32 Bloodline Awakening
As they walked for a while, they eventually arrived in front of the headquarters of the Resource Association.
"So... This is the Resource Association you were mentioning," Kuber and his companions observed the unassuming building before them. The structure displayed a sign that read "Resource Association," while a substantial crowd formed a queue to enter the establishment.
"Let's wait in line," Darryl proposed with a slightly anxious chuckle.
After patiently queuing for some time, they finally got their turn to step inside the building.
"The awakening ticket costs 30 iron credits per person. How many do you require?" The guard stationed at the entrance inquired of Kuber.
"So, it's 30 iron credits per person. I need one for myself, Leona, and Luna, which adds up to 90 iron credits in total.'
Kuber's forehead grew damp with sweat as the realization struck that he would be left with just 18 iron credits after purchasing the awakening tickets.
"I need awakening tickets for three people, please," he stammered, his hands shaking as he presented the credit coin to the guard. The weight of his expenditure began to sink in, causing him to contemplate postponing the awakening process.
"You don't have to pay for me. I'll save up for my own awakening," Luna spoke up, her voice tinged with hesitation. Meanwhile, Leona's eyes sparkled with excitement, not hesitating to accept Kuber's offer to pay for her awakening.
"It's alright, I'll cover it this time. I am responsible for taking care of you," Kuber responded modestly, though a wicked grin danced on his lips.
'In the end, you'll be working for me like a servant,' he thought with a mischievous undertone.
With the tickets secured, they advanced down the hallway, arriving at the entrance to the awakening room.
"May I see your tickets, please?" another guard requested, a somewhat unsettling grin playing on his lips.
Taking the tickets from Kuber, the guard opened the door to the awakening room. A massive, verdant-hued boulder stood at the room's center. Nearby, a woman garbed in white armor and wielding a spear was stationed, with a black slab akin to the one before placed on a stand in front of her.
"Are all three of you here for bloodline awakening?" she inquired politely. Only Kuber, Luna, and Leona were permitted to enter the room; Darryl remained outside.
"Yes, the three of us need to awaken our bloodlines," Kuber affirmed.
"Very well, then. Place your hand upon the boulder," the woman instructed. Following her guidance, Kuber exchanged a blank look with Leona, who in turn stared back at him.
"You go first," he suggested to her.
"Tch! Can't you go instead?" she retorted, but ultimately she agreed to step forward. Pressing her hand against the boulder, Leona felt a faint chill run through her fingers as an unusual, invisible energy flowed into her body.
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[Your Bloodline has been awakened]
[You have been assigned the "Illusory Dreamweaver" Bloodline]
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[Illusory Dreamweaver Bloodline]
The Illusory Dreamweaver bloodline empowers wielders to manipulate dreams and illusions, crafting realistic sensory illusions, entering dreams for communication and visions, and cloaking in a mental veil for invisibility. Though potent, mental strain and limited tangibility pose challenges, and excess use can blur reality.
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As the screen materialized, displaying Leona's newly awakened bloodline, Kuber and the woman watched. "You possess an illusion-type bloodline, which is quite rare, little girl," the woman noted.
"Thank you, pretty sister," Leona replied, gratitude in her tone as she returned from the awakening process. Brimming with excitement, she turned to Kuber with a playful grin.
"Hehe... Did you hear that, Kuber? I've got a rare bloodline. Are you jealous of me now?" Leona teased, her giggles punctuating her excitement over acquiring the unique illusion-type bloodline.
Without uttering a word, Kuber responded to Leona's annoyance with a smile and a gentle pat on her head.
"Hey, I told you not to do that," she protested, her expression showing a mixture of irritation and embarrassment.
"It's your turn now," Kuber said, addressing Luna while his face remained relaxed. "Yes," Luna agreed, moving forward to place her hand on the boulder. In an instant, a peculiar cold energy flowed into her, akin to what Leona experienced. A system screen then appeared, unveiling Luna's newly awakened bloodline.
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[Your Bloodline has been awakened]
[You have been assigned the "Gaia's Fury" Bloodline]
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[Gaia's Fury Bloodline]
The bearer of Gaia's Fury bloodline possesses the ability to tap into the primal forces of the earth and channel them to unleash powerful and destructive natural phenomena. This bloodline's abilities are closely tied to the very essence of the planet itself, giving the user control over cataclysmic events that can reshape the battlefield and overwhelm opponents.
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"That's incredible! You've also received a rare earth-type bloodline," the woman exclaimed with enthusiasm, clapping her hands in excitement.
"I... Uhm... Thanks," Luna responded shyly, her cheeks flushed.
As Luna returned to Kuber's side, she stood in front of him, lowering her gaze. "Good job, Luna," Kuber praised her, causing Luna to feel even more embarrassed. She ran out of the room, giggling, leaving everyone else in surprise.
"Well, let's continue with the last one," the woman said, still laughing a bit from Luna's unexpected reaction.
Leona, with a confident look in her eyes, playfully challenged Kuber, "Let's see who gets a better bloodline, you or me..."
Kuber simply smiled in response, not engaging in the playful rivalry. He placed his hand on the boulder, and a system message appeared before him.
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[You have awakened your bloodline]
[Your bloodline cannot be disclosed]
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"Wha... What's going on with your bloodline? It's like there's something wrong with the Awakening boulder," the woman exclaimed in astonishment, her eyes wide at the unusual system message. This was an unprecedented event, and she was clearly taken aback.
"It's all good. I got what I wanted," Kuber said with a sly grin, his gaze fixed on the unique system message displayed before him.
In contrast to the others, Kuber was able to see a different type of system message, indicating that his bloodline was unlike anything they had encountered before.
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[You have been assigned the "Anankian Frostkeeper's" Bloodline]
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[Anankian Frostkeeper's Bloodline]
The Anankian Frostkeeper's bloodline originates from ancient timekeepers, granting the ability to temporarily manipulate time and wield frost to freeze adversaries in suspended animation. This lineage bestows a unique ability to pause time, rendering enemies immobile within frozen landscapes. By tapping into their ancestry, Frostkeepers control both time and ice, embodying a legacy of mastery over temporal and elemental forces.
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"If you're willing, we can attempt to awaken your bloodline again without requiring any credits," the woman suggested, still under the assumption that Kuber's initial awakening might not have worked due to a flaw in the Awakening boulder.
"No worries, it's okay. I don't want to take up everyone's time here."
"But..." She was shocked to hear that Kuber didn't want to attempt awakening his bloodline again. "I understand. I'll respect your decision. Just remember to check your status, since there might be some changes after the awakening process."
The woman's gaze dropped as she felt bad for Kuber. Not being able to awaken a bloodline is a significant setback for someone.
"Alright then, we'll head out."
Kuber and Leona left the room promptly after bidding their farewells.
"So, how did it go?" Darryl asked, who had been waiting outside the room the whole time, while Luna tried to hide her red face, embarrassed.
"Well..."
Kuber's response was cut off by loud laughter.
"Haha... He couldn't even awaken a common bloodline. What a loser!"
Leona continued to mock and taunt Kuber, clutching her stomach in pain from laughing so hard.
"Don't worry, Kuber. Don't give up on life so easily," Darryl said with a concerned expression.
"Yeah, Saviour, don't lose hope," Luna added, her voice still tinged with shyness.
"No problem, we can discuss that later. It's time to head over there."
Kuber brushed off Leona's teasing with a shrug.
"Where are we headed?" Darryl asked, his face showing confusion.
"The place that could completely change our lives," Kuber replied, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
