A minute had passed and I safely descended the ravine at a height of twenty-feet. It was dark, like very dark. I cannot see a single shred of light at this deep ravine.
Luckily, I had prepared a lantern that attacked through my thigh, it was illuminating at least. But it wasn't enough, Luke said that the deeper levels were at least a hundred feet, almost cold mineral resides to that area, it is the main source of the infection.
The rope felt like a toy in my grip. I didn't need to descend slowly anymore, I let the rope slide through my fingers with controlled friction, dropping twenty feet in a second.
"Calix thinks he's protecting the lady" I whispered through my shadows, my voice echoing in a metallic resonance.
"Worried about your members, Roxy?"
"He has no idea I'm the most dangerous thing in the pit."
As I descended through the ropes, I happened to step onto a rough surface. It was the end of the ravine, almost just bitter silence that remained in the deep caves. I unclipped the lanterns from my thigh and began wandering.
"Hey Plasma" I said
"Roxy, what is it?"
"What would happen to my body if I achieved the fourth evolution of the blood curse?"
"Huh? Why do I tell you that you need to unlock it first? Then I could tell you everything I know."
I was curious to myself what happened to my body every time I had endured these evolutions that the blood curse was giving me. My first evolution started off fresh, my fangs were present. My second and third evolution only relied on my five senses.
As I began wondering, I used an inspection to view my blood curse.
[95L/100L= evolution for Phase 4]
Phase 3
[95L/ 58L= +100 agility (completed)]
[95L/ 61L= +50 strength (completed)]
[95L/ 63L= +50 defense(completed)]
[95L/ 67L= +1000 mana(completed)]
[95L/ 69L= +50 strength(completed)]
[95L/ 74L= +100 agility(completed)]
[95L/ 79L= +1000 vitality(completed)]
[95L/ 85L= +skill( pain manipulation) (completed)]
[95L/ 89L= +100 strength(completed)]
[95L/ 91L= +50 defense(completed)]
As expected, I only needed five liters of blood to activate my fourth evolution. Based on my appraisal skill, I can definitely get stronger just by attaining my fourth evolution and thus expanding my blood capacity.
Then Plasma soon anticipated my thoughts.
"Ha, with the look of your eyes. I can see you're already surprised. You're grown enough, Roxy."
"Much appreciated, Plasma."
"Hahaha, in the future days, you're more like a loser drinking blood. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
But Plasma dropped into his trademark silence. He obviously knew more about my blood curse, but he wouldn't tell me anything when he got like this. There was nothing to do but to drop the topic.
I focused on the rigid path. Occasionally, I heard rustling from the stone walls of the ravine. Bugs, insects or reptiles. Monsters were more prone to leaping out to attack than staying hidden.
At length, Plasma and I arrived at the bottom floor of the ravine, it was cold at least and full of shallow waters.
"So this is where the goblins came from." Plasma muttered
"Finally, we can kill something new. I miss the taste of blood over these past few days. I replied
"After we're done scouting and gathering Intel."
Even in the massive area of the ravine, hidden from the moonlight, this lantern lets me illuminate a small tainted light. Wherever the goblins came from, I would spot them there.
I strapped the bright lantern through my thigh once again and unwrapped my bandages through my hand. At the same time, blood seeped through my wound and began forming the shape of a sword. This, creating a blood sword
"Never use this weapon once in a while."
"Memories, Roxy."
After a short time, two zvarts appeared near the valley mouth, using the ores as cover. These large goblins bristled with bushy blue fur. Though they were goblins that walked on two feet, they weren't the least bit cute. As they bore, they came into my inspector's range, and I analyzed them. Both zvarts were the same.
Zvart Fighter
Skill: Night Vision
Vitality: 500
Strength: 700
Defense: 400
Agility: 200
Mana:100
I changed my blood sword to its bow form and took aim. The blood arrow cut through the air with a whisper and hit the zvart straight in the forehead. One down.
At the sight of its suddenly dead partner, the remaining zvarts' eyes darted about. It tensed, preparing to lunge at whatever it saw, but I wouldn't give it the chance. I fired the second blood arrow. The zvart collapsed into the ground as the blood arrow passed through it's forehead.
"Bullseye."
I waited a moment longer, but no more zvarts appeared. I was disappointed. Just two… I hungered for more.
I silently approached the zvart's corpse and began drinking it just by unleashing my fangs. I drank them blood dry. Then a message appeared.
[Drain Activated Extraction Completed consumed five liters of blood]
As I drank the yummy and delicious blood. I immediately used my inspect skill to view my blood curse accurately
[100L/100L= evolution for Phase 4]
[Successfully drank 100 liters, ready for third evolution]
The cold, stagnant air of the ravine began to change as my internal core hummed with a soft, mesmerizing sensation, my fourth evolution was finally awakened. From excitement, I used my inspect skill to view my blood curse
[Evolution Completed: Phase 4]
Blood Capacity increased to 200 liters,
Make fangs grow longer for better drainage and consumption
Immune to all poison, curses and diseases
Detects body heat on any living creatures
Attributes obtained: +1000 mana, +50 strength
"So… this is what it feels like. Two hundred liters." I muttered in silence
That number shouldn't make sense. No human body should be able to hold that much blood, no, "contain" it, "control" it. Yet I can feel it inside me, not sloshing, not heavy… but obedient. Like a second nervous system flowing beneath my skin, waiting for a command.
"Roxy, see for yourself." Plasma responded"
"My fangs… they've changed again." I said
Longer, sharper and especially, dangerous. Not just for tearing, but for precision. For draining my foes The moment that realization settles in, a strange hunger follows. Not desperation… not even pain. Just a quiet, constant awareness. Like my body now understands exactly what it was designed to do.
And poison… curses… disease…
Nothing.
It's almost unsettling. I can feel the absence of vulnerability. Like the world just lost a thousand ways to kill me. What does that even make me now? Not human…that much is obvious. But not quite a monster either… at least, not yet.
Then there's the mana, God, the mana.
It's overwhelming. Like a storm compressed into my core, threatening to spill out if I don't keep it in check. A thousand more units… I can barely measure it anymore. It's no longer just energy… It's pressure. Potential.
And strength… my body feels lighter, faster… more efficient. Like every movement has been refined.
This isn't just evolution, this is transformation, Phase 4…If this is only the fourth step …what the hell will I become at the end?
As I was admiring the glorious sensation from my fourth evolution as well as my dramatic monologue, I sensed something from the dark ravine.
"Wait… There's something moving over there."
"What is bothering you, Roxy?"
"Plasma, something was wrong. No, not seeing, not hearing, i felt the monsters presence clearly"
"Ah, that is your fourth evolution, you can detect heat signatures from nearby creatures. You don't need a lantern from this."
Heat signatures. Every living thing around me is suddenly… visible, even through walls, through darkness. Each body is a glowing ember in an ocean of cold. Hearts beating. Blood flowing. It was the presence of goblins.
I pressed into the deep ravine in search of my next prey. The smell of blood was truly overwhelming.
The night was young.