Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Pure Bloodline
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Whoosh!
The light pouring from the egg enveloped Park Chan-woo.
'I can feel it.'
Finally, their true 'first contact' with Cygnus had begun.
He had become aware of Cygnus's existence, and Cygnus had become aware of his.
Park Chan-woo cast his gaze into the cluster of light.
Soon, his eyes met something with glowing blue eyes within it.
Beautiful like the blue sea, transparent, with round eyes.
A horn protruding elegantly from the center of its forehead, emerald-colored fluffy fur, and a pair of long, slender wings to match.
'That black tendril wasn't a wing—it was a tail.'
It was easy to mistake.
The long tail split into two forks, making it look like wings.
Park Chan-woo blankly examined Cygnus's appearance.
…Mystical.
Of course, all divine beasts possessed a mystical aura.
Each one exuded an untouchable presence.
But Cygnus was far more divine than any divine beast he had ever seen.
A sensation beyond words, one that filled his chest just from looking.
"Father."
His mind rang.
It was a child's voice, yet profoundly calm and clear.
That said… Father.
'First time I've ever heard that in my life.'
Had anyone ever called him father before?
Absolutely not.
He'd never been married, let alone had a child.
In the future world, taking a partner was both a blessing and a curse of the century.
In a world where surviving alone was overwhelming, being responsible for someone else doubled the difficulty of survival.
It might provide mental support, but it wasn't advisable from a practical standpoint.
It could become a weakness exploited by the Creators or a toy for the avatars.
In all relationships, Park Chan-woo had never sought deep bonds. Naturally, he had no children.
…Cygnus.
Cygnus stared at him blankly.
It was as if it wanted him to call its name, so he did.
Cygnus then spread its wings wide.
Cygnus now unmistakably recognized Park Chan-woo as kin and father.
"Park Chan-woo."
He nodded as he spoke.
"I have engraved my father's name upon my soul."
Thump! Thump!
His heart suddenly raced.
Mana waves intertwined, and even their unique mana patterns mixed slightly.
This meant their true 'connection' was complete.
'Without the Easter Egg, we wouldn't have connected this closely.'
The ability of Easter Egg (002) seems related to 'perception alteration.'
Anyway, once activated, a related explanation should appear.
Focusing on the floating message brought up an info window.
A vague description.
But he understood it to some extent.
Wasn't the circumstance of obtaining Easter Egg (002) exactly that?
'Harmony between species.'
He had asked the demon merchant Dagon for a 'soul ritual' and tried to grant peace to Balzac's soul after it became a true demon.
At that moment, Balzac rejected peace and chose to stay by Park Chan-woo's side.
Thus, Balzac's soul transformed into Easter Egg (002), leading him to rediscover the 'trace of the Creator.'
However, a question arose.
The first Easter Egg was 'Luck', and the second was 'Harmony of Species'.
They seemed related, yet not.
'What is it trying to say?'
One thing was certain: there was intent behind it.
No matter how he thought about it, it didn't feel like mere mischief.
If the Abyss's Creator had truly left these Easter Eggs, there must be a message to convey.
He still lacked clues.
But it was clear that each Easter Egg stemmed from the 'impossible'.
Hidden within feats no one thought achievable, impossible to accomplish.
Likewise.
'…I can take it slow.'
If he continued challenging the 'impossible', forging his own path without giving up, he could surely obtain more Easter Eggs.
'That said.'
Thanks to Easter Egg (002)'s ability, Species Harmony, Cygnus had recognized him in a deeper relationship.
Thus, it was no longer just a mere 'pet', but a full family member.
Family. A blood-connected lineage.
'The ultimate bloodline. Potential of the lineage.'
Thanks to this, Park Chan-woo had inherited the potential of the 'bloodline' as well.
The traits of the species, or the unique power of the bloodline.
Abilities related to divine beasts?
Or latent potential yet to manifest?
He couldn't bear the curiosity.
Park Chan-woo quickly checked his Status Window.
And found it.
The changed part.
'Pure Bloodline has been added to the Abnormal Status section.'
