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Chapter 45 - Chapter 45 : Celebration

Leylin ascended the cracked stone steps from the near-ruined basement, each footfall a quiet echo of his monumental breakthrough.

The air above was lighter, carrying the warm scent of polished oak and the faint glow of candle wax, a stark relief from the scorched smell of magic below.

As he stepped into the manor's grand hall, his servants awaited, kneeling in a reverent arc, their heads bowed in silent awe.

Their eyes flickered nervously, unable to meet his gaze, the weight of his restrained power pressing against them like a storm held at bay.

Leylin's lips curled in quiet amusement at their deference, his heart thrumming with the thrill of his new strength as a Rank 1 Warlock.

He stood transformed, his now black hair gleaming like polished midnight, his presence radiating a magnetic charisma that seemed to bend the very air.

Anna, standing slightly apart, caught his eye, her cheeks blooming with a soft flush as she stole a glance, her shy smile betraying her captivation.

'They have sensed my powers.' Leylin thought, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, sparking a flicker of warmth in his otherwise calculated mind.

"Prepare for a feast in the main hall," he said, his voice rich with a rare joy, a broad smile breaking across his face. "Today, I'll eat with everyone. Greem, bring the kids too."

The words carried a buoyant pride, his success demanding celebration, a shared moment to mark his ascent. "Anna, prepare me a bath in the meantime."

"Yes, Master," Anna replied, her voice soft but eager, her blonde hair bouncing as she nodded, her eyes wide with a starstruck glow.

She looked almost comical, like a bird flustered by a sudden breeze, and Leylin's smile deepened, charmed by her earnestness.

'She's enchanted by a warlock's charm.' he noted, a thread of amusement weaving through his thoughts as she hurried toward the master room, a vast sanctuary housing a bedroom, study, secret chamber, and a grand bathroom, each space a reflection of his dominion.

"Go, everyone, start preparing," Leylin said, as he sank into a cushioned chair, its carved arms smooth under his fingers, grounding him in the moment.

He waved the group off with a casual gesture, and they scattered, save for a single maid who lingered nearby, her presence a silent vow to fulfill his every whim.

'Anna is a capable housekeeper.' he thought, contentment settling over him, the chair creaking softly as he leaned back.

Alone, Leylin summoned the A.I. Chip's interface, its familiar hum a steady anchor in his mind.

"Show me my innate spells," he murmured, curiosity sharpening his voice, a spark of excitement tightening his grip on the chair.

[Innate Spell: Eye of Petrification: A petrifying gaze emitted from the eyes, equivalent to a petrification spell. Targets are immediately petrified; stronger beings experience temporary rigidity. Consumption: Spiritual Force 1, Magic Power 1.]

[Scales of Kemoyin: Instantly forms a layer of scales, providing defense. Physical Defense: 25 degrees. Magic Defense: 27 degrees. Consumption: Every 5 hours, Spiritual Force 1, Magic Power 1.]

Leylin stared at the data, his expression calm, an innate spell costs only one-tenth of a spell model. This is the advantage of innate spells.

And the Kemoyin Scales he could maintain them with just 2 points always active forming a strong defensive line.

"Master, your bath is ready," Anna's voice called, gentle but tinged with nervous excitement, pulling him from his thoughts.

Leylin waved the lingering maid away, his gesture easy but firm.

"Go," he said, as he rose and strode to the master room. The bathroom was a haven, its vast pool steaming at the center, the air heavy with jasmine and rose petals drifting across the water's surface.

Anna stood nearby, clad in a flowing white dress, her cheeks flushed with a bashful glow, her eyes bright with admiration.

Leylin's smirk widened, his presence filling the space with quiet confidence.

"You've outdone yourself, Anna," he said, his voice rich with approval as he grabbed her plumb ass, his gaze catching hers, sparking a deeper flush across her face.

He shed his loose robe, letting it fall to the tiled floor, and stepped into the pool, the warm water enveloping him like a sigh of relief.

"Perfect," he murmured, contentment softening his tone as he leaned back, the heat easing the faint aches of his transformation.

Anna moved to his side, her hands gentle as she began to wash him, her fingers tracing his shoulders with a reverent care.

"It's my honor, Master," she said, her voice shy but earnest, her touch lingering with quiet fascination.

Leylin smiled, his eyes half-closed, savoring the tranquility, the water's warmth a balm to his soul.

"You're diligent as ever." he teased, his tone light and his gaze filled with lust as he met hers, her blush deepening under his attention.

