Free Web NovelChapter 5: 05: Reincarnation (3)
Lucard opened his eyes, and a slow smile appeared on his face.
He would use the remnant of divinity to create a road map for himself. It would not be a system artifact like the Abyss class artifact, but it could become a personal blood level path based on his own soul and Blood Absorption. It would show his progress, organize his growth, and set clear ranks for this mortal body until he returned to godhood. Then he would use the last grain of chaos energy to repair this weak body so it could at least stop embarrassing him every time he tried to breathe.
"This body is trash," he muttered, "but even trash can hold fire if the container is remade."
Lucard raised both hands.
All around him, the blood from the dead bodies started to move.
At first, thin red lines rose from the ground like threads. Then more came. Blood slipped out of wounds, armor cracks, broken mouths, crushed chests, and torn robes. It moved through the grass, over stones, between roots, and around dead fingers. The blood gathered toward Lucard’s palms, forming streams that twisted in the air.
The sight was strange and horrifying.
A normal man would have vomited.
Lucard only looked bored.
Most of the blood was weak. Knight blood, servant blood, mage blood, guard blood, and attacker blood. Compared to God’s blood, it was like dirty water beside divine wine. But his current vessel was weak too, so even this low blood could be useful.
Lucard sat down in a lotus position and closed his eyes.
The blood gathered around him and entered his body through his palms, skin, and mouth. At the same time, he guided the tiny remnant of divinity into his soul and shaped it into a blood path. He did not create something complicated. He did not need a talking system or some annoying artificial voice telling him obvious things. He only needed a clear structure that could show his level, rank, and skill progress. Then he used the tiny grain of chaos energy to repair the body’s foundation.
The process hurt.
His bones cracked and reformed. His weak veins burned. His thin muscles twisted, tightened, and strengthened. His mana channels, which had been almost useless before, were cleaned and widened just enough to support his new path. His blood changed first. It became heavier, it also became warmer, and more obedient. His heart beat louder. His lungs opened. His eyesight sharpened. His hearing improved. His legs stopped trembling.
The whole process took nearly an hour.
By the time Lucard opened his eyes again, the remnant of chaos energy and divinity from his previous life was gone.
He had spent the last pieces of his godhood.
Now he had only Blood Absorption and this newly built blood level path.
Lucard looked at the dead bodies around him again. They had all become dry. Their skin stuck to their bones, and some looked almost like skeletons. The blood had been taken from them completely. He stood up slowly and felt the difference. This body was still weak compared to his old divine body, but it was no longer sickly weak. His senses were now in peak condition for a mortal. His breathing was steady. His hands no longer shook.
Then he heard a sound.
"Help. Someone. Help me."
Lucard turned his head.
Earlier, he had not heard the voice because the body was too weak and damaged. Now, with his senses repaired, he could hear much farther. The voice came from deeper between the trees. It was weak, but desperate. Someone was still alive. freewёbnoνel.com
Lucard looked toward the mansion, then toward the sound.
It might be a trap. It might be an injured survivor. It might be an enemy pretending to be helpless. None of that mattered. If it had blood, it could be useful.
He gripped the dagger then started to walk toward the voice.
After passing between several trees and stepping over two dead guards. Lucard saw an injured knight leaning against a tree trunk. The man’s back was pressed to the bark for support. His armor was broken at the stomach. His blood was leaking from a deep wound there. His face was pale, his lips were dry, and his breathing was uneven. He was dying, but not quickly enough to stop being annoying.
The knight saw Lucard and his eyes widened with hope.
"Lucard," he said, his voice shaking. "Help me. Stop my bleeding."
Lucard stopped a few steps away and looked at him.
He searched the previous owner’s memories and soon found the man’s identity. This was the vice captain of the Vardros family knights. He was not a loyal knight. He was rotten inside. He often slacked off from his duties, took money from servants, drank while on watch, and bad mouthed Lucard whenever he had the chance. He had called him Mudblood Heir more times than anyone could count. Once, he had even pushed the old Lucard into mud in front of younger guards and told him the ground was where mudbloods belonged.
The memory made the old body’s anger stir faintly.
The vice captain became impatient when Lucard did not move.
"Hey, did you not hear me?" he snapped, forgetting his begging the moment he thought the weak bastard was still the same weak bastard. "I said help me. Stop the bleeding, you bastard. Shame of the family."
A vein appeared on Lucard’s forehead.
Then he smiled.
The smile was calm, but there was nothing warm inside it.
Lucard walked closer and crouched beside the vice captain.
"I will help you," he said in a cold voice. "I will relieve you from your pain. I will stop the bleeding."
The vice captain did not notice the look in Lucard’s eyes. Maybe he was too injured. Maybe he was too arrogant. Maybe he was simply stupid, which was a very common disease among small men with a little authority.
"Good," the vice captain said. "Hurry up. When we return, I will tell the captain you were useful for once."
Lucard placed his palm on the man’s stomach wound.
Then he used Blood Absorption.
The vice captain’s eyes opened wide.
