Chapter 86: Welcome, My Holy Son, Now Call Me Mommy!

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Welcome, My Holy Son, Now Call Me Mommy!

The Goddess of Blood stared at him.

Her two divine treasures still hovered between them, patient, gleaming, completely ignored.

"...No?"

"No."

She blinked,once then twice. "But I just offered to fix your bloodline and your soul problems."

"I know."

"And the treasures are at and above Mythical Rank."

"I know."

"And you still said no?"

"Yes."

Her expression cycled through confusion, offense, and something like genuine scientific curiosity.

Meanwhile, in Lucien’s mind, a familiar chime echoed.

[Ding!]

[Wife Bond Level Has Increased]

[Wife: Aurelia Astrax]

[Previous Bond Rank: Partner — 97%]

[Current Bond Rank: Lover — 10%]

His eyes went wide.

’...What?’

’She reached Lover rank and ten percent in that too?’

Something warm and stupidly happy surged through him.

"What happened to you?" the Goddess asked, noticing his face do something dramatic.

"Nothing, don’t mind me," he said, entirely unconvincingly.

Another window bloomed.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations!]

[Wife Bond Milestone Reached — Lover]

[Select 2 of 5 Rewards]

[Option 1 — Wife Slot +1]

[Permanently increases maximum registered wives by one.]

’Interesting, I can get more wife’s and invest in them, though maybe not now?’ he thought moving to the next option.

[Option 2 — Heavenly Yin-Yang Scripture: Volume I (Divine)]

[A divine grade dual cultivation technique that allows synchronized mana, life force, and essence circulation between the user and a bonded partner during intimacy.

Cultivation benefits scale with cultivation rank and mana affinity of both partners performing dual cultivation with the lower ranked partner gaining proportionally more.

Essence released by both partners can be used as a cultivation resource, with conception controllable at will.

Volume 1: Mortal Realm]

’That’s,’ he blinked ’ridiculously useful.’

’With this, I don’t have to worry about the girls cultivation ranks and me ranking up to fast and leaving them behind, and since this is volume 1, there should be more volumes for higher Realms.’ He thought, this being the better of the two.

[Option 3 — Marriage Bond Tattoo Upgrade]

[Permanently enhances existing Marriage Tattoos of related to Aurelia Astrax. Additional effects: Unknown.]

’Unknown is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that description, hopefully it’s the good type of Unknown.’ He thought as Option 4 appeared.

[Option 4 — Cultivation Rank +2]

[Upon use increases cultivation rank by two ranks.]

Solid but it’s not as spectacular next to the others, though also good by itself.’ He thought eyes going to the next one.

[Option 5 — Bloodline Stabilization]

[Permanently repairs instability within the user’s bloodline, making the bloodline usable.]

Lucien went completely still.

’...Oh.’

’Oh, that’s exactly what she was just talking about.’

The Goddess noticed his stillness immediately, watching him with growing curiosity but no real understanding.

[Ding!]

[Investment Detected.]

[Investment Target: Aurelia Astrax]

[Investment Type: Restoration of Shattered Mana Veins and Core]

’Aurelia’s mana veins and core are healed?’ He thought confused as he estimated it would take another week.

’Maybe the Elixirs were better than I thought.’ He thought, already picturing Aurelia’s happiness.

[Ding!]

[Wife Bond Multiplier Ceiling Increased with Bond Level]

[Previous Max Multiplier: ×97]

[Current Max Multiplier: ×140]

Lucien’s eyes widened. "Wow that’s a lot higher."

"What is?" the Goddess asked.

"Nothing."

The system mystery wheel onkt he could see bloomed into view next as it started spinning fast.

×31. ×74. ×112. ×89. ×126. ×138.

’Come on, please anything above one hundred.’ He prayed.

×139...

×140

[Ding!]

[Investment Reward Generated:]

[Reward 1: Mana Affinity +1 Affinity Rank — Raises Mana Affinity by 1 Rank]

[Reward 2: 24 Months Cultivation Progress]

[Reward 3: 2 Months Technique Comprehension]

[Reward 4: Sword Affinity SSS Rank]

[Reward 5: Gluttonous Mimic Armament (Mythical+)]

Lucien’s eyes practically bulged. ’Twenty four months. Twenty Four.’

