Chapter 46: You… Want Me To Drink This!

Reon retrieved a frying pan from his spatial ring and set it aside, then reached back into the ring and summoned his sword. With a dark aura flaring to life around it—black flames as deep as midnight—the sword glowed with the power of his Sword Aura.

The aura danced over the Sword with a quiet intensity. Reon focused, his movements smooth and graceful as he sliced through a nearby tree, reducing it to neat stacks of wood for the fire.

His aura wasn't yet solidified, a reminder of his progress ahead, but the task of chopping wood was effortless, even at his current level.

Moving over to the Shadow Claw Bear, Reon prepared its body with precision, carving it into clean portions. He carefully stored the bear's fur and bones in his spatial ring, recognizing their value in the right market.

Just as he finished, his eyes caught two crystals lying among the remains. One was a small, Blood-Red crystal, glimmering like a ruby ember, while the other was larger, with a soft green glow radiating faint pulses of energy.

He knelt down, picking up the orbs and feeling the surge of power within each.

The red crystal, warm and rich with energy, was unmistakably a Blood Essence crystal—a rare treasure found only in higher-ranked beasts and a critical ingredient in alchemy.

"Will he sell it in the Skyreach Mission Pavilion in exchange for Sect Point? Not a Chance" 

This could be crafted into a potent Grade-3 Blood Essence Pill, one capable of fortifying his blood and bones, but it required an Advanced-Level Alchemist's skill.

Without the skill of an Advanced-Level Alchemist, this Blood Essence crystal would be wasted. Reon needed to find a alchemist capable of unlocking its full potential; otherwise, its rare power would remain untapped, a precious resource lost to him.

He knew someone like that in the sect very well. Smiling, he slipped the crystal into his spatial ring. "Not something I'll let go of so easily," he murmured, already envisioning the pill that would one day strengthen him.

His gaze then shifted to the other crystal—the Primal Core, pulsating with the raw power of the Shadow Claw Bear. These cores were present in all beasts but varied in potency.

This core was packed with the bear's strength, a perfect resource for Cloudia to reach the next Rank. He'd initially planned to use an Ironclaw Direwolf's core, but the bear's core was even better.

"Cloudia," he said, holding out the Primal Core, "this is for you. Once we finish eating, find a safe place to absorb it."

Cloudia's eyes brightened as she took the core, nodding in silent gratitude.

With the fire crackling and the pan sizzling, Reon quickly prepared some bear meat, the aroma filling the grove as they sat down to eat. Yet as he bit into the rich, savory meat, something felt missing.

"What's missing?" he muttered to himself, puzzled. Then it struck him—beer. In the forests of this world, though, there was no chance of finding any.

Seeming to understand his longing, Cloudia nudged him, pushing forward a flask of the Shadow Claw Bear's blood that he'd set aside for her. Its scent was surprisingly enticing, earthy and fragrant like a rich red wine.

"You… want me to drink this?" Reon asked, surprised.

Cloudia nodded, her expression insisting, as if saying that this was the true drink of this world's warriors. He hesitated; on Earth, he'd never even considered drinking blood.

Yet, the thought of tasting the essence of such a powerful beast stirred something within him. Previously he also felt this feeling. What was that feeling?

How could a human drink the blood of a beast? But He remembered protagonist of the novel also drank the blood of beasts for strength.

"Will it be really ok?" He question himself.

Cautiously, he poured the thick, crimson liquid into a glass. It gleamed, deep red and velvety, like the finest wine he could imagine. Bracing himself, he took a sip, letting the blood wash over his tongue.

To his astonishment, a rich aroma spread through his mouth, smooth and revitalizing, its essence thrumming with life.

The effect was instant and overwhelming. Energy surged through his veins, a warmth blossoming within him, spreading to every part of his body. His long hair lifted slightly as though a breeze flowed around him, rejuvenating and cleansing him from within.

It felt as if he'd consumed a mystical elixir rather than blood—a drink far more potent and revitalizing than any beer he had known.

Reon lowered the glass, his eyes wide in disbelief. "What... what was that? I broke through two stages in one go." he breathed, already feeling his senses sharpen, his mind clear as a crystalline lake.

Cloudia watched him, a quiet satisfaction in her gaze, as if witnessing the transformation she had anticipated all along.

For Reon, this moment marked another step into this strange, powerful world—one that both welcomed him and challenged him to become something greater.