Chapter 446: Mutation
Date- 28 Mar 2321
Time- 19:09
Location- Sky Blossom City, Dungeon Highway, Barren Lands, Blood Rock Cave Gate Dungeon
Ruling out Cortney’s special physique as a reason behind the manifestation of the blood rule stream in the physical plane, I began contemplating various reasons that could be behind this unexpected turn of events. And all the reasons pointed me to Bloodette and her using the skill ‘blood possession’ on Cortney.
No, I did not think of the possibility that Bloodette consuming Cortney might have resulted in this sight. As that is not possible because of the soul pact card, Bloodette could never harm Cortney. But I think that somehow Bloodette’s involvement in Cortney’s ego gem formation has something to do with this unexpected miracle.
I can not put my finger on it cause I do not know what actually happened and how it happened. Seeing that speculation will not yield solid results, I decided to use my Soul pupils to gather more facts. Activating my soul pupils, I peered into the floating red-skinned Cortney. And what I saw left me more confused.
I saw the consciousness of Bloodette and Cortney floating around a blood-red ego gem. The duo’s consciousness seems to be in a daze. No, to be exact, they seem to be in some enlightenment as the blood rule stream poured itself into Cortney’s blood-red ego gem.
Even seeing all of this with my eyes, I still cannot believe the fact that the aloof World Rule Blood manifests in the physical plane and is willingly entering the ego gem of a card apprentice. I deactivated my soul pupils with more unanswered questions than before. This was frustrating as h.e.l.l, but I had no choice but to wait for Cortney and Bloodette’s consciousness to come out of the enlightenment to get the answers I needed.
I did not have to wait long. After a few minutes, the Blood rule vanished from the physical plane and returned to the spiritual plane. As for the floating red-skinned Cortney, she was gently placed back on her original spot in the lotus position. Red-skinned Cortney gently opened her eyes and let out a soft breath, but her eyes did not seem to have clarity.
“Cortney, you awake?” I asked in concern. I knew that the unclear look on red-skinned Cortney’s face might be because of two consciousness inside her body, yet I couldn’t help but ask.
“Blood Possession release” having achieved the task, Bloodette separated from Cortney’s body.
“Yes, I am fine and feel great. The sudden enlightenment in blood rule was refreshing. Also, the forging of my ego gem was a great success. And I already formed a rune.” With the guest in her body gone, Cortney enthusiastically answered, narrating her gains.
“Say what? You formed a rune! But you just formed an ego gem. Was it because of the blood rule enlightenment just now?” I was starting to understand what Anna must have gone through seeing me forge an ego gem in a few hours.
Cortney was a step higher than me. She not only forged an ego gem in a few hours but also comprehended the Blood rule and successfully forged a rune. I hadn’t forged a rune yet despite my 95% synchronization rate. We can all agree that Cortney broke my record.
“Yes, it was due to the sudden enlightenment. Is it common for everybody?” Cortney asked innocently.
“No… you’re an exception.” My mouth twitched as I answered Cortney. I was a genius in my own right. Seeing Cortney break my record, it couldn’t help but feel like I was being replaced.
“Really? Why is that?” Hearing that it was just her that gained enlightenment after forging her ego gem, Cortney asked in concern.
As an orphan, Cortney did not like to be separated from the regular crowd. Her whole childhood, she was separated from general society and considered an outcast. Though Cortney acts like an outlaw and a delinquent with a devil-may-care att.i.tude, she actually cares that her friends do not outcast her because of their differences.
“Check your grimoire. See the updates to your stats. Maybe you will find the answer there.” Cortney alone could deal with her demons. I could just support her.
“Huh, Wait a sec.” Cortney summoned her grimoire and began to go through the new updates to her stats. And answered, “there are changes to my physique and trait section.”
“What changes?” I enquired.
“Huh?” Cortney was surprised to see that I knew there is a physique and trait section to the grimoire.
“Don’t be surprised. I, too, have a physique and traits section in my stats. You aren’t the only ‘different one’ here. So what are the changes to your states?” I replied to the surprised Cortney.
“Nothing much, Mutated ego gem and Innate rune Blood supreme are added to my physique and trait section.” Cortney reported
‘Mutant Ego Gem’ ‘Innate Rune – Blood Supreme’ these two names caught my attention as the Mutant Ego Gem proved my theory that something happened during the process of Cortney forging her ego gem. And the ‘Innate Rune – Blood Supreme’ proved that this mutation that occurred with Cortney’s Ego gem had something to the only Blood Supreme I know, Bloodette.
“Hey, do not look at me like that. I did not do anything. I was just trying to help you.” It seems Cortney also had reached the same conclusion and glared at poor Bloodette, who voiced her defense.
“I know you were just trying to help. And thank you. If not for you, I would not have been able to forge the ego gem so early.
And one more thing, you didn’t do anything wrong. If anything, you helped me forge the best ego gem and a rune. I can’t thank you enough.” Cortney hurriedly clarified the misunderstanding that Bloodette got from her sudden glance.
“Mention not. Happy to help. Next time bring me lots of monster blood.” Hearing Cortney thank her repeatedly for her help Bloodette cheered up and asked to be rewarded with lots of monster blood.
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