"Shut up! You're not going to fail!"
Robb abruptly cut off the words that Andrey was about to say, words that sounded dangerously close to a final farewell.
"Even if something goes wrong, I'm here. I've prepared several anti-mutation potions. I can step in at any time."
In truth, that was a lie meant to reassure Andrey. Once a bloodline activation begins, external intervention is almost impossible.
If Andrey were to fully mutate, there would be little Robb could do, perhaps only make the end a bit easier.
But right now, what Andrey needed was confidence, not fear.
"I understand."
Andrey took a deep breath. He clearly knew the truth as well.
"Then let's begin."
He raised the potion bottle, nodded to Robb, and drank it in one go.
The moment the potion entered his body, Andrey's expression twisted through multiple stages, first surprise, then pain, and finally a kind of ecstatic trance.
Golden light began to glow from under his skin, following the rune paths drawn on his body, forming a complete energy network.
His eyes closed slowly, his arms spread open, and his body rose half a foot off the ground, suspended as if lifted by some invisible force.
The ritual circle glowed more intensely. All seven energy crystals began to hum in unison, forming a resonant tone, the sign that the energies were harmonizing.
Robb stepped back a few paces, observing closely.
He knew the next few minutes would determine Andrey's fate, either he would awaken as a Bloodline Knight, or be devoured by mutation and become a monster.
Time passed slowly. Andrey appeared stable at first, but Robb soon noticed the energy within the circle becoming uneven, as if meeting resistance.
Andrey's face began to contort. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably, as though he were wrestling with a force inside his body.
"Damn it," Robb's instincts screamed. "He's starting to reject the potion."
This was one of the most common dangers during bloodline activation.
When the awakened ancient bloodline clashed with the host's body or mind, the energy flow could become chaotic, often resulting in mutation or worse.
Robb considered his options quickly. He could attempt an intervention, but the risk was high. Or he could place his trust in Andrey's willpower and let him push through on his own.
Andrey's consciousness had entered a strange, chaotic state.
In his mental world, a massive, crimson-scaled dragon was diving toward him. Its head was fierce, its eyes glowing like molten lava, its scales shimmering like molten metal.
At that critical moment, countless images flashed through Andrey's mind:
The despairing faces of cast-out apprentice candidates he'd seen during enforcement patrols...
Karl's corpse, tainted and twisted by mutation...
And memories from the kingdom, being mocked by his brothers, ignored by his father...
These fragments merged into a storm of raw emotion, rage, sorrow, defiance, longing.
"I won't end like this!" Andrey roared inwardly. "I will not become another monster, another nameless corpse!"
The Crimsonblood Wyvern hovered in the air, its golden-red pupils locking onto Andrey, as if evaluating his worth.
After a tense standoff, the dragon's posture softened. Its massive form began to shrink, finally condensing into a crimson ball of energy that floated in front of Andrey.
"I accept you, as part of my strength," Andrey said. "But I, Andrey Farwynd, remain the master of this body."
With his declaration, the red energy flowed into him like liquid fire. There was no more resistance or invasion, only fusion and coexistence.
In the real world, the ritual circle's light stabilized. The wild fluctuations calmed.
Andrey slowly descended from the air, landing firmly on his feet.
The scales that had grown on his skin didn't disappear, but they also stopped spreading. From his neck to his arms, they looked like a suit of finely designed armor.
"Andrey?" Robb approached cautiously, unsure if his friend was still conscious and rational. He had his pocket watch and a sonic pulse spell ready, just in case.
Andrey opened his eyes slowly. His pupils remained vertical and golden, but his gaze was clear and focused.
"I did it, Robb."
His voice was hoarse but filled with indescribable joy.
"I feel... indescribable."
Robb exhaled heavily, his tension finally releasing.
"You almost made me start writing your will," he joked. "For a moment there, I really thought you'd mutated."
"So did I," Andrey admitted, staring at his scaled hands. "But at the final moment, I remembered everything... Those memories gave me the strength to keep going."
Robb examined his friend closely.
Aside from the scaled patches, Andrey's appearance hadn't changed much. But his presence was entirely different.
There was now an unmistakable pressure about him, as if a dormant beast slept within, ready to awaken at any moment.
"How do you feel? What kind of bloodline did you awaken?" Robb asked.
