spear. The sheer weight of her gear was something only a person with some extraordinary power could bear.


    "Foot soldier?" Marvin asked.


    "Why not a gun and shield warrior?" the woman retorted.


    "Because the way you hold your spear is all wrong," Marvin said.


    The woman paused before quickly adjusting her grip. As a knight charging to thrust, she was accustomed to holding the end of the spear. A proper gun and shield fighter would hold it near the center to balance offense and defense.


    "Impressive," she said coolly as she adjusted her grip to the middle of the spear. "I do not have powered armor, so you may treat me as a gun and shield warrior. How is that?"


    "Swift and decisive," Marvin replied.


    Immediately, the surrounding mercenaries began to chatter excitedly. The woman assumed a wide stance, holding her shield in front and raising her spear as if preparing to unleash a decisive charge. Marvin, with one hand on his sword, watched her with a blank expression.


    "Will you draw your sword?" the woman asked.


    "No need," Marvin replied. "I can end this with one move."


    The crowd erupted in cheers. Mercenaries always enjoyed such boastful talk. The woman''s face was obscured by her faceplate, so it was hard to tell if she was angry. She simply rotated her wrist slightly, adjusting her stance to one of full-force readiness.


    In an instant, her spear shot forward like a dragon, its sharp tip aimed directly at Marvin''s chest. Her forward step faltered slightly as she assumed that if Marvin could not dodge in time, she would swiftly pull back the force to avoid lethal injury. But to her surprise, Marvin casually stepped to the left.


    He dodged!


    In the same moment he dodged her spear thrust, Marvin took a half-step forward, seized her spear with his right hand, and with his left formed a fist that struck her gripping hand. The woman did not evade because her right hand was protected by armored gauntlets, making her unafraid of Marvin''s punch. If she were to let go of the spear, she would only fall into his trap.


    Marvin''s fist came down, then suddenly shifted from a strike to a grip as he clutched her right wrist and yanked it backward. At the same time, his right foot lifted and delivered a powerful kick to her right knee. The force on her armor sent a surge through her, and her right leg buckled while her upper body was dragged forward. In an instant, she lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground.


    "Did no one ever teach you not to expose your form before striking?" Marvin questioned coldly. "Your posture is so obvious that even a fool can see your charge coming. Your moves are textbook standard, but standard means they are easily read. Think carefully about how to hide your true attack intentions."


    The woman struggled to rise, her protective armor now weighing her down. Having been defeated in one move, she felt both dejected and frustrated. When she heard Marvin''s final words, her eyes lit up. She immediately nodded and said, "Yes. Please teach me, sir."


    The crowd erupted again. It was rare for a master in such sparring to accept a challenge from a stranger, let alone defeat them cleanly and then openly criticize their technique. This signified something important.


    It meant that a rare, once-in-a-lifetime master teacher was present! In this era, the Magic Tide had not yet fully arisen. Any martial artist with even a bit of strength was either employed by kings and emperors in their courts or kept in noble estates as a treasured servant. Mercenaries? They earned only a pittance. A noble''s favor was worth far more.


    In a moment of eager competition, many in the crowd raised their hands, clamoring for their turn to spar. "Master, next please, let me try against you!" they shouted.


    Amid the excitement, Marvin casually selected a Macedonian gun and shield warrior. The opponent, holding his spear and shield, saluted Marvin respectfully before quickly assuming a fighting stance.


    "Your footwork is too light. Have you not trained enough?" Within less than five seconds, the Macedonian warrior was sent flying from the arena.


    "Your moves are too exaggerated. You leave yourself open!" The next Spartan warrior who came forward was also knocked down.


    "What are you jumping about for, a clown?" a Burgundian ranger rolled on the ground after being bested.


    Soon every mercenary who stepped into the arena was thoroughly defeated, leaving the floor strewn with bodies and the surrounding crowd in awe. It was one thing to receive precious martial instruction; it was another to be beaten so thoroughly in front of everyone. Saving face or preserving dignity was indeed a difficult choice. After about ten seconds with no one volunteering, the first female warrior stepped forward again.


    "I would like to ask for more guidance," she said respectfully, bowing slightly.


    "Come," Marvin said.

 Chapter 7 - Mustering the Worthy

    Marvin and Aurora spent four days in the hotel. At night they returned to their room to sleep and by day they practiced in the underground training ground. During this time new mercenaries came by, drawn by reputation, and challenged them one after another ¨C only to be mercilessly beaten. There was nothing to it. With Marvin''s prowess as a professional, dealing with these mercenary NPCs who were not even Level 1 was a walk in the park.


    Aurora''s absorption of the Sanguine''s Thirst trait advanced greatly during these days. Though she still did not understand why Marvin accepted these mercenary challenges (did he himself harbor undeveloped extraordinary power that needed to be transformed into physical strength through combat?) since Marvin never explained, she asked no questions and quietly sorted through the combat insights she had learned.


    One morning, Marvin went to the blacksmith shop and picked up the custom-made chainmail. Aurora tried on the all-steel ring chainmail and, looking at herself in the mirror, felt it did not suit her appearance.


    "If you find it unattractive, you can wear a dyed cotton cuirass over it," Marvin said. "Like the one I wear."


    "Just wear a black robe over it and it will be fine," Aurora replied. "No need to spend more money."


    "Let''s go," Marvin said.


    At the underground training ground, many mercenaries had already gathered early in the morning. Soon the training area filled with cries of pain and muffled groans as challengers were thrown or knocked to the ground. In no time, the arena was empty of fighters, leaving only the onlookers staring at one another in disbelief.


    Marvin approached a female warrior. This young woman had not only been the first to volunteer for a sparring match but had also been the most persistent challenger in recent days. At this moment she lay on the ground once again, clutching her abdomen and moaning heavily as if unable to stand.


    "I am curious," Marvin said in a relaxed tone. "In the past few days, my strikes have been rather heavy. For instance, the mercenaries who fought yesterday were injured so badly that none have stepped forward today. Yet you seem unaffected, coming out to challenge me every day. Are your injuries not a problem?"


    "They are not," the female warrior shook her head. "I have a friend who heals me every day."


    "Let me guess," Marvin said, "a professional healer? Ordinary doctors do not have the ability to accelerate wound recovery."


    "Military nun," she replied frankly.


    "Very good," Marvin said as he squatted beside her. "I plan to form a team, but at the moment it is only you and me. We are missing a melee tank, a mage, and a healer. From my observations these days, I sense great potential in you. You are well suited to develop as a tank."


    "A tank?" the female warrior asked, puzzled. "You mean someone who takes the hits?"


    "An excellent defender not only knows how to ensure their own survival but also strives to protect their comrades behind them," Marvin explained. "This requires a defender with a resilient will, a good sense of the big picture, and a steady, cautious character. I believe you have that potential."


    "So you want to recruit me for your team?" she asked, now understanding.


    "Not only you," Marvin replied, "but also your friend. An outstanding healer is an indispensable role in any team since injuries in battle are inevitable. I do not want a doctor who only shines in a hospital operating room with fancy equipment. I want someone who, on a bloody battlefield, in remote wild mountains or deep, dark underground ruins, can perform emergency treatment with limited tools. That role must be found among mercenaries."


    "Recruiting me is no problem," the female warrior shrugged. "As for my friend, she is not very interested in fighting, but ¡­"


    She coughed and continued, "You could mention things like ''remote wild mountains'' or ''deep dark underground ruins.'' She is very fascinated by those ideas."


    "Very well," Marvin said, understanding her hint. Her friend was nothing more than an adventure enthusiast.


    "Your name?" Marvin extended a hand.


    "My name is Alice Edelweiss," the female warrior said as she grasped his wrist and stood up. "My surname comes from my father. He is a lord of the Holy Pendragon Empire. But my given name was chosen by a devout Xiris ascetic passing by."


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Your father must admire ancient Xiris culture very much," Marvin said. "Otherwise he would not have given his daughter a Xiris name."


    "No," she shook her head. "He was on a pilgrimage to the emperor when he happened to see Empress Theresa. He was utterly enchanted. You know, before she married Emperor Otto, Empress Theresa was a princess of the Eastern Pendragon Empire. So he immediately fell madly in love with everything of the Eastern Pendragon culture. He even decreed that the castle maids must greet him with in Xiris language every day."