The moment shifted, a quiet intimacy blooming in the steam-filled air.

"You look radiant today, Anna," Leylin said, his hand brushing her arm, the touch light but deliberate. She shivered, her breath catching, her eyes meeting his with a mix of awe and longing. He drew her closer, his fingers grazing her waist, the gesture gentle yet possessive.

"So eager to please your master," he murmured, his tone a velvet caress, amusement and warmth mingling as he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, sparking a soft gasp from her.

Their connection deepened, a dance of whispered words and fleeting touches, the water lapping softly around them.

Anna's deep moans, mingled with Leylin's low grunts, their entanglement breathing a sensual celebration in the vast bathroom.

Anna pleasure cries reflected her devotion, each thrust sparking mutual joy. After an hour or so, Leylin grabbed her beautiful blonde hairs, his movements fluid as he unloaded inside her.

"Enough for now," he said, his voice soft but firm, leaving the pool with a ripple.

A few minutes later, Leylin strode into the main hall, Anna trailing behind, her steps buoyant, a contented smile lighting her face, her earlier nerves replaced by a quiet glow.

His gaze caught on a long-headed wooden chair at the room's end, its sides adorned with roaring lions, their carved manes fierce and regal.

'A throne?' he thought, a smile of amusement appeared on his face as he gave Anna a sidelong glance.

She bowed her head, cheeks flushing anew, clearly the mind behind this masterpiece.

"Nice chair," Leylin said, his voice rich with praise, a nod acknowledging her effort.

"Your contentment is my biggest award, Master." Anna replied, her tone euphoric, almost breathless, as she bowed deeper, her joy radiant. She summoned finest sculptors for this throne.

He settled into the chair, its solid frame grounding him, and closed his eyes briefly, savoring the moment's weight. Around him stood his knights—Greem, Faisal, Fred, Fraser, Dexter, and Mandal—flanked by seven strapping boys, their postures rigid with respect.

Even without unleashing his aura, Leylin's presence pressed against them, a silent boulder on their chests, their breaths shallow under his dominion.

"Come, sit," Leylin said, his voice warm, a slight smile softening his command as he motioned to the tables laden with bounty.

"Today is a special occasion."

The knights bowed, their voices murmuring, "Thank you, my lord," heavy with gratitude, before seating themselves by strength Greem and Dexter, Grand Knights, at the forefront, followed by Faisal, Fred, Fraser, and Mandal, peak Knights, their eyes sharp with loyalty.

The seven boys, five newly awakened as Knights, sat last, their faces a mix of awe and nervous pride.

The feast began, a lively symphony of clinking goblets and hearty laughter, the air rich with the aroma of roasted venison, spiced root vegetables, and fresh-baked bread still warm from the ovens.

Leylin ate with noble grace, his movements deliberate, slicing into a tender cut of venison with a silver knife, its juices glistening as he brought it to his lips. The flavor burst across his tongue savory, rich with herbs and he savored it, his eyes drifting over the gathering, assessing each figure with a quiet intensity.

Greem tore into a loaf of bread, his Grand Knight strength evident from his aura, but he also had a few greying hairs.

'There is always a price for borrowed power, his vitality is 30% less than an average Grand Knight.' Leylin thought, as he assessed everyone.

Dexter, beside him, ate with measured precision, his Grand Knight aura steady as stone, a pillar of reliability.

Leylin noted Faisal, Fred, Fraser, and Mandal, peak Knights all, their hands steady, their eyes glinting with ambition yet tempered by loyalty.

'Close to the edge of Grand Knight.' he mused, weighing their potential for Saint Knight. Leylin is fully aware that a few of them wouldn't be able to make it, but such is the pursuit of strength either one risk it all for greatness or, withers slowly as an afterthought.

The boys drew his attention next, especially the five newly awakened Knights, their plates piled high as they ate with eager gusto, their newfound strength a spark in their postures.

The remaining two, still unawakened, ate more cautiously, their eyes darting to their peers with quiet envy.

'A few more days.' Leylin thought, his gentle smile masking a vicious undercurrent circling his mind.

The idea of using them for experiment was cold, a strategist's instinct to sculpt an army of ruthless might, yet a slight hesitation flickered, softening the edge.

His heart wavered, torn between ambition's bite and a rare warmth for those who knelt before him, the feast's joy tugging at him as he lifted a goblet of ruby wine, its glow catching the candlelight, and drank deeply, the moment a fleeting anchor in his relentless ascent.

....

