Chapter 60: The Price of Power

As a Mage, Rachel had grown weary of a life spent battling Fantasy Creatures.

Despite possessing a degree of magical talent and having trained with the Mage Association since childhood, she had always considered herself a weak existence.

No, the entire human race was fundamentally weak.

While, on the surface, the combined territories of human kingdoms appeared to rival those of all Fantasy Creature nations, Rachel knew this was merely an illusion.

The continent’s Fantasy Creature population was less than a tenth of humanity’s, yet they controlled an equal amount of land. This fact alone spoke volumes.

A vast majority of humanity lacked power. Even those humans who possessed strength found their individual combat prowess significantly inferior to that of Fantasy Creatures, requiring extensive training to develop.

Powerful Fantasy Creatures, such as werewolves, Bloodkin, and witches, were born with at least second-tier strength. Some high-blooded Fantasy Creatures even began at a level that humans could only hope to achieve after a lifetime of relentless effort.

Furthermore, humanity was too fragile, too short-lived. Compared to Fantasy Creatures, humanity’s sole advantage lay in its reproductive capacity, as Fantasy Creatures struggled greatly to procreate.

Yet, what good was an abundant population?

It merely meant more food for Fantasy Creatures.

Had it not been for the mutual suspicion and checks and balances among Fantasy Creature nations, humanity would have long since been reduced to mere livestock.

How truly pathetic.

Rachel could not accept humanity’s inherent weakness. For this reason, she chose to delve into the study of even more potent dark magic.

The arms that had just emerged from the shadows were a manifestation of such dark magic.

However, the archaic old fogeys of the Mage Association deemed dark magic taboo and subsequently expelled Rachel from their ranks.

It was then that Rachel realized humanity was not only weak but also arrogant, stubborn, and unwilling to seek change.

Therefore, after *that person* appeared, and after they presented such a possibility, Rachel chose to become Bloodkin.

She loathed weak and decaying humanity, and she loathed herself for being human.

The moment she became Bloodkin, she truly understood the vastness of the world. She experienced an unprecedented freedom, and humans seemed nothing more than ants before her.

She had become an immortal being, a noble Bloodkin, certainly not a lowly human!

But… what was this creature before her?

“You… how is this possible!?”

A swarm of bats swiftly swept past Rachel. Startled and uncertain, she turned, watching as the bats slowly coalesced into a form. This power, she realized, could only belong to a true Bloodkin!

Emerging from the crimson mist and the swirling bats was a young girl, childlike in appearance. At some point, she had changed into an elaborate gothic dress.

This was a new method Nikola had devised: by instantly storing her clothes in a ring the moment she transformed into crimson mist, and then donning them directly onto her body upon reverting, she could achieve seamless costume changes.

“You are nothing more than a thief trying to steal the power of the Bloodkin.”

Nikola sneered, her slender finger delicately touching her lips.

“Discarding your humanity and dignity, you aspired to become Bloodkin, only to transform into a grotesque hybrid. It is a blasphemy, both to humans and to the Bloodkin.”

“Shut up! Are you any different!? What right do you have to speak to me like that!!”

Rachel roared in fury. In her eyes, Nikola was no different. As a true Bloodkin, she hid within human society, even becoming a Nun, someone who detested Fantasy Creatures the most. Was that not also a form of blasphemy?

Blood welled incessantly from her eye sockets as she continued to overdraw her magical energy.

Although Rachel had not gained regenerative abilities after becoming Bloodkin, her control and development of magic circuits had advanced significantly. She could now, as she was doing, forcibly unleash higher-tier spells by channeling the power of her own blood.

Countless dark spikes erupted from beneath Nikola’s feet, piercing through her with Rachel’s furious roar. Whether Nikola hadn’t reacted in time or for some other reason, her body was instantly riddled with several bloody holes, pinning her motionless to the spot.

“Die!”

After impaling Nikola’s body, Rachel lunged at her like a madwoman. With a clawed swipe of her left hand, she tore Nikola’s head clean off. Crimson blood gushed like a fountain from the severed neck.

The spikes dissipated. Nikola’s headless corpse, riddled with holes and utterly mangled, slowly toppled before Rachel. Yet, Rachel felt no joy in her victory; instead, a wave of astonishment washed over her.

From her time in the Mage Association, Rachel had learned that true death for Bloodkin could be achieved by either plunging holy silver into their hearts or by destroying their heads.

Her attack had merely been an attempt, a desperate gamble. She had never expected to actually rip Nikola’s head off.

After a moment of stunned silence, Rachel suddenly let out a choked gasp, which then erupted into a fit of hysterical laughter.

“Hngh… hmph… Hmph hmph… Hahahahahahaha!”

“So… it was all just a bluff. I actually thought you were formidable, hahahahahaha!”

However, even as Rachel’s wild laughter continued unchecked, Nikola’s corpse began to stir once more.

Rachel’s laughter abruptly ceased, her expression freezing. From the bloody holes on Nikola’s body, and simultaneously from her severed neck, a crimson mist began to rise. It miraculously stitched her mangled body back together, even regrowing Nikola’s head.

“Wh-what…?”

“Ridiculous. You can’t even manage basic regeneration, yet you dare call yourself Bloodkin?”

The scarlet mist slowly wove Nikola’s features back into place. Even before the flesh on her face had fully regenerated, Nikola spoke, her voice chilling from her terrifying half-formed visage.

“Then, allow me to properly teach you what a true Bloodkin truly is!”