Frost and Blood

Jace's POV.

Through hell's treacherous terrain, he journeyed, felling them one by one. Blood centipedes lunged at Jace, their sinuous forms slithering through the crimson-soaked floor, their acrid scent permeating the air as they closed in. Jace wielded his blade with surgical precision, the sharp metallic tang of their ichor mingling with the earthy scent of the castle's aged stone. Each strike became a symphony, a clash of frost against writhing insectoid creatures, their exoskeletons cracking beneath the force of his blows. First in silence, then in open combat. While they may be summoned beings of blood, it mattered little to his unforgiving blade.

Barbed tails launched from both sides, their flight accompanied by a faint hiss. In a graceful spin, Jace's conjured blade shifted in his hand, twisting with the ethereal blue glow of ice mana. The blade met the first tail with a frosty collision, releasing a frigid mist that stung his nostrils. He countered the attack, executing a horizontal slash that impaled a second opponent, the sickening squelch of flesh and chitin punctuating the macabre ballet of battle.

"Crrrr" voices screeched, echoing through the hollow halls, their high-pitched cacophony assaulting his ears.

Jace paid no heed to those screeches as he pressed on through the bloodied floor, relentlessly cutting down another centipede. The sickly warmth of their blood splattered across his face, and the two halves of the body crashed to the ground, one part still screeching amidst the swirls of chaotic blood mana in the air.

His eyes, once filled with despair, now held a glint of fury. Adrenaline surged through his veins, and he tasted the metallic tang of fear mingled with the grit of unwavering determination at the back of his throat. Though he knew his efforts were likely in vain, aware that he would soon reach his limits, and that his return to the Goddess Aeloreth's embrace loomed, there was one last task to complete. He would snatch from the cult the very object of their pursuit, and even in death, he would mock them with his laughter.

His gaze, as frigid as the frost of his conjured sword, remained fixed on the remaining blood centipedes.

More came at him, and more fell. Barbed tails, poisoned mandibles, and hard slams were met with the unyielding edge of his blade. The rush of combat surged through his skull, coursed through his body, and flowed within his veins, deep in his chest. Then, his skill activated.

{One with my Blade}

His sword moved with increasing speed and strength with every exchange, turning the massacre into a dance of precision and fury. The centipedes, as if sensing their impending doom, began to retreat.

Jace's brow furrowed in confusion. The bloodthirsty creatures had been launching themselves at him with suicidal determination, but all of a sudden, they began to retreat.

''CRRRRRRRRRRRR!'' The creaks of the castle intensified with every passing moment. Though Jace couldn't understand their alien language, he recognized the sound of terror all too well.

"CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Most of the centipedes scurried backward, leaving a trail of slime on the blood-puddled castle floor, their filthy tails moving in a serpentine motion.

As he lunged forward, brandishing his blade, Jace's attack met an unexpected resistance. A dark, barbed tail lashed out at his side, delivering a sharp, shallow pain as Jace allowed his own momentum to carry through. In response, he swung his sword in a swift vertical motion, leaving azure afterglows trailing down the length of his blade. The cerulean edge sliced cleanly through, resonating with a deep exhale from his lungs as a searing sensation emanated from his side. Blood, both his own and that of his fallen adversaries, now adorned his weapon and clothes, creating a gruesome tapestry.

Some of the centipedes were in the midst of their hasty retreat, while others lay torn asunder, awaiting their inevitable demise. Step by determined step, Jace moved forward, freezing the blood-soaked floor. His entire body bore the weight of shallow cuts, and the pain in his side throbbed with every movement, but his blade remained steady, and his arms ready.

"[Winter's Wrath]," he whispered, invoking one of the skills that had earned him the nickname of Blizzardstrider. He could feel it—the channels of mana coursing through the azure blade. Without pause, he initiated the skill, sweeping his sword horizontally through the blood-soaked air. An azure aura, unleashed by the blade's movement, surged through the nightmarish landscape, cleaving through everything in its path. The true monstrosities hadn't even reached the hallway before the azure aura descended upon them, bisecting their segmented forms and exposing the grotesque interiors before pooling the floor in a further sea of gore.

"Hark! Think not I shall grant you an easy escape!" Jace's own words resonated down the desolate hall, fading into the emptiness. His knees weakened, and he found himself leaning heavily on his trusty blue blade as the chaotic blood mana continued to swirl through the air.

Jace's eyes widened as arcane matrices suddenly materialized in the atmosphere, their intricate forms twisting and turning in response to a thunderous roar emanating from the distant frontal hallway.

GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Jace redirected his gaze toward the source of the ear-splitting roar. The darkened hallway echoed with each thunderous footfall, the source of which drew nearer with each passing moment.

Atop the massive carved archway that dominated the expanse of the hall, the creature held its ground. Its form, a mosaic of deep crimson and icy azure, exuded an entrancing allure, reminiscent of the stained glass windows in a long-forgotten cathedral. Every facet of its crystalline body refracted the dim light, conjuring an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of colours that danced and played.

