CHAPTER 201: ARCANA REGIA [3]

"When did you awaken it?"

The card dissolved.

"Recently."

Elina’s answer came short.

She turned around. Put her back to him again.

"Just go away now, cheater. I need to train."

She moved back to the center of the training floor. Her stance shifted. Feet planting. Hands coming up.

Golden light began to gather around her fists again.

Alaric stood there. Watching her rigid posture.

System. Can you scan her?

A pause.

Then—

The translucent panel materialized in his vision.

[Name: Elina Glimor]

[Race: Human]

[Age: 18]

[Essence Path: Body (A-Rank)]

[Bloodline: Vinculum Regia {Legendary}] (Partially Awakened)

[Rank: C]

[STR: 148]

[AGI: 121]

[END: 140]

[WIL: 125]

[CHA: 122]

[INT: 90]

Alaric’s eyes widened.

Legendary bloodline.

And it’s only partially awakened.

His mind raced.

That’s why the technique was so powerful. Why it cut through my fire like it was nothing.

Legendary-tier bloodlines are... fuck. One in millions. Maybe rarer.

And she’s only accessed a fraction of it.

His eyes tracked back to where Elina trained. Her glowing fists striking invisible targets. Each movement precise. Powerful.

Alaric turned away. Moved toward a different section of the training ground to where weapons hung on racks along the wall. Swords. Spears. Staffs. Training equipment of various types.

His hand reached out. Fingers wrapped around a practice sword’s grip.

He pulled it free.

I’ve been neglecting this for long.

He moved to an open space.

His stance shifted. Feet planted. Sword held at ready position.

Then he began.

The movements came back slowly.

First form. Basic strikes. Overhead. Diagonal. Horizontal.

The blade cut through air.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

His footwork followed. Step. Pivot. Reset.

Again. And again.

The motions grew smoother. More natural. Like polishing rust off old steel.

Sweat began to build. First on his forehead. Then down his back. Soaking into his shirt.

He pushed through it. Moved into more complex forms.

Combinations. Feints. Counters.

The sword became an extension of his arm. The training hall fading away until only the blade and the movement existed.

Minutes turned into an hour.

His breathing grew heavier.

But his strikes stayed precise. Controlled.

Finally, he stopped.

The sword lowered. His chest heaved with exertion.

"Haa... haa..."

He stood there for a moment. Just breathing. Letting his heart rate settle.

Then walked back to the weapon rack. Returned the practice sword to its place.

He moved to the bench near the wall. Dropped onto it.

Grabbed a cloth. Wiped at his face. His neck.

He leaned back against the wall. Closed his eyes for a moment.

Then opened them.

Status.

The familiar panel materialized in front of him.

[STATUS]

Name: Brandon ___ (Past Life: Alaric Noir)

Race: ____

Age: _____

Bloodline: _____ (Partially Awakened)

Title: Slave, Model Servant, Prince of Blackthorn, (The Fallen King)

Essence Path: The Path of #$#&##@##

Sub-Path: Flame, Lightning

Rank: C

EXP: 900/15,000

Stats:

STR: 133

AGI: 134

END: 132

WIL: 132

CHA: 272

INT: 132 (??)

Free Stat Points: 345

DP: 2,700

Skill Tree:

•Basic Lightning Spells (F): Lightning Bolt

•Intermediate Fire Spell (B): Fireball, Flame Arrow, Burst Step

•Scorchblade Arts (S):

°1st Form – Flame Blade

°2nd Form – Flame Slash

°3rd Form – Blazing Mirage

•Dominion’s Gaze (A)

•Regnant Strike (B)

•Obedience Chains (A)

•Gluttony (S)

•Subjects (S)

Scanner

Shop: Advanced Tier Items

Obedience Meter: 1 (80%)

Loyalty Meter: 1 (95%)

DP Exchange: Available

Fuse: (Usage: Once a day)

System Level: 4

Next Upgrade: 100,000 DP

??? (System Level 5 required)

His crimson eyes tracked across the information. Taking in the numbers. The skills. The titles that refused to reveal themselves fully.

345 free stat points.

That was... substantial.

My physical stats are balanced. All around 130.

