Chapter 200: Pure Blood

Chapter 200: Pure Blood

Luo En, Cui Xi, and Holt formed an impromptu trio as they advanced.

Beyond the thinning mist, they approached the semi-transparent Dark Red Crystal enclosure. With each step closer, the crystalline structure became increasingly distinct.

The crystal pillars were etched with eerie, vein-like patterns. Inside, something resembling mana pulsed slowly, radiating undulating waves of crimson light.

"This must be the core of the bloodlinealtar", Luo En murmured, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. "According to the Abyssal Life Compendium, while the specifics of the trials vary, all Altar trials follow three general phases—Reversion, Resonance, and Metamorphosis. We’re likely nearing the final stage now."

"I’ve read about these phases too", Holt said, his long fingers brushing the strap of his Storage Bag to confirm the Earth Elemental Golemcore’s secure placement. "But the exact details are always kept secret by the School. Seeing this firsthand is… astonishing indeed."

Cui Xi’s gaze lingered on the crystal structure. Her chestnut hair seemed unnaturally dark under the blood-red glow. "These crystals feel like solidified living tissue. I can sense faint life pulses within—like an ancient tree’s heartbeat, but distorted."

The trio moved cautiously, each step deliberate to avoid triggering unknown traps. The air carried a strange duality—metallic chill interwoven with an indescribable warmth, as though they’d entered the body of some colossal beast.

Luo En suddenly raised a hand to halt the others, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s. "Stop."

The moment he spoke, a faint ripple stirred the air ahead—a delicate sound, like a small creature gliding through water, accompanied by soft splashes.

From the shadows on the crystal platform, a tiny figure darted silently, leaving behind droplets. Silver hair shimmered under the crystal’s reflection, casting eerie glints. Her violet-blue eyes, nearly ink-dark, seemed deeper than usual.

"Is that Daire?" Luo En’s brow furrowed. His first thought was that the Little Siren had somehow gotten ahead. But instinct screamed otherwise.

This "Daire" radiated a starkly different aura—primal, icy, devoid of her usual warmth.

"A clone."

He confirmed it through his Transcendent Perception skill, detecting abnormal energy fluctuations beyond normal biological limits. "The bloodlinealtar must have created clones of us all. That’s hers."

The clone looked nearly identical to the real Daire, yet her demeanor was alien. Her movements were unnaturally fluid, every motion carrying predatory elegance and lethality. Her gaze was sharper, pupils glinting with the cold, primal hunger of a hunter.

Luo En felt Daire stiffen beside him briefly before relaxing.

"That’s… me?" Daire’s voice held curiosity, not fear. "Looks like it, but… also not."

The clone turned, her face splitting into an unsettling smile. Innocent yet chilling, like a mask hiding true horror.

"Ah, is the older sister here to play with me?"

Her voice was childishly sweet as she spoke. She skipped forward, each step sending droplets flying.

"Master’s here too. That’s nice."

The clone tilted her head. Droplets slid from her silver hair, halting midair to morph into tiny ice blades.

"Master, can I eat her? I want to grow stronger—to protect Master better."

With her words, the air temperature plummeted. An invisible cold radiated from her, frosting the crystal platform. Mist puffed from her breath, crystallizing into semi-translucent ice motes that drifted lazily.

Even as a clone, her affection seemed genuine. Perhaps he should feel flattered?

Luo En assessed the situation calmly. He sensed the clone’s life energy—far more potent than the real Daire’s, yet dangerously unstable, like an overfilled mana vessel on the verge of rupture.

"She’s strong", he admitted quietly. "But unstable. Over-boosted bloodline traits have left her completely ruled by instinct."

Daire stared at her clone, her eyes reflecting strange understanding. "She’s the part of me that obeys only instinct."

"Instinct?" The clone tilted her head, feigning innocence. Silver hair swirled, scattering tiny ice crystals. "What are you talking about? I’m just… hungry."

Her voice shifted on the last word, splintering into a chorus of overlapping tones. Her pupils expanded, swallowing the whites, brimming with raw greed.

The clone’s form began to transform.

Her fingers elongated into sharp blue claws, scales rippling across their surfaces. Gill-like slits split open along her neck, flaring with each breath. Her mouth stretched wide, revealing three rows of needle-like fangs, denser and sharper than any predator’s.

Most terrifying were her eyes—once violet-blue, now a deep, devouring black-purple. Her pupils, vertical like a feline’s, stretched the full length of her eyes.

"Is that her sirenabyss form?" Holt gasped, already channeling earth mana between his fingers, ready to summon a barrier.

"Partly", Luo En replied grimly. "She’s not just tainted by Abyss energy. This is the raw predatory nature buried in Daire’s bloodline. Sirens descended from deep-sea hunters—this form is closer to her true origin."

The clone’s tongue flicked out—long, forked, and bristling with tiny barbs. "Come play, sister. I promise it won’t hurt… much. Either way, you’ll become part of me."

Her voice carried a strange allure, a haunting melody that tugged at the soul—a primal siren’s Charm Song.