The creature's eyes, a pair of polished amethyst orbs, radiated an unsettling intelligence. They fixed upon Jace with an otherworldly curiosity, as if scrutinizing the audacious insect who had dared to challenge its dominion.

{Draco Sanguinis Lv53}

The wings of the Drake, fashioned from serrated, translucent crimson crystals, rustled with a haunting melody. Each ethereal movement sent ripples through the turbulent blood mana in the air, composing an eerie symphony that harmonized with the mournful screeches of the vanquished centipedes.

Jace found himself gripped by an overwhelming fear. This was not right. He had once been a Knight-Ensign under Drakmere's Archonblade himself, before embarking on his journey as a mercenary adventurer. As a graduate Elemental Knight from the Runeblade Academy, he was well-versed not only in the art of magic and swordplay but also in the dangers they were employed against. So when he beheld the Drake, he couldn't help but be rendered motionless by terror. Despite his knowledge that he was nowhere near the core of the Memory Rift, there it was—the creature bonded with the core, right before him, the very prize that the cult coveted. It's level exceeded his expectations by far, leaving no room for anything but fear. It had already undergone a second evolution, despite the rift having been open for only a week.

The amethyst gaze of the Crystal Drake shifted, and with the movement of its eyes, the entire atmosphere in the grand hallway underwent a profound transformation. Arcane matrices interwoven into the very air sprang to life, entwining with the tempestuous energies that enveloped the entire space. The chaotic blood mana, like a relentless storm, surged down the hall, its crimson tendrils extending to seize control of the room in an unrelenting vice-like grip.

The blood storm unleashed a malevolent howl, thrashing with arcane forces in a wicked dance. The mana in the air responded with a frenzied ballet, whirling and twirling in a chaotic symphony. Even the blood that had pooled on the floor joined this macabre waltz, rising and swirling in harmony with the tempest.

Jace understood that survival was far from guaranteed, yet despite the terror coursing through his veins, his grip on the blade remained resolute. He had long shed the mantle of a knight and adapted to the life of a mercenary. There was no shame in choosing self-preservation.

"Shame," Jace muttered, his voice nearly drowned in the howling maelstrom. As he leaned into the relentless advance of the crimson deluge, his gaze remained unwavering, locked onto the heart of the bloody tempest. Even amid the terror, a faint smile touched his lips. "I could have done more to avenge them, but I don't mind you doing it for me."

He closed his eyes, surrendering to the relentless embrace of the blood storm. His conjured ice blade vanished, only to be replaced by a resolute glint in his eyes as he activated his Tier-3 skills back-to-back.

"[Glacial Deluge]" "[Hailstorm Phantom]"

Beneath the desk, sprawled on the obsidian floor, Alec groaned, his emerald eyes fluttering open. His body throbbed with lingering tension, and his legs trembled as he attempted to rise.

What happened to me?

As if in response to his silent question, a resounding chime echoed in his mind, drawing his attention to the pending notifications displayed on the verdant screen.

{Warning: You have expended an excessive amount of mana, surpassing the limit allowed by your current level!

Mana Depletion: Your physical attributes have been temporarily diminished due to mana depletion.

Mental Fatigue: Your cognitive functions have been temporarily impaired due to mana depletion.

Mana Exhaustion: You have entirely depleted your mana reserves.

Instance Activated: [Mana Starvation] has been triggered! Your consciousness will be involuntarily relinquished to prevent further harm.}

Alec groaned as he raised his head to examine the notifications. How long have I been out? He wondered, his thoughts filled with the uncertainty of time. He scanned his surroundings for any potential threats, but nothing crossed his gaze. Heaving a sigh of relief, he shifted his attention toward the broken chandelier.

What in the name of catnip?

The crushed chandelier was still there, yet his unfortunate centipede victim had vanished into thin air. Where the whiskers is that bloody thing? he wondered, a hint of frustration in his thoughts. He pushed himself up, his legs still feeling a bit wobbly, keeping his guard up as his emerald eyes scanned the entire library, ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble.

As he reached the position of his first murder, he noticed something peculiar. A red gleam caught his eye. A red crystal-like stone radiated in place of the centipede, and a thin layer of dust surrounded it.

Did that dude just... disintegrate? Alec pondered. There was no other explanation. The chandelier's position remained the same as before, right above the spot where the centipede had been. Unless someone had come, removed the chandelier, retrieved the dead centipede, sprinkled some fine dust, placed the broken chandelier back in the same position, and left Alec undisturbed, this seemed like the most reasonable explanation.

Keeping his guard up, Alec approached the shining crystal beneath the chandelier. He stepped in, then out, with a glimmering crimson crystal held gently in his jaws. I don't mind being so small. Quietly, he observed the green window that appeared as he touched the crystal with his paws.

