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Chapter 98 - Shadow of Blood

How impossible those achievements were.

How much Jade suffered.

How much he changed.

Why he deserves to become an Initiate.

Instead of the System sounding like a report, it should sound like a judge announcing the deeds of a legend.

For example:

---

Jade floated above the crimson sea of his Soul Sea.

The blood ocean stretched endlessly beneath him.

Countless corpses stood upon the distant horizon like silent soldiers awaiting the command of their king.

The crimson sky darkened.

Then the System spoke.

For the first time since Jade had awakened, its voice did not sound indifferent.

It sounded ancient.

It sounded solemn.

As if even the System itself was acknowledging him.

"Aspirant Jade."

The words shook the entire Soul Sea.

"Your Trial has come to an end."

Jade clenched his fists.

His heartbeat quickened.

Everything he had suffered for was about to be judged.

The System continued.

"A normal human entered the Trial."

"A legend emerged."

The blood ocean trembled.

"A frightened boy stepped into darkness."

"A Blood Slayer walked out."

Jade's eyes widened.

The title echoed across the crimson heavens.

Blood Slayer.

The name that countless creatures had learned to fear.

The name whispered throughout the Trial.

The System continued.

"You entered ruins abandoned by history."

"You walked paths stained by ancient blood."

"You challenged creatures stronger than yourself."

"You survived where death was certain."

"You stood where hope no longer existed."

The crimson clouds twisted.

The sea roared.

Jade listened silently.

Every word carried the weight of his suffering.

"You forged an enemy into an ally."

"You turned a demon into a companion."

"You fought alone."

"You bled alone."

"You suffered alone."

The words struck harder than any blade.

Because they were true.

The System continued.

"You were forgotten."

The entire Soul Sea became silent.

"You lost your Fate."

"You lost your place in reality."

"You lost your connection to the System."

"You lost the recognition of those you loved."

Jade lowered his head.

He remembered it.

Aaron's confused gaze.

Aviana's hesitation.

The loneliness.

The fear.

The despair.

The feeling that he no longer existed.

The System spoke again.

"Yet you continued."

Jade froze.

"You protected those who had forgotten you."

"You fulfilled your oath."

"You carried your burden without reward."

"You fought without acknowledgment."

"You endured without complaint."

The blood ocean erupted into towering waves.

The dead army at the horizon trembled.

Then the System declared:

"You reclaimed your Fate."

"You received the blessing of Beast God."

"You inherited Divine Blood."

"You accomplished the impossible."

The voice grew louder.

Stronger.

More majestic.

"You are the true Heir of Blood God."

BOOM!

The entire Soul Sea exploded with crimson light.

The blood ocean rose into the heavens.

The dead creatures knelt.

Even Aviana stared in shock.

Jade himself could not breathe.

The title carried unimaginable weight.

Not candidate.

Not successor.

Not chosen.

The true heir.

The System continued.

Then names began appearing.

Thousands.

Tens of thousands.

Every creature Jade had ever slain.

Every nightmare.

Every monster.

Every enemy.

Every obstacle.

The names filled the sky like stars.

Jade stared in disbelief.

Only now did he understand.

He had truly become a monster among Initiates.

Finally—

The last name appeared.

"You have slain Titan Beast."

"Initiate Overlord."

The sky trembled.

The sea roared.

The System paused.

Then announced:

"Final Appraisal."

Silence.

A silence so profound that even the waves stopped moving.

Then—

"GLORIOUS."

The word exploded across the heavens.

Jade blinked.

Then frowned.

Then frowned harder.

"...Glorious?"

He looked offended.

"I killed an Initiate Overlord."

Aviana started laughing.

Jade pointed at the sky.

"I reclaimed my Fate."

Aviana laughed harder.

"I got abandoned by reality itself."

She nearly fell over.

"And all you can give me is Glorious?!"

The System ignored him.

Aviana completely lost control and started laughing on the beach.

Jade sighed.

"Fine."

Then his expression became serious.

Because now came the part that truly mattered.

The reward.

The System spoke.

"Your True Name has been granted."

Jade waited.

Hopefully something cool.

Something majestic.

Something worthy of Blood God.

The System announced:

"True Name: Shadow of Blood."

Silence.

Aviana froze.

Jade froze.

The sea froze.

Several seconds passed.

"...That's terrible."

Aviana immediately burst into laughter.

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