I woke up early the following morning feeling refreshed. Bringing my ptop to the living room table I headed into the kitchen and pulled out what looked like bacon and eggs from the fridge, which I cooked for breakfast. Once I was done, I grabbed one of the rger bowls and sat on the couch as I ate. “It tastes like bacon,” I affirmed even though the texture was slightly different (Could be from one of those dinosaurs?).

  While I got busy eating, I also started checking my ptop, “Does the Wi-Fi work here?” I asked with a mouth full of bacon. “Nope.” I still wasn’t picking up anything. The house's Wi-Fi didn't reach me out here, (it's a good thing I have some anime saved). “Looks like I’m hotspoting from my phone”. The first thing I needed to do today was swap out the electrical sockets as the current ones were unusable.

  After breakfast, I started working on repcing all the electrical sockets scattered around the Capsule House and figuring out which rooms connected to which button. (Just avoid touching the Big Red Button at the bottom of the panel). Once my ptop was plugged in and charging it was time to start today’s experiments.

  Taking out my Item Pouch from an Image I left on my ptop’s desktop, I began fishing around inside searching for the right item. I had found this thing a while ago just never thought of using it. Feeling the strange smooth surface of the item I pulled out a small bright red stone. It was a bright crimson red with a very smooth surface and carried a faint scent of iron. Tossing it into the bowl, I sat there for a moment looking at the Blood Soul (Official Transtion).

  Spoiler

  [colpse]The process was straightforward, I just needed to pour blood onto the stone until it activated. If it worked it would merge with my body, if it didn’t, I lost some blood which was an easily renewable resource. Taking out a couple healing potions, and “I think these had the effect of restoring blood? Or was it increased production?” They were a brown-colored pill that I discovered, though I can’t remember their exact effect (I would need to check my notes). I was unlikely to need any of them because of the Heart Containers I absorbed yesterday. (I wonder if they transte Vitality into blood?) They might have a simir effect, but figuring out the specifics might take a while.

  The st thing I needed was a knife, the one I chose was made from a bck metal and had a curved bde. Its purpose was for its bleed effect. Cutting across my right wrist I began pouring blood into the bowl. At the bottom sat the Blood Soul stone slowly but greedily consuming the offering.

  While my blood began to pour onto the stone I started checking some things online. Starting with any updates on the tree in DC. Which didn’t amount to anything but tabloid specution. I wanted to see if there was anything new, but things have been quiet tely. Most people seemed to be settling into the new normal. But I couldn't help but feel like the world was a powder keg. With everyone gaining abilities in one way or another something was bound to happen. I did find one article about babies being born with unique hair colors which was slightly interesting.

  Then I checked my student email, “Well, that’s a pain in the ass.” My college was going to start back up again next month. Reading the rest of the message, there was a bright side. “At least they are switching to a fully online model.” That meant I didn’t have to go in for those quizzes anymore.

  After several minutes of browsing, I looked back to the bowl to find the stone was now submerged. That's not right, it should be absorbing my blood far faster. It took me a couple seconds to think before I facepalmed with my free hand. “I should be adding Ki to my blood.” This answer seemed incredibly obvious. But the question of how was a mystery. “Maybe, try to make my Ki flow with my blood?”

  Sitting on the couch with my arm stretched over the bowl still slowly dripping blood, I crossed my legs into a lotus pose or as many might know it, crisscross applesauce. Before trying to coax the field of cats inside my dantian to follow my bloodstream. To my surprise and dismay, this worked surprisingly well. “I should have tried this out earlier…” Shortly after this alteration, there was a change in the stone. It quickly began drinking up the blood that had pooled around it rapidly, after a minute the stone started to release a wispy red energy and an accompanying ominous red glow.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]This scene continued for several minutes as the blood-red gem absorbed more blood and the glow grew brighter. As this process continued, I started to feel a strange connection forming with the stone and I was quickly running out of Ki. Having to use a Ki Gathering pill before another change occurred. Streaks of silver light started to leak out from the gem before I heard a heartbeat. A link between me and the stone was created before the stone burst into shards. The shattered shards quickly shot towards me. Obviously, the shards penetrating my skin hurt quite a bit, but gritting my teeth I was able to bear it. Then a burning sensation occurred as the shards merged with my body (It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as when I used the Body-Tempering Liquid for the first time, that was just miserable.) Once everything was over and the Blood Soul had integrated with my body, “I kinda liked this shirt.” I mented the loss of my shirt, now covered in holes. But I could immediately feel the difference.

  Ki now saturated my blood moving around my body naturally. (Why the hell didn’t I think about this earlier?) Having Ki flow through my body using my veins as a pathway… It linked my heart and dantian together through a circuit made through my veins. (Wait a second) my mind was soon drawn down towards my dantian and the palm-sized blood-red infant I found resting inside (That’s new…) While this small thing rested inside my dantian the Ki that now saturated my blood started to move in the cadence of my heartbeat slowly being absorbed by the little infant. “I’m going to need another Ki Gathering pill”.

