Chapter 488 - 459: [Glory Execution]! [Blood-Forged Covenant]

Chapter 488: Chapter 459: [Glory Execution]! [Blood-Forged Covenant]

[Glory Execution: When the oath of the Guardian and the Mad Soul of Destruction resonate, a cruel battlefield covenant is born.]

[You can establish invisible Oath Chains with a marked comrade, and from then on, you will bear the vast majority of the pain and misfortune they endure.]

[When you turn your blazing gaze upon the enemies who dare to harm your ward, your Mad Soul will burn with unprecedented fury. Every pang of pain will transform into more searing rage, and every shred of sacrifice will convert into purer Power.]

[The moment you finally execute the aggressor with your weapon, their dispersing Life Energy will become a restorative spring that nourishes you, healing the wounds you have sustained and cleansing the Curses you bear.]

[Your comrade, whose fate is intertwined with yours, will also feel the reflux of life and the powerful surge of unyielding fighting spirit brought by this victory.]

After reading the text in his vision, the light in Roland’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Unlike the ultimate personal combat art of [Body as Martial], this was a powerful ability born from Professional Resonance with the [Apprentice Knight] Profession, one that focused more on teamwork and the Guardian Domain.

"A perfect battlefield cycle..."

Roland muttered to himself, instantly grasping the terrifying potential of this Trait.

First, it offered unparalleled team survivability.

He could actively establish "Oath Chains" with a teammate, directly taking on most of the damage they received.

This meant that at critical moments, he could become his teammates’ staunchest Shield.

It would allow a vulnerable Caster or Archer to unleash their firepower without reservation, and it would allow a Warrior on the front lines to dare to execute riskier tactical maneuvers.

The strategic value of a protector who could take his teammates’ injuries was immeasurable.

Second was the terrifying counter-attack mechanism: turning pain into Power.

This wasn’t a mere sacrifice, but a conversion of endured damage into fuel for vengeance.

When an enemy dared to harm his ward, the pain transmitted through the Chains would not weaken him. Instead, it would be like pouring gasoline on a fire, causing his [Mad Soul] to burn even more ferociously.

This meant that every successful attack an enemy landed on his teammate was potentially another nail in their own coffin, as they were personally forging an even more terrifying avenger.

Finally, there was the reaping and recovery ability that could clinch a victory.

When he successfully slew the enemy who had harmed his teammate, he could absorb their Life Energy to heal the twofold damage caused by both the Chains and the Burning of his [Mad Soul].

He could also channel this victorious vitality back to his teammate, instantly bolstering the entire team’s condition.

In a protracted battle or a desperate comeback, it was nothing short of a godlike skill!

’This is no longer a matter of simple personal prowess...’

Roland was awestruck.

’This is a micro-warfare system centered on me, one that integrates absolute protection, threat redirection, damage conversion, and status recovery!’

On its own, this Extra Benefit might have had its pros and cons, but when combined with the Traits [Lonely Barrier] and [Oath Guardian] granted by the [Knight] Profession...

...it would transform him from a powerful individual combatant into the absolute cornerstone of the team, one capable of swaying the tide of battle.

It granted him the Authority to control the tempo of the battlefield and define the terms of victory.

On some level, its value even surpassed a mere increase in Power.

Just as Roland was still savoring the [Glory Execution] Extra Benefit, the familiar golden radiance appeared once more, unbidden.

In that instant, it was as if the raging blood coursing through his veins was strangely drawn to, and collided with, another, calmer power.

[Enchanter Profession detected. Professional Resonance can be triggered.]

[Professional Resonance]

[Berserker + Enchanter]

[Gained Extra Benefit: Blood-Forged Covenant]

Immediately after, a stream of information filled with heresy, wild fantasy, and the intent of destructive creation poured into his consciousness like molten iron.

[Blood-Forged Covenant: When the boiling blood of Destruction collides with the power of Synesthesia that perceives the essence of all things, a creation that defies all logic is born—with blood as the blueprint and fury as the chisel, it brutally reforges material reality itself.]

[When actively triggered, your blood is no longer a mere vessel for life but a living Enchantment material carrying the will of your Mad Soul. You can splash or smear this fury-infused blood onto any object...]

[Based on your will and state of Burning at the moment, you can apply a variety of ever-changing effects: cause an enemy’s metal armor to shatter like rotten wood, make an ally’s wooden Shield briefly take on the luster and resilience of metal, or even solidify the air in an area into an Iron Wall, freezing gushing Flames into blood-red Crystal Clusters.]

[Each "Blood Forging" is a one-time overdraft and distortion of the target’s essence. The effect is magnificent but fleeting, and after it dissipates, the target is left in a state of abnormal fragility.]

[And you, as the source of this taboo power, will also accelerate the Burning of your Mad Soul by sacrificing blood that carries the power of your soul. Each act of creation pushes you one step closer to complete madness.]

Roland stared at the description of [Blood-Forged Covenant] in his consciousness, his brow furrowing slightly.

This was not a simple gift of Power, but more like a taboo contract from the Abyss, one that exuded a tempting aroma but contained a deadly poison.

