Chapter 38 – New Spells
Tadeo's lips trembled. "Y–You—"
He didn't finish.
Raven's body twisted like a coiled spring snapping free. The spear cut through the air in a spiral slash, glinting with faint aura. The blade met flesh before Tadeo even realized he was under attack.
A wet shhk echoed.
Blood fountained from his neck.
Tadeo stumbled, clutching the wound with both hands, eyes wide and uncomprehending. His mouth opened and closed, choking on his own blood. The dizziness from Raven's earlier spell made him sway like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Raven froze, the reality of what he'd done slamming into him. His grip on the spear quivered.
"F–F*ck! I killed him!"
[Don't hesitate. Kill this Wizard before he uses a potion to recover.]
Zera's calm voice filled his head, sharp enough to pierce through the panic. Raven forced his breath steady, stepped forward, and thrust the spear straight through Tadeo's chest. The impact jolted his arm; the blade buried itself in the man's heart.
[No. Decapitate him.]
Raven grimaced. "A–Aren't you being too cautious?"
Silence.
His jaw tightened. He pulled the spear free, swung once more, and the blade flashed through the night. The head separated cleanly, rolling across the stone road as blood sprayed in a dark rain.
The body twitched, stumbled a step, and fell backward with a heavy thud.
The metallic stench hit him a second later. His stomach lurched. He doubled over and vomited onto the pavement.
"I–I killed a person…" His voice trembled, eyes unfocused. "I actually—"
[No time to cry, lad. The battle isn't over yet.]
Zera's cold reminder snapped him awake.
A gunshot cracked from his right. Someone screamed.
Raven wiped his mouth and grabbed Tadeo's belongings—pouch, ring, bracelet, vial—and stuffed them into his inventory. His heartbeat pounded like war drums.
"Jacob might need my help," he muttered.
[Even if you go there, you'll only get in his way. Divert their attention. Hide.]
Raven understood immediately. He turned toward the carriage, pulled out an oil flask, and lit it with a spark from his ring. The carriage caught fire in an instant, flames spreading with a hiss.
He sprinted toward a nearby abandoned building, ducked inside, and climbed up to the balcony. Smoke rose below him, painting the street in red and gold.
From his hiding spot, he watched the chaos unfold.
Minutes later, two men emerged from the opposite yard. Both Radiant Walkers. One limped, blood staining his coat; the other—Preston, if Raven remembered right—supported him.
'Did they… kill Jacob?' His pulse quickened.
A gunshot answered him. The two men dove behind a half-collapsed wall. Dust exploded where the bullet struck. They muttered something Raven couldn't hear, then fled, disappearing into the alley shadows.
Moments later, a man in a black suit arrived, scanning the area cautiously.
Raven stayed still, barely breathing. When the man finally left, Raven exhaled in relief.
'Wizards are terrifying… and that was only an Acolyte.'
[The ones from the academy will be far stronger, lad. Did you figure out what you lack most?]
'I need a movement spell… and a better attack spell.'
He stood up, called out, "Jacob! I'm here!"
Minutes later, Jacob appeared from behind a wall, covered in dirt and smoke but still alive.
"I didn't expect you to kill a Wizard, my Lord," Jacob said with a faint grin.
"I'm sorry for putting your life in danger," Raven replied quietly. "If Selene had come with us, this might've gone differently."
Jacob shook his head. "You handled it better than most would."
Raven said nothing, just studied him in silence. 'He threw me aside to survive the ambush… a gamble that saved both of us. Most mercenaries would've stayed and died.'
He exhaled. 'I need to get stronger. Or next time, luck won't save me.'
"Can you wait here for a while, Mr. Jacob? I need some time alone."
Jacob frowned. "We can find an inn to the east, my Lord—"
"No." Raven turned away before his face betrayed anything. "I'll be right back."
He walked back to the abandoned building. The air inside was thick with dust and dampness. Rusted tools and broken sandbags covered the floor.
"This should be enough." He tapped his spatial ring.
With a thud, a massive, blackish worm dropped to the floor—its skin slick, crawling with a thousand half-open eyes that stared without focus.