Luo En immediately sensed the spirit wave, projecting a counter-pulse to break its influence. He saw Daire’s gaze flicker, shaken by the temptation, but she quickly steadied herself.

"Daire, this is your chance", he said softly, voice steady. "Defeating your clone within the Altar grants bloodline enhancement."

"I understand, Master." Daire’s eyes sharpened, her lips curving into a cold, unfamiliar smile. "Let’s see who ends up eating whom."

The clone lost patience, leaping forward with a blur of speed. She lunged, jaws wide, aiming to tear into Daire.

But Daire didn’t retreat—she charged head-on.

Her eyes blazed with battle will. Her hands traced an arc before her chest, instantly stirring the surrounding water molecules.

"Water Shield!"

A crystalline shield materialized, rippling like liquid glass. Under the blood-red crystal’s glow, it shimmered with eerie hues.

The clone’s fangs crashed into the barrier, screeching against its surface. Waves of force rippled outward, yet the shield held firm.

"An impressive siren", Holt murmured, impressed. "Her control over Water Element is far more precise than during the Gladiatorial Arena."

Daire gave no quarter. With a sharp push, she surged the shield forward, hurling the clone backward several meters.

Her movements bore the imprint of countless drills—every strike precise, every motion honed.

"She’s mastered her rhythm well", Luo En observed, pride flickering in his eyes. He knew Daire worked far harder than she let on.

In truth, everyone in their workshop was relentless. Take Liliya, for instance—believe it or not, even Ai Lan spent their rest days training alone in the backyard, refining her herb-handling and plant manipulation skills.

"You’re just mimicking my techniques?" The clone hissed, laughter dripping with mockery. "But you know… sister, I know myself better than you ever could."

She opened her mouth, chanting guttural syllables.

The sounds materialized as visible blue waves, striking Daire’s spirit directly.

A more potent Charm Song—no longer mere temptation, but a direct spirit attack.

Daire staggered, overwhelmed by sudden visions: the abyss’s call, blood-soaked ecstasy, endless darkness. These primal memories buried in her bloodline surged forth, threatening to drown her rationality.

Luo En’s eyes darkened with concern, but he withheld intervention.

Daire swayed, then steadied herself. Her gaze cleared, resolve burning through the haze. "Those… aren’t me."

Daire inhaled deeply, her lips trembling as they formed a sequence of syllables entirely different from before.

These notes rang crisp and clear, like a mountain spring cascading over smooth stones, carrying a pure, untainted power.

"You think to use your Siren Song against me?" Daire’s voice carried a frosty edge. "Then let’s see whose song holds more strength."

The two Siren Songs collided midair, creating strange mana ripples that vibrated through the crystalline pillars, producing a sharp, resonant harmony.

The clone’s song brimmed with chaos and greed, while Daire’s radiated restraint and order.

The opposing forces cancelled each other out, exploding into countless tiny shards of mana.

The clone, clearly surprised her strongest technique had been neutralized, flashed a look of fury in her eyes.

Abandoning the Siren Song, she lunged directly at Daire, her claws slicing through the air toward her throat.

Daire, no longer relying on her innate talent alone, tapped into her primal combat instincts.

Her fingers, too, transformed into claws, meeting the clone’s attack head-on.

The two figures blurred across the crystalline platform, their speed leaving only fragmented afterimages.

Though their movements were fierce, Daire’s attacks remained precise, each strike calculated rather than reckless.

Gradually, she gained the upper hand, the clone’s movements growing sluggish.

Both bled profusely, but neither’s fighting spirit wavered.

The clone’s motions began to falter, mana depletion eroding her control.

"Now!" Luo En muttered silently, careful not to disrupt Daire’s rhythm.

As if sensing her master’s intent, Daire suddenly leapt backward, creating distance.

She raised her hands skyward. Instantly, every water molecule in the air surged to life, coalescing into a vividly lifelike water dragon.

"Tidal Wrath!"

The dragon roared and dove downward, slamming headfirst into the exhausted clone.

The immense impact sent her flying, crashing into a crystal pillar with a dull thud.

The pillar’s surface spiderwebbed with cracks as crimson mana seeped from within.

The clone struggled to rise, but Daire was already before her, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

"You said you wanted to devour me", Daire said coldly, her voice carrying an unsettling maturity. "But quite the opposite—you’re the one who’ll be consumed."

She leaned down, her mouth opening to reveal a set of razor-sharp teeth.

In that moment, her expression mirrored the clone’s earlier one—naively innocent yet brutally savage, though Daire’s gaze still held the clarity of rationality.

What happened next shocked even Luo En.

Like a primeval predator, Daire tore into the clone’s throat, gulping down the dark red liquid.

Her movements were both elegant and savage, like performing an ancient ritual where every gesture carried primal beauty.

The clone thrashed, disbelief filling her eyes as she realized her fate.

Her body grew translucent, eventually dissolving into countless motes of light.

These lights didn’t dissipate but were absorbed into Daire’s form.

