Transmigrated with my corruption system-Chapter 78: Rise of the Dark Lord

"Three F-rank dungeons and the famous E-rank Goblin Demon dungeon,"

Ulric muttered, staring at the shimmering portals nestled deep within the Red Streaks residence as his crimson eyes lit up faintly.

Pity he couldn’t take them with him. But he would be damned if he left them unmanned. Tilting his head slightly, his gaze fell on the two elders following behind him.

Raising his hand slightly, he pointed at the shimmering blue portal, an enchanted glint in his eyes.

"Stand guard over this dungeon," he instructed, rubbing his hands lightly. He would be back. Soon. Very soon.

Unlike the pile of resources outside, dungeons excited him, for he knew their true value.

Despite choosing this path of conquest, he would still need to kill monsters and clear dungeons if he wanted to level up.

And as if to affirm that thought, he exhaled quietly, pulling up his system interface and taking a moment to stare at all the tabs.

[Corruption System]

Host: Ulric Bloodvein

Age: 18

Level: 40 [0/200,000] (Evolved E-rank Human)

Attributes:

Strength: 653

Agility: 431

Intelligence: 492

Spirit: 360

Toughness: 442

Endurance: 530

Constitution: 792

Willpower: 600

Charisma: 501

Unallocated attributes: 0

Skills:

Lewd Touch (0/100)

[Intermediate Appraisal: Analyze objects and people to procure more than basic information] (0/2,000)

[Seed of Corruption: By draining your seed into any subject, you gain the opportunity to extract skills, talents, or bloodlines of your choice and brand them onto the host.]

(0/1,000)

[Dark Lord’s Conquest: Brand loyalty onto female subjects. By drinking your seed, you gain 1% experience from all their kills.]

(0/5,000)

Bloodlines: Null

Talents:

SS-rank: Wielder of Darkness (0/100,000)

B-rank: Ice Frost (0/1,000)

C-rank: Shroud of Darkness: (0/750)

C-rank: Shroud of Darkness: (0/750)

F-rank: Stone Shield (0/100)

Artifacts: Null

Physique: [Advanced Corrupted Mortal Physique](0/100,000)

System Shop: Locked (100,000 corruption points required)

[Unallocated corruption points: 1,141]

Orros had given him an insane leap, allowing him to scale almost fifteen levels in an instant.

Now all he needed were ten more to become a fully fledged D-rank being.

Should be easy enough. Ulric sighed, already getting a headache as he stared at the experience points, wondering how much more he would require as he advanced.

At the side, following closely behind the black-robed youth, Lyra stared wide-eyed as her blue eyes sparkled with a resolved gleam, watching as he grew stronger yet again.

If he were to continue at this pace, she couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever catch up to him.

Would all the promises she made end up going unfulfilled if she couldn’t muster the strength to protect him? Even worse, would he one day grow so strong that he wouldn’t ever need her by his side?

The thought barely formed before she clenched her fists tight, almost drawing blood from her palms. She wouldn’t let it get to that point.

As she mused, her gaze fell to the blood lining her palms from all the people she had slain, the glint of resolve growing brighter than ever.

If this was what it took to be by his side, then so be it. Just as she was about to sink deeper into her thoughts, she felt a familiar presence walk up to her as Ulric’s hand reached out to her waist, dragging her along as they made their way back into the Greyson residence.

The warmth of his grasp sent her worries sinking into oblivion. Her fingers tightened around his arm as the world slowly faded, leaving only the two of them.

A gentle warmth stirred deep within her chest, a faint smile forming on her lips as time seemed to lose all meaning, her thoughts narrowing to a single lingering truth.

This was why she grew stronger. So she could forever stay by his side.

As they closed in, cheers erupted from the Greyson residence. Those left behind stared in awe at his outline, the army behind him... and, most of all, at the mountain of resources they had brought back.

"Look! It’s Lord Ulric!" a figure suddenly shrieked, pointing into the distance where the sound of rumbling echoed.

"He’s back..."

"Haha, of course he’s back... why wouldn’t he be back?!"

"No, dumbass... hasn’t it only been a few hours... did something go wrong?"

