Chapter 44: Legendary Rank Item

Still remembering the incredible taste of her blood, I licked my lips slightly and consumed it both for the flavour and curiosity about what it might grant me. A system notification flashed across my vision once more. [Echo: Stone Armor] [Rank: Transcendent] [Type: Active] [Details: Deploys body Armor that covers the entire body except the head. The Armor possesses the defence capabilities of Transcendent-rank beings. Once completely broken, the echo will no longer exist.] I stared at the system notification in absolute shock. Carmilla had just gifted me an echo? This was an ability that defied the normal system in an unprecedented way. She was able to bypass the restriction of killing a beast to gain echoes or aspects and simply given me one through that blood drop. Seeing the shock etched across my face, Carmilla smiled before calmly saying, "Relax. I know what you are thinking. There are limits to this trait of mine. I won’t go into details, but know that this isn’t something I can casually do, and nor is it something that others can access like yourself." I stared at her in a daze before nodding in understanding. The fact that she even shared this information with me was enough. After all, nobody shared their weaknesses with others, even Kyle, the great hero, himself. "This is just an appetizer. Once you accept my proposal, I will give you a Legendary-rank item. Although, I would need to lock its abilities for you to use it safely. A Legendary-rank item has sentience, and if you aren’t strong enough, it will take over your mind. So I will keep its abilities locked behind rank barriers you need to break before unlocking the next ability." I nodded my head, processing the implications. Kyle had only possessed an Epic-ranked item after more than a year of growth, but now I was being offered a Legendary-rank item which was exponentially more valuable, even if its abilities were sealed behind progression barriers. "So...What do you think?" I stood there for a moment. The offer was incredibly enticing, and I couldn’t force myself to reject such an opportunity. The Transcendent-rank defensive echo alone was worth more than most people would see in their entire lives. Combined with the promise of a Legendary item, this deal could change everything about my survival prospects. The echo had just given me the power of a transcendent beast, at least the defensive power of a transcendent beast. "I accept," I said finally. "But I want to know more about what I’ll be facing when the time comes to rescue you." Carmilla shook her head. "Some things are better left unknown for now. Lest you get yourself into trouble without understanding the consequences. These beings... even saying their names is taboo." These beings...it’s just like I had thought. It’s not a single entity, she is enemies with multiple. After a moment of silence, I sighed in resignation. "Fine. Where is the legendary-rank item you mentioned?" "It will be with you in a few moments." A few moments? I thought to myself before something unprecedented occurred right before my very eyes. Carmilla’s eyes began bleeding once again, but this time blood poured out like rain from storm clouds. The crimson liquid flowed without stopping. I stood there looking at the sigh in disbelief. I wanted to ask if she was truly alright, if something had gone wrong, but I didn’t dare interrupt what was clearly an important and delicate process. After about a minute of continuous bleeding, seven drops the size of small gems had formed and begun floating in the air before me. Finally, Carmilla opened her eyes, though unlike the previous time, they were still bleeding slightly. Clearly, this had taken a significant toll on her. Still, the fact that she was able to create a legendary-rank item while bound by so many chains made of powerful suppression runes definitely made her grow in my estimation. Just how powerful was the Vampire Queen before me? Carmilla’s gaze landed on my neck before she spoke in a slightly haggard tone. "Give me your pendant. I don’t have a vessel to house your legendary item." I nodded, though my mind was racing. I pondered which item to give her, the Typhoon Pendant or the Crimson Moon Pendant. As if answering my inner turmoil, she said, "Give me the Superior-ranked item. The vessel needs to be strong enough to contain the power I’m about to bestow upon it." I took out the Crimson Moon Pendant, and before I could hand it to her, it flew from my hands and positioned itself in the centre of the seven blood gems that began circling around it. One by one, the gems fused with the pendant in brilliant flashes of crimson light. The aura emanating from the pendant grew exponentially stronger with each fusion. Ten minutes later, a transformed pendant rested in my hands. It now contained seven blood-red gems embedded in its surface, one glowing brilliantly while the other six appeared dormant, as if sleeping. The power radiating from the artifact was incredible, far beyond anything I’d even imagined. I looked at Carmilla still chained. Her breath was slightly haggard and a small tired smile still on her beautiful face. Carmilla spoke in a soft tone. "I’ve instilled inside this item an Overlord-rank secret sword art." My eyes widened in shock. An Overlord-rank sword art? In the novel, the highest rank I’d heard someone achieved was King rank. Gaining an Overlord-rank sword art was something I hadn’t dared to dream of. The sword art inside this item was basically an art created by an Overlord-rank entity. Overlord was apparently a rank even higher than King rank itself, and I had no idea how much more powerful it was. So I asked the question on my mind, "Is the Overlord rank directly above King rank?" Carmilla shook her head. "No, it’s two ranks above King rank. Anyway, back to what I was saying - I’ve split the sword art into seven stages. At each rank progression from Elite to Overlord, you will gain access to a secret technique. The power grows exponentially as you advance through it. Also, the item will be permanently bound to you once you drop a single drop of your blood on it."