A month later

Leylin sat cross-legged in the newly repaired basement of his Zither Moon Town mansion, the stone walls around him gleaming with fresh polish, their scars from his breakthrough now smoothed over.

A single crystal lamp hung above, casting a soft, amber glow that danced across his face, highlighting the sharp planes of his jaw and the intensity in his obsidian eyes. His heart beat steady, a quiet thrill of anticipation curling within him as he prepared to delve deeper into his Warlock powers, the Kemoyin's Pupil meditation technique his guide.

"Eyes are the windows of the soul," he recited softly, his voice rich with reverence, each word a caress as he quoted Norco Curadu Sfar. "By concentrating your sight with the Kemoyin's Pupil, you will rediscover yourself."

The mantra anchored him, a beacon in the vast sea of his mind, and he shut his eyes, surrendering to the darkness behind his lids.

Instantly, he felt it, a piercing gaze from amber-like vertical pupils, their glow searing into him, ancient and unyielding. His breath hitched, awe threading through his chest as he whispered, "There you are."

Darkness surged, laced with burning flames that seemed to engulf his body, a primal force that set his nerves alight with both dread and exhilaration.

From his skin, a black and red mist unfurled, swirling around him like a living shroud, its tendrils coiling with purpose.

"Marvelous," Leylin murmured, his voice tinged with wonder, his heart racing as the mist refused to dissipate, a testament to his bloodline's power.

The strands began to converge, weaving into the shape of a small snake, its scarlet tongue flickering as it coiled around him, a guardian born of his essence.

It roved his body, finally settling on his face, where it hardened into a strange, serpentine mask, its surface pulsing with darkness energy particles that it greedily absorbed.

The sensation was electric, a hum of power that vibrated through his bones, and Leylin's lips curved in a faint smile, pride swelling in his chest. A dozen minutes later, the mask shattered with a soft crack, dissolving into black gases that threaded into him through his eyes, nose, mouth every orifice a gateway.

"Haaah!" he breathed, his voice trembling with satisfaction, the influx of energy a rush that left him dizzy, his body thrumming with newfound strength.

"A.I. Chip! Scan my current data!" Leylin commanded silently, his tone sharp with anticipation, his eyes snapping open, their black depths glinting in the lamplight.

[Leylin Farlier: Grand Knight. Rank 1 Warlock. Bloodline: Giant Kemoyin Serpent. Summons (8)—Great Withering Mankestre, Black Horrall Snake, Black Steed, Level 3 Acolyte (Bear-Modification), Level 3 Acolyte (Fire spell, unnamed), Level 3 Acolyte (Torash), Level 3 Acolyte (Saurun), Level 3 Acolyte (Rune and curse spell, unnamed). Strength: 11.2, Agility: 9.2, Vitality: 11.9, Spiritual Force: 33.1, Magical Power: 33. Status: Healthy. Spiritual force increased by 0.005. Elemental essence conversion: Darkness. Progress: 1%.] The A.I. Chip's voice was a crisp lifeline.

'Not bad.' Leylin thought, for the past month he enjoyed his life, as he ate the best food, enjoyed Anna's company, researched and perfected the Saint Knight pathway, resumed some potion formula research and focused on consolidating his strength.

"Every time I meditate, there's a definite increase in spiritual force," he noted, nodding in satisfaction, his tone bright with approval.

'Although the increase is much better than most Magi but it's still not satisfactory for someone like me who has the special power like Soul bound devourer. It's time to take the next step—Summon merging.' The thought carried a spark of excitement, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee as he considered the future. For most Magi, spiritual force growth was a grueling slog acolyte techniques became obsolete, and without high-grade meditation methods, they relied on rare resources, scarce even on the south coast.

High-grade meditation techniques were arduous each level a marathon, the first manageable but later ones demanding centuries.

"For soul merging, I must first test my hypothesis about soul compatibility and for that I developed seven knights each training in same Knight meditation technique." Leylin thought of his newest knights who have trained under his care for last three years or so. "This step if successful it would further my progress to Rank 2."

Advancing to Rank 2 Magus required a spiritual force of 80 and an elemental essence conversion above 80%, barriers that crushed countless geniuses.

Spiritual force is doable for talented magi with time, meditation, or resources but elemental essence conversion was a beast, choosing the wrong energy particles capped progress at 50%.

A magi needs to progress in the highest affinity, to hit 80%. For true prodigies, even 80% was a waste—90% or higher was their mark, easing the path to Rank 2.

