The great bell of the Academy rang once.
A sound reserved for rare recognition.
The tournament was over. The crowd had scattered. But the rumors hadn't.
They flew faster than any spell.
Nclai Azrael had not just won.
He had silenced the noble families.
Now, Combat Hall Delta was empty, but in its place, the Grand Hall of Honors was full.
And every eye in the room was on him.
A long corridor of polished obsidian stretched ahead.
At the far end stood Headmaster Gral, flanked by the twelve faculty chairs.
Nclai stepped forward, his boots clicking softly.
No coat. Just him, his breath steady, his blood humming beneath skin.
Lyra was in the crowd too, silent this time. Watching.
The voice of Gral had an echo as he lifted the crystal in full view.
"To break limits.
In demonstrating superiority to your level.
To live, evolve… and conquer the bloodlines of choice…"
He turned, and held the item reverentially.
"You are granted the Crimson Catalyst Crystal."
A shard of pure blood-red energy.
Alive. Beating like a heart.
Nclai took it with one hand. The moment it touched his skin…
......
System Update
Bloodline Trait Enhancement Available
Choose a Path:
– Crimson Thread Immersion
– Sanguine Reflex Mastery – Level II
– Unlock Subtrait (???)
......
His vision narrowed. Time slowed.
The crystal pulsed again, whispering something deeper than power.
Choose.
Nclai didn't hesitate.
Unlock Subtrait (???)
......
Subtrait Unlocked: Eyes of Verdict – Lv.1
You carry the authority of judgment. Your gaze now binds.
When direct eye contact is made, you may speak commands into the soul of a weaker being.
Target Rank: C-rank or below
Duration: 3–5 seconds
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Command Range: Basic (e.g. kneel, stop, drop, silence)
Resistance Chance: Increases with rank difference
......
The moment he chose,
His eyes flared. Subtle, but sharp.
A faint crimson circle spun within each iris, like a lock opening in reverse.
A cold breeze swept the hall.
Gral faltered for half a second. His smile twitched.
"…Crimson welcomes you," he said finally.
Applause followed — but it was hesitant. Stiff. Unsure whether to celebrate or fear.
Lyra looked at him differently now.
Not surprised. But like she had guessed.
And now she was right.
......
Later that night, Nclai sat at the top of the dormitory roof.
He didn't sleep. Didn't speak.
He watched the stars. The way the moon hung too low.
The way his heartbeat didn't feel like his own anymore.
Something deeper had woken.
The Codex's words still rang in his head.
He commands blood itself.
And now — he could command more than that.
......
Down in the courtyard, a pair of second-year students were arguing. Loud. Drunk on ego.
Nclai stood. Quietly dropped from the roof like falling mist.
The two boys turned to him. One laughed, unaware.
"What? You want to fight too, lonely hero—"
Their eyes met.
Nclai's eyes flashed red.
"Kneel."
The boy dropped like his strings had been cut. His friend screamed.
Nclai turned and walked away.
Eyes of Verdict: Activation Successful
He didn't smile
Didn't smirk.
It was usual.
He was training himself how to wear power as a second skin.
When someone tries to test him again...
They would kneel!
......
But then...
System Update
Sync Ratio: 20.1% Reached
Legacy Episode II – The Flesh Rewritten Now Available
Access: Bloodline Codex → Sovereign Lineage Logs
Next Episode Unlocked:
Legacy II – The Flesh Rewritten
"When the curse no longer dwells in the marrow, but becomes the marrow."
Status: Ready for Playback
[Playback Y/N?]
......