Death Heir's Devouring System
Chapter 69: Veins of Darkness

Chapter 69: Veins of Darkness

Azrael subconsciously took a few steps back. Upon absorbing the vast amount of blood—enough to fill several lakes over—the armor grew heavier.

Then it shimmered, and a wave of pain coursed through his body.

By the unexplained agony, Azrael tripped upon the black root that had been behind his foot and crashed into the blood below. Thankfully, the Queen had already absorbed a large portion of it, sparing him from drowning.

The veins on his face bulged. He gritted his teeth. His hands clenched into fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Truth Seeker was tightening. Where it once coated his body perfectly, enhancing his defense without resistance, it now constricted him, growing tighter by the second, as though slowly trying to crush him.

Cinder noticed the strain of his master. Nonchalantly, the Remembrance landed beside his head, opened its beak, and began to screech.

Truth Seeker grew darker; its crimson color had almost vanished by that point, being quickly replaced by the bottomless darkness that matched the color of Azrael’s pupils.

After several seconds of agony, the armor stilled, and Azrael’s grunts ceased. Only Cinder’s screeches echoed through the deadly, silent air. Whether they were out of concern or mockery was unknown.

[Evolution complete.]

The words appeared before his eyes, snapping Azrael out of his daze.

[You have lost an item: Truth Seeker.]

[You have gained an item: Truth Devourer.]

’Is the name due to my system, or was the armor always meant to be called this once it completed its evolution?’ He scoffed, getting up on his feet, eager to examine his gains. After noting that the wave of pain that had coursed through his body had vanished. He inspected the armor.

Item: [Truth Devourer]

Item Type: [Armor]

Item Rank: [Radiant]

Item Description: [In both Life and Death, all seek only one thing—Truth. The one who understands its true nature and how to wield it shall never have an equal. Under your command, Truth shall be exalted.]

Azrael studied the new description carefully, then he recalled the armor’s old description, when it was still called Truth Seeker. More exactly what it had claimed Truth was all along.

"For blood is the sole truth, revered by all. If it bleeds, it lives. If it does not, it is dead." He recalled a specific part of the description as he raised his right hand and used [Blood Manipulation].

The calm blood rippled, a perfect circle tearing across its surface. Then slowly it surged in response.

’I see now...’ He realized, seeing the way the crimson liquid reacted. He wasn’t able to shape it into scythe form like he dreamed of just yet, but that wasn’t the point. What he noticed was far more significant.

Truth Devourer enhanced his control over blood, not his own, but that of others. Where once he’d struggled to bend the foreign blood to his will, now...

The lake’s blood rose slowly, taking the shape of a small, elegant dagger. It hardened its edge, creating a blade that rivaled the sharpness of one forged by steel.

"You not only boost my defense greatly but my offensive power as well," Azrael exclaimed, throwing a look at the black armor coated around his body. "This is much better than expected."

Truth Devourer shimmered, as if alive.

No, it wasn’t merely alive—Azrael felt it, a small, hard-to-notice connection, one that he had with Cinder. Truth Devourer was now tied to his soul directly; this had been the reason he had felt such great pain. This wasn’t just a mere item, one that he could give away. Now it was a part of him.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t dismiss it. There was no problem dismissing it and calling it forth.

"Attack me." He commanded Cinder, causing the bird to tilt its head to the side in confusion.

A second later, the Remembrance struck with its beak.

Only to be staggered back, while Azrael remained unfazed on his two feet. He hadn’t even felt a shockwave pass over his body.

"Radiant Rank... is not to be underestimated," he muttered, calling forth the flower he had gained.

Item: [Heartroot]

Item Type: [Mundane]

Item Rank: [Exalted]

Item Description: [Cast aside by her husband, children, and subjects despite all she sacrificed. In the end, madness consumed her, and the second chance she craved for never came. May the next bearer avoid the same fate. Sometimes, even Death grants a second chance.]

Azrael blinked a few times at the Exalted Rank. Just one rank below Divine, the highest one to exist. But it made sense. Should one take the description literally, it meant that with it, one could cheat death.

He observed the striking rose from several angles. The way its body shimmered with crimson power made him feel lost for several moments.

"Too much energy," he grimaced. While Heartroot was apparently able to save him from the embrace of death, it absorbed too much of his Divine energy. He wasn’t going to be able to fuel the rose for more than a few minutes before leaving him dry and unable to use his other powers.

’I can’t keep this summoned indefinitely. I have to time it before my death; otherwise it would be useless.’

He concluded, dismissing the rose.

Slowly, his eyes went back to the Queen that was still in her trance. Truth Devourer lessened the impact of her saturated Corruption, but it was still there.

"I don’t know what you are, why you’re here, or why you didn’t attack me... but still, you have my gratitude."

He spoke coldly, seating himself upon Cinder’s back. He was eager to get out of the area. He reeked of blood and really wanted a shower and something to eat.

Unexpectedly, a gentle voice replied back with no hint of aggression nor arrogance. Only a faint trace of sadness. "...Thank you."

The Heir of Death halted instantly, his heart growing still.

Immediately, he turned, staring at the slowly blinking black eye of the Queen.

"Did I imagine it, or did it just speak?" he muttered.

"Must be due to the strain of being in the area for too long." He shook his head, soaring through the skies. "Better get out of here before I go entirely insane."

The silver Remembrance flew full speed ahead, not bothering to spare a single glance at the Queen behind it.

In the depths of the lake, her roots pulsed, faster, hungrier. The blood level dipped slightly. Her bottomless black eye curved upward, forming a horrifying smile.

The thing that had slowed her down was gone.

Now, only one thing remained.

Power.