Chapter 14 : Mei's transformation
Ethan lounged lazily on his couch, arms sprawled over the plush green cushions. His chamber, decorated in elegant green and white, radiated a peaceful atmosphere—
Behind him, Ellie stood in her usual silent posture, an ever-watchful shadow. In front of him stood Mei Suzane, a young woman with striking Eastern features. Her silky black hair cascaded to her lower back, and her dark eyes, once filled with hesitation, now gleamed with a quiet power.
Mei had changed.
Five years of relentless training had hardened her, molding her into the blade she swore to become for Ethan. She was no longer the lost girl who once trembled at the thought of failure—she had survived, climbed, fought, and earned her place.
But Ethan wasn't satisfied yet.
He studied her, his green eyes flickering with something unreadable. "How's the Tower treating you?" he asked, his voice light, yet carrying an undertone of expectation.
Mei immediately knelt, head lowered. "My lord, with the resources you've provided, I encountered no difficulty clearing Floor 20."
She wasn't exaggerating. With the sheer number of platinum coins, potions, and skill books Ethan had dumped on her, Floor 20—a brutal war survival challenge—had been nothing more than an extended training session.
Ethan nodded, satisfied. Then, without hesitation, he spoke bluntly.
"I called you here to unlock your bloodline."
Silence.
Mei blinked. "…My what?"
Even Ellie, ever composed, tilted her head slightly.
Ethan smirked. That was the expected reaction.
Bloodlines were no joke. Even among powerful families, they were rare and often tied to ancient legacies. Ethan's own family had none. So the fact that Mei—an orphaned maid, supposedly picked up off the streets—possessed one? That was suspicious.
He had looked into her past before. The records were clean. The Head Maid had found her wandering, alone, and after verifying she wasn't a spy, took her in. That was it.
But now, with his System, he knew that wasn't the whole story.
'Just don't let it be one of those cliché hidden clan dramas… I don't have time for that.' Ethan sighed internally. He had enough on his plate—he still had to deal with the Bloodsanguine family, climb the Tower, and, most importantly, get himself out of E-rank before he lost his mind.
But first things first.
"I know it sounds strange," Ethan admitted, "but my skill lets me see the profiles of my followers. That's how I know."
Mei and Ellie exchanged a glance, but their reactions were muted. Five years of witnessing Ethan's absurdity had numbed them to surprises.
Mei took a deep breath and clenched her fists.
"…How do I unlock it, my lord?"
Her voice was steady, but Ethan caught the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
Good. She was thinking.
Mei wasn't stupid—she understood what this meant. If she had a locked bloodline, then something had sealed it away. Why? And who did it?
But she didn't ask.
Instead, she chose to move forward.
Ethan smiled. That's why she was his sword.
'System, buy a drop of Phoenix God's Blood. And before that, activate a space-time barrier around the chamber.'
Instantly, the air around them shifted.
Time outside the room slowed to a near halt. Space itself was sealed off, ensuring that no one—not even Iris or Lionnel—could sense what was about to happen.
A single drop of burning red liquid materialized in Ethan's palm.
[Total cost: 12 million Karmic Points.]
Ethan's body trembled. He put a hand over his mouth, his face twitching violently.
'I have to hold it in. I can't scream again.'
He failed.
A muffled voice burst out. "DAMNNNNNNN."
Mei and Ellie stared.
"…Master?" Ellie asked cautiously.
Ethan straightened, waving a hand nonchalantly. "Nothing, nothing. Just needed to digest something."
Ellie remained unconvinced. Mei, however, was laser-focused on the glowing vial of blood.
"This will awaken my bloodline?" she asked.
Ethan nodded. "Normally, this would be impossible at your rank. But because your bloodline is already in you, you'll survive."
Mei hesitated.
For the first time, doubt crept into her expression.
Ethan noticed.
She wasn't scared of pain—no, she had endured too much to be afraid of that. What unsettled her was the unknown.
What if she changed too much? What if she lost control?
What if she became someone she didn't recognize?
Ethan leaned forward, his green eyes locking onto hers. "I know that look, Mei."
She stiffened.
"You're worried about losing yourself. But listen—nothing about you will change. You'll just become more of who you were meant to be."
His voice was calm. Certain.
Mei swallowed.
That was all she needed to hear.
She took the vial. Tilted it. Drank.
—Instant agony.
Flames erupted from her skin.
She gasped, clutching her chest as searing heat surged through her veins, burning away anything human and filthy within her.
Ethan activated another barrier, keeping himself and Ellie safe as Mei collapsed onto the floor.
She screamed.
Her bones cracked, muscles tore, her blood boiled—and then, suddenly, rebuilt itself stronger.
The ground beneath her blackened. Fire roared around her, consuming everything in its path.
And then—
A single golden feather materialized above her heart.
Her black hair shifted to a deep crimson, flowing like molten lava. Her eyes turned gold, burning like miniature suns. Her aura exploded, washing over the room like an inferno.
Even Ethan felt the pressure.
Minutes passed.
Then, at last, the flames died down.
And Mei stood.
She was changed.
Taller. Sharper. Dangerous.
Her posture was perfect, exuding an elegance that hadn't been there before. Her new kimono robes—woven from golden threads—shimmered under the light.
Ethan let out a low whistle. "Wow, Mei. You were beautiful before, but now?"
And at that —
Mei's face turned crimson—an amusing contrast to her new fiery aesthetic. She immediately averted her gaze, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
Even after her transformation, she was still shy.
Ethan's smirk widened. Good. She was still Mei.
He chuckled. "You're truly cute."
Mei froze.
Then, as if her brain had short-circuited, she suddenly looked everywhere except at him.
Ellie, watching from the sidelines, sighed internally. This idiot doesn't even realize what he's doing to her.
Ethan, amused, turned back to the System.
'Alright. Show me her profile now.'
—End of Chapter 14—