    "I hope he does not become interested in my Xiris name," Marvin joked lightly as he shook her hand. "My name is Marvin Fontaine. And this is Miss Aurora."


    "Hello, Marvin," Alice said politely with a nod. "Hello, Aurora."


    The three walked out toward the training ground. The onlookers, far enough away, did not catch their conversation. When they saw that the female warrior and the master were leaving together, they realized that the true reason Marvin had been sparring with challengers was to recruit members (whether to join his team or become disciples remained uncertain). Immediately, a gloomy mood spread over the training ground. Especially those mercenaries who had been injured in recent days and had stayed off the field now rued, wishing they could smash their swords in frustration.


    After leaving the underground training ground, it was already midday and the sun overhead was scorching. Alice removed her helmet and faceplate, tying them around her waist so that her breathing became easier. Her true face was that of a mature beauty of Jamanni descent, radiant, with cascades of golden, wavy hair, a high, straight nose, deep-set eyes with sapphire-blue irises, and lips of perfect balance that curved charmingly.


    On forums, such a beautiful NPC was nicknamed "Golden-Headed Persian Cat." Domestic players were more blunt, simply calling her "Oceanic Mare."


    Yet her appearance seemed somewhat familiar ¨C as if she had been seen in a previous game. Marvin only glanced at her and then lowered his head, lost in recollections.


    Alice, noticing that Marvin showed no reaction to her striking looks, felt a quiet relief. She had resolved to inherit her father''s castle and title in the future, and so she had come out to travel the continent and hone her martial skills. What troubled her most was being seen as a pretty face rather than a warrior. Many larger mercenary groups were reluctant to accept her because of her feminine identity. If a master of great skill also minded that, she would be left with no choice but to weep in silence.


    Of course, to Marvin with his player mindset, an NPC''s gender did not matter. Even if it were a dog, as long as it could fight, it was acceptable!


    "Let me explain my plan for the team," Marvin said casually as they walked. "You all know I intend to form a team. My team''s focus is on quality over quantity. Every member must be among the elite. Of course, you two do not yet meet that standard, but you can strive to reach it."


    "We will do our best," Alice and Aurora promised in unison with nods.


    "A small yet elite team can follow a classic triangular model ¡ª one who takes the damage, one who dishes out the damage, and one who heals," Marvin continued. "But the triangular model is outdated now. What is in vogue is the golden pentagram. That is, a tank to absorb damage, a mage to control, an attacker to burst damage, a cleric to heal, and a commander to set tactics. With these five roles, a team can handle almost any battle situation."


    "Alice, you will serve as the team''s tank, responsible for absorbing damage. I will take command and provide support. Aurora will lead the assault," Marvin summarized. "We will also need a control mage to lure enemies toward the tank. I have already secured a strong candidate for that role. And as for the healer, what is your friend''s situation?"


    "She is a college student, the team leader," Alice replied. "She studies at the Pendragon St. Maria Theological Academy, majoring in military nuns. She is due to graduate in the latter half of this year and is currently preparing her thesis."


    Oh, a college student should be easy to handle, Marvin mused. After all, at that age one does not have much exposure to different social circles.


    Following Alice, the group arrived in the core square of Zephandrel, where commercial skyscrapers, large shopping malls, and metro stations lined every street. At the entrance of a luxurious hotel, the expressions on the faces of the other two changed immediately.


    Could this person be that wealthy? The highest-end St. Orie Hotel of Zephandrel, a VIP suite costing ten pounds per day, was the official reception venue for foreign royalty designated by the emperor himself. Who in their right mind, other than an ordinary college student, would be staying here?


    "Marvin," Aurora asked awkwardly, "are you sure this person is easy to handle?"


    "Do not worry," Marvin steadied his nerves. "I have a net worth of a thousand pounds at the very least. I cannot show weakness in this regard."


    (Though he had a thousand pounds, he secretly cursed that he could not afford such a hotel himself.)


    "She is very easy-going," Alice interjected to ease their tension. "Do not worry."


    The group strode into the hotel. The doorman greeted them immediately with a polite expression that hid a trace of wariness. When he recognized Alice, he exhaled in relief.


    "Good day, Miss Alice. Are you here to see Miss Nora?"


    "Yes," Alice nodded. "Is she in her room?"


    "I will inform her private butler," the doorman said with a nod. He moved swiftly to the reception desk, picked up the phone, made a call, and after a brief conversation, hung up. He then returned and said, "Miss Nova has finished breakfast. You may meet her in her reception room. Please follow me."


    "Who exactly is this Nova?" Aurora finally asked. "Is she a great noble?"


    "Her family seems to be in business," Alice said. "I am not sure if they are truly nobility."


    "Then how much salary does she command, Marvin?" Aurora sneered. "Hiring the daughter of a rich merchant as a mercenary? With her allowance she could hire an entire mercenary group."


    "It appears I must win her over with my sincerity," Marvin said half-jokingly. "Do not forget, I am also considered a noble in the empire, even if my family has fallen on hard times."

 Chapter 8 - Yearning for the Beyond

    The attendant led the group to the room door, raised a finger to knock, and then hurried away.


    After a moment, the door opened.


    "Alice?" The one who opened the door was a young woman, about in her early twenties, with soft, fluffy flaxen hair and a pure, pretty face. Clearly, she was yet another beauty.


    "These two are..." she stretched her voice, her eyes falling on Marvin and Aurora.


    "This is the master I told you about!" Alice exclaimed excitedly. "He has recruited me to join his team!"


    "Really?" Nova added with a delighted expression. "That is certainly worth a proper celebration. I will go get some champagne. You two come in."


    When the group entered the room, they found that Nova''s luxurious hotel suite was nearly the size of a normal apartment, divided into two floors spanning almost two hundred square meters. The upper floor served as the sleeping quarters for guests while the lower floor was a reception room furnished with sofas and tables in an ancient Pendragon style. The walls were decorated with stone carvings, oil paintings, and tapestries depicting dragons. In the center of the reception area was a small bar, and the liquor cabinet displayed neatly arranged dark-green bottles with all kinds of intricate labels.


    Nova took a bottle from the cabinet, shook it vigorously a few times, and then, aiming it at Alice, suddenly popped the cap open.


    "Champagne attack!" she shouted in a playful, mischievous tone.


    Alice swiftly drew the shield from her back and raised it to block the spray of champagne.


    "How boring," Nova said, tossing the bottle into a trash bin. "Your reflexes are getting sharper, Alice."


    "I have been beaten soundly these past few days," Alice replied, putting her shield away. "One must be quick to survive."


    "So this is the master who beats you red and blue every day?" Nova turned her gaze and smiled at Marvin.


    "Allow me to introduce myself," Marvin said as he extended his hand for a brief handshake. "I am Marvin Fontaine. I am planning to build my own team."


    "Nova Valernis Loraine," Nova introduced herself, giving an ancient Pendragon name.


    "I heard you graduated from the Pendragon St. Maria Theological Academy?" Marvin said directly. "A military nun?"


    "That is right," she replied, emphasizing that she was in the process of finding a team to work with, if Alice''s words of her interest in dungeons and stuff was anything to go by. Nova had not yet guessed his true purpose. "My skills in healing should prove my professional capability."


    "Do you use healing needles or extraordinary power?" Marvin pressed.


    "Healing needles," Nova paused briefly before answering. "Alice''s wounds are mostly soft tissue bruises and internal bleeding caused by ruptured vessels. We use biopeptides, platelet preparations, and a hemostatic gel to repair them after disinfecting with 75 percent alcohol."


    "And how do you handle broken bones?" Marvin continued in interviewer mode.


    "First, we use a sonic endoscope to check for fractures. If it is a comminuted fracture, emergency surgery is required to remove the tiny bone fragments. Otherwise, a plaster board is applied and then healing needles are injected. The exact location and dosage depend on the injury."


    "And what if the damage is caused by extraordinary power?" Marvin asked, presenting his final challenge.


    This question was clearly difficult. Nova furrowed her brow for a moment and then said, "First, you must confirm whether any residual power remains in the body. If there is, you have to try to eliminate it. Once cleared, treat the symptoms accordingly."


