Solar Blood Masters (183)

Chapter 183 - Grenadale Basin

Several hours later, Kudumei arrived in the airspace above Grenadale Basin.

The descriptions Raphael had read hadn't prepared him for the reality of this place. It was a hellish blend of biting cold and searing heat that had him shivering and sweating simultaneously.

“Ugh… This is… unpleasant.”

Kudumei descended into the basin.

Grenadale Basin was a strange and wondrous place. Sentient medicinal plants danced in the dual currents of cold and heat. Bizarre creatures, adapted to this unique environment, roamed the landscape. And at the basin’s center, a large lake contained a perfect blend of liquid ice and liquid fire, swirling together yet never mixing. Several creatures swam within its depths, seemingly at peace in this paradoxical harmony.

Kudumei landed in a patch of snow surrounded by glistening ice thorns. They radiated a faint, blue light.

Raphael emerged from Kudumei's mouth. The Elixen Belkelium, tied in a bundle with his long, golden hair, rested against his back.

“This place…”

Raphael began to look around when suddenly, the ice thorns came alive.

SWOOSH!

They lashed out, attempting to ensnare him.

“Hey! What the…?! Kudumei, you landed us in a danger zone!”

Kudumei whined softly, then opened her mouth and began absorbing the ice thorns.

The thorns vanished into her maw, but their disappearance had an unforeseen consequence. The ground beneath them trembled. And from the earth, a monstrous shape emerged.

It was a colossal white serpent with razor-sharp ice thorns growing from its scales. Its eyes glowed with a chilling blue light, and its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

The Ice Thorn Python.

Raphael activated his Lingshi Eye. ‘2nd Layer Calamity. And those thorns… They’re not simply for show. They can inject a potent neurotoxin that can paralyze even a Nightmare Calamity. This could be troublesome.’

HISSSS!

“Huh! A human… in Yama Yaguai? I shall gobble you up!” The Ice Thorn Python lunged, its jaws wide open, revealing rows of sharp fangs while simultaneously shooting ice thorns from its scales.

Raphael scrambled away and began running. He slipped and slid across the snowy ground, dodging the python’s attacks.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The ice thorns that missed their target sprouted rapidly into smaller versions of the Ice Thorn Python. They hissed and lunged at him also.

‘It can create more of itself?! What a troublesome snake. I should dispose of it quickly, before this attracts something stronger.’

Raphael stopped retreating. He grasped the Elixen Belkelium. Its smooth surface was strangely comforting in his hands.

He dashed forward.

He swung the pillar, smashing several of the smaller pythons.

BOOM! BAM! BAM!

They shattered, but no Solar Consciousnesses emerged.

‘They’re just… copies. As long as the mother lives… they’ll keep coming.’

“HISS!” The Ice Thorn Python lunged again.

“Royal Guard!”

Raphael thrust the Elixen Belkelium forward.

BOOM!

An invisible barrier materialized, intercepting the python’s attack. It froze in mid-air with its jaws inches from Raphael's face.

‘Three seconds. That’s all I need.’

He spread his wings and soared upwards. He spun the Elixen Belkelium around him and gathered momentum before tossing it down with all his might.

Just as the stasis ended, the pillar slammed into the Ice Thorn Python’s head.

BOOM!

The python’s head exploded in a shower of gore and bone fragments. Its body convulsed, then went still.

Raphael quickly descended to avoid being seen. He landed beside the corpse. He observed the gory display of the beast’s smash head.

However, from behind him a sneaky thorn shot out from the python’s tail.

But Kudumei appeared just in time to shield him with its shell. The thorn bounced harmlessly off her smooth surface, then vanished into her maw.

The Ice Thorn Python finally died. A swirling orb of icy Solar Consciousness materialized above its corpse.

Raphael snatched it with his Abyss Nylon and stored it away.

At the same time, Kudumei began absorbing the python’s remains. Within seconds, they were gone without a trace.

‘This clam… is its stomach a bottomless pit?’ Raphael marveled.

He called Kudumei over.

And together, they cautiously traversed Grenadale Basin in search of the Dog Blood herb.

…

Grenadale Basin was larger than Raphael had anticipated. His search for the Dog Blood herb had been arduous thus far. He’d encountered numerous herbal beasts – Ginseng Warriors, Willow Wisps, even a sentient Mandragora whose screams could shatter a Calamity's eardrums. Some were hostile, attacking on sight, while others simply observed him with a detached curiosity.

