VRMMORPG: Rise Of The Blood Paragon

Deep inside Lionel's body, his Dantian churned like a relentless vortex, his blood surging with incredible force, purging impurities with each pulse. His strength grew with every passing moment, yet it still felt insufficient.

A gnawing hunger for more blood essence consumed him, the throbbing in his heart intensifying. Instinctively, his hand moved to the ring on his finger, and he summoned the blood essence stored within.

As soon as it materialized, the blood essence was absorbed in an instant, drawing deeply from his Dantian. The refinement process resumed, strengthening him further, yet it demanded even more from his body.

Then, something changed. A tightness he hadn't realized was constricting his heart began to ease, as though a knot were being untangled.

Sitting cross-legged, Lionel focused on his breathing—slow and steady, in and out.

Suddenly, the blood he'd been refining converged into a single cohesive unit. It felt like a torrent of cold water rushing through him, a purifying flood that left him weightless.

The pressure within him lifted, leaving his heart unburdened and his spirit unshackled.

[Ding!]

Reached Second Stage of Blood Initiate.

Congratulations!

Blood Essence Dantian Expanded.

Store and Refine up to 1,000 Blood Essence at once!]

A smile spread across Lionel's face at the notification. Relief coursed through him, but the feeling was fleeting. A moment later, he felt it—a shattering sensation, like glass breaking over him.

Pain shot through his body as sharp fragments cut into him, forcing his eyes open. His instincts screamed at him, and he leapt to his feet. Gripping his BloodSiphon Blade tightly, Lionel braced himself.

Above him, a massive axe descended with deadly force.

Lionel's blade intercepted it mid-swing, sparks flying as steel clashed against steel. The sheer weight of the strike pushed him backward, his boots skidding against the blood-soaked deck. He gritted his teeth, muscles straining as he forced the sword away and regained his footing.

The leader of the assassins fared no better. The force of Lionel's counter sent him crashing into the side of the ship, his back slamming into the planks with a sickening crack. Blood spattered from his lips as he gasped for air, eyes widening in astonishment at the strength Lionel had unleashed.

As the clash subsided, Lionel glanced around. The deck was awash in blood—enemy blood, soaking into the wood. But amidst the carnage lay a sight that chilled him to his core.

Karvin.

His ally lay motionless on the ground, his sword limply at his side. Panic surged through Lionel as he rushed to his side, dropping to his knees.

"Hey... are you okay?" Lionel's voice wavered as he gently shook Karvin's shoulder.

No response.

He shook him harder, desperation creeping in. "What's wrong with you? Say something!"

A taunting voice interrupted his panic.

"What's wrong with him?" The assassin leader had risen, his axe gripped tightly in his bloodied hands. His expression twisted into a mocking sneer as he strode toward Lionel.

"He's dead. Isn't that obvious?" The leader's tone was cruel. "You're a vampire. Shouldn't you be able to tell when the life force of one of your kind has been extinguished?"

He tilted his head, grinning. "Or have you drained yourself dry using flashy skills instead of honing your blade? Why not absorb your friend's blood essence and fight me like a proper opponent?"

Lionel's hands trembled as anger boiled within him. He looked up at the assassin leader, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You..." Lionel growled, his voice low but seething with rage.

"Oh? Getting angry now, are we?" the assassin leader mocked, taking a step closer.

Suddenly, Lionel staggered, clutching his head as a voice—high-pitched and malevolent—echoed in his mind.

[Oh, I'm free! Who dares anger my master? Tell me who, and I'll feast upon them!]

Lionel gasped, the voice worming its way through his consciousness like a parasite. His vision blurred as a dark presence clawed at the edges of his mind.

"No... Not..." he muttered, fighting for control.

The assassin leader raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Lionel's sudden behavior. "What the hell are you playing at? Gone mad already?"

Lionel's blade trembled in his grasp, glowing faintly as though resonating with his emotions. Around him, the blood-soaked deck seemed to stir, the spilled blood creeping toward the sword.

"What is this...?" the assassin leader murmured, eyes narrowing.

The BloodSiphon Blade pulsed with power, its hilt transforming to a golden hue. Inscribed runes began to glow along its length as it absorbed the blood around it, including a familiar essence that sent a pang of grief through Lionel.

