CHAPTER 339: MEETING AGAIN

Orion reached out carefully, gently guiding it toward him with his spiritual consciousness. The orb floated gracefully, suspended serenely in front of him, its surface shimmering quietly as if eager to be integrated into his core.

"Blood element..." Orion murmured thoughtfully, a hint of solemnity evident in his voice. "Let’s finally bring you under my full control."

With that, Orion’s spiritual avatar raised both hands, channeling his formidable spiritual strength to guide the Blood Orb into position.

His fingers gracefully traced lines through the air, forming runic symbols that flickered and glowed vividly in the air around him. First came the Origin Glyph and then the Structural Layer, composed of the crucial Primary Runes essential for blood manipulation. Nine runes quickly emerged, elegantly forming a sophisticated structure.

After a while, just as the Affinity Rune was about to form and the Formation Layer tightened around the completed Affinity Rune, something suddenly happened.

Cracks appeared abruptly, spreading rapidly across the delicate structure. Orion watched calmly as the carefully constructed Affinity Rune shattered completely, dissolving into tiny motes of crimson energy.

He exhaled lightly, eyes narrowing slightly. "Good, now the reconstruction."

Orion swiftly began the process again, not wanting to waste another second. This time he visualized twelve Primary Runes, each carefully chosen to support and strengthen the Blood Affinity Rune.

And after a while, he saw that the Blood Affinity Rune pulsed magnificently with vibrant life, stabilizing fully without issue. Orion released a sigh of relief, his eyes gleaming triumphantly as he admired the newly formed rune.

"Finally done," he said aloud, a confident smirk forming across his face. The completed Blood Affinity Rune hummed softly, resonating beautifully with his expansive Sea of Consciousness, instantly connecting deeply with his Mana Channels and spiritual essence.

Feeling immensely satisfied, Orion contemplated thoughtfully for a moment, murmuring to himself with careful consideration, "Now that my Blood Affinity Rune is fully stabilized at twelve runes, my Blood spells will see immense boosts."

Lumi hovered quietly beside him, her face lit up with a smile, [Master you did it!!! Now your blood spells will be even stronger with this Affinity Rune. (〃＾▽＾〃)]

Orion smiled, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, Lil Lumi. With this Affinity Rune now in place, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn new blood spells and upgrade my existing techniques."

Pausing briefly, Orion carefully assessed his internal state and cultivation stability. Confident in his foundation, he murmured resolutely, "I should use a couple of days to learn some Tier 6 Blood spells and elevate my existing spells to Tier 6 as well."

Lumi’s voice responded supportively, excitement and anticipation clear in her tone, [Yes, Master! With your current cultivation, you’ll achieve incredible progress swiftly.]

Orion chuckled lightly, his eyes calmly looking at the formed Affinity Rune. "Let’s start immediately."

He calmly withdrew from his Sea of Consciousness, opening his physical eyes to find himself seated cross-legged upon the lush, vibrant grass within the Silent Hall Cube.

Without delay, Orion retrieved the [Sanguine Sage Compendium] once more, flipping quickly to the middle sections he’d carefully studied earlier. His eyes settled instantly upon powerful Tier 6 spells, each seemingly filled with devastating strength and potent versatility.

"Blood Nova, Scarlet Vortex, and Crimson Dominion..." Orion murmured quietly, carefully tracing his fingers over the intricate spell diagrams depicted on the glowing pages. "These Tier 6 spells... are quite something."

Excitement flared within him, a sense of intense eagerness pushing him forward. "First, let’s master Blood Nova," Orion whispered firmly, already visualizing its complex structure within his mind.

***

High above the dark, ominous landscape, clouds swirled thickly like ink spilled upon parchment. Amidst these turbulent skies, the vampire general soared irritably, his dark cloak billowing behind him, scarlet eyes glaring fiercely at the world below.

Frustration was clearly etched into his pale, angular features as his gaze darted anxiously from horizon to horizon, searching fruitlessly for the elusive prey his lord so desperately desired.

"Where the fuck did that bastard go?" he hissed through gritted teeth, fangs gleaming menacingly under the gloomy sky. "Is he hiding in the sea or what? How come none of us can even find a single hint of him?"

His clawed hands clenched and unclenched, impatience bubbling into outright fury. The general’s frustration was palpable, his powerful wings beating faster in agitation.

For days they had scoured every inch of the land, and yet Orion had vanished without leaving a trace. The humiliation of their previous encounter still burned fiercely within him, fueling his relentless determination.

But just as the general’s anger reached its boiling point, something subtly tugged at the edges of his senses, a faint yet distinct energy signature unlike anything he’d felt before.

His head snapped sharply in the direction of the anomaly, eyes lighting up with cruel excitement and renewed hope.

"Finally!" he whispered harshly, lips twisting into a sinister grin. "Seems luck hasn’t entirely abandoned me."

With a powerful beat of his leathery wings, he surged forward, hurtling through the air toward the distant energy source like a predator finally catching the scent of its prey.

***

Meanwhile, Orion had just emerged from the Silent Hall Cube, stepping gracefully onto the lush, vibrant grass that had grown densely beneath the cube’s influence.

Freshly changed into elegant yet battle-ready white robes, Orion exuded an air of confidence and nobility.

His robes shimmered subtly with defensive enchantments, perfectly blending functionality and aesthetics. His long hair, now neatly tied back, revealed his calm and sharply defined features, enhancing his dignified aura.

He strapped the Realm Guardian Sword at his left hip, its familiar weight comforting and reassuring. Beside it, another finely crafted blade hung securely, polished and gleaming in the dim ambient light.

Orion tightened a sturdy armguard meticulously onto his forearm, each movement precise, methodical, and deliberate.

Suddenly, a familiar, hostile presence entered the edge of his heightened perception, rapidly closing in from afar. Orion calmly raised his head toward the horizon, a slow smile spreading across his lips, eyes glinting with playful excitement.

"An old friend is coming," he murmured softly, voice filled with amused anticipation, "I really should welcome him warmly."

Gathering Mana beneath his feet, Orion rose gracefully into the air, robes fluttering gently around him as he awaited the vampire general’s swift approach. His expression remained composed and confident, his stance relaxed yet battle-ready.

Within moments, the dark silhouette of the vampire general pierced through the heavy clouds, rapidly closing the distance, his aura flaring dangerously with intense killing intent.

Scarlet eyes immediately locked onto Orion’s calm figure, widening slightly in shock at the confidence and overwhelming aura Orion now radiated.

Without hesitation, Orion smoothly drew the Realm Guardian Sword, its blade singing softly with a crystalline resonance as if delighted to join the battle once again.

"Did you miss me?" Orion called out mockingly, eyes alight with playful contempt.

"You insolent worm!" the general roared, anger clearly overtaking his initial surprise. "Don’t think it’ll end the same as last time!"

Ignoring the vampire’s furious threat, Orion’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. With a swift and elegant motion, he raised his blade, channeling an intense torrent of Fire Mana rapidly along its length.

The blade instantly became enveloped in roaring crimson flames, burning fiercely with devastating heat.

"[Blazing Execution Arc]," Orion spoke softly, his voice resonating deeply with power and authority.