NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73: The Only Hope
"This means that Vikalina and I won't receive any support."
"The only bright side is..."
Sivis's eyes flickered—he had visited Minnet City in the game of his previous life and even explored the underground sewer system here. At that time, the sewers were devoid of any Blood Clan presence, only harboring a few monsters like the insect-bat hybrids infected by Blood Servants.
Approaching the Silver Rank and entering the Extraordinary Realm, Sivis, as a mage, focused more on expanding his mental capabilities. His memories from his past life became increasingly clear. This not only helped him retain his former personality as "Earthling Sivis" despite his experiences in this world, but also made his knowledge of the sewer's structure and system even more detailed than those of the Blood Clan, who wouldn't obsess over every nook and cranny of the sewers like players looking for hidden treasure chests.
Unfortunately—
"I can't move now, so what good is knowing all this?" Sivis thought to himself, feeling helpless. He realized that after the teleportation, he was still tightly wrapped in warm, soft flesh—Vikalina was holding him firmly.
The warmth and faint fragrance from the young knight's skin enveloped him. Sivis, feeling weak, managed to speak, "Vikalina, are you okay?"
He sensed his companion's poor condition. Vikalina was taken aback for a moment, but seeing that Sivis could still speak, her eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "I'm fine. Sivis, you... were you hit by the Blood Clan's attack? What's your condition?" she asked urgently.
Sivis didn't hide anything, but he didn't mention that he was using the power of the Evil God to refine the Blood Clan's strength. He simply said, "I'm not sure why, but after the family heirloom crystal shattered, I absorbed that skill and am currently refining it. If I succeed, I might be able to directly advance to the Silver Rank."
"You're refining the Blood Clan's power?" Vikalina was slightly taken aback, but only for a moment.
She had already placed her unwavering trust in Sivis, believing him to be destined to change the world. The pure power of holy light within him clearly indicated that he could never be evil.
To other members of the church, Sivis's refinement of the Blood Clan's power would be seen as a grave heresy. But Vikalina could accept it.
Earlier, the young knight had already realized that the church's doctrines were no longer truly believed by many. Why should she be so rigid in her thinking?
Still, she was somewhat worried.
"I've heard that the Blood Clan's power is far stronger than regular magic. Being able to refine it might be a good thing, but you can't reveal it to anyone. Otherwise, the church will come after you."
Vikalina's serious expression made Sivis want to tease her, despite his condition.
" Aren't you part of the church too?"
"Me? I'm different," Vikalina said with a hint of indignation, as if she had been insulted.
Despite still being immobilized, Sivis found himself in a surprisingly good mood. In this dim and gloomy place, being with a beautiful and respectful young knight, facing life and death together, they could still joke around. It felt like the ultimate fantasy! Sivis thought that if the game Gandanyir had included such a storyline for Vikalina in his previous life, her popularity would have at least doubled. Even in this dire situation, the faint sounds of nearby activity seemed romantic to him.
However, his own condition was dire. The two divine powers within him were clashing more intensely, and Sivis felt his consciousness slipping, on the verge of unconsciousness. The Blood Clan's teleportation magic had been slightly disrupted by Vikalina's intervention, preventing them and their servants from immediately intercepting Sivis. But this was only a minor setback.
Just as Sivis and Vikalina had exchanged a few words, the monsters arrived as expected. A figure from the Blood Clan, accompanied by dozens of elite Blood Servants, appeared directly in front of them.
Vikalina, without a moment to spare, quickly raised her weapon, her gaze fixed on the approaching threat. The monsters rapidly closed in. The Silver-Rank Blood Clan member didn't waste any time, charging forward with a burst of power, preparing to unleash his "Blood Piercing" attack. However, he suddenly halted.
Seeing Vikalina's wounds and the sudden ignition of a radiant energy field that seemed to be made of holy light, the Blood Clan member thought, "She's going all out." His movement paused.
Sure enough, the leading Blood Servant was instantly killed by Vikalina's swift thrust of her knight's lance. The servant didn't even have time to scream before being enveloped in the brilliant holy flame and reduced to ashes. Vikalina, still holding Sivis with one arm, didn't retreat but charged straight towards the Silver-Rank Blood Clan member.
To her surprise, the holy flame spread, effortlessly killing several more Blood Servants. The Blood Clan member stepped aside, a mocking smile on his face. Vikalina didn't understand the significance of this gesture.
Soon, as she broke through the encirclement, she realized the key. Vikalina darted through the sewers, dodging and weaving, managing to shake off her pursuers. But when she looked around at the dim, unchanged surroundings, she fell silent—she had no idea how to get out of there.
At the same time, Vikalina understood the meaning behind the Silver-Rank Blood Clan member's expression.
Vikalina had acted too hastily in her attempt to save Sivis, and after her burst of power, she was now entering a period of weakness. Additionally, her wounds were continuously being affected by the Blood Plague. Even though Vikalina was a knight with immense potential for the future, her current situation was extremely dire.
