Meanwhile, on the mountain where Jacob's father shepherded the flock of sheep, Archmage Duke Dennis had at long last arrived following a succession of intricate teleportations. He had been transported to the Gumpfrey Region via the church's complex teleportation circle and then arrived at Kline Village and ascended the mountain through a series of teleportations utilizing his own power, as the distance was still great considering the church was unable to perform a targeted teleportation to an unfamiliar area.
Upon reaching the summit of the mountain, Archmage Dennis commenced arranging various apparatus from a briefcase he had carried with him. While engrossed in this task, he maintained his spiritual sense over the entire expanse of the mountain, ensuring that should any untoward event occur, he would be promptly aware, enabling him to respond effectively.
As the Archmage Dennis finished arranging the equipment, he turned around to survey the mountain for any peculiarities or clues regarding the detected anomaly.
One could hardly fathom his bewilderment when, upon turning around, he discovered a figure adorned in plain farmer's clothing, casually leaning against a tree, scrutinizing his every move. He regarded the humbly attired man with trepidation, as even while focusing on the man, he found himself incapable of detecting the man's presence through his spiritual sense. It was as though the man did not truly exist, but rather was an illusion conjured by his mind.
"Duke, long time no see," the gentleman greeted with a warm smile. Archmage Duke Dennis was taken aback in sheer terror as he recognized the unmistakable voice. It belonged to a man etched into his memory for eternity. He swiftly descended to one knee, bowing deeply. "It is an honor to be in your presence once more, Lord Death," he uttered with a quivering voice, a sheen of cold sweat forming on his back.
"Not at all, the pleasure is all mine, Duke. I have relinquished that title quite some time ago. So, what brings you here to my pleasant little village? I've developed quite a fondness for this tranquil little rural place and its inhabitants," inquired the farmer man. Archmage Duke Dennis did not dare lower his vigilance and responded, "An irregularity was identified here, and I was dispatched by the supreme commander to investigate and report back."
"Well, kindly inform him that I have established dominion over this village and its surrounding expanse, and his inquiries are unwelcome. Otherwise, I shall be compelled to personally address him should he persist," the farmer declared with a gleaming smile. Before the archmage could formulate a reply, the enigmatic figure known as Death clapped his hands, and the Duke vanished.
When Archmage Duke Dennis reemerged, he found himself within the capital, in the sanctuary of his residence. Having been caught off guard and briefly unsettled, he took a moment to collect his thoughts before hastily making his way to inform the supreme commander of this alarming incident, acutely aware that any matters pertaining to Death were of paramount importance.
Duke arrived at a covert, undisclosed location and performed a series of taps on the door, followed by a retina scan. In response, a hidden door seamlessly opened within the wall. As he stepped inside, the door closed softly, leaving no evidence of its peculiar presence. Duke approached a clerk, who was attired in a pristine robe and donned one of the organization's signature masks, seated at a desk equipped with a computer. He promptly expressed his urgent request to meet with the supreme commander.
***
Back in the forest
Jacob found himself being pulled by the oppressive force that seized control of his body as he traversed the dense forest. Before long, he caught sight of the entrance to a cavern and was inexorably drawn towards it. Internally, Jacob lamented his recent penchant for caves.
He entered the depths with curiosity as he was drawn through its passageways. Suddenly, he found himself in an open chamber, its scale mesmerizing. As he moved deeper, the suffocating presence around him diminished, allowing him to rest on the ground.
Jacob rose from the ground, brushing off the dust that clung to his clothes. In the dimly lit chamber, a mysterious silhouette caught his attention with a snort, gradually approaching on all fours. He observed the colossal shadow with a mix of awe and trepidation, realizing it surpassed even the largest of bears in sheer magnitude.