    "A military nun should also have some training in mechanical repair, correct?" Marvin continued. "Do you fix firearms and vehicles as well?"


    "I do," Nova nodded.


    "Very well," Marvin said decisively. "Miss Nova, you have passed my interview."


    Alice clapped from the side.


    "Thank you for your recognition, Marvin," Nova said with a smile. "Now it is my turn to state my demands."


    "As you can see, we are still a start-up team," Marvin said seriously. "Although I personally invested a thousand pounds into the team, I cannot offer high salaries. I can guarantee that in the future my team will never exceed ten members, and every member will receive the same pay so that..."


    "You misunderstand, Marvin," Nova shook her head. "I do not care about salary. As you can see, thanks to my parents'' generous support, money is not an issue for me."


    "Then what do you need?" Marvin asked.


    "I want to become extraordinary," Nova said firmly.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    For a moment the room fell silent. Alice''s breathing seemed to quicken, and behind her, Aurora folded her arms silently. Marvin looked at them for a while before asking, "Why do you want to become extraordinary?"


    "Because extraordinary ones are so powerful," Nova replied bluntly. "I have dreamed since childhood of learning more about the secrets of this world. So I set a small goal for myself first, to travel all over the world..."


    "Do your parents support you in this?" Marvin asked in astonishment. This rich and beautiful young lady had a rather unique personality. Was she like Columbus, loving adventure from a young age?


    "Of course," Nova answered without hesitation. "I am the youngest daughter in my family. Managing the family business is not my burden."


    I see. Marvin nodded. It was common in this world for the eldest son to inherit the business while the younger ones set out on adventures.


    "So you want to become extraordinary in order to handle the dangers you may face while traveling the world," Marvin summarized. "To be safe, let me ask again: Do you really understand what it means to become extraordinary?"


    "It means that I must ingest special elixirs," Nova replied. "My father once brought me a genetic agent from the church, but it only greatly enhanced physical strength or mental strength. It did not cause a qualitative change in extraordinary traits. Therefore, I prefer the elixir route."


    "But that also means a shift away from humanity," Marvin warned.


    "Not human?" Nova wore a puzzled expression. Clearly, her understanding of extraordinary ones was only partial. Aurora recalled that Marvin had once mentioned the legend of Octavian turning into a giant dragon after death, carried out by forty knights.


    "I can help you become extraordinary," Marvin said slowly. "But as someone once said, you will never know the horrors of hell until you truly fall into its depths. I can tell you the truth, but that will come only after you sign a contract with me and join our team."


    "Alright," Nova hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. Her longing for becoming extraordinary outweighed her fear of the unknown as described by Marvin.


    Marvin reached into his bag and pulled out four sheets of parchment. He spread them out before them. Nova and Alice picked them up and saw that they were standard labor hire contracts used in the mercenary world. The only difference was that they stipulated uniform pay for all team members.


    This also meant that Marvin''s team would always remain small because as soon as the numbers grew, management issues would arise. And management personnel would never accept the same salary as the rest. In other words, as Marvin had said, his team was to be "small and elite," and he was serious about that.


    Alice signed her name on both copies with confidence. Nova hesitated for a moment because the contract did not mention helping her become extraordinary. But considering that both Eastern and Western churches were extremely wary of extraordinary ones, even signing such a contract would not have any official binding force.


    After much thought, she eventually signed her name as well.


    "Very good," Marvin said as he gathered the contracts. "Now we can speak frankly. Aurora?"


    Aurora silently cursed in her mind that this fellow indeed expected her to expose her identity. She responded coolly with a simple "mm," then removed her mask and hood to reveal her delicate head and her pale face framed by black hair.


    "I am an extraordinary one," Aurora declared coldly. "The extraordinary trait I possess is Sanguine''s Thirst."


    "You are an extraordinary one?" Nova asked in shock. In her eyes, the small, masked, black-robed person was probably a servant or lackey of Marvin, and she was far from the awe-inspiring, formidable extraordinary one she had imagined.


    Yet what shocked her even more was this: Aurora drew a short sword from the outer side of her thigh, and with a clean, decisive stroke, she slit her unprotected neck. A gaping wound, bleeding profusely, appeared. Nova could not help but scream, and Alice sprang to her feet.


    With her throat and windpipe cut open, revealing gruesome red flesh, Aurora did not collapse like a dying person. Instead, she stood straight and unmoving. The flesh on either side of the wound on her neck seemed to come alive, growing countless small, surging nodules that quickly wriggled together to close the gap. In the blink of an eye, her neck appeared whole again.


    "You! This is... truly..." Alice''s mind went blank, unable to find the proper words. Nova stood stunned for a moment, then decisively grabbed a nearby trash can and covered her mouth as she vomited in disgust. The cruel yet bizarre sight was too overwhelming for her.


    "Sanguine''s Thirst I grants rapid healing. In most cases, fatal injuries simply vanish," Marvin explained calmly. "Sanguine''s Thirst II means that all fatal wounds disappear. The extraordinary one becomes nearly impossible to kill, and the body can reshape its flesh into sharp weapons or hard shields at will."


    "Based on the Sanguine series, I know of two extraordinary bloodline paths," Marvin continued, turning to Aurora. "Path One is to continue ingesting elixirs of mind, life drain, shadows, and hallucinations until one fuses into the bloodline known as ''Scion of Vermilion Tide.'' This extraordinary one resembles the modern-day image of a vampire, capable of controlling the minds and thoughts of others, stealing life from any creature, with abilities of invisibility and shadow control, and can freely change their appearance and bodily features."


    "Path Two is to continue ingesting elixirs of life drain, vermin, night bats, plagues, and toxins until one fuses into the bloodline known as ''Scourge of the Night.'' This extraordinary one is even closer to the ancient vampire legends. They can transform into or control rodents or bats, spread plagues and toxins."


    "Regardless of the path, reaching the end means becoming non-human. The higher the level, the less likely an extraordinary one can interbreed with normal humans. Reaching Level 10 means complete reproductive isolation from ordinary humans, making it impossible to produce offspring."


    "Does that not mean that becoming extraordinary gradually robs one of normal fertility?" Nova cried out in disbelief, her face full of shock.


    "There is only one exception," Marvin said. "Extraordinary ones above Level 10 can control their bloodline at will. By suppressing their bloodline ability to the minimum, they can mate with another Level 10 extraordinary one who has also suppressed theirs. In such cases, the two bloodlines clash and annihilate each other in the newborn. As a result, the child is born without any extraordinary abilities, simply an ordinary human with a frail constitution who is prone to early death."


    "In the end, the process of becoming extraordinary is a process of dehumanization. It is like continuously mixing foreign blood into pure human blood until the resulting being can hardly be called human. Ancient Xiris has a mysterious treatise called ''The Ship of Theseus'' that discusses the hidden knowledge of extraordinary bloodlines. I will find a chance to show it to you someday."


    Marvin added this final remark as a conclusion to this introduction to mysticism. Nova quickly pulled a pen and paper from the pocket of her garment and tremulously jotted down the words "The Ship of Theseus."


    "Is that the path to becoming non-human?" Alice murmured softly, her expression a complex mixture of emotions.


    "I have said all that I can for now. If, after your own contemplation, you decide you still want to become extraordinary, come find me at this address." Marvin handed over a scrap of paper bearing the address of his ancestral home. "Aurora, let us go."

 Chapter 9 - Revenge is best served hot, diced into pieces and all

    Marvin and Aurora left the hotel and walked along Theodosius Avenue in Zephandrel.


    "I do not quite understand," Aurora said. "Marvin, you must want to recruit her, so why instead dissuade her from becoming extraordinary?"


    "No, I am not dissuading her," Marvin shook his head. "I am only reminding her that becoming extraordinary comes with risks. Have you heard of the threshold effect? You tell a customer that they can try it for one silver coin, and once they pay, you convince them to pay nine more silver coins. It is far easier than selling them ten silver coins right away."


    "In other words, becoming non-human is merely a matter of internal conflict of self-perception. It is the least significant of the negative effects extraordinary ones face. I have not even mentioned the loss of bodily control and the collapse of rationality, which are the real, dangerous pitfalls that lead to the downfall of an extraordinary one. If I had said it outright, they would have been scared off on the spot."