He'd quickly learned that his small human form attracted unwanted attention. His Solar Essence, though altered by Sindoll's grafting, still carried a hint of something… potent, something that piqued the beasts' curiosity, so he was forced to retreat inside Kudumei’s mouth.

For some reason, the beasts couldn't sense him when he was concealed within the clam. It was as if Kudumei’s presence masked his own Solar Essence, an unexpected yet welcome advantage.

From then on, he traveled within Kudumei, peeking out occasionally to observe the landscape. However, his journey wasn’t without its challenges. Kudumei’s hunger was insatiable. She wanted to devour everything in sight. Raphael had to constantly restrain her, scolding her gently, reminding her of their shared mission, then she would reluctantly comply.

After an hour of searching, he finally spotted it – a Dog Blood herb.

It was walking through a field of tall, red ice sculptures. The sculptures, formed by the basin’s paradoxical climate, had a spectacular glow about them. They looked like frozen flames, a truly bizarre, yet magnificent sight.

Raphael followed the Dog Blood herb cautiously. It reached a cliff face where patches of grass grew, defying the basin’s harsh environment. The herb began munching on the grass.

‘A plant… eating grass? How ironic.’ Raphael chuckled softly.

He climbed out of Kudumei’s mouth and hid behind an ice sculpture.

‘That Dog Blood… it’s a 3rd Layer Great Ordeal Stage. And its fruits… they look like they’ve been harvested recently. It must be eating to replenish its strength.

I can still snag its remaining mature fruit.’

He activated his Lingshi Eye and summoned his World Canvas and a regular paintbrush.

He dipped the brush in black ink and with a swift stroke, painted a slash across the fruit’s stem.

“Inkblade Stroke!”

WHOOSH!

A black slash materialized and severed the stem. The fruit dropped.

Before it could hit the ground, Kudumei appeared and snatched it. She then scurried back to Raphael’s side, nudging him affectionately.

He patted her shell.

“Well done, Kudumei. Thank you.”

She vibrated, pleased with the praise.

The Dog Blood herb, sensing the fruit's disappearance, turned its three heads, sniffing the air suspiciously. But seeing nothing out of the ordinary, it returned to its grassy meal.

“Whew. That was close,” Raphael whispered and, with the fruit safely secured within Kudumei's grasp, he vanished into his Dark Blood Domain.

Hell Ryu was hovering near the Purple Blood Nest.

“Master! You’re back! What’s that juicy-looking fruit? Can I have a taste?”

“No! This is mine! And if you hadn’t drained all my blood earlier, I wouldn’t have needed it! In fact, if I hadn’t found this fruit… I would be draining YOUR belly right now!”

“Gulp!” Hell Ryu quickly retreated into the nest.

Raphael punched a hole in the Dog Blood fruit and let its blood drain into a bronze-scaled bowl.

‘Roughly 5,070 gallons… with impurities. I’ll use the Buddhist Pill Gourd to refine it.’

He summoned the gourd from his Abyss Nylon. It hovered above the bowl, its mouth open. It began absorbing the blood.

While the gourd worked, Raphael turned his attention to the Ice Thorn Python’s Solar Consciousness.

He sat in a meditative posture and began refining the icy orb. It shrunk, compressed, its energy intensified, then transformed into a beautiful Soul Planet.

‘Which Soul Orbital should I install it on? The Golden Bull Thork’s attributes aren’t compatible with ice. Then, it’ll have to merge with my Spring Blood Dragon.’

He directed the Soul Planet towards the blue sun within his Cosmic Mind Sea. It entered the Astro Soul Orbital and settled into a stable orbit.

The Sapphire Spring Blood Dragon swam around its blue sun excitedly, pleased with the new addition. Even the Teterahek pulsed with a gentle, approving light. The tiny white sun on its branch, however, remained unchanged.

…

SWOOSH!

Raphael materialized behind an ice formation. Kudumei settled beside him. He felt refreshed after absorbing the refined Dog Blood essence. His Blood Pool now had a healthy 5,070 gallons.

“This place… It truly is a treasure trove of medicinal herbs. If I had more time, I’d harvest them all.” He stretched, then paused, noticing Kudumei’s peculiar behavior. She was attempting to eat a nearby ice formation.

“Hey! Stop that!” He quickly summoned his Abyss Nylon, weaving the crimson-black threads around the clam and restraining her.

BOOM!

A sudden explosion nearby had him startled.

“What was that?!”

He hopped into Kudumei’s mouth and they soared above the cliff for a better view.

