Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Blood Mark (2)
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Knock knock.
As he quietly rapped on the door, the gloomy butler appeared right on cue to welcome Rokan, just as promised. Soon after, Baron Truiel came down. It seemed he had put his ailing daughter to bed before descending.
"I've prepared what I mentioned, and it looks like your skills are better than I expected. As expected of the Crossroads Guard! Then, I'll trust you with one more thing. Take these materials we've gathered so far to Tritika. If you give them to him, he'll make something for you. Just bring it back to me."
[Baron Truiel's Young Daughter Recovery 3][Quest]
Baron Truiel has asked for your help to save his young daughter. Deliver the cursed troll blood, hot lamb blood, and thick lambskin to Shaman Tritika and bring back one item.
-Completion Condition: Deliver items to Shaman Tritika
-Reward: 10 Gold
"Leave it to me."
With a crisp reply, Rokan received the box containing the three items he had provided. He also received secretive directions to the shaman Tritika's location.
'This bastard, up to his tricks.'
There was a reason Baron Truiel was being so cautious. It was because the one called Shaman Tritika was a 'goblin.'
Goblins were a race from the Black Dragon Legion, standing opposed to the Golden Lion Alliance alongside orcs, undead, and trolls. In other words, they were no different from humanity's sworn enemies.
Even if it was to save his young daughter, and even if it didn't harm the Golden Lion Alliance, it could cause problems if word got out. It might provoke backlash from users, but since most hadn't even set foot in a war zone yet, they'd probably just go along with the story.
But not Rokan.
'Save his young daughter, my ass. What a load of crap.'
He knew the full story.
For starters, Baron Truiel had no children.
There was indeed a child sleeping upstairs, but she wasn't the baron's daughter.
She was a kidnapped child. And a most delicious meal at that.
'Why didn't I think of it back then?'
There had been hints, in fact. The baron only meeting people at 'night' was a glaring clue. Everyone had been too blinded by the massive gold quest rewards to notice.
Vampire.
Baron Truiel's true identity was a vampire. And the girl he had kidnapped and disguised as his daughter had 'special blood' flowing through her veins. She was none other than a 'high elf.'
The most noble minority bloodline among elves. Just drinking her blood could allow a vampire tremendous growth.
The quests Baron Truiel gave to users were a preparatory step to dilute her supremely holy blood.
Otherwise, the moment the high elf's blood touched his throat, his insides would melt away.
A progenitor vampire of great power might handle it, but for someone like Baron Truiel, targeting a high elf was sheer greed.
'Valley of Mists, right.'
The moment he left Truiel's villa, Rokan's expression changed. For now, he followed the baron's instructions and headed swiftly toward the Valley of Mists, where the goblin shaman Tritika resided.
Unlike Baron Truiel, this one could be met during the day, but since things had come to this, he aimed to wrap it up quickly.
[Mist-Eating Hyena][Lv 115]
Kehung!
But the path there wasn't smooth. The Valley of Mists lived up to its name, shrouded in thick fog that limited visibility, teeming with monsters from levels 110 to 120.
'Troublesome.'
Their stats, attack power, and defense were no match for Rokan, but the fog obscured his vision, and their numbers could grab at his ankles.
"Charge of Destruction!"
So Rokan just bulldozed through. Whether ten or twenty, he'd charge with them clinging on, then sweep them all away at one spot before moving on easily.
Keureng!
Of course, some got caught and dropped dead along the way, but Rokan wasn't fully satisfied.
No one loved berserkers more than he did—no class more than berserkers—but their weakness in multi-target fights was his one regret.
It might improve later depending on choices, but for now, he had to endure the inconvenience.
That was exactly why he worried about being caught by the lead group starting group hunts for mobbing.
'Hold on, is there really no way?'
As he repeated charges and slaughters, a question arose in Rokan's mind. Ripples began to spread from a thought he'd taken for granted.
'Maybe...'
At the same time, an idea flashed by. Maybe, it could turn into something quite fun.
He hurried onward, fleshing out the concept.
"Halt."
A long while later, the goblin shaman Tritika appeared at the far end of the Valley of Mists.
"No need to be surprised. I foresaw someone coming."
Tritika looked every bit the stereotypical shaman. He clutched a shabby yet ancient-looking wooden staff, draped in a robe laden with dangling trinkets—no one would mistake him otherwise.
And as if he knew Rokan was coming, he greeted him with a broad smile.