    "Bodily control loss and the collapse of rationality? What are those?" Aurora asked immediately, a trace of nervousness in her voice.


    "To fully traverse the bloodline path, you must reach Level 10, which means taking a total of ten different elixirs," Marvin explained. "There are many sequences of elixirs, and most conflict with each other. The further you progress, the more likely you are to break down. Loss of control over physical strength will irreversibly turn you into a monster, while the collapse of mental strength will drive you insane."


    "And what about the two vampire paths you mentioned¡­" Aurora began.


    "Those come from an ancient secret organization on the player forums. After numerous experiments, they filtered out the combinations that carry the least risk and the highest benefit," Marvin sighed. "These two bloodline routes are almost entirely unknown secrets nowadays. Do not let anyone else know about them."


    "You have already told them," Aurora replied helplessly.


    "It does not matter. They will both join us," Marvin said confidently.


    Silver Cicada Tavern


    In these times when location is increasingly important to commerce, the Silver Cicada Tavern near the city wall had fallen into the depths of desolation. Only the old residents of the neighborhood occasionally came by for a quiet drink, lamenting when the day would come for the tavern to finally close its doors.


    What no one knew was that, as a secret intelligence outpost established by the Seljuk Empire in the Eastern Pendragon Empire, this tavern would never close from "poor management", unless it were discovered by the Imperial Military Intelligence.


    Vampire Molycus walked sadly along the third-floor corridor of the tavern. Reaching the end of the hall, she knocked on a door in a specific rhythmic pattern.


    The door opened.


    She immediately pushed the door and stepped inside. Closing the door behind her, the vampire knelt and pleaded in a trembling voice.


    "My master, the stronghold of the Fontaine family has been removed by the church. This was truly my mistake¡­"


    "You have no right to defend yourself, Molycus," a cold voice from behind a curtain declared. "You will have your limbs severed, your spirit imprisoned, and be thrown into an arena surrounded by the Sulfur River, where the Devil Lord shall decide your fate¡­ if it were not for my intercession with His Majesty."


    "My merciful master, thank you, I thank you," the vampire cried, kissing the ground in a desperate display of submission and loyalty.


    "My mercy does not come without a price, Molycus." As the female voice spoke, a wheeled round table was pushed forward. On it stood a narrow-necked bottle filled with an elixir.


    The elixir was a thick, murky liquid, milky white interlaced with vivid red lines. In some places, orange-red whirlpools swirled, evoking an almost maddening itch, as if the very flesh of the body were in rebellion.


    "Is this¡­ an elixir of Sanguine''s Thirst II?" Molycus stammered. Her voice held a hint of desire, but it was outweighed by fear. "My master, I applied for the elixir of Marionette''s Kiss I..."


    "Do you think in these circumstances you still have the right to bargain with me?" the voice said coldly. "Take it, or die."


    Almost every elixir sequence has both a Level I and a Level II. The extraordinary ability of Level II far exceeds that of Level I, but the dangers of conflicts between different sequences are also far greater. Like most novice extraordinary ones, vampire Molycus had not planned to take the first Level II so soon, as it would greatly increase the risk of losing control when taking future elixirs.


    But there was a saying. "Circumstances can turn even strong people weak." Her current Level 1 elixir-induced extraordinary power had not yet been fully assimilated, while the one behind the curtain was already a Level 2 extraordinary one.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    In a fight, she would certainly be no match. Refusing to take Sanguine''s Thirst II meant death. To the mastermind behind the curtain, a vampire who had advanced to Sanguine''s Thirst II would be better able to carry out missions in Zephandrel, regardless of her own wishes. Who cares about her will?


    At that moment, she had no choice.


    Trembling, Molycus picked up the narrow-necked bottle. With shaking hands, she unscrewed the cap and, with a look of desperate resignation, drank it down.


    First, her head began to change, as if burned by fire, it turned bright red. The crimson spread down her neck.


    The extraordinary nature of Sanguine''s Thirst II can only be described in two words: "savagery." Like a domineering force from a nomadic people of the steppes, the overpowering extraordinary power surged into every cell of her body in an instant.


    For a moment, it was as if her entire flesh was in revolt, screaming, wailing, as she frantically scratched at her skin. In some areas, fine, disgusting nodules erupted; in others, cheese-like necrotic tissue formed pockmarked craters.


    The extraordinary power continued to seep deeper into her body. Into her muscles, connective tissue, mucous membranes, and internal organs. The pain spread like a virus, multiplying and racing through her body. She felt as if she had become a volcano on the brink of eruption, her very form corroded into countless wounds before the eruption even began!


    Only when two-thirds of her skin had been scratched or rotted away did the transformation induced by Sanguine''s Thirst II gradually subside. Vampire Molycus convulsed on the floor, nearly on the brink of unconsciousness.


    Throughout the ordeal, no sound came from behind the curtain. They merely watched her struggle as if she were invisible. Emaciated and exhausted, Molycus managed to stand and bowed tremblingly toward the voice behind the curtain.


    Then she turned, opened the door, and staggered out.


    Forced to take Sanguine''s Thirst II while Sanguine''s Thirst I had not yet been fully digested had inflicted massive damage. She now desperately needed to find a place to assimilate the elixir and calm her spirit; otherwise, the transformation might erupt again.


    And if she lost control, she had no doubt that the one behind the curtain would immediately kill her.


    "Damn it, you old spinster!" Molycus fumed as she descended the stairs. "If only I could reach Level 3 sooner¡­"


    "¡­I would lock her in a coffin, insert a blood-extraction needle into the most tender parts of her body, and let the lowliest blood servant abuse her at will¡­"


    As she walked down the stairs, she lifted her gaze and saw Marvin and Aurora standing at the doorway.


    At the moment their eyes met, Molycus''s expression was one of surprise and delight, Aurora''s was filled with hatred and fury, while Marvin¡­


    Marvin showed no expression, as if he had finally encountered a hidden boss by following the guide precisely. His heart remained unmoved.


    "Die!" Driven by uncontrollable rage, Aurora completely abandoned all reason. She charged forward at lightning speed. Molycus merely swung her arm,her limb transformed into a gigantic whip of flesh, and flung the charging Aurora to the ground.


    Countless sharp bony spikes burst forth from the tip of the whip, instantly impaling Aurora. Amidst Aurora''s cries of pain, Molycus let out a terrible scream.


    Her right eye was shattered, leaving a pitch-black void.


    The bullet came from Marvin''s rapid-fire handgun, Aphrodite. Swiftly, he shifted his arm, aimed at her left eye, and pulled the trigger again. Although Sanguine''s Thirst II meant that there were no longer fatal injuries, having both eyes shattered would still leave her briefly blind. Molycus immediately activated her ability.


    "Flesh Transfer!" Extraordinary ones with Sanguine''s Thirst II can freely relocate their organs. In an instant, her eyeball sank inward; as the bullet tore through its original place, the eyeball emerged from the blood-flesh whip.


    Aurora was already gasping for breath from the bony spikes. Molycus whipped her blood-flesh lash once more, launching it at super speed toward Aurora.


    If any professional player had been watching, they would have laughed at Molycus''s foolishness. Fearing being hit in the eye, she had transferred her eyeball onto the speeding lash, but that led to frequent blind spots in her own vision.


    Marvin, equally skilled, did not miss this error. Calmly, he sidestepped with a step so precise it nearly grazed his scalp, dodging the attack, while simultaneously switching guns and reloading with both hands.


    Because the lash, carrying her displaced eyeball, missed its mark and fell behind Marvin, Molycus could not see his actions at the front.


    The next second, gunfire thundered like lightning. In an instant, both Marvin''s and Aurora''s ears were filled with an immense buzzing sound, while Molycus fared even worse, under the onslaught of 15.2mm elephant-hunting rounds, her entire head exploded like a watermelon.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Marvin continued reloading and firing methodically; four elephant-hunting rounds nearly turned Molycus into a puddle. Despite this, her body continued to writhe in a desperate bid to heal, showcasing the raw might of Sanguine''s Thirst II.


