Chương 209: Ready?

"So, I have a bloodline… but despite all the awakening and Paragon Series achievements, I still haven't manifested it. And one of the descriptions specifically said it would awaken bloodlines if available," I said to Miflin. The incorporeal being sipped her tea calmly before answering. I had already finished my first cup and was halfway through my second. The brew helped tremendously with my migraine, and it tasted excellent to boot. She set her cup down gently before answering.

"Those achievements help awaken a bloodline if it's dormant. Yours isn't merely dormant, it's so diluted that it's impossible to determine what it is or what effects it might have on your descendants. You must know that it's possible to mix bloodlines. Highly risky, but possible."

"You mean I can buy a couple of bloodlines and mix their effects together? Could I buy the Wyrm and Titan bloodlines and combine them?" She smirked.

"Technically, you could, but you'd probably explode if you did that. Titans and dragons aren't bloodlines that coexist particularly well. The same goes for dragons and phoenixes, or any highly incompatible species." She took another sip of tea.

"If you were to mix two dragon bloodlines, then yes, there's a possibility it could work, provided their natures aren't too different. A fire dragon and a frost dragon? Absolutely not. A space dragon and a star dragon? Possible, assuming your body could withstand their immense power. And beware, obtaining a powerful bloodline doesn't necessarily make you powerful. Your body would change, and given your basic humanoid nature, it wouldn't resemble a true dragon in the slightest.

Those creatures are terrifying, believe me."

"Okay, so no mixing different races, no incompatible elements, better to stay humanoid, and stick to a common theme. And nothing too powerful, otherwise boom." I paused.

"Honestly, getting two bloodlines doesn't sound worth it after hearing all that." She laughed. Her ethereal voice was normally pleasant to listen to, but right now there was a hint of craziness in it.

"Ooh, you haven't even heard the worst part. Two bloodlines together won't grant you the maximum potential of either. There's only so much room in your body, and each bloodline occupies part of it, preventing either from bestowing its full blessing." This just kept getting worse.

"So after all that trouble, you only get half the capabilities of each? Sounds like a scam."

"It isn't. If you manage to combine two highly compatible bloodlines, you'll get more than half of each. And if their traits are truly synergistic, you can wield significantly more power than a pureblooded individual."

"So, anything that could work for me?"

"With your disparate skill set?" She shook her head.

"No. At first glance, I can't think of anything. Perhaps the Fallen Stormbearer combined with another lightning bloodline, but that would force you to specialize in lightning afterward. It would probably interfere with the curse and do who knows what." Not a particularly encouraging prospect. I'd have to deal with it later. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. It had been a useful lesson on bloodlines, but I needed something more practical right now.

"Okay, so leaving bloodlines aside, what should I focus on? I'll have to face the Third King soon. I know you can't say much, but can you at least point me in the right direction?" She shook her head.

"Afraid not. Aside from the fact that I don't know the details of the Kings, I couldn't tell you even if I did. The challenge is prepared by the Administrators. Your friend Adrian would know, however." She said the last part with a scowl.

"I was hoping to get some inside information before tackling the problem. Never mind. So what should I focus on, besides my aura and the trait?"

"As your master, I would suggest polishing your skills and evolving them. As I've already told you, you're only at the beginning of your journey. Despite advancing very quickly, you need solid foundations. Train as much as possible, gather intelligence and theoretical knowledge, and if I were you, I'd acquire a few aces up my sleeve. The farther you go, the more you'll realize that your skill set alone won't solve every problem. Items and consumables can be lifesavers, so don't neglect them."

I considered her advice. She was right. I could have used some help yesterday, especially considering I nearly died to a stupid octopus. I would rectify that mistake.

"I understand, Master." I drained the rest of my tea. I felt much better. At least the migraine was gone, even if I still felt drained from the training and the stupid cursed bracelet constantly screwing me over.

"I'll take my leave now, if there's nothing else. I have some matters to attend to with my Guild."

"Ah, right. Your Guild." She smiled faintly.

"It's quite impressive that you've already managed to form one. It's a tremendous advantage. Take the time to develop it properly, and discipline it. Be careful of the snakes in your garden." What was that supposed to mean? Traitors within the Guild? I'd have to keep my eyes and ears open.

"Thank you for your advice, Master. I'll be going." She waved me away, and I exited the training room, closing the door behind me. Then I headed to the counter. An ace up my sleeve... Let's see. I spent some time browsing the System Shop. After spending a considerable amount of points, I headed back, taking the scenic route. I hadn't had the opportunity to properly explore the City of Elementals until now, and it seemed worth dedicating at least a little time to it.

There were many facilities that could prove useful for us tutorialists. Unfortunately, my life seemed determined not to grant me a moment's reprieve. Still, I wandered around for a few extra minutes, trying to forget about the pain and all the problems waiting for me. The curse was still tormenting me, even worse than yesterday. According to Miflin, it would only become harder to endure. Even so, five days of this torture was a bargain.

If I'd had to undergo this process outside the tutorial, it would have taken months. I shuddered at the thought. Months of this? Even without my stats being restricted, I wasn't confident I could endure something like that. I was barely one day in, and I already felt like dying. Four more days. Just four more days. I could do it. I had assumed the training would make everything harder, like it had yesterday afternoon.

In reality, the time spent learning from Miflin made the curse feel less overwhelming thanks to the recovery technique she taught me. There was one problem, though. The more I used it, the less effective the bracelet became, and the longer it would take for my trait to evolve. Still, with Accelerated Processing active, what felt like ten hours was actually barely more than two. That would only slow the process marginally, while granting me a significant amount of mental relief. A worthy trade, in my opinion.

I pushed open the tavern doors. My Guild was already assembled and ready for war. Rhea must have given the sack of repaired equipment to Tom, because most of the fighters and mages were already geared up. The room grew quieter as people noticed me entering. While I wasn't going to intimidate them with my aura like I had yesterday, I was done playing the role of the endlessly understanding and patient Guild leader.

"Is everyone ready?" I asked Tom. He studied me for a moment. Apparently satisfied with whatever he saw, he nodded.

"Everyone's ready. But we have a small problem. Andrea insists on coming with us." Shit. Apparently everyone was ready. Except me.