Vampire With A System

Chapter 30: Abraham’s Blood Worms

The heavy iron gates of the academy locked behind them with a resonant clang, the echoes of the training colosseum finally fading into the background. Hannah stretched her arms, her knuckles popping, though her expression remained dead serious.

’Think about it,’ Hannah said, her voice dropping as they navigated the paved stone walkway.

’We aren’t the only ones preparing for this tournament. What if our next opponent has an awakened blood worm? If we’re just relying on raw physical arts and standard techniques, we’re going to get overwhelmed the second a specialized path takes the stage.’

Santiago nodded, adjusting the cuffs of his uniform.

’She’s right. An awakened worm introduces variables you can’t predict. If someone pulls out an an Awakened Blood Worm of any path mid-bout, the momentum shifts instantly.’

Evan walked between them, his hands buried deep in his pockets. He glanced back toward the looming spires of the academy, then forward toward the bustling outer rings.

’Then the solution is simple,’ he said calmly.

’We don’t go into the arena empty-handed. We go and buy some right now.’

It took them about fifteen minutes of brisk walking to leave the institutional chill of the academy grounds and enter the lower commercial district.

The air here was thicker, carrying the distinct, metallic scent of iron and preserved vitality. The market was a labyrinth of stone-faced storefronts and flickering gas lamps, but Evan knew exactly where they were heading.

They stopped before a modest, weathered storefront. Hanging above the door was a creaking wooden sign etched with elegant, faded lettering.

Abraham’s Blood Worms.

Evan pushed the heavy oak door open, a small brass bell chiming above them.

The interior of the shop was small, so compact that only four people could comfortably stand in the buyer’s area before the counter without rubbing shoulders. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

The walls were lined entirely with dark, polished wood shelves that stretched all the way to the low ceiling. Arranged across those shelves, catching the dim, warm light of the shop, were flasks. Hundreds of them.

More than five hundred glass containers filled with various translucent liquids, within which countless distinct forms of blood worms writhed, drifted, or slept in silent stagnation.

It was a dense, packed treasury of potential power, compressed into a tiny space.

Behind the counter stood the shopkeeper. Despite the small, rustic shop, the man looked like he belonged in a high-born manor.

He had back-combed white hair, a thick, perfectly trimmed white beard, and a matching mustache.

Behind a pair of round spectacles, his striking blue eyes crinkled with a welcoming warmth. He wore a tailored black suit that looked completely flawless, sharp enough to cut glass.

’Welcome, young scholars,’ the old man said, a polite, genuine smile breaking across his bearded face.

’I am Abraham. What brings three promising talents from the academy to my humble shelves today?’

’We’re looking for awakened blood worms,’ Evan stated, stepping up to the wooden counter.

’What are your prices?’

Abraham chuckled softly, gesturing to the staggering array of flasks surrounding them.

’Ah, the tournament rush. Well, based on the specific items currently in my shop, the prices for a stable, awakened worm range anywhere from 75 to 200 blood stones. It entirely depends on the path and the complexity of the worm’s inherent traits.’

Evan nodded, reaching into his coat pocket. He pulled out a leather pouch of blood stones, the remains of the 150 stones Harry had sent him three days prior.

On the counter sat a blood stone counting machine. It was a peculiar, oval-shaped stand about eight inches in radius, crafted from smooth, dark metal with a deep, hollow well right in the center. Evan tipped his pouch over the hole, letting the crimson stones clatter down into the machine. A soft, mechanical hum vibrated through the wood as a digital counter flickered to life on the rim.

110.

Evan scooped his stones back into his pouch. He had enough for a solid mid-tier worm.

Hannah stepped up next, placing her own pouch onto the scale. Her count came out to exactly 100 blood stones.

Santiago, however, patted his pockets and sighed.

’I didn’t bring enough physical stones on me today,’ he admitted, looking up at Abraham.

’Do you accept bank checks? I can write one out right now.’

In this world, banks were heavily guarded, monolithic structures. There were only three branches in the entire sect, all built deep underground right at the geographical center of the territory to ensure absolute security against thefts and corruption. A certified check from the underground vaults was as good as solid gold.

’Of course, young master,’ Abraham replied smoothly, reaching beneath the counter and sliding a clean parchment checkbook and an ink well toward Santiago.

’A bank check is perfectly acceptable here.’

Santiago smiled, picking up the quill and quickly writing down the figures to authorize the transfer from his family’s underground reserve.

With their finances cleared, the three of them turned toward the towering wooden shelves.

The atmosphere inside the tiny shop grew quiet, save for the faint, collective humming of five hundred trapped spirits.

Abraham stepped back, giving them room to browse, his blue eyes watching with quiet amusement as the three young cultivators began to inspect the flasks.

Hannah’s eyes locked onto a flask containing a worm that vibrated with a sharp, erratic energy.

Santiago gravitated toward a shelf housing a dark, slow-moving specimen that seemed to drink the ambient light.

Evan walked to the very back corner, his gaze fixing on a peculiar flask where a shadow seemed to twist against the glass.

One by one, choices were made. Blood stones were exchanged, the check was signed, and three tightly sealed flasks were tucked away into their robes.

They walked out of Abraham’s Blood Worms back into the dimming light of the market, each of them carrying a hidden weapon that could completely alter the trajectory of the upcoming fights.

As they walked towards the academy once again, they neither told each other the names of their blood worms nor the path...

’Secrets make great surprises, eh?’ said Santiago.