    Marvin''s handling was even more skillful. He drew his longsword and, with swift slashes, divided the vampire''s flesh into four pieces, pressing each piece into the four corners of the room with chairs and tables.


    At last, even the formidable power of Sanguine''s Thirst II was rendered useless. Soon, amid faint, regretful wails from all around, Molycus finally died. Deep red extraordinary traits emerged from the four piles of flesh.


    Lying on the floor, Aurora ceased struggling and stared blankly at the piles of flesh. Marvin stepped forward slowly and began collecting the extraordinary traits from the flesh.


    Each time he picked one up, he clenched it tightly in his palm to absorb its extraordinary power. (The extraordinary trait itself must be processed into an elixir for absorption, so hand-crushing can only absorb the power contained within, which causes the original trait to dissipate.) That long-lost sensation surged through him as if a famished person had suddenly been fed after days of starvation, sweet and satisfying.


    Picking up the last extraordinary trait, he did not crush it with his hand; instead, he turned and slipped it into Aurora''s mouth.


    As if chewing on the flesh of an enemy, Aurora bit down with all her hatred. The extraordinary power fell like refreshing rain on parched land, nourishing her spirit that had nearly dried up from repeatedly healing her body.


    Then she broke into loud, uncontrollable sobs.


    "Finish crying quickly," Marvin said, pressing his sword to his side. "We have other matters to attend to."


    Aurora crawled to her feet, wiped her tears roughly, and found that her wounds had nearly healed.


    "Let''s go," she said shortly.


    The two climbed the stairs to the third floor as the floor boards creaked under their weight.


    "Guard the stairway and wait for me to return," Marvin ordered.


    "Okay," Aurora replied without any argument, though her voice still sounded distant.

 Chapter 10 - Another Slav—Erm... Companion acquired

    Marvin strode forward with his sword at the ready when a sweet, melodious female voice suddenly rang in his ears.


    "Heh, if this were not truly happening, who would have thought that a Level 2 could be killed by a Level 0?"


    "Not even demigods can escape the fate of mortal flesh," Marvin answered in a deep, steady tone.


    "Indeed," the voice purred in approval. "Master Fontaine, you remain calm in the face of danger and are both bold and meticulous in battle. Compared to that bat, you are far more suited to work with us."


    "Work together? How fortunate. I, too, have an interest in such cooperation," Marvin replied without slowing his pace. "Only, my partner in this venture is not all of you but you."


    "Oh?" The voice lilted upward seductively. "With me?"


    "Yvonne Rohenshire, the youngest daughter of the Fromentia Empire''s Rohenshire Household and the Succubus Queen," Marvin said as he halted at the end of a corridor outside a room. "At the age of ten, you ingested your first elixir, Cinderheart I. Before it was fully assimilated, you happened to witness your mother in an affair with three slaves in the palace."


    "That shocking scene drove your mental power into chaos. Though it did not drive you half-mad, it left you with a crippling fear of men. Even though you suppressed it with your psychic ability, any direct physical contact with a man triggers that deep-seated terror, causing your inner flame to spiral out of control and attack indiscriminately."


    "You are not an ordinary noble!" The voice, now stripped of its composure and laced with clear suspicion, demanded, "Who exactly are you? What does the organization behind you intend to do?"


    "For your mother, a succubus who fears men is nothing less than a racial disgrace; for your father, failing to fully assimilate Cinderheart I due to its uncontrolled nature means you will never be able to take Cinderheart II. A daughter who can never reach Level 10 has no value at all," Marvin replied coolly, dismissing her questions. "Sending you to the enemy capital as an intelligence chief is nothing more than a disposable ploy. That is why staying in the Fromentia Empire holds no future for you. Why not join me instead?"


    There was no response from behind the door. The voice seemed to have departed.


    Marvin thought to himself that a demonstration was in order. With one swift kick, he flung the door open.


    Inside, the curtains had long been drawn aside. Seated on a soft cushion was Yvonne, who immediately looked up and activated her psychic ability.


    Damn it!


    When she finally saw Marvin rushing in, her face turned ashen.


    This fellow had his eyes tightly closed!


    Marionette''s Kiss I allows one to sense the nearby living mind beyond obstacles and even communicate directly with another''s mind using mere thought, while surreptitiously exerting influence. But to directly control the mind of someone with strong will, mutual eye contact is required.


    If your eyes remain closed, you cannot be controlled.


    "Since you do not wish to be controlled, then die!" Yvonne declared. With one fluid move of her hand, she conjured a red fireball from thin air and hurled it toward the seemingly oblivious Marvin.


    In a flash of cold light, Yvonne''s eyeballs nearly fell out. Astonishingly, Marvin, despite his eyes being closed, snatched his sword and slashed through the fireball. Not only that, he twisted his body and, letting his longsword follow the fireball''s path, swung it sharply in its direction!


    What the hell!


    Yvonne scrambled and rolled desperately, barely managing to avoid the strike. Hand-to-hand combat had never been her forte, let alone against a creature who could cut while his eyes were shut!


    Marvin turned toward the sound and, with another smooth horizontal swing of his longsword, forced Yvonne to duck sharply. Her wine-red hair was caught and a few strands were cut off. Marvin''s sword then descended once more, and as the icy gleam of its blade met Yvonne''s form, she cried out, "Spare me, please!"


    "Sign the soul contract and I will spare your life," Marvin said as he pressed his sword against her neck with his right hand and produced a scroll from his bag with his left, tossing it before her.


    Cautiously, Yvonne picked up the scroll and unfurled it. To her surprise, its terms were remarkably lenient, a simple labor hire contract without any draconian personal restrictions and with a validity of five years rather than for life. The contract already bore Marvin''s signature in the section for Party A.


    That damned scoundrel! Yvonne silently cursed as she drew a pen and pretended to scribble on her sleeve before saying, "It is signed."


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Please sign on the contract," Marvin instructed with his eyes still closed. "Once you sign the soul contract, our spirits will resonate. You did not know that?"


    How could I have forgotten that! Tears streamed down Yvonne''s face as she obediently signed her name in the Party B section of the soul contract. Instantly, it seemed that both their spirits became subtly linked, establishing some mysterious connection.


    Marvin then opened his eyes and regarded this control mage he had designated. Yvonne''s features were striking, large, radiant eyes; a well-defined, elegant nose; and full, sensual lips that left one increasingly enchanted with every glance.


    Her hair, a typical trait of the succubus race, was a deep wine-red. The combination of Marionette''s Kiss Level I and her racial gifts meant that she exuded a constant, pitiable charm that stirred in nearby men a desire either to protect her or to abuse her.


    Of course, feeling desire is one thing; influencing rationality is quite another. Under the sway of extraordinary power, many a weak-willed man might succumb, but Marvin was certainly not among them.


    It had little to do with his own determination but more with the fact that in later fandom circles, Miss Yvonne had earned an infamous nickname.


    The Ero Queen!


    It was said that at a comic convention in a certain country, H-doujinshi featuring Yvonne had taken seven of the top ten spots in single-volume sales. For an online game NPC to defeat countless anime characters, her popularity was truly unprecedented.


    Seeing that Marvin showed no reaction to her charms, Yvonne was taken aback. With her extraordinary ability and racial gifts, even if one secretly preferred same-sex love, the body never lies. Could it be that my extraordinary power is failing me?


    Still, Yvonne continued to exude her allure. Marvin smiled bitterly inwardly; he certainly could not say, "I have seen you in all poses in all sorts of alluring forms until I was sick of it." Checking the time, he said, "We should leave now."


    "I''m too weak. Lift me up," Yvonne complained pitifully.


    "If I lift you, won''t you explode?" Marvin asked in astonishment. "Aren''t you supposed to suffer from a fear of men? Direct skin-to-skin contact would trigger your explosive flame ability!"


    Damn, why''s this guy so cautious! Yvonne seethed silently. Although the soul contract forbade either party from harming the other, if he were to be overcome by lust and attempt to violate her, causing her uncontrolled flame ability to kill him, that could not be counted as her initiating harm.


    Alas, that fellow was completely oblivious!


    Yvonne, with a burning desire, tried to rush forward and embrace him to crush him with skin contact. But that very thought was immediately extinguished, naturally, by the influence of the soul contract. Mind control? Not allowed either, as the contract prohibited it. How infuriating!


