42 The Dreadshade(chapter42)

"What is that supposed to mean?" Strange's voice held a note of incredulity, though it was more rhetorical than seeking an answer. Blade scanned the surroundings, searching for any trace of Adana's body. His eyes darted over the blood-stained ground, the remnants of the fierce battle that had unfolded moments ago.

"Where is her body?" Blade's question hung heavy in the air, a weighty reminder of the gravity of their situation. Oliver sighed, a weariness settling over him as he vanished and reappeared, holding Adana's severed hand. With a casual wave, he presented it to the two men, who were utterly dumbstruck by his nonchalant gesture. Before they could process what they were seeing, Oliver teleported once more, leaving Blade and Strange staring at the spot where he had stood moments ago.

Their gazes lingered on the empty space, a silence enveloping them like a shroud. Finally, Blade broke the stillness, his voice carrying a mix of relief and disbelief. "I'm just glad I don't have to go and ask Dracula for help." Strange, still reeling from the encounter, muttered to himself as he conjured a portal, the air around him shimmering with magical energy. "Things have been getting weird since I came back from the dead," he murmured before they both stepped through the portal, disappearing into the mystical depths.

Not long after, Oliver emerged once more, the weight of the recent battle evident in his weary stance. This time, he had shed the Sovereign Armor, clad instead in plain clothes that bore the stains of battle. "I really need a shower," he groaned, a grimace crossing his features. One of the disadvantages of the Shell Home was its lack of amenities, including a proper bathroom. "I could probably create a bathtub to relax," he mused, imagining the comfort of soaking in hot water.

A whiff of his own scent brought him back to the present, the metallic tang of blood mingling with the air. "I really need a bigger freezer for the blood," he muttered to himself, mentally listing his next tasks. "First, I'll buy that steel alloy from Chinatown in Manhattan." With a determined stride, he set off towards his next destination, the streets of Manhattan bustling around him.

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Chinatown Manhattan was unusually quiet, the streets deserted as if holding its breath. This suited Oliver just fine as he completed his purchase of a medium-sized chest freezer from a local store. The freezer was a practical choice, its sleek design concealing the magical enhancements within.

[ Name: Frostbound Freezer ]

[ Grade: Green ]

[ Description: A medium-sized chest freezer designed for practical use, purchased from a local store. Its sleek design hides the magical enhancements within, providing efficient freezing capabilities. ]

[ Option 1: Cryo-Chill (Rank: E) (Passive) - Continuously freezes items stored inside at an accelerated rate, preserving freshness and extending shelf life. ]

[ Option 2: Spacious Frost (Rank: E) (Passive) - Increases storage capacity by 5 times, allowing for more items to be stored within the confines of its icy interior. ]

[ Durability: 85% ]

With the Frostbound Freezer in hand, Oliver set to work. He carefully stored the blood of Adana, the immortal goddess he had just vanquished, within its icy confines. The freezer hummed softly as it preserved the precious blood, a vital resource for Oliver's future endeavors.

Yet, there was another task at hand. Oliver couldn't bear the thought of the rotting corpses he had left behind. With a grimace, he melted the decaying flesh with a touch of magic, combining it with iron ore and steel ore. The once-rotting corpses now became raw material, a necessary step in his dark craft. Though he had no intention of consuming the flesh or blood, Oliver knew the value of these materials. The enemy cared little for the weapons used against them, and Oliver was prepared to wield whatever arsenal he could fashion from the remnants of his foes.

After walking for a while, Oliver came to a stop. The streets were eerily quiet, devoid of any signs of life. Not even the usual stray dogs roamed the streets. However, since receiving enhancements from the bloodline transplantations, Oliver's senses were heightened. Though not quite to superhuman levels, they were keen enough to alert him to the fact that he was not alone. He paused, a sense of foreboding settling over him as he drew his Marrow Devourer. The sword, forged from the twisted bone of an ancient Eldritch Marrow God, had grown even sharper with each kill.

[ Name: Marrow Devourer ]

[ Grade: Purple(peak) ]

[ Description: Forged from the twisted bone of an ancient Eldritch Marrow God, this short sword is a relic of unimaginable power. It hungers for the essence of its foes, growing in size and strength to become an unstoppable force. The blade, unable to be sharpened by conventional means, has nevertheless been wielded by its creator to slay many demons. ]

[ Option 1: Abyssal Devourer - Upon slaying a foe, the sword devours their essence, increasing its sharpness. Piercing damage is enhanced by 50% for each kill (kills: 236) (Rank: E) (Passive) ]

[ Option 2: Spectral Vanquisher - has a 50% chance to Unleash a wave of spectral energy every successful strike, bypassing defences and dealing 50% extra damage to ethereal or magical beings (Rank: E) (Passive) ]

[ Durability: 99% ]

With each kill, the Marrow Devourer had become a formidable weapon. As he brandished it now, the vampires lurking in the shadows were forced to reveal themselves. Oliver raised an eyebrow as he observed their fear, evident in their black eyes and red irises. "Ah, vampires. Not what I expected," he thought to himself, his voice carrying a hint of dry amusement.

"The Dreadshade," one of the vampires whispered, the words carrying a weight of both fear and awe. Most of them appeared to be of Asian descent, and they backed away slightly as they whispered among themselves. "Red hair and bone sword, it really is the Dreadshade," another vampire muttered, audible enough for Oliver to catch.

"The what?" Oliver's voice was tinged with irritation at the title they had given him. He had never asked for such monikers, preferring to keep a low profile despite his reputation among the supernatural creatures. "The Dreadshade," the word left a sour taste in his mouth as he mulled over it.

The vampires, sensing his displeasure, immediately took a step back. One of them, a braver soul than the rest, stepped forward tentatively. "We mean you no harm, Dreadshade. Lady Yulan would like a meeting with you," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

Oliver stood before the vampires, his stoic expression unchanged, though his mind raced with possibilities. Lady Yulan's invitation intrigued him, despite the likely trap it represented. After all, he had grown weary of the endless slaughter, the blood of nearly two hundred supernatural creatures staining his hands. A break from the relentless violence sounded appealing, even if it meant walking into a potential trap.

"Oh," was all Oliver said, his voice betraying none of his thoughts. He still held the Marrow Devourer at the ready, a silent reminder of his prowess. "Yes, Lady Yulan's request does pique my interest," he finally replied, his gaze shifting between the vampires.

"It's probably to take out another vampire or something along those lines," Oliver thought to himself, his mind already spinning scenarios. "Or I could just meet this Yulan and take whatever she offers," he added with a chuckle, though to the vampires, it was a chilling sight.

The image they had of him, as an eldritch horror cloaked in darkness, was already unsettling. Seeing him smile only added to their fear as they backed away, whispering among themselves. Oliver, oblivious to their terror, simply gestured for them to lead the way. "Go ahead," his voice was calm, belying the excitement and curiosity stirring within him.

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A/N like a said, daily updates(except this time i doing it with a empty stomach, don't mention any food or post pictures of foods in the comment)