As James wanted, there was no playing around once they hit the road again. Using their Legacy forms, they pushed themselves as hard as they could, covering as much ground as possible during the remaining hours of the fifth day. Hell, they didn't even stop for the usual break after every hour of nonstop running.

Did that mean their trip went without any issues? No, not at all.

With James now alone on the ground, Isaac had to be extra careful about where he led his friend. After all, even if the monsters in the Faded Plains weren't that strong, they could still easily overwhelm a single person. Or well, maybe not that easily, but he didn't want to test out that theory. They couldn't afford to waste time on useless fighting. On that, they both agreed.

So, aside from a few detours to avoid large groups of monsters and a couple of minor ambushes they had to fight through, the journey stayed relatively peaceful. Really, with how few monsters lived in this territory, Isaac's suspicion that most of them lived underground was starting to feel more and more likely. The increasing number of cave entrances they passed only strengthened that theory.

Not that he planned to test it. If the beasts here preferred to stay out of sight, that was more than fine for him. This place was creepy enough without a monster standing everywhere he looked. His only real concern was whether any of them might crawl out after nightfall—that could be a serious problem for Marie and Elaine.

Still, Isaac tried not to think about that too much. Instead, when the path ahead was clear, he focused on something more useful. Like, for example, training his Blood Manipulation even further.

Blood Dagger upon Blood Dagger manifested around him as he flew, each better and stronger than the last one. Density. Stability. Power. Those were the three aspects he tried to perfect or at least improve. It was by no means an easy task, but it definitely paid off in the end.

After over four hours into the journey, his Blood Manipulation had advanced to the third tier. Even better, his Blood Daggers already felt as strong as they did before he lost the skill to create them. Summoning them also became muscle memory.

That said, while the daggers were quite useful utility tools, they still lacked the necessary power to do any real damage. A single Crimson Death could accomplish as much, or even more, as an entire salvo of Blood Daggers. Which, fair, was to be expected. Not that Isaac complained. He was just glad to have the skill back in his arsenal.

Maybe now he could focus on something else? Something defensive? Like a shield of pure blood?

Yeah, that shouldn't be too complicated and just might work, he thought, glancing toward the horizon where the sun was already settling. Will try it later. Now time to find a place to rest.

With the fifth day ending, he still couldn't see the edge of the Faded Plains in the distance, but Isaac wasn't worried. The monsters had already grown weak enough to be all around level eleven at this point. If that didn't mean a Safe Zone was getting close, he didn't know what would.

What did worry him, though, was the complete lack of other Hosts along the way. By now—approaching the sixth day of true Integration—someone should have reached this place already. And while Isaac had a few theories about why that hadn't happened, none of them were particularly comforting.

One, the Hosts of LA's Safe Zone simply decided to explore the lands in the opposite direction of the Faded Plains. He doubted this was the reason, but one could hope.

Two, they saw how this territory looked and decided against ever setting foot in this hellhole. A very reasonable approach, in his opinion, if one feared the unknown.

And finally three, the Hosts of LA were too weak to have made it this far. Isaac didn't like this idea one bit, but it could be possible. After all, he had no idea how other Contamination Zones dealt with the threat of the Wretched. Or if they also had to fight against a Guardian.

I hate assuming shit, he grumbled internally, his eyes still searching for a decent place to stop for the night. I tell myself not to do it, and then I do it anyway… The wonders of a human mind, I guess.

He shook his head, trying to banish these thoughts from his mind. He would get his answers soon enough.

"I still say we should just run through the night," James stated for what felt like a hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

Isaac sighed, watching the crimson flames dance inside the tiny campfire they had set up. It was strange… to see something so colorful in a place so bleak. He really couldn't wait to get the hell out of those Faded Plains.

"Hey!" James called out, nudging his shoulder with a stick. "Are you even listening to me?"

Isaac stifled a groan. "Unfortunately, I am," he grumbled instead. "And I told you already why we ain't going nowhere during the night."

James scoffed, crossing his arms. "It's a stupid reason."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Really now?" Isaac arched an eyebrow. "You getting lost because you can't see shit in the dark is stupid?"

"I got you to lead me, no?" the older man countered, pretty much pouting at this point.

Isaac facepalmed. "Not when you can't see me. How is that so hard to get through your thick head?"

"I could make a torch?" James suggested, gesturing to the campfire. "It might work."

Isaac just stared at him.

James threw his hands in the air. "Okay, fine! You win. I just hate wasting time like this. I'm not even tired."

