Chương 52: Bloodline Domain

Joe took his first step onto the beach in northern Venezuela. He breathed in deeply, feeling a flicker of relief. It's not that bad being here, he told himself. He shook out his limbs like he was warming up for a marathon, then set off at an easy jog, no point in delaying things now. Esha jogged alongside him, with Veda wrapped comfortably around her shoulders. As they made their way south, Joe glanced at his status one last time before it all began.

Status Name: Joseph Caldwell Age: 28 Race: High Human (Grade E - Rank 0) Alignment: High Human (World 43) Heritage: Path of Light Class: Magical Farmer (Unique) Level 65, Space Farmer (PseudoUnique) Level 65 Professions: Nature's Guardian(Legendary) Level 65 Bloodline: Light of the Eternal Spark (Grade E) Titles (70%): World 43 Progenitor; Skills General Skills; Mana Focus(Passive). Aura Shout. Multiversal Translator. Basic Cooking. Party. Natural Identify. Mana-Sight. Mana-Manipulation. Mana Blast.

Class Skills; Diabolical Quarterstaffmanship. Basic Farming. Seed Flick, Seeds Will Grow. Mana-Coating. Rapid Strike. Mana Wave. Mana Seed Sewing. Mana Ploughing. Space Jump. Mana Crop Management. Profession Skills; Nature's Barding. Nature's Guidance. Nature's Paradise. Nature's Keeper(Passive). Nature's Touch(Passive). Nature's Step. Nature's Alchemy. Nature's Flourish. Nature's Grace Basic Form. Nature's Harmony. Nature's Botany. Bloodline Skills; Eternal Moment. Light of Uriel. Light Affinity. Space Affinity.

Light's Guidance. Dao Sight. Stats Strength: 892 (200) Agility: 1686 (340) Vitality: 1443 (140) Endurance: 1341 (60) Wisdom: 1944 (40) Intelligence: 2369 (40) Luck: 170 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 1264 Free Points: 0 System Credits: 87, 943, 210 He had grown immensely over the past six weeks. Both his classes and his profession now sat at level sixty-five. He'd gained two powerful new skills, Mana Crop Management and Nature's Botany.

The first deepened his control over the seeds he wielded, letting him manipulate them with greater precision. The second was more aligned with his profession, allowing him to discover new species of plants and flowers when using Flourish and Paradise. It was a skill he truly enjoyed, one that filled him with quiet excitement. But now was not the time to think about flowers. He pushed all distractions from his mind, sharpening his focus. A storm was coming.

Before him loomed the massive red barrier that marked the edge of the Beast's territory, it shimmered with a faint pulse, the air around it dense and heavy. Though it was partially transparent, Joe couldn't sense anything within. No mana, no aura, no life. Just silence. That alone made his skin crawl. He pulled out Jingu Bang. The staff responded, humming in his grip, resonating with the tension in the air. It knew a battle was coming. Joe took a deep breath. He felt calm, but not because he wasn't afraid.

He was calm because it was time. He closed his eyes and thought back on the long road that had brought him here. The first Gate. The first kill. The friends he'd made, the battles won, the laughter, the pain. The failures. The smile that briefly touched his lips faded. In its place, a hardened expression took hold, cold and resolute. Everything had led to this. No more running. No more training. No more delays. He stepped forward… into the bloodline domain.

Veda stared silently as Joe stepped through the barrier, his presence severed from her senses in an instant. Her heart clenched. She closed her eyes. Esha placed a gentle hand on her tail, offering comfort, but Veda said nothing. She couldn't. The ache was too deep, too familiar. All she could do now… was wait. Far away, Drok's eyes snapped open for the first time in weeks. It rose slowly, stretching out its limbs, shaking off the stillness like dust from old bones.

