Blood Warlock: Succubus Partner In The Apocalypse Chapter 3 - Blood Manipulation (Part 2)

While traversing the corridor in the male dormitory building, Bai Zemin felt his nerves on edge and his muscles subtly flexing from the strain.

Since it was Saturday, the majority of the dormitory residents had ventured outside to savor their leisure time. Many enjoyed such breaks from studies thanks to family backing. Regrettably, Bai Zemin's circumstances were far less fortunate.

The combined earnings from his parents barely covered tuition for one child, either him or Meng Qi. Thus, Bai Zemin firmly declined their financial aid and took a job at a nearby repair shop close to campus. This allowed both him and his adoptive younger sister to pursue education. Though she carried guilt over it, a low-income household had few alternatives.

Lilith, trailing closely behind him, remarked in a relaxed tone, "How about allocating those four free status points you possess?"

Without glancing back, Bai Zemin shook his head and responded, "No. Spending them recklessly now could lead to future regrets. At present, I'm unsure which stat might prove vital in a dire situation, and a spontaneous boost could be my sole lifeline."

Lilith paused briefly before nodding in agreement. She ran her tongue over her lips, gazing at his figure with sparkling eyes, and murmured seductively, "I find myself liking you even more~"

Bai Zemin's breath grew a bit ragged upon hearing that alluring voice, requiring every ounce of his self-control to avoid spinning around and tearing the garments off the stunning woman following him. An instinct warned him that attempting such an act would likely bring lifelong remorse.

Moreover, despite her apparent support, Bai Zemin's cautious nature kept him somewhat wary of Lilith.

All of a sudden, three male zombies emerged at the hallway's far end, shambling forward with shaky gaits. Even though they appeared on the verge of collapsing, their advance remained steady and unerring, progressing gradually yet relentlessly.

The sight of these three dangers stirred anxiety within Bai Zemin, prompting him to activate his skill swiftly to regain composure. He understood that letting emotions take over in this critical instant might spell his doom.

With a grin, Lilith observed his form from behind. She was genuinely intrigued by how he would navigate this challenge.

At that point, no traps were prepared, nor was there any blood nearby to manipulate. Bai Zemin could retreat to his room and utilize the remains of previously slain zombies, but such a move would expose him to additional undead bursting from secured doors, as continuous thumping echoed. Clearly, at this pace, a horde would soon emerge and block his escape route.

Drawing in a deep breath, Bai Zemin proceeded cautiously, eyes fixed on the zombies' motions. Their pace was glacial, yet they exuded undeniable menace, and from his observations, any contact equated to fatality.

He attempted to employ his Blood Manipulation skill, only to realize with dismay that it held no effect on these undead.

Noticing the mana surge, Lilith discerned his intent and promptly clarified: "Your skill is incredibly potent, but in early phases, lifeless beings like these pose your greatest challenge since they ignore agony. Heat their blood and direct it toward the eyes!"

A spark lit in Bai Zemin's eyes as he grasped the succubus's suggestion. Focusing his mind, he expended fifteen mana points to intensely warm the blood circulating within the zombies and channeled it to their eye sockets.

The outcome was instantaneous.

Due to the surging internal heat, the zombies' eyes burst open, with blood spraying forth like geysers. Seizing the moment, Bai Zemin invested another thirty mana points to form three icy blood projectiles from the spilling fluid, eliminating all three undead simultaneously.

[You have acquired soul power of Normal Zombie level 3].

[You have acquired soul power of Normal Zombie level 3].

[You have acquired soul power of Normal Zombie level 3].

[You have leveled up to level 3. You get 2 status points to distribute freely].

After attaining level 2 in his quarters, Bai Zemin had dispatched two more zombies, including one at level 4. Adding the soul power from these three level 3 foes pushed him to advance once more.

The downside was that beyond experience gains, these level 3 zombies offered no extra rewards.