’Finally,’ he thought, deeply satisfied, ’I’m not broke on cultivation progress or comprehension anymore.’

He then looked at the rest pf the rewards before deciding to save the Mana Affinity boost as it entered his inventory.

’If I can raise it naturally first, this becomes the tiebreaker when I hit a wall, it’s better than spending it now amd pnly getting am S Rank Affinity.’

’As for the Sword Affinity, it’s also good, but I don’t use swords, maybe I can give this to one of the girls?’ He saved it deciding to think about it later.

’And lastly, this Gluttonous Mimic Armament, that’s quite the name, let’s hope its something awesome, also whats with the plus?’ He thought mentally sending it to his system inventory.

"You’re hiding something, aren’t you little Lucien. " the Goddess said, studying him.

He looked up immediately.

"Don’t worry," she said, smiling. "I’m not angry. I’m just interested and curious."

’Did she figure out the system?’

She laughed suddenly. "No."

"I didn’t say anything?" He said.

"You didn’t have to, it’s practically written on your face, and no I didn’t figure out whatever secret youre hiding, but I’m all ears if you want to tell me." She said smiling at him mischievously.

"Can’t you read my mind, so how would I know you haven’t read what I was thinking?" He asked her.

"I haven’t figured out what you’re hiding, I stopped reading your mind, honestly it’s no fun reading ypur mind and getting all the answers, I like to figure it out myself." she said, stepping closer, tapping his chest lightly.

"But I think I’ve figured out what the other blood inside you belongs to."

His expression sharpened instantly. "What?"

She raised a hand. "First, answer my question, will you?"

"Why did you refuse me?"

He didn’t bother hiding the reasoning both new and old, as she’d hear it regardless of she wanted to.

"I already have a way to fix my bloodline."

Her eyebrows rose hearing that. "And your soul?"

"I’ll find another way."

"You’d rather stay a normal mortal than become a God’s Champion?

’I don’t particularly want to get tangled up in divine politics,’ he thought, letting the words form clearly.

’But I’m not scared of them either. If I have to deal with gods eventually, I will, I’m just not signing myself into servitude for something I don’t actually need from you.’

She read every word of it, and something shifted in her expression.

’He’s not bluffing,’ she realized. ’He genuinely has a way to fix his blood and he’s nowhere near as frightened about the God’s as he’s letting on.’

Her smile returned, slower this time. "...Interesting, very interesting."

"Fine, since I want you" she said. "I’ll improve the offer."

She raised one finger. "First, you become my Holy Son."

"...Holy Son?"

"Yes."

"You have a religion?"

"Of course. I’m the Goddess of Blood. What did you think, I just wander around unemployed?"

"Aren’t you a Vampire you should definitely know about the Goddess of Blood, don’t you?"

"Yes I am a vampire, but I am from the Demon Continent, not the Vampire one, so maybe you’re not as prevalent there?"

"From the Demon Continent?"

"What is your family name, if you don’t mind telling me?"

"Dracul Aethernis."

"Interesting, so you’re a demon Vampire, huh?"

"There’s a difference?"

"Don’t you know, they should have taught you about it if you’re part of their main line, no?"

"Honestly, I was part of the main family, but my circumstances weren’t all that good, and I was kicked out, so no."

"Nevermind, then, so the holy son?"

"Do I have to preach?"

"No."

"Good, because I have no thoughts to give religious speeches."

A second finger raised next. "I’ll give you a Mythical-Rank Blood Cultivation Technique, tailored to your body specifically."

His expression sobered.

"Third." Her smile turned faintly apologetic. "Your current foundation is mediocre."

His eyebrow twitched. ’Mediocre? I built that foundation with actual effort, well Cultivation Progress effort, but effort none the less.’

