Chapter 19: Chapter 19: A New Power, A New Path
The stadium had fallen into an eerie silence. Ryo, his body brimming with an unfamiliar, potent energy, felt a chill of deja vu wash over him. His mind flickered like an unstable candle in the wind before the sensation passed. He blinked, pulling himself back to reality as the system chimed in.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]: New Ability Acquired: Sanguine Dragon's Rebirth
Combination: Blood Manipulation + Paradox Physique + Abyssal Dragon Wings + Bloodscale Armor + Dragonification + Sanguine Dragon's Wrath.
Ryo's head throbbed slightly as the information settled into his consciousness. Before he could process it further, Selena's voice cut through the quiet. Her words rang with possessiveness and disbelief. "Ryo is my fiancé! Don't even think about stealing him away!"
Her declaration was met with a surprising twist as she added, "...But you can have me as your second wife when we marry." The words hung in the air, and Ryo, still not fully grasping the situation, responded with a blunt honesty. "Truth be told, I don't even know the names of the two of you."
Selena's eyes widened, her face flushed with a mixture of shock and pain. "You don't even remember my name?"
Ryo frowned, feeling a growing confusion. "You never mentioned it, I guess."
Before the conversation could spiral further, a new figure appeared behind Seyra. It was her father—the Dragon Emperor. His regal, imposing presence filled the room. "It's not a bad thing for my daughter to marry this man," he remarked coolly.
The Vampire Lord then intervened, suggesting, "We can't simply agree to this. Let's discuss it in private."
With that, the two powerful figures left for a more secluded room, leaving Ryo alone to stew in his thoughts. His mind raced. Doesn't anyone care what I think in all of this?
Back in his dorm, Ryo opened his status window to check the new ability he'd gained.
[New Ability] Sanguine Dragon's Rebirth
Combination: Blood Manipulation + Paradox Physique + Abyssal Dragon Wings + Bloodscale Armor + Dragonification + Sanguine Dragon's Wrath
Description:
Ryo channels the full might of his vampire-dragon heritage in a devastating form. Upon activation, his Paradox Physique accelerates the evolution of his body, allowing him to temporarily fuse his vampire and dragon aspects into a single, unyielding form. His blood becomes an unstoppable force, constantly flowing and reshaping around him, manifesting as tendrils, wings, or armor.
Blood Wings: The Abyssal Dragon Wings morph into large, ethereal, blood-infused wings capable of immense speed and destructive power.
Bloodscale Armor: The blood becomes a thick, hardened armor, covering Ryo's body in black-scaled protection. Each strike against him fuels his regeneration.
Dragonification: Ryo's body shifts partially or fully into a dragon form, enhancing his physical attributes and adding a draconic aura.
Wrathful Surge: As the transformation completes, Ryo's strength, speed, and magical power surge, drawing on his Sanguine Dragon's Wrath. His wounds heal almost instantly as he grows in power with each injury sustained.
Bloodstorm: Blood tendrils, controlled by Hemokinesis, whip around the battlefield, creating an aura of destruction. Enemies caught in this storm are drained of vitality and overwhelmed by Ryo's dragon and blood magic.
Duration: Limited; lasts until Ryo's energy reaches critical levels or he chooses to deactivate it.
Effect: The combined abilities result in a transformation that enhances Ryo's combat potential dramatically, making him a terrifying force of nature as he becomes both a dragon and a blood-infused vampire at once.
He read through the description of the ability with a sense of growing unease. It was powerful—too powerful, even. But the mention of Paradox Physique left him wondering. Why were its full benefits not reflected in the ability?
[SYSTEM UPDATE]: Insufficient Level. Ability Combination is Incomplete. Paradox Physique's full traits are not active due to level restrictions.
Ryo sighed, rubbing his temples. He had expected this. His low level was holding him back, but he knew that with enough time and training, he could unlock the full potential of his abilities. His thoughts turned to the next question. What if I could just use one of the traits of Paradox Physique?
[SYSTEM UPDATE]: Shall I initiate Daily Training Mode?
Ryo blinked, confused. "What's that?"
The system responded with a display of impossible exercises, each more ridiculous than the last. Run 500 km a day. Do 10,000 push-ups. Achieve perfect mastery in elemental manipulation.
His jaw dropped. "Who could even—?"
Before he could refuse, the door to his dorm burst open. Two girls entered, shouting his name in unison.
"Ryooooooo!"
Ryo, taken aback, accidentally muttered, "Yes."
[SYSTEM UPDATE]: Daily Training Mode Activated. It will begin tomorrow morning and cannot be deactivated.
"Whyyyyyy?!" Ryo exclaimed, already dreading what was to come.
Author's Note:
And so, Ryo finds himself tangled in the web of his new powers, relationships, and an increasingly impossible training regime. Will he be able to handle it all, or is this just the beginning of a much larger, far more complicated journey?
Thank you all for reading! Things are heating up, both in terms of power and politics, and I can't wait to explore how Ryo will navigate the tangled relationships he's found himself in. As always, I love hearing your thoughts, so don't forget to leave a comment!
Next chapter, we dive deeper into Ryo's training, new abilities, and the complex dynamics between him, Selena, Seyra, and the Vampire Lord. Stay tuned for more!