A legion of Sun Imperial Guards, fifty bronze serpents in gleaming armor, had surrounded a humongous Dog Blood herb. Its branches were laden with juicy, red fruits, each one the size of a house.

‘They’re trying to capture it… alive?’

Their legion commander, a stern-looking bronze serpent named Lu Terror, addressed his unit.

“Do NOT damage the fruits! Emperor Lu Ignis requires this Dog Blood’s Solar Consciousness intact. Its potency is vital to Princess Lu Ruby’s recovery.”

He explained the capture procedure, detailing a specific formation that would immobilize the herb with minimal risk to its precious fruits.

“We must not fail. The princess’s health depends on this million-year-old Dog Blood. The utmost care must be taken. Swiftly now and follow my order! Begin!”

‘They’re capturing it… for Lu Ruby? Is she still suffering from the effects of my Mental Discipline? But how? It’s been five years.’ Raphael frowned as he watch.

Suddenly, Lu Terror’s gaze shifted upwards and his tongue flicked out.

“Legion Commander, what is it?” one of the guards asked.

“Nothing. I thought I sensed… a familiar presence. Reinforce the restraints. And be careful with those fruits.”

“Yes, Legion Commander!”

‘Whew. That was close,’ Raphael thought. He peeked back over the cliff.

‘So, Lu Ignis sent them. I can’t let them have this Dog Blood. I’ll have to dispose of them. Discreetly.’

Below,

The Sun Imperial Guards secured the Dog Blood herb within a complex formation of interwoven webs and energy barriers. It throbbed with restrained power.

“Move out!” Lu Terror commanded.

They lifted the immobilized Dog Blood and began flying towards Hebikuni.

Not too long after they started moving, they noticed  a clam ahead them.

A violet clam hovered in their path.

“Legion Commander, that clam…”

“It’s nothing. Just a regular clam. Proceed.” Lu Terror’s Solar Sense couldn’t detect any potent Solar Essence emanating from Kudumei, so he dismissed it.

The snakes flew past Kudumei.

Raphael peeked out. ‘This is… a good distance.’

“Dark Blood Domain – Expansion!”

He unleashed his domain.

The world around the Sun Imperial Guards shifted. They were engulfed in darkness.

“What’s happening?!”

“I can’t see!”

“Where are we?!”

They bumped into each other as they panicked.

“Calm yourselves! Activate your Sun Cycles!” Lu Terror commanded, quickly assessing the situation. ‘An ambush! Could it be… that clam?’

The snakes activated their Sun Cycles. Small suns materialized, illuminating the darkness.

But then…

CRACK! CRACK! BOOM!

The Sun Cycles began to shatter!

“KYAAAH!”

Screams echoed through the darkness.

“What’s happening?!”

“My Sun Cycle! It’s broken!”

“We’re under attack!”

“You fools! Protect the Dog Blood!” Lu Terror yelled, trying to maintain order. “Form a defensive formation! Now!”

But the snakes were being cut down. Their Solar Consciousnesses, bright orbs of light, materialized and floated upwards.

“Damn it! Show yourselves!” Lu Terror shouted. His Sun Cycle intensified, illuminating the carnage. He saw the mangled bodies of his comrades and cursed bitterly. He searched for the enemy, but the darkness seemed to swallow his light.

“Regroup! At the base of the Dog Blood!”

…

Within the darkness, Raphael moved with the ‘Lucid Dream’ brush in his right hand. His World Canvas hovered beside him, displaying images of the remaining snakes.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

He painted black slashes across their forms.

“Inkblade Stroke!”

The slashes materialized, slicing through the snakes’ defenses.

‘These Saint Rulers… They’re no match for my abysmal painting technique. Heh.’

He tried to paint a slash across another snake but this bounced off harmlessly!

“A barrier? Since when…?” Raphael shifted his focus to Lu Terror. He saw the Legion Commander’s Sun Cycle blazing brightly and he understood.

‘He’s protecting them. A 9th Layer Calamity… I can’t face him head-on while dealing with the others. It’s time… for my secret weapon.’

He looked up at the Purple Blood Nest, now pulsating with a fiery orange light.

“Hell Ryu! Destroy that Legion Commander!”

BOOM!

Hell Ryu burst forth from the nest like an infernal killing machine!

“I shall feast on their souls! They will regret crossing my Master!”

“That monster! So… he’s the one responsible for this ambush!” Lu Terror hissed upon recognizing Hell Ryu’s aura.

“KILL IT!”