He now had short silvery hair not even reaching his neck.

His sunken cheeks and showing ribs showcased his current state and made one understand that he was alive, barely by the skin of his teeth.

He was currently kneeling on the ground as he gazed toward the figure of Dolion who was embedded with three swords.

All of which was stabbed into his chest, crushing whatever remained of his heart.

As blood trickled down Dolion's lips, a kind smile was ever-present on his face when gazing toward Blade.

It was a Blade who could only mutter in confusion,

"W-Why...?"

His voice was weak, but he was truly confused by this boy who could have prevented himself from being tortured over these two months, if he had chosen to simply join the side of the bandits, yet he kept on insisting that he would forever remain standing with Blade.

Dolion didn't reply...

No, more like he didn't have the strength to.

His body was weak, so weak that he couldn't even move his jaw.

It was almost the same for Blade, his healing factor slightly more superior than Dolion, but it wasn't much of a difference since they both were in a situation where death was inevitable.

It had seemed that the torture had quickened the process in which the poison pill would take effect.

The poison pill that they consumed before coming here made much more of an impact than one would think.

Blade and Dolion could feel their inside melt every day they awoke, and the only reason they weren't dead, was of course their regeneration.

Tsk!

"You two disgusting pieces of shit!"

BAM!

Alexandria shouted in anger as she then kicked Blade's chin, causing him to be sent into the air.

At the moment, she was angry, and every little thing would trigger her. For the past two months, they had been trying to give these two a painful death, but they simply refused to die.

Of course, they could simply slice their heads off, but where was the fun in that?

Master Adrian words, "That Blade, his last memories must be one of utter ruination and despair!!"

They had tried bleeding them out, skinning them alive, letting animals run rampant, burning them alive, burying them alive, breaking every bone, and crushing their skull, yet, here they were still alive the next day as they stared at one another with deeper respect and adoration for one another..!

And, as if to take Alexandria's rage to the next level,

"Hehehe!"

A peal of creepy laughter escaped Blade's lips while his muscles trembled when lying on the ground.

Dolion's expression changed and morphed to anger at Blade's actions as he knew that Alexandria now was about to cause Blade even more pain.

For Dolion, nothing was more angering than when he is forced to helplessly watch as Blade is beaten to death's doors.

But, unlike any other person presently located on this campsite, inside Blade's mind, a robotic voice all too familiar once more reappeared in his mind, after the three long months of utter silence...

...

...

...

[System Reboot In Progress]

[1%]

[39%]

[57%]

[85%]

[99%]

[100%]

[System Reboot Completed]

{Oh, it seems that the host is in a perilous situation. Well, no time to stick then}

[Commencing Level 3 System Upgrade]

...

...

...

In the outside world, Blade's eyes shut closed as his body fell unconscious, which brought a bright smile to Alexandria's face.

Appearing in a world filled with mist, already in his illusionary form which had a height of 6'6, his golden eyes stared emotionlessly toward the floating cube in front of him.

"What sense does it make for me to come here?

I thought you would once more possess my body and deal with these people.

By the time the upgrade is finished, wouldn't that bitch already possibly kill me?..."

Blade asked with a tone that was noticeably a lot more cold and emotionless compared to any other tone he had ever spoken with before.

"Don't worry about such a thing. The time it takes to upgrade the system and the benefits that it comes with for your soul, it would all be finished in under ten seconds in the outside world...

Plus, this Alexandria would never kill you while you're unconscious..." The cube replied.

Sigh!

A sigh escaped Blade as his worries were eased slightly, he then uttered.

"If only you knew how much I missed your annoying existence..." Blade's illusionary body uttered while spider cracks formed across its body, and a golden aura washed over it.

Even though it pained him, Blade had undergone much worse over three months.

This didn't mean he was immune to the pain, in fact, it pained him a lot, but he was now able to ignore it...

Whether it was an ability worth undergoing such torment in the past month, well he didn't ponder on such thoughts as he was more focused on the entity floating in front of him.

"And, unlike what I expected after assessing your situation, you're much calmer than what I expected."

The robotic voice of the cube echoed in the world covered by mist. A snicker then went on to escape from Blade's lips.

"Well, let's just say, the things I've experienced have enlightened me." He said...

"But, on another note, what's the reward for reaching Level 4, and also what ability does the system unlock after reaching level 4?!"

His voice now tinged with slight interest.

Hearing the words of its host, the cube's body mysteriously began floating away from Blade, its robotic voice once more resounded within this world of mist.

"Follow me." It ordered.

Blade was slightly confused since he was unable to move.

There wasn't anything for him to walk on after all.

But, the confusion didn't last long as with the mere intention of following the system in the form of a cube, Blade's illusionary body also floated in pursuit of the cube as a shocked expression surfaced on his face.

"Look at this!"

The system's voice once more reverberated throughout the misty world, as Blade's vision laid upon the sight of something that could only be defined as otherworldly.

They did nothing but just floated.

They didn't release any light and didn't have any type of aura.

Yet, Blade felt a connection to them, as if they were all something belonging to him, and only him.

What he saw...

It was drops of liquid that simply floated there as the system's voice ringed out for the final time.

"From what I can analyze, this is the sealed bloodline in your body, well in your mind domain.

And, this is also the reward for upgrading to level 4.

Although it would be impossible to unseal all drops of blood, from the powers I have, I can unlock two seals, officially unlocking 0.001% of what I assume to be your original bloodline..."

Even though the system continued to speak, Blade was unable to hear anything it said as his attention was drawn toward the drops of pristine white blood.

The drops didn't smell like blood at all and instead smelled similar to Lavender.

Unknown to Blade, his hand was already outstretched toward the drops of blood as he reached touching distance before...

BOOM!!

An almost transparent purple barrier with golden words etched across it appeared around every single drop of blood.

A loud explosion occurred as Blade yelped in surprise, shockingly for him, nothing happened whatsoever.

Turning around toward the floating cube, a weird expression descended on his face when he realized that cracks had appeared on the cube.

It barely visible cracks, but cracks no less.

"Hmm, are you okay?" Blade asked.

His system replied...

"Yes.

But, I would be much better if you could control your desires and stay clear of the drops of blood.

Otherwise, the seals would activate and injure or even kill the person that it doesn't recognize as the existence named Blade Pure-Heart!"

The cube said before a majestic golden aura escaped from the cracks on the cube and rushed toward the uncountable number of drops of blood.

BOOM!!

It crashed into the barrier as instantly, cracks began forming on the barrier, and even the golden words etched onto it lit up brightly, seemingly strengthening the barrier, it was too late as the barrier surrounding two drops of blood was utterly destroyed!

The golden aura then went on to rush toward other barriers surrounding different drops of blood, but, as if now containing double the protection, not even a sign of a crack appeared on the seal.

WAA!

The two drops of blood now freed, instantly, as if with a conscious of its own, rushed toward Blade's illusionary body, as it penetrated and entered it, forever more in its rightful place.

RUMBLE!!

The cracks of Blade's illusionary body instantly disappeared as his body shrank from 6'6 to 6'2 which was the exact height of his physical one.

Blade's golden pupils transformed into a blacker than void color as the golden dot on his forehead was surrounded by a black membrane.

...

...

...

In the outside world, time itself seemed to have come to a halt inside the camp of bandits...

The clouds over the campsite began gathering together and became darker as crackles of thunder and flashes of lightning made their appearance!