Blood Mage
The notification hit like a system prompt from hell.
Solomon has contracted with a Legendary Artifact and acquired the rare archetype Blood Mage at Level 3.
A multiclass build—Spell Assassin Level 5 and Blood Mage Level 3.
In addition to the standard stat gains for three levels, the following traits and spells are now available.
───
Blood Explosion
Once per day, ignite and detonate a target's blood.
No fucking way. Even a unique class trait?
It was absurdly overpowered. Just reading the description made the entire Blood Mage archetype worth considering. The kind of broken ability that could swing an entire build.
───
New 2nd-level Blood Magic spell.
Available additional spell slots are as follows:
1st-level: 6 slots (⚀⚀⚀⚀⚀⚀)
2nd-level: 4 slots (⚁⚁⚁⚁)
3rd-level: 1 slot (⚂)
The Game Master added,
Level-based stat increases will apply normally. However, since this was not a standard level-up, no Trait Points will be awarded.
“Figures.”
Sub-class acquisition is also unavailable. Additionally, all learnable spells are restricted to those with the Blood Magic tag.
He received every benefit a Level 3 Blood Mage could offer, but nothing extra like trait points. No surprise there. Just getting a three-level multiclass drop was already a miracle.
“Show me the available Blood Magic spells.”
“Understood.”
At the Game Master’s gesture, a sheet of parchment with a distinct medieval texture slid across the table toward Solomon.
───
I
Blood Arrow
Blood Scent Tracking
Blood Blade
…….
II
Crimson Spear
Blood Backflow
Blood Flow Acceleration
······.
Among the list, Solomon didn’t hesitate.
“I’ll learn one 1st-level spell and one 2nd-level spell.”
Blood Blade
Tag: 1st-level, Blood Magic, Weapon Enhancement
Creates a blade from blood magic or adds 2 extra damage when honing an existing blade for an attack.
Blood Flow Acceleration
Tag: 2nd-level, Blood Magic, Physical Enhancement
Temporarily accelerates blood flow throughout the body, granting explosive physical performance.
Upon ending, the caster enters a temporary Exhaustion state.
In a sense, it was a lesser version of one of his 3rd-level spells. The damage was mediocre. But Solomon had his reasons.
What he lacked right now was a direct physical enhancement spell. This was exactly the kind of magic he needed most in the current situation.
Perfect. No complaints.
Above all, the cherry on top was the once-per-day unique trait Blood Explosion.
It was an absurdly generous reward for simply protecting one heart. He’d thought so at first, but then shook his head.
High risk, high reward. That’s how it works.
Steel set in his eyes, Solomon spoke.
“Anything else?”
“No. Our business here is concluded.”
The Game Master’s form beneath the robe writhed with what seemed like amusement. That was the last thing Solomon remembered.
* * *
His eyes opened to the morning light of Hotel Snark.
Two trait activation notices now greeted him the moment he woke.
Spell Assassin 5, Blood Mage 3. Plus two brand-new spells.
A faint crimson current seemed to swirl around him. It felt as if his senses had sharpened specifically toward blood. Some kind of class aura, perhaps.
Or maybe I’m just imagining it.
In that state, he located the heart still inside its bottle.
It sat neatly on the table, beating steadily. Seen like this, it really was quite small. Small enough to slip into a pocket along with the glass container.
“I told you to take me somewhere in the Blood Isles.”
─ Yes… Blood Isles… my home…
A voice leaked from the heart inside the jar. It sounded like a baby’s babbling.
─ Take me there… please…
Downtown District 15, the Tribe Streets. Mistress Selene had said the Blood Isles was the hideout of the Blood Moon Tribe guild.
But wasn’t it stolen by smugglers in the first place? No guarantee it’ll even be safe there.
There was no way to know without going. He’d have to see for himself.
Solomon stood and began preparing. He took three of each of his emergency stash—top-grade Invisibility Potion and Potion of Ruinous Poison. Whatever was about to happen, it wouldn’t be the kind of situation he could half-ass. He needed to bring everything he could carry and burn every resource he had.
Better to move while the sun’s still up, too.
Just as he was about to leave the room after a moment’s hesitation—
Knock, knock.
The familiar sound.
“Pardon me, Sir Solomon.”
Opening the door revealed the usual zombie hotelier standing at attention.
“What is it?”
“Congratulations. You have successfully completed the request of the deceased, Mr. Joseph.”
“Yeah, I did.”
When he glanced back absently, he noticed his room number had changed from 243 to 244 while he slept. The hotel really did rearrange itself.
“As I mentioned before, completing a deceased’s request grants not only the original reward but also additional Performance Points from the hotel. Since two deceased parties were involved in this particular request, the Performance Points awarded will be correspondingly higher.”
“Additional Performance Points, huh.”
“Yes. Congratulations. As of today, your Hotel Snark membership has been upgraded from Bronze to Silver.”
Solomon let out a dry laugh. What was this, an insurance company performance review?
“I understand you intend to deliver a sacred relic to the Blood Isles.”