"I can give you a technique that safely dismantles your current cultivation," she continued, unbothered by his indignation, "converting it back into raw mana. Then you rebuild it properly, this time, with a superior technique and foundation."

’A fresh foundation, a Mythical technique and getting my Bloodline stabilized. And—’

"And I’ll provide a way to evolve and fix your bloodline, instead of only stabilizing it, I bet you don’t have a way to do that, right, little Lucien?" she added as a smile spread across her face, as now he couldn’t possibly refuse.

He stared. "How?"

"With my resources."

"That sounds expensive."

She laughed, genuinely amused. "To me?" She waved a hand dismissively, like he’d suggested she might be short on pocket change. "I have plenty."

’She’s throwing all of this at me without a second’s hesitation,’ Lucien thought. ’Either none of this actually costs her anything meaningful, or she’s absurdly wealthy. Probably both. And if she’s this invested in recruiting me specifically, I’ve got room to push.’

"I’ll accept," he said after thinking it through.

Her smile bloomed, victorious.

"But under one condition."

The smile froze mid bloom. "...What condition?"

"You keep providing resources until I leave the mortal ranks entirely."

"Meaning?"

"Until I reach the peak of the mortal ranks."

She stared at him for a long moment.

Then burst out laughing, loud and genuine. "That’s it?"

"You already said you’d provide resources, I’m just defining the timeline."

She wiped an imaginary tear. "Accepted."

’I was going to do that regardless, but I don’t have to tell him.’ She thought amused.

Lucien exhaled, relief flooding through him. ’Thank God, well Goddess and one specifically, apparently.’

"You realize," she said, still grinning, "you just negotiated terms with a Goddess."

"You agreed to them."

She laughed again, delighted rather than offended.

"So that’s it, I’m your Champion now, no contract or anything?" he asked.

"Mhm."

"Nothing to sign?"

She paused, then brightened. "Oh, right."

She snapped her fingersas a crimson parchment materialized between them.

"This is the contract."

He ran Appraisal on it immediately.

His mana pool dropped hard and fast enough to make him sway slightly.

[Appraisal Skill Activated — Mana Consumption: -1000]

’What the hell—’

"Oh, don’t do that, you can’t appraise high ranked items with a lower ranked skill, even it it takes your mana." She said noticing what you did, as she laughed.

She then explained what it was, an Oath Contract, Mythical Tank, that binds two parties regardless of rank difference between the two, she assured him that it works on God’s too.

Once accepted, becomes soul-bound. Neither party may intentionally violate its terms. Violation damages the offender’s foundation and severe violation may cripple it permanently.

"So what do you think?"

"You weren’t kidding," he said, still slightly winded from the mana drain.

"Why would I be? Even gods have contracts, it’s not like we can trust each other."

He read every clause carefully, twice, while she waited with the patience of someone who’d clearly done this before.

Finally, he signed using his blood as she signed beside him.

The parchment ignited in crimson light.

BOOM.

It split into two streams, one sinking into her, one into him, and for a brief instant, a tiny blood-drop-shaped mark appeared on both their foreheads before fading entirely.

Lucien exhaled slowly.

"Welcome, my Holy Son, now call me mommy." She said with he most serious face she could before bursting out laughing.

"I’m already regretting this."

She continued laughing, entirely unbothered.

Deep within the Bloodmoon Ruins, Malrith stood exactly where Lucien’s body had vanished.

He replayed the attack in his mind, the dagger, the impact and the sudden absence.

No teleportation signature, no spatial distortion and no trace at all.

He crouched, fingers brushing the stone.

He’d placed a tracking mark on Lucien during the strike, as he closed his eyes, reaching for it.

Biut found nothing on this sextion of the floor.

’Did he move upward?’

’No, impossible’

’Or maybe someone helped him?’

’Also impossible, nobody moved that fast, and nobody else was here.’

His gaze drifted downward, toward the floor beneath his feet.

’Then he either went lower, or he must be within this floor but out of my range.’

He rose slowly, expression unreadable.

"You can run." he murmured.

He turned toward one direction, deciding to search this floor before going down.

"But you can’t hide."