It bounced once, twice, testing its strength. A screen flickered into existence before it. With barely a glance, it waved it away. Unimportant. Something had arrived. Something strong. Its blood stirred in anticipation. Finally. Let this one not disappoint again. __ In eastern Australia, the white city of Rarohenga gleamed beneath the sun as Devotion returned to his throne. A monk bowed before him, eyes fixed to the ground, hands outstretched.

Devotion calmly removed his humble brown robes, draping them into the monk's hands. In an instant, new garments appeared, ornate white robes threaded with black and blue, the fabric practically glowing with riches. One by one, golden rings slid onto his fingers. Jewels were placed around his neck. Attendants swarmed, adorning him with finery until the once-humble monk was gone, replaced by a man who looked every inch a ruler.

"Ahh, much better," he said, settling into his throne with a satisfied sigh.

"All that acting was becoming tedious." He clapped once. The room stilled.

"Now," he said, smiling down at the kneeling congregation of fifty wide-eyed followers, "let us discuss the future." Their gazes lifted with reverence, filled with worship, as their saviour, the man who would be Emperor of World 43, began to speak. __ Joe stepped into the clearing at the heart of the bloodline domain, eyes locking onto the towering figure before him. Drok. The Beast. He activated Identify. Natural Identify: Drok-Named Beast (Grade E), Corrigaous - 140, Bloodline - Present.

Jingu Bang thrummed in his grip, louder, fiercer than ever before. Joe drew strength from the resonance. Across the clearing, Drok turned, its obsidian eyes narrowing as they met his. Joe released his Aura in full, letting it crash outward like a wave. Drok's lips curled into a smile. Joe raised his staff. No words were spoken. There was nothing that needed to be said. They both knew why he was here. Joe launched forward. He tore through the air, his speed blistering.

He unleashed everything, no restraints, no reserve, holding back nothing. In a blink, he was there. Jingu Bang spun with lethal grace toward Drok's head. The Beast leaned aside and lifted a leg, countering with fluid precision. Joe shifted mid-air, his footwork slipping him ten metres sideways. He barely touched the ground before launching forward again, appearing on Drok's right flank. The staff came down like a guillotine. Drok twisted, guiding the shaft aside with a palm.

In that instant, Joe activated Mana-Coating, surging power through the staff and onto Drok's hand. Mana burst, swirling around the staff in a shockwave. Drok's eyes widened as its hand was shoved aside by the force. Jingu Bang struck home. The staff smashed onto the Beast's shoulder with a deafening crack, and Drok dropped to one knee, the impact driving it into the dirt. Joe barely paused. He spun away, narrowly avoiding the Beast's claw as it lashed toward his neck. Nature's Barding flared.

Wooden Armour burst into existence, encasing Joe in an instant. Drok's follow-up attack missed completely, thrown off by the sudden change in form. Joe capitalized, twisting mid-spin and driving his staff into Drok's back with a resounding thud. The Beast was flung forward, crashing through a tree and tearing it from the earth. Drok hit the ground hard but rebounded to its feet like a cat, its face twisted in fury. Joe's smile returned as he twirled Jingu Bang into a ready stance. The air crackled between them.

There was a moment of silence. This time, Drok attacked. Joe's eyes narrowed, tracking every movement. He focused on the mana rotating around the Beast's body, familiar, powerful, and precise. He adjusted the flow of mana around Jingu Bang, sending it spinning in the opposite direction. As Drok came into range, Joe thrust forward. The Beast twisted mid-motion, parrying the strike and immediately countering with a vicious punch aimed at Joe's midsection. Too fast. Joe bent his knees, bracing.

The hairy fist slammed into his side with brutal force. Nature's Barding absorbed most of the impact, cracking slightly, but pain still shot through him like a spike. He hissed through clenched teeth, kicked out to create space, and retreated a few steps. Did it get faster? The Beast had been holding back. Drok grinned and lunged again, closing the distance in a blur. Now on the defensive, Joe weaved, parried, and ducked. Fists and kicks rained down like hammer blows. He raised a hand mid-dodge… Boom!

