CHAPTER 207: SANGUINE SAGE COMPENDIUM

The crimson-covered book emitted a subtle but strangely intense aura, almost pulsating gently, radiating a compelling, albeit eerie energy.

Sitting upright decisively, Orion summoned the compendium into his hand. The smooth, leather-bound cover was cool yet oddly vibrant to the touch, as if subtly resonating with his heartbeat.

Its deep red hue reminded him unmistakably of fresh blood—rich, mysterious, and just a touch unsettling.

’Lumi,’ Orion murmured cautiously, his voice soft yet thoughtful, ’this Sanguine Sage Compendium feels... peculiar, doesn’t it? Do you know of something like this?’

Lumi’s voice grew contemplative, clearly intrigued yet cautious herself.

[I’ve never directly seen anything like this either, Master. But given the name of the Sanguine Sage, it’s surely no ordinary tome. You should probably approach it with caution. (¬‿¬;)]

Nodding slowly in agreement, Orion carefully opened the compendium. As soon as the cover parted, a sudden wave of pungent scent filled the room—a thick, coppery aroma unmistakably reminiscent of blood.

Orion’s eyes narrowed immediately, his heightened senses reacting sharply as an uncomfortable pressure instantly began to gather around his temples.

’This...’ Orion muttered softly, blinking heavily to clear the sudden dizziness, ’this book isn’t ordinary at all. The Sage definitely placed some powerful enchantment on it.’

[Master, are you alright?]

Lumi asked urgently, her voice tense with concern.

’It’s nothing serious, just a slight headache from the blood aura. But there’s definitely something odd going on here. I’ll try reading a little more carefully.’

Steeling his nerves, Orion focused carefully, flipping to the first page. Immediately, his vision blurred slightly, his mind assaulted by a strange series of twisted runic inscriptions shimmering in crimson ink.

The symbols seemed to twist and writhe before his eyes, almost alive with malevolent intent, refusing to settle into anything coherent.

Frustration crept across his features as Orion felt the pressure within his skull intensify. He stubbornly pushed onward, determined to comprehend at least something from the page.

However, the more he tried, the worse his headache grew—until finally, a sharp stab of pain erupted behind his eyes, forcing him to close the book swiftly.

’Ugh!’ Orion groaned quietly, pressing his palm against his forehead. ’Lumi, what exactly is this?’

Lumi hesitated slightly before offering her speculation.

[Master, judging by your reaction, this is probably a high-grade sealing spell placed by the Sanguine Sage himself. A common practice for powerful mages to ensure their knowledge only passes to those deemed worthy. Clearly, it’s a test of strength and comprehension. Σ(°△°|||)]

Orion’s expression grew contemplative again, rubbing his temples gently to alleviate the lingering pain. ’So that’s why it affected me so strongly. I have next to no comprehension of the blood element.’

He sighed softly, feeling mildly disappointed yet intrigued. ’Then, let’s try something else—perhaps the Eye of Revelation can help me decipher something from it.’

[Careful, Master! The Eye of Revelation consumes significant mana the more complex the thing you try to decipher and could further strain you!]

Lumi warned anxiously.

’Don’t worry, I’ll only glance briefly,’ Orion reassured calmly. Exhaling slowly to steady himself, he activated his Eye of Revelation skill.

Immediately, a vibrant golden glow appeared in his irises, sharpening his vision and unveiling hidden secrets.

Yet, the moment he directed the skill toward the compendium, a severe surge of pain erupted within his mind, and his mana visibly drained by at least five percent instantly.

The letters briefly shifted into something slightly readable before immediately reverting into incomprehensible, chaotic symbols.

Orion groaned sharply, snapping the book shut once more, breathing heavily from the sudden drain of mana. ’Damn it... it’s still too much.’

Lumi immediately chimed in, deeply worried,

[Master, please don’t strain yourself further! Your soul and mana aren’t ready yet. (﹏;)]

Orion nodded with disappointment, finally accepting his temporary limitations. ’You’re right. For now, we’ll set this compendium aside. I need to either become stronger or comprehend a little of the Blood element from somewhere else.’

Just then, from inside his mind, a sultry voice came,

[Ara~ Someone seems to be having trouble.]

Orion raised an eyebrow, while Lumi’s screen jumped around Orion as if ready to fight,

[It’s you! What do you want, you Cow-Dragon. (ง’̀-’́)ง]

[Hehe~ You seem to be having a problem with the Blood Element, right?]

Orion calmly nodded his head, ’Yes, do you have any solution?’

Asteraxa’s lips curled into an amused smile, [Oh my, why don’t you guess what kind of True Dragon I was back then?]

’...A Blood Dragon, huh?’ he softly asked back, picking up the hints she was dropping.

[Hehe, aren’t you quite the smart one? Yes, I was one of the Blood Dragonesses, and quite a high-ranking one at that.]

’So can you help me learn the Blood Intent?’ he eagerly asked, not giving a damn that she was a dragon of an advanced element as she was now his blood-bound sword.

Asteraxa’s lips twitched, seeing him ignore her lineage so quickly. Heaving a sigh, she said, [Not quite. You can’t wield me yet, and I’m far too damaged to teach you stuff.]

’...’

[...]

Lumi and Orion both became speechless hearing her words after the shameless boasting.

[But worry not, young man. With your talent and improvement speed—and this... weird system of yours—you should be able to reach a sufficiently high level.]

[Hey! Lumi is not weird! 凸(￣ヘ￣)]

Orion paused, ’You don’t know about Lumi? About the Limitless System? Or you simply don’t have memories of her?’

Asteraxa thought for a moment, [No, I don’t have any recollection of a Limitless System back then, but I have lost the majority of my memories as well, so I can’t be sure about it.]

Orion heaved a sigh and lay down to rest for a few minutes, sorting out his thoughts regarding the treasures he had just obtained and planning what to do with them.

After resting quietly for a few minutes, Orion finally opened his eyes, his thoughts clearer and more focused. He sat up slowly on his plush bed, exhaling softly as he mentally called out to Lumi.

’Alright, Lumi, I think it’s time we put some of these treasures to good use. First, let’s use the Instant-Insight Scroll – Nine-Step Quake.’

Lumi immediately responded with enthusiastic agreement.

[Great choice, Master! This skill will surely boost your mobility significantly! Let’s go! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧]

Orion nodded confidently, retrieving the scroll from his inventory. The parchment appeared delicate, inscribed with shimmering runes that pulsed rhythmically, almost as if eager to release their secrets.

He carefully unfolded the scroll, his eyes scanning the elegant runes as they activated, glowing brighter with each passing heartbeat.

The scroll instantly dissolved into motes of soft golden light, swiftly flowing into Orion’s forehead, causing his Sea of Consciousness to ripple gently.

A profound understanding blossomed within his mind—clear comprehension of the Nine-Step Quake technique.

His eyes briefly closed as the intricate footwork method imprinted vividly into his consciousness, merging seamlessly with his instincts.

When Orion reopened his eyes, they glinted brightly, reflecting both satisfaction and excitement.

’This technique...,’ Orion murmured appreciatively, feeling the powerful yet subtle shifts in his muscles as he envisioned the skill. ’It consumes about ten percent of my total mana but provides an extreme burst of speed. Exactly the kind of maneuver I need for crucial moments.’