The giant form collapsed completely.
The werewolf slamd into the ground, its body shrinking back to its normal size. Bones cracked as the size bloodline failed. Its limbs twisted at wrong angles, and its breathing turned rough and uneven.
It tried to stand.
It failed.
Its body shook as different bloodlines activated and shut down at random. Steel wouldn’t form. Speed flickered and vanished. Strength surged, then disappeared.
Asher walked toward it slowly.
"You feel it now," he said. "They’re tearing you apart from the inside."
The werewolf coughed, blood spilling from its mouth. "I... can still fight."
It tried to activate another bloodline.
Nothing happened.
Asher stopped a few steps away, sword held steady.
"You devoured bloodlines," he said. "But you never mastered any of them. You just stacked power and hoped it wouldn’t collapse."
The werewolf laughed weakly. "You think... you’re better?"
Asher nodded once. "Yes."
He raised his sword.
"You rely on what you steal," Asher said. "I rely on what I’ve trained."
The werewolf’s eyes widened as it finally understood.
"Wait—"
Asher didn’t hesitate.
The sword ca down.
The strike was clean.
The werewolf’s body went still.
The glowing veins faded. The clashing bloodlines collapsed and burned out, leaving nothing behind but a broken corpse.
Asher stood there for a mont, breathing slowly.
Then he lowered his sword and turned away.
"It’s over," he said quietly.
The Blood Moon domain fell silent once more.
Asher didn’t leave right away.
He stepped closer to the corpse and placed one hand on the werewolf’s chest.
The body was cold, but the bloodline residue was still there. Faint. Unstable. Breaking apart.
Asher closed his eyes.
"Sanguine Supre," he said quietly.
This ti, he didn’t attack.
He extracted.
The Devourer of World Bloodlines responded imdiately. The remaining power stirred, trying to resist, trying to consu instead of be taken.
Asher suppressed it without effort.
The bloodline was strong, but it was chaotic. Dangerous. Greedy.
It was nothing compared to his own.
The energy flowed into him in a controlled stream. No struggle. No backlash.
Asher absorbed it fully, then sealed it deep inside himself.
When he opened his eyes, the werewolf’s body crumbled into dust.
Asher exhaled slowly.
"Too unstable for ," he said. "But useful."
The Devourer bloodline was powerful. Extrely powerful. But it required control, balance, and discipline—things the werewolf never had.
Asher did.
Still, he had no intention of using it himself.
His path didn’t need it.
Instead, he marked the bloodline, locked it behind multiple seals, and bound it to his authority.
"This can be refined," he said. "Filtered. Weakened. Made safe."
A bloodline like this could change soone’s future if handled correctly.
Soone in his family.
Soone who could handle responsibility.
Asher turned away from the remains and looked toward the deeper domain.
"The anomaly is gone," he said calmly. "The hunt is over."
He began walking back toward the Blood Moon domain, already thinking about who might one day inherit the power he had just taken.
Asher returned to the Blood Moon domain before dawn.
The red sky was already fading when he entered the central hall. The chief was waiting, along with several elders. The tension in the room eased the mont they felt Asher’s presence.
"It’s done," Asher said simply.
The chief stood up at once. "The anomaly?"
"Eliminated," Asher replied. "It won’t hunt anyone again."
A low breath of relief spread through the room.
The chief studied Asher carefully. "What was it?"
Asher didn’t answer right away.
He chose his words carefully.
"It was a lone cultivator," he said. "Not a vampire. Not a rival race acting on orders."
The elders frowned slightly.
"It carried the Devourer of World Bloodlines," Asher continued. "That power drove it mad. It hunted vampires because your blood was the best stabilizer for it."
The chief’s expression darkened. "So our people were targeted because of their blood."
"Yes," Asher said. "Not because of hatred. Not because of war."
The chief was silent for a long mont.
Then he nodded slowly.
He gestured to an attendant, who brought forward several items.
"This is your association reward," the chief said. "But this—" he added, pushing the items closer "—this is from ."
There were rare blood crystals, sealed cultivation resources, and a domain token that granted Asher unrestricted access to Blood Moon territory.
The chief gave a short, respectful smile. "If you ever need Blood Moon’s help, you have it."
Asher turned to leave.
"This task was easy," he said over his shoulder. "Too easy."
The chief laughed quietly. "Then I assu you’ll be taking another."
Asher nodded. "I already am."
Asher flew back to the association and submitted the completion proof.
"What was it?" the receptionist asked.
"Soone who got his hands on the Devourer Bloodline," Asher replied.
Her eyes widened. "Do tell you were able to extract it?"
Asher shook his head. "I didn’t have the tools."
She sighed. "You know that bloodline is really sought after."
Asher nodded. "It’s also hunted by many."
The receptionist shook her head. "There are always people who get jealous of others’ fortune."
Asher just smiled.
"So," she asked, "do you want to take another one?"
He nodded.
"Well... there is another," she said, placing a paper on the table. "But no one has been taking it."
Asher glanced at it.
"There were three before you," she continued, "but all of them died. No one’s keen on taking it now."
She paused, then added, "It needs soone with expertise in the soul area."
Asher nodded. "I know soul magic."
The receptionist looked at him for a mont, then slowly pushed the paper closer. "Then this one might actually suit you."
Asher picked it up and read.
"Grey Hermit Area," she said. "It’s basically a grave domain. Most undead types live there."
Asher looked up. "What’s happening?"
"Souls are being taken," she replied. "Recently, a lot of them."
Asher’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"That place is ruled by soone," the receptionist continued. "You’ll find a lich emperor at the center of the domain."
Asher nodded once. "A Lich Emperor. I’d like to et him."
She hesitated. "Most wouldn’t say that so lightly. His role there is simple. He rules the dead, and no one escapes death once they enter his domain."
Reviews
All reviews (0)