Odyssey of the Renegade Sovereign

Astrael's core thrummed, every scrap of strength and essence he could muster flooding into his limbs.

"Clawdia—now!" he hissed.

The silver beast darted from the side like a phantom, her claws flashing as they raked across the serpent's face. It hissed, lashing out blindly, but that single distraction was enough.

Astrael surged forward explosively, his body straining against the rush of power as he leapt with his blade raised. His swing, driven by rage, desperation, and determination, crashed down with the force of his entire being, shattering into the serpent's exposed skull.

The ground shook from the impact. The serpent thrashed violently, venom spraying in a poisonous mist. Some landed on Astrael's arm, burning through flesh like acid.

"Gh—aaagh!" He gritted his teeth, muscles convulsing as the poison seared into his veins. But he didn't let go of his sword. The sword sank deeper into the serpent's flesh until it stopped moving and collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

Astrael staggered back with laboured breath, his vision blurring at the edges. The blood berserker skill already went down. His arm throbbed, dark veins crawling up beneath the skin as the venom spread.

"Damn… poison," he muttered, swaying on his feet. His blade clattered to the ground.

Clawdia rushed to his side, whining, pressing against his leg to steady him.

Astrael forced a smirk, though his face was pale. "We… did it. But if I don't find a cure fast…"

Then a system chimed.

[Ding!]

[You have acquired the soul energy of Level 260 (30) White Serpent]

[Class trial in progress — Soul Energy will be granted after class selection.]

[Ding! The Divine Talent <Plunder> has activated.]

[You have slain: Basilisk-Blooded Serpent (Juvenile)]

[Processing bloodline remnants…]

[ You have acquired: ]

[ Venom Acid (C)]

[ Poison Resistance (C)]

[ Precise sense (D)]

[ Basilisk Scales (B)]

[ Basilisk's Glare (B)]

[ Basilisk Bloodline Assimilated: 20% purity ]

[ Note: Precise sense merged under Predator's Dominion (B). The accuracy and precision of your perception increased by 30% and the range increases by 20% ]

--------------

[Ding! Synthesis ability activated.]

[Compatible abilities detected: Predator's Dominion (B) + Basilisk's Glare (B).]

[Merge is possible. Would you like to proceed?]

Astrael's chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, the burn of venom crawling up his arm like fire ants beneath his skin. His vision blurred, and then snapped sharp again with every heartbeat.

The words glimmered faintly before his eyes, but Astrael barely spared them a glance. His pupils darted instead to one particular line, every ounce of his will snagging on it.

[Poison Resistance (C) – Passive: Your body has adapted to withstand toxic substances, dulling their harmful effects. Passively, it reduces the potency and duration of most poisons, allowing you to endure where others would falter. Over time, repeated exposure strengthens resistance further, granting improved tolerance and faster recovery against venom, toxins, and corrosive miasma.]

Clutching his burned, venom-ravaged arm, he staggered backwards against a fallen tree, sweat pouring down his brow. "Resistance… come on," he rasped under his breath. His throat was already swelling, his tongue heavy like stone.

A chill sensation threaded through Astrael's burning arm, as though icy water seeped into his veins. The poison slowed down but did not stop entirely. Enough for him to breathe, to cling onto consciousness by threads.

"Good… girl," he muttered, resting his hand on Clawdia's head even as it trembled.

His vision still swam, but at the edges of the system interface, the words about synthesis lingered, glowing faintly.

He clenched his teeth, blood trickling down his arm where venom had eaten through flesh. "Not now," he growled hoarsely, shoving the screen aside. "Survive first…"

He tried to rise, knees buckling as pain wracked through his body. Yet through the agony, one thought screamed clear in his skull.

'This world wants to kill me at every turn. But if I can keep stealing… keep plundering like this… then maybe I'll become the one holding the strings instead of the one dangling from them.'

Then, suddenly from the sky above, a streak of force cut through the air, smashing into the ground with a boom that rattled Astrael's teeth.

Dust and leaves exploded outward.

When the haze cleared, Baldoc stood there, his shabby hood pushed back just enough for the firelight of his eyes to cut through the dimness. His hand still gripped the glowing white sword, which was still ablaze, his attention fixed on the sprawled serpent corpse.

"…Dead," Baldoc muttered, voice low but edged with surprise. His gaze shifted, slow and deliberate, to Astrael.

Astrael leaned heavily against the tree, sweat dripping from his brow, poison-darkened veins stark beneath his skin. He forced a grin, though his teeth were clenched tight from the pain. "…Sorry, old man. Looks like you were… too slow."

Clawdia growled at Baldoc, silver fur raised, but Astrael weakly put a hand on her head to calm her.

Baldoc stepped closer, eyes narrowing slightly. His boots crunched against the blood-soaked earth as he studied both the serpent's corpse and Astrael's trembling frame. "…You. In your state, killing this beast should've been impossible."

Astrael coughed, spat out a thread of blood, and smirked faintly. "Yeah? Guess it didn't get the notice."

For a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Then Baldoc's gaze softened—just barely, but enough to see. "Foolish… and reckless. But…" he glanced again at the broken body of the serpent, "…not worthless."

Astrael's breathing hitched, his poisoned arm twitching violently. "Tch—don't… flatter me. I'm not dead yet."

Baldoc finally sighed, lowering the blade fully. "And you won't be… if you want to live, boy, stop pretending to stand alone. Show me your will to survive."

He reached into his ragged cloak, pulling something small and faintly glowing, a vial of shimmering liquid that pulsed with light.

Baldoc held the vial loosely between two fingers, letting its glow spill across Astrael's paling face.

Astrael's eyes locked on it, his poisoned veins throbbing harder with every heartbeat.

"You want this?" Baldoc asked, his voice calm but cutting. "Then prove you're worth saving."

Before Astrael could answer, the old man crushed the vial in his hand, light scattering like shards across the night.