Tales of the Endless Empire
Chapter 222: New Stuff Available

"Hey, good to see you again," Thalion greeted, his voice calm but laced with a quiet urgency. "This time, I have a special request. By any chance, do you have information—or better yet, an item—that would allow me to steal a bloodline skill? Or even an entire bloodline outright?"

The moment he finished speaking, the familiar golden statue in front of him—the manifestation of the System’s voice—seemed to stir. The answer that followed, however, was far from what he had expected.

"Haha, you’re joking, right?" The voice responded, its tone rich with amusement. "You know I’m responsible for making sure the rules are followed here, and lately, I’ve had my hands full adjusting prices and rebalancing the system. But this time? This time even I was caught off guard. Someone smuggled a bloodline treasure into the tutorial. Can you believe it? In all my cycles, I’ve never seen that happen before. I’ve no clue how to balance the scales now."

A chill crawled down Thalion’s spine. So waiting a little longer before visiting the shop had turned out to be a critical decision. If such a significant event had shaken the system itself, then perhaps his odds weren’t so slim after all.

"That sounds... promising for me," Thalion replied carefully. "So, do you have something I can use? And why tell me any of this? You’ve never been this chatty before."

The voice of the System practically hummed with energy, its mood unusually lively—though there was something underneath the excitement, an undercurrent of unease.

"Well, you’re one of the last people visiting the system shop in this tutorial. For most others, it’s been easy—some minor discounts here and there, but nothing too serious. You, though? You’ve been targeted, and not just by coincidence. Right now, I’m in uncharted waters. So I’ll ask you straight: what would you rather have? A bloodline or a divine-rarity skill?"

The words left Thalion momentarily speechless. His mind raced, trying to process the implications, but before he could respond, the voice continued.

"When I say I don’t know how to compensate you, I mean it. I overheard some conversations, and honestly, it’s left me conflicted."

Thalion straightened his posture, focusing his thoughts. "Alright, let’s start with the basics: the discount. I’ve got a hundred million credits. Is that enough to buy something that lets me steal a bloodline—or at least a bloodline skill?"

The voice let out a sound that could almost be mistaken for a thoughtful sigh. "That’s... not an easy question. Every bloodline is different, and extracting one is risky business. Most attempts leave the Bloodline damaged, or outright destroy it. Bloodline skills, on the other hand, are slightly easier to transfer, though the methods vary wildly."

A long pause followed, the golden statue standing motionless, as if sifting through invisible shelves. "Let’s see what I’ve got lying around here. Man i probably need to use my personal stuff."

Thalion waited, a knot of unease tightening in his chest. He still wasn’t sure whether to feel excited or terrified. What kind of force had pushed the System itself to bend this far? Bloodlines weren’t something you could just buy—not even for an absurd amount of credits. And a divine-rarity skill... that bordered on impossible.

Suddenly the statue's voice rang out again, this time with a strange mix of satisfaction and curiosity.

"Ah, here we are. And it’s even blood-related. Quite fitting."

A semi-transparent screen flickered to life before Thalion’s eyes, its contents sharp and clear.

Blood Soul Rending

An ancient, nearly forgotten ritual designed to tear the very essence of a bloodline from its host. The technique can only be used when the target is either at death’s door or completely defenseless. It is more than mere theft—it severs the victim’s blood heritage and forcibly binds it to the user’s soul.

The ritual demands a sacrifice: a piece of the user's own soul must be offered as a vessel for the stolen fragment. Every attempt carries severe risk—ranging from spiritual backlash and soul fragmentation to hallucinations, madness, or even total loss of self. Only one bloodline skill can be stolen per ritual, and the act leaves a permanent scar on both the soul and body—often appearing as a crimson sigil or vein-like mark. The scar will fade as the stolen bloodline gradually adapts to the host.

Thalion stared at the glowing description, his thoughts spinning. No price. No rarity. The ritual wasn’t a simple skill to buy or learn—it was more likely a forbidden technique, one whose knowledge would be burned into his mind, just like when he'd absorbed the Dark Crystal.

He leaned back slightly, exhaling a slow, heavy breath.

This technique could likely be used on both bloodlines and bloodline skills — otherwise, the voice wouldn’t have presented it so casually after his question.

