SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 705 Blood Thrall

Damon gave a soft whistle, truly amazed. "Impressive. You deduced that from just one look?" He cocked his head, his orange hair framing a broadening smile. "That catches me off guard."

Viola glared at him with annoyance. "Stop talking down to me." Her eyes returned to the gem, now piercing and eager. "This artifact defies typical elemental principles. Rather than boosting them, it balances clashing energy patterns. Be it shadow, void, or demonic forces… it accepts everything without resistance."

Her hand closed gradually into a fist. "Having possessed this from the start would have reduced the backlash by at least fifty percent. Possibly even greater."

Damon had heard precisely what he required.

So you're suffering a cost already, he mused inwardly. And it's a steep one at that.

On the surface, he snorted dismissively. "Seems like a matter of skill." He inched nearer, dropping his tone to a secretive whisper. "Are you pushing too fiercely to rival that Blood God?"

Viola's jaw locked tight. "It falls to someone." Avoiding his gaze, she stared at the ritual array where the villagers shook uncontrollably. "If he continues gaining momentum unchecked, chaos will erupt soon. We can't let him dominate this event. This represents our final shot to demonstrate our worth. Indeed, I'm desperate. But why aren't you?"

Damon let out a light laugh. "Calm down. Calm down. I'm handling it." Viola exhaled in frustration while pivoting back to the ritual setup, scrutinizing every detail to ensure perfection. "Regarding the gemstone… What are your terms for it?" She inquired deliberately.

Damon hesitated briefly before flashing a refined, courteous smile. "Ah, you desire this glittering treasure? By all means, take it." He held out his open hand, the object resting upon it nonchalantly.

Viola's attention locked onto his palm. She refrained from grabbing the gem immediately. Instead, her eyes scanned Damon's expression, hunting for the joke, the concealed trap, the unavoidable demand.

"You're handing it over to me," she stated tonelessly. "Without strings attached?"

"Naturally." Damon winked playfully. "You understand what I seek in exchange…" He appended with a polished grin.

Viola fixed him with a stare for an extra beat until a subtle vein pulsed at her forehead. "…Complete that thought," she uttered deliberately.

Damon burst into laughter, lifting his hands in mock defeat. "Listen, it's not my idea. The family insists on it. Merely an engagement for the moment… what do you say? Or perhaps some outings?"

Viola stayed quiet briefly. Then she let her arm drop, forgoing the gemstone. "I don't crave it enough to agree. Anyway, the backlash will fade quickly. Only a couple of hours."

"…Impressive," Damon snickered. "You truly despise me to that degree, don't you?"

Viola ignored the provocation. She focused once more on the ritual array, her digits tracing swift, expert gestures to tweak various runes. Perspiration gathered at her brow, her breaths marginally deeper, yet her stance stayed unyielding.

"As you wish." Damon shrugged indifferently. He observed the ritual's progression in silence. It proved savage and merciless, just as he had anticipated. Aspiring players to wizardry, witchcraft, or demonic paths required strong resolve. Not all classes demanded the same fortitude. Numerous dark paths compelled morally dubious acts. Without such deeds, the divide between light and dark factions wouldn't exist so starkly.

Clearly, this lady possessed the grit necessary for it.

Damon kept observing while devising a fresh strategy in his mind. Though the exchange with Viola yielded some insights, it fell short of sufficiency. She undoubtedly held more knowledge ripe for exploitation.

And the backlash lingered…

Perhaps he could test his fortune once more, employing another ability on the unaware target. Damon bided his time patiently. He avoided haste. He refrained from meddling. He merely lingered there, propped against a fractured column like a detached observer, eyelids drooping as the ceremony advanced.

The incantations swelled and ebbed rhythmically. The villagers' forms quivered, stilled momentarily, then quivered anew as the array pulled harder. Before long, they all screamed and gouged their eyes, crimson streams resembling tears.

Claws scraped across their features, nails ripping skin amid the ritual's irreversible threshold. Shadowy bonds constricted, burrowing into flesh and skeletal frame, while the underlying runes blazed more intensely.

Viola's jaw set firmly. Her recitation held steady, yet the toll arrived regardless. A fierce, volatile surge emanated from the array.

As each villager collapsed lifelessly, their visages withered and gazes vacant, Viola stumbled forward slightly.

The falter was subtle. She steadied herself at once, her staff slamming against the stone with a crisp ring to channel the surplus power. Nonetheless, a slender crimson trail trickled from her nostril, falling onto the carved symbols beneath.

Damon's gaze sharpened. There it appeared. He lingered. He lingered while her respiration intensified. He lingered as her mana currents turned chaotic, unraveling at the fringes. He lingered until the ceremony climaxed.

Then he struck.

Unseen by others, Damon discreetly infused a portion of his blood into Viola's system, not aiming to transform her into a vampire. Simultaneously, he triggered [Mental Corruption] and [Blood Thrall].

Reflecting now, he recognized the need to have rehearsed this ability prior to deploying it on such an advanced foe. Though unplanned initially, he ought to have anticipated the scenario and readied himself somewhat.

Damon admitted his mistake and resolved to improve henceforth. Fortunately, Viola spoke truth about the backlash. Absent any opposition, her gaze dulled momentarily before snapping back to its prior icy demeanor.

[Ding! You have successfully created a Blood Thrall]