Alucard dismissed the noise of the cohort and focused inward.
A new Memory.
He needed something good.
He summoned it.
A garment materialized in his hands.
That alone was promising. Garments could be worn alongside armor, unlike most other Memories. They were usually more utility-focused than combat-oriented, but utility could be the difference between life and death.
He removed his cloak to inspect it properly.
The garment resembled shed reptilian skin—thin, flexible, and faintly translucent. Its surface shimmered with a slick, oily substance that made it difficult to grip. It kept sliding through his fingers as though actively resisting being held.
"…Did eels even shed skin?" he muttered.
He wasn't exactly an expert in eel biology.
Still, that wasn't important.
He opened the runes.
---
Name: [Slippery Slope]
Rank: Ascended
Tier: 4
Description:
"He once was a proud soldier of the Red Flowers, but one day he fell into the hands of [REDACTED]. Those experiments were torturous, meant only to strip all sense of self and turn one into nothing more than a hollow husk filled with corruption."
---
Alucard's expression darkened.
That was… strange.
Not just because of the grim wording.
But because of the redaction.
The Spell had intentionally removed a name.
It wasn't that the Spell didn't know it.
That was impossible.
The Spell knew the names of gods.
It knew secrets older than civilizations.
So how could it not know the name of some random individual mentioned in a Memory?
No.
It knew.
It just chose not to display it.
That was far more concerning.
Alucard examined the garment more closely, channeling his perception deeper into its construction.
And then he saw them.
Crimson chains.
The same faint, intricate chains woven through its creation—the same pattern he had seen in the blood arrow… and within himself.
His eyes narrowed.
"Weird. Definitely not normal."
So this was connected.
The one who experimented on the eel.
The one behind the blood arrow.
The one somehow tied to the chains running through his own body.
The same entity?
Just who the hell was this mystery man?
Well.
Assuming it was even a "he."
For all Alucard knew, it could be some cosmic worm with no gender.
…Did worms even have genders?
Probably.
Maybe.
Not important.
He focused on the enchantments.
There were four.
---
Enchantments:
[Slippery]
[Aquatic]
[Echo Location]
[Translucent Blood]
---
Promising names.
Hopefully they lived up to them.
---
[Slippery]
Description: "Attacks slide off this cloak easily."
Alucard nodded slowly.
That was undeniably useful.
If potent enough, it could significantly reduce the impact of slashing and blunt attacks. It wasn't immunity—but depending on strength, it might as well be.
A solid start.
---
[Aquatic]
Description: "Allows the user to breathe underwater and swim faster."
His lips twitched.
Now that was excellent.
Especially in the Forgotten Shore, where water was less terrain and more omnipresent threat. Its usefulness would likely diminish once they returned to the real world—but for now?
Valuable.
---
[Echo Location]
Description: Greatly enhances the user's hearing and grants the ability to perform echolocation.
Alucard tilted his head.
That would've been impressive…
If he didn't possess the Sin of Envy.
It's sensory capabilities were already monstrous.
Compared to that?
This enchantment was redundant.
---
Finally—
[Translucent Blood]
His interest sharpened.
Anything involving blood demanded attention.
Description: "Your blood has a special quality to it."
"…That's it?"
He stared at the runes.
That was absurdly vague.
Fine.
He'd test it himself.
Without hesitation, he cut his forearm.
He expected crimson.
Instead—
Nothing.
His blood was nearly invisible. It shimmered faintly, almost refracting light like distorted glass. And when it pooled against his skin, it felt sticky.
Like glue.
His eyes widened slightly.
Invisible blood.
Invisible attacks.
That sounded incredible.
Until he tried to manipulate it.
The moment he reached for it with his Aspect—
It slipped away.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
It was as though he were trying to grasp something drenched in oil while his hands were also covered in oil—and the object itself was invisible.
He tried again.
It slid away again.
"…You're joking."
The blood was too slippery for precise manipulation.
He could probably adapt over time.
But was it worth the effort?
Realistically?
No.
He would need to unsummon the garment every time he entered combat to avoid disrupting his control. And he already possessed the Starlight Cloak—a far superior garment for stealth and invisibility, especially considering his Flaw.
No.
The best option was to give this to someone else.
He reviewed his choices.
Effie.
Nephis.
Sunny.
Caster.
Each had advantages.
But there was only one real answer.
Caster.
Alucard wasn't stupid.
He liked pretending to be an idiot.
That was different.
He knew, with absolute certainty, that he would fight Nephis one day.
Caster's entire purpose revolved around killing her.
The only reason he hadn't already tried was simple strategy.
Nephis had loyalty.
Cassie.
Sunny.
The people of the Dark City.
Alucard?
His only true allies were Caster and Sei.
He was at a disadvantage.
And he didn't believe Nephis's lies of friendship and comradery.
She would sacrifice him without hesitation if it meant protecting the cohort.
Her half-hearted apology proved it.
When she "purified" the flower from his chest, she hadn't restrained herself.
Not truly.
She simply hadn't gone all out.
Just enough power to plausibly claim she hadn't intended to kill him.
She knew he was dangerous.
More dangerous than he was currently useful.
So she tested him.
Unfortunately for her—
Her flames weren't enough to kill him.
Alucard would make sure she regretted that decision deeply.
He wouldn't swing the blade himself.
Caster would.
Technically, his hands would remain clean.
Satisfied with that logic, he called out casually:
"Hey, Caster. Come here. I want to show you something."
Caster approached, expecting another strange conversation.
When he got close enough, Alucard slung an arm over his shoulder.
Then his tone changed.
"Do you still want to kill Nephis?"
Gone was the goofy cadence.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Serious.
Caster stiffened.
That tone reminded him of something important:
When Alucard was serious—
He was terrifying.
"Why are you talking about this here?" Caster asked quietly.
Alucard smiled faintly and patted his back.
"No one will hear us. Sunny and Cassie are distracted. The others are busy building walls around the neck."
Caster glanced around.
Alucard was right.
Sunny and Cassie stood far across the statue.
The rest were cleaning corpses and reinforcing their position.
No one was paying attention.
"So," Caster said carefully, "why bring it up now?"
Alucard took Caster's hand.
White sparks flickered between their palms—subtle threads of power transferring.
"I want to help you, Caster."
He smiled.
Warm.
Kind.
But beneath it was a promise.
I will help you.
And you will owe me more than you can ever repay.