Every resident in the Settlement was gripped by anxiety over an uncertain future. For them, migration meant certain death—no one wished to relive such horrors again.
“We did it! The Gray Mist Blood Bat has been killed!” A Patrol Team member shouted joyfully at the settlement entrance, and the news spread like wildfire, bringing immediate relief and joy.
The entire Settlement erupted in celebration. Hank and Old Shen simultaneously rushed towards the entrance.
Yet just as they stepped from Old Shen’s clock tower, another message arrived like a thunderbolt:
“A second Gray Mist Blood Bat has appeared! Ryan is trapped inside its toxic mist!”
Old Shen froze in shock. Although Ryan wasn’t his son, he had always liked the reckless youth. He’d even tried persuading Ryan to marry Tiger Girl a few times, only to be met with Ryan’s defiant retort: “Even if I'm a toad, I refuse to marry a female toad!”
Despite Ryan’s stubborn and occasionally greedy nature, Old Shen knew the boy was reliable at critical moments. Mastering even the basics of the Clock of Time in such a short period demonstrated Ryan’s potential clearly. Old Shen had believed sending Ryan into danger was justified, never anticipating a second Gray Mist Blood Bat would appear.
People’s emotions swung wildly. Just as they despaired, another messenger sprinted into view, shouting, “Ryan killed the second bat!”
“What? Ryan killed the bat? Impossible!” Old Shen grabbed the messenger by the collar, lifting him effortlessly despite his frailty.
“Old Shen, I swear on my life! Overseer Marcus confirmed it—the bat was poisoned by Ryan!”
Even Hank was bewildered, unsure what to believe, until Ryan and Marcus returned, confirming the astonishing news.
“That was too close!” Hank exclaimed, shaking his head. “Old Shen, bring out your good wine—I need something strong to settle my nerves.”
“Forget it! I'm done drinking with you. You scare me!” Old Shen snapped.
“You're just jealous I have a son,” Hank joked, hiding his relief. “Find yourself a woman—you might still manage a kid or two!”
Old Shen scowled. “I'm scared you'll poison me, you old fool! Who knew you had mutated toxic blood in your family?”
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“If I'd known earlier, maybe I’d be an Overseer by now!” Hank laughed heartily, then returned home to drink from a hidden bottle beneath his straw mattress.
Unlike his father, Ryan couldn't sleep after returning to his quarters. The night’s dangerous encounters with the Arrow Serpent and Gray Mist Blood Bats haunted him. If not for his diverse set of skills, he might have perished.
He regretted missing the chance to copy the bat’s powerful roar with his Skill-Stealing Card. He realized he needed to use the cards wisely, but scarcity always compelled him to consume them immediately.
His energy surged again:
Energy: 2134
Stamina: 131/132
Strength: 141/144
Spirit: 24/24
Skills:
-
Golden Bell Iron Body Technique Lv.6
-
Five Tigers Blade Technique Lv.6
-
Thousand-Mile Leap (Minor Mastery)
-
Mystic Unity Blood Essence Technique Lv.5
-
Clock of Time (Basic)
Bloodlines:
- Toxic Flame Bloodline (Intermediate)
After careful thought, he synthesized one orange Level 2 Skill-Stealing Card and five Level 1 Skill-Stealing Cards, reducing his energy back to three digits. Instead of immediately using them, Ryan sat cross-legged, practicing the Mystic Unity Blood Essence Technique. He needed to fully cultivate his bloodline essence and enhance purity if he wished to advance to Spirit General-level.
Hours passed, dawn approaching. Celebration echoed through parts of the Settlement, while worries persisted elsewhere.
Old Shen staggered back to his clock tower, refusing Hank’s persistent drinking invitations. Inside, he found someone already waiting, drinking excellent wine—a stark contrast to their usual watered-down drink.
"Marcus, why aren’t you celebrating with your wife?" Old Shen joked. "With your bloodline, you should have more children! I hear plenty of women are interested in you."
Marcus ignored the banter, placing his cup down seriously. "Old Shen, there's something I can only discuss with you."
"You sure you’re talking to the right person? Plenty of others love your sweet talk."
"Old Shen, don’t pretend you haven’t noticed." Marcus’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Two Gray Mist Blood Bats, the Arrow Serpent, and the Spirit General-level Skyblade Antelope—they aren’t appearing randomly. And when we requested help from Guardian Fortress, they claimed they were stretched thin. Something is terribly wrong."
Old Shen’s playful expression vanished instantly. He took a long gulp from the wine bottle, sighing deeply. "Know who brewed this wine?"
Marcus shook his head solemnly. "No."
"Neither do I," Old Shen laughed grimly. "But damn, it’s good."
Marcus sighed, clearly frustrated by the cryptic response.
"I’ve sensed it too," Old Shen finally admitted, his voice grave. "Our area is growing unstable. But what can you do now, Marcus? Dare you migrate again? All you can do is wait for fate. Just like the brewer of this wine—he never imagined people a thousand years later would taste his creation."
Marcus sighed heavily, still dissatisfied but gradually relaxed. They finished the bottle quietly, and Marcus left unsteadily.
Old Shen watched Marcus go, eyes filled with sorrow and clarity. He whispered to himself, voice trembling, “Bloodline beasts abandoning their territories... Is another Spirit General about to awaken? Just like fifteen years ago... Can our Settlement survive another migration?”
His fingers traced familiar names carved beneath his table, memories flooding back. Silent tears fell as he whispered, “I'm too old. I vowed never to migrate again—perhaps it's finally time I stay behind.”