{Blood Mana Essence(C)}

Hoh! A centipede drop? Will those insects just disintegrate if I leave them be? Perhaps, only the dead ones.

His head was calm now, and he leaped onto the smooth wooden desk and with a flick of his paw, he opened his status screen.

{Alec Jones

Species: Felinus Daemonis Puer

Race: Ancesant

Constellation: Prænuntius Vacui

Potential: [Perfect]

Status:

Level: 6

HP: 220/220

MP: 32/95

SP: 216/216

Attributes:

STRENGTH: 32

ENDURANCE: 11

VITALITY: 22

MIND: 50

WISDOM: 9

CLARITY: 10

AGILITY: 29

Available Points:

Stat Points: 20

Skill Points: 1

Species Abilities:

Blood Claws lv1

Mana Bite lv1

Blood Bullet lv1

Space Step lv1

Racial Attributes:

Dimensional Space Access lv1

Mystic lv1

Language Comprehension lv Max

Stellar Abilities:

System Interference

Path of Stars [Exclusive]

Stigma Generation:

S1: [Unavailable][Stellar Essence Detected] Evoke? Y/N

S2: [Unavailable][Unlock S1 First]

S3: [Unavailable][Unlock S2 First]

S4: [Unavailable][Unlock S3 First]

S5: [Unavailable][Unlock S4 First]

S6: [Unavailable][Unlock S5 First]}

It mentioned I had used up all my mana earlier. By the time I regained consciousness, I had regenerated 32 mana points. Alec was uncertain about his mana regeneration speed; otherwise, he could have calculated the duration of his unconsciousness, which also accounted for the time it took for the creature to turn into a speck of dust and a nice crimson stone.

Dropping the blood essence from his jaws, he activated the dimensional space and stored his first loot. Neat.

Now, onto the main topic. So, apparently, my experiment worked. The theory about space mana sharing similar properties with electromagnetic waves was spot on, it seems. I'll have to remember to send a thank-you card to my past physics teacher.

But can't these things come with a warning label? Alec pondered, his thoughts filled with a hint of exasperation. Like: 'Highly dangerous, Not For Infant Demon cats or something?' Or perhaps a skull and crossbones icon with 'Mana Teleportation: Proceed at your own risk.' How was someone like Alec, a man who had spent his entire previous life blissfully unaware of mana's existence, supposed to comprehend the consequences of overusing mana? It was like being handed the keys to a spaceship without a driver's license. It was a precarious situation he found himself in, almost as if the universe were chuckling at his newfound powers, saying, "Here you go, kid. Have a taste of reality. Welcome to the world of magic!"

Oh! My wisdom also increased by one. It ain't much but it's honest work. He still had no idea how this stat worked.

The memory of his whole-body agonizing in pain, as if thousands of searing spears were ruthlessly thrust into him, was not something he wanted to experience again. In the past, such an excruciating ordeal would have left him traumatized for years. It was as if every nerve in his body had been set ablaze, his very soul seared by an unrelenting fire. Yet, here he was, as composed as the unrippled surface of a serene lake. It was like a cat who'd discovered a way to enjoy a bath without a shred of resistance.

The level of sangfroid was so high that it was almost unnerving.

He quickly dismissed his thoughts, pushing them aside like a kitten batting away an unwanted toy, and pulled up the skill information for Space Step.

{[Space Step][Lv1(24.5/200)]:

Type: Status

Range: 2 meter(s)

MP cost: High

Cooldown: 10 minutes

Description: The user manipulates the space around themselves, sending space mana waves within a range of 2 meters. This allows the user to teleport anywhere within this designated sphere.

[Skill Upgrades]:

[Maximum range increases with skill levels]

[Minimum cooldown time decreases with skill levels]}

The description was still vague, as it mentioned a high mana cost without specifying the exact amount. In his previous attempt, he had nearly 49 mana points, and the skill had been active for roughly 6-8 seconds.

If he had to speculate, the skill's mechanism allowed it to channel a limited amount of mana per second. Based on the context of the previous attempt, the channeling speed seemed to be around 7 MP per second.

If he had activated the skill immediately after the sphere expanded, he might have been able to avoid the previous mana meltdown. Not that it was my fault, I never knew how the skill worked in the first place.

He wanted to try again but decided to wait until his mana replenished. He wasn't going to let the incomplete descriptions get the better of him.

Man, I really wanted to check how the blood bullet works against those armoured insects. Blood claw was rather disappointing, but the blood bullet showed promise. Furthermore it could help him speculate if the magical defense was a thing.

A sudden ding interrupted his inner thoughts. He looked up to the screen, his emerald eyes widened like saucers.

{Sub Quest:

Strange Fortress (Blood Beast Extermination)

An influx of blood mana on the ground floor of the fortress is leading to an increased spawning of blood beasts.

Objective: Eliminate the spawned blood beasts (1/1).

Difficulty: SS

Reward: Skill (Blood Chains)(T1)

Claim Rewards? Y/N}