Chapter 143: Selvara 3

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Selvara 3

For the next several days, the border of the Abyss became Ronan’s hunting ground.

Vampires disappeared from their usual territories, leaving behind nothing but bloodless corpses. Some were caught while traveling alone, others while moving in small groups, and a few were unfortunate enough to encounter Ronan while hunting other creatures.

None of them escaped.

Ronan had initially believed that finding vampires would be difficult, but he soon discovered that the Abyss was filled with them. They had their own territories, hunting grounds, and gathering points, and although many avoided the more dangerous regions, their numbers around the border were considerable.

For Ronan, this was excellent news.

He didn’t need to venture deeper into the Abyss or risk encountering powerful undead that recognized his mark. He could remain near the border and hunt vampires until his Blood Sucking trait reached its limit.

Of course, things weren’t always straightforward.

Some vampires possessed abilities that made them difficult to catch, while others traveled with powerful demons as companions. A few groups even attempted to surround him after discovering that someone was hunting their kind.

Their efforts were futile.

Ronan was already powerful enough to kill Two-Star King Realm beasts, and after several days of fighting, his combat experience had improved further. The vampires who tried to overwhelm him soon discovered that their numbers offered little protection against someone who could tear through their formations.

More importantly, every victory brought him closer to his goal.

[Ding!]

[Blood Sucking has absorbed vampire blood.]

[The racial trait has accumulated additional power.]

Ronan stood over another vampire’s corpse as the remaining blood rose into the air and entered his body.

He glanced at the notification, then opened his status.

[Blood Sucking Lv.15]

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Finally.

After countless battles and the blood of numerous vampires, the trait had reached Level 15.

Yet something was still missing.

Ronan could feel the power accumulating within his body, but the familiar notification announcing an evolution had yet to appear.

He frowned.

’Still not enough?’

He had already killed more vampires than he cared to count. Their blood had strengthened his body, improved his control over his vampire abilities, and brought the trait to a level he had never reached before.

However, he had known from the beginning that the First Evolution wouldn’t be easy.

The system had explicitly stated that he needed to push Blood Sucking beyond its current limit.

Reaching Level 15 was merely part of the process.

Ronan looked toward the distant forest, where countless auras moved among the trees.

A cold smile appeared on his face.

"Then I’ll keep going."

He didn’t know how much blood the trait required, but he wasn’t going to stop when he was already so close.

---

Another day passed.

Then another.

Ronan’s hunt continued, and the number of vampires he killed steadily increased. His abilities became more refined with every battle, particularly those connected to his vampire bloodline.

Blood Trail allowed him to track his targets with greater precision, making it increasingly difficult for fleeing vampires to escape him. His improved control over Blood Sucking also allowed him to absorb their blood more efficiently.

Even his Mind Manipulation had become more effective against weaker opponents.

However, the most significant changes occurred when he absorbed the blood of stronger vampires. Their blood carried more power, and each time he encountered a particularly strong target, he could feel a noticeable difference.

Eventually, he found himself standing before the corpses of an entire vampire hunting party.

There were nearly fifty of them.

Their leader had been a powerful Sovereign Realm vampire, and the others had possessed varying levels of strength. They had attempted to escape when they realized that Ronan was not an ordinary undead, but his Blood Trail had prevented them from disappearing into the wilderness.

Now, all of them were dead.

Ronan raised his hand.

The blood remaining within their bodies began to gather, forming streams of crimson liquid that converged before him.

He absorbed it all.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then his body trembled.

[Ding!]

[Blood Sucking has reached the required threshold.]

[The racial trait has fulfilled its First Evolution conditions.]

[Beginning First Evolution...]

Ronan’s eyes widened slightly, unlike the normal traits that enters the First Evolution at level 11 this particular one took longer but he knew without a doubt it would be worth it.

A powerful surge of energy erupted from within him. His bloodline roared as the power accumulated over the past several days began to transform.

The sensation was unlike anything he had experienced when merely increasing the trait’s level.

His body felt as though it were being reconstructed from the inside out. The vampire blood within him responded violently, merging with the power of his Ghoul Lord bloodline and strengthening the connection between the two.

For a moment, the surrounding air became unnaturally still.

Then the system notifications appeared.

[Ding!]

[Blood Sucking has undergone its First Evolution.]

[Blood Sucking Lv.15 has evolved beyond its previous limit.]

[The host’s vampire bloodline has been strengthened.]

[All vampire-related abilities have received a significant enhancement.]

Ronan slowly clenched his fist.

The power within his body responded immediately.

