Chapter Nine: Hospital Tales (Part Six)

Name: Blood of the Demon
Type: Special Item
Quality: Legendary
Effect: Activates Demonization for the player
Note: This is the refined blood of a great demon from the Frozen Hell. Every drop of a great demon’s blood can create a descendant of the demon, and it is a sacred treasure for strengthening the body. Of course, only those who are willing to pay the price will reap the rewards. When you gain demonization, you will also lose something—such is the rule of the demon’s bargain.

Esteemed player, congratulations on unlocking Primary Demonization.
Congratulations, you have activated the Mutation System. The Mutation System can modify your physique, enhance your bloodline power, and even grant you new status and identity. Mutation requires special items as guidance. Do not mutate lightly, as mutation may cause irreversible consequences.

Someone once asked, "Maple, Maple, why are you so strong?" I never answered directly, but surely you have guessed—it is the effect of Fathead Fish’s mutation!

Primary Demonization is activating...
Primary Demonization has been activated.

Luo Hanya felt a burning sensation between her brows. Before she could comprehend what was happening, a surge of explosive force swept through her entire body.

“Ah!” Luo Hanya rolled painfully in the snow, her body covered in crimson patterns. In the next moment, countless streaks of blood-red flames erupted from those patterns like serpentine fire, and before she could react, she was engulfed by the flames. Strangely, her clothes remained untouched.

Enveloped by the blaze, Luo Hanya felt as if she were trapped within a scorching furnace. Torrents of heat assaulted her from all directions. Every inch of her skin was burning with an indescribable, piercing pain.

Were it not for the crimson markings that had enhanced her resistance to the flames, Luo Hanya would have long since collapsed and lost consciousness.

Even so, breathing became extremely difficult, and hallucinations danced before her eyes as her mind slipped into confusion.

Red light flashed before her eyes, and slowly, her consciousness returned. At that moment, the system prompt sounded again.

Primary Demonization has been interrupted.
Your attributes have changed.

Name: Luo Hanya
Level: 3
Attribute: Darkness

Body Strength: Average
Special Abilities: Dark Vision, Demon’s Flame
Status: Primary Demonization 50/100

Name: Dark Vision
Type: Special Ability
Effect: Grants the ability to see in the dark
Note: Night has given me black eyes, yet I can still see the world.

Name: Demon’s Flame
Type: Special Ability
Effect: Summon a bloom of Demon’s Flame
Note: Even the lowest imps can summon Demon’s Flame, but it belongs exclusively to demons and is, naturally, formidable.

Luo Hanya’s body ached all over. “Ha... haa... What is it you really want?” she gasped.

Before she could finish, the old man in the black robe interrupted her harshly, “Boy! This is a drop of demon essence blood I refined—so many lesser demons crave this sacred object but cannot obtain it. It can only benefit you, never harm you.”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Old man, tell me, what must I pay?” Luo Hanya’s face showed no trace of earlier fear; she asked directly.

“So you’ve been doubting me all along, eh? I pride myself on having revealed no flaws—when did you begin suspecting me?” The old man in the black robe smiled with a sly interest, looking at Luo Hanya curiously.

“Ha, a demon hunter betrayed and dragged into darkness by demons—your identity is indeed amusing. I suspect that compared to your hatred for demons, you loathe those humans who mistrust you even more!” Luo Hanya no longer bothered with small talk, directly exposing the old man’s previous slip.

“You’re a crafty one—so quickly you deduced so much from my words.” The old man’s lips curled in a cat-and-mouse smile. “It’s a pity, though, you’re far too weak. I could crush you with a single finger. I’m curious, where does your confidence come from, thinking you can confront me?”

“Hmph! How do you know I don’t have any leverage?” Luo Hanya retorted.

“Hahaha! If you’d said this before I implanted the demon’s blood in you, you might have had leverage—now, what could you possibly have?” The old man looked at Luo Hanya as if she were mad, his tone mocking.

“You brought me here for a reason, as we both know.” Luo Hanya paused, then laid it all bare. “I still have value, at least for now, and that value is my leverage.”

“Hmph! With the demon’s blood inside you, you no longer belong to yourself! Your only leverage is no longer yours,” the old man sneered, glancing at her with contempt.

“Do you really think so?” Luo Hanya smiled.

“You’re already one of my kin. You think you still have control over yourself?” The old man’s eyes flashed with cruelty, and he commanded, “Kneel before me, you wretched offspring!”

“How could I kneel to you? Dream on!” Luo Hanya replied scornfully. “You think a single drop of blood turns me into your descendant? You underestimate me!”

The old man’s brow furrowed slightly. He commanded again with his will, but Luo Hanya remained unresponsive. Coldly, he said, “Oh, it seems I underestimated you. You haven’t become my kin after all. Looks like you need to suffer more.” As he finished speaking, three more drops of blood flew straight into Luo Hanya’s brow.

Primary Demonization activating...
Primary Demonization activated.

The blood-red markings appeared once more, and the crimson flames surged forth, enveloping Luo Hanya in fire again.

Her expression twisted, but she resumed her wild, rolling, and howled in pain, “Ah! No! It hurts so much!”

“Hmph!” The old man gave a cold, disdainful laugh. “So you dare challenge me! You think you really have leverage? Leverage always belongs to the strong!”

Luo Hanya screamed as if she were dying, but inwardly she was secretly delighted, because as a player, she could not be controlled by the old man’s will. What the old man was offering was merely a blessing, allowing Luo Hanya to complete an extraordinary demonization. After all, Demon’s Blood was a legendary item; the completion of something requiring several legendary items could never be weak. Thinking this, Luo Hanya felt smug. “Good fortune truly comes unbidden.”

Primary Demonization completed.
Achievement Points gained: 200
Intermediate Demonization activating...
Intermediate Demonization activated.