[Your emotions are mine to feed upon. Through rage, we shed blood. Through blood, we grow stronger.]

The assassin leader looked at what was playing before for him, confused but then he gripped his massive axe tightly, its edge gleaming menacingly under the sun that was starting to set.

His lips curled into a sneer as he watched Lionel mumble indecipherable words, seemingly lost in a trance. Growing impatient, the leader roared and charged forward, his axe twisting mid-air in a downward arc aimed at Lionel's waist.

The strike was swift and brutal, designed to sever Lionel clean in half.

But Lionel wasn't as unprepared as he seemed.

The BloodSiphon Blade, as if with a will of its own, surged into Lionel's grip, its surface pulsating with crimson light. Lionel's eyes snapped open, glowing a deep, ominous red.

Time seemed to slow as the axe came hurtling toward him. In a motion almost too fluid to track, Lionel sidestepped, narrowly evading the lethal blow. The air around him thickened with the aura of impending bloodshed.

His lips moved again, but the voice that emerged was not his own. It was guttural, ancient, and commanding.

"Blood Clone Manifestation!"

The BloodSiphon Blade shimmered violently before splitting into four identical copies, each blade radiating raw energy. The swords hovered momentarily in the air, vibrating with anticipation.

In an instant, Lionel seized one of the blades.

His movements were a blur, his speed fueled by the weapon's insatiable hunger for blood. Before the leader could react, Lionel was upon him, his blade flashing in a deadly arc aimed directly at the leader's torso. The assassin swung his axe up to block, the force of the clash sending sparks flying. But Lionel's attack didn't end there.

He twisted his body, his speed unmatched, and grabbed a second sword mid-motion. Before the leader could recover, Lionel struck again, this time at his side. The assassin grunted, his axe struggling to keep up with the relentless assault.

Lionel's body was a whirlwind of motion. One moment, he was to the assassin's left, his blade slashing at his ribs; the next, he was behind him, the second sword carving a deep gash across his back.

The leader's defenses crumbled under the assault, his movements sluggish compared to Lionel's preternatural speed. His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought to keep up with Lionel's relentless onslaught.

Then, Lionel paused.

He stood a few feet away, his chest heaving as he stared at the assassin. The four blades hovered protectively around him, their edges dripping with blood.

Then, the sword compressed into two blades hovering in the air. Lionel breathed out, his eyes locked on the assassin, who barely was on his feet, gripping his axe.

Seizing the two blades, he dashed forward.

The assassin braced himself, his axe raised high. The first blade clashed with the axe, the impact reverberating through the ship. Lionel spun, the second sword slicing toward the leader's neck.

The assassin blocked the strike, but barely. His defenses were faltering, his movements slower, more desperate. Lionel's rage burned brighter, fueling his strength.

With a roar, Lionel attacked again. He lunged, both swords aimed for vital points. The first blade targeted the leader's waist, while the second streaked toward his neck.

The assassin tried to block the strike to his waist, his axe swinging downward, but he was too slow. Lionel's second blade bit deep into his neck. The assassin's eyes widened in shock as blood spurted from the wound.

Lionel didn't hesitate. He twisted the blade, the sound of cracking bone and tearing flesh filling the air. With one final, forceful swing, Lionel severed the leader's head.

The leader's head tumbled to the blood-soaked deck, rolling to a stop near Lionel's feet. The assassin's body crumpled, the last presence of life drained away as the blade absorbed his blood essence.

The once-powerful assassin now lay shriveled, his body reduced to a lifeless shriveled body.

Lionel's chest heaved. He stood motionless, his crimson eyes fixed on the severed head at his feet. He reached down, lifting it by the hair as he turned toward Karvin's shriveled remains.

Kneeling beside his fallen ally, Lionel held the assassin's head aloft. His voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of his sorrow.

"First, I had only one reason to seek revenge, but now two." Lionel murmured, his voice thick with sorrow. "For the life I inherited and the vengeance owed. Now, for you. You were my friend, Karvin. I've avenged you."

As the words left his lips, the red glow in Lionel's eyes dimmed. The swords vanished into thin air, leaving only the original blade, now dormant, at his side. His knees buckled, and darkness consumed him as he collapsed onto the deck.