"I can feel it", Daire whispered, her voice hazy with awe. "Her power… her memories… they’re all mine now."

Her body began to glow as if infused with mysterious mana.

Golden patterns surfaced across her skin, resembling scales that covered her entire body with intricate, flowing designs.

The patterns pulsed like deep ocean currents, exuding an ancient, enigmatic rhythm.

Daire floated upward, encased in a radiant halo of gold and blue.

Her silver hair gleamed brighter, as if imbued with moonlight essence;

Fine, luminous scales emerged on her skin, each sparkling like pearls;

Her eyes transformed entirely into pure gold, their pupils glittering like stars.

As the light faded, Daire descended, her entire presence renewed.

The former contradiction of innocence and cruelty had vanished, replaced by harmony and balance.

"Master", she said, her golden eyes reflecting Luo En’s image, her tone brimming with joy.

"It feels… incredible. Like I’ve finally understood who I truly am. It’s as if the entire world’s waters are singing to me."

Luo En stepped forward, gently stroking her hair, his face alight with satisfaction.

"Congratulations, Daire. You’ve evolved into a pure-blood siren—a far more noble and refined being."

Daire stared at her hands in astonishment. With a mere thought, water condensed at her fingertips, forming exquisite shapes—birds, flowers, fish—

each detail precise as a master sculptor’s work, magnitudes sharper than before.

"I can feel my water manipulation has grown immensely stronger… and—"

She blinked her large golden eyes, excitement bubbling in her voice.

"My Siren Song has changed too. It’s not just about luring prey anymore—it can do so much more now."

Testing a few notes, Daire hummed softly. The crystals around her immediately resonated, producing a melodious harmony.

Some damaged pillars even began repairing themselves, their cracks sealing shut.

Luo En smiled and ruffled the Little Siren’s hair before continuing forward with Cui Xi and Holt.

As he departed, he habitually patted his waist.

"It’s about time… time to reap that guy’s harvest…"

…

Eliot stood at a distance, soaked in cold sweat, watching the terrifying force that had effortlessly crushed every opponent.

His large ears trembled slightly, catching every energy fluctuation and faint sound.

This innate sensitivity was now a torment.

He could clearly "hear" the agonized groans of his fallen comrades, their horrifying transformation as they were consumed by corruption.

Caesar, Jaclyn, Nolen, Lina… Crystal Spire’s most brilliant apprentices—

all defeated in one blow from Clone Luo En, scattered like leaves in a storm.

Especially Caesar, the arrogant powerhouse genius, reduced now to a blackened puddle, reeking of decay.

Eliot’s mind raced, struggling to comprehend what he’d witnessed.

A normal trial clone shouldn’t possess such strength or self-awareness.

It defied every rule he knew.

"Why didn’t you kill me?" he asked nervously, his thoughts racing for an escape plan as his hand subtly reached for his belt.

Clone Luo En extended a finger, wagging it gently, like a master chastising a disobedient child.

"Because you’re useful, Hearer of Winds. Your innate talent will help me locate something hidden."

Eliot’s heart skipped a beat.

He understood now.

The clone intended to use his "Hearer of Winds" special innate talent to find something.

An unfamiliar unease washed over him. For the first time, he felt vulnerable because of his talent.

"So you just need a living compass."

Eliot kept his voice steady, secretly moving his hand toward his badge, hoping to activate it for escape when the moment came.

"Smart."

The clone nodded approvingly, golden flames flickering in his eyes.

"But I won’t give you much time to think. Start now."

Eliot detected the clone’s energy fluctuations shifting, a silent warning—if he hesitated, death would follow.

Though confident he could escape, he decided to hear what the clone planned first.

"I need to know what you’re seeking. My innate talent requires a clear target to function."

Clone Luo En paused, calculating how much to reveal.

He scanned the surroundings for threats before speaking.

"An 'Awakening Being.' He’s infiltrated this trial space and is undergoing transformation somewhere within."

Eliot’s large ears instinctively perked, tuning into the ambient energy fluctuations.

This was his innate talent’s natural response, beyond conscious control.

He closed his eyes, letting his senses open fully as information flooded in like tidal waves.

To ordinary eyes, the world was light, shadow, color, and form;

To Eliot’s perception, everything became frequencies and vibrations.

Every substance, every mana current, every living being had its unique "sound."

He sifted carefully through these "sounds", isolating abnormal frequencies clashing against the space’s natural mana patterns.

Quickly, he detected an extremely twisted energy fluctuation—a harsh, chaotic sound, like multiple instruments playing in discordant keys.

"Interesting… I do sense unusual fluctuations", Eliot said cautiously, careful not to reveal too much.

"But they don’t belong to this space’s native mana patterns. It’s as if they were forced in."

The clone’s eyes flared, crimson-gold flames surging. "Direction?"

Eliot pointed toward a shadowed corner in the northwest. "There. But I warn you—the energy there is extremely unstable, a chaotic blend of forces. I’ve never 'heard' such a twisted frequency."

Without another word, the clone gestured for Eliot to lead the way.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end