Thalion’s mind raced, the words tumbling from his mouth like water breaking through a dam.

“So... can I just take it? Why’s there no price on it? And another thing — if I do manage to steal a bloodline, can I transmute or alter it afterward? Do bloodlines work like titles, affecting all my forms, or are they bound to just one? And can I hold more than one bloodline at all? Seems kind of contradictory.”

The golden statue stood silent for a heartbeat longer, as if amused by the flood of questions. Then the voice of the System finally answered — calm, measured, but unusually generous in detail.

“Yes, in most cases, bloodlines behave much like titles. They apply across all your forms. However, there are exceptions. Certain rare shapeshifters are born with multiple natural forms, and sometimes, only one of those forms carries the bloodline’s effect. But in your case? If you acquire one, it will affect all forms — buffs, abilities, passive traits, the whole package. Especially since you mentioned wanting to steal a bloodline skill.”

The statue’s golden gaze seemed to glint sharper for a moment as the voice continued, the tone growing more serious.

“As for altering a bloodline — that’s no small feat. Possible, yes, but the process is closer to an evolution or mutation than a simple change. After the tutorial, you’ll unlock special quests. Do well enough in those, and you might earn the chance to reshape certain aspects of a bloodline. That said, whenever you steal a bloodline, there will always be subtle shifts, especially if your physiology or affinity differs from the target’s.”

The voice paused as if to let the information settle before adding one last, sharp note.

“Also, you can only hold one bloodline at a time. You cannot discard or replace it freely. And one more thing — this method is dangerous. Your target must be on the brink of death, completely broken, or you’ll fail. Even I can’t predict all the factors that decide success.”

The answer had been thorough, but something still nagged at Thalion, pulling his thoughts back to the most glaring detail. Despite the whirlwind in his mind, he asked again, his voice quieter, but no less insistent.

“So... why isn’t there a price on it? Can I really just take it?”

The statue tilted its head ever so slightly with a crunching sound, as if humoring him.

“Sure. Take it. Do you want a divine-rarity skill or an entire bloodline thrown in on top?”

Thalion blinked, his suspicion flaring immediately.

“You’re joking, right? You’ve never offered anything for free, and now you’re handing me a manual that could let me steal bloodlines — even create my own? That sounds absurdly overpowered.”

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The voice chuckled, deep and amused, but not unkind.

“I’m completely serious. The bloodline you’d get wouldn’t be anything extraordinary — in fact, it would be among the weakest you can imagine. And don’t overestimate the manual. Even with it, the ritual rarely succeeds, and the backlash is severe. If stealing bloodlines were easy, every god out there would be running around with a collection of them, wouldn’t they? Yet most have none at all.”

Thalion’s brow furrowed. That logic, at least, made sense. Still, there was another question lingering.

“Alright... but there have to be some signs, right? Indicators that tell me whether I can even attempt to steal a bloodline in the first place?”

The voice answered without missing a beat.

“Correct. Two key things matter: your level and your soul’s strength. You must be at least equal in level to the target — and your soul must be stronger. Even a god couldn’t steal a mortal’s bloodline. And another thing — breaking a person’s spirit isn’t always enough. The bloodline itself might still resist, and that can cause serious harm to your true soul.”

Thalion nodded slowly, the logic settling into place. The pieces were starting to fit.

“Alright. Next question: what bloodlines do you actually have access to? And what do they do? Also — if I already have a different bloodline, and I steal a bloodline skill... will it still work? Or will the two conflict?”

The voice of the System let out another thoughtful hum, clearly amused by his relentless questions.

“Good question. Bloodline skills will work independently, even if you possess a different bloodline. However, if the stolen bloodline is stronger than the skill, it might alter the skill slightly during integration — but that’s rare. Also, something important I forgot to mention: if you already possess a bloodline skill tied to the same bloodline, it can make the ritual easier. The skill acts like a bridge between your soul and the target’s essence.”

Before the voice could continue, Thalion cut in sharply.

“Wait — wouldn’t that make stealing bloodlines too easy? Couldn’t I just snatch the skill first, and then the bloodline afterward?”

The golden statue's expression, though motionless, almost seemed to radiate amusement at the question.

