Chapter 184: A Wisp of Chaos

Chapter 184: 184: A Wisp of Chaos

The light figure stood in front of him.

It had the shape of a person, but Lucard could not see its face clearly. White-gold light covered its body. Its voice had already called his true name more than once.

Lucard raised his hand. Bloodfire burned around his fingers.

"Who are you?" he asked.

The figure did not answer at once.

Lucard’s eyes grew colder. "You entered my mind. You know my name. Speak before I burn this place apart."

The light figure gave a small laugh.

It was not mocking. It sounded almost relieved.

"You are still the same," the figure said. "Wounded, surrounded, chased, half dead, and still threatening people inside your own mind."

Lucard did not lower his hand. "You speak like you know me."

"I do."

"I do not remember you."

"I know."

The answer made Lucard’s killing intent grow sharper. Bloodfire spread from his fingers to his wrist. The white space shook slightly, but the light figure remained calm.

Lucard said, "Then you have three breaths to give me a useful answer."

The light figure looked at him for a moment. "I am alive."

Lucard’s eyes narrowed.

The figure continued, "Do not mistake me for a dead remnant or a broken soul hiding inside spring water. I am not dead. I simply cannot show myself to you in the real world right now."

"Then why are you here?"

"I was watching."

"From when?"

"Since you entered the Deep Maw."

Lucard’s expression did not change, but his mind moved fast. Since he entered the Deep Maw meant the figure had seen Stoneford’s old paths, the unicorn, the Blood Pit, the coffin trail, Deepwell Spring, Alan, the forest chase, and the cave. That was not a small claim.

"You watched me and did nothing," Lucard said.

"I had reasons."

"Bad answer."

"It is the only one I will give now."

Bloodfire moved.

Lucard attacked without warning.

A red-black flame blade formed in his hand and cut toward the light figure’s throat. The figure did not dodge. It lifted one finger, and the bloodfire stopped an inch away from its body. The flame twisted as if it had struck invisible glass.

Lucard pushed harder.

The white space trembled again.

The light figure sighed. "This is why I cannot explain everything yet. You would waste strength fighting me before your body can even stand properly."

Lucard’s eyes became more dangerous. "You blocked my Bloodfire."

"I did."

"You are not from this lower world."

"No."

That answer was the first honest one.

Lucard pulled the Bloodfire blade back, but he did not dismiss it.

The light figure looked at the flame around his hand. "I see you are using Bloodfire again."

Lucard said nothing.

The figure’s voice became softer. "It is weaker than before. Much weaker. But it still carries your nature."

"You speak too much like someone who wants to die slowly."

"I am glad to see you alive, Lucard."

Those words stopped the next attack for one short breath.

Not because Lucard believed them.

Because the emotion inside them sounded real.

The figure was glad.

Not surprised. Not amused. Not greedy. Glad.

Lucard hated uncertain things more than enemies. An enemy could be killed. A lie could be cut open. But this feeling did not fit any simple place.

"Who are you?" Lucard asked again.

The light around the figure’s face dimmed slightly. "Not yet."

"Then leave."

"I will."

The figure raised one hand. "But first, I will give you something."

Lucard’s Bloodfire rose at once. "I did not accept."

"You never accept gifts properly."

The figure moved.

It crossed the distance too fast.

Lucard tried to burn the space between them, but the light figure was already in front of him. One glowing finger touched his forehead.

Lucard froze.

Something entered him.

It was small.

Very small.

Not light. Not water. Not earth mana. Not blood power.

A wisp.

A tiny wisp of chaos energy.

Lucard’s eyes widened for the first time.

Chaos energy.

Here.

In this lower world.

The wisp entered his mind and sank downward, passing through thought, soul, and blood. It did not explode. It did not spread. It settled deep inside him like a sleeping black-red spark hidden under layers of blood.

Lucard reached for it at once.

The wisp did not answer.

It was there, but sealed.

Mysterious.

Waiting.

The light figure stepped back.

Lucard’s voice became colder than before. "What did you give me?"

"A gift."

"I asked what it is."

"You know enough to recognize it."

"Why?"

"Because one day you will need it."

"When?"

"When the time comes."