  This process was far slower as an hour soon passed. With all my Ki being absorbed I ended up down half a bottle of pills while waiting for the real effect of the Blood Soul. During this time my job was to make sure everything ran smoothly and take pills before I ran out of Ki. Even with all the time I spent tempering my bones, it's still difficult to keep my Ki in check.

  Because I had no idea how to perform techniques; since every manual I picked up was in a different nguage. I chose this method. Since it seemed like the easiest way I could use Ki in probably the most deadly and stealthy way I could in the short term. The purpose of the Blood Soul was the ability (and effects) it granted, namely a Bloodborn (Official Transtion) a red mass of bloody Ki that could be used for reconnaissance and assassination. However, it came with a massive downside, (It was my heart? It was merged with my heart?) Transtion quality aside if it gets destroyed, I die with it. And I’m not sure if it’s a spiritual thing or a physical one. If it's physical there should be no problems, I should revive after my heart regrows due to the 1UP’s. But if it’s a spiritual thing…

  The energy building up inside my dantian stirred as the small infant woke. A crimson mist began leaking from my sternum, as I felt it move along my veins before escaping from my chest as a mass of crimson mist. Filling the room before converging into a gaseous figure before me. My Bloodborn- it cked a concrete form appearing more like an apparition than the one in the comic which had defined limbs. There was some sort of grading system, though I wouldn’t have any idea what mine would be.

  Floating in at about two feet tall and two feet wide it was a formless cloud of blood-colored Ki with a strange pair of bright red glowing eyes at its center. Above these eyes was a strange, seven-pointed star. “What does that mean?” One of the points stuck up higher than the rest while two were directly pointing at the eyes. The remaining four were divided between the two sides. It might have something to do with me or it might just be something on him. (You can never be certain with these).

  I was most curious about this next step or if it would even work. Trying to take control of the wispy blood shade was a process of trial and error. I could feel the connection that was both intrinsic and yet hard to grasp. Aside from that, there was a strong connection with my Ki strange and different. Trying to move the cloud, per usual it wasn’t exactly intuitive. Unlike how I focused on my Ki to move it around my body, this was almost like controlling an entirely separate body using my mind (will?) Though, this one cked limbs or anything else that would assist me (Move your left arm. Not that arm your other arm! That's your leg?) Even so, after a couple minutes, I had the foggy blood cloud moving wistfully around the room through my guidance.

  “I should be able to see through its eyes.” But I had zero clues. Directing it towards the doorway I started thinking how that would work. “Is it something about the connection? Or is there a trick to it? A special method?” Honestly, I could barely control it the way I was and from this short stint, I realized it was consuming a rge amount of Ki. Because it cked a solid form most of the energy that made the cloud-like body diffused naturally. Which means I had to keep sending it more Ki for upkeep. Since I have no natural way of restoring Ki, I had to keep taking pills. Even if I did nothing with it, over time the energy would burn off naturally. But the speed I'm using it now was about three times faster.

  There were two more things I realized, I probably don't have that much Ki to begin with and there's a 99% chance I'm doing this incorrectly. Switching gears I changed my method, instead of actively controlling the Bloodborn I started giving it simple directions. 'Come here.' or 'Go there.' This changed the cloud's sluggish movement as it quickly flowed to each spot as directed. Its form flowed into a stream of mist before congealing back together. "Now that's better".

  Bringing it back to the table I directed the Bloodborn to return and rest. Upon the command, the mist once again diffused before seeping into my body. Once all the red mist was absorbed, I found the palm-sized blood-red infant resting peacefully inside my dantain. This time not absorbing my Ki. And I could once again feel the connection between it and my heart. We were one and the same.

  “Alright, now it’s time to break things”.

  END

  Spoilerkidmonkey94

  From a story about a demonic emperor who became a housekeeper.

  NU link: https:///series/the-steward-demonic-emperor/

  I am far more used to the unofficial transtions for these.

  Blood Soul (Official Transtion) = Fairy Blood Stone/Blood Stone

  Bloodborn (Official Transtion) = Blood Baby/Blood Infant/Baby Bloody/Blood Spirit

  I'm partial to changing it to Blood Stone and Blood Spirit.

  Actual spoilers:

  SpoilerJames didn't activate the stone the same way as the original. My reasoning is simple, if you keep applying more blood the stone would/should activate on its own willingly. Creating a stronger bond than activation through a technique at the cost of some strength.

  Affects:

  The Bloodborn/Blood Baby will live and grow within the owner's dantain. Growing stronger in accordance with the owner. Can be augmented through the use of specific techniques and influenced by certain materials/items.

  Can be sent into another's body (though touch or if directed) and steal their Lifeforce/Vitality/Blood Essence much like a vampire.

  Acts as a second heart.

  Drawbacks:

  Will kill the owner if destroyed.

  Will not work on those stronger than the owner. (If sent into someone of a higher cultivation tier they are likely to detect and destroy it with little effort.)

  Easily detected. (There's a second heartbeat in your body! You didn't notice?)

  [colpse][colpse]