Chapter Fifteen: The Origins of the Transcendent Races

“The front line is dangerous. I will send someone to escort you to Riverbend Town, where it will be much safer,” the Earl said to Kana in the command room at dawn.

Kana had no objections to the Earl’s arrangement. If he had an experience bar for monster hunting, he would definitely want to stay at the front lines, but unfortunately, he didn’t. Since that was the case, allowing him to go to a safer rear area to train and improve his attributes at ease was indeed a good choice.

Given his current physical condition, he could only handle fighting level-two Blood Slaves; relying on his old skills to skip levels was already pushing his limits.

But what kind of place was Riverbend Town? He was willing to go to the rear because he was more familiar with areas closer to the novice village. Many thoughts swirled in his mind, but it was clear that some place names had changed over the years—like how Rubble Village was once known as Meat-Eater Village. After all, this region had not yet been fully corrupted by the blood clan’s evil influence.

“Where is Riverbend Town? Can I see the map?” Kana asked.

The Earl pondered for a moment, then pulled out a simple map from a drawer. It lacked any strategic information, only marking some villages and towns. He pointed to a river bend downstream of Lake Seville.

“This is it.”

Kana’s eyes lit up as he recognized the place—Bloodtear Town.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “I hope I can get some supplies and money, at least enough to form a militia guard. The journey so far has left me feeling very unsafe.”

The Earl fell silent at these words, frowning as he stared at Kana. After a moment’s thought, he said, “The two pieces of news you brought earlier are worth that much. Now that you are my Guard Captain, that town is under your command. But I hope you know what you’re doing. Black will follow you and protect your safety. Is there anything else before we set off?”

Guard Captain? Quite cunning, Kana thought, also giving himself something to do. He knew the Earl wouldn’t be able to hold the line and would likely flee to Kohn. So that town was a territory already abandoned, left to his discretion as long as he didn’t go too far. After all, Black would be watching over him.

If Kana could do something useful, that would be even better.

He didn’t refuse; this arrangement was beneficial for his purpose.

“One more question: how can I awaken the power inside me?” Kana asked.

As a member of the royal family, he naturally possessed the power of blood magic. The so-called blood clan was essentially a creation of self-modifying mages.

As previously mentioned, all the world’s anomalies stemmed from the influence of the Genesis Stone. A complete Genesis Stone could create a race with extraordinary powers, altering their size and appearance. Many races in this world originated this way: elves, dwarves, orcs—all essentially humans transformed.

Some powerful mages tried to replicate this power, and many magical beasts, demons, and synthetic monsters were their creations—like goblins, werewolves, and now the blood clan.

According to the game lore, the blood clan’s origin involved the use of fragments of the Genesis Stone. The mage who obtained these fragments sought to create a perfect race but only managed to produce the first blood clan, using himself as the source since the Genesis Stone was so rare.

This made the blood clan less perfect compared to races like elves, but far stronger than purely mage-created constructs.

The blood plague was part of this mage family’s attempt to perfect the blood clan.

As a royal member who inherited some of this power but had not undergone magical transformation, Kana naturally bore the Genesis Stone’s created powers.

He believed the Earl knew how to harness such power, as the Earl’s in-game class was Blood Knight—the mentor and founder of this class.

Completing a series of quests would grant a certificate at version 2.0’s launch to allow class transfer.

Kana had tried this himself, having a secondary character as a Blood Knight; once the power was awakened, he could grasp it more easily.

“Can you already feel it?” the Earl asked, somewhat surprised.

“I can’t feel it, but I know it’s there,” Kana replied honestly.

“Is that so? Then you just need to follow the knight’s training step by step. When you reach a certain level, you will feel the power.”

Hearing this, Kana frowned and turned to look at Aliris, who had been following him.

“Aliris, can you feel it?”

Aliris didn’t hide anything either. After some thought, she nodded. “I don’t know what kind of feeling Your Highness means, but ever since I started healing in the basement, I have indeed sensed a strange power within me.”

“But, I can’t activate or use it. I don’t even know if it’s just my imagination.”

The Earl glanced at Aliris, then at Kana, his eyes questioning.

He wanted to ask if she was another illegitimate child.

Unexpectedly, Kana said outright, “I suspect she’s a test subject of my mother and may also possess blood magic power.”

Aliris turned pale, recalling what Kana had said about his mother, the princess consort.

But Kana didn’t give her time to think and said, “Aliris is my trusted knight. Since I can’t use this power for now, let her learn. I believe with her talent, she can receive your guidance.”

Aliris wanted to say something but was silenced by a look from Kana.

The Earl thought for a moment, observing Aliris, then nodded.

“Step forward, knight. Let me ask you a few questions.”

Aliris stepped forward, and the Earl began instructing her on how to harness this sensation and control the power.

Kana, standing beside them, found it hard to follow.

In the real world, training in supernatural powers was obviously not as simple as clicking to level up or casting a skill like in a game.

After some guidance, afternoon had arrived.

The Earl became busy with his own affairs.

Kana and Aliris bid farewell to the Earl and were guided by knights out of the city.

Three knights were waiting there.

Aliris had changed into a fitted set of armor and carried a brand-new sword.

The leader of the knights was the familiar Black.

Black dismounted and saluted Kana.

“Your Highness, the Earl sent us to protect your safety.”

Kana nodded and exchanged a few words.

Mounting his horse, he said, “Let’s go.”

The five horses formed a formation, with Kana in the center, heading toward Riverbend Town.