[Eli Dengare]
[Race: Demon]
[Rank: Noble]
[Strength: 40]
[Agility: 25]
[Stamina: 15]
[Precision: 15]
[Charm: 7]
[Energy: 500]
[Level: 6]
[EXP: 17000/60000]
[HP: 550HP/1000HP]
[DBS Balance: 20,000]
[Unassigned Stats: 5]
[Gift Box: 0]
[Affinity: Blood, Shadow, Hellfire]
[Skills: Hammer (Lv.3), Phantom Step (Lv.2), Inspect (Lv.2), Omnipotent Eye (Lv.1), Phantom Blade (Lv.2), Daze (Lv.1)]
[Shadow Skills: Scout (Lv.2), Shadow Cloak (Lv.1), Shadow Wall (Lv.1)]
[Blood Skills: Blood Claw (Lv.2), Blood Spray (Lv.2)]
[Hellfire Skills: Demon Wing (Lv.1) [Locked until Level 10]
[Time Skill: Time Freeze (Lv.1)]
[Inventory: Rusty Dagger (White), Worn Boots (White), Brittle Bone (White), Faded Map (White), Empty Potion Bottle (Common), Dull Crystal (White), Leaky Water Skin (White), Broken Umbrella (White), Blood Moon Mask (Epic), Crusader (Nth Advanced Tier)]
[New Skill: Shadow Augmentation (Lv.1)]
[Skill Description: Shadow Augmentation I: increases all stats by +10]
[Cost: 20 Energy]
[Duration: 20 seconds]
[Cooldown: 30 seconds]
[New Skill: Blood Bending (Lv.1)]
[Skill Description: Bend your opponent to your will using their blood.]
[Cost: 20 Energy]
[Cooldown: 1 minute]
Eli couldn't help but let a broad smile spread across his face. "This is surely a massive gain."
He opened his inventory and selected the Blood Moon Mask. The mask materialized in his hand, its cold metal sending a shiver up his spine. He stared at it, marveling at its craftsmanship. The mask's color was blood red, and three claw marks on the left side began to glow with a brilliant crimson luster as it covered the lower half of his face. It featured curves for the nose and mouth, with four twisted fangs intertwined together, their pointed tips jutting out as the finishing touch. It looked like a masterpiece.
[Item: Blood Moon Mask]
[Rank: Epic]
[The Blood Moon Mask can consume blood or draw in blood in close proximity.]
[Skill: Blood Healing: Consumed blood can be used to restore 25% health.]
[Cooldown: 1 minute]
[Skill: Rage: Consumed blood can be used to increase all stats by 25% (Duration: 30 seconds)]
[Cooldown: None]
[Capacity: 1 Liter]
[Blood Healing Activated]
The mask lost it's blood red luster as it turned blunt and black.
[+250 HP]
[800/1000 HP]
Eli stared at the time on his comm and got up to head straight to the bathroom; he was still covered in blood.
"CRACK!"
"ARGGGGGH!"
An intense pain made his body tremble. Eli stared at the source of the discomfort, which was his left leg.
Eli's left leg looked out of place. He had probably ignored it while limping back home, but now it looked worse, with slight black scales running around his ankles and climbing up his leg.
"This must be some type of skill."
When Eli fought the Intermediate Tier Umbrathorn, it used some type of skill to put him out of commission. So, it would be unusual if the Advanced Tier Black Scaled Mamba did not possess even a skill or two of its own. But since Eli was decisive, it didn't have the chance to apply its skill, and just the aftereffect was already this deadly, let alone the main skill.
"The skill is probably deadly. Even the system did not give me any notifications. I need to be more careful next time."
****************
When Eli arrived at Ouroubis VIP Hotel, he was surprised to find the place filled with thugs. "This is interesting," Eli chuckled. Thugs, all Level 3-4 ability users, shot him fierce stares as he entered. Despite one of them trying to speak to him, Eli continued walking, further infuriating them, but they remained silent.