CHA is... fuck. 272.

That was massive boost.

But it wasn’t his priority right now.

System. Allocate my remining stats points.

STR: 133 → 145 (Max)

AGI: 134 → 145 (Max)

END: 132 → 145 (Max)

WIL: 132 → 145 (Max)

INT: 132 (??)→ 145 (??) (Max)

Free Stat Points: 283

Heat slammed into him like a wave. Started in his chest. Radiated outward.

His muscles seized. Every fiber contracting at once.

He gasped. Tried to breathe through it.

Then started to fade.

Slowly. Gradually.

His muscles relaxed.

His vision cleared.

He sat there. Breathing hard. Sweat pouring down his face.

His hand came up. Ruffled through his damp hair. Frustrated.

"Why is her strength stat 148 while mine maxes at 145?"

We’re the same rank. Both C-rank. So why—

His eyes tracked across the training hall. Found Elina still practicing. Still striking with those glowing fists.

Her movements were powerful. Explosive.

Maybe due to her bloodline?

He nodded slowly. The pieces fitting together.

"Yeah. Has to be because of it."

Bloodlines rewrite the rules. That’s the whole point of them.

Mine is... whatever the system won’t show me. Also partially awakened. But clearly not affecting my physical stats the same way.

Different bloodlines. Different benefits.

He leaned forward. Elbows on his knees. His breathing finally settling back to normal.

But his attention shifted. Moved away from stats and bloodlines.

Focused on something else in his interface. A function he’d been ignoring. Neglecting for too long.

His eyes fixed on the interface.

Open Shop.

The display shifted. Changed. And a new window materialized in his vision.

[SHOP - ADVANCED TIER]

-Standard Healing Potion:(250 DP)

Instantly restores 30% of max Health. Can mend minor fractures and deep lacerations.

Limit: 10 per week.

-Essence-Core Potion:(300 DP)

Instantly restores 40% of max Mana/Essence

.

Limit: 10 per week.

-Adept’s Focus Elixir :(275 DP)

Grants a state of "Heightened Perception" for 30 minutes, boosting INT and WIS by +5. Critical for complex spell-casting or breaking illusions.

Limit: 3 per week.

-Essence-Infused Steel Blade: (1200 DP)

A masterwork blade infused with basic essence, making it magically sharp and durable.

No Limit.

-Skill Attunement Tome: (8000 DP)

Allows the user to select one existing skill and instantly raise its rank.

Limit: Only 1 available per month.

-Sanctum Seed: (25,000 DP)

A rare seed that can be planted in a location of power. Will grow into a "Lesser Sanctum" over one month, creating a small, persistent pocket-dimension (10x10 meters) for the user to use as a safe house or workshop.

Only 1 available per year.

-Beginner Lightning Spell Pack: (1000 DP)

Grants two beginner-level lightning spells:

• [Static Shock]: A minor ranged jolt.

• [Spark]: Creates a distracting flash of light and sound.

-Intermediate Lightning Spell Pack: (2200 DP)

Grants beginner and two intermediate-level lightning spells:

• [Jolt Step]: A short-range dash that cloaks the user in lightning, damaging enemies passed through.

• [Static Field]: Creates a 5-meter aura that slows enemies and delivers minor, continuous shock damage.

-[Flame Sphere] (4000 DP)

A spell that erupts a 5-meter-radius wall of fire around the caster, trapping enemies within or keeping them out.

-[Immolation Aura] (3500 DP)

A sustained "toggle" spell. Cloaks the user’s body in a searing aura that damages any enemy in melee range and provides high heat resistance.

-Wind Affinity Seed: (700 DP)

Unlocks Wind Affinity. (One-time purchase)

-Beginner Wind Spell Pack (800 DP)

-Earth Affinity Seed: (700 DP)

Unlocks Earth Affinity.

-Beginner Earth Spell Pack: (800 DP)

-Shadow Affinity Seed: (1500 DP)

-Basic Shadow Spell Pack: (2000 DP)

-[Conceal Presence] (6500 DP)

Allows the user to actively suppress their killing intent, aura, and physical presence, making them effectively "uninteresting" and invisible senses.

[Current DP: 2,700]