Raven's stomach churned. "Disgusting thing."
He placed his hand on its side and whispered, "Bloodline Devouring—activate."
A faint hum filled the air. The corpse convulsed. Blood coalesced into a glowing orb, pulsing like a heartbeat before sinking into his palm.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is activated!]
[Mind Worm's bloodline has been found!]
[Analyzing the purity of the bloodline…]
[Calculating…]
[The corpse has 94% purity of Rank-1 Mind Worm's bloodline Essence!]
[It is possible to extract the Mind Worm's bloodline Essence and one of its bloodline spells!]
[Would you like to use the 'Bloodline Devouring Ability'? Yes/No.]
…
"Yes." Raven clicked without hesitation.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is on commence!]
[Randomizing the Bloodline Ability Extraction!]
[The system has found two eye skills from the host's body and is proceeding to select Mind Worm's 'Mind Eye' Bloodline Spell!]
[Rank-1 Mind Worm's 'Mind Eye' Bloodline Spell has been selected!]
[Spiritual Scan and Night Vision skills have been fused with the Mind Eye spell!]
[Host has obtained Rank-1 'Mind Eye' Bloodline Spell!]
[Host has absorbed a part of Mind Worm's Bloodline Essence!]
[Host's spirit power has increased by 2.8!]
[Host's vitality power has increased by 1.0!]
[Host's strength power has increased by 0.5!]
[Host's agility power has increased by 0.5!]
[Host's body is undergoing a mutation!]
[The mutation will take 5 minutes 35 seconds to complete!]
[Please stand by!]
…
The world vanished into pain.
Raven's scream caught in his throat. His veins burned as if liquid fire flowed through them. A tearing sensation gripped his skull—sharp, deep, relentless.
Then came the eyes. The pain centered there, stabbing, twisting, burrowing deeper. He pressed his palms against his face, gritting his teeth. The agony dragged on, endless seconds stretching into eternity.
Finally, it ended.
Raven gasped, chest heaving. His vision blurred, then sharpened. Every detail around him—dust motes, cracks, light—seemed impossibly clear.
Inside his mind, a hexagonal spell model shimmered into existence, humming like a living thing.
He focused on a small fly hovering in front of him.
The world slowed.
Each flap of the fly's wings moved in perfect, slow motion. Raven could count every beat. The hum of sound stretched thin.
When he blinked, time returned to normal. His eyes widened.
"T–This is insane…"
[You're not slowing time, lad. You're accelerating your thoughts. You now perceive the world faster.]
Raven grinned weakly. "So this is how Mind Worms see reality."
[Good. Now, take out the next one.]
He did.
A glacial blue corpse fell from his ring—a massive Ice Wyrm with crystalline horns and six clawed legs. Its scales shimmered like frozen stars.
Raven touched its forehead. "Let's see what you give me."
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is activated!]
[Ice Wyrm's bloodline has been found!]
[Analyzing the purity of the bloodline…]
[Calculating…]
[The corpse has 80% purity of Rank-1 Ice Wyrm's bloodline Essence!]
[It is possible to extract the Ice Wyrm's bloodline Essence and one of its bloodline spells!]
[Would you like to use the 'Bloodline Devouring Ability'? Yes/No.]
"Yes," Raven confirmed.
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is on commence!]
[Randomizing the Bloodline Ability Extraction!]
[Rank-1 Ice Wyrm's 'Cold Breath' bloodline spell has been selected!]
[Host has obtained a Rank-1 'Cold Breath' Bloodline Spell!]
[Host has absorbed a part of Ice Wyrm's Bloodline Essence!]
[Host's vitality power has increased by 1.0!]
[Host's strength power has increased by 1.0!]
[Host's agility power has increased by 1.0!]
[Host's body is undergoing a mutation!]
[It will take 3 minutes for the mutation to complete!]
…
Cold energy surged through his veins. His breath turned white. Frost spread along the ground from beneath his boots, crawling up the walls. The pain was sharp, biting—but short-lived.
Three minutes later, the mutation ended. A new spell model—icy and radiant—appeared beside the first.
