Chapter 37: OP Awakening
A day had passed since Lucien’s parents and the masked woman had been searching for Lucien.
But there was no result. It felt as if Lucien had evaporated from the face of the world. No trace, no sign, no lingering essence of his existence.
With their methods, they could sense that he was alive, but where was he? The question haunted them, unanswered and relentless.
They were baffled, their minds consumed by worry about the harm that might befall him.
They all knew that he was weak, and his parents were especially worried because he had no talent and a frail body. In their eyes, he was still the fragile boy who could barely protect himself.
Regret began to creep into their hearts. They regretted not sending someone to protect him. They hadn’t done so because they feared their enemies would link his relation to them, which would put him in even greater danger.
And it wasn’t that they couldn’t. David had placed a protection on his son long ago, a safeguard hidden deep within Lucien’s essence. But unknown to them, Seraphina had sealed it, fearing that David would use it to find Lucien’s location when she had kidnapped him.
The irony was bitter.
They had tried to protect him from enemies, but the very measures they took had left him vulnerable to another threat entirely.
And now, they could only search. And wait.
As they continued searching, this became the fifth day since Lucien had disappeared. The days had blurred together, each one heavier than the last, filled with rising dread and fading hope.
Suddenly, the little blood dragon in Valyra’s hands shook. Its tiny body trembled as if confusion had cleared from its eyes. It pointed toward a certain location like an arrow, its form straining with urgency.
It wasn’t only her. Seraphina and David finally sensed Lucien with their methods, a faint pulse, a distant echo, a thread of connection that had been severed and now suddenly reappeared.
None of them waited. Their figures disappeared as they moved with insane speed, tearing through the air toward the source of the signal.
Hope had returned.
---
Lucien’s rough figure appeared, his hair scattered, his body smelling of sweat and blood, dressed in volkoid fur that covered his private parts.
Even though his body was stained with blood, his body had no scars.
Lucien breathed in the familiar air of Aethelgard. He felt like he was in heaven.
Before he could continue, he felt a raging energy bursting out from his body. Lucien had to sit cross-legged, confused by what was happening.
If he wasn’t careful, his veins could rupture due to this, but the familiar system notification resounded.
Ding!
[Host has consumed the flesh of a Throne Realm Double-Headed Shadow Wolf (Bloodline-Burning State) ×10.]
[The wolf’s cultivation far exceeded the host’s current level. However, 90% of its energy was burned away during its bloodline-burning transformation. Only residual energy remained in its flesh, and the host has absorbed it over multiple feedings.]
Ding!
[Absorbing the residual energy...]
[Host has gained 45,000 EXP total.]
[Host has leveled up. +5 to all stats. ×6] X7
[Host has reached Level 12.]
[Host has gained 72 Stat Points (SP).] X7
[Bonus: The wolf’s Origin Earth and Shadow affinities have left traces on the host’s body.]
[+15% Earth Resistance.]
[+12% Shadow Resistance.]
[Passive ability partially unlocked: Shadow Sense – Host can now sense movements within shadows within 5 meters.]
[The flesh partially restored the host’s HP and stamina over multiple feedings. HP +1,000. Stamina +100.]
The words of the system resounded in Lucien’s mind as the raging energy he felt began to calm down, absorbed into his body.
His aura and cultivation began to increase as he broke through to the Origin Realm from the Initiate Realm.
His aura didn’t stop until it gave a saturated feeling.
Ding!
[Host has achieved the state of Heart-Mind Fusion. Certain conditions fulfilled, state has been improved to Heart-Mind Ascension.]
Ding!
[Heart-Mind Ascension (Unranked – State / Instinctive Combat):]
[Effect – Active: Enter Heart-Mind Ascension to gain: All combat actions cost 30% less stamina. Reaction speed increased by 50%. Body moves with heightened instinct, anticipating enemy movements. Enter the state instantly with no delay (Instinctive Mastery). Sense enemy attacks 0.5 seconds before they land, allowing preemptive dodging and countering (Limited Precognition).]
[Effect – Passive – Intentless Strike: Killing intent is merged with the host’s actions, making it undetectable. Enemies cannot sense attacks before they land.]
[Effect – Passive – Flowing Movement: The host’s movements become fluid and natural, guided by instinct rather than conscious thought.]
[Effect – Passive – Heart’s Eye: The host can "see" through their heart rather than their eyes. Deception and illusions have reduced effectiveness.]
[Technique Unlocked – Emotional Lock: Temporarily lock away emotions, suppressing fear, hesitation, and doubt for absolute combat focus. When active, pupils turn deep blood red, and killing intent sharpens into something cold and absolute. Warning: Prolonged use may cause temporary emotional numbness after deactivation.]
[Limitations: Prolonged use drains mental stamina. Cannot be maintained indefinitely without rest. Overreliance on instinct may lead to mistakes against unpredictable enemies. Emotional Lock may cause temporary emotional numbness after excessive use.]
[Note: The path to instinctive combat has deepened. Walk it wisely.]
Lucien was surprised by this next system prompt. He now knew the name of the state he had entered.
It seemed to be a good name, but thinking of what he had been through because of the system, he was vexed. His jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.
Ding!
[You have made your wife, Seraphina Drax, worried for five days. You are rewarded with 2000 Eternal Devotion Tokens, 1 Eternal Devotion Ticket, 5 Random Gacha Tickets, 1 Rare Gacha Ticket.]
When Lucien heard the system’s words, he almost puked due to anger. Was he the one that caused it?
Wasn’t it the system that had dragged him into the Land of Death suddenly, without hesitation?
And it had only told him to survive while abandoning him. Thinking of his experiences, he never wanted to go back, except when he became strong enough.
He gritted his teeth, wanting to curse the system, but the next notification cut him off.
Ding!
[You have made your wife look all over Aethelgard for you, go against the decision of her subordinates, and she’s missing you. You are rewarded with 3000 Eternal Devotion Tokens, 2 Eternal Devotion Tickets, 2 Random Gacha Tickets, 1 Rare Gacha Ticket, 1 Super Rare Gacha Ticket.]
Ding!
[Seraphina Drax’s Obsession Link has deepened. Obsession increased by 20%. Resonance increased by 40%. The bond tightens.]
"You... Again?" Lucien thought in anger, but hearing the subsequent words of the system, his anger slowly disappeared.
Did she really do this? Lucien was surprised by this. Was this the Seraphina he knew?
He found it unbelievable, but surprisingly, his heart felt a bit of warmth hearing this.
Ding!
[Stats parameters have been met. Awakening Host’s bloodline.]
Ding!
[Stats parameters have been met. Primordial Anchor Body limits have been partially removed.]
Ding!
[Stats parameters have been met. Infinite Origin Core limits have been partially removed.]
Ding!
[Stats parameters have been met. Awakening Host’s Origin Soul.]
A/N: Continue to support this author with Golden Tickets, Power Stones, and gifts. Your support is my greatest motivation.
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