Shadow Blood and Fire

"Demon Wing (Locked until Lv.10)

"Demon Wing is a skill of freedom and power," he said with a hint of longing. "Once unlocked, it grants you wings of hellfire that can scorch and carry you through the skies

"(Upon unlocking) Practice flapping and gliding motions to get accustomed to the new appendages. Pointer: Patience is required. The sensation of flight is disorienting at first—start with short, low-altitude flights."

Though Eli couldn't activate this skill yet, the video showed an animation of what it would look like: majestic wings of fire that left trails of embers in their wake.

"Time Freeze is our most sacred ability," he said solemnly. "It allows us to halt the flow of time itself. Start small—freeze a falling leaf or a dripping droplet. Gradually work up to larger objects and creatures. But be warned: this skill demands a heavy toll on one's energy."

The video cut to a scene where water droplets hung suspended in mid-air around the man as he moved unhindered.

"Activating the Time Freeze skill on a creature differs from non-living, it involves a precise and focused sequence of steps the same and vastly different.

" Take deep breaths to calm your mind and align with the universe energy and visualize the flow of time as a tangible stream, feeling its ebb and flow. "

 Eli inhaled deeply, steadying his mind to resonate with the universe energies and visualized time's continuum as a tangible stream. With meticulous adherence to the instructions, he felt his consciousness drift and his Energy greedily devoured.

"Establish your bond with time's stream, then dispatch a surge of pulsations from your essence, through this bond, directly into the designated area."

Energy rippled out from Eli, halting the descent of gambrinus leaves and nearby dust within a five-meter radius. After three seconds, as motion resumed, Eli's complexion paled from exertion.

[ Energy Depleted: 40 Units ] [ Remaining Energy: 13/100 Units ]

Eli uncorked the last vial of purloined blood from the hospital lab, consuming half its contents in one desperate gulp.

[ Blood Consumption: 24cl ] [ Daily Quest Completed: Ingest 20cl of Blood ] [ Energy Restored: 100/100 Units ]

"A reliable source of genuine human blood is imperative; thankfully, I've reserved enough for another time, before I start looking for purloined blood" Eli mused. The vial wasn't filled with synthetic blood but with 50cl of human blood, part of an experiment to expedite human evolution to genius levels without the gradual acclimation to new abilities since 3055.

"Observe closely, apprentice," the blonde man began. "Time Freeze on a sentient being is both subtle and formidable. First, harmonize your spirit with the Universe's unseen energies. Envision time as a river and yourself as part of its flow."

Eli executed the initial step with ease, feeling his life Energy drained faster.

"Now, concentrate on your target. Visualize the time thread linking them to time's continuum. This observation is critical for precise skill deployment."

Eli's vision swam as he perceived a river encircling itself like an ouroboros, with mercurial threads tethering numerous trees and even more extending from Eli's district. The complexity overwhelmed him, blurring his sight and made his brain ached.

"Direct your energy to sever the creature's time thread momentarily. If successful, they will be suspended in stasis."

Selecting the gamnibrius tree's thread, Eli temporary severed it's Time thread

[ Time Freeze Initiated ] [ Energy Expended: 60 Units ] [ Duration: Three Seconds ]

As time resumed its march, Eli gasped for air.

[ Remaining Energy: 40/100 Units ]

"Your training concludes here, Your aptitude is remarkable; it took me days to master non-sentient Time Freeze and additional weeks for living beings. You've earned a commendable reward."

Ding!

[ Reward Received: A Gift pack from Lord R'ahlu ]

"If you want a slowed down and more detailed version of these videos, they will be saved in your system. Good luck my friend and I wish you all the best."

After the man had finished talking the video immediately ended. As Eli opened up his system there was now an extra Tab that stated tutorial and in it, were four videos of the skills he had just been shown. When watching the videos, it was just as the man had said bit there was an additional video.

[Introduction to Crimson paradise battle art]

Eli activated the video, unsurprised when the familiar four-eyed, blond man appeared on screen. The man's penetrating gaze softened into a warm smile. "After the ordeal of mastering multiple skills simultaneously, I assumed you'd be seeking rest," he said.

"Typically, I'd guide you through mastering Crimson Paradise step by step, but given your exceptional potential, that would be a disservice," the man continued. "It would take you five years to reach the initial stage, which would only hinder your growth. Instead, I'll infuse the knowledge directly into you, reshaping your muscle memory."

Eli gaped in shock as the blond man eyed him with an unsettling intensity, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Arrrggghh!"

A scream tore from Eli's lips as searing pain lanced through his head, like thousands of heated iron rods piercing his brain. His legs nearly gave way as a deluge of information flooded his mind, each piece vying to mold his muscle memory.

Beneath the towering Gamnibrius tree's shadow, Eli stood with poise, his eyes now void of life and pupils. He delved deep into concentration, channeling his advanced battle arts skills. The air vibrated with dispersed energy as he connected with the universe's force.

Eli commenced the initial stage meticulously. Balance and rhythm were crucial; he started with slow, deliberate steps in a straight line before incorporating feints and directional shifts. As he progressed, his movements mirrored the moon's swift nocturnal passage—his footwork became an art form in itself.