Knowledge poured into his mind. Memories of the creature's life—of blizzards, frost, and blue flames—flashed behind his eyes.
Raven breathed out. Frost drifted from his lips.
"So that's how it works… exhaling cold air strong enough to freeze flesh within seconds."
He clenched his fists, smiling faintly. "Perfect for anyone who tries to run."
[Not bad, lad. You're growing faster than I expected.]
Raven looked down at his hands. Tiny frost lines glowed across his skin, fading slowly.
"I'll make good use of it," he said quietly.
And for the first time that night, he smiled—not out of relief, but anticipation.
"Zera, show me my status."
A ripple of blue light appeared before Raven's eyes, forming a transparent screen that hovered in the air. Lines of text scrolled upward, presenting his character profile.
…
[Name: Raven Sillalus Jorvot
Age: 15
Nationality: Zenith Empire
Title: 66th Prince of Zenith Empire
Level: 8
Class: Acolyte Warlock (3rd Circle)
Soul Rank: Mortal (Soul Damaged 0%)
Life Pathway: Beginner Alchemist
Health: Normal
Attributes:
Strength: 8.0
Agility: 7.07
Vitality: 7.56
Luck: 2.5
Spirit: 19.9
Bloodline Spells: Iron Resilience, Poison Touch (Poison Immunity), Fortuitous Finder (Completed), Blood Control, Face Morph, Mind Eye, Cold Breath (Rank-1)
Additional Skills: Past Finder, Instant Memorize, Basic Spearmanship
Affinities: Life: Low, Ice: Genius]
…
Raven's eyes lingered over the numbers, his mind buzzing. "Spirit power… it's reached a new threshold. And my luck… increased by one?"
[Perhaps after killing that Acolyte Wizard? Whatever you do outside the World's influence alters the future. The Acolyte Wizard or Mia… they must have been destined for evil, leading to innocent deaths. After you interfered, the future shifted.]
"Outside the World's influence?" Raven frowned.
[From the moment I awoke… no, from the moment you were born, Casper's remnant will changed your fate. Every action of yours ripples through others' destinies. But fate is like a web—snap a thread, and it slowly reconnects.]
Raven chewed on the words. "If someone is destined to die, and I change that fate, they might still die again later?"
[Exactly. Take your sister. Casper's influence allowed her fifteen years with you, yet she still returned to the Royal Family and became engaged to a Duke's son in Vera Empire. Fate can be altered, but destiny is far harder to change—even for someone like you.]
"Destiny… versus fate?" Raven's brow furrowed.
[No. Fate is immediate—it's the next course of action, the small threads. Destiny is the major events: your aunt's imprisonment, your sister's future wedding, the crown prince's death. Those cannot be easily rewritten.]
"So… my aunt's destiny is impossible to change?" Raven ground his teeth.
[Yes. Unless a comparable power intervenes.] Zera's tone darkened.
"Comparable power?" Raven's eyes widened.
"Luck, isn't it?"
[Yes. Until now, you were a weak mortal. Your influence on others' futures was minimal. As you grow stronger, your chance of shifting fates increases. If we plan carefully, we might save your aunt. Luck will play a critical role. Next time we face an enemy, we must calculate how to increase this attribute.]
Raven nodded and stored the bloodied corpses in his spatial ring. He returned to Jacob's side, and together they headed east, drawn by the glow of lanterns. They boarded another carriage and returned to the Glory Wine Inn on Aurora Street.
Inside, Raven immediately spotted Stephanie and Selene seated at a table, enjoying their meal.
"You guys sure are enjoying yourselves," Jacob cleared his throat.
Stephanie and Selene jumped to their feet, bowing deeply toward Raven. The hall fell into a brief silence before whispers resumed. Raven ignored it, sliding into the empty chair and speaking to the server:
"Bring two more servings for us."
Turning to Selene and Stephanie, he added, "Sit down and eat, Mr Jacob. Let's eat first."
The server nodded and hurried away. Raven's gaze swept the hall, noting lingering stares before the crowd returned to their meals. He leaned back, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd held.
The recent battle left him with two pressing realizations.