A Mana Blast burst from his palm, catching the Beast and knocking it off balance. Joe lunged, hoping to press the advantage. He thrust, but Drok recovered too fast, its body twisting away. The staff glided past harmlessly.

"Tch," Joe cursed as they separated again. He twirled Jingu Bang, launching a flurry of mana blasts in quick succession. Drok blocked the first few with its arms, flinching with each impact. Joe caught the subtle grimace. After that, the Beast started dodging instead of blocking. Joe leapt back as Drok came again, its movements relentless. He activated Rapid Strike, his staff turning into a blur. He danced through Nature's Grace, doing everything he could to keep the Beast at bay. But Drok was too fast.

It broke through his defence with a sudden surge of speed, a knee crashing into Joe's shoulder and knocking him off balance. He stumbled, one hand hitting the dirt, trying to spin away… Crack! A foot slammed into his chest. Joe flew backwards, smashing into a thick tree with a boom that echoed across the clearing. Bark and wood exploded around him. He grunted, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. His barding bent and cracked. The world spun as he tumbled across the ground.

Drok surged forward, looking to pounce on him. But its foot sank into a patch of mud. The ground beneath it turned to mush, catching the Beast off guard. Its momentum faltered. It stumbled as it tore free, crashing awkwardly to the side. Joe coughed, pain radiating through his ribs, but he pushed himself up, one knee digging into the soil. His eyes locked onto the Beast. Drok snarled. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Tricks!" It roared, charging with fury. This time, Joe activated the seeds he had scattered earlier. Ten thick, green vines burst from the ground around the Beast, lashing out in coordinated assault. They coiled around Drok, slamming it down and tearing its focus away from him. Now! Joe activated Space Jump, blinking behind the stunned Beast. Jingu Bang crashed down onto Drok's back, slamming it into the dirt. The impact shook the clearing. Drok howled in pain, caught completely off guard.

Blood splattered across the grass. Joe didn't stop; he stomped down hard on the Beast's back. But the blow landed softer than expected, blunted by the swirling mana cocooning Drok's body. In a burst of raw strength, Drok surged upward, launching Joe into the air. He twisted midair, landing light-footed with staff raised, ready for the next assault. Drok spun around, snarling, and ripped the vines free with a furious roar. It hurled them aside, muscles rippling, its eyes blazing with hate.

Then, slowly, the fury shifted. A smile stretched across the Beast's face.

"Finally. I am no longer bored." It pounced. Joe raised his hand and activated another skill. The ground erupted. Colossal flower stalks shot upward, towering ten metres high. Thick vines the width of his arm whipped from the stems, thrashing wildly. But Drok was unperturbed. It lunged into the dense tangle of giant flora, weaving through the vines with terrifying speed and precision. Joe broke into a dash, using the chaos to put space between them.

When the Beast gained on him, he spun and fired a burst of Mana Blasts, forcing Drok to veer sideways. It worked, just enough to buy time. He darted into the forest, away from the clearing and the slowly growing World Tree. As he ran, his fingers brushed the ground; seeds dropped with every step. Instantly, plant life bloomed in his wake, obstructing the Beast's path and slowing its pursuit. He risked a glance back. A massive flower burst open between him and the Beast, blocking its view. Now!

Joe vanished with Space Jump, reappearing above Drok. Jingu Bang came down like a meteor. Crack! The staff slammed into the Beast's forearm as it raised it in defence. Drok grunted, the blow forcing it back a step. It twisted, retaliating with a vicious backhand… Whip! A vine erupted from the ground, slamming into Drok's side mid-swing and throwing it off balance. The blow missed Joe by inches. Who landed lightly and dashed aside before the Beast could recover. The chase continued deeper into the trees.