He could feel it circulating through his veins, far more concentrated and potent than before. His ability to absorb blood had improved, and the connection between his bloodline and his other abilities had become stronger.

Most importantly, the First Evolution had finally been completed.

Ronan had achieved one of his primary objectives.

But before he could fully appreciate the changes, another notification appeared.

[Ding!]

[Additional Quest Updated.]

[Requirement: Kill a King Realm Vampire Lord.]

[Reward: Unknown.]

Ronan stared at the notification for a moment before smiling.

"So, it’s finally time."

He had been expecting this.

The female Vampire Lord who had destroyed his former plans and continued hunting him was still alive. As long as she remained a threat, he couldn’t afford to relax.

Besides, killing her would bring him another step closer to his next objective.

Unfortunately, he had barely finished checking the notifications when the energy within his body suddenly surged.

Ronan’s expression changed.

He could feel the enormous reserves of energy he had absorbed from the mysterious village’s food responding to his breakthrough conditions.

The system had warned him about this possibility.

Now, the moment had arrived.

[Ding!]

[The host has fulfilled the required breakthrough conditions.]

[The accumulated energy within the host’s body is sufficient to support a direct advancement.]

[Beginning breakthrough...]

Ronan immediately sat down.

The surrounding energy rushed toward him, forming a powerful vortex that spread across the wilderness. The ground beneath him cracked, and the trees nearby bent beneath the pressure radiating from his body.

His Essence began to rise.

8,000.

12,000.

20,000.

The energy within his body continued to increase as his realm advanced. His physical strength, aura, and control over his abilities all improved at a frightening rate.

The process that would ordinarily require several breakthroughs was compressed into a single advancement.

Then, finally, the surge began to slow.

[Ding!]

[Breakthrough successful!]

[Host has advanced to the Seventh-Star King Realm.]

[Essence: 65,840/65,840]

Ronan slowly opened his eyes.

For several seconds, he remained silent.

Then he rose to his feet.

The aura spreading from his body was vastly different from before. The power he had possessed as a Nine-Star Sovereign now seemed insignificant compared to what he could wield.

He clenched his fist.

Crack!

Space seemed to tremble beneath the force of the movement, while the ground around his feet fractured into numerous lines.

Ronan looked at his hand with satisfaction.

Seventh-Star King Realm.

He had actually made it.

The energy stored within his body had allowed him to skip the earlier stages of the King Realm and advance directly to the Seventh Star.

This was a massive improvement.

His physical strength had increased tremendously, his Essence reserves had expanded, and his abilities had become far more powerful. With Blood Sucking’s First Evolution complete, his vampire bloodline was also considerably stronger than before.

Even his ability to sense and track prey had improved.

Ronan opened his status and examined the changes, confirming that his breakthrough had succeeded.

A smile spread across his face.

’Now, things will be different.’

Previously, he had needed to consider the possibility of encountering enemies who could overpower him. Although he had been confident in his ability to escape from a Four-Star King Realm being, he had no desire to remain in such a vulnerable position.

Now, as a Seventh-Star King Realm being, he possessed the strength to fight opponents who would previously have forced him to retreat.

Of course, that didn’t mean he could challenge every powerful creature in the Abyss.

He wasn’t foolish enough to assume that his advancement made him invincible.

Still, his chances of surviving a confrontation with the female Vampire Lord had improved considerably.

And he intended to take full advantage of that.

Ronan looked toward the distance.

"Come on, then. Where are you?"

As though responding to his words, several powerful auras suddenly appeared beyond the hills.

Ronan’s smile faded.

These weren’t ordinary vampires.

Their auras were far stronger than those of the creatures he had hunted over the past several days, and they were approaching with a degree of coordination that immediately caught his attention.

He stood still, allowing his senses to spread outward.

There were several of them.

And at the center of the group was an aura that stood above the rest.

King Realm.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

’You are here’

The figures soon emerged from beyond the hills.

At their forefront walked a beautiful woman with pale skin and long crimson hair. Her crimson eyes rested on Ronan, carrying a mixture of interest and cold hostility.

Behind her stood several vampires whose auras were considerably stronger than those of the hunting parties Ronan had encountered.

They were her strongest subordinates.

The woman stopped several meters away from him.

For a brief moment, neither side spoke.

Then her lips curved into a faint smile.

"So, you’re the Ghoul Lord."

Ronan studied her carefully.

He could feel the power radiating from her body, and it was clear that she was no ordinary King Realm vampire.

The woman tilted her head slightly.

"My name is Selvara."

Her crimson eyes narrowed as she examined him from head to toe.

"And I’ve come here to capture you."