Lucard’s Bloodfire surged again. "You think I will let you leave after saying that?"

The figure looked at him with that same hidden smile. "You cannot stop me right now."

That was true.

Lucard knew it, and that made his anger colder.

The white space began to crack.

The clear ribbons of Deepwell water moved faster around him. His body outside was still absorbing the water. The mind space was ending.

The light figure’s shape started to fade.

Lucard stepped forward. "Show me your face."

"Not now."

"Tell me your name."

"Not now."

"Then why come?"

The figure paused.

For a moment, the light became gentle again.

"To see with my own eyes that you returned."

Lucard stood still.

The figure looked at him one last time. "Survive first. Questions can wait."

Then it vanished.

The white space broke.

Lucard opened his eyes in the cave.

The ring of Deepwell water spun around his body one final time, then entered him completely. Cold mana rushed through his wound, blood, and bones. Gray dust fell from his stomach and scattered onto the stone floor. Alan’s earth mana was pushed out piece by piece until only a faint trace remained deep inside him.

Lucard breathed in.

The pain did not vanish, but it changed. It was no longer the pain of dying. It was the pain of a body that had been dragged back from the edge and forced to keep working.

He moved his hand.

It obeyed.

He moved his legs.

They obeyed too.

Slowly, Lucard placed one palm against the cave floor and pushed himself upright. This time, his body did not fail. He sat straighter, then leaned back against the wall and let his blood move through every wound.

He was not fully healed.

But he was no longer helpless.

The rain still fell outside. The dead bear still lay near the entrance. The cave smelled of blood, wet stone, and burnt fur.

Lucard looked around.

Cedric had passed out against the wall. His face was pale, but his breathing was steadier than before. Puff was curled against his side, also half-asleep, ears twitching from time to time.

Elowen had passed out near Lucard’s left side.

She had tried to remain sitting, but exhaustion had won. Her head rested against the stone. Her injured hand lay open on her lap, wrapped badly with red cloth. Her feet were still dirty and bloodied from the path through the forest. Even in sleep, her face looked strained, as if she had not fully escaped fear.

Lucard stared at her for a few breaths.

Then he looked down at his own hand.

Deep inside his blood and soul, the tiny wisp of chaos energy remained silent.

Then the System awakened inside his mind.

[Deepwell Water absorbed. Foreign Earth Mana mostly purified.]

[Bear Monster Blood absorbed.]

[Pure mana and beast blood have strengthened the Blood Mage Vessel.]

[Hidden Chaos Wisp detected. Unable to analyze the source.

Warning: Chaos Wisp is sealed.]

Lucard’s eyes narrowed.

The System continued.

[Level increased.]

[Level 36 → Level 37.]

[Level 37 → Level 38.]

[Level 38 → Level 39.]

[Level 39 → Level 40.]

A heavy beat moved through Lucard’s heart.

Then another.

His blood changed.

It was not the violent change of beast blood. It was deeper than that. His Third Blood Circle trembled, tightened, then broke open like a locked gate finally forced apart from inside. A fourth red circle formed within his blood, slower and heavier than the others.

The cave became quiet around him.

Even the rain outside seemed farther away.

[Rank advanced.

Fourth Blood Circle formed.

Third Blood Circle, Blood Mage Vessel → Fourth Blood Circle, Noble Blood Vessel.]

[Body vessel strengthened.

Blood quality increased.

Blood control stability increased.

Bloodfire resistance increased.

Blood Spell Formation strengthened.]

[Noble Blood Vessel acquired.

Description: The host’s blood has taken its first noble form. Blood power is denser, recovery is stronger, and control over absorbed blood traces has improved.

Note: The host can now absorb any form of pure mana.]

Lucard slowly breathed out. Power moved through his blood in a steadier flow. It was not enough to make him challenge Alan now. At least not enough for a duel. But trap and planning was a different thing.

Enough to start a trap again.

Lucard closed his fingers slowly.

"Level forty," he whispered.

His eyes moved toward the rain-dark entrance of the cave. He still had Alan chasing. He still had enemies to kill.

The light figure was gone. The questions remained.

Lucard closed his fingers slowly.

"Not now," he whispered.

And now he had one more mystery buried inside him.