Joe was deep into hit-and-run tactics, weaving through the trees like a shadow. But he could feel it, Drok was adapting. His Space Jump gave him the edge in mobility, letting him strike from unexpected angles. But the Beast's reflexes were monstrous. Even after Joe blinked in for a strike, it could block his staff. It was like fighting a mirror, one that hit back ten times harder, though, another clash. Joe appeared above Drok, staff swinging. Clang!

The Beast blocked the strike with its forearm, then suddenly lashed out and grabbed Jingu Bang. Joe's eyes widened, too fast… With a roar, Drok smashed him into the ground. Crack! Pain exploded through Joe's back and shoulders. Pieces of his barding blasted off, broken. Before he could recover, a heavy foot was already coming down for his head. He raised both arms just in time. Boom! The impact sent him flying. He crashed through an underbrush and slammed between two trees, gasping as the wind was knocked from him.

He scrambled to his feet, hands planting seeds instinctively. Vines burst from the ground, tangling around Drok's legs and stalling its charge. Joe dashed off, arms aching, vision swimming. What the hell is it made of? He thought. Every hit feels like a mountain falling on me. He spun mid-run and launched a massive mana wave. Drok ducked low… perfect. Joe directed his mana downward, tearing through the forest floor and transforming it into a swamp.

Water and mud surged up as the ground liquified beneath Drok's feet. The Beast's momentum vanished as it sank, flailing for footing. Joe blinked above it with Space Jump, staff humming in anticipation. Rapid Strike! A storm of blows rained down on Drok's shoulders and back, each hit exploding with mana. The Beast roared, and Joe raised his hand. Boom! Point-blank Mana Blasts detonated across Drok's body, geysers of blood erupting as the Beast howled in fury. Drok flailed, its strikes wild and blind.

Joe jumped away again, panting hard. The Beast exploded out of the swamp, bloody and seething. It landed on a tree trunk with enough force to crack it, crouched like a predator. Its eyes locked on him, pure, unfiltered rage. Joe didn't wait. Space Jump. He reappeared in the clearing beside the World Tree. He swallowed a mana pill and a healing pill in one motion, the bitter taste ignored as he gasped for breath. Behind him, the trees trembled. Drok was coming.

And its Aura washed over the forest like a wave of fury. Drok roared in fury as the human vanished once again. It hated this prey. Still alive, still slipping through its grasp, fighting. The thrill of the hunt had turned bitter. What was this feeling? Kill. Kill! KILL! The words pounded through Drok's rage-filled mind as it tore back through the forest, chasing the scent of mana and blood, chasing him. Joe crouched low behind a wall of his toughest vines, heart pounding.

The battle had raged for nearly an hour. His body was a mess, bruises blackening under torn skin, shallow cuts slowly knitting back together. His barding was barely covering anything anymore. His breathing came in ragged gasps, his limbs sluggish. Every melee exchange ended the same: pain. Even when he got the better hits in, the Beast punished him for every mistake, every hesitation. And Drok wasn't slowing down.

Joe sprang away just as the Beast smashed through the vine wall with a deafening roar, obliterating it in a flurry of strikes. One small comfort: he'd managed to drive the Beast mad. It didn't taunt anymore. No smug grins. No words. Just raw, mindless fury. He spun mid-air, sending a wave of mana crashing into the ground between them. Drok barrelled through it anyway, and Joe had no choice but to meet it head-on. He swung Jingu Bang toward the Beast's side, thud, blocked by a raised leg. Crack!

A fist slammed into his ribs. He gritted his teeth, pain surging through his arm as he caught the blow on his barding. Still, it rattled his bones. He flicked his eyes toward a clear line and activated Space Jump, blinking to a safer distance. Just enough to gasp in a shaky breath before running again. Twenty brutal minutes later, everything changed. Joe caught Drok clean with a wide arc of mana, right across the face. The Beast reeled. Its balance was shattered. Now.

