I Obtained a Divine Artifact
I opened my eyes. It was morning. Licking my parched mouth, I tasted a faint sweetness for some reason. The bed's softness and plushness were worlds apart from my own room's. This was the Director's bed. Realizing that brought last night's events flashing back like a montage.
"Ugh."
I instinctively touched the spot where she'd sucked my blood yesterday. Smooth bandage met my fingers.
"Awake, are you?"
"...Director."
"Drink this."
I took the water Madric Blood offered and drank it down.
"Why did you do it? I trusted you, Director."
"Did I not say there was nothing to worry about?"
"But I'm a vampire...?"
"You are not."
"Pardon?"
"Unless it's an official duty, I shan't force my employee to do what they dislike, nira."
Her words made me tilt my head.
"Then why did you?"
"Do you feel the bloodthirst now?"
I checked my condition briefly and shook my head. The sweet scent from yesterday was gone.
Madric Blood chuckled softly.
"Being bitten by a vampire doesn't make one a vampire, nira. Especially not by a superior being like myself."
She continued explaining.
"If it did, mediocre vampires would multiply endlessly."
It made sense on reflection. Noble vampires like Madric Blood lived for ages. Sucking human blood every time the thirst hit would turn countless humans into half-baked vampires over centuries.
Relieved, I listened as she went on.
"This is a form of contract, one might say."
"I supply blood periodically in exchange for power? Something like that?"
"Quite perceptive."
"Was it necessary? You get blood packs here anyway."
"That wasn't my intent. As I said yesterday, the thirst is merely a side effect, nira. The power I bestow through human contracts naturally carries such traits."
"Hmm..."
I felt uneasy. Didn't that mean the bloodthirst could strike again anytime? I'd have to let Madric Blood suck my blood each time.
She seemed to read my thoughts.
"Whenever you come to learn Blood Impact, just give me your blood then, nira. Fair, isn't it?"
"...You've already had plenty."
"Freshly drawn blood is best savored straight from the vein, nira."
"Urk."
Like eating sashimi right after catching the fish, I supposed. She licked her lower lip lightly.
"Especially yours—unforgettable."
"...Understood."
For now, I'd accept it and figure something out later.
All my energy was drained.
Letting the vampire lord Madric Blood suck my blood quenched my own thirst in reverse. But the next day, my motivation tanked.
"So I have to keep getting drained until it's resolved?"
Sucking blood or being sucked. If forced to choose, better the latter. Not by just anyone, though.
I headed to the training grounds. Moving my body was best for clearing my head.
As usual, Gwak Do-cheol caught my eye first. I'd once suggested he join the command center, but he preferred the training grounds.
"You look troubled, young warrior Kim. No spring in your step."
"Some unwelcome business."
"What is it? Spilling it can help."
Should I? After hesitating, I decided to confide. If the thirst hit with him nearby, he could stop me.
Clink, clink.
Gwak Do-cheol stroked his sword hilt after hearing the story.
"Hmm. That Return Blood Qi Technique you've learned seems akin to a demonic art."
He'd renamed Blood Cycle to Return Blood Qi Technique. Demonic art fit, since vampires invented it.
"Similar to other demonic arts?"
"You know most demonic arts were made to rapidly elevate third-rate or first-rate warriors?"
"Yes."
Hence the easy qi deviation. I sensed his point.
"You're at the stage of battling that bloodthirst—qi deviation, essentially."
"A trial."
"Indeed. Yet also the opposite."
Cryptic. He elaborated.
"Qi deviation strikes demonic cultivators hard when they near Peak realm."
"Then?"
He nodded, grasping my implication.
"Reach Super Apex, and the thirst should resolve naturally."
"Super Apex..."
I sighed softly. Just gathering internal energy for Peak, and Super Apex felt distant.
"Demonic arts advance slower than orthodox ones—this is your trial to endure."
"Ugh."
Until then, I'd endure Madric Blood's selfish desires. But it sparked hope too. The realm I'd dreamed of: Super Apex master. Now I had to strive for it earnestly. Motivation surged back.
"Thanks for the advice."
"No trouble."
I did my three major exercises, then learned the rest of Black Moon Tyrant Sword's forms from him. We discussed Kasumi.
"Hmm. Trickier than fighting two at once."
"Worse, even. Blades from both sides at once."
He pondered.
"That technique—your clan's secret art?"
"Yes."
"Mimicking it with clones... perhaps its creator reached Mind Sword realm."
Mind Sword. Sword strikes by thought alone—transcendent.