“No, that wouldn’t work. The bloodline anchors the skill to the host’s soul. You’d have to extract them both at the same time, otherwise the bond wouldn’t break.”

The voice shifted back to its original thought, continuing with a tone that mixed curiosity and something close to hunger.

“As for available bloodlines... well, that’s the tricky part. Bloodlines aren’t normally listed in the System shop. Until now, I didn’t even have access to that section. Give me a moment.”

“Ah, here we go. Most of the section is still locked — probably for a good reason. Maybe if the gap between you and the target were even greater, I could see more options.”

The statue’s tone carried an edge of greedy anticipation, and Thalion couldn’t shake the feeling that the voice was enjoying this turn of events far too much.

“Oh? So that’s how it works, huh? Got it.”

The voice of the System spoke with a hint of amusement, as if watching a child piece together an obvious puzzle. Then its tone shifted, light and teasing.

“Hey, take a look at these. Makes you wonder what someone had to go through to earn a bloodline like this.”

As the words faded, a window blinked into existence before Thalion’s eyes — though unlike the usual sterile system pop-ups, this one seemed older, almost ancient. Deep etchings of complex runes circled its edges, their glow pulsing faintly as though alive, radiating a power far beyond the standard system interface.

Thornjaw Descent

Carries the primal instincts of a forgotten predator species. The user occasionally develops small, retractable bone thorns along the jawline when under stress. Though more intimidating than deadly, these fangs are often dismissed as little more than a cosmetic oddity. However, with enough killing intent—or the right ritual awakening—these thorns may evolve into something far more sinister, capable of feasting upon mana itself.

Thalion arched a brow, his mind recoiling in mild disbelief as he read the description. What the hell am I supposed to do with something like this?

But the voice wasn’t finished. Another entry unfolded before him, the runes flickering in sharp, ember-like hues.

The Ashblood Lineage

This bloodline originates from a tribe once bound to a dying flame spirit. Its inheritors blood carries residual combustion traits that manifest as volatile, fire-reactive energy. Small objects may ignite on contact with their blood, and under certain conditions, materials in close proximity—especially flammable or mana-active ones—may spontaneously catch fire in their presence. The effect is unstable and difficult to control. Even ambient mana near the bearer can flare into flame without deliberate intent, particularly during stress or while channeling power. Most bearers struggle to manage the trait and rely on suppression rather than mastery. Use of the ability passively drains mana over time. Extended exposure may result in overheating symptoms or gradual internal strain. There is no natural fire immunity, though minor resistance to heat develops over time. With enough time and discipline, it is believed that the uncontrolled ignition can be refined into deliberate combustion. According to fragmented accounts, a few individuals have fully embraced the trait and were able to control the fire. If cultivated, the Ashblood can rise like a phoenix from its own ashes, reborn in flame. Most burn out though.

Thalion’s eyes narrowed as he leaned closer, feeling a strange mixture of fascination and caution twist in his chest.

Before he could even process the second bloodline, another entry unfurled onto the shimmering window, cold and metallic in both tone and design.

The Ironseed Thread

Inheritors of this bloodline discover small metallic flecks growing beneath their skin as the years pass. The process is agonizing at first, and many mistake it for a disease. Over time, iron begins to replace muscle fibers, hardening the body like living armor. Left unchecked, this mutation can fortify the bearer’s physique to unnatural levels, but carries a hidden curse — for just as easily as iron grants protection, it invites decay. Without careful cultivation, the flesh risks rusting from the inside out.

The window pulsed once more, the warm hues shifting to an almost ember-red as the final bloodline revealed itself.

The Embergut Strain

Descended from a long line of failed fire mages who absorbed more heat than they could ever control. Bearers of this lineage emit subtle warmth, able to heat small objects by touch and remain immune to frostbite. In frigid lands, they are cherished as living hearths; in battle, however, their gifts offer little advantage beyond comfort.

Thalion’s lips parted slightly, the words running through his mind like a bad joke.

What the hell kind of bloodlines are these supposed to be?

Before he could voice his thoughts, the familiar voice of the System rang out again, dripping with laughter.

“Haha! Funny, right? Thought you’d enjoy that little selection. Don’t worry, I was just warming you up. Now... let me send you the real stuff.”