"Hmm..." Rosanne furrowed her brow in confusion. "Whatever could they be doing..."

She stared at the crimson sphere floating before her, fascination filling her being more so than any other emotion.

Not three days ago a group of four people who didn't exactly belong together down in the Farwinds had triggered her Blood Reading skill.

Initially, she had thanked the Rosanne from almost 2,000 years ago for dedicating the better part of two centuries into earning that skill and perfecting it - ten or so years for the former, the rest for the latter.

It was largely in part thanks to that skill Rosanne was even able to take over Krieg Stunfurn with little-to-no effort.

A traceless passive skill that could let her sense all blood within 50 miles of her rendered sneak attacks a neutered threat to her life. It also allowed her to learn routines, sleeping patterns, and even the weaknesses, of others with less than a thought's worth of effort.

Well, that last thing needed 17 years of dedicated effort. Trailblazing the additional effects of a widely forbidden skill amongst the magical communities could be like that sometimes.

The only reason she hadn't killed her visitors and added their blood to her growing collection was because they had appeared quite literally out of thin air.

She had no idea how. It had to be a unique skill. At first, she assumed the dwarven kingdoms had summoned an extremely talented space mage to remove her from the mortal plane.

She doubted they would, given Krieg Stunfurn's remote location. It didn't guard over an entrance to the Deepwinds nor did it garrison anyone working to fight back an indescribable horror, so the likelihood of the greater council mustering up a force capable of killing or capturing her was nigh non-existent.

They couldn't risk losing a valuable asset to a dangerous hedge blood mage over a strategically worthless krieg.

It didn't take long for Rosanne to determine the group did not, in fact, contain some legendary space mage. The four uninvited guests were made up of two non-mages, one child with so little magic in her blood to the point of it being negligible, and one other...

The human whose blood was somehow almost a millennium old despite her only being a C-ranker certainly had the mana capacity to be running through the veins of a powerful space mage. Of that, Rosanne had no doubts.

What she could accomplish with such an absurd amount of MP... The woman had almost seven times as much MP as Rosanne.

How, she didn't know, but she intended to find out. But no, it couldn't have been space magic. The woman had the MP but not the time.

A thousand years was nowhere near enough to learn the magics required to teleport a group of four so effortlessly and without a fixed structure to act as a crutch. Normally, casters relied upon a magic circle or a rune-inscribed gate - both of which would need a perfect copy at the point of departure and arrival.

"90% sure it was a unique skill, 9% a world skill I've never heard of, and 1% for something else," Rosanne muttered.

She stared into her Scrying Orb of Life for a few more minutes in silence. The foxkin male was talented for sure, but she couldn't understand what his goal was.

"I just don't get it. He doesn't have a lick of magic in him," Rosanne said to herself. "Even if he learns how to control the blood of others through Blood Clone - a skill I wish I had. Curse all SP-based blood skills, he still won't be able to touch me."

There was no way a C-ranker relying on an SP-powered blood skill could defeat her own control over her blood.

It baffled her. Seeing as how they were clearly preparing, plotting, and planning, they meant to hunt her.

It was laughable. A B-ranker, two C-rankers, and a lowly F-ranker. And they somehow think they could kill or capture her, Rosanne, an SSS-ranked master of all things arcane that pertained to the liquid of life?

It was cute, really. Rosanne watched through her orb for three more days and nights. The foxkin male seemed to earn the additional effect he was searching for - an impressive feat.

He must have been training for many months or years already to earn it now, of all times. Rosanne felt it was a pity his talent would be ended in these halls along with his life, but she hadn't exactly summoned him here.

If he and his companions wished to stop her, she would certainly have to make them work for it, even if they couldn't offer up much resistance.

A distraction was unneeded and disruptive to her plans, but she'd make the most of it, of that, Rosanne was cer-

"Mental Destruction. Mental Destruction. Mental Destruction. Mental Destruction. Mental Destruction. Mental Destruction. Mental Destruction."

A sudden pain like no other assaulted Rosanne's head, resulting in her scrying orb dissolving. It was like her mind had been attacked repeatedly.

If that wasn't bad enough, she also felt numerous sharp objects pierce her body. She did the only thing she could. She invoked her contingency plan. "Blood Explosion."

'Shit. She must have some magic-based resistance to not have died to seven Mental Destructions,' Lone thought as he moved his tails to skewer her.

"Blood Explosion," the gorgeous woman with blood-red hair that went down to her knees mumbled as she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Lone's vision went red as he felt a searing pain spread throughout his body. It took him less than a second to realise that the spell the blood mage had used was able to ignite and make all blood within a certain radius of her explode violently.

This included the blood within Lone's own veins. It was painful and the force of the explosions was strong, but not enough so to kill or seriously injure him.

With some SP infused into it, Basic Regeneration had him and his Bone Armour in perfect condition within a second.

With his vision restored, Lone could see that he was now standing in a crater that the skill Blood Explosion has formed. On the other side of it could be seen the blood mage, looking good as new, though her skin seemed a bit paler.