’Using blood as a medium to forcibly distort reality... This is nothing short of blasphemy against and conquest of the Law of creation!’

His breath caught in his throat.

Unlike traditional Enchantment, which requires lengthy preparation, specific materials, and stable Spiritual Power, the core of [Blood-Forged Covenant] lay in its instantaneous and compulsory nature.

It abandoned all complex procedures, turning the precise art of Enchantment into the most primitive and direct clash of wills.

It didn’t rely on an object’s material, form, or Magic Affinity.

Theoretically, even a handful of dirt or a single drop of water could be forcibly imbued with incredible Traits, so long as it was steeped in his fervent blood.

The effects were generated instantly according to his will and could be anything from ultimate defense to ultimate Destruction, or any distortion of matter he could imagine.

On the ever-changing battlefield, this was like possessing a "rule-breaking cheat" that could be activated with a single thought.

In the middle of a battle, he could sprinkle blood in the path of a charging enemy, instantly turning the solid ground into devouring quicksand.

Or he could run a finger across his sword, allowing the mundane iron to temporarily gain an edge sharp enough to slice through Demon Steel with the next blow.

This ability was enough to turn the entire tide of battle at a critical moment.

With that thought, Roland took a deep breath and extended his right index finger. At his mental command, a faint stinging pain pricked his fingertip.

A crimson bead of blood, faintly shimmering with an ominous, restless red light, slowly seeped out.

His gaze locked onto a sturdy stone half-buried in the ground nearby.

There was no Spell, no ritual. He simply flicked the drop of blood, saturated with his furious will, toward the stone.

The bead of blood struck the stone’s surface with pinpoint accuracy.

"HUMMM!"

A low thrumming sound echoed out, as if matter itself were wailing in agony.

The drop of blood didn’t slide off. Instead, as if it had a life of its own, it instantly spread across the stone’s surface, forming an extremely complex and constantly writhing crimson pattern.

The next moment, driven by Roland’s will, the once-dull gray stone turned pitch-black and dense at a speed visible to the naked eye. Its surface took on the cold, hard luster of metal, and it even began to faintly radiate a heavy wave of Energy.

It had been temporarily "forged" into a bizarre substance resembling high-density metal.

This incredible display startled even Roland himself, but he didn’t let it go to his head.

He could clearly feel that after that insignificant drop of blood had left his body, the restlessness of the [Mad Soul] within him had grown noticeably more intense.

Using it frequently was akin to drinking poison to quench a thirst; it would greatly accelerate his descent into utter madness.

Moreover...

Roland’s gaze refocused on the stone.

One, two, three...

After little more than ten seconds, the crimson pattern on the "metalized" stone’s surface rapidly dimmed and dissipated.

With a faint *CRACKLE*, the stone itself became covered in fissures.

It became even more brittle than before, as if its very "essence" had been completely spent during that brief moment of splendor.

This meant he couldn’t create permanent enhancements. Every Blood Forging destroyed the target object’s future potential.

Furthermore...

Roland shook his head, calming the turbulent emotions stirring within his heart.

’This power’s activation relies too heavily on momentary will and violent emotion, making it extremely difficult to control with any precision.’

’One slip in control could not only fail to achieve the desired effect, but might even lead to catastrophic consequences.’

Roland’s expression was incredibly grave as he looked at the pile of rubble, now mundane and even more fragile than before.

[Blood-Forged Covenant] granted him a brief, almost Deity-like Authority of creation, but the price was his life, his sanity, and permanent damage to the target.

It was an ultimate trump card for breaking a stalemate and creating a miracle in a desperate situation, but it absolutely could not be relied upon, much less abused.

Like making a...

dangerous bargain with a Demon.

Just as Roland was staring at the lingering wisp of power on his fingertip—a remnant that carried the bloody paradox of creation and had yet to fully subside—light footsteps and a clear voice sounded from behind him.

"Oh, there you are, Roland."

He turned to see the Elf Maiden standing by a ruined wall nearby.

The afterglow of the setting sun edged her hair with a warm glow.

She tilted her head slightly, a look of relieved ease on her face.

"Duraga and Mr. Bronson are all ready."

Avril said, her tone cheerful.

"The Shell Ship is fully supplied. The fresh water and those... erm, improved ’Stone Rations’ have all been stocked as planned."

"Everyone thinks that if we want to catch the Magic Flow window Mr. Bronson calculated, we should leave now."

Her sharp gaze swept over Roland, lingering on the area where he had just tested [Blood-Forged Covenant]. The Elf’s innate, keen Perception allowed her to detect a faint, unusual fluctuation of residual Energy.

It was a contradictory aura, a mixture of fury and bloodthirst, yet strangely laced with a hint of creative intent.

Her delicate eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but she didn’t press the matter, though a questioning look flickered in her eyes.

Hearing this, Roland took a deep breath, slowly suppressing the turbulent restlessness churning within him from his newfound power. The sharp aura around him receded.

"I understand."

He looked at Avril and nodded, a gentle smile touching his lips.

His gaze then swept over the weather-beaten ruins of Sui Cang Hall before lifting to the sky, which was shrouded in both gray mist and twilight.

"Then let’s go. It’s time to continue our journey."