Chapter 279 : The Secret Behind Bloodstorm

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Secret Behind Bloodstorm

"Dragon..."

A murmur echoed, and then Serea, who had been lying in bed, suddenly jolted awake.

"Huff... huff..."

She gasped fiercely, cold sweat soaking her body. Dazed, Serea looked around at the familiar environment—her own room, without a doubt. But why was she suddenly back here?

"Sister!"

Before she could clear her thoughts, someone by the bedside wrapped her in a hug.

"It's so wonderful to see you again, Serea..."

"Ina!"

Indeed, it was Ina, whom Lilith had brought over not long ago. She had already awakened and, with Lilith's explanation, accepted what had happened to her. Now, seeing her sister Serea alive again, she was overwhelmed by excitement.

"Your Majesty, it's such a relief that you've awakened safely!"

Lola and the others gathered around as well. Seeing so many familiar faces beside her bed left Serea confused.

"What happened? Weren't we fighting Alysta?"

"Your Majesty, we've already won."

"Won?"

Serea looked completely lost. Seeing this, the others guessed what was going on.

"Could it be that Your Majesty doesn't remember anything?"

Serea shook her head in response. Seeing her like this, Celia added, "It appears that peculiar power was indeed very strange..."

After saying this, everyone began recounting for Serea how she displayed extraordinary might, and how, with Morzada's help, they defeated one enemy and sent the other fleeing.

Dogsius had also recorded the earlier events and helped fill in Serea's memory gaps with the account from everyone.

Seeing the strength she had unleashed unconsciously, Serea checked the System's prompt log and noticed the words "Shadow Dragon Emperor."

She tried to find the corresponding "Form Transformation" skill but couldn't locate it.

"System, what's going on?"

System: A congenital hidden bloodline has been detected within the host, and there is a one hundred percent compatibility with the Dark Main Altar. Through the sudden eruption of Dark Power by the "Silver Shuttle Token," the host temporarily acquired Shadow Dragon Emperor's power.

"Silver Shuttle Token!"

Upon hearing this, Serea started searching around inside her pajamas.

"Your Majesty, are you looking for these?"

Vina handed over a brocade box. Inside were a bone earring, a bone necklace, the elf crown, and... the Silver Shuttle Token!

But at this moment, the Silver Shuttle Token felt different in her hand...

Silver Shuttle Token (golden): When held by someone with dragon bloodline, mental power recovery speed increases by 100%, magic damage increases by 30%, maximum mental power increases by 30%, charm +2, attacking "creatures" may inflict "fear" status, and it comes with the skill "Shadow Constellation."

Shadow Constellation (Tier 3): Consumes mental power to release a large number of "shadow devourers" for attacking.

Maximum mental power bonus!

Exceptional attributes. Since the number of Undead Followers Serea could command = her maximum mental power, this meant with the bonus, she could control even more Undead Followers.

Examining the silver fan in her hand, Serea observed it closely. Its entire body was made of dragon bones, yet reflected a metallic luster, with Draconic runes carved on it—it was clearly crafted by dragons.

"Who would've thought the Silver Shuttle Token not only commands the Silver Shuttle assassination unit but also hides such secrets. In my dream, that girl mentioned 'Bloodstorm,' which suggests the Silver Shuttle Token, dragon power, and 'Bloodstorm' are all inextricably linked."

With this deduction, it also made sense that Bloodstorm descendants could resist the erosion of death—they simply had the dragons' resistance to magic and their strong bodies.

"Are this body's ancestors dragons? But that doesn't seem right either—so many generations have passed in the Bloodstorm clan. Even if my ancestor was a dragon, I shouldn't possess a pure dragon's power now."

Serea was plagued by doubts. She could sense a deep, hidden secret behind her surname, but unfortunately, what she knew about "Bloodstorm" was still minuscule—it was impossible to find an answer.

"Forget it. When it's time to know, I'll know."

With that, Serea got dressed and got out of bed, putting on the newly acquired earrings.

Unknown Bone Earring (golden, damaged): Wearing it grants +10 Undead Followers and the skill "Blood Curse."

Blood Curse: When using blood magic to attack, the curse effect weakens the enemy's attributes.

Of course, the soul in the earring had already been devoured by Dogsius, who gained as many as 1,980 blood crystals from it.

During Serea's morning wash, Lola reported the losses after the battle.

The Whirlpool Tide naga clan suffered the most, paying 270 warriors' lives. For the sparsely populated naga race, this was a severe blow. As for the other clans—Eriwin dwarves, brand bearfolk, blood Eye beastmen—they hadn't directly fought Adolf, so their losses were acceptable.

The war was won, but its impact lingered. Therefore, a jungle council would be held again to discuss various post-war issues, especially the most important ones:

Division of territory and external trade!

But with the meeting some time away, there was no urgent need to act. For now, the most pressing task was—

Revive Undead Followers!

With level and equipment bonuses, Serea's command of direct Undead Followers had reached 57. Many had been lost in the last battle, but thankfully all the corpses were retrieved.

"Consume Death Crystals to resurrect."

Since this was a resurrection aimed at preserving the followers' previous skills and level, Serea needed to spend even more Death Crystals. Even so, there would still be some loss of level and abilities.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting us new life!"

The Undead all stood up one by one, revived, including the high-level Chilia, who had fallen previously. Serea then revived Skeleton Warriors and promoted high-level Skeletons into her direct Undead Followers, evolving them into Dread Warriors, while the original Skeleton Cavalry were evolved into Death Cavalry.

Now she had an elite force of 35 Dread Warriors and a heavy cavalry unit consisting of 12 Death Cavalry. With plenty of Death Crystals at her disposal, Serea also decided to raise 50 Skeleton Warriors and 20 Skeleton Cavalry to train and prepare for future battles.

With elite troops ready, there were also 300 Skeletons, who could be promoted to Skeleton Soldiers at any time via the Skeleton Soldier Station, serving as regular combat reserves.

In addition, there were 20 Bone Yan, 40 Carrion Beasts, 10 Shadow Drakehawks, and 20 Ravens.

These were the standing troops. In wartime, her forces could even burst to more than triple.

The downside of this was the upkeep—an astonishing 250 Death Crystals per day.

Fortunately, undead consumed only half when sleeping, and her direct Undead Followers, plus the daily output from the Necromancy Tower, brought in 170 Death Crystals—sustainable!

(P. S. Undead temporarily revived in battle are lower level. Those revived and trained with time are higher level and have far greater combat strength and experience.)

After reviving all the Undead Followers and activating the spare Gargoyles, the restoration of Serea's forces was complete.

......

"While we were out fighting, did the camp have any issues?"

"Your Majesty, you are truly prescient. After you left, a large number of Undead gathered to attack the camp again, but with our forces and the werewolf allies holding the fortifications, we repelled them. The camp is safe."

"That's good..."

Hearing that the camp had survived without major losses, Serea breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Lola, who followed her, seemed to remember something.

"By the way, Your Majesty, someone wants to see you."

"Who?"

"Morzada."

(To be continued...)