    She ground her teeth in anger and, unwillingly, followed Marvin out of the room. At the stairway, Aurora stood watch as Marvin returned with a stunning red-haired beauty. Her gaze held a trace of puzzlement.


    "This, from now on, will be our team''s psychic mage, Miss Yvonne," Marvin introduced them. "And this is our team''s agile main attacker, Miss Aurora."


    "Hello, Aurora," Yvonne said with folded arms in a cool, detached tone.


    "Yvonne," Aurora replied coldly, making it clear she had memorized the name.


    The three left the Silver Cicada Tavern and headed toward Marvin''s ancestral residence. Arriving at their destination, they gazed at the beautiful three-story building, and Yvonne felt an overwhelming sense of helpless sorrow.


    The location of the Silver Cicada Tavern was so remote that Yvonne had planned to set up an additional outpost in the bustling downtown area for gathering intelligence. Instead, she had been forced to sign a contract selling herself.


    Why on earth did that idiot Molycus choose that household in the first place? She stirred up that monster called Marvin! At that moment, Yvonne wished she could dig up Molycus and whip her corpse a hundred times.


    Entering the ancestral residence, they found that the furnishings had been almost entirely destroyed in the previous conflict. A gilt wardrobe lay toppled, an ornate long table had been shattered, and silver candlesticks and goblets of various sizes were scattered all over the floor, leaving Yvonne with a pang of regret.


    With her courtly upbringing, it was clear that the aesthetic taste of this family was outstanding among nobles, if it were not for those rude, barbaric church knights, this residence would have been a perfect base for her.


    "Clean up anything of value here. I will have someone come to buy it later," Marvin ordered the two before heading back to the study on the third floor.


    Thus, in the dining room on the first floor, only the two remained. Aurora began silently gathering items while Yvonne leaned against a wall, idly supervising and occasionally offering instructions.


    "Those cups are worthless. Anything deformed can be discarded. The candlesticks are the same, only the candles inside are truly valuable. With a bit of rare incense added, a tiny piece can fetch a dozen cups."


    "The oil paintings along the wall, the second, fourth, and fifth from the left are genuine masterpieces. The rest are mere copies by apprentices. Be careful when moving them. The canvas of a genuine piece must never be scratched or soiled by water or grease, though copies can be handled loosely."


    "If you find a box containing jewelry, let me know. I will help you ''appraise'' it."


    "Why don''t you do the cleaning?" Aurora finally snapped, tossing the belongings to the floor in frustration.


    "I asked you, little girl," Yvonne said with a playful smile as she looked at Aurora, "what is your relationship with him?"


    "And what is your relationship with him?" Aurora retorted bluntly.


    "Roughly that of employer and employee," Yvonne replied nonchalantly, twirling a strand of hair. "Perhaps in time it will develop into something more intimate. Heh. That''d be an interesting event. Maybe. And you?"


    "He teaches me how to harness extraordinary power," Aurora replied in a low voice.


    "That makes you his apprentice," Yvonne said with a soft "oh." "A disciple working for a master is only natural, right? As for me, the employment contract does not require me to sweep the floors."


    Aurora remained silent, lowering her head to continue working.


    Recruiting an apprentice? He is still Level 0, an ordinary person with no extraordinary trait at all, teaching this undeveloped girl how to use extraordinary power? Have I mistaken him? He might not be ordinary after all. But her ability should not lie. I must test him properly later¡­ Yvonne thought inwardly, while keeping a calm facade.


    Just then, someone knocked at the door.


    Two individuals, both ordinary. Using her Marionette''s Kiss I ability, Yvonne observed that the spiritual energy of the visitors was exceedingly faint and immediately deduced their levels.


    "Is anyone there?" Along with the knocking, a crisp female voice came through the door, "Is this Mr. Marvin''s house?"

 Chapter 11 - The Mind-Body and Bloodline Path

    Inside the locked Silver Cicada Tavern, the "Dusk Watch" organization and the Zephandrel Police Special Forces were investigating a murder that had occurred several hours earlier. Because the sound of gunfire was so loud at the scene, many nearby residents had mistaken it for a natural gas explosion. As a result, the first responders were none other than the city firefighters.


    "Based on the on-site investigation, the body was divided into four piles of flesh, each weighed down by tables and chairs in the four corners of the room. Since no special code or symbol was found, we can rule out any ritual. It appears that the killer arranged it this way to prevent the corpse from healing and reviving. This is consistent with the characteristics of Sanguine''s Thirst II," reported a detective from the Special Crimes Unit.


    "From the DNA tests on the victim, we have determined that the deceased was not a citizen of Zephandrel, nor even of the Eastern Pendragon Empire. Instead, he was an illegal immigrant. Additionally, four bullets were retrieved from the wall. Their number matches the four loud explosions reported by residents. The bullets are of the 15.2mm caliber, a caliber known for its immense power and heavy recoil. They are commonly known as ''elephant-hunting rounds,'' and are not typically used by inexperienced marksmen."


    "15.2mm¡­" the Dusk Watch captain mused. "Aren''t these normally used in sniper rifles?"


    "Very few handguns use 15.2mm rounds. When they do, they are referred to as ''hand cannons,''" a Special Forces officer added. "For instance, the famed ''Imperial Eagle'' is one such weapon."


    "I will notify the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Orthodox Church to look into this," the captain said.


    After a short while, the results finally came in.


    "Marvin Fontaine," the Dusk Watch captain sneered as he reviewed the information sent by the church. "So it was the victim himself seeking revenge. That is at least plausible."


    "A Level 0 taking down a Level 2," another officer commented in amazement. "If it were not for his crimes, I would have liked to recruit him into the Zephandrel Police. We are sorely lacking in specialists who know how to use firearms against extraordinary ones."


    "Who says he committed a crime?" the captain shook his head. "Look at the response from St. Sophia''s. They had already filed a report with the church regarding an entire family of vampires. The victim must have been one of those unfortunate stragglers from the previous incident. The church has already issued a bounty on them. In other words, Marvin here helped the church kill a fugitive, and the church is even giving him a reward."


    Elsewhere, at the gates of Marvin''s ancestral residence,


    "Here is your bounty," said the captain of the Church Knights, tossing a package filled with banknotes to him. "Not bad, kid. Taking down a vampire all by yourself?"


    "It was sheer luck," Marvin replied.


    "Luck does not always last," the captain nodded. "Next time, if you encounter a similar situation, I suggest you report to the church first."


    "Understood," Marvin said, nodding as he closed the door. The Church Knights captain turned and descended the steps. From beginning to end, not a word was mentioned about the victim''s extraordinary traits.


    Turning a corner, a street informant emerged from a nearby alley.


    "Identification by the aura shows he is still Level 0," the informant reported to the captain. "He is not a vampire, but he does have some residual, unassimilated spiritual energy. It appears he accidentally burst the container of his extraordinary trait and absorbed its power."


    "That possibility is high," the captain remarked. "He does not possess the Sanguine''s Thirst trait. If he had taken Sanguine''s Thirst II directly, he would have lost control. And yet he swaggered back to his ancestral residence. Keep a lookout for three more days, and I will personally report to the bishop."


    Inside the ancestral residence, Marvin ascended the stairs to the third-floor study. Pushing open the door, he found four women seated on chairs, scattered and quietly waiting for his return.


    "Sorry, I was downstairs handling some personal matters. All is well now," Marvin said.


    "Church people?" Yvonne asked. "I sensed very strong spiritual energy coming from them."


    The others tensed at her words. The Eastern Pendragon Orthodox Church''s attitude toward extraordinary ones, though not as aggressively hostile as the Western Pendragon Church, was by no means friendly. Especially Aurora, who had prepared herself to jump out of the window at any sign of trouble.


    "It is a bounty payout," Marvin said with a smile. "For killing a vampire."


    "You killed a vampire?" Alice gasped in shock. She knew all too well how terrifying vampires could be. Nova, on the other hand, stared at Aurora with an odd expression, wondering what connection the slain vampire might have with her.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Let''s not dwell on that," Marvin shifted the conversation. "Since you have come, you must have decided by now that you want to become extraordinary, correct?"


