Chapter 204: Seventh Rank Blood (3)

Chapter 204: 204: Seventh Rank Blood (3)

Lucard placed the core with the other collected materials. He then used Blood Shape to create thick carrying straps around the bundle, securing the teeth, scales, horn, and bone spikes together.

He could not carry the entire enormous corpse, and there was no need to try. He had already taken the most useful materials he could transport.

After checking the body one final time, Lucard turned toward the place where he had left Cedric and Elowen.

He had gained five levels, acquired Mid-Level Earth Resistance, and collected several valuable materials.

The journey into the Deep Maw Forest had nearly killed him.

But the rewards were becoming increasingly satisfying.

When Lucard returned, the first thing he noticed was the silence.

Cedric and Elowen were no longer arguing.

That was unusual.

Lucard slowed his steps and looked toward the dead Crimson Sunwing.

Then he saw them.

Elowen was sitting beside Cedric, leaning against his chest.

Cedric had one arm wrapped around her shoulders, while his other hand gently held hers.

Her eyes were still red, but she was no longer crying.

Cedric was speaking quietly to her.

Lucard could not hear every word at first, but he could see that Cedric was trying to make her smile.

Then Elowen laughed softly.

Cedric smiled too.

Lucard stopped walking.

"What is this?"

He looked at them for several breaths. He had left them alone to protect the egg.

Now they were sitting together, holding hands and looking at each other.

"I went away to collect blood, and these two started acting like lovers?"

Lucard’s expression became strange. He had expected Cedric to complain about the danger or argue with Elowen about the egg.

He had not expected this.

Cedric gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Elowen’s face.

She smiled at him.

Lucard’s eyes narrowed.

"How comfortable."

He looked toward the enormous crimson egg.

It was still resting safely inside the blood cradle.

Puff was sleeping beside it, apparently enjoying the warmth.

At least someone was doing what they were supposed to do.

Lucard cleared his throat.

Cedric immediately turned.

Elowen also looked up.

"Oh! Lucard, you are back!"

"Yes. I noticed."

Cedric slowly removed his arm from Elowen’s shoulders and stood. His eyes immediately moved toward the large bundle Lucard was carrying.

"Did you collect everything?"

"Everything useful."

Cedric approached him.

Then he noticed the dark yellow core resting among the materials.

His eyes widened.

"Is that..."

Lucard picked up the core and held it toward him.

"The Behemoth’s core. As promised."

Cedric stared at the enormous crystal.

For several breaths, he seemed unable to speak.

Then he carefully accepted it with both hands.

The weight surprised him.

He immediately examined the golden lines moving beneath its surface.

"A Seventh Rank earth beast core..."

His voice was filled with excitement.

Lucard watched him with an amused expression.

"You were very comfortable a moment ago. Now you are excited about a rock."

Cedric looked up.

"This is not just a rock!"

"Then stop staring at it like you want to marry it."

Elowen laughed.

Cedric looked offended.

"You have no idea how valuable this is."

"I killed the beast."

"That does not mean you understand its market value."

Lucard shook his head. He had no interest in arguing about the price of something he had already given away.

Elowen approached him and examined his face.

"Are you injured?"

"No."

"Did absorbing the blood help you?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"That is good."

Lucard looked at her for a moment.

Her face was still slightly swollen from crying, but she seemed calmer now.

He glanced toward Cedric.

Then back at her.

"At least he managed to stop her crying."

Lucard did not say anything about it.

Instead, he placed the collected materials beside a large stone and checked the egg.

The protective fire mana had weakened slightly during his absence, but the faint life force inside was still present.

He could sense the small heartbeat moving beneath the shell.

It was weak.

Very weak.

Lucard frowned.

The egg needed a powerful source of fire energy, and he still had no idea where to find something suitable.

He looked toward the dead Crimson Sunwing.

The bird’s enormous body was still lying in the clearing.

Its blood had not completely lost its power.

Although the mother was dead, the blood inside her body still contained the fire essence of a Seventh Rank beast.

Lucard’s eyes narrowed.

Wait.

