Eldritch Horror Theatre

The Countess's intelligence work was undeniably mediocre.

Aside from the target being located in the deepest part of the prison, she had absolutely no other information.

"Then how will I know who I'm looking for?"

"It doesn't matter. As soon as you see her, you'll know she's different."

'Is she really that impressive?'

The Countess's answer only heightened Fu Qian's interest in the operation.

"Anyway, let's help you advance first. Come with me."

The Countess said no more, leading Fu Qian forward.

After arriving at a rather secluded room, she told Fu Qian to wait and hurried away.

Fu Qian wondered as he watched her leave.

It didn't take long for the door to open. The Countess returned with a pale complexion and immediately handed him a crystal cup.

"Drink it."

'Her aura is clearly a bit weak. Did she actually go slay a dragon?'

Fu Qian's eyebrows twitched. He took the cup and inspected it.

Inside the crystal-clear glass, a single drop of limpid, transparent liquid rolled about.

The silvery-white luster reflecting off its surface was dazzling with just a single glance.

"What is this?"

Fu Qian looked at the Countess.

"Dragon Blood."

"Do dragons actually exist?"

"They did a long time ago, but they gradually disappeared."

The Countess took a deep breath, her voice low.

"Every advancement in the Dragon Communion Sequence requires consuming and digesting different types of dragon flesh and blood."

"I see. But if dragons are extinct, where did this Dragon Blood come from?"

"A relic."

The Countess slowly raised her other hand. In her palm rested something that looked like a Pocket Watch.

The dial, however, was shattered, and light rippled inside it.

"This was left behind by the first generation of Dragon Communion. It was crafted with the blood of powerful dragons, but unfortunately, it has been broken for a long time."

"Of course, if that weren't the case, I wouldn't have been able to break it open."

"I see."

Fu Qian nodded.

"This is the only thing related to dragons we can find right now."

"Although it's too ancient to confirm the exact effects, rest assured, I will do my best to ensure your safety."

'What a pale and powerless guarantee.'

"Alright. But since it's so ancient, why not give me a bit more?"

Fu Qian pointed at the pitiful single drop in the cup.

"Everything must progress step by step. You have just completed your Awakening; you can't withstand too much power right now."

"Furthermore, the digestion process of Dragon Communion is extremely painful. The more powerful the blood, the worse the pain."

"It's fine. When it comes to enduring pain, I'm already a seasoned veteran."

...

In the end, under Fu Qian's strong insistence, the Countess reluctantly squeezed another drop into the cup.

Fu Qian didn't hesitate, tossing the Dragon Blood back into his mouth in one gulp.

It felt like swallowing a mouthful of boiling molten iron. In almost an instant, Fu Qian could no longer feel his mouth.

The next moment, a mass of scorching heat surged through his limbs and bones, boiling in every blood vessel and vein.

The Countess was right. It really hurt!

But it was still bearable!

Amidst the agony of being burned alive, Fu Qian did his utmost to control every nerve, keeping his body from trembling even the slightest bit and maintaining an even breath.

When the pain subsided slightly, Fu Qian immediately opened his eyes.

"Is there any effect?"

Seeing Fu Qian regain his senses so quickly, the Countess wore a heavy expression.

'Could it really have been too long, and the effect has faded?'

Fu Qian sighed and swirled the cup in his hand.

"Another glass."

'Another glass?'

"Just as you thought, this thing has lost too much of its potency. The effect isn't very ideal."

'Is that so?'

Looking Fu Qian up and down, the Countess finally took the cup.

One drop, two drops, three drops...

Fu Qian didn't reach out to take it back until all the remaining liquid in the Pocket Watch had been poured into the cup.

He swirled it like a glass of red wine. After confirming there were no impurities, Fu Qian raised his cup.

"Cheers!"

A pain several times more intense than before struck him, causing his limbs and bones to tremble.

This time, the passing moments felt exceptionally long.

When Fu Qian opened his eyes, he saw the Countess staring at him in a daze.

Following her gaze, Fu Qian realized that the scales on his body had actually vanished.

In their place were mysterious wavy stripes covering his entire body, from his hands to his feet.

"How do you feel?"

The Countess stared at Fu Qian.

Feeling the surging power within his body, Fu Qian nodded.

"Strong and powerful!"

"If you fully digest it, you might gain the corresponding dragon abilities. Try it yourself."

'Corresponding abilities?'

Closing his eyes to ponder for a long moment, Fu Qian took a deep breath.

The next moment, an illusory grayish-white dragon head appeared in front of him.

The Countess subconsciously took two steps back.

A transparent, invisible ripple spewed out from the dragon's head, blasting into the shelf ahead.

Only after the dragon head vanished did Fu Qian reach out to touch the shelf.

The wooden structure instantly collapsed, silently crumbling into dust.

'A corrosive effect?'

Fu Qian shook his head.

It was more like accelerated aging, causing the object to be annihilated into dust under the wash of time.

Regardless, the effect was good!

Even the physical strength enhancement alone was almost equivalent to his previous Tier 6 standard.

This blood was truly not consumed in vain.

The Dragon Blood hadn't lost its effect, of course. Fu Qian had deliberately opened his eyes before fully digesting it just so he could swallow the rest.

The Countess had likely been worried about him losing control and was intentionally restricting his advancement.

This world was quite bizarre, making personal strength absolutely crucial. He had to seize any opportunity like this.

"That's good."

Looking at the wooden shelf that had decayed to dust, the Countess's expression looked rather awful.

But since things had already come to this, she said no more and steered the topic back to business.

"Your strength should be enough to handle things now. How do you plan to find her next?"

"Find a jailer, explain my intentions, and have them lead the way?"

Fu Qian blinked.

"Are you crazy! You don't have the colorless curse on you. If they discover you, they won't even allow you down there, let alone lead the way!"

The Countess wore a dumbfounded expression.

"The target isn't afflicted with the colorless curse either, right? But she's down there."

"That is because she is considered guilty of heinous crimes."

"As a jailer killer, I also count as having committed heinous crimes. We might even be locked up together!"

...

"No, it's still too reckless."

The Countess shook her head repeatedly, entirely disagreeing with Fu Qian's radical plan.

"I'm joking. I actually have a jailer's uniform. I plan to put it on and infiltrate in secret."

Fu Qian tapped his temple.

"The route inside is all right here in my head."

'That was more like it!'

The Countess nodded, not asking where the uniform came from.

"Even so, you must be extremely careful. It'll be a massive headache if you're discovered."

"It's fine. If I get discovered, I'll just infiltrate them physically."

...

The Countess was rendered speechless once more, unable to help but wonder if her decision had been a mistake.

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