I'm dealing with an overgrown child, Isaac lamented inside his head. Outside, he didn't dare to show a sign of his growing irritation. He just took a slow, calming breath and addressed the older man for what he hoped was the last time for the next couple of hours.

"We are doing just fine. Monsters are still getting weaker. We can try going even faster tomorrow. And if you can't stay still, then go to sleep first. I will wake you up before my evolution begins."

James snapped his fingers. "Right! Your evo. That I gotta see. Think it will try to kill you like the awakening of your Legacy almost did?"

"I sure hope not."

The older man snorted as he lay down on the gray grass. "Guess we will see then. See ya in a few hours."

With that, James closed his eyes, and in a matter of a minute, his breathing evened out, signaling he was falling asleep. Isaac stared at him, not believing what he was seeing. One moment, he was full of energy, refusing to rest, and now this?

Why do I even bother…

Time to completion: 2 minutes.

Isaac dismissed the timer with a wave of his hand and took a deep breath. The time had finally come. Now, he just had to wake up James so he wouldn't be left unprotected during the process. As much as he hoped it would be painless, he knew better than to expect that from his Legacy and Origin.

Let's get this over with.

Accompanied by silence and the light crimson glow of the dying campfire, he approached his teammate and shook his shoulder. He didn't have to wait long for the older man to wake up.

"Is it time?" James asked, yawning.

Isaac nodded. "Just a minute left."

James nodded, stood up, and did a couple stretches. "I would say have fun, but knowing you…"

Isaac snorted as the man trailed off. "We will see," he muttered, taking one final look around. "The night has been calm for now, but in case something happens, I'm counting on you."

James flashed a grin and a thumbs-up. "You got it, boss!"

Ignoring the man's strange antics, Isaac sat down a bit away from the campfire and summoned the timer again. Ten seconds left…. Five…

Three…

Two…

One…

Bring it on.

Power gathering finished. Host's evolution is ready. Beginning in five… four… three… two… one… Relax and stay calm until the process finishes.

At once, Isaac's body transformed into his usual Legacy form. Bit by bit, red-black blood oozed from his skin, slowly gathering at his feet. The pool, however, didn't stay there and instead started to climb higher, working on covering his body inch by inch.

Close to him, he heard James mutter something, but the words barely registered in his head. All his focus was on the thick liquid crawling over him—how his feet vanished, how his tail went numb, then the tips of his wings, his torso.

Don't panic, don't panic, he repeated in his head, closing his eyes. The Interface told him to relax, so he tried to do that. The keyword "tried" as with his body pretty much dissolving, it was quite impossible to stay calm.

Before long, he couldn't even open his eyes again as the final parts of his body refused to answer his call. The blood must have covered him whole already. And there was nothing he could do about it.

No pain, though, Isaac noted. I mean, it doesn't feel like I have a body right now, so I guess that makes sense…

For minutes, maybe even hours, nothing changed. Darkness became his only companion as he waited for something—anything—to happen. For a notification to arrive. Maybe for some pain to shoot through his nonexistent body.

Neither came.

Instead, a low hum stirred in his mind, followed by a steady, rhythmic pulse. Every few seconds, the rhythm shifted until it settled on something Isaac recognized well.

His own heartbeat.

He could feel it now, his Blood Core, floating somewhere inside the miasma his body had become. Slowly, it worked, adjusting, rebuilding, changing pieces here and there. At the same time, the spark holding his Legacy and the connection to his Origin returned, joining the Core in the process.

Bit by bit, the control of his body returned. It was different, but also not. He was more, but also less. Mana and Viron flowed through him, through his blood. And soon the familiar song of the Symphony joined the constant pulse of his heart.

Yet, he still couldn't move, couldn't see.

So strange… Hello? Interface?

To his surprise, the entity answered, casting away some of the darkness as red text appeared in front of him.

Evolution successful. You now bear the spark of an Alpha Bloodraven. Congratulations. Egg release will commence in two minutes. Use this time to familiarize yourself with the following changes.

Isaac blinked—or tried to—as more and more notifications manifested before him. His gaze, though, remained locked on the first one.

An egg? That's what I'm trapped inside? I guess it makes sense considering my form, but still...

Another thing that he didn't miss was the name of his new Legacy. Alpha Bloodraven. A title tied to the feather he had used after the Minotaur fight to advance his growth stage. Was that connected? Was there a possibility to evolve into something else if he hadn't used the feather?

No, don't even go there, Isaac stopped himself. If he really wanted to know, he could always try asking Rakin about it in the future. For now, he had more notifications to get through.

All right. Let's see… New Inheritance and Ultimate? Now, that's what I like to hear.

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