Pure Bloodline. Meaning an impeccably pristine lineage.
Probably referring to a bloodline directly tied to 'Sanctuary'.
Focusing on the term brought up a new window.
….
He was momentarily speechless.
The explanation defied words.
Something beyond common sense, unimaginable until now, had become reality.
An EXP boost option was especially unprecedented.
For him, it was like rain in a drought.
With only 488 days left on his deadline.
To return to level 1, he needed to level up 80 times, and his required EXP was several times more than others.
'A perfect option for me.'
Level 99 wasn't the end for him.
In fact, reaching level 99 was just the starting point.
He had finally obtained the possibility he'd only dreamed of.
A foundation to soar higher and faster.
And that was more than enough for the power of 'Pure Bloodline'.
'…Does this mean I can enter Rifts?'
But there was more.
Immunity to Rift effects.
Honestly, he could hardly believe it even as he read it.
Rifts were seams between Abysses, survivable only by divine beasts.
Humanity had researched Rifts endlessly and reached a conclusion.
'Rifts connect worlds touched by the Abyss, like links between dimensions.'
That was all they knew.
They couldn't know more.
They couldn't enter in the first place.
Only by exploring inside could they learn anything.
But even the Twelve Races and demons couldn't endure inside Rifts.
If they couldn't, what chance did humans have?
Thus, Rifts were an unknown realm.
He had gained the qualification to be the first to set foot inside.
Not to mention entering the sacred ground 'Sanctuary'.
"Do you know anything about the sacred ground 'Sanctuary'?"
What exactly was Sanctuary?
A place? A divine beast's name? Another concept?
Sacred ground implied a location, yet it was also the name of the divine beasts' king.
When he asked with curiosity, Cygnus answered.
"I do not know. But I feel my mother's will, who gave me my name. That if you go there now, you will never return alive."
He shouldn't enter yet.
Was it because of insufficient power?
Well, even entering a Rift was the realm of divine beasts.
A place teeming with monsters Park Chan-woo couldn't handle yet.
He'd need to reach the level of Ajoss when facing Conqueror Khan just to barely set foot there.
The 'Creation Abysses' spawning on Earth now were child's play compared to Rifts.
"Father, and if you wish to enter the sacred ground, I must grow stronger first. May I consume this Abyss to aid my growth?"
…Consume the Abyss?
Park Chan-woo unwittingly let out a gasp.
There were such stories, but it seemed divine beasts truly fed on 'Abysses'.
More precisely, 'Creation Abysses'.
"Not this one."
But this was inside a sniper Abyss created by Adora.
As a Destroyer, Cygnus had the power to kill both the Creation Abyss and its Creator.
In other words, consuming the Creator as well.
Either way, he had obtained the true natural predator of Creators.
"Understood, Father. But what is that fluff ball hiding inside your thigh?"
Cygnus's eyes turned toward Park Chan-woo's leg.
The fluff ball hiding inside his thigh could only be one thing.
Kyu?
Radiant Anubis, Fluffball.
The creature hiding in his shoe finally revealed itself.
"A lifeform with powerful 'death' and 'life' energies. For one who handles the power of essence, its appearance and voice are quite mismatched."
Kyu-ing?
"Anubis… guardian of the temple of death. Shouldn't you be protecting your master—my father—staunchly from the front, not hiding in his thigh?"
Kyuaa!
As if saying what did it matter, Fluffball bristled its fur.
Park Chan-woo alternated glances between them and chuckled.
"Get along well."
It looked almost like jealousy.
But he didn't want bad blood between them.
There were countless hurdles ahead that they'd need to overcome together.
Now, only one thing left to check.
The Absolute Sanctuary's name had been inherited.
This was different from the 'Pure Bloodline' imprinted on his status.
Park Chan-woo scrolled down the Status Window to check further below.
At the same time.
'…Unbelievable.'
He found it.
The space where the Absolute Sanctuary's name was imprinted.
'Hidden Trait.'
The third hidden trait to appear, alongside Eternal Sword and Eternal Magic.