13 Bloodline Evolution

Tozu felt relieved when he heard that Ashiba's grandfather was dead, this way it was much more convenient for Ashiba to blend into the Shimura clan. He didn't ask more questions as he could see that later was quite emotional especially when talking about his grandfather. After comforting the juvenile in front of him some more he dismissed him.

He quickly wrote a letter containing all the information he had about Ashiba including the massive potential he had and sent it to Clan.

"I hope he doesn't disappoint my expectations," Tozu said lightly as he sighed.

...…

4 years later

A boy could be seen sitting on bare ground in a closed room. He stood 6ft tall with a body with already robust muscles developed, his back muscles looking like a leather sack full of snakes, and an extremely thick neck. With wild blood-red hair reaching his neck and molten red iris and pupils. Wearing long black pants with a bare upper body.

"I really need to speed things up," said Ashiba as he thought about the last 4 years of fighting, killing and fighting again. He has long since been able to tap into 100% of bloodline, meaning he could evolve his bloodline. 

But the problem was that the process of absorbing chakra from his enemies for evolution was really tiresome. As unlike with hanma blood, the chakra was not compatible with the Red Expanse, so a lot of it was wasted.

Adding that to the ridiculous amount of chakra needed for bloodline evolution, It took almost 4 years for him to absorb enough chakra for bloodline to evolve.

"Let's think about this problem after the bloodline is evolved," thought Ashiba as he let his mind sink into the Red Expanse.

Ashiba once again felt the familiar feeling of having his soul stripped of its body, manifesting in the Red Expanse.

He looked around, everything looked the same as always looking eternally unchanged from the beginning of the time till now. The only difference he noticed was the drop of blood in the floating crystal in the middle.

It shone so intensely as if it could break out of crimson crystal the next moment, but unfortunately for it, the crimson crystal was not something it could escape.

Ashiba knew that to evolve his bloodline, he needs to integrate that drop of blood with his soul which will further evolve his body.

This was not a bloodline that was merely attached to the body. It's a bloodline that transcends the body, directly attached to the soul.

He knew that in the future if he would ever have to possess another body like certain someone in this world. He wouldn't have to worry about losing his bloodline.

From this point alone one could see the difference between the Hanma bloodline or rather this Red Expanse and other bloodlines in this world.

Ashiba looked at the floating crystal, contemplating. He knew from his memory that the Hanma bloodline could evolve into countless different paths.

It was like a crossroad where instead of one or two there were countless roads for him to choose and this choice of his will determine the destination he would end up at. And which road he crossed wasn't exactly his choice as the bloodline would automatically choose the path that is most compatible with him.

After thinking deeply for some time, Ashiba didn't hesitate anymore.

He decisively put his illusionary hand on top of the floating crystal and used his illusionary will that manifested in here to urge the Red Expanse to start the evolution of bloodline.

Rumble!

Rumble!

Rumble!

As soon as he willed it, the Expanse that seemed eternally stilled started shaking, causing Ashiba to smile.

But that smile soon broke as he experienced the worst, agonising pain he ever felt in both of his lives.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh"

But those screams also soon stopped, as he thought about the wondrous strength he will achieve. 

"Ha...ha ha..hah.. compare to...the strength I can achieve...even if I have to... experience worse pain…. than this, I….shall bear it." He said almost roaring with his illusionary crimson eyes glistening with madness, excitement...arrogance....depravity.

Maybe even the previous life Ashiba won't be able to recognize his current self or if he had been sober he would have realized that he was slowly getting influenced by the madness hidden in his bloodline 

Or maybe he knew the changes that came with this power but instead of resisting them, he embraced them with open arms.

But of course even without those changes, he wouldn't have been a saint. All it did was to have him accept who he really was deep down.

creak!

A ripping sound came from the crystal. Visible to the naked eyes, half of the drop of blood split as it effortlessly flew out of the crystal, as if the barrier that originally existed vanished.

The split blood drop flew straight to the illusionary soul of Ashiba. Causing his original determination to once again collapse as he screamed more fiercer than the previous time.

As the evolution process started, he could finally feel the changes that were happening to his soul. The first thing he noticed was his constantly changing or he should say improving mentality.

One instance he couldn't bear the pain that came with evolution, the next he could think normally even during such instance pain.

Not just that, he could even feel other aspects of his personality being strengthened, such as his desire to fight, arrogance and so on.

But the difference was that he could sense that his control over those emotions got stronger, especially in intense situations. 

Ashiba didn't know how to feel about this "seemingly" more control over those emotions. 

The advantage of it was that he would be able to make sensible decisions in matters of utmost importance and not be led by his emotions.

But the thing was that he doesn't want to think too deeply about worldly matters, after all everything could be solved by strong enough strength.

But he was relieved at least this rational mindset wouldn't bother him normally.

The other thing he noticed was this soul completely turned from illusionary white color to crimson red, blending in with the surrounding environment.

Ashiba closed his eyes slowly, immersing in the feeling of evolution. 

But alas, things don't go smoothly as some would like. Trouble always seems to find it's way.

And Ashiba would not have it any other way.

..

Outside the Red Expanse.

An ignorant fellow intruded on a depraved beast's territory.