"Regular Magi also struggle with Rank 2 spell models," he added, a faint contentment escaping, pity for those who risked brain-bursting mishaps by mismatching spells.

"Luckily I have gained lots of crystallized Darkness energy particles and Bloodline crystal from Dylan Gardens.' Leylin said, his voice lifting with glee, a grin breaking free as he retrieved the shimmering Darkness crystals from a pouch at his side. Their facets caught the lamplight, glinting like captured stars, and his heart raced with possibility.

"A.I. Chip, simulate the best way to absorb the Darkness crystals!" he commanded inwardly, excitement threading his tone, his fingers tightening around the crystals' cool surfaces.

[Mission establishing, gathering Host's data, beginning model simulation!] The A.I. Chip hummed, rows of data flashing before his eyes, a cascade of numbers and projections that fueled his anticipation.

A few hours later, the basement had been remodeled, its floor now etched with a sprawling spell formation, its runes pulsing faintly under the crystal lamps' glow. Leylin placed the Darkness crystals at its center, their light refracting across the stone, a constellation of power.

"Based on the A.I. Chip's calculations," he said, his voice hushed with reverence, "the crystals' absorption rate will achieve an efficiency of 94.7% when placed within this formation."

"Activate!" he declared in the ancient Byron language, his voice resonant with intent, a command that stirred the air.

Buzz buzz! The formation vibrated, a bright light erupting, and the crystals melted, shifting from solid to liquid, filling a bizarre rune with liquid starlight. A bright red flash followed, vaporizing the liquid into black smoke that swirled through the basement, a living storm that set Leylin's nerves alight with awe.

The smoke converged, forming seven indistinct snakes with glowing red eyes, their forms slithering around him, ice-cold and slimy yet eerily real.

"Incredible," Leylin breathed, his voice trembling with wonder, the sensation bizarre yet exhilarating, like touching a dream. He inhaled deeply, and Sssii! two tiny snakes vanished into his nose, his body expanding with a rush of power, a tipsy warmth flooding him, as if drunk on starlight.

The remaining five snakes hissed in terror, writhing to escape, but Leylin opened his mouth, inhaling sharply.

"Good," he whispered, his voice fierce with hunger, as all five were drawn into his stomach, their essence merging with his own. The spell formation flared, black lights engulfing the room, and Leylin felt cocooned, serene as if returned to a primal womb, comfort wrapping him like a mother's embrace.

[A large amount of essential substances are entering the Host's body, confirmed to be Dark energy particles, absorption in progress… Host absorption rate greatly enhanced under the effect of the Darkness rites, crystal utilization increased! Absorption complete! Host's elemental essence conversion greatly increased, currently 35%.] The A.I. Chip's notifications were a steady pulse, and Leylin's eyes fluttered open, a flash of black light streaking through them.

"This feeling…" he said, his voice thick with marvel, the 35% elemental essence conversion a seismic shift. Tiny black particles danced in the air, fireflies of Darkness he could now sense with ease, their presence a novelty that thrilled him.

"I've never felt them so clearly," he murmured, excitement sparking as he noted the reduced spiritual force needed to wield them.

"Latent Fireball!" he chanted, his voice sharp with intent, and black fireballs erupted from the darkness, gathering in his hands, swelling five times larger. The corrosive flames roared, the basement's roof glowing red, teetering on melting.

"A.I. Chip, calculate the current stats!" he muttered, anticipation tightening his throat.

[Rank 1 Magic: Latent Fireball. Degree of attack: 40.5. Additional damage from elemental essence conversion: 10.5!] The A.I. Chip confirmed, and Leylin's lips quirked in a slight smile.

"As expected," he said, his voice warm with satisfaction. "The might's risen sharply, and the consumption's down." The efficiency was a gift, his Darkness spells now deadlier, his control sharper.

"Seeing these results, I'm quite eager to reach

99% Elemental Essence Conversion," he said, his eyes blazing with outward passion, the goal a beacon in his mind.

....

The next day, Leylin lounged in the manor's sunlit parlor, Anna at his side, her laughter a soft melody as they shared a quiet moment. Leylin was caressing her soft body as he gently squeezed her breasts, promoting her to let out a soft moan. Anna also pushed her pale soft hands inside his robe and stroked his dick.

"You're radiant today, Master," she said, her voice warm with admiration, her blonde hair catching the light as she leaned closer to join his lips in a moment of lust, her eyes bright with affection.

Leylin chuckled, his tone light but fond, "And you're a charming company."

After a while of playing with her, Leylin expression turne

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