With each step, Eli's movements grew more intricate. He glided through the air like the tide under lunar pull—his strikes were rapid and targeted, exploiting openings created by his deceptive footwork.

Reaching the foundation stage, Eli's practice intensified. His foundational footwork evolved into devastating patterns capable of overwhelming any adversary. Each motion was a strand in a web of deceit spun with velocity.

Eli continued to refine Crimson Paradise expressionlessly, as if he were a puppet controlled by an advanced system. It was a mental challenge demanding foresight and adaptability. With each session under the Gamnibrius tree, he sharpened both body and mind until…

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have mastered Crimson Paradise (Initial Stage).]

The system's chime brought clarity back to Eli's consciousness. Feeling near death's door—blind and numb—he struggled to unclasp the vial with every ounce of strength and willpower. [Consumed 26cl of blood.]

[Energy 100/100] Restored to full sensation, Eli was greeted by the blond man's grinning face. "Your potential is immense," he said cheerfully. "Though I may have been overzealous in embedding both initial and foundation stages within you—you nearly perished—but consider this: you've achieved five years' worth of progress."

Hearing the blond man's words nearly made Eli choke on the sheer insanity of it all—he had learned a valuable lesson: never again to trust those tutorials.

******

Two hours had passed.

[Daily Quest Completed]

[Push-ups: 100/100]

[Sit-ups: 100/100]

[Squats: 100/100]

[Running Distance: 10/10 km]

[Weight Lifting: 100/100 kg]

[Blood Consumed: 20/20cl]

[Quest Reward: Gift Pack]

As the final squat was executed, his vision shimmered, and the Quest's reward coalesced into existence—a gift pack swathed in cerulean hues. Though the system had ceased to allocate stat points for his daily quests, it persisted in granting him these gift packs, Exhaustion weighed heavily on Eli, compelling him to defer the exploration of his prize. Resolving to unravel its secrets at a later time.

Gasping for breath, Eli returned to the base of the ancient Gamnibrius tree at the edge of Yama Woods. His heart hammered against his chest, threatening to burst forth. The Daily Quests which could be described as a work in the park was now a physical toll due to the strain on his body, mind and the forceful altering of his muscle memory. A symphony of crackles emanated from his bones, reminiscent of popcorn kernels erupting into fluffy white clouds.

Clutching his fists tightly, Eli could sense an overwhelming power within him. In a swift turn, he unleashed a ferocious punch upon the Gamnibrius tree. The venerable tree shuddered, shedding its leaves like a silent cascade of green rain.

Upon withdrawing his fist, Eli observed the mark he had left: a three-inch deep crater in the tree's resilient bark. This Gamnibrius tree was renowned for its hardened exterior, forged through the ages. A punch of such magnitude would undoubtedly puncture mortal flesh without resistance.

Merely hours before, an attempt to strike the tree had fractured his hand. Yet now, empowered by his advanced battle arts—Crimson Paradise.

Eli had grown stronger, while most mutants of his age were merely acquainting themselves with their battle arts introduction stage, Eli had already reached the initial mastery stage—a significant edge in his eyes.

Mutant of the same level at the intial stage are stronger than mutant at the introduction stage, because the battle arts will continue to alter your DNA as your advance.

Still seething over the loss of his last vial of true blood and the brush with death, Eli composed himself. Once his breathing steadied, he turned his back on Yama Woods and strode away from the Gamnibrius tree.

As soon as he was out of yama woods, he saw three people walking toward him.

There was a woman in a white exercise suit walking beside an elderly man in a traditional Tylon suit. Trailing behind the two was a young man with a fit body and pair of sharp eyes.

The girl of the group pulled her hair in a ponytail; her beautiful face held a cold and distant expression. She had a pair of perky bosom and a tall body. She was as attractive as Milliette Visoki if not more thanks to her well-defined features.

Eli was still immersed in his achievement, and therefore, he didn't think too much of this encounter. He passed the three strangers without even sparing them a glance.

However, three stranger had definitely noticed him.

The young man glued his eyes on Eli and didn't look away until Eli had disappeared at the end of the walking path. Then and only then, he turned his head and looked at the old man in the traditional outfit, and said something.

The old man shook his head in disagreement, " It can't be. He is probably just a morning, jogger."

After returning to his rented home, Eli found a breakfast stall and ate a big meal. Then he went to the supermarket and bought some groceries. After that Eli concocted a scheme to persuade a six-year-old to part with their blood for a mere 50 credits. The law forbade those under ten from utilizing synthetic blood, making the child's offer all the more valuable. With a vial of the purest blood in hand, Eli couldn't help but marvel at the ease of the transaction, and he secured the child's communication details for potential future dealings.

The simplicity of acquiring such untainted blood led Eli to question his own intellect, wondering why such a straightforward plan had only now occurred to him.

A call soon interrupted his musings; it was Auntie Vosoki, extending an invitation for a midday meal at her domicile. The prospect of attending was tempting, yet the anticipated icy reception from Raiden Visoki and Milliette Visoki gave him pause. Weighing his options, Eli opted for solitude, fabricating a polite refusal to Auntie Visoki, expressing his intent to dine alone.