Upon each level increase, Bai Zemin's attributes fully replenished right away. Consequently, despite burning 20 mana in his room and 45 more recently against the zombies, his reserves restored fully thanks to the level up.

After a brief consideration, Bai Zemin retrieved a water bottle and poured out its contents onto the floor. Suppressing the nausea from the zombies' repulsive odor and ghastly looks, he approached the fallen bodies and collected blood into the container.

Earlier, extracting zombie blood had cost him fifteen mana points. Such expenditure was unsustainable. While he was progressing rapidly now, he recognized that challenges wouldn't remain straightforward forever.

* * *

As Bai Zemin descended level by level, his zombie hunts grew far more streamlined.

Utilizing his stored blood, he formed slender threads at a mere two mana points each, momentarily restraining the zombies' advances. In that fleeting window, he closed in and pierced their skulls using the mutated bee stinger.

From departing his room, Bai Zemin had now eliminated a total of 33 zombies.

A slender blood filament glided noiselessly over the ground, snaring one of a zombie's legs and nearly toppling it, halting its progress.

Leveraging his 13 agility points—which rendered him nearly half again as swift as a pre-apocalypse human—Bai Zemin darted around and thrust forcefully into the zombie's rear cranium, incrementing his tally to 34.

[You have acquired soul power of Normal Zombie level 4].

[You have leveled up to level 5. You get 2 status points to distribute freely].

Viewing the verdant notification pulsing in his vision, Bai Zemin exhaled in relief. Ascending from level 4 to 5 demanded slaying roughly 16 zombies, which had sapped his endurance considerably and consumed numerous mana points.

Arriving at the ground floor, Bai Zemin halted abruptly, staring in astonishment at the zombie obstructing his way.

This zombie boasted two monstrous, robust arms as thick as an adult male's thighs. It towered as well, standing no less than 2 meters in height.

Evidently, this represented a more perilous variant.

The massive zombie detected Bai Zemin's vital presence within five meters and lumbered toward him.

Though slower than Bai Zemin overall, this brute moved at double the speed of ordinary zombies. Caught off guard, Bai Zemin flinched and jerked his head aside, narrowly evading the incoming fist.

Bang!

The punch from the zombie cratered the wall behind Bai Zemin, draining the color from his face as he comprehended that a direct hit would have pulverized his skull like a melon dropped from ten stories high.

In that perilous instant, Bai Zemin unleashed a kick powered by his 14 strength points, shoving the hefty zombie backward several paces.

Prior to the zombie's next assault, Bai Zemin hurled a surge of blood skyward and burned 40 mana points to forge four blood chains.

In contrast to the delicate frozen blood threads, these chains appeared far more solid and resilient. Indeed, while a thread required just two or three mana, each chain demanded ten points from Bai Zemin.

Guided by his will, the blood chains coiled firmly around the bulky zombie's frame, slamming it down.

With his foe restrained, Bai Zemin lunged forward and jabbed with the mutated bee stinger. Shockingly, the needle-sharp tool, keener than a blade, barely penetrated a few centimeters before the zombie's dense flesh resisted further.

The peculiar zombie thrashed wildly to escape, yet the blood chains held fast, denying it freedom.

Nevertheless, Bai Zemin remained vigilant and repeatedly stabbed the identical spot with unrelenting force. It took almost twenty full-powered thrusts before he pulverized the zombie's brain into a gory pulp.

[You have acquired soul power of Strength Zombie level 15. Strength +6, Health +5].

[You have leveled up to level 6...].

[You have leveled up to level 7...].

[You have leveled up to level 8. You get 2 status points to distribute freely].

In mere seconds, Bai Zemin sensed his physique surge with newfound might, and the exhaustion from those twenty exhaustive stabs vanished entirely.

"Ah! What is this?" Bai Zemin stepped closer and retrieved an odd orb that had dropped from the Strength Zombie's remains.

[Rare Treasure Orb: Contains a rare category treasure inside].