No Longer a Newbie – Will the S-Grade Item Buff My Familiars Too?
Now that I'm no longer a newbie, I was brimming with anticipation: would this S-grade item even work on my familiars?
The result of using it with bated breath was immediate…!
Insufficient blood power to use the item.
Required Blood Power: 120 / Current: 100
'Huh?'
'Beep—insufficient blood power.'
Wait, no. Items cost resources to use too?
The item tooltip from Appraisal definitely didn't mention that.
And besides…
'Required blood power of 120?'
My max is 100. Are they telling me not to use it or what?
As I grumbled internally…
Try allocating stat points to increase your blood power!
A system window popped up out of nowhere. Right, I'd been saving up stat points from all those level-ups. I opened my status screen for the first time in ages.
Blood Power (血力):100/100
Unallocated Stat Points:54
Name: Yujin | Level: 19 | Class: Blood Lord (EX)
'Hmm. Still pathetic as ever.'
I'd peeked at it a few times right after awakening, but the reality check was too harsh, so I'd avoided it since.
Strength, Agility, Vitality—these are the core stats for any hunter.
But mine are all single digits. Not even past 5!
I later learned that puts me at about middle-school girl level.
And the secondary stats below—Attack, Spell Power, Defense, Magic Resistance—are all zero.
'……Sigh.'
Whatever. Let's look at the stat points at the bottom.
Unallocated Stat Points: 54
3 points per level, and I'd just been hoarding them.
No need since my familiars handled combat, and Blood Lord is a hidden class not even listed publicly—no builds to reference.
Looking back, maybe I saved them up for a time like this.
I eyed the value just above it.
Blood Power (血力): 100/100
Normal hunters have 'Mana' here, but rare classes like mine use unique resources.
But items usually don't consume mana—so why blood power for me?
'Still… skills use blood power anyway, so boosting it is smart.'
Of my current skills, Familiar Summon and Embrace cost blood power.
Appraisal, Vision Share, and Bloodsuck are free.
Those two cost 50 blood power each…
Familiar Summon
- Blood Power Cost: 100
……or did they? What the hell?
Familiar Summon's required blood power went up too?!
Blood power consumption increases with each summon.
'Ah, got it.'
Next one adds another 50 for 150? Or doubles to 200?
Either way, it's tight.
New skills or items could leave me short constantly.
So stat points into blood power it is.
Boosting core stats barely moves the needle anyway—no real feel.
Even all-in 54 points gets Strength/Agility/Vitality to 57~58.
Hunter Gallery says that's barely D-rank rookie level.
Split across three? Pointless.
No attack skills yet, so Attack or Spell Power are useless too.
'Blood power all-in it is!'
I dumped all 54 points into blood power without hesitation.
'Nice.'
Blood power max jumped straight to 154.
Plenty for the Tome of the Wraith's 120 requirement.
I grabbed the book again and shouted internally.
'Tome of the Wraith, use!'
Consuming 120 Blood Power.
Effect applied to undead-type summons.
The tome suddenly flipped open wide, pages rustling on their own—shrrrrk!
My body floated into the air, hair and clothes whipping wildly. A crimson magic circle etched itself into the floor beneath me, glowing ominously.
'What the—? This production value is overkill.'
"M-My liege?!"
"Master!"
Katarina and Siyeon looked up in shock.
At that moment, a dark crimson aura enveloped both familiars faintly.
"Ahh…?! My liege's power overflows within me!"
Katarina marveled at her hands.
"…My body feels much lighter, Master."
Siyeon tested a few moves in place, then spoke in a trembling voice.
'Yes!'
I cheered internally.
Vampires count as undead after all! My hunch was spot on.
But then…
Class-exclusive hidden effect activated!
The Tome of the Wraith's true power reveals itself.
All stats of vampire familiars increased by 50%.
'Whoa? Not 30%, but 50%?'
Jackpot! Ah, so that's why it costs 120 blood power. Fair enough!
'These kids are already monsters, and now a 50% buff? That's straight-up broken.'
Pop it when needed for a 1.5x boost. No range limit—click from my room remotely.
Tower climbs will be a breeze, and emergencies? Way safer.
Too good. Gotta tell the familiars.
"Heh heh heh… Those who serve this progenitor shall henceforth receive such power."
I vaguely explained the stat buff, and both dropped to one knee.
"This lowly servant shall repay my liege's grace for life!"
"I will serve Master's will with all I have until death."
"Mm. Yes, yes."
In the corpse-strewn graveyard's heart, atop the blood magic circle, I gazed down warmly—then realized something.
'Huh. The vibe's a bit…?'
It was just a legit buff item use, but it felt like some evil vampire cult ritual!
'Agh, so tiring.'
After the 'ritual'(?) wrapped successfully, I flopped onto my bed at home. Body felt limp from the blood power drain.
'Maybe check the Gallery.'
Habitually opening the Gallery app to popular posts—total chaos.
My 3rd-floor clear had flooded it with my saga again.
I was used to it now.
Still, having fans felt novel.
'Hehe…'
Reading posts shocked or awed by me made my lips curl up involuntarily.
This weird pride is hard to describe.
I scrolled down, clicking anything with 'Progenitor'—then spotted one.
'Huh? Association?'
I dove in. It was a news article screenshot.
It was long, but the gist: Please just contact us. We'll meet any demands. The nation will serve you best we can.
…Now even the government drops an official statement?
Is ignoring this okay long-term?
But revealing myself? Nah. Frail body aside, I'm a major criminal now.
If they ID me as the Black Cow massacre culprit? Done for.
Sure, they were scum, but illegal is illegal. Association might support now, but who knows if this leaks.
'Just stay quiet.'
Hiding my identity seems wisest. Then…
"My liege. Why are these humans in such foolish uproar?"
Katarina peeked over my shoulder at the phone, displeased.
"Dull beasts dare covet my liege's glory—truly overstepping."
Siyeon calmly chimed in.
"They don't even know who Master is or how noble you are. Them demanding contact is presumptuous."
"Well said, Siyeon. Yet some beasts grasp my liege's greatness, if dimly… Not all humans are mere vermin, it seems."
Katarina quoted a comment on my screen.
"'The Tower of Trials isn't testing Progenitor. Progenitor is judging if the Tower deserves to exist.' …Hm. This one has decent insight, my liege."
'Gahhh! Cringe drips are fun in Gallery, but hearing them IRL? Kill me!'
I silently scrolled past to hide it.
Anyway, real rest time now.
Conquered floor 3, got new item, boosted blood power, Gallery time.
Productive day—game time?
"Ahem. This body shall indulge in leisure briefly. Rest, both of you."
"Understood, my liege."
"Yes, Master."
They obligingly looked away. Gaming taught me this: if watched, my noble speech leaks into chat. So I block their view during sessions.
I launched my usual game. Familiar loading screen, lobby—friend list popped up.
'Oh, she's on?'
Duos with my friend after ages—nice.
Then a notification on chat.
She'd messaged.
'……Huh?'
I chuckled.
She was worried for me.
Grateful, but a bit smug too.
I'd just scored an S-grade item.
'Newbie gear? Heh. I got S-grade.'
Hands on keyboard, I replied.
A reply came seconds later.