Andrey closed his eyes, sensing the power within him.
"Crimsonblood Wyvern," he said softly. "A subspecies of the Lightlord Dragon. The awakening isn't complete, I've only obtained part of its power. But even so..."
He trailed off, then turned to a heavy iron anvil in the corner of the workshop.
Before Robb could ask what he was doing, Andrey's hand transformed, covered in red scales, with his fingers becoming razor-sharp claws.
He grasped the anvil.
What should have taken two or three men to lift, Andrey raised with one hand as if it were wood.
Then, his claws dug into the metal, leaving five deep grooves in the surface.
"This..." Robb stared in shock. "This is the power of a Bloodline Knight?"
Andrey nodded and set the anvil back down effortlessly.
"It's more than strength," he said.
"My senses have heightened, I can hear distant sounds, smell more clearly, even feel the flow of ambient mana around me."
Robb noticed that Andrey's pupils dilated and contracted with his emotions, just like a real reptile.
"Any other abilities?" he asked.
Andrey paused, then inhaled deeply.
A burst of crimson flame flickered to life in his palm, golden patterns dancing within it, radiating intense heat.
"My affinity for fire has massively increased," he said.
"I can control flame almost instinctively, with barely any mana."
He clenched his fist, extinguishing the fire.
Then he looked at Robb, emotion thick in his voice:
"This feeling... like my whole body is overflowing with power... Like the me before this was just a shadow. Now I've truly awakened."
Robb nodded silently. He understood that sense of transformation.
Once, Andrey had been just another royal scion, surviving in the Black Mist Forest only with the help of his family name.
Now, he had crossed the boundary of the mundane and stepped into the realm of the extraordinary.
Robb walked over to inspect the ritual circle, which had now faded. He examined the runes and the used crystals.
"By the way," he said, "You did hit some instability during the process. That energy turbulence and near loss of control… might mean the potion or ritual needs adjustments."
"No, it wasn't just the potion," Andrey shook his head. "I could feel it, it was my own incompatibility with the bloodline. If your potion hadn't been so precise, I'd have ended up a twisted mess."
He stepped closer to Robb, voice sincere.
"To be honest, the royal records say someone like me has less than a 30% chance of success with a higher bloodline like this. I owe this to your potion, and your ritual design."
Robb frowned slightly. He was already thinking about how to improve the ritual for his own bloodline activation.
"I need to revise the formation," he said thoughtfully. "Especially at the junction between the third and fifth energy paths. That's where your flow broke. Maybe I can add a buffer node there."
They discussed the details. Robb took note of several observations.
"I need to go eat something huge," Andrey eventually said, stretching. "That ritual drained me, I feel like I could eat a whole mountain of meat."
Robb laughed.
"You better. A freshly awakened bloodline consumes tons of energy. That hunger's normal."
Andrey nodded, donning his outer robe.
But at the door, he paused and turned back.
"Thanks, Robb. If it weren't for you, I'd probably have died in Cynthia's bed..."
The blonde boy looked like he was about to say something touching.
Before he could start, Robb punched him in the back, not hard enough to injure his newly strengthened body, but strong enough to cut him off.
"Don't get sappy," Robb rolled his eyes. "Just get out of here and go rest. You'll have plenty of chances to risk your life later."
Andrey chuckled. He knew Robb's gruffness was just a mask for deep concern.
"Oh, right," Robb added casually, like he was talking about the weather: "You're coming with me to Lizard Alley again sometime soon. Don't go running off on another emergency patrol."
Andrey gave him a look, understanding suddenly flashing in his eyes.
Robb didn't intend to let anyone watch his own bloodline activation ritual. It was personal, possibly dangerous, and private.
"Understood," Andrey said with a nod. "I won't be late next time."
Though the ritual procedure and structure had been passed on by Andrey, it was Robb who had carried it out entirely.
Everyone has their secrets. Andrey wouldn't pry.
"Then I'll take my leave."
The golden pupils glinted in the dark as Andrey stepped out.
"I'll come back the day after tomorrow to talk bloodline control."
Robb nodded, watching him go.
When the door shut, he finally exhaled, muscles relaxing.
Despite the close call, Andrey's awakening had gone better than expected.
Robb walked to the window, looking out at the silent Black Mist Forest. His thoughts turned toward his next steps.
