BLAIR | Chapter. 167: New Plans (Patreon)

Chapter. 167: New Plans

No, I knew it was a great opportunity, but given their reactions, I didn’t truly understand how much of an opportunity it was. Nothing that could make a Monarch’s eyes widen was a normal thing. However, before I could ask or infer anything, I got a thumbs up from across the room coming from none other than Leon.

“As expected of you, you completely and utterly shattered the evolution requirements.”

I blinked, as Lumina and Elasia nodded as they let go of me.

“Right.”

However, he continued speaking without pause.

“I’m happy to have given you the blood vial, perhaps it was the last push you needed. After all, you also have three Grand Feats.” He nodded to himself. “Incredibly impressive if I say so myself. As expected of the child of Calamity and my sibling.”

Sibling? Suddenly the memories of being called his sister came flooding in and my confusion increased tenfold. I looked at Elasia who gave me a shrug, and then at Lumina. Her eyes met mine for a moment, before she spoke.

“Let us sort the family situation later, okay?” She averted her gaze awkwardly before letting out a breath and meeting my eyes. “No, whatever. Leon at some point was something like my kid, and therefore technically your sibling.”

“He was your kid.” Elasia corrected.

“I treated him like one.” Lumina snorted. “So yes, that’s the idea I suppose. But I don’t really consider Leon my kid any longer, he is a slave if anything.”

“Your slave,” Leon said with a cold tone. “And it’s fine, I just wish to repay the boon you brought me by helping Blair achieve great things.”

My mind paused. Uh huh.

“Well there you have it.” Elasia shrugged, essentially dismissing the topic. “Now that that is out of the way, how about we discuss the Secondary Ascension, or rather talk about what it is.”

I thought for a moment, trying to forget about the precious conversation. Just observing Lumina I could tell she held no desire to speak about it. With that in mind, I focused on the actual starting topic. And there was a question that felt somewhat obvious.

"Isn't it just a better evolution?" I frowned, second-guessing as soon as I said it outloud. "It did mention something about creating a new bloodline."

"That is correct," Leon said. "It's your chance to be a unique existence."

"A unique existence?"

"A chance to be unique." Lumina gave a light cough as she continued. "It's what most integrated desire, especially during B Grade. It is a prerequisite to being a Monarch.”

I didn’t feel as if my question had been answered, instead I felt even more confused as I recalled a few things, namely; Leon’s blood and also Lumina’s notes in the Encyclopedia of the Dark that I still had around. Even though it was a Legendary item it didn’t seem all that useful to me. With all that in mind, I simply had a question.

“Aren’t you a dark dryad?”

Lumina nodded and then shook her head. “Yes and no. Just like Leon is a Tauri or whatever, I am also a Dark Dryad, but at the same time I am my own unique bloodline. I have intrinsic traits that no Dark Dryads will ever have, well not like they could since they are kind of dead.” She shrugged.

“Such as?” I pressed on.

“All wild Dark Plants are forcefully submitted to my will so long as I am a higher grade. So, the entire Crimson Stretch is at my command as soon as I step into the forest.”

I blinked. “That sort of sounds like…”

“Like the legendary skill you were offered?” Lumina asked with some surprise. “Sort of? Though mine is way better since it’s part of me. But that isn’t important, it simply just means that your entire being will undergo an upgrade. Even if you will always be technically a Deep Dark Elf, you will also be your own thing.”

I frowned. “I don’t really care for being a Deep Dark Elf, and The System doesn’t seem to recognize my race.”

“Ah, I remember that.” Lumina recalled. “It’s just a bunch of question-marks is it not?”

“Now it’s just question-marks with the word elf in parenthesis.” I sighed.

“Oh, so you will get to create your own race after this!” She piped up. “I mean, your race wasn’t cataloged by The System, so it doesn’t really understand what you are.”

“Right… And what does that represent?”

“Well, since you greatly surpassed the evolution requirements you might get some traits of the things you consumed?” Lumina said with a frown. “So, perhaps something dragon related and something blood related to Leon?”

And then, Lumina very much frowned.

“That thought somewhat pisses me off the more I think about it.”

“Well, it is what it is.” Elasia said with a shrug. “It’s not like we could’ve given her our blood and flesh anyway⁠—”

“No.” Lumina interrupted. “We still can, technically speaking both our blood and flesh are better than what Blair has already consumed, the question is, whether we should or not.”

I frowned. “I want my power to be earned, though what would I even get from Leon’s blood that I drank? Actually I should’ve just taken the dragon blood.”

“Because you drank my blood, you started the Secondary Ascension.” Leon said from the back, shaking his head. “But regarding what you would get from drinking my blood. I heard elves have a Perception stat, so that should climb up quite nicely, you might get a passive skill too.” He shrugged.

Lumina snapped her gaze towards Leon. “You planned this, didn’t you?”

