Free Web NovelChapter 15: 15: Level Up (3)
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One enemy attacked from the front with a sword. Peter blocked him and countered with a heavy swing. The injured knight captain was not in good condition, but he was still a trained Rank Two knight. His blade struck the enemy’s shoulder and cut deep. The man screamed and stumbled. Peter stepped forward and pierced his chest.
The first enemy died.
But the second enemy had already moved behind him.
Peter was too slow to turn.
The enemy raised his sword and thrust it toward Peter’s back. The sword point was only one inch away from piercing Peter through the spine.
At that moment, Lucard dropped from the tree.
He landed on the enemy’s shoulders from above, almost like he was sitting on his back. The sudden weight forced the man’s body down. Before the enemy could react, Lucard stabbed his dagger into the top of the man’s head.
The blade went in deep.
The enemy froze, then collapsed forward with Lucard still standing over him.
Peter turned around and saw the sword that had almost killed him fall to the ground. His face went pale.
Lucard pulled the dagger out and looked at Peter.
"You are pathetic, Peter. I told you to be alert."
Peter lowered his head. He looked ashamed, but there was also gratitude in his eyes.
"Young Master Lucard, thank you for saving my life again."
Lucard did not give him much attention. He walked to the two fresh corpses and placed his hands on them. Their blood moved into him quickly. Compared to the men in the forest, these two were not special, but every drop mattered now.
Their bodies dried near the campfire.
Jenny and Jake watched in silence. The firelight made the dried bodies look even more frightening, but neither of them asked anything. They had already seen too much in one night. At that moment, they cared less about Lucard’s strange power and more about the fact that he had returned alive.
The blood entered Lucard’s body.
[Blood Absorption Successful.
Level Increased.]
Then he saw the full status.
[Name: Lucard Vardros
Level: 09
Current Rank: No Blood Circle
Skill: Blood Absorption]
Lucard looked at the status in his mind.
Level Nine.
Only one step away.
One more level, and he would reach Level Ten. At that moment, he would enter the First Blood Circle, Mortal Vessel. His body would become a true blood vessel, no longer only a repaired weak mortal body. He would be able to absorb more blood, recover from minor wounds faster, and begin the real road back to godhood.
Jenny and Jake came toward him.
Jake reached him first and looked up at him with worried eyes.
"Brother Lucard, are you hurt?"
Lucard looked down at the boy. His clothes were covered in blood, but most of it was not his.
"No."
Jenny’s eyes moved over him carefully. She did not ask about the dried corpses. She did not ask how he killed the men. She did not ask what kind of magic he was using. She only looked relieved that he had returned.
"You left without telling us," Jenny said.
"I told Peter," Lucard replied.
Jenny looked at Peter.
Peter looked away because he had almost died while being told to stay alert.
Lucard ignored that and looked at Jenny. "We need to go to a safe place. Tell me who can help us at this moment."
Jenny became silent.
For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of the fire and the distant night beasts howling somewhere in the deeper forest. Jenny looked at Jake, then at Peter, then back at Lucard. She seemed to hesitate, as if the answer was not easy. Then she finally spoke.
"We can go to House Ravencroft."
Lucard searched the memories of the previous owner and found the name. House Ravencroft was a baron family. They were quiet, strange, and avoided by many nobles. Their lands had old tombs, graveyards, and forgotten ruins. Their bloodline power was called Bone Whisper. They could sense old burial sites and traces of death magic. Because of that, other noble families disliked visiting their land unless they had to. People said the air around House Ravencroft always smelled like rain, stone, and buried secrets.
Jenny continued, "I have been engaged to the first son of Baron Ravencroft since childhood. Baron Ravencroft was Father’s ally. He will help us. He has to help us."
Jake immediately nodded.
"Yes, let us go to my Brother in law’s family. They are a family of mages. They can protect us."
Lucard looked at Jake, then at Jenny. freewebnøvel.coɱ
An engaged sister. A strange baron family. Death magic. Bone Whisper. Old tombs and ruins. It did not sound like the worst place to hide. Also, if House Ravencroft had mages, then their blood might be useful. Of course, he would not say that aloud. People became nervous when someone talked about their future allies as possible walking blood meals.
"Fine," Lucard said. "Let us go."
Jenny looked relieved.
Peter also nodded. "House Ravencroft is two days away if we take the forest road. With my injuries and the young master’s condition, it may take longer."
Lucard glanced at him.
"Then walk faster and bleed less."
Peter opened his mouth, then closed it. He had no good answer to that.
Lucard turned away and looked into the dark forest.
His plan was simple. He would take Jenny and Jake to House Ravencroft. Once they were safe there, the heart curse should calm down. After that, he would leave them and wander the land to regain his power. He needed blood, enemies, monsters, mages, nobles, and time. Staying with a fallen family would only slow him down.
At least, that was what Lucard believed.
He did not know that something different was waiting for him at House Ravencroft.
Something he had not planned for. Something connected to his ego. Something that will combine with his goal.
Author Note: Dear readers if you are enjoying the story then please give some power stones.