"I've come from Baron Truiel."
Rokan had no intention of picking a fight right away. He slung his battle axe behind his back and handed over the full box of materials with both hands.
"Hmm, just as discussed. Wait a moment."
Taking full possession of the box, he spread the lambskin on what looked like a workbench, applied some potion, and cast a light incantation. The separate sheets fused into one large parchment.
It was a sight explainable only as sorcery.
Then he produced a brush. Pulling out a thick one, he first dipped it generously in the hot lamb blood and drew something on the parchment. Next came the cursed troll blood.
Using the two bloods in sequence to inscribe patterns and letters, thick sweat beaded on Tritika's forehead.
The act of drawing the patterns and letters was itself a ritual. Leaving him exposed, but Rokan waited patiently. For the ritual to complete.
What Rokan truly sought from this quest wasn't experience or gold, but this very thing: [Blood Mark].
"There, it's done. Take it."
[Blood Mark][Rare][Quest]
Inscribe a tattoo-like blood mark on your body to infuse it with powerful bloodsucking energy.
-Use to activate [Blood Mark] effect
An item that would further empower the vampire Truiel.
Of course, delivering it would lead to demands for more materials to taint the high elf's blood, but Rokan had no plans to comply.
No point sweating for pocket change when hijacking it was far more profitable.
[You have used the Blood Mark.]
[You have permanently acquired 'Life Force Absorption (3%) on Hit.']
[The mark cannot be strengthened or removed.]
[The maximum number of acquirable marks depends on type.]
[Current marks: 1/5]
So Rokan immediately used the Blood Mark on himself. Marks were irreversible, requiring careful choice, but Rokan had no reason to hesitate. He regretted missing the 'Life Mark' he originally wanted, but with titles beyond expectation, he had ample substitutes.
'Life Force Absorption is rarer anyway.'
The mark system wouldn't shine until much later, and among them, 'Life Force Absorption' was exceptionally valuable.
Absorbing 3% of attack power in life force was rare even later. Plus, it only took one slot.
Graded high as a quest item, but Rokan swallowed it without delivering.
In his past life, someone accidentally used it, revealing it, and Kondol nerfed it to 1%. Those who already had it were grandfathered in.
"Y-You... that...!"
Tritika, stunned after laboriously crafting the Blood Mark, hadn't foreseen this. That today was his last.
Slash.
Confirming the Blood Mark worked, Rokan decapitated him instantly.
Drained from the major ritual, he couldn't resist properly.
Life force hit zero in a flash, and [Tritika's Head] entered his inventory.
"Better than chump change."
Rokan used a return scroll to head back to Crossroads.
He considered hunting more but not here. He'd take 1 vs. 100 over fog-choked poor visibility any day.
But he didn't go straight to the guard post. Showing Tritika's head to Malkin would lead straight to hunting Baron Truiel.
Dealing with the baron and rescuing the high elf was necessary, but it was midnight now. No reason to give the enemy an advantage.
Knowing Malkin's impatience, he headed to the market district instead.
'Doing well.'
First, he checked his own shop. Few worth visiting yet, but to review vending machine stock.
Zairopol hides had piled up more than expected—nearly thirty. Meaning at least fifty kills.
With practice, 500 in five to seven days—not ten—was feasible.
'Potion rush, huh.'
Potions and herbs had sold decently too. At nearly double market price, but significant quantities gone—likely boosting hunt speed with potion sustain.
'If you've got the gold, it's the fastest.'
Not recommendable for buying time with money, but great for early advantages.
Not depleted enough to restock, so he just checked and left. To execute his plan at the Berserker Guild.
The fourth combo skill.
That's why.
"Force Charge, Solid Body, and... Twist Attack skill book, please."
An odd combo at first glance. But paying and receiving the book, Rokan grinned like a mischievous kid.
"Create combo skill."
[Please designate action clips or skill books for the desired combo.]
He briefly drew his weapon for an action clip, then excitedly finalized with a thrilled voice.
"Register action clip. Force, Solid Body, Charge, Twist Attack."
[Combo possible.]
[View projected usage and press complete.]
[On completion, skill book vanishes and combo skill auto-acquired.]
The preview and description satisfied him. No telling until used, but it seemed to solve his issue perfectly.
"Combo complete!"
[Name the combo skill.]
Heart pounding, Rokan shouted the name of his fourth combo skill.
"Wheel Wind!"