Magic and Blood

1 week after reaching the Canadian woods, Xander was still training his Blood magic "C'mon" he grunted as he tried to form a saucer of blood sharp enough to cut.

[Xander, blood magic is not Mana. You can't shape it however you like]

"Says you… wait, say that again" Xander let go of the blood he had been gathering to pay more attention to Scarlet

[You can't shape it however you like?]

"Before that"

[Blood magic is not Mana]

A grin lit up Xander's pale face "that's it"

[What is it?]

"Add Mana" he spoke excitedly as he started controlling the blood out of its container and then added Mana to it

*Ding*

[Basic Hemokinesis_2 (3%)]

Grants you the ability to control blood

- Mana cost dependant on amount of blood and precision of controle

- Higher level allows more precise control at less cost

[Grandmaster Mana Manipulation_ MAX]

Mana is yours to command as you see fit, whether it is gas solid or liquid. Unlocks [Arcane elements]

- Gain 100% bonus to all pure Mana skills

- Gain 100% bonus to Mana recovery

- Gain 75% reduction to all Mana requirements

---

"Woohoo Finally" Xander was jumping around happily at finally upgrading Mana Manipulation. In the AGE! World, Xander reached the Grandmaster level 49(99%) and stopped. It wasn't that he didn't want to get to max level; it's just that it didn't want to level up. He did everything shy of mixing it with his blood, and it looks like that was what was needed. It drove him nuts.

[Congratulations Boss]

"Thanks Scarlet, let's see what I got for it" he answered after calming down

[Arcane Elements]

Grants you the ability to transform pure Mana into a pseudo element for added effects

[Please select 2 of the following]

- Fire: allows you to transform your Mana into arcane fire, adding Heat to all your Mana skills and adds burn damage to them

- Ice: Allows you to transform your Mana into arcane Ice, adding cold to all your Mana skills and adds a slowing effect to them

- Earth: allows you to transform your Mana into arcane earth, adding more sturdiness to your skills and increasing their defensive capabilities

- Wind: allows you to transform your Mana into arcane wind, adding stealth to your skills and adds a displacing effect on them

- Lightning: allows you to transform your Mana into arcane Lightning, adding a defence piercing and stunning effect to your Mana skills

---

"Oh well… Lightning is definitely one of the two. The defence piercing alone is god tier, but the stunning effect is just cheating" Xander mused "what do you think Scarlet?" he asked his companion

[Fire seems to be the best companion to lightning Boss]

Xander thought for a moment "why not Ice? I can use it to spread the lightning" he argued

[Lightning for precise attacks and fire for wide area. Lightning for the Boss fights and Fire for the mobs]

"You make a good point…"

[Additionally, if you would find a way to combine the two, you would have a burn effect that bypasses armor and stuns enemies for the duration of the effect]

Xander frowned "and the real reason?"

A message window popped in front of Xander

[Blood + Fire + lightning = Cool]

Xander couldn't help Laugh "The math checks out. It's legit"

[Elements chosen]

[Fire]

[Lightning]

---

It's been two months since Xander arrived to the forest. Thankfully the healing potions are serving as a sufficient substitute to blood. Xander scanned them with [Mana infusion] so now; he can draw them into existence anytime he wants.

At the moment though, he was Kinda busy fighting to die.

It's no secret that Xander hates vampires with a passion, the fact that at the moment he is one doesn't help much.

So for the past two months he made use of the Vampire's physique and has been clearing IDs at the rate of almost one ID a day.

Today was the fiftieth ID, the one with the level 490 mobs and level 500 Boss.

[You sure about this Boss?]

"As sure as I'll be, stats" As Xander assigned his points he turned to inspect them

Level: 304 (2%)

Health: 5300

Mana: 15200

Body: 530

Mind: 160

Spirit: 1520

As Xander's fighting style utilizes Magic as a base, his most prominent growth was to Spirit and Mind as they are required for it.

Xander's fighting style is to use a concentrated form of solid Mana as handles for a Bastardised Lightsaber, two of them. One is of Arcane Lightning that he has, by choice, made purple, and the other of Arcane Fire that he made Yellow.

[High Arcane Fire_22 (4%)]

[High Arcane Lightning_22 (6%)]

It's no surprise that they are so close in level considering he duel wields them.

His blood magic is also improving as he replaced the Ghosts with Blood discs sharp enough to cut through the forest trees with a single charge. They are infused with Mana and Ki, Mana allows Xander more control and Ki keeps the Blood cells alive and allows them to continue multiplying to recover whatever is lost in the attack.

[Grandmaster Ki control_34 (76%)]

You can use Mana as Ki and the ability to utilize Ki in any way you wish.

- Gain 67% bonus to all Ki skills

- Able to use Ki in any and all forms

[High Hemokinesis _10 (12%)]

---

[You need to rest Boss, you can't think of new uses for your skills if you don't take time to unwind]

"I can't rest Scarlet, not while I am what I am" Xander spat

[Angst warning]

"SHIT!" Xander panicked "quick, think of something not angsty"

[Um… Twinkies?]

"CAN'T TASTE THEM!" shouted Xander in frustration

[Actually Boss… you can]

"What, but Angle told me…." After a moment he facepalmed "not the same vampire… or universe" letting out a tired sigh he continued "Do Twinkies exist in this world?"

[Yes, Rex made sure whatever world you go to has Twinkies or equivalent]

"Huh, maybe I won't kick his ass"

[And…]

"And give living as a vamp a try, but I'm not drinking Blood, animal or not" Xander spoke in finality

---

*Two days later*

"I'm a failure" Xander was sulking as his newly developed "definitely not blood golems" were fighting bears in a medium level ID.

He joined them using a sword made of hardened Mana instead of the usual Lightning Fire blades. The problem with that is that the Mana blade lacks the cauterising effect present in the extremely hot Lightsaber like blades.

On his first swing, Xander struck a standing bear in the neck, causing the creature's blood to fall and hit the open mouthed Xander in the face.

Xander blacked out for a second, only to find the bear he was fighting completely drained and himself having a buff [Well Fed]

[Stop Brooding]

Xander recoiled in indignation "I don't brood, Deadboy(Angel) broods, I'm sulking" Xander defended

[Blood is good for you as you are now. It will help you train your other skills too]

"But…"

[For the love of… Jst scan a blood bag and Draw them. Then you wouldn't have to drink anything else's blood]

"And a blood bag is just gonna drop out of nowhere" Xander rolled his eyes

*Ding*

[New quest]

[Quest: get [Blood Golem] to Intermidiat ranking

Reward: Blue blood bag]

[what was the level of blood Golems again?] Scarlet spoke sounding awfully smug

Xander just groaned "8" he muttered

[Great, now stop brooding and drink your blood like a good Boss]

Xander didn't like being treated like a kid

Though his pout didn't help his case any