Chapter 1023: Becoming a Dead Apostle
"That blood is...?"
Upon closer inspection, Cen's expression changed abruptly.
"Vampire blood?"
She immediately recognized what kind of creature the blood in the barrel came from.
"You can tell?"
"Yes, there are also vampire-type fairies in this Britain, though they're just ordinary lower-class fairies..."
A trace of melancholy appeared in Cen's expression.
It was as if she was reminiscing about someone who had already passed away.
Having walked this land for over three thousand years, she had witnessed too many people and events, so her vast knowledge was only natural.
"However, this doesn't seem to be ordinary vampire blood, does it?"
Cen's gaze fell upon the rippling blood in the jade barrel, her eyes growing slightly profound.
"There are no impurities in it, indicating it's not the blood of a Dead Apostle but that of a True Ancestor. Am I correct?"
Dead Apostles originate from True Ancestors but are essentially human.
They might not even be human at all.
This means they transformed from their original forms into Dead Apostles—their blood is inherently impure, and its purity is far inferior to that of the True Ancestors, their source.
"Exactly right!"
Eiji nodded in agreement with Cen's assessment.
To be more precise, this was the blood given to him by the princess of the True Ancestor royal family, the last remaining True Ancestor on Earth.
Needless to say, the source of this blood was Arcueid!
After learning he had traveled to the world of "Strike the Blood," Eiji sought out Arcueid and asked for the blood of a True Ancestor. Arcueid generously offered as much as he wanted and immediately drew a large barrel for him.
"If you drink that blood, you'll instantly become a Dead Apostle."
Cen frowned at him, her eyes showing a hint of emotion.
"Don't tell me... just to help me investigate the Great Cavern, you..."
"That's right—though I'd love to say so, it's not really the case."
Seeing Cen looking moved, Eiji instinctively wanted to admit it.
But suddenly remembering that the Fairy of Paradise possesses Fairy Eyes, he quickly changed his tune and put on a sincere, straightforward expression.
"I've long had the idea of becoming a Dead Apostle. I just didn't plan to transform so soon. But since we're exploring that Great Cavern, I must make the best preparations."
Over in the "Strike the Blood" world, it was just after the New Year, and he was still on winter break.
He had already prepared to usurp the power of the Fourth True Ancestor during the break. The final battle of the "Banquet of the Blazing Dawn" was likely imminent, with results expected within half a month.
There was no need for Eiji to delay any longer here!
He might as well take this opportunity to get it done!
"I see..."
Cen breathed a slight sigh of relief.
If Eiji had become a Dead Apostle for her sake, she would have felt guilty for a long time.
"I don't know what will happen when I become a Dead Apostle."
Eiji looked at Cen with a serious expression.
"Although I have full confidence in my willpower, there's no guarantee I won't go berserk due to the bloodsucking impulse. If I truly go out of control, it'll be troublesome. So, I need your help to restrain me if I lose control!"
Who knows if there's some setting like "the bloodsucking impulse surges the moment you become a Dead Apostle"?
If this kind of surge was even more troublesome than ordinary bloodlust, it would truly be a ghost's worst nightmare.
Eiji understood deeply that once he went berserk, there were likely few in the Fairy Kingdom who could stop him.
Fortunately, there was someone right here who could.
"I understand, leave it to me!"
Cean's expression turned solemn.
She immediately set to work around the dense forest, laying down multiple layers of barriers that isolated everything inside from outside, even going so far as to deploy the Age of Gods Great Barrier without hesitation.
Eiji tested it and found that unless he went all out, even he would have difficulty breaking through these absurdly tough barriers. He felt considerably more at ease.
"I'm starting!"
He signaled to Cean outside the barrier.
Only after receiving her "Understood" response and seeing her tense up did Eiji take a deep breath, forcibly entering a state of clear mirror, still water.
He removed his sunglasses and mask, pushed back his hood, revealing his true appearance.
Then, without waiting for the astonished Cean to react, he lifted the jade bucket and gulped down the blood in large swallows!
Like burning liquor, the blood scorched his throat painfully!
The blood passed through his mouth, throat, and esophagus, igniting layers of flames along the way before finally settling in his stomach.
Suddenly, an astonishing heat erupted in his gut, as if trying to burn his entire body away. The blood seeped from his intestines and stomach into his skin, gradually merging with his original blood.
"Mm!"
Eiji grunted softly.
But he remained silent, drinking every last drop of blood from the bucket without missing a single one!
His muscles, bones, and skin were all being transformed under the penetration of this flame-like burning blood. Muscle fibers abruptly altered, bone regeneration capabilities suddenly underwent qualitative changes.
Whether it was an illusion or not, all his nerves seemed to accelerate several times over, everything before his eyes becoming slow motion.
But this only made the ordeal worse.
As the blood penetrated every layer of muscle fiber, reached deep into the bone marrow, and spread through his internal organs, it felt like flames were burning everywhere. His sharpened nerves now acted like magnifying glasses, amplifying the pain throughout his body multiple times over!
Eiji clenched his teeth tightly, sweat continuously dripping from his forehead.
His pupils contracted to needle points.
At a certain moment, as if breaking through a limit, they transformed into crimson vertical slits.
"Hah..."
After who knows how long.
The flames receded from throughout his body.
Eiji slowly let out a long breath, a strong metallic taste of blood rising in his mouth, his body drenched in sweat.
But he felt better than ever before!
Improvements in physical strength, senses, and motor nerves could all be overlooked. Most crucially, he could feel a rich, bursting vitality surging from within his body!
It was as if his body possessed infinite lifespan, cell regeneration capabilities so astonishing that any injury seemed like it could heal instantly, as if he could outlast the heavens themselves!
However, Eiji knew.
This was just an illusion brought by the surge in life force.
In this Type-Moon world, souls are naturally eternal.
But the physical body suffers erosion from time, gradually losing function, aging and dying like withered wood.
And since body and soul are closely connected, once the body decays, the soul is also affected.
The reason why mages decay with time no matter how many times they change bodies is that while the physical form can be freely replaced, the inner soul gradually perishes alongside the corruption of the flesh.
But True Ancestors are different!
Their souls need no mention, and even their physical bodies possess an immortal nature.
No matter how many years pass, beings akin to spirits such as True Ancestors, gods, and fairies are themselves extensions of the planet. As sensory appendages of Earth, these creatures inherently possess the quality of "never decaying"!
As lifeforms born from them, Dead Apostles similarly inherit this immortal nature of True Ancestors, truly bringing forth the possibility of eternal youth and immortality!
However, Dead Apostles are ultimately Dead Apostles - inferior versions of True Ancestors.
True Ancestors are beings whose souls and bodies are both immortal. Unless forced into their primordial form resembling giants of light and having the core in their chests shattered, they are absolutely unkillable beings.