Chapter 48: Ice Magic and Mysterious Bloodlines

The orcs were dead. Finally. The path to the sewer entrance lay open, and for the first time in days… there was a glimpse of hope.

Hope that the other side of the wall might hold safety. Shelter. Answers.

Allison stood among the bodies, breathing heavily, his katana dripping with blood. “I can’t believe we actually pulled it off…”

Luke didn’t respond. He walked silently from corpse to corpse, stabbing each one without hesitation. Just to be sure.

The sound of steel sinking into flesh echoed through the quiet.

“We only won,” Luke muttered, wiping his kukri on an orc’s tattered tunic, “because part of their forces ran toward the burning tree.”

Allison approached, pulling a ring off his finger. “Speaking of which… here’s your Fire Ring.”

Luke took it back. The plan had worked better than expected. The orcs had charged into the woods with blind fury, weapons drawn and murder in their eyes.

“They didn’t even hesitate,” Luke said flatly. “Didn’t stop to question. They just wanted to kill whatever they found.”

Allison nodded.

Nearby, Princess Charlie was methodically piercing every fallen orc with her sword. Just to be safe.

Luke opened his system window. Before the battle, he’d spent a free stat point in Vitality. But now—after leveling up his new class—he had more to allocate. Three, to be exact.

His eyes flickered with something close to excitement. He was getting stronger.

Name: Luke
Level: 5
Rank: F
Class: [Demonic Assassin (Lvl 9)]
Race: Half-Demon
Profession: –
Titles: [Dark Lord]
Bloodline: [Bloodline of the Dark Demon]
Health Points (HP): 286/430
Mana Points (MP): 47/260
Stamina: 148/220
Soul Fragments: 13/1000

Stats:
Strength: 37
Agility: 46
Endurance: 22
Vitality: 43
Perception: 37
Intelligence: 26
Free Points: 3

Inventory: [Throwing Knife Holster], [Demonic Twin Kukris], [Ring of Fire], [Stalking Crocodile Chestplate], [Crypt Guardian’s Gloves], [Novice Adventurer Set]

Class Skills: [Basic Blade Handling (Common)], [Profane Knife Throwing (Uncommon)], [Twin Blade (Common)], [Basic Dark Dash (Rare)]

Race Skills: [Identify (Common)], [Demonic Perception (Uncommon)], [Dark Blood (Uncommon)]

Bloodline Skill: [Servant of the Dark Lord (Unique)]

Servant: [Princess Charlie (Skeleton) – Lvl 3]

He applied the three new points without hesitation.

Stats Updated:

Strength: 37 -> 38
Endurance: 22 -> 23
Intelligence: 26 -> 27
Free Points: 3 -> 0

Luke sighed and closed the screen.

“I got a new pair of boots and leveled up my race,” Allison said with a grin. “Guess we’re all growing stronger. Ready to move out?”

Allison paused, then added, “No offense… but your face looks like it got hit by a wagon.”

Luke touched the side of his face.

Cuts. Swelling. One eye nearly shut.

“If a woman saw me right now…” he murmured, “Terrible first impression.”

Charlie turned to look at him.

He stared back at her blank skeletal expression.

“What?”

Allison coughed awkwardly. “T-they’d still think you’re cool.”

The three of them made their way toward the intact cabin on the edge of the camp. But something tugged at Luke’s thoughts.

“I thought you were just a swordsman,” he said flatly. “But I saw you using ice magic.”

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Allison froze mid-step. “You… saw that?”

Silence stretched between them.

“Look,” Allison sighed. “I’ve got secrets too, alright? It’s not personal. But I’m not exactly eager to announce I’ve got magic to a stranger traveling with a creepy skeleton lady.”

Luke shrugged. “I’m not judging. Just surprised.”

Allison slid his katana into his inventory.

“But don’t count on it in every fight. My ice magic’s weak. Basic stuff, limited use. Just a few tricks… for now.”

They moved forward again, boots crunching against the debris. Smoke still rose faintly from the far side of the village.

Up ahead was a single wooden cabin—still standing.

“But can swordsmen even awaken magic?” Luke asked, eyes narrowing. “Sounds more like a mage thing. Or… did your class mutate?”

Allison stopped in his tracks.

He pressed his lips together and looked down, hesitating before he finally spoke.

“There is a class evolution for Magic Swordsman,” he admitted. “But I haven’t met the requirements. My power… didn’t come from that.”

He looked up, gaze meeting Luke’s with surprising weight.

“I suspect it came from the same place yours did.”

Luke’s eyes sharpened. “What do you mean?”

Allison’s glance flicked toward Charlie. Then back to Luke.

“My ice power… it came from my Bloodline,” he said slowly. “Just like your skeleton did.”