As the creature drew near to Jacob, it elegantly lowered itself to the earth and fixed its gaze upon him with its intense eyes. Jacob found himself entranced by this remarkable entity, boasting the shell of a turtle, the robust paws of a bear, the tail of a lion, wings reminiscent of an eagle, and a striking combination of a lion's head with a hawk's beak. The mere appearance of such a mythical beast left Jacob in a state of wonder, eclipsing anything he had ever witnessed, even in the most captivating of fairy tales.
Suddenly, the voice of the creature reverberated directly within Jacob's consciousness, stating, "I discern an essence of fate residing within you, yet the intricate strands of destiny entwined around you remain elusive and devoid of a conclusive endpoint."
Jacob found himself momentarily speechless, but luckily, the creature continued, "It seems you are intertwined with several influential entities. Even my powers are being hindered in my efforts to access your memories."
In that moment, the creature detected a familiar scent in the air, and a spark of recognition ignited in its eyes. "Why not forge a covenant with me? I shall remain at your side for 500 years, journeying together on your quest. I am eager to observe the limits of your adventure," the creature chuckled, reflecting on a particular person who appeared to have a connection with the young boy.
At this point, L's voice echoed in Jacob's consciousness, imploring him to embrace this extraordinary opportunity. Jacob recognized no drawbacks in partnering with such a mighty being and promptly conceded to the creature's offer.
The entity cackled and brandished its claw, embedding it into the soil before utilizing its own lifeblood to inscribe an eight-pointed star within a circlet surrounding itself. It commanded Jacob to allow a drop of his blood to fall into the formation, which then began to radiate an ethereal light.
The entity conveyed to Jacob that, given its immense power far surpassed his, Jacob would need to eliminate it and absorb its spirit into his own. In doing so, the being's strength would be diminished, and its corporeal form would gradually be reshaped over time.
Jacob channeled his mana through his being and underwent his transformation. The intricate tattoo adorning his chest radiated a soft glow as he called forth his majestic sword. The formidable beast, sensing Jacob's power, willingly lowered its natural defenses, allowing him to deftly aim for its vulnerable neck. Despite the beast's cooperation and weakened defenses, Jacob encountered considerable difficulty in successfully severing the beast's head.
Upon the decapitation, the beast's voice continued to resound in Jacob's mind, telling him that he would have to destroy its brain to properly kill it, otherwise, in a few moments, it would auto-regenerate. Jacob was baffled, but he stabbed his sword into the beasts eye to destroy its brain nonetheless. The sword released a powerful pulse once inside the beast's head, destroying its brain.
Upon the demise of the creature, its vital essence diverged into two distinct streams. One was absorbed by his sword, while the other solidified into the form of the beast and infiltrated Jacob through his forehead, where a cocoon formed within his subconscious mind.
Jacob felt an intense wave of pleasure take over his being as shivered uncontrollably. His system pinged reminding that in all this time he had not checked his status to see how much head benefited from his slaughter.
Name: Jacob
Species: Human
Bloodline power: Crimson Sword
Title: Scarlet Sovereign (Inheritor)
Speed: 48 (30)
Dexterity: 52 (30)
Strength: 98 (30)
Perception: 71 (40)
Focus:53 (20)
Vitality: 120 (30)
Mana:3,000
Companion: Chimera (Stasis)
Skills
Rulers Might (Active)
User utilizes bloodline power to increase all stats. Scales with user's strength.
Remark: "A monarch gazes down upon all others and stands unparalleled."
Explosion (Passive)
Whenever the user's life is in danger and is directly targeted, all stats are boosted by a multiple of 10 for 5 minutes. This places extreme stress on the body and will leave user incapacitated for an unspecified period of time.
Recovery (Active)
User utilizes the essence of those slain to recuperate and nurse injuries. The stronger the essence of the slain, the more apparent the effect
Crimson Sword (Active)
User utilizes the essence of the slain to cultivate and increase the strength of users bloodline ability.
Jacob viewed the update to his stats with an open jaw, unbelieving of how much this one venture had improved him.