Draco read this in surprise and amazement. He never thought the system had a subsystem. From the name "Pet," he was able to deduce what had happened. It turned out that the crow's defeat had triggered its awakening.
Host: Draco Xandros
Race: Human [25%], Dragon [25%], Phoenix [25%], Demon [25%]
Level: 32
Pet: HellFire Crow (Click to view status)
This was what the subsystem interface displayed. Draco clicked to know more about the HellFire Crow's status.
Ding!
[It is detected that the HellFire Crow is undergoing a rebirth. Stats cannot be viewed until the process is complete.]
When Draco saw this message, he felt like beating the system. If you know I can't view it, then why bother providing an option to click? This is just a waste of time...
Draco dismissed the matter and shifted his attention to his accomplished mission.
[Teach the HellFire Crow a lesson and make her your subordinate.]
Note: You must defeat the HellFire Crow within five hours.
Host stats will be restored until the Crow is defeated, and all limitations temporarily removed.
Reward: Unknown.
Penalty: Reduction of level to zero.
Status: Completed
Ding!
[Does Host want to claim the reward now? (Yes/No)]
Draco wasted no time clicking "Yes," rubbing his hands together like a child expecting candy.
Ding!
[You have gained Bloodline Pill ×2, Gift Pack ×1.]
[Bloodline Pill: A perfect pill capable of raising one's bloodline by one rank. Can only be consumed once. Additional pills consumed afterward will have no effect.]
[Gift Pack: A reward granted by the system to the Host. Note: Rewards are not fixed, and some may be considered trash by the Host.]
Draco was stunned by the system's words. A Bloodline Pill that could raise the rank of one's bloodline was extraordinary. If he used it to enhance one of his bloodlines, he wondered how strong he would become.
"It's not for you," a familiar voice suddenly interjected, startling Draco. Turning to his side, he saw Xylara.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"Your bloodline is too strong. It's already at its peak, so the Bloodline Pills would be ineffective," Xylara explained, dampening Draco's excitement.
"Then who are they for?" Draco exclaimed in frustration.
"I think they're for the mother crow and her child," Xylara said cheekily. Draco began cursing the system for giving him a reward that didn't directly benefit him.
Xylara chuckled, seeing his expression. "Don't worry; it's ultimately for your benefit."
"Hmph," Draco snorted. "Since you were aware of the crow, that means you knew about my situation. Why didn't you answer me?" Draco asked.
When the HellFire Crow descended, he had called on Xylara for help—hoping for a way to escape or remove the mark on him—but there had been no reply.
"I was in a deep sleep. By the time I woke up, you didn't need my help anymore," Xylara chuckled.
"Also, Master shouldn't rely on me too much. What if I disappear one day?" she teased.
Draco scratched his head, chuckling before falling into thought. She's right. What if she truly disappears one day? Even the system could vanish. What would I do then?
"Darling," Ivy called out, seeing Draco lost in thought for a few minutes.
Draco snapped out of his reverie and looked at Ivy. "Nothing, I'm just thinking about some things," he said, noticing the girls' worried expressions.
Hearing this, the girls calmed down.
"You will have to protect them during this period," Xylara said. "Their strength is basically at zero, and they are currently weak. You should coerce them to sleep."
Her words made Draco raise his eyebrows in shock. "What do you mean?"
"The ranger form devoured their strength. Don't think using that form comes without a price. Your current strength can't fully fuse with theirs. If not for the Weapon of Plunder sacrificing part of its origin, part of your soul might have perished."
Xylara's words made Draco shiver in shock. He had never thought that the Dragon-Phoenix Form was so strong that it would cause such devastating injuries to them. No wonder the voice of the Weapon of Plunder sounded so weak.
"Wait, does this mean you knew about its intelligence?" Draco eyed Xylara. She nodded, confirming her knowledge.
She explained that she hadn't known about the ranger form when Draco asked why she hadn't told him about it earlier. She also dropped a hint: "The Weapon of Plunder is one of the origins of your past life's strength."
This sentence shocked Draco, who fell into thought.
"Oh, also, give the bloodline pills to both the mother and child."
"How will I give it to the mother?" Draco looked at the pitch-black egg, wondering how to proceed.
"Just sprinkle it on the egg," Xylara said before disappearing from view.
Draco walked toward the black-gold baby crow, who was glaring at him with resentment. This was the person who had almost killed her mother and left her in this state.
She tried to fly, aiming at Draco, intending to injure him in revenge.
Draco calmly watched, catching the black-gold crow. Even though her level was high, she didn't know how to wield her power, as she wasn't yet exposed to the true nature of the world.
"It isn't my fault. Your mother wanted to kill me, so I had to strike back. The strong prey on the weak—that is the way of the world, little crow," Draco said.
The black-gold crow looked at him with resentment before sadness engulfed her small eyes as she turned her gaze to the black egg.
"Don't worry; I'll save your mother," Draco assured. The black crow shifted her gaze from the egg to Draco, her eyes silently asking, "Are you really going to save my mother?"
Draco chuckled, noticing her gaze. He brought out the bloodline pills, sprinkling one on the black egg. "You should take this," he said.
The black crow eyed the pill cautiously. She could feel her bloodline's hunger for it. Though she looked at Draco warily, she couldn't resist the temptation and eventually swallowed the small pill.
The black egg lit up with black flames, emitting a chilling air. The black-gold crow began to emit flames too, but of two types—golden flames radiating yang energy and black flames radiating yin energy.
Find your next adventure on empire
The black-gold crow transformed into a flaming egg with two striking colors. Draco watched, realizing they were both undergoing a transformation.
"What's happening to them?" Ivy asked curiously.
"They're undergoing a transformation," Draco replied with a chuckle. "Also, it's time for you both to take a rest," he added, turning to them.
"But—"
"No buts," Draco interjected, sitting cross-legged. "Come and rest your heads on my lap," he said, patting his lap invitingly.
Ivy and Lyraea blushed slightly, then bent down into a sleeping position, resting their heads on his lap.
"Sleep well," he said, gently patting their heads. They smiled, inhaling Draco's comforting aura, and their eyes drowsily closed as they drifted into the realm of dreams.
Draco watched the two beauties sleep peacefully. He felt a sense of warmth and couldn't help but plant a gentle kiss on their foreheads.
"What a beautiful sight," he murmured.
A/N:
HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY READERS.
NEW TIDINGS TO US.