Bloodline (1)

Seeing the creature moves closer to the fallen Lance, Ramie was in daze!

He didn't expect things to deteriorate so unexpectedly… so quickly!

However, his daze only lasted for a moment, before recovering.

In a heartbeat, his mind reeled at max speed, reassessing the situation. Countless thoughts flashed by his alarmed mind like lightening, as he tried to come up with a solution.

In a moment, he processed the situation, and concluded one simple fact…

If Lance dies… they all die!

Because, if even Lance with his boasted strength couldn't last few seconds…then, what could he and Neil do…?

Ramie started realizing that if the situation was to progress toward its natural conclusion; then there was nothing but death waiting for him!

Fear…!

Anger…!

Great unwillingness…!

All of these feelings surged in his heart consecutively…one after the other…

First; it was the fear of death!

Then, followed a deep anger, as he realized that all of his aspirations and dreams were about to shatter and come to a pathetic end, right in front of him…

What came afterward was a great sense of unwillingness to accept that result… which gave birth to a terrible fury in his heart.

The raging fury was directed toward this abominable creature that was trying to take his life away, wantonly!

Shedding all traces of hesitation in his heart, determination soon prevailed.

Ramie mentally commanded with intent:

"Morphing!!!"

Immediately, information appeared in his mind.

< Spell: Morphing (permanent) /inactive >

< Effect: gaining the bloodline of the subterranean ghost tree! >

< Cast: yes/no >

Without hesitation, he shouted: "YES!!"

Then, with slight vibration in the artifact, a sense of coldness spread to all over his body in a moment!

It was nothing like the coldness he felt before, as this time, the sense of coldness was intense to the point of inducing an involuntary physical reaction in the form of a violent shiver that caused him to tremble intensely!

The coldness seeped down to his bones, causing a searing pain in his marrow!

Ramie's face started contorting with pain, as he mustered all his will to stop himself from shouting atop his lungs. On the same time, his strength started draining away, causing him to fall to the ground weakly.

"…"

Ramie received the floor with his hands, as he fell down, not believing what was happening!

When the voice said that the life energy and magic artifice could be used to fight the creatures, he didn't pay much of attention to it first, as he was in a dangerous situation and couldn't afford to contemplate on this matter.

But then, the confrontation with the creature took place. And the life energy that Lance had awakened actually saved their lives.

After witch, he no longer took this matter lightly, finally understanding why the voice had emphasized on these two things that much.

He accepted the fact that the artifact might actually be of great use to preserve his life… if he gets around to learn how to use it that is!

So, even despite his suspensions of what might the morphing spell to do him, and its effect, he started thinking that he might fall in a situation where he'll have no choice but to use it someday.

But, it still made him uncomfortable not knowing what this spell would exactly do.

After all, who would jump into using something that might change his body in a permanent manner without first figuring out what this supposed change is, and whether it is harmful or not?

And if the change is indeed in his body, then what are its specifics and to what extent would the change go?

But now… he felt his strength drains away, disappearing… at the worst moments possible.

Suddenly, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning!

"NEIL!!"

Without a further moment of hesitation, and from between gritted teeth, he squeezed out a shout at Neil, as he remembered that Neil had a spell that was different from his. And if its description was precise, then it should be usable this situation.

Although they didn't dare to use it before, as they had no idea what kind of noise would it bring about? But considering the current situation, it no longer mattered.

Turning his gaze toward Neil, ramie shouted at him…

However, just as he turned his eyes to Neil, he saw him lift his open hand, aiming it at the creature, as if he had a hidden weapon concealed in his palm.

Unbeknownst to Ramie, Neil had already commanded his artifact almost as the same time that he commanded his.

Afterward, a flash on knowledge surfaced from the artifact to Neil's mind...

Then, a second later, Neil gained an inspiration from the artifact on the practical manner of casting his spell.

Then…

Fire Burst!