"I know... you merely doubt the young Lord’s power. Tsk... after everything you saw and you still don’t believe in him. You can’t be saved."

"The banners of his conquest flare high. Does that mean he really did it? Acquired vengeance for us and all of our slain?!"

The closer he approached, the louder the cheers and murmurs grew, until morphing into hysterical chants as news of what had happened spread.

How they had easily defeated the Red Streaks without a single figure falling in battle.

Of his compassion, as they saw the trail of children following behind him, until it soon overwhelmed them.

He was just too good to be true, and from all of them, a single title was born, chanted the loudest.

"Dark Lord."

Causing the cheers to grow even louder as murmurs broke through once more.

"His compassion and wrath are perfectly scaled. The Lord isn’t just powerful, he is... wise," one elder muttered.

Before another beside him smiled wryly, sinking into thought, hearing the title they cast in his praise. A little ironic, since he was the one leading them into the light.

Smiling faintly, Ulric appointed a few elders to be in charge of distributing the resources based on need and merit.

Before he made his way into his quarters, Lyra following beside him.

Stepping in, he sensed the trail of darkness at the center of the room as he walked toward it.

Lyra’s eyes widened, staring at the cocoon as her breath grew heavy. It had grown thick, far thicker than the last time she saw it.

At the side, a gasp slipped past Ulric’s lips as he stared at the cocoon. Unlike Lyra, he could sense far more.

Including Amber’s life force. Before, it had been a flicker that felt like it could extinguish at any time.

But now it had grown intense, radiating like a mini sun, growing slowly with every second that passed, which couldn’t help but intrigue him even more.

Her transformation was taking far longer than he expected, but he had a feeling it was almost done. He couldn’t help but wonder what would have changed when she came out. But soon... all would be revealed.

He mused, his fingers reaching to caress the cocoon. Before he could sink deeper into his thoughts, he felt a hand reach out to grab his shoulder, slowly pulling him to his feet.

He didn’t need to turn to know it was Tara.

Ever since Ulric had walked in, they couldn’t help but be surprised as they stared at Lyra’s blood-soaked figure.

With Ulric beside her, much stronger than before, causing them to gulp audibly. It seemed like every moment he was gone, his strength would skyrocket, defying all logic.

And now the force of his presence drew them to him. Finally unable to suppress it anymore, Tara reached out, grabbing his shoulders, her fingers caressing his frame as she leaned in to whisper into his ear.

"You’ve been gone for so long."

Before she muttered something she never thought she would say.

"I... missed you."

Ever since that night, a spark had lit deep inside her that she couldn’t get rid of. She wanted him to accept her as his woman.

At the side, Amelia’s cold facade melted as well as she tugged at his arm. Ever since she tasted the youth’s essence, she had been dying for more.

And now that the opportunity had arisen, she was bent on taking full advantage of it.

"Come and lay with us."

Watching Tara rub her butt against his groin in a seductive gesture couldn’t help but make Lyra frown slightly as she harrumphed. Vixens!

"Maybe next time, when I return," Ulric exhaled, stopping Tara, who was about to remove his robe.

His words caused all of them to exclaim simultaneously.

"You’re leaving?!"

A moment of silence passed before Ulric slowly turned to look through the window at the cheering crowd below, before his gaze fell into the distance.

He had made a bold proclamation, and he honestly wasn’t absolutely confident in himself.

The leaders of all the clans and houses would soon come. And they would only submit under absolute strength.

Something he didn’t yet have. But with a few dungeon runs in the Goblin Demon dungeon, that could easily change.

At peak E-rank, he supposed that would be sufficient. His combat power would also hopefully grow to match peak D-rank beings.

Relaying all these thoughts to them, he watched as they slowly nodded in agreement, even if a bit dejectedly.

The only reason he hadn’t entered the moment he discovered it was that he couldn’t risk any clans knowing the Greysons were unguarded. His presence would deter them while he was away.

With all those thoughts pressing against him, he nodded slightly, turning to stare at Lyra, the Sisters of Death, and Amber wrapped in the cocoon.

Before he slipped out of the window, crashing to the ground below, sprinting and shadow teleporting into the distance.

A moment of silence passed before Lyra muttered as she stared at his retreating figure.

"I’ll be waiting for you."