Chapter 7: The Forbidden Scroll
The fortress was quiet.
Min had gone out to scout nearby ruins for remnants of Bloodmoon artifacts. He had warned Patrick not to meddle with anything he wasn't ready for — especially not the sealed chamber within his room.
But curiosity was a dangerous seed.
Patrick couldn't ignore it. Since awakening his Blood Core, something within him stirred — not just power, but a thirst for understanding. A whisper that said, "Know everything. Control everything. Become more."
So, when the gates of the fortress creaked open and Min disappeared into the misty woods, Patrick stepped forward, heart pounding.
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He entered Min's room.
It was dark, simple — yet there was something dense in the air. Blood runes were etched into the walls in ink long dried. The scent of ancient scrolls and burning incense lingered.
He walked to the old wooden cupboard.
Locked — of course.
But Patrick extended a finger. His Blood Laser hummed softly, slicing clean through the latch. The door creaked open.
Inside: several sealed bottles, black stones… and one scroll glowing with crimson aura.
Drawn to it like a moth to flame, Patrick picked it up. The moment his fingers touched it, his blood core pulsed in sync.
The scroll unrolled itself — slowly — as if it sensed his power.
At the top, in red letters that shimmered with life, were the words:
"Blood Ritual Art: The Path of Shadowed Kings"
Patrick sat cross-legged, breath shallow, as the scroll revealed its secrets:
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What Is the Blood Ritual?
The Blood Ritual Art is a forbidden technique created by the ancient Bloodmoon Lords. It allows a real Bloodmoon to infuse their blood into a normal human, transforming them into a Blood Puppet.
These puppets are not truly Bloodmoon — their minds are intact, but their souls are tethered to their master's bloodline. They can wield Blood Energy, sometimes even mimicking Bloodmoon traits, but they are forever bound.
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Abilities Within the Ritual
1. Vitality Drain
– The master can extract the life force (vitality) from their puppet, using it to heal wounds, restore qi, or even prolong their own life.
– If a puppet dies, the master absorbs all remaining vitality instantly.
2. Shared Senses
– The master can see, hear, or feel through their puppet's body. Useful for espionage or multi-location combat.
3. Blood Bind
– A command spell that paralyzes the puppet if they try to rebel.
4. Ritual Combustion (marked "Extreme Use")
– The puppet can be ignited from within, turning into a living bomb to destroy enemies at the cost of their own life.
5. Blood Combination
– The master and the puppet can fuse temporarily. Their bodies, cores, and skills combine, creating a stronger form.
– This fusion multiplies strength and speed but comes with a cost: physical strain, possible loss of sanity, and memory bleed.
6. Blood Echo
– When a puppet dies, their last ten seconds of memory are stored in a Blood Crystal, usable by the master.
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Warning:
> "Once you perform a Blood Ritual, you are no longer just yourself.
You are responsible for another life — bound in shadow, forged in blood."
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Patrick stared at the scroll, trembling.
The temptation was overwhelming. With this, he could build an army. Create loyal followers. Restore the Bloodmoon… or twist it into something entirely new.
But a small part of him — the part still human — feared what it meant to enslave a soul.
He rolled up the scroll.
Behind him, the door creaked.
Patrick turned, startled — only to find Min standing there. Silent. Watching.
The look in his eyes wasn't anger.
It was sadness.
"You weren't supposed to see that yet," Min said quietly.
Patrick lowered his head. "I… I had to know."
Min walked over and gently took the scroll.
"The Blood Ritual destroyed half the original clan. It brought power... but it also brought madness. Use it if you must — but remember: not everyone you create will remain yours. Some puppets… break free."
Patrick nodded, but deep inside, he wasn't sure he cared anymore.
The war had started. The world had chosen its side.
Now it was time to build his own.