The host has developed the active blood magic skill: Blood Explosion. Active Blood Magic Skill: Blood Explosion

A highly advanced application of the blood magic school where the caster uses a hint of explosion magic in combination with blood magic to ignite all blood within a 1-metre radius of themselves.

Cost: 10,000 MP Mastery: Beginner Level 1 Congratulations! The host has developed an affinity for Blood Magic. Congratulations! The host has developed an affinity for Explosion Magic. The host has developed the passive skill: Blood Magic Resistance. Passive Skill: Blood Magic Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of Blood Magic.

Blood Magic used on the host will be weakened by 5%.

Cost: N/A Mastery: Beginner Level 1 The host has developed the passive skill: Explosion Magic Resistance. Passive Skill: Explosion Magic Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of Explosion Magic.

Explosion Magic used on the host will be weakened by 5%.

Cost: N/A Mastery: Beginner Level 1

"Holy fuck... Magic schools can be combined? Well colour me surprised," Lone commented as he licked his lips with avarice.

"How are you alive?" the blood mage demanded of him.

Lone smiled under his helmet of black, blue, and purple, bone. "They don't call me Immortus the Immortal for no reason. Any more fancy spells you want to use on me? The fact that spell - Blood Explosion, right? - didn't kill me is evidence enough that I can win this, but please, do try to prove me wrong."

'There's a high chance that spell was an emergency one meant to obliterate me in one go, and I bet it took a lot of MP,' Lone thought. 'I went through a fifth of my SP to heal though so she might win a war of attrition. Gotta convince her I have the upper hand.'

'She's preparing another spell. Be careful,' Soph informed him telepathically. 'She can turn into blood, by the way. It's how she survived. Her mana went down a lot though, so chances are, it's a spell that's heavy on MP.'

'Thanks. If you get a chance, use Barrier Prison on her if it looks like I'm starting to lose,' Lone ordered before he grinned from ear to ear. "Trying to increase my new Blood Magic Resistance even more? Maybe Explosion Magic Resistance too? You're too kind."

The blood mage laughed. "If you want to bluff, make it believable."

She put her hands over her head, interlocked her fingers, and stretched. "You're strong for a C-ranker. And considering you can speak perfect Ancient Gelburian Text, it seems you are indeed a summoned hero. Answer me this though, 'Immortus the Immortal', it would have taken at least a unique skill for you to still be alive, but my spell did hit you. So, who is the one that can teleport? The girl, the woman, or the dwarf?"

'Beneath you,' Soph warned.

Lone immediately created a colossal shield at his feet. Considering he had survived a spell called 'Blood Explosion' at point-blank range, he figured it would be unnecessary to use his guaranteed deflection from Buckler Mastery right now.

It was the perfect season for farming, and Lone was looking to harvest.

"Crimson Eruption!" the blood mage - and apparently part-time explosion mage too - invoked.

A geyser of blood split the land under Lone's feet and burrowed into his shield like a drill before sending him flying into the ceiling of the krieg's cave structure.

The host has developed the active blood magic skill: Crimson Eruption. Active Blood Magic Skill: Crimson Eruption

A highly advanced application of the blood magic school where the caster uses a hint of explosion magic in combination with blood magic to gather nearby blood underground before forcing it to burst forth with the power of a weak stream.

Limits: 80% of the blood in the Crimson Eruption must be already present for the skill to trigger.

Cost: 8,000 MP Mastery: Beginner Level 1

He could feel the pressure of the geyser eating away at his colossal shield but its self-repairing was faster.

"Blood Explosion!" he heard the blood mage yell while he was still being hammered by the geyser.

Again, his insides boiled but it was far less effective this time. Lone chalked that down to his new Blood Magic Resistance working to combat the spells.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 2. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 3. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 4. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 5. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Explosion Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 2.

'You okay?' Soph's voice drifted into his mind.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 6. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 7.

'You can sense it, right? Barely used two-fifths of my SP and the fight'll only get easier and easier for me as it goes on,' Lone said with confidence.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 8. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 9. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Explosion Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 3.

'I'm glad. We... we both are. I've covered the entire krieg in my barriers. There's no getting in or out unless she has a skill that can get around it... which... which is likely. Uh, well, I-I'm ready to try to imprison her whenever you think it's a good time,' Soph replied.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 10. Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Blood Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Intermediate Level 1. Passive Skill: Blood Magic Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of Blood Magic.

Blood Magic used on the host will be weakened by 15% [+10%].

Cost: N/A Mastery: Intermediate Level 1 Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Explosion Magic Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 4.

'I'll let you know,' Lone said as he created a new Blood Clone in his body and used it to free himself from the geyser, feeling he had gained everything he could from it.

It was a shame the attacks weren't strong enough to level his Bone Armour or Basic Regeneration. Lone figured that made sense though.