There was a brief silence as I heard the grass rustle, but the tension in the air rose. Seemingly stilling for a moment as Lumina looked onward. I heard the wind blow outside for a moment before Leon spoke.

“Plan what?”

“For Blair to consume your blood and have part of you!” She spat in an accusing manner.

Leon flinched. “I just wanted to repay you⁠—”

“Stop lying.” Lumina gritted her teeth. Elasia seemed to sigh watching it. “You knew this would happen didn’t you?” She looked at Leon, her gaze digging into him.

Leon shrunk back slowly and began to tremble.

“I did not⁠—”

“The truth.” Lumina pushed.

And at that moment, I saw a weird emotion on his face, as he slowly opened his mouth. But there was no sound. Then, I realized. Leon felt a mix of regret and sadness. Lumina walked forward, seemingly trying to press him on.

“Stop, Lumina,” Elasia called. “We both know the truth.”

There was a change in demeanor and then, Lumina sighed.

I stared for a moment, before I shook my head. Perhaps I felt disappointment about Lumina, or perhaps it was something else, but things bothered me.

“I don’t really care whose blood or flesh I consume. The Secondary Ascension was supposed to be just great news, and perhaps news that would lead to me getting necessary information. They were never meant to turn into whatever this is.”

Lumina stared for a moment at me, surprise evident in her face, and then she took a breath and her expression returned to normal.

“You’re right, it is nothing but my selfish desire to think that you carry part of me inside of you, but you already carry part of all of us.” She closed her eyes. “I suppose, that that is all you need to know about the Secondary Ascension, now the question is⁠— how harsh are the ascension requirements?”

She opened her crimson eyes meeting my gaze, they sparkled like radiant gems, and then Elasia turned to look at me and so did Leon. All three Monarchs inside of the room awaited my answer with great expectations. I felt slight nervousness as I opened my mouth, it was a weird reaction.

“Reaching level 150, that is all, that’s the only requirement.”

They stared for a moment, Leon and Elasia blinked, and Lumina was the first one to speak.

“Huh? That’s it?” She worked her jaw. “Damn.”

Elasia’s eyes went wide. “That is quite generous of The System.”

“I don’t know what it represents, but all I can think of is that I’m glad,” Leon said from the side.

“Are they normally steep requirements?”

Lumina thought for a moment. “Maybe? I did it at B Grade and had to do a bunch of stuff including study Dark Plants in the Crimson Stretch for around fifty years. So, yours is very generous, yes.”

“Huh.”

I thought for a moment. I didn’t really understand why that had happened, to be honest I didn’t think I had done something super amazing. At the same time it sort of bothered me that the requirement was that easy. I thought I had gotten past the difficult hurdle, but it seemed that the actual hurdle were the requirements to actually achieve the Secondary Ascension.

“Well, doesn’t it just make sense?” Elasia said with a shrug. “The System rewards those that are promising seeds after all, it’s just how it works. The better one does, the more momentum they get. Blair is D Grade, not even C Grade, such a simple requirement is what The System perceives as fair.”

I frowned. “That’s quite stupid. I mean, I thought I had made it past the hard part, but turns out I just made it to the hardest part and that part is given to me for free?”

“Oh, but you did make it past the hard part.” Elasia blinked. “Don’t misunderstand, we just thought the requirements were going to be something like acquiring a fourth Grand Feat.”

Lumina nodded. “We were hoping to assist you, but this time around the answer is to just head to the Central Continent and kill more things. That reminds me.” She flicked her head to the side, and I heard a grunt and a thud outside along with sprouted vines. “I don’t like being observed.”

I blinked as I looked behind, and I saw a pair of bandages on the ground. Oh. I did leave Jain there, though I still didn’t know what to do with him. Something to think about for later I suppose. But it didn’t matter, it wasn’t the relevant thing.

“So all that is left for me to do is head to the Central Continent?”

“And kill lots and lots of things, yes.” Lumina said with a smile. “Then we can head to the Summit of Heroes in like a year, and hopefully by then this planet will be yours.”

I blinked. “Huh. What about the elves?”

“They are figuring themselves out,” Elasia said with a small smile. “Right now, it is time for you to step towards new horizons.”

“So, when should I set off?” I asked, raising my brow.

“Whenever you are ready, of course.” Lumina nodded as if it was obvious. “We will manage your city, well, El will. Make sure it doesn’t set itself on fire.”

“Right…”

* * * * *

Jain couldn’t believe what he had seen. The Immediate Death had quelled a Monarch’s anger and even told her off! Well somewhat, but now he understood that the person he desired to follow was no pawn. That was all the resolve he needed, he would do anything to serve her, and right now her concern seemed to be the elves.

With that in mind, he turned around and set off. He wouldn’t go on a killing spree, but he would make sure that no rebellions sprouted. He had heard from a human that there had been a rebellion before, so now he just had to prevent it.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

He would serve the Immediate Death until his last breath.

A/N: Sorry if chapter bad, today was a bad day