The basement forge of the Frostfall Estate was quiet, save for the bubbling sound of a cauldron.
Kael stood over the workbench, wearing protective goggles. In front of him lay his Shadow-Weave Chain Blade, the titanium metal gleaming under the harsh lamp light.
Next to it sat the lead-lined box containing the Stone Basilisk Poison Sac.
"System, analyze compatibility."
[Analysis Complete.]
[Item: Basilisk Poison Sac (Rank B)]
[Effect: Neurotoxin. Causes instant paralysis and muscle necrosis upon contact with blood.]
[Compatibility with Titanium Chain-Blade: 98%.]
Kael took a deep breath. This was delicate work. If he spilled a drop of this on his own skin without his Mana Skin active, he would stop breathing in seconds.
"Let's cook."
He poured the purple, viscous liquid from the sac into the mana-heated cauldron. He added a few drops of his own blood (as a binding agent, a trick the System suggested) and dipped the blade into the mixture.
HISS.
Purple smoke rose from the cauldron. The titanium blade drank the poison greedily, the metal changing color from sleek black to a sickly, iridescent violet.
[Enchanting...]
[Infusing Toxin...]
Kael poured his mana into the mix to stabilize the volatile chemical reaction. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
[DING!]
[Upgrade Successful.]
[Weapon Updated: "Venomous Shadow-Weave"]
[New Attribute: "Basilisk's Kiss" - Attacks have a 40% chance to inflict [Paralysis] for 10 seconds. S-Rank targets are resistant but will suffer [Slow].]
Kael pulled the blade out. It looked dangerous. It looked evil.
"Perfect," he whispered, retracting the blade into the gauntlet.
Now he had a way to stop enemies he couldn't kill instantly.
He cleaned up the lab and checked the time. It was late. Seraphina would be back from her meetings.
He had to tell her about the Cult.
The Master Bedroom
When Kael entered the suite, he expected to find Seraphina asleep or working.
Instead, he found her standing on the balcony, looking out at the city lights. She was holding a glass of wine, but she wasn't drinking it. The glass was frozen over, a layer of frost coating the red liquid.
She sensed him immediately.
"You smell like chemicals," she said without turning around. Her voice was tight.
"I went shopping," Kael walked over to her, leaning on the railing beside her. "Upgraded my gear."
"Alfred told me you dragged a man into an alleyway and left him practically comatose," Seraphina looked at him sideways. "The police report says he was found in a state of 'Mana Shock'. He can't speak. He can't move."
"He was a spy," Kael said calmly.
Seraphina sighed. "Kael, I appreciate the protection, but you can't just attack every paparazzi who—"
"He wasn't paparazzi, Seraphina. He was from the Cult of the Abyssal Eye."
Seraphina froze. The wine glass in her hand shattered.
CRACK.
Shards of frozen glass and wine fell to the balcony floor.
She turned to him slowly, her eyes wide with genuine fear. For the first time, the "Ice Empress" looked terrified.
"What did you say?" she whispered.
"The Abyssal Eye," Kael repeated, watching her reaction closely. "You know them?"
"They are a myth..." Seraphina's voice trembled. "A terrorist group from the dark era. They worship the Monster Sovereigns. They believe humanity should evolve by merging with monsters."
"Well, they aren't a myth," Kael said grimly. "And they are watching you. The spy said something about a 'Prophecy'. He said you are 'interfering' by being cured."
Seraphina stepped back, clutching her chest. The scar beneath her dress began to glow.
"Interfering..." she muttered. "They want the curse to consume me."
She looked up at Kael, realization dawning on her face.
"My 'accident' five years ago. The raid where I got cursed... The intel for that raid came from an anonymous source. It was a trap. They wanted me to fight the Frost Dragon alone."
She started to hyperventilate. The air on the balcony dropped to sub-zero temperatures. Snowflakes began to materialize out of thin air.
"They made me into a monster... they want me to hatch..."
[Warning: Host "Seraphina" is entering a Panic State.]
[Draconic Essence flaring.]
Kael moved fast.
He didn't use words. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away from the railing, spinning her around and pinning her back against the wall of the balcony.
"Look at me," he commanded.
Seraphina's eyes were glowing with vertical dragon slits. "They are everywhere, Kael... I can't fight ghosts..."
"You aren't fighting ghosts," Kael said firmly. "You are fighting with me."
He raised his gauntlet, letting the violet blade slide out just an inch, gleaming in the moonlight.
"I hunted rats in the sewers for five years, Seraphina. I know how to kill pests. If a Cult wants to come for you, let them come."
He leaned closer, his forehead touching hers. The cold was biting, burning his skin, but he ignored it.
"I need their mana anyway. I need the points."
Seraphina blinked. The absurdity of his statement—viewing a terrifying terrorist cult as "points"—broke through her panic.
Her eyes shifted back to normal. The dragon receded.
She let out a shaky breath, her hands gripping the lapels of his suit jacket.
"You really are insane," she whispered.
"Occupational hazard," Kael smirked.
The tension broke. Seraphina slumped against the wall, exhausted by the sudden spike in emotion.
"I need to sleep," she said softly. "But... I don't want to be alone."
"I know the drill," Kael stepped back, offering her his hand. "Come on. I'll take the couch."
Seraphina took his hand. "No."
Kael paused. "No?"
"The couch is too far," she said, her cheeks turning pink, looking away. "The doctor... I mean, you... said contact is more efficient for recycling."
She pulled him toward the bedroom.
"You are sleeping in the bed."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Seraphina, if Alfred walks in tomorrow—"
"I don't care about Alfred!" she snapped, though she was blushing furiously. "I care about not turning into a dragon! Just... shut up and be my pillow."
Ten Minutes Later
The lights were out.
They lay in the massive king-sized bed. Kael was stiff as a board on the left side. Seraphina was curled up on the right, but slowly, inch by inch, she migrated toward the center.
Finally, she sighed and just wrapped her arm around his torso, resting her head on his chest.
[Continuous Recycling Active...]
[Gaining: +1 Mental Strength/hour]
The hum of the system was rhythmic, like a lullaby.
"Kael?" she whispered in the dark.
"Yeah?"
"If the Cult comes..."
"I'll kill them," he answered instantly.
"Okay."
She tightened her grip on his shirt.
"Goodnight, Mad Dog."
"Goodnight, Princess."
Kael closed his eyes, but he didn't sleep immediately. He opened the System Map.
In the darkness of his vision, he could see the city. And far away, in the industrial district, he saw a cluster of Red Dots.
The Cult's nest.
He smiled in the dark.
Sleep well, Seraphina, he thought. Because tomorrow, I'm going hunting.