Joe appeared above it in a blink, staff already glowing. Rapid Strike. Jingu Bang became a blur, slamming into the Beast's body again and again. Crack! Crack! Crack! Blood burst from Drok's mouth as it roared in shock and pain. It kicked up blindly, but Joe didn't stop. Hits rained down like a storm, each one reverberating through the forest. He activated Rapid Strike again. More blows, blood, and damage than he had done in the whole fight. He raised his hand, mana flaring for a final barrage. Then he froze.

His eyes widened.

"Shit…!" BOOM! A shockwave of mana detonated from Drok's body, catching Joe mid-air and hurling him across the clearing like a broken doll. He hit the ground hard, skidding and tumbling until he slammed to a stop nearly fifty metres away. He spat a mouthful of blood, coughing as his body screamed in protest. His hands shook as a healing pill materialized. Swallowing it, he forced himself upright. Joe stared in disbelief. Drok stood at the centre of a smoking crater, its form now grotesquely transformed.

Steam hissed off its skin as its size doubled, muscles swelling, veins bulging, its already monstrous presence now overwhelming. The air around it shimmered with power. Joe took an unconscious step back. What the hell is that? Then Drok's eyes locked onto him. A spike of dread pierced his chest. Move! Joe activated Space Jump, vanishing from sight, only to reappear with a fist already slamming into his gut. Crack! He flew like a missile, pain erupting in his ribs. Darkness flirted with the edge of his vision.

What just…? Did it follow me? No. No, it teleported with me… or moved so fast… His thoughts scattered as he crashed through a cluster of trees, finally skidding to a broken halt. Gasping, he staggered upright, his head spinning. Ten metres away, Drok stood waiting, smiling. It lunged. Joe barely got his staff up in time. Wham! A kick met wood, sending shockwaves down his arms. But he held on. Vines burst from the ground, slamming into Drok's side, just enough to knock its next attack wide. Joe didn't hesitate.

He glanced once, and Space Jump. This time, when he reappeared a hundred metres away, he moved immediately, swaying to the side as a massive fist whipped through the space where he'd stood.

"Got you," he growled. He kicked out hard, mana spiralling down his leg. His foot slammed into Drok's gut with brutal force, folding the huge Beast over mid-roar. Boom! It flew back, crashing through brush and trees. Joe hit the ground in a roll, and Space jumped again, widening the gap. Drok didn't follow. Panting, he clutched his side, mind racing. It followed me through Space Jump. But not this time. Not unless it was mid-attack, or completely focused on him. Understanding clicked inside his mind. It's a skill!

A skill that allowed Drok to chase through teleportation. That made it predictable. And if it was predictable… he could trap it. Joe's gaze snapped up as Drok recovered and began charging towards him. He tightened his grip on Jingu Bang, eyes narrowing. You made a mistake by not finishing me, he thought, steadying his breath. It was time to set a trap. Joe darted through the dense jungle within the bloodline domain, weaving between trees, vines, and the chaos of battle.

He planted seeds as he ran, throwing out Mana Blasts and Waves to harass and hinder. Each tool in his arsenal was used to slow Drok down, to keep distance. But it wasn't enough. A rock flew from the side. Crack! It slammed into his shoulder, staggering him. Another strike clipped his leg. Drok was faster than before, always adapting, always closing in. Then, it did. Joe was forced to use Space Jump. Both reappeared in the sky above a vast patch of seeds he'd sown earlier. Drok struck as soon as they appeared.

Joe raised his arms, too slowly. The impact shattered into him, fracturing bone with a sickening jolt. Pain flared up like fire. He clenched his jaw and retaliated with a sudden Aura Shout at point-blank range. The concussive force froze Drok mid-air. It reeled, deafened and stunned. The jungle below erupted. A massive yellow plant exploded from the soil, its thick vines wrapping around Drok and yanking it down. Joe Space jumped away as the Beast was slammed into the earth.

