Chapter 57: Status!
Risking a third attack shouldn't even be on his mind at all since his flesh blood and bones would be used instead to power up the rune. At that moment, he might actually truly die.
But then an idea suddenly came into Tron's mind.
With the System, his cells adapts to any level of damage his body receives as long it doesn't kill him. Which meant his body grows stronger the more devastating the damage he receive is.
And generally, the rune possess roughly the strength of a Rank one magus. Which meant that once the arcane energy within is flesh has been drained by the rune, his body would be drained off which would deal damage equivalent to a rank one magus attack to his flesh, improving his strength in the process.
Using this hack, he would actually be able to increase his strength in another way instead of depending directly on the daily quests and battle.
"BANG!"
The rest of the straw dummy exploded into a cloud of splinters as the massive crimson blade tore through it, slicing cleanly like a scorching, razor-sharp machete cutting effortlessly into a piece of cheese.
The force of the impact sent fragments of wood and straw flying, the remnants of the dummy disintegrating under the sheer power of the Blood Blade's arcane energy.
The air crackled with residual heat, the crimson glow fading slowly as the blade dissipated, leaving behind only the scattered debris of its devastating strike.
As he panted, Tron smiled brilliantly and couldn't wait to use the rune in battle.
But that wasn't his reason for activating the rune the second time. Tron was actually trying to test his theory about his adaptive muscles and the mana drain when he activates the Blood Blade without a single mana left in his body.
"Status."
〘Name: Tronyc Mahoraga〙
〘Age: 16〙
〘Level: Tier-8 Acolyte Mage ( [□] 0%〙
〘Ability: Ultra Superior Adaptation(10000 limit points)〙
❰Blood Art: Blood Rage [Common] (1000 limit points)❱
〘 Limit points: 2248〙
❰Techniques❱
〘Arcane Spells: 〙
〘Arcane Rune(s): Blood Blade (Low)[1000]〙
〘Arcane Meditation Technique: Seven Heart Rhythm, Simple Breath Flow technique〙
❰Stats❱
〘Strength: 80〙
〘Physique: 80〙
〘Agility: 80〙
〘Mana: 0/10〙
[[Main quest: Kill, Arch Mage Fraust]
[Time limit: 11 months]
[Reward:??]
[Punishment: DEATH!]
[Sub Quest (1): Kill the Rank 2 Twin-circle Mage, Valtor]
[Time Limit: 3 months]
[Reward:?? ]
[Punishment: DEATH!]
[Sub Quest (2): Kill a Single-cell Magical beast.]
[Time Limit: 1 week]
[Reward:?? ]
[Punishment: DEATH!]
[Sub Quest (3): Kill a Rank 1 Singularity Mage]
[Time Limit: 6 days]
[Reward:?? ]
[Punishment: DEATH!]
…
Tron was about to ignore the rest of his status when he saw something whichh surprised him a little. Near the Blood Blade rune, there was actually an upgrade button beside it which meant he could actually upgrade the rune for just 1000 rune points.
However, Tron thought about it for a while and shook his head. "The rune already cost 5 mana points to activate. If I upgrade it, it would surely cost more, making it somewhat impractical at this my level."
"Maybe when I reach the true Magus level. For now, this level of blood blade should be adequate. Even if I want to upgrade something, it would be my adaptive muscles. Right now, would die once I encounter a formidable foe like Valtor."
Gazing back at his reduced mana points, Tron took in a deep breath and then whispered with an exhale.
"Blood."
"BOOM!"
The runes on his wrist burst out with a hungry light. The crimson lines twisted and coiled, as the runes suddenly morphed into thousands of thin, writhing tendrils. These tendrils moved like a multitude of sinister pythons, like a nest of anacondas suddenly awakened.
In an instant, the tendrils dug into his flesh, stabbing into his wrist like countless needles. They burrowed deeper, sinking into his skin with a pain that felt as though thousands of tiny worms were latching onto him, each one draining him of life. Tron inhaled deeply, the sensation overwhelming as the tendrils fed on his blood, flesh, and muscles, siphoning his vitality to fuel the rune's magic.
The mana in his body, already depleted, was no longer enough to satisfy the rune's hunger. The tendrils began to twist and wriggle more violently, like snakes burrowing deeper, their fangs sinking into the very core of his being. Tron could feel them stabbing into his muscles, sinking into his tissue, gnawing at his bones.
His flesh convulsed under the process, the pain searing through him with each vicious bite.
His body responded instinctively, muscles spasming in protest as the rune dug deeper, drawing more and more from him. His flesh, blood, tissue, and bones writhed as though alive, contorting as the tendrils drained him of everything they could, seeking to source power necessary to manifest the Blood Blade.
Tron's hands shook uncontrollably, his whole body trembling as the tendrils consumed him from the inside out.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched so tightly it felt like it might shatter. His eyes flew open wide, pupils dilated with pain and determination. He could feel the life being sucked from him, every ounce of strength being torn away to feed the ravenous rune. It was as though his entire being was being drained, his blood and bones hollowed out to sustain the magic.
Finally, the blade began to take shape, its crimson light intensifying as it hovered above his outstretched palm. The tendrils, having drawn all they needed, began to retract, slithering back into the rune like serpents retreating into a dark hole.
The pain didn't lessen, but Tron could sense that it was almost over as the Blood Blade fully formed, its sharp edges gleaming ominously in the dim light.
When the blade solidified, floating above his hand, Tron could feel the last of his energy fading. The rune had sucked everything it needed, leaving him weakened, barely able to stand.
The Blood Blade hovered. However, Tron smiled devilishly.
At this moment, his body size was reduced by a fifth as his flesh had been drained to power the rune.
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