The first: the Amell Family. They were working with the enemy, tracking them through the Vipers Syndicate and orchestrating ambushes. He had avoided injury this time, but next time… he wasn't so sure.
The second: his weakness with magic. Combat was his strength. Against an Acolyte Wizard, he'd been cornered and almost killed. If faced with an Artifact or a weapon like an Aether Rifle, survival seemed slim.
[Don't worry, lad. Your bloodline spells may appear weak now, but each has the potential to evolve. Iron Resilience will let you endure attack spells and regrow limbs instantly. Your other spells hold similar potential. Focus on the present.] Zera's voice was calm, reassuring.
Selene's eyes flickered. "My Lord, did everything go well?"
Raven's expression remained neutral. "It wasn't bad." No further explanation, no room for questions.
The server returned with food, placing plates before Raven and Jacob.
"So, did you finish constructing all three Dream Spell models?" Raven asked.
"Yes, My Lord. But I haven't dared enter the Dream World, per the spell books' warnings," Selene replied solemnly.
Raven nodded. "Good. Do you understand how the dream spells function?"
"Yes, My Lord. The Dream World is a separate realm, mirroring our present world, but composed of human memories. Entering one's dream allows influence over it, but it is dangerous."
"You mean all dreams coexist without affecting each other?" Raven frowned.
"That's correct. Death in the Dream World may leave a person comatose for months."
[More precisely, their original consciousness may vanish, leaving only a non-conscious soul. Recovery takes time and memory reconstruction. The Dream World is not just memory—it spans past, present, and future.] Zera clarified.
"Can I enter the Dream World?" Raven asked.
"I cannot directly due to my rank, My Lord. But I can bring two people's consciousnesses using Dream Walk. Dream Harvest lets me extract materials to the real world." Selene explained.
Raven's interest piqued. "What about Dream Alter?"
"This spell allows alterations of surroundings and appearance based on imagination, though it has limits."
"So… it's like an illusion?" Raven mused.
"If you cast it on me, I can change both my appearance and the environment, My Lord. But we won't know fully until tested," Selene said, nibbling at her meal.
'Hmm, this spell seems useful.' Raven's thoughts ran deep, impressed.
Dinner ended silently. Upstairs, Raven led Jacob and Selene to his room. Stephanie excused herself.
"Cast Dream Walk. Bring my consciousness to the Dream World," Raven instructed Selene. He looked at Jacob. "Guard us. Let no one enter."
"Yes, My Lord."
Selene seated herself on the ornate sofa. "Hold my left hand, My Lord."
Raven obeyed. Her palm warm in his, she leaned back and began chanting, casting [Dream Walk].
Dizziness struck. He blinked and remained on the sofa, watching Selene rise beside him.
"This is real… My Lord, we've entered the Dream Realm," she murmured. The room morphed: broken windows, splintered wood, cracked walls, gray shadows.
Raven's skin prickled. Black-and-white light washed the scene outside the shattered windows. The streets were empty… or so it seemed.
Figures wandered, wounded and grotesque: an old man dragging a leg toward a gate, a red-eyed woman ramming her head into a door, a small girl crawling across the street, gnawing on a rat.
"What… are they doing?" Selene's voice trembled.
[Zera, any guesses?] Raven's mind raced.
He tried opening his inventory. Nothing. His consciousness was trapped.
From a balcony opposite, a young man stared at them. He sniffed, then let out a wild, animalistic scream.
All figures froze, then slowly turned, locking eyes on Selene. Goosebumps erupted across her arms as the horde roared and surged toward the inn.
"No! We need to leave the Dream World!" Selene grabbed Raven's hand and dashed toward the broken sofa.
"Do not let go of my hand or open your eyes for the next few seconds, My Lord," she instructed, closing her eyes and recasting [Dream Walk].
Raven obeyed, focusing on sleep. Roars and pounding footsteps approached, colliding with the door. Panic surged, but dizziness overtook him, pulling his consciousness into a deep void.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back on the ornate sofa, holding Selene's hand. Silence. No roars, no chaos.
A bald, middle-aged man in a formal suit stood a few feet away, staring at him.