Chapter 319: [Swift End]

Combining [Siphon] with [Lesser Channel Control], the tether finally began to react. It pulsed faintly, then glowed as one end latched onto Sol, while the other end remained connected through the goblin's body and stretched endlessly, reaching into the distant unknown like the other tethers.

[Attempting to siphon [Swift End]...]

Sol's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the process. Despite the system message floating in his periphery, his attention was focused on the glowing tether. He analysed the process, wanting to learn what was actually happening and why the goblins body was necessary. 

As he began to understand the mechanics behind this process, he thought to himself. 'It's using the goblin's body as a medium. Just like when I adapt a skill to suit my own body, I need to bridge the law technique through the goblin to stabilize. If I'd tried connecting it directly... it probably would have ripped me apart.'

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Sol's brow furrowed in contemplation. He still wasn't sure why he wasn't able to connect it directly even though it would result in dissonance between the law technique and himself. 

'Self preservation? A safeguard? Whatever the reason, I'm glad it's there and stopped me from doing something stupid.'

[5%... 13%... 39%...]

The numbers ticked upward steadily. By the time it reached 90%, the tether shimmered with its former dark purple vibrance. The connection between the goblin's body and Sol now hummed with power, while the far end extended beyond sight, joining Sol to whatever distant force governed the law technique.

When the siphoning completed, the familiar warning message appeared:

[Assimilating talent skill. (Note: This may hurt)]

Sol dismissed the message with a sharp exhale. "It shouldn't hurt too much. This process was relatively fa—"

The words turned to a strangled cry as his body seized with a sudden, fiery agony. He doubled over, clutching his sides as if it would somehow contain the pain. His face twisted in pain with sweat dripping from his forehead. Every fiber of his being seemed to revolt against the transformation, leaving him gasping.

The torment passed as quickly as it came, leaving him panting heavily, his knees buckling as he leaned against the crumbled wall of a nearby building. His chest heaved, and his hands trembled. For a moment, he simply closed his eyes and let the aftershocks subside.

[Comprehended law technique [Swift End] Lv 2!]

Despite the system's affirmation, Sol managed only a raspy mutter between breaths. "Why... can't... it... ever... be... easy?"

He wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression a mixture of exasperation and faint triumph. The pain lingered in his memory, comparable only to when he first obtained [Create Magic Hands]. He flexed his fingers experimentally, his movements still a little shaky.

Before he could fully recover, his ears picked up the faint scrape of boots on stone. His head tilted slightly, and his eyes darted toward the approaching sound.

Two vampires emerged from an alley, their pale faces showing clear desperation. Shallow cuts and bruises throughout their bodies.

"Are they still chasing us?" one vampire asked nervously, glancing over his shoulder.

The other, a woman, tilted her head, her sharp ears twitching as she used her skill [Wind Whisper]. After a brief pause, she shook her head. "I don't hear them anymore. I think we lost them."

The man exhaled deeply, relief softening his tense shoulders, but his face quickly darkened with anger. He stomped a boot against the stone, cracks spidering outward. "Dammit! How could we lose the blood moon?! Without it, we're barely stronger than them. And with their numbers, we're as good as dead!"

The woman nodded in grim agreement but suddenly stiffened, her head snapping in Sol's direction. "Wait... there's someone here."

The man turned, following her gaze. When he spotted Sol, slumped and breathing heavily, a malicious grin curled his lips. "Look at him. He's exhausted. Perfect. Let's see if he's got any potions on him."

Their weapons gleam from the light coming from a nearby house on fire as they stalked toward him like predators closing in on wounded prey. Sol, still leaning against the wall, slowly turned his head toward them, his expression showing clear irritation.

Before they could react, he vanished.

"Where did he—?" the man started, but his words choked off as he turned to find his companion, Vanessa, lying lifeless on the ground. A small puncture wound in her chest seeped blood that pooled beneath her.

His breath hitched, and his body froze in sheer terror. "Vanessa?!"

Before he could understand what he was witnessing, the world tilted, and darkness engulfed him. His body crumpled lifelessly to the ground, his eyes wide and unseeing.

Sol reappeared a few feet away, standing calmly over their corpses. His expression was unreadable as he inspected the makeshift stone dagger in his hand he made with [Terra Manipulation]. A dark purple aura coiled around the blade, radiating an ominous energy. He tilted his head.

'Huh. This law technique is... interesting.'

Though he already knew its effects, he couldn't help but check what the system had to say about it.

[[Swift End] Lv 2: Law Technique. All life eventually comes to an end, you merely hasten it. Imbue your weapon with Slayer Aura, enhancing its properties and granting it death attributes capable of killing anything it touches. Intensify Slayer Aura into Death Aura for one attack every 20 hours. Strength and agility increase by 200. Vitality, intelligence, and wisdom increase by 100.]

Sol's brow furrowed as he processed the information. 'I don't recall the goblin using Death Aura. Unless... he used it in his first strike. It barely grazed me, but if it weren't for my regeneration, it would've become much worse.'

He flexed his fingers around the dagger's hilt, noting how the aura felt like an extension of his will. 'While it says Slayer Aura kills anything it touches, that's not really the case. C-Rank and below die instantly from a light touch, sure, but if I lightly poke a B-Rankers, they may only get badly wounded or sick, not enough to kill them instantly. A-Rankers, though... it might just stop their wounds from healing unless I struck somewhere vital. Death Aura, on the other hand... that's something even A-Rankers should fear.'

Satisfied, he dismissed the system window and turned his attention to the bodies. Without really paying much attention, he looted whatever he could take and put it all in a spatial ring that he also took from the goblin. He was curious to what items an A-Ranker would have, but it wasn't the time to sift through it all as there were still other vampires in the city and the three A-Rank women that Diana and Victor were holding off.

With a final glance at the goblin's remains, Sol's eyes narrowed briefly before he turned and disappeared from where he stood, heading back toward the palace.