He had been so focused on the Behemoth’s blood that he had almost overlooked something important.

The Crimson Sunwing was also a Seventh Rank beast.

And unlike the Nightfall Behemoth, its blood carried a powerful fire attribute.

If he absorbed it, he might gain something useful.

Perhaps stronger fire resistance.

Perhaps an improvement to Bloodfire.

And there was another possibility.

The egg needed high-quality fire energy to survive, and the Crimson Sunwing’s blood contained exactly that kind of energy. However, absorbing the blood would not solve the egg’s problem. Lucard could strengthen himself with it, but transferring that energy back into the egg would be difficult. The creature inside needed a steady supply of fire mana, not a sudden burst of power that might damage its unfinished body.

Lucard looked toward the dead Crimson Sunwing again.

"Wait. The blood is not the only valuable thing inside its body."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

The beast core.

A Seventh Rank Crimson Sunwing’s core would contain a tremendous amount of pure fire mana. Unlike ordinary fire stones, the energy inside the core would also carry the same bloodline properties as the developing creature.

That made it almost perfect for the egg.

However, Lucard could not simply place the core beside it and allow the egg to absorb the energy. A Seventh Rank beast core contained too much power. If the egg absorbed even a small amount too quickly, its weakened body might not survive.

"I need something to control the energy."

An idea slowly formed in his mind.

He could create a special storage-type treasure that would hold the egg inside a protected space. By using the Crimson Sunwing’s core as the main energy source, he could maintain a suitable environment and slowly release fire mana around the shell.

It would not be enough to complete the creature’s development or make it hatch. However, it could greatly extend the time before the egg’s remaining life force was exhausted.

"That should give me enough time to search for a proper fire treasure."

There was only one problem.

Creating such a treasure would require more than a single beast core. He needed something strong enough to stabilize the storage space and prevent the fire energy from escaping.

He already had several useful materials from the Nightfall Behemoth, but the most important component was currently in Cedric’s hands.

Lucard glanced toward Cedric, who was still examining his newly acquired Seventh Rank beast core with an expression of great satisfaction.

"This fellow is going to be troublesome."

He sighed before turning toward the Crimson Sunwing.

But first, he had something else to collect.

"I have one more thing to do."

Cedric looked up from the beast core.

"What now?"

Lucard pointed toward the dead Crimson Sunwing.

"I am going to absorb its blood too."

Elowen immediately looked toward the enormous bird.

"Do you have to do that?"

"Yes."

"But she just died."

Lucard looked at her. "And her blood will not become more valuable if I leave it inside her body."

Elowen lowered her eyes. She understood that the bird was already dead, but watching Lucard use its body still made her uncomfortable.

Cedric gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Elowen, the bird gave us its egg because it trusted Lucard. Using what remains of its body to help us survive is not necessarily disrespectful. Especially if some of those materials can help us."

Elowen thought about his words for a moment before nodding.

"Then please be careful with her."

Lucard did not answer. He walked toward the enormous bird and stopped beside its damaged body.

He placed his palm against an area where the scales and feathers had been torn away during the battle.

The blood inside the Crimson Sunwing was different from the Behemoth’s. Even after death, it remained extremely hot, and powerful fire mana continued moving through its blood vessels.

Lucard activated Blood Absorption.

[Blood Absorption activated.]

[Target: Crimson Sunwing.]

[Rank: Seven.]

[Status: Deceased.]

[High-quality fire-attributed beast blood detected.]

[Warning: Powerful fire essence detected. Excessive absorption may cause damage to the host’s blood vessels.]

Lucard read the notification and began absorbing the blood carefully.

A stream of crimson blood entered his palm.

The moment it reached his body, intense heat spread through his veins.

Lucard’s expression changed slightly.

"Interesting."

The Behemoth’s blood had felt heavy, as though stones were moving through his body. The Crimson Sunwing’s blood was completely different. It felt like liquid fire flowing through his veins.

He immediately activated Bloodfire and began refining the incoming energy.

The two types of power reacted to each other.

His own Bloodfire became stronger for a moment, and tiny red flames appeared around his fingers.

Lucard increased his concentration.