Chapter 28
Simultaneously with the rampage, the Gwiyeong Spear embedded in its shadow was violently ejected.
At the same time, the head rolling on the floor flew like a magnet and snapped back onto its original body.
Suho immediately distanced himself.
‘It’s about to start.’
The rampaging prince.
This wasn’t an unexpected scenario.
It was a predetermined sequence.
This was the beginning of its Phase 2.
– I will never… never forgive you…!
A chilling echo that sent shivers down his spine.
A powerful aura emanated, incomparable to before.
At the same time, Blood Scream spread in all directions, and Suho barely blocked it.
Its name and level had changed.
Level 80.
If not for the Blood Golem and Centenary Bat, the level difference would have been over 30.
Suho immediately drew the Pure Silver Spear.
A holy enchantment was layered onto the Pure Silver Spear.
Upon reaching level 50, instead of acquiring a new skill, all Healer skills had been upgraded to rank A.
Without hesitation, Suho threw the Pure Silver Spear at the creature.
Shiiiing!!
The A-rank Throwing Spear cut through the air toward the creature.
The Cursed Prince swung his arm, summoning a blood-red whip to deflect the Pure Silver Spear.
– I will never… never forgive you…!
The prince cursed, shedding bloody tears.
The blood-red whip he summoned was the Cursed Prince’s Blood Weapon.
‘As expected, ordinary weapons won’t work.’
Even though he had imbued the Pure Silver Spear with an A-rank Holy Enchant, it was futile.
Still, it’s fine.
Suho now had his own Blood Weapon.
He raised his hand and activated the skill.
Shwaaa!
Blood gushed from Suho’s hand, forming a long sword.
The sword’s design resembled the cherished sword Suho had once held until his final moment.
He decided to call it the Blood Sword.
‘The attack power and durability of the Blood Weapon depend on my stats.’
Meaning, Suho’s current Blood Weapon was equivalent to the Red rank.
He believed it was enough to face the Cursed Prince.
With three Red stats and the Cursed Prince below level 100, Suho thought it was a fair balance.
As Suho took his stance, the excited prince swung the blood whip at him.
Fwick!
The whip tore through the air.
As the whip end approached, Suho stepped forward and wrapped the Blood Sword around the whip.
Then, he pulled the tightened whip.
As the holy enchantment layered onto the Blood Sword, a crackling sound was heard, and the whip end burned and snapped.
The Cursed Prince’s eyes widened.
Simultaneously, Suho’s lips curled into a smile.
“It’s all about the quality of the weapon.”
With a similar rank Blood Weapon, Suho had the added advantage of Holy Power.
Confirming his superior power, Suho closed the distance without hesitation.
– Where do you think you’re going!
Blood Scream poured out.
Suho spread the Blood Sword wide to block all the attacks and then narrowed the blade again.
“This works, huh.”
– ……!!
Suho had received many tips about Blood Weapons from the Blood Emperor.
One tip was that Blood Weapons were not fixed in shape but could be transformed in real-time.
Returning the Blood Sword to its original form, Suho swung it with increased momentum.
Slash!
The accelerated blade successfully severed one of the prince’s arms.
– Graaaah!!
The prince screamed.
At the same time, an even faster and larger quantity of Blood Scream spewed from the prince.
‘Damn!’
Suho tried to spread the Blood Sword again, but the Blood Scream was quicker.
Countless needle-like Blood Screams pierced Suho’s body. But.
‘…Huh?’
It was more bearable than he thought… No. Rather, it didn’t hurt at all.
It wasn’t a boast or an exaggeration.
It was true.
At most, it felt like being pricked by a thorn.
‘Why is this?’
Because his stamina stat was high?
Definitely not.
Even with high stamina, it only increased overall HP and the recovery ability.
While skin, flesh, and bones were slightly strengthened, it wasn’t dramatic enough to expect such a change.
This was why equipment items were crucial.
But this time, it really didn’t hurt.
Why?
At that moment, a skill popped into Suho’s mind.
‘Oh, it’s because of Dragon Skin.’
The ability created when the second lock of Dragon Blood was unlocked—Dragon Skin.
Dragon Skin granted the ability to have the skin of a dragon.
‘I never thought it would be this effective.’
Though it wasn’t true dragon skin, it still significantly enhanced his body.
To an incomparable degree.
Thanks to this, Suho felt he could face the monster with more confidence.
Suho raised the Blood Sword high and activated the skill.
And then.