It would be hard to find anything powerful enough to surpass the destructive force of Soph's 3,000,000 MP charged Barrier Maelstrom that was formed during skill enlightenment.

Lone moved his body and landed a few dozen feet away from the even paler and more heavily breathing blood mage.

"Y'know," He started, "when I had a fight with an X-ranker, he made me feel like a little bitch when he actually acted. Grabbed me by the leg and left me dangling - well, more scraping. Dwarves, right? Short little bastards. Anyway, he made me feel helpless."

Lone eyed the mage up and down. "You though... is the gap between triple-S and X really that wide?"

"... I think we should talk. Perhaps introduce ourselves to one another?" the blood mage suggested, avoiding answering the question.

Lone tilted his head. "Why? The scripture inside of me is kinda nagging at me to snap your neck."

The mage's eyes widened. "You're here as part of militaristic enlistment? A nine-traited beastkin, at that? And a Golden Foxkin to boot? Really? Well now, that is interesting. One criminal to another, surely we can work this out."

"Why?" Lone asked. "I see no point, though make your offer. Maybe you have some sort of persuasion skill I can earn a resistance to. I have an offer for you too once you're done and I reject you."

"Let's work together," the blood mage offered. "It takes a serious crime for an outsider of the kriegs to not just earn themselves a lovely little exile back to the surface. I'm sure there's plenty I could teach you, a C-ranker that I seem to be unable to kill. I'd love to hear about your world of origin as well. I've never heard of the Golden Foxkin Clan using a hero summoning spell or ritual before their disappearance."

"And the scripture magic binding me?" Lone questioned.

The mage shrugged. "If my spells could not kill you, I doubt scripture magic could. Injure and maim you? Squeeze your soul to the point it feels it might burst? I don't doubt it, but kill you? I'm hardly a battle mage but I had the capability to kill a guildmaster of The Adventurer's Guild, and he didn't even take half the beating I've given you. I'm sure you'll survive the experience of resisting the scripture. You also seem to seek new skills and skill levels, no?"

Lone nodded. "That I do, that I do... Let me go through all of your points one at a time?"

"Of course," the blood mage replied.

'Lone, she's preparing another spell. A big one this time. I think it'll drain her dry. I don't know if it's for attacking you or to escape, but be careful,' Soph informed him.

"I didn't really commit a serious crime - well, to the dwarves, yes, to everyone else, no. I just learned steamforging and I got one hell of a lawyer who managed to get me spared from execution," Lone answered. 'Is there enough mana in it to rival your 3,000,000 MP Barrier Maelstrom?'

'No. Not even close,' Soph answered.

'Then I welcome a new spell to my arsenal. If it's an escape spell, track her and 'port me straight to her. I'll just finish her off if she tries to flee,' Lone directed before he said, "I agree. There's probably a lot someone like you could teach me. I have no interest in telling you about where I came from though."

The mage nodded along, happy to let Lone finish his response.

"I also agree that I can likely endure defying the scripture magic, but I don't want to. If I wanted to leave the Dwarven kingdoms, I could have. I want to make up for my crimes," Lone said.

"So that's it then? We must fight to the death?" the blood mage asked. "Can't you just let me leave? Wouldn't a favour from a powerful SSS-ranked blood mage be a valuable asset for you?"

"Not likely. I don't know your name, or how to contact you to cash in said favour, and honestly, we overprepared for you. I don't know what I expected when I'm used to antagonising gods and the like but you're not that powerful when looking through my lens. I'll give you credit though, you're the first person to not die from Mental Destruction ignoring Darkness, even though I slammed you with seven of 'em," Lone complimented.

He then cracked his neck. "Now, my offer for you. Use every skill you can on me and I'll kill you painlessly. Refuse or try to run and, well, I have some skills I'd like to practice on someone that at the end of the day, needs to pay in blood for wiping out a city full of innocents. Make your choice. You've got five seconds until I make it for you."

A flash of panic entered the blood mage's eyes before she replied, "Never underestimate a low ranker, huh? Good lesson to learn. So much wasted work... Vein Stepping!"

Lone dashed forward and lashed out with his deadly tails to no avail. The mage was gone.

'She got past my barriers somehow but she's not fast enough to outrun my Mana Sensing. I'll follow he- Oh no,' Soph relayed.

Lone raised a concerned eyebrow. ''Oh no', what?'

'S-She could tell where we were... This whole time. Oh, uh, She, em, she went straight to where Breena and Hamish were hiding.' Soph's tone shifted to that of Sophie before she said, 'Do you want the good news or the bad news first?'

Lone's mind was racing but he replied, 'The good, assuming there actually is any.'

'The mage hasn't killed them, so we suspect she intends to strike up a bargain,' Sophie answered. 'We suppose she is scared of our Teleportation and doubts she can run.'

'And the bad news?' Lone asked.

Sophie appeared by his side and grabbed his armoured forearm. "She didn't kill Hamish."

The two of them then disappeared from the destroyed remains of Krieg Stunfurn.