    "Yes," Nova and Alice answered in unison.


    Two ordinary people aspiring to become extraordinary¡­ Yvonne looked at the two with a sudden shift in her thoughts and then, in a coquettish tone, said, "If you wish to become extraordinary, I have a formula for the elixir of the Marionette''s Kiss sequence."


    "Marionette''s Kiss?" Nova asked excitedly. "What exactly does it do?"


    "Marionette''s Kiss I enables an extraordinary one to detect the presence of nearby sentient minds," Yvonne explained slowly. "It also allows for mental communication with them. In what is known as telepathy, an extraordinary one can initiate or sever such communication at will, without the need for mutual consent. In telepathy, you can even subtly influence the thoughts of others."


    "May I ask, what is a sentient mind?" Nova looked up, her eyes alight with curiosity.


    "That delves into secret knowledge, and knowledge is not free," Yvonne hesitated. "It is 15 pounds."


    Fifteen pounds, about a year''s salary for a middle-class family. Nova did not bat an eye as she immediately pulled two banknotes from her wallet and handed them over to Yvonne.


    This woman is truly exceedingly wealthy. Does she not care about spending 15 pounds? Or is it simply her decisive nature when it comes to investing in extraordinary knowledge? Yvonne''s mind stirred, and for a moment she found herself unable to discern her true thoughts. If only I had the extraordinary trait of Marionette''s Kiss II, perhaps I could see through her clearly, she thought with a twinge of regret.


    "Normal humans can be divided into three layers: the living body, the spirit, and the sentient mind," Yvonne began, having accepted the 15 pounds. "The living body comprises the flesh and soul. The spirit is the broad term for the soul, encompassing both the unconscious and conscious."


    "The unconscious part is the information stored outside the cerebral cortex. For instance, breathing. One is always breathing, yet have you ever consciously maintained your breath? Breathing is controlled by the cerebellum, without any need for your deliberate effort. Then there is the well-known knee-jerk reflex. When you tap the knee, the lower leg kicks. This reflex is stored in the spinal nerves and forms part of the unconscious spirit."


    "As for consciousness, it is the product of the activity in the cerebral cortex. This is what we call the sentient mind, and it represents your awareness of self. The mystic Freud believed that the sentient mind, or the self, can be divided into three parts: the id, the superego, and the true self."


    "The id refers to the influence of the body on the sentient mind. For example, some people have a genetic defect that prevents them from secreting a certain hormone, making them prone to irritability and loss of control. That irascible nature is part of the id and is innate."


    "The superego is the result of upbringing and environmental influence. For instance, a child repeatedly frightened by the dangers of the world may grow up to be cautious and timid. That becomes part of the superego."


    "If you remove the id and superego from the sentient mind, what remains is the true self. The true self is the most mysterious core of the sentient mind, and to this day no one fully understands its origin. Freud''s disciple Jung mentioned in his ''Psychodynamic Theory'' that the true self represents the essence of who you are. When a person dies, the id remains in the decaying body, the superego sinks into the collective unconscious, and the true self vanishes. Freud suspected that the true self was a kind of higher-dimensional projection that, after death, returned to a higher plane."


    "I have heard that some extraordinary ones of the undead can resurrect the dead?" Nova asked curiously. "But the Pendragon Church once stated that a resurrected corpse is not the original one because it lacks the true self?"


    "That is correct," Yvonne nodded. "A simple resurrection ability summons a body that contains only the id. This is why the undead appear disoriented and devoid of a sentient mind. Some families have pleaded with high-level psychic practitioners to retrieve the superego from the collective unconscious and implant it back into the corpse, so that the resurrected individual retains reason and memory, and can interact with others."


    "But because the true self is lost, the resurrected individual cannot perceive their own death. They do not possess feelings or a spirit. Over time, they easily descend into madness or are taken over by other malicious spirits," Yvonne concluded. "In the Fourth Epoch, there were several infamous tragedies where families resurrected their dead only to have the corpse eventually go mad and kill everyone."


    Nova shuddered, a creeping chill running up her spine. Yet she overcame her fear and quickly jotted down everything she could about the sentient mind in her notebook.


    "So if one ingests the elixir of Marionette''s Kiss I, one can influence another''s sentient mind?" Nova asked.


    "Exactly," Yvonne replied with a nod. "However, I only have the formula for Marionette''s Kiss I. The recipes for higher-level psychic elixirs and their combinations must be sought out on your own."


    "Oh," Nova murmured, a look of bewilderment on her face. Suddenly, she looked toward Marvin. "Mr. Marvin, do you have any advice on this matter?"


    "An extraordinary one progresses from Level 0 to Level 10. With each dose of an elixir, the level increases by one," Marvin advised. "Different elixir sequences generally conflict with each other, which can lead to loss of control and transformation. Therefore, the sequence of your first elixir must be chosen with great care. It will determine which other elixir sequences you can safely take in the future, as well as the final bloodline you will develop at Level 10. I suggest you first choose your final bloodline, and then select the corresponding elixirs according to that path."


    "That is the ideal scenario," Yvonne sneered, interrupting him. "In reality, the complete bloodline path is held not only by the Eastern and Western Pendragon Churches but also by a few secret extraordinary organizations. Unless you are the offspring of an ancient extraordinary family, how could you possibly access the complete bloodline path at the Level 0 stage of a normal person?"


    "My advice is to first choose the elixir sequence that you like the most. Once you become the extraordinary one corresponding to that sequence, you can then seek out the bloodline path that includes that sequence, along with the other elixir sequences. Many people do not even get the chance to choose their sequence in their first attempt. They must grasp the only straw available and become extraordinary first, even if the elixir formula they have is not the one they truly desire."


    Marvin smiled without saying a word. To you NPCs, that may be the case, but you do not know the power of the player forums.


    "Mr. Marvin," Nova said, noticing the slight upward curl of his lips, "could it be that you have a complete bloodline path at hand?"

 Chapter 12 - Deciding Pathways

    "You''re a military nun, and your main skills are mechanical repair and healing, correct?" Marvin said gravely. "I have two bloodline paths: Melodist of Dawn and Constructing Artisan."


    Marvin refused to acknowledge the second class sounded too much like it came from Minecraft.


    A stifled chuckle came from Yvonne as she snorted softly. What was the point of just knowing names?


    "Melodist of Dawn allows one to freely manipulate both the living body and the spirit, which corresponds to your healing skill," Marvin explained quickly. "The elixir sequence combination is Bloomcore I, Veilbreach I, Ironmind I, Marionette''s Kiss I, Bloomcore II, Veilbreach II, Bloomcore III, Veilbreach III, Bloomcore IV, Veilbreach IV."


    Yvonne blinked in confusion.


    "Constructing Artisan is for those who naturally excel in materials, machinery, power energy, and numerical control. They are adept at creating and repairing firearms, ammunition, and other mechanical vehicles. The elixir sequence is Illusion I, Gearspike I, Titan''s Draught I, Decimal Wine I, Gearspike II, Titan''s Draught II, Decimal Wine II, Gearspike III, Titan''s Draught III, Decimal Wine III," Marvin summarized. "If you wish to focus on healing, choose Melodist of Dawn. If you prefer machinery, choose Constructing Artisan."


    A few of these elixir sequences I already know... No, how could he possibly know? He is only Level 0! Could it be that the bloodline paths he speaks of are genuine? Yvonne''s heart pounded in shock. No way! If they were real, such secret knowledge would be priceless. Even uttering a single word about it would lead to immediate arrest by the church, who would, following their principle of preferring to kill rather than let a mistake go, squeeze every last drop of knowledge until one dies in confinement! And yet he casually revealed it before all our eyes! Yvonne was shocked to the core.


    "Um, Mr. Marvin, could you please repeat that?" Nova asked hesitantly. "You spoke too quickly earlier, and I did not have time to write it down."


    "You cannot," Marvin replied with a smile. He had thrown out that knowledge merely to swiftly crush the arrogance of members and establish enough team prestige. Seeing Yvonne completely dazed, he coyly withheld further details. "Those are all precious, secret knowledge. They cannot be repeated a second time."