As Ramie looked at Neil, he heard two words. Then, a flashy sparks of fire flickered outward from his palm…

And the next thing he saw… was a finger-sized projectile of fire streaking toward the creature from Neil's palm, in high speed, leaving a short trail of fire behind.

It was as if this projectile was small missile, propelled by fire, and streaking in high speed toward its target.

The already furious creature was startled greatly by the unexpected development.

It was about to finish off the most threatening enemy among the three, then taking its time to deal with the other weaker enemies.

The moment the strong enemy fell down, this battle's outcome should have already been set in stone…

But now, one of the preys was using a weird attack that none of the other similar preys that it had hunted ever used.

Taken by the unexpected development, the creature had no time to react.

In no time, the projectile reached the creature… disappearing into its chest!

"…"

"…"

Startled for a moment, the creature finally recovered.

Hiss!

It hissed with anger toward Neil, then… in a moment, the creature's expression changed!

Sensing something wrong, the creature looked at its chest…

It saw thumb sized hole…

But, there was no blood coming from it…

It didn't realize that the attack just now had burned its way in, thus cauterizing the wound, which is why no blood was coming out!

The creature was petrified… not believing its own eyes!

Raising its head slowly and taking another look at that weak life form that had attacked, the creature couldn't believe that this weak thing was able to inflict such injury to him.

In a second, the anger in its heart surged like a tide.

HISSSSSS!!!

Letting out its own war cry, the creature intended to rip apart this low thing!

But then…!

Fire blast!

Before it could even move, another fire projectile flashed at it…

But it didn't land on its chest as the last one did; instead… this one went for the head!

And then… everything went dark…

…

Ramie stared wide eyed at the sight, not believing his eyes…

The creature that knocked Lances to the ground helpless – was actually killed by that spell!

He found it hard to believe…

They had won…!!!

At this time, Lance rose up to his feat, staring with disbelief at the corpse of the creature next to him.

When Neil attacked the second time, Lance saw the sight… And he was beyond shocked!

This creature was a great threat to their lives. And he wasn't sure that he could defeat it at all.

But what other choice was there, as only one party was going to get to walk away from this scene alive!

It was either this creature, or them.

Thus he had intended to fight with all he got!

The earlier exchange taught him the difference between them.

This creature was stronger than him; there was no doubt in this fact.

But its speed was the same as his.

Besides, he was good at close quarter combat, as he had learned it in the army. So, he was intending to use that to make up for the difference in strength between them.

But now, this creature was a motionless corpse on the ground!

At the moment, one thought crossed his mind: 'the artifact can actually do that…!!??'

Lance was beyond amazed… But he also felt happy!

His son in law now had a great weapon, a one that he could use to protect his daughter. And even to increase the chance of surviving this ordeal and make it to the camp!

It wasn't only him. Even Neil himself was stunned, not believing that he had actually killed this thing!

As to Ramie, he had no time to remain shocked; as he could sense something wrong… very wrong was brewing inside his body!

He felt as though thousands and thousands of ants were crawling all over his body, under the skin!

Ramie struggled not to freak out as the feeling intensified.

These spells were real! And if he had a speck of suspicion before, then he had zero doubts for sure now.

After all, the creature was just put down by a spell.

In a way, it made him feel a bit relieved, as after seeing that his spell has done nothing but dropping him to the ground powerless, he was to some extent, expecting Neil's spell to fail as well, and then the creature would kill them all.

Luckily, this horrifying scenario didn't come to pass…!

Right now, the coldness in his body started disappearing, and with it, the pain. Instead, heat started spreading to every single part and corner of his body!

Ramie started feeling a weird sensation in his body; it was as though his cells were pulsating with heat and energy, making him feel both comfortable and sick, all in the same time.

He was unable to make sense of what was happening to him

However, just as he was bewildered on his own condition…

Roar!!!!!!

Roar!!!!

Suddenly, two savage roars thundered consecutively from the first floor below!

Ramie's expression immediately turned terrible.

It was as if today… blood was bound to be shed…

…