The Blood Clan, of course, would not attack during Vikalina's burst of power but would wait for her to become weak!
What could they do?
Vikalina instinctively looked at Sivis, hoping for his help, but his condition was even worse. Sivis's body was as hot as a furnace, and Vikalina, ignoring her own injuries, shook him anxiously. "Sivis, stay with me, are you okay?"
Sivis found himself in a highly difficult situation. The two divine powers within him were locked in an intense battle, and his own power was gradually overwhelming the Blood Clan's. In theory, if he could just hold on a little longer, he had a high chance of successfully absorbing the Blood Clan's power. However, during this process, Sivis would face significant risks. He would lose consciousness and fall into a deep coma, dedicating all his energy and will to the refinement of the Blood Clan's power.
If he could overcome this challenge, Sivis would only need time to break through to the Silver Rank and gradually tap into the power domain of the God of the Blood Sea. The only problem was that before that, he would have no means of self-defense.
What could they do?
Looking into Vikalina's concerned eyes, Sivis shook his head with a bitter smile. He had no choice.
The sewer exits in Minnet City were few, and Sivis could sense the faint blood aura emanating from both himself and Vikalina. This was the tracking mark the Silver-Rank Blood Clan had placed on Vikalina through the Blood Servant's attack. It meant that no matter which exit they chose, they would be intercepted and surrounded.
They couldn't run...
"The only way is to use my familiarity with the sewers to buy us some time and find a way to counterattack," Sivis thought to himself.
However, Vikalina was in a very poor state, and the Silver-Rank Blood Clan member, along with his numerous Bronze-Rank Blood Servants, would easily overpower her in her weakened condition. Even if they were at full strength, they might not stand a chance.
"Sivis, what do we do?" Vikalina asked, her voice trembling with urgency and fear.
Sivis took a deep breath, trying to focus despite the intense heat and pain. "We need to use the sewers to our advantage. I know these tunnels well. We can use them to evade and set traps. But first, I need to stabilize my condition. Can you hold them off for a few moments?"
Vikalina nodded, her resolve firm despite her exhaustion. "I'll do my best."
Sivis closed his eyes, concentrating on the battle within him. He knew that every second counted, and if he could just hold on a little longer, he might be able to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Vikalina prepared to face the impending attack, her heart filled with determination and a protective instinct for her friend and ally.
"The only hope is... do I have to break through as well?" Sivis felt a headache coming on.
To break through to the Silver-Rank, if he stopped absorbing the "blood piercing," Sivis would need to exchange for the "Hurricane Spell" again, which would take one or two days to assimilate and absorb. But hiding in these dangerous sewers for a day or two was far from easy.
Especially with Vikalina now plagued by the plague, she could only barely rely on the power of holy light within her to prevent herself from being transformed. Fighting for another day or two would be like walking to her own death.
"The only viable option is to use the 'blood piercing' and absorb the divine power of the 'God of Blood Sea' to advance. At least this way, it will be more efficient," Sivis thought as he looked at Vikalina.
The female knight's face showed concern, and she managed a weak smile, but the sweat on her face and her pale complexion betrayed her true condition: "I'm fine, I'll definitely get us out of here."
Sivis, however, looked serious: "We can't leave, Vikalina. The exits of the sewers are limited, and the Blood Clan will definitely be able to corner us. We can only hold out here and try to outmaneuver them."
"Whatever you say," she replied. Sivis had expected to have to argue more, but the knight changed her mind without resistance.
Sivis took a deep breath: "It's all up to you now."
He turned to the side and relayed some information to Vikalina, including their current location in the sewers and how to circle around the Blood Clan members.
"If I can break through to Silver, we'll still have a chance!" With that, he saw the determination in Vikalina's eyes—a resolve to protect him at any cost.
Sivis slowly closed his eyes.
He felt two powerful divine forces colliding fiercely within him, and he drifted into a deep sleep. During his slumber, Sivis suddenly felt his consciousness floating, and he found himself in an extremely vast and empty place. It was a boundless starry sky.
He saw himself sitting on a grand throne, surrounded by the vastness of the cosmos and its mysteries. In this void, Sivis's consciousness seemed to connect with the entire universe, feeling an unprecedented power and wisdom.
In this starry expanse, Sivis's consciousness began to merge with the divine power of the "God of Blood Sea." He saw countless blood-red oceans, feeling the ancient and powerful energy they contained. This energy flowed through his body, intertwining with his existing divine power to form a new, even stronger force.
Sivis's consciousness gradually became clearer in this vast expanse. He began to understand how to control and harness this new power. He knew that if he could successfully merge these divine forces, he would break through to a new realm and gain greater strength and abilities.
In the midst of this vast starry sky, Sivis's consciousness slowly returned to his body. He felt the divine forces within him stabilizing, and the collision of the two energies gradually subsiding. He knew he was approaching the critical moment of his breakthrough.
"Vikalina, just a little longer..." Sivis silently prayed in his heart, knowing that if he could just hold on a little longer, they would have a chance to turn the tide and escape.