“…That’s right.”
The zombie hotelier spoke as if he’d been watching Solomon’s every move from the beginning.
“In that regard, we have prepared a small token of assistance. In addition to the standard benefits of Silver rank, you will receive a special hotel service as your first Performance Bonus.”
“You guys really have everything.”
With those words, the zombie hotelier produced something carefully wrapped in cloth. Solomon was about to unwrap it when the hotelier urgently stopped him.
“Ah, please open it only after leaving the hotel. It would not be pleasant for us otherwise.”
“Will do.”
Solomon accepted the item, tucked it away, and turned to leave. Then, almost as an afterthought, he asked,
“By the way, how high do the membership ranks go?”
“Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and then VVIP. The services provided differ accordingly.”
“…That’s a lot.”
“If you wish to raise your membership rank, you would find it more efficient to take on ‘Hotel Commissioned Requests’ rather than regular ones. Are you interested?”
“Maybe later.”
In short, they were asking him to become the hotel’s dog. Solomon gave another dry laugh and turned away.
The path had taken a brief detour, but nothing had changed.
He used the Room of Doors—the place where countless doors floated in midair like a Magritte painting—and stepped through the one leading to the Tribe Streets in Downtown District 15.
The moment he crossed the threshold, morning sunlight poured over him. At first it was sunlight, then—
“!”
Flames and clouds of ash-black smoke were devouring the streets.
Screams echoed everywhere. The scene was pure pandemonium. Solomon closed his mouth tightly.
“This is Chairman Chepesh’s order! Wipe out every last one of these primitive orc bastards!”
“For the redevelopment of District 15!”
“Orders from the Wallachia Corporation Redevelopment Division!”
“What are the enforcers doing?! Demolish those junk heaps immediately!”
Solomon let out a hollow laugh at the narrator’s dry commentary. Guild City—the City of Guilds. In a place ruled by survival of the fittest, the strong were the law.
Everywhere he looked, orcs wearing what appeared to be Wallachia Corporation uniforms—or bright vests labeled “Wallachia Corp Enforcement Division”—were turning the district into a wasteland.
Shit’s gone sideways.
Amid the chaos, Solomon had no choice but to keep walking. Fortunately, unlike the buildings and orcs marked for demolition, no one directly bothered him. After all, he looked like someone from Hotel Snark. No need to poke that particular hornet’s nest.
The Blood Isles. The Blood Moon Tribe’s guild hideout.
Despite the madness tearing through the streets, the situation there was relatively better. Or more accurately, it felt like the storm hadn’t quite reached them yet.
Solomon stepped directly into the entrance of the guild hideout.
“Who the hell are you?”
The moment he entered, an orc in a suit blocked his path. Blood-red orcs covered in tattoos all snapped into combat stances, hostility radiating from them.
“I’m here on a request from your dead kin.”
“…!”
Unfazed, Solomon pulled out the glass bottle from his coat. A request was a request.
“They asked me to return this sacred relic to where it belongs.”
“Our heart…!”
Alarm spread visibly among the blood orcs. It was understandable. With the redevelopment frenzy tearing through the district, it was honestly doubtful how long they could hold out—or whether holding out was even possible.
“Oh my, everyone’s gathered here?”
Right then, a voice rang out from behind Solomon at the exact moment he appeared.
“!”
He turned to see a group of vampires in tailored suits. Just like before. But different.
I can sense their presence…
This time he wasn’t caught completely off guard, only noticing them after the fact.
“To think you’d steal the Chairman’s ‘appetizer’ and run. How fearless.”
“Ah, and these smelly, outdated orcs too. Truly the worst.”
“Filthy bloodsuckers! This is our land!”
“Oh dear, I think you’re mistaken about something.”
When one of the blood orcs protested, a beautiful female vampire in a suit let out a giggle.
“Legally, we’ve already received approval for the redevelopment project in this sector. From now on, this is our land. Wallachia Corporation’s land, to be precise.”
These really are vampires through and through.
Solomon thought with a sense of disbelief. He stood silently among the orcs, facing the vampires.
“What’s this? Are you seriously choosing their side?”
“I accepted a request.”
Solomon answered flatly.
“The request was to return the item to its proper place.”
And that place was here—the Blood Moon Tribe’s guild hideout.
“You’d better steel yourself. There’s no mommy around to hide behind her skirts here.”
The Wallachia Corporation enforcement team—vampires in sharp suits—bared their claws and fangs in open threat. There was no Mistress Selene to protect him this time. Nothing had changed.
“Either way.”
Solomon tightened his resolve and gripped his dagger hilt. Then he took out the item the hotel had given him as a membership service—the thing carefully wrapped in cloth.
The instant he revealed it, the vampires screamed.
◈ A blade imbued with the deep crimson of rubies and the brilliant light of the sun.
◈ To vampires, it is nothing short of poison.
Damn. The service really is top-tier.
Gripping the Igniting Sun Ruby Dagger tightly, Solomon thought to himself.