Chapter 73 : Blood Well

Blood Well

"Queen, this is the Blood Well, constructed using a tier 3 water-attribute mana crystal in combination with the Spring Eye of the Elven Fountain of Life. With the Fountain of Life, the building's magic conduction and mana storage properties will be enhanced. May I ask if her Majesty is satisfied with such a structure?"

Lola asked Serea. Hearing this, Serea stood atop a high point and gazed at the blue gem within the pale green spring water.

"Besides using a tier 3 mana crystal, you've incorporated the Spring Eye of the Fountain of Life as well—not bad at all. You've really 'overachieved' this time."

"It's good if her Majesty is satisfied."

"Of course I am. Still, I didn't expect you all to finish such a massive project overnight."

Serea praised her. At this, Lola hesitated a little.

"Uh... Your Majesty, it actually took us two days to complete the renovation."

"Two days?"

"Yes, Your Majesty—you've been unconscious for a day and two nights."

"Damn."

Serea looked at Celia beside her.

"I slept that long?"

"Shouldn't you be aware of something like that yourself?"

Having learned she had been unconscious for a day and two nights, Serea secretly decided that unless absolutely necessary, she shouldn't use 'Blood Frenzy' again.

If someone caused trouble while she was unconscious, it would be a real problem.

"Anyway, let's set that aside for now. Let's complete the final step."

As she spoke, Serea stepped forward. Seeing this, Lola looked at Serea excitedly.

The source of the Blood Elves' power—the Blood Well!

Was it finally about to appear in the world once more?

System: The building compatibility rate has reached ninety-four percent. Would you like to unlock the building 'Blood Well'?

"Yes."

After decisively selecting 'Yes', twenty blood crystals materialized around Serea.

System: Unlocking building. Please wait...

The twenty blood crystals flew out, forming a circle above the spring water.

Crack!

A bolt of lightning flashed as Serea looked up at the gloomy sky.

"This is a bit much, isn't it..."

Gazing at a swirling vortex in the clouds, Serea felt a headache coming on.

"System, you're making such a show of this. You know it'll be easy for me to get exposed like this..."

System: Due to the immense mana contained within the Blood Well, the host can only use a 'summoning' method to bring it into the world.

"Uh... Are the twenty blood crystals not for construction, then?"

System: Although the Dark Altar's materials are highly potent, twenty are not enough to build it, and this energy is undetectable by normal means, so there's no need to worry, host.

"Alright, suit yourself. As long as you can present the Blood Well to me in a moment, I'm fine with it."

System: Please wait, host...

The vortex in the sky continued to expand, the storm turning blood red with its center as the eye.

Crack!

Another bolt of lightning flashed.

At the center of the storm, a strange magic array marked with blood-droplet patterns slowly formed, and in that instant, a torrent of mana came crashing down from the heavens.

Rumble!

At the instant the mana storm formed, many mage towers in nations and tribes across the five continents detected the surging magical energy.

"Such enormous mana—could it be a demon invasion?!"

An elderly man in wizard's robes gazed in shock at the astrological diagram before him; it showed a wave of blood-red mana.

"It's the aura of Blood Elves!"

The High Priestess of the High Elves widened her eyes. This kind of power was deeply familiar to her.

"The Netherworld? No, maybe not..."

Purple soul fire flickered in the eyes of a Lich; this power felt both close and distant to it.

"It's time to go take a look..."

The sleeping Golden Dragon opened his eyes. Being awakened in such a way didn't actually bother him much.

Because the mana was so immense, it was easy to sense its presence, but as for its specific location...

The Eastern Continent!

It was impossible to predict more accurately, because the power was too ethereal and illusory. It was as if beneath that robust façade lurked a frail old man—gaudy and unsubstantial.

But few people noticed that, after this surge of mana, yet another new magical energy erupted. That mana signified...

Death!

Gazing at the magical storm in the sky, Lola's body trembled with excitement. She could feel her blood elf lineage gradually awakening, and she knelt down.

"Ah~"

A high-pitched song echoed above the altar. Hearing this, Serea couldn't help but complain.

"It even comes with its own BGM for the grand entrance, huh..."

"It's the call of the mother race!"

Lola muttered, bowing low to the blood-red storm. Seeing this, the surrounding elves stopped in their tracks and also bowed down, one after another.

Even though they were but jungle elves—the weakest of all elven kind—the memory of once being the vassals of the blood elves was etched deep in their bones, making this power unmistakable.

But who could have imagined, the so-called blood elves—before receiving the glory of the "mother race"—were just a group of low-blooded jungle elves themselves...

Now, the entire Darkmoon clan of elves knelt to the blood-red magic in the sky. They revered and worshipped it, just as they did their own Mother Earth Goddess.

System: Resonance detected. The Darkmoon clan's 'Queen's Mark' is evolving.

System: Effect of 'Elven Queen's Mark' removed. You have obtained Blood Elf Queen's Mark (passive).

Blood Elf Queen's Mark (passive): Improves communication with, use of, and sharing of the power of nature and blood. All elf-type retainers receive a ten percent total attribute bonus; blood elf-type retainers receive an extra five percent attribute bonus.

System: Host's secondary class 'Elven Queen' has evolved into 'Blood Elf Queen'.

"Damn, system, you're being that generous?"

System: This is a reward the host deserves.

The sudden evolution caught Serea off guard, but after some thought...

It didn't seem like much, since she didn't have any blood elf retainers under her. The only one who could become a blood elf was Lola—and that was only for three seconds.

"Why do I suddenly not feel happy at all?"

As she spoke, through her spiritual link with Dogsius, Serea noticed a slight change within herself.

The Blood Elf Queen's Mark had changed from three green leaves to an unfamiliar blood-colored flower—it could be mistaken for three drops of fresh blood at first glance.

But Serea cared little about all that, because what mattered most now was...

The Blood Well was finally complete!

Under the awed gazes of the bowing elves, the blood-colored storm and mysterious array vanished, replaced by a descending wave of red mana.

Boom!

The mana wave surged into the elves' altar. In the instant mana flowed in, the twenty blood crystals lost their luster and turned to dust, but the "Elf Altar" had also undergone a tremendous transformation.

System: Congratulations, host. The 'Blood Well' has been successfully constructed. Corresponding building abilities have been unlocked.

(To be continued...)

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=