SLASH!
Without hesitation, Suho swung the sword down.
A long cut appeared on the creature’s neck, and it couldn’t withstand Suho’s strike, falling once again.
Suho didn’t miss the chance and kicked the head with all his might.
Then he summoned the Gwiyeong Spear and threw it at the creature’s shadow, hitting it accurately.
Crash!
The Gwiyeong Spear embedded itself precisely in the creature’s shadow.
[ Shadow Bleed is activated. ]
– Graaaah!!
The Cursed Prince screamed in pain.
Simultaneously, its body, separated from its head, began flailing and swinging its claws.
Fwoosh!
Even though it had entered Phase 2, all it could do was flail headlessly.
Suho began systematically dismembering its body.
– Guuuh! Ggguuuuh!
As Suho hacked at the body, the head entangled in the binding screamed in agony.
However, it could only make groaning sounds, unable to move its lips.
Thud!
The dismembered body collapsed.
A large amount of blood poured out from the fallen body, soaking the floor.
All that remained was to crush the head.
But instead of immediately smashing it, Suho reached out towards the fallen corpse.
As the bloodsucking skill activated, the blood pooled on the floor began to rush towards Suho’s hand as if being vacuumed.
Just as the Blood Emperor had said.
While it’s common for vampires to use their mouths to suck blood, the skill allowed Suho to absorb blood without using his mouth.
As he began to absorb the blood, a translucent glass orb appeared in Suho’s vision, gradually filling with blood.
Only Suho could see the Blood Prison.
‘So this is how it’s confirmed.’
It was similar to a lich’s life vessel.
As he continued to absorb the blood, the Cursed Prince’s convulsions became more severe.
The prince could feel it too.
He knew his precious blood was being drained in real-time.
But regardless of the creature’s struggles, Suho absorbed every last drop of blood.
Once the absorption was complete, he grabbed the prince’s head, which now struggled even to twitch.
– You bastard…!
It was a fascinating sight.
The Cursed Prince, nearly drained of blood, looked like a dried-up mummy.
Suho summoned the Gwiyeong Spear.
After coating it with Holy Power, he threw the head into the air.
Then he threw the spear at the head.
Pierce!
Unlike the initial deflection, the weakened prince’s head was easily pierced and pinned to the wall.
The head quivered for a moment before going limp.
System notifications began to pour in.
[ The gate has been cleared. ]
[ The MVP of the gate is ‘Ahn Suho.’ ]
[ Additional experience points are awarded for MVP selection. ]
[ A bonus stat point is awarded for MVP selection. ]
[ The hidden gate has been cleared. ]
[ You have successfully cleared the hidden gate alone. ]
[ The system awards you 5 bonus stat points for your outstanding achievement. ]
[ You have leveled up. ]
[ All stats have increased by 1. ]
[ You have gained 1 bonus stat point. ]
The notifications were markedly different from the Tower of Trials.
Additionally, his level increased.
It was expected.
The Cursed Prince’s level was nearly 80.
Then, the Shadow Predator option of the Gwiyeong Spear began to activate.
[ The Gwiyeong Spear absorbs the Cursed Prince’s shadow. ]
[ The Gwiyeong Spear is strengthened. ]
[ The Gwiyeong Spear has completely absorbed the Cursed Prince’s shadow. ]
The Cursed Prince was indeed formidable, but his magic power alone wasn’t enough to unlock the next stage.
No matter.
There were still plenty of beings in the world to feed to the Gwiyeong Spear.
Finally, a portal to the outside appeared before his eyes.
But Suho was still waiting for something.
Then it happened.
[ The system has decided to grant you a trait suitable for your talent. ]
[ You have acquired ‘New Blood.’ ]
[ You have gained a unique trait. ]
[ The system awards you 10 bonus stat points for your outstanding achievement. ]
It was done.
Finally, the trait appeared.
But…
‘What’s New Blood supposed to be?’
New Blood.
A term he had never heard before.
Really.
Even after searching through the Library of Memories, he had never come across the term New Blood.
Still, it didn’t feel bad.
The system had deemed New Blood a great achievement.
‘There are no negative connotations to a great achievement. If the system recognizes it as a great achievement, it must be something everyone would praise.’
With a racing heart, Suho checked the information on New Blood.
Or rather, he was about to when—
[ Skill information has changed. ]
[ You have acquired Vampire Blood. ]
‘Huh?’
The seal on Vampire Blood, which Suho had sought, was lifted.