Eli was limping, still not fully healed from his encounter with the Black Scaled Mamba. He knew where to go, thanks to the shared locations with Vulcan Tanheln. "It should probably be the first floor," he thought.
Eli entered the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. The elevator ascended slowly, typical for a high-class VIP hotel. Eli couldn't complain to the manager about the slow elevator.
When the elevator doors opened, Eli smiled gracefully. The smell of blood was unmistakable. He tried to control his aura, walking normally towards Vulcan Tanheln and his men. He was surprised to see Vulcan Tanheln's bodyguard, Anvil Abbott, with his arm in a sling.
"Who did it?" Eli asked curiously. He knew Anvil Abbott's strength firsthand. Whatever damage Eli had done to him should have long since healed, so why was his arm broken?
With many questions in his mind, Eli approached Vulcan Tanheln. "I don't think you wanted me to come here just to hear your apology, so what is it?"
"I knew I wouldn't be able to fool you!" Vulcan Tanheln wasn't embarrassed by his poor excuse. "I need a hand, a small favor from you if you will."
"I'm all ears," Eli nodded slightly.
Vulcan Tanheln lowered his head and shot Samantha Ausoporia a knowing glance, signaling the others to leave the room. Once everyone else was gone, a wry smile broke over Vulcan Tanheln's face. "Since young master Eli knew The Old Man, that puts us on the same side. Let me fill you in on the details.
"One of my competitors who went overseas in the early years is now back on my turf. Since then, he has been racketeering my business. I went to talk some sense into him. Bah! You see what he did to Anvil Abbott, that son of a bitch!" Vulcan Tanheln cursed loudly.
"What does it have to do with me?" Eli's lips thinned into a smile. He didn't care about the infighting between criminal scumbags.
"I knew you didn't care about my problem, but what if I tell you that this guy is really something else—" Vulcan Tanheln paused and sighed. "He returned to Ember Estate all by himself. His Advanced Battle Arts skills have increased by leaps and bounds. He was only a Level 2 ability user with F-rank potential before. He seeks to stir up trouble but isn't interested in money. It was all my fault; I shouldn't have offended him when we were young. I tried bringing a dozen bodyguards, but they still got their asses handed to them."
"Oh?" Eli's interest was piqued. He gave Anvil Abbott a look and asked, "How does his strength compare to mine?"
"He is too much for me to handle, that's for sure. I can't even withstand a single punch from him. In my opinion, he is more powerful than you," Anvil Abbott smiled bitterly. "I've been practicing Advanced Arts for over ten years, and I've never seen such a badass."
Eli nodded. He wagered that the ability user must be a peak Level 5. As for Anvil Abbott's comment, Eli didn't care. He had only used 30% of his force when he kicked Anvil Abbott; otherwise, he might be dead. With his recent advancements, his attacks should be even more powerful.
"That prick asked me to meet him on the island in the middle of Blue Silver Lake tonight to play Kudsok. I would appreciate it if young master Eli could accompany me," Vulcan Tanheln said in a pleading voice.
Kudsok was a straightforward game where two opponents took turns striking their chests while wearing ability suppressor bracelets. It depended on advanced battle arts; the higher the tier, the higher the chance of winning. The winner could ask for two wishes, including property, lands, entourage, or even the loser's life.
Although Vulcan Tanheln knew that Eli was a friend of the Old Man, he understood there had to be a reason for the Old Man's high regard for Eli. He invited Eli to accompany him primarily as a security measure. After their last encounter, Vulcan Tanheln was convinced the kid had hidden strength.
Eli knitted his brows; something told him there was more to this than met the eye. However, since he was already in the Old Man's team, he conceded there would be no harm in meeting another ability user from an opposition team.
"Sure, I will go with you," Eli nodded.