Joe landed hard, teeth gritted, blood pouring down both arms. He barely held onto Jingu Bang. Keep going. Keep going. Drok tore free from the glowing flower, muscles bulging, body slick with blood. It tried to move, failed, and dropped to one knee, breath ragged. Wounds crisscrossed its chest, arms, and back. It was hurt, and badly. But so was Joe. He exhaled sharply and charged, but it was a feint. Drok tensed, locking onto him, just as Joe shifted and leapt to the side. Mana Wave!

Drok turned its head in surprise, too late. It raised both arms, bracing as the wave slammed into it, knocking it clean off its feet. Joe Space-Jumped, reappearing behind and below the Beast, hidden from its vision. With brutal force, Jingu Bang crashed into Drok's back, launching the Beast into the air. Ten vines whipped up from the ground, striking the airborne Beast from all sides, swatting it mid-flight like a ragdoll. Drok crashed down hard, roaring as more blood burst from its wounds. Joe jumped again.

Mana Blasts rained down, hammering the fallen Beast. The ground trembled with each explosion, and smoke and dirt kicked up. Then… nothing. Joe landed, but stumbled. His knees buckled. One dropped to the dirt. Exhaustion washed over him. His mana bar flashed red, barely ten percent remained. He fumbled for a mana pill, but stopped. Useless. His body couldn't absorb anymore; he was maxed out. His high stats had helped massively, but even he had a limit to how many he could take. Gritting his teeth, he rose. One foot.

Then the other. Jingu Bang trembled in his grip. He walked toward the Beast. Drok lay still, chest rising, blood pooling beneath its body. This was it, his best chance. With every ounce of strength and willpower, Joe surged forward, raising Jingu Bang for the final blow. The staff screamed, aimed squarely at the Beast's skull. But then… movement. To his horror, Drok's arm snapped up, driving straight toward his midsection. Joe couldn't stop the attack. He was committed. He had to end it here.

His staff slammed down, cracking into Drok's head, but it wasn't a clean strike. The Beast's hand punched through his side at the same exact moment, stealing the force from his strike. Both screamed. Pain tore through Joe's entire body as he staggered back and collapsed. A gaping hole bled freely from his abdomen, and he clutched it desperately, trying to hold himself together. No notification. Drok wasn't dead. Panic set in. He rolled to his side, breath shallow, vision fading fast.

With shaking fingers, he clawed at the dirt and stuffed it into the wound, trying anything to stop the bleeding. The world swam before his eyes, just shifting shapes and colour. No clarity. No clear forms. Somehow, he stood. Or maybe half-stood. His body swayed as he focused, relying now on instinct alone. He felt Drok's presence, just to his left. Kneeling. Weak.. but trying to rise. Trying to end it. Joe searched for Jingu Bang and found nothing. He'd lost it. He raised his hand. Mana Blast. A grunt.

The beast dropped again. Joe stumbled forward, but the pain surged, buckling his legs. He hit the dirt hard. But he didn't stop. He crawled, one dragging arm after the next. His hands glowed faintly. Mana Blast. Mana Blast. Mana Blast. His mana bar flickered, almost dry. Then, like a whisper in the dark, he sensed it… Jingu Bang is just off to the right. He turned, reached, and his hand wrapped around the staff's comforting weight. Gritting his teeth, he clawed his way toward the Beast's presence…

an aura so faint it barely lingered. He couldn't see. Could barely breathe. And everything hurt. But he kept moving. The groans of the Beast were muffled, distorted through the haze of blood and exhaustion. Joe didn't stop. Couldn't stop. His body screamed, begging him to collapse. But he kept crawling. Finally, finally, he reached Drok's body. He heard coughing, wet, ragged breathing.

"You fought well, human… you have beaten me… I die with peace…" Joe lifted his staff with one trembling arm. There was no hesitation. Jingu Bang came down one final time. The world went silent. System Message You have slain Drok level 140. Gate Boss 100/100 slain. Congratulations. Titles earned. Ding! You have levelled up.