"Is Dark Illusion Heaven God Style that profound?"
"Can't judge unseen. But clones aren't true multiples or formations. Simultaneous true strikes from one? That's Mind Sword. Watch."
Shing!
Gwak Do-cheol drew his sword, slashing down fiercely. Then left to right. Finally, stabbing where paths crossed.
He looked at me.
"How's that?"
"Black Moon Tyrant Sword's basic three forms."
"Speed?"
"Fast."
"Simultaneous?"
I shook my head. To normals, yes. But near Peak me? No. Even sheathed, I could draw and block both.
I wondered why, but soon understood.
"My master Sa Jong-hyeok showed those three and said: 'Unite Full Moon Slash and Half Moon Slash in one strike to twist space-time. Full or Half Moon with Black Tyrant Sword Resolve in one is Mind Sword.'"
I visualized: one sword, two forms. Kasumi's clones came to mind. But clones were just one person splitting forms—cheating, mimicking the origin.
Using Gift for it—was that true Mind Sword? Hard to grasp; frustration built. Fingering my arms, I asked.
"Which is higher?"
"Master said nothing. But this I guarantee."
Shing. He sheathed after flicking the flat.
"Black Moon Tyrant Sword was created aiming for that realm."
"...Really?"
"If you've truly grasped Peak insight, you'd feel it in my basic three."
"Hmm!"
Convincing. Those basics oddly evoked the linkage five forms—universal connectors. Pair some simultaneously? Foe couldn't dodge, just flail and get sliced.
"Thus, Black Moon Tyrant Sword condenses twenty forms into one ultimate. True space-time sword, Mind Sword, absolute one's final form. Akin to formless."
"I see."
His grave tone didn't fully land. Barely stepping into Peak, grasping unknown realms was grasping at clouds. Still, I nodded.
"I'll pursue that realm."
"Haha, fine attitude. Let's train the rest."
"Yes. One moment first."
I scanned the grounds, spotting my target.
"Need to talk to an acquaintance."
"Go ahead."
It was Alvin Taylor. I itched for more Black Moon Tyrant Sword and qi building. But summoning Zhuque would boost efficiency.
He turned at my approach.
"Hunter Kim. Busy yesterday? Missed training."
"Director business."
He nodded lightly.
"Unavoidable. Spoken enough with the spirit?"
"Let's see."
I gripped Sealed Sword.
"Zhuque. Had time—prepared?"
-Umm...
"Two-faced, and I'll practice Black Moon Tyrant Sword on the wall."
-Ah, got it. Calm down, master. I'll come when called.
"That's better."
I grinned, chanting the summon.
"Appear. Zhuque."
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the crimson-hot blade. A small bird emerged.
-Piiiiiik!
Its eyes glared at me. Predictably:
-Pik! Pik! Pik! Pik! Pik!
"Argh! You damn birdbrain spawn!"
Fine. Time to refine Black Moon Tyrant Sword through bloody battle with Zhuque.
-Piik!
Shing!
Flying Moon Slash!
Slash.
-Piii...
Too weak to expose flaws. My confident linkage form dropped it instantly.
"Hm."
Alvin Taylor floated water orbs, arms crossed.
Splash-!
He unsummoned his spirit.
"Instilling fear works sometimes. Watched to let it."
"Thoughts?"
He glanced at trembling, floored Zhuque.
Poof.
Unsumnoned, he replied.
"Didn't flee or unsummon on hit—right path. Repeat; it'll submit."
"Good. Zhuque! Out again."
-Uuu... Can't rest a bit? Head hurts.
I relayed to Alvin.
"Let it rest. Short breaks prevent rebellion; long ones breed sloth."
I nodded.
"10 minutes, then out."
-Grk. Fine.
I circulated Blood Cycle during wait. 10 minutes later:
"Appear. Zhuque."
-Piiiiiik!
Pik, pik, pik, pik.
Flying Moon Slash!
-Piii...
"10-minute break."
-Uuuuuu...!
Blood Cycle again. Repeated summons and lessons. Didn't count, but my one-strike forms evolved: linkage Flying Moon Slash to basic three. Then area Full Moon Slash/Half Moon Slash to pinpoint Black Tyrant Sword Resolve. Predicted spawn, stabbed from behind, side, front, somewhere.
-Piiiiii...!
By then, my info's Gongryeok had hit 123.
"Appear, Zhu..."
-M-Master! Something I haven't said. Hear me out.
"Babble, and I'll enjoy this all day."
-......I thought of a way for instant awakening.