"Great!" Vulcan Tanheln was elated by Eli's decision. "Before you leave, I wish to introduce you to another ability user with a High Grade C-rank Advanced Battle Art."
Eli had already guessed as much. Since the Old Man held him in high regard, so would Vulcan Tanheln. This "other" advanced battle artist was who Vulcan Tanheln was really counting on tonight. Eli was just a contingency measure.
"Don't you also have a C-rank Advanced Battle Art?"
Vulcan Tanheln tried to mask his embarrassment. "It was actually a D-rank. I had to pay a master to superimpose it with a technique, bringing it up to C-rank."
"Back in the day, girls were into that, and I used my Advanced Battle Art ranks as a complement to my pick-up lines and got really lucky with the girls," Vulcan Tanheln answered, slightly embarrassed.
"So it will definitely lose out against another C-rank Advanced Battle Art," Eli nodded, understanding why Vulcan Tanheln was panicked.
After Samantha Ausoporia took a slow sip of her red tea, a group of people started to file into the room. Vulcan Tanheln pushed himself out of the chair and went to the leader of the group with a warm smile.
"Master Vinel! You are finally here! Come on in, please!"
The leader of the group was a middle-aged man in a black gym suit. His eyes glinted as he walked into the room with steady and swift steps. He had augmented bio hair that glittered, high cheekbones, purple pupils, and an arrogant demeanor, trailing behind him a group of young disciples.
Vulcan Tanheln introduced the group to Eli, "Young Master Eli, this is the master I was talking about. He is Master Vinel Maybach from Heaven Pavilion Advanced Arts School."
"A Level 5 ability user and ninth stage Practitioner of the High Grade C-rank Advanced Battle Arts: Dragon Fist."
Vinel Maybach gave Eli a cold look and said, "A kid? Did you find us a cheerleader? Haha!"
An awkward silence fell into the room. After a while, Vulcan Tanheln finally broke the spell. "No, no. This is young master Eli. Don't let his young age fool you; he is quite a fighter. Just ask Anvil Abbott!"
"It seems that you still have no idea who you are dealing with," Vinel Maybach shook his head dismissively. "Your bodyguard is just a piece of cake for who you are messing with. He is above the pay grade of any bodyguards."
"How so?" Vulcan Tanheln asked. So far, he hadn't given any thought to the exact power of his rival.
Eli smiled and kept his thoughts to himself. So far, he had been enjoying the performance of this Vinel Maybach.
Vulcan Tanheln signaled for one of his bodyguards to hand a briefcase to Vinel Maybach's men.
"Master Vinel, here is the first half: five million credits. After we settle the score with my old friend, I'll wire the other five million to your account. I'll also introduce you to my boss, 'The Old Man.' I'm sure he could use your talents too."
Hearing Vulcan Tanheln's words, Vinel Maybach smiled with satisfaction. Although the money was good, his real motivation was to connect with Vulcan Tanheln's powerful boss.
Eli watched silently, not saying a word.
After lunch, Vinel Maybach took it upon himself to come up with a list of people to bring with him. They were Vulcan Tanheln, Anvil Abbott, two gunmen, and one of his apprentices. Together, the six of them would meet at Blue Silver Island.
Seeing that Eli was not included in the list, Vulcan Tanheln smiled.
"Vinel Maybach, I have also invited young master Eli to join me. Why don't you bring him along as well?"
"I've told you why. It's not a fight for just anybody. He won't stand a single punch from Lohan Vertigce," Vinel Maybach complained.
Vulcan Tanheln grimaced, looking between Eli and Vinel Maybach.
Eli said calmly, "Since you have already invited me, I must protect you."
"You're too young, too simple, sometimes naive!" Vinel Maybach sneered.
Despite his hesitation, Vulcan Tanheln eventually decided to let Eli tag along. After all, this boy was a friend of the Old Man, and he didn't want to provoke him.
Vinel Maybach snorted and let the matter rest, albeit unwillingly.