"Blood Bomb."
Uttering these words, Jules knew it wouldn't do much against this monster named Mucus.
His range of control covered the six creatures around him, but the explosive power wasn't much against their slimy body.
His targets were 5-E rank and a F-rank.
Jules could use fire magic to make this faster, but he was Veil right now, so he had to learn to fight like him.
As soon as the blood popped like a chain reaction of explosions, Jules felt his body grow stronger.
He pivoted swiftly, beheading the nearest Mucus to him.
Purple blood gushed out of the head, adding to Jules's enhancement.
As his blade connected to the next Mucus with a thrust, the creature bent its body to a C-shape like rubber.
He stabbed the air and hurriedly retracted his sword as he sensed attacks.
They came in the form of tongues shot at him, the one at the center.
He jumped up a bit, almost reaching the ceiling.
The Mucus that had just straightened its body was the last to attack as it suddenly shot its tongue upward.
Midair, Jules cushioned the attack with his sword as he let it send him back.
Jules steadied himself low as blood coated his blade before solidifying.
The creatures lunged, their slimy bodies stretching unnaturally, tongues flicking and snapping in the air.
Jules didn't wait and stepped into their midst like a blur, forming an arc that cut the weakest Mucus into two.
As purple blood sprayed more, Jules was already moving.
Tongues shot at him again and he made his way around them.
But when his next target's tongue reached him, he held it tight with his left and spun it, letting it tie around his arm.
He could hear a sizzling sound as the tongue's acid was melting his coat but it didn't burn far as blood formed a layer between it to reduce the damage.
Pulling the prey towards himself, the beast extended its acidic palms toward Jules's body.
As its palm grazed the surface of his cloth, a blade pierced through its scaled skin using its weight against it.
Grounding himself, Jules swiftly untied the tongue. He threw the corpse toward a Mucus, making it retreat a distance with a yelp.
With one swift breath, he reignited his momentum, his strength burning from the bloody fuel.
The blood wasn't of high quantity, but against these frail creatures, it was enough.
Two Mucus leaped at him, but Jules took a quick step forward, letting them near a small blood ball he had left behind.
"Bind." He commanded the blood with his skill assisted with magic language.
The ball suddenly shot at one of them and coiled around it like a snake strangling its target.
Jules, who had chosen the one at his right, swung backwards, extending his blade's reach with the blood on it.
Forming a rough hammer, Jules slammed his sword into the Mucus's head, letting it hit like a heavy water balloon.
Letting the momentum move him, Jules kicked towards the same direction with his left leg, completely popping the Mucus head.
As his leg landed, he crouched and leapt forward with a burst of strength.
Then his katana traced a sharp upward diagonal slash that cleanly cut the sixth mucus from the right chest to the left shoulder.
The last Mucus had darted at him from behind, shooting its tongue.
With a pivot Jules turned around and threw a ball of blood into its face.
The ball expanded like paper and covered the face of the beast.
Jules threw his katana swiftly into its mouth, leaving a hole in the face.
After a thud, silence grew and the blood moving around Jules's hand popped and fell.
"I used quite a lot of mana. Should I not use Mana Enhancement when there's blood around me?"
Although his mana capacity was 75% of Ryan's, who had a big core, his control over blood wasn't there yet causing him to expend more.
He walked forward and picked his Katana and smiled, "I did it again!"
It was good to see things went as he foresaw it! This was his proof that power means one could gain control!
As he sheathed his sword, Jules reflected, "My sword skills are even better now. I guess the Evanavas are really meant for battle. The basis of Ryan's sword art also compliments me well."
Reflecting a bit more, he commented, "Veil's fighting style is coming together quite well. I believe I'll get the hang of it very soon."
Curious about his progress, he conjured his system interface.
- - -
Crimson Sigil: 30/35L
- - -
Jules was slightly dejected as he saw this. "Despite preparing for the Mucus, I still expended a human adult's worth of blood."
He had done his research to improve his comprehension.
"I can't risk refilling right now. The sigil is useful, storing blood and even making it easier for me to control, but the assimilation time is quite… limiting."
If Jules were to store more blood into his Sigil, it would need a time to assimilate fully, and during that time, he wasn't able to access the blood within.
"When I resume, I should have more free space to practice with the skill to improve my proficiency."
- - -
Blood Manipulation: … [17%]
- - -
"If I concentrate deeper, I might be able to do better," Jules commented.
Just as he was about to think of moving, a notification sounded.
[Quest "Claim First out of three ???" has been completed.]
[ ⅓ ??? has been acquired.]
[+13% to Mana Core Stage.]
Jules suddenly felt the air thicken as mana surged around him. All mana seemed to surge toward him like a child running to its mother.
He felt a warm sensation around his stomach area as a subtle glow could be seen there.
It lasted for an instant before the feeling died down.
- - -
Mana Core: Light Orange [88%]
- - -
Jules thought proudly. Now, I'm at the top of my peers.
He didn't have time to linger because if his quest was successful, Ryan and Finn must still be killing.
The changes of his core only made his mana's quality better so it wasn't anything major to get used to.
Looking at the end of his tunnel, Jules smiled underneath his mask as he darted forward.
He met six more Mucus on the way, with the average being D-rank, but he managed to pull through.
Soon, he reached the end of the tunnel, where he was hearing sounds of movements.
Crossing into an even larger and deeper cavern, Jules saw Ryan and Finn engaging with a couple of Mucus that had even more scales and higher intelligence.
What entrance would fit Veil here? He thought with amusement.