Erik and Lia had moved him to the third-phase curriculum, but the courses wouldn't start until the week after next. For now, he had ample time to prepare for his own activation.
"I'll finish my potion orders tomorrow morning," he murmured, tapping the window. "Then I'll begin the ritual in the afternoon."
After watching Andrey's ceremony, he was more confident. Even if problems occurred, they wouldn't be catastrophic.
His greatest fear had been a fatal flaw in the process, something no amount of healing or pocket watch energy could undo.
But now, that fear was gone.
If Andrey could succeed, then with the Primal Tracing trait, Robb's odds were even better.
"Still, caution is key," he reminded himself. "Everyone's different."
He returned to the workbench and began preparing materials for the next day.
The potion was ready. The formation refined. Now it was all about perfecting the small details.
Valenwood tugged lightly at his sleeve with her vine. Concern glowed in her green eyes.
Robb turned, managing a tired smile.
"It's nothing. Just thinking."
Her vines swayed softly: "Transformation always comes with risk. But I believe you're strong enough to control it."
Robb was momentarily stunned. That kind of philosophical insight from a once semi-plant creature was astonishing.
"Thank you, Valenwood," he said sincerely. "Let's hope everything goes well tomorrow."
As night deepened, Robb continued fine-tuning the ritual until exhaustion finally forced him to bed.
The next morning, Robb completed all his potion orders with unusual speed.
He carefully sealed the last batch in crystal bottles and turned to prepare for his own bloodline activation.
"Everything is ready."
He stood at the center of the ritual space, surveying his setup.
Compared to Andrey's setup, his formation was more intricate.
It still followed a solar motif, but now had nine main channels instead of seven. Each was lined with dense runes for increased control and precision.
Special energy crystals had been placed along the channels, each tailored to direct specific energy flows.
Valenwood watched from a corner, silent and still.
Robb had specifically instructed her: do not approach, no matter what happens.
"If anything goes wrong, don't help me."
"Just wait. I'll handle it."
Valenwood nodded, her leaf-board fluttering. "I promise. But please… be careful."
Robb smiled faintly, then took a deep breath and began.
He placed each energy crystal at its node, chanting specific incantations to guide the energy flow.
As the last crystal settled, the ritual circle lit up in golden brilliance, brighter and more stable than Andrey's.
Next, Robb painted runes on his own body using special silver ink, applying those on his back using assisted tools.
Each rune landed precisely on key acupoints, forming a complete energy network.
The stinging sensation was stronger than expected. The fusion of rune and flesh had begun.
Finally, Robb stood in the circle and took out his personalized bloodline potion.
Darker in color than Andrey's, nearly crimson, with golden and green sparkles within.
These were tailored specifically to target House Reyne's unique bloodline.
"It's time," he whispered, gripping the vial tightly.
Despite having the pocket watch as a safety net, his heartbeat quickened.
Bloodline activation was a gamble with life. No one could predict the outcome.
"Don't be afraid," he told himself. "Fear leads to loss of control."
He inhaled deeply, and drank.
The moment the liquid touched his throat, it was as if molten lava surged through his veins. The pain was nearly unbearable.
Robb clenched his teeth, refusing to scream.
As the potion spread, the pain became a strange heat, something inside him was awakening, struggling to break free.
His mind began to fade. The physical world dissolved, replaced by a vast swamp.
Thick fog covered everything. In the distance, low, guttural hisses echoed.
Robb stood on dry ground, surrounded by black mud and the stench of rot.
Then, a massive shadow emerged from the mist.
A giant serpent, more accurately, a horrifying multi-headed snake.
Each head was as large as a human torso. Its metallic scales gleamed. Its eyes blazed with yellow fire, wild, primal, and cruel.
This was the source of House Reyne's bloodline, the Swamp Hydra.
Not as powerful as its primordial ancestors, but still a deadly magic beast, strong enough to rival High Apprentices.
"Just as I thought," Robb whispered. "So this is the original form…"
The hydra sensed him. All its heads turned toward him, eyes filled with hostility and suspicion.
It slithered forward, cutting deep tracks through the swamp.
Robb didn't flinch. He stood tall, staring the ancient beast down.
He knew, in the spirit world of bloodline activation, to retreat is to fail, or worse, mutate.
When the hydra was just meters away, something shifted,
[Primal Tracing Trait Activated!]