SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God-Chapter 204: We still have one

"Legendary grade!" Damon saw the last notification that was at the bottom of the list. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

For a second, his feet even stumbled, an actual misstep, something that hadn’t happened in years. The frozen tundra blurred past him as he came to a full stop, panting slightly, pupils dilated.

He flicked the message back up just to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating.

[Ding! Congratulations. Due to extreme synthesis between bloodline, mana affinity, and ritual tempering, Pseudo Mana Core has achieved Legendary Grade.]

[New Title Unlocked: Legendary Mana Core (Passive Title Effect) Weaker foes will instinctively sense mana suppression from your presence.]

Damon just stood there, blinking at the screen. "Legendary?"

In his past life, he had crawled and clawed his way up the system like a half-starved rat. And even then, he had barely glimpsed anything like this. No guides, no top-tier forums, not even those secretive top rankers from the super guilds had mentioned a legendary mana core.

And now? He had one!

A sharp wind howled past, snow trailing in swirling eddies around his boots. "This is it," he muttered. "This is how I break the ceiling."

He had taken the first step in his fight against the super guilds today!

The 40% threshold was a problem, but even with that, his mana capacity was still insane. Besides, he had a few theories on how to overcome this 40% threshold and help stabilize everything further.

A strong energy source required a strong vessel. If he could increase his stats further, he should definitely be able to improve the mana imbalance and make his core more stable. Of course, there was also the matter of mana control. He just needed to train more, and everything could be resolved.

Damon was never one to be afraid of a little hard work. He continued moving at top speed, slowly using the mana from his mana core and enhancing his overall agility. Soon, he heard a loud growl in the distance. His first prey had arrived.

A huge frost tiger emerged from between two jagged ice boulders, its fur bristling with shards of ice and eyes glowing with a cold, predatory gleam. Steam hissed from its maw as it exhaled, its breath freezing the air between them. The beast crouched low, muscles rippling under its icy pelt as it prepared to pounce. Damon didn’t flinch. His gaze sharpened.

"A level 70 beast? Perfect," he whispered, and vanished.

[Shadowstep] activated.

He reappeared mid-air, right above the beast’s exposed flank. With precise timing, he twisted mid-leap and thrust out his hand, [Blood Lance] exploded forth, not just piercing the tiger’s shoulder but detonating on impact in a burst of crimson flame, and shadows.

The beast roared, staggering, its paw swiping wildly, but its health had already bottomed out and Damon sucked dry the remaining blood essence before its lifeless body dropped dead in the blink of an eye.

Damon grinned wildly. It had only taken him a single move to take down a level 70 beast! He was loving this new body and core! It was time to test them out properly and to truly push his limits. He calmly extended his senses as he set his sights on his next prey, an ice fang jackal.

...

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Sylvara stood rigidly in front of Artimius, her posture flawless, but the faint tremor in her hands betraying her tension. She explained everything that had happened in the last few hours and that she had stepped down as the guild leader.

Artimius, seated in the high-backed obsidian chair, didn’t speak for a long while. His silver hair cascaded over his shoulders like a winter waterfall, and his ancient eyes, gleaming with cold wisdom, were half-lidded as he processed every word Sylvara had spoken.

When he finally looked up, his gaze pierced through her like a blade made of the purest snow. "So," he said, his voice a whisper that nonetheless filled the chamber, "the Blood God has truly returned to form. The game accelerates faster than I had predicted."

Sylvara swallowed but nodded. "I have managed to repair our relationship with him, but that is not the problem at the moment. Robert-" She began, but Artimius quickly raised his hand, forcing her to stop.

Artimius leaned forward, resting his fingertips together. "Let’s not talk about him. What will happen will happen. There is nothing we can do about it." The old man stood up from his desk as he looked outside his window. All around him, there was only bleak snowfall, almost as hellish as the frozen tundra in the game, but such a world was only a welcome retreat for him.

"Go, my child. Don’t be burdened with the guild anymore. You have already done enough."

"But-"

Artimius once again interrupted her. "Are you going to disobey your grandfather?"

Sylvara bit her lips and shook her head.

"Good. Good. Ah, to be young and hot-blooded. I wish my old bones could also experience something like that. I wish I too could join you and fight alongside you. I wish I too could battle that madman." He let out a sigh. "But the cradle rejects me. My curse only adds to your burden. Enough is enough."

Sylvara’s eyes widened as tears started falling.

"You should go and be free. Take Nevin with you. Let the inevitable happen. Let everything crumble and burn. Perhaps we might perish and die forever. But perhaps we might awaken from the death and destruction and become stronger than ever. Only time will tell."

Artimius’s voice cracked ever so slightly near the end, and though he quickly turned his back again to the window, Sylvara could still see his trembling hand clenched at his side. She stepped forward, lips parted.

"Maybe if you talk to him..."

Artimius chuckled. "The child I raised with my own hands has already sided with the demon who cursed me. What more do you want me to talk to him?"

Sylvara shook her head. "No. Not him. Damon. Blood God."

Artimius froze. He then smiled. "That would indeed be a way out, but... even if it is this Blood God, he would still demand offerings, and I have none at the moment.

Sylvara shook her head. "No, grandfather. We still have one. Something I know that he would be definitely interested in."

***

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