    Damn! Yvonne nearly overturned the table in fury but forced herself to maintain an impassive expression. How can you say they must not be repeated when you have already said them aloud? If you have spoken, why not say them again?


    "Then do you know the bloodline path of succubi?" she interjected, suppressing her discontent and asking eagerly.


    "''Succubus'' is an ancient term from the Third Epoch," Marvin replied slowly. "In reality, there are two paths. One is the Abyssal Succubus path, whose main sequences are Cinderheart, Desire, and Chaos. The other is the Purgatorial Succubus path, whose main sequences are Cinderheart, Lilith''s Sigh, Marionette''s Kiss, and Fool."


    So, Miss Yvonne, you follow the Purgatorial Succubus path? The other three girls in attendance immediately turned their eyes to Yvonne. Yvonne, however, abandoned her previously cold and disdainful demeanor. Excitement now shone on her face.


    He really does know! Yvonne thought excitedly, almost screaming in her heart. She tried her best to keep her tone respectful yet urgent, "What is the exact order of the elixir sequences?"


    "You have already taken Cinderheart and Marionette''s Kiss I," Marvin said. "Next come Lilith''s Sigh I and Fool I."


    "Yes, of course. The Stable Path. First, collect all of the Level I sequences." Yvonne nodded repeatedly, her expression one of earnest deference. In a low voice, she asked, "My question is, what are the upper limits for the four sequences? I am willing to pay a price for that answer."


    "No payment is necessary. I can tell you," Marvin said as he saw that she was completely enchanted. He smiled slightly and answered, "Fool I, Marionette''s Kiss II, Cinderheart III, and Lilith''s Sigh IV."


    "Desire is the primary sequence?" Yvonne paused, surprised. "Isn''t it Marionette''s Kiss instead?"


    "Think carefully about what constitutes succubus blood," Marvin prompted. "First, succubi themselves embody desire. Next, the purgatorial trait is represented by Cinderheart. After that comes the devilish aspect. But ''devil'' is a broad term that encompasses many races, including succubi. Can the sequences of Marionette''s Kiss or Fool truly represent the essence of all devils?"


    "I understand," Yvonne murmured as though a puzzle that had long troubled her had finally been solved. She was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, and the other three girls shed silent tears. From the moment Yvonne began asking questions, the conversation between her and Marvin was incomprehensible to everyone else. In unison, they all felt an unspoken shame for their own lack of knowledge.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Then what is the specific elixir formula?" Yvonne clutched onto her last hope and asked.


    "Of course I do not remember," Marvin said. "There are ten elixirs in one complete path. How could I possibly remember every formula?"


    "Very well," Yvonne replied, which was exactly what she had expected. Even obtaining the complete Purgatorial Succubus bloodline path and elixir combination would be the greatest reward for her. After all, even more difficult than finding a specific formula is not knowing which formula one should be searching for!


    Marvin truly is a treasure trove of secret knowledge! Could it be that he really is a descendant of an ancient extraordinary family? The Fontaine family, the Fontaine family... Yvonne lost herself in daydreams of endless possibility, almost shedding a tear. If this were true, then this would be the golden ticket, and I must hold on tight and never let go.


    From today onward, I shall be a devoted member of this team! Farewell, father and mother! Farewell, Fromentia, my homeland!


    As Yvonne mentally severed ties with her work, family, and country, Nova finally reached her decision.


    "I have decided. I will choose the Melodist of dawn path."


    "Wise choice," Marvin nodded. At least this girl still remembered she had been selected as the healer for the team. "The first elixir in the Melodist of Dawn path is Bloomcore I. Be sure to note down its formula."


    "Very well," Nova agreed with a nod.


    "And what about you, Alice?" Marvin turned his gaze and asked. "What sort of bloodline do you wish to choose?"


    "Can I choose as well?" Alice said excitedly. "Is there a bloodline fit for knights?"


    "The Crusader bloodline. It belongs to the realm of righteous order, providing tremendous defensive strength and a significant boost to willpower," Marvin explained. "Another option is the Royal Guard bloodline, which offers a more balanced offense and defense."


    "I choose the Crusader bloodline," Alice replied immediately.


    "Crusader bloodline. The first elixir is Justiciar X. Be sure to study its formula carefully," Marvin said.


    "X?" Nova asked in curiosity. "Shouldn''t it be a Level I sequence?"


    "Some special sequences exist only as X," Yvonne answered on Marvin''s behalf. "X is also known as the Keystone Sequence, usually placed first in its bloodline path. It provides extraordinary passive bonuses."


    "I see," Nova noted feverishly as she scribbled down more notes.


    "Aurora," Marvin finally said, "regarding the two vampire bloodline paths we discussed earlier, ''Scion of vermilion Tide'' and ''Scourge of the Night'', which one do you intend to choose?"


    "Scourge of the Night," Aurora answered. "And the second elixir is ''Life Drain,'' correct?"


    "Indeed," Marvin said, a note of surprise in his voice. The name ''Scourge of the Night'' was hardly attractive, and most female players would not choose such a bloodline. He did not expect Aurora to be so fond of it.


    "Mr. Marvin..." Nova began to ask again.


    "Just call me Marvin," he said gently. "What is your question?"


    "How does one obtain the specific formula corresponding to a designated elixir?" Nova asked.


    I usually ask on the forums... Marvin swallowed the words that nearly escaped him and sighed, "It is all a matter of chance. You may participate in some unofficial secret gatherings of extraordinary ones or join certain extraordinary organizations to trade for the formulas."


    "Speaking of secret gatherings of extraordinary ones, I happen to know a few," Yvonne said proactively. "There is one scheduled for this evening."


    ...


    Zephandrel, modeled after ancient Pendragon''s ''City of Seven Hills,'' has designated seven peaks within the city, named from the First Hill to the Seventh Hill.


    Because transportation up the hills is inconvenient, these seven peaks have not been fully commercialized. They remain lush and green and serve as a major spot for residents to cool off in summer. Naturally, many secret gatherings favor mountain locations. If the church discovers such a gathering, everyone scatters into the woods, and most can escape. In the city, however, the streets are filled with ancient security cameras from long-lost technologies.


    The secret gathering of extraordinary ones that Yvonne mentioned was to take place on the Seventh Hill. Located next to the inner city wall of Zephandrel, the area around it was sparsely populated.


    They took the "Central Street" metro line, passing through Zenhol Square Station and Boviss Square Station, and got off at the "Golden Gate Station." Then they made their way up Seventh Hill.


    As a natural vantage point near the city wall, Seventh Hill had once been a key military restricted area in the Third Epoch. In the Fourth Epoch, after the ancient Pendragon Empire had come to dominate the continent, the area was opened. Along the way, abandoned outposts and watchtowers could still be seen.


    The secret meeting place was located in a mountain villa. After trekking on the mountain road for nearly an hour, the group finally arrived at the villa''s entrance. At the reception desk, Yvonne casually knocked three times and, using a prearranged code word, said, "We need a chess room to pass the time."


    "We do not have a chess room here," the attendant said with a knowing smile. "Only a large conference room, though it is currently rented out for a masquerade ball."


    "May we join?" Yvonne asked.


    "Certainly, Master. How many people?" The attendant asked, his eyes roaming over Marvin and the others.


    "Five," Yvonne replied.


    The attendant''s gaze swept over Marvin and the others, and he looked a bit puzzled. Extraordinary ones tend to be secretive and distrustful of one another, often coming alone or in pairs. A trio was already rare; five¡­ could it be that you belong to a secret organization? Out on missions? Perhaps even church agents?


    "Three of my friends are ordinary people," Yvonne explained, using her psychic vision to notice an orange-yellow aura of suspicion on the attendant. "Bring them along so they can see if there is any chance for them to join as beginners."


    "I see," the attendant said, evidently carrying some sort of aura-identifying device. After a brief inspection, he nodded. "Yes, dancing is an activity that requires skill and knowledge. Once you change into your masks in the changing room, pass through the door next to the cabinet."


    Thus, the five of them crossed the reception desk and entered the changing room on the right. As soon as they entered, Yvonne sniffed the air and said, "This room is protected by anti-peeping and divination wards... Each of you, please find a mask and a hooded robe. We are about to disguise ourselves."