The final stage of absorption began as the last of the waste blood evaporated, leaving only the purified essence of the titan.
This essence condensed within Lucian’s body, merging with his mana and permanently altering its composition. His mana, which was previously a normal colorless substance, now carried a faint trace of crimson color. It was becoming tangible now.
This continued for more than three hours before Lucian decided it was time to stop.
Lucian’s body convulsed once, violently, before settling back into perfect stillness.
The steam receded, the fog dispersed, and the vibrations of his muscles quieted. For a moment, it appeared as though nothing had changed—but then his eyes snapped open, revealing irises that flashed crimson before returning to their normal color.
He slowly uncrossed his legs and rose to his feet, feeling refreshed. His mana reserves had been replenished, and there was a giant change to his mana. It was as though it contained a hint of brutality and something savage.
This made Lucian look forward to the time his proficiency increases to the ultimate level of the Heavenly Demon Transformations Meditation technique.
But first, he looked at the devastation around him, his lips curling into a devilish smile.
Suddenly he sliced his left hand off.
"Splat."
Blood seeped out his limb as his left arm fell on the floor. By the time the hand landed on the ground, another limb had fully regenerated.
He then took the limb in the ground and moved towards the dead bodies of the titans, spilling his blood on their exposed skin.
Just as he was doing so, he suddenly witnessed his severed arm, withering ar a rapid speed and in just a second, it had withered to that of a thousand year old skeleton.
Something profound flashed through Lucian’s brain but just as he was about to figure out what it was, it slipped through his brain like a fog.
Lucian frowned slightly and he instantly knew he had forgotten something important but couldn’t tell exactly what it was.
He remained still for what seem to be an hour before shrugging his shoulder.
He turned towards the devastation around him. The scent of blood mixed with the weaned wafted through the landscape like a raging smoke.
Lucian smiled at the scene and inhaled deeply and as he exhaled, a whisper drifted from his lips.
"Awaken!"
"BOOM!!!"
An enormous shockwave of crimson mana burst outward like a missile explosion, covering everything within a hundred meter radius with its immense power.
The mana didn’t simply flow; it surged like a tsunami breaking free of all restraints, flooding across the battlefield in waves of deep red light.
Each wave of mana carried visible ripples. Where it touched the ground, small stones floated briefly before being pushed aside by the force.
In that moment the 12 perfect spheres of concentrated Titan cores shot forwards like shooting stars. Each core seemed to know exactly where to go, flying toward its designated titan body.
As the cores approached the dead titans, they slowed down, floating above the massive corpses.
Then, with a sound like crystal being struck, each core plunged into its titan’s chest. The impact released a burst of energy that shone like a star.
Where the cores entered, the titans’ flesh began to glow from within. Light spread through their bodies along patterns that resembled veins and arteries. The glow pulsed in rhythm—once, twice, three times—before steadying into a constant crimson radiance.
Lucian’s face was one of spectacle, awe and massive excitement as he watched what was happening.
The first signs of movement came from their fingers. Massive fingers that had been still in death now twitched, then curled, grasping at air.
The movement spread up their arms, across their torsos, and down to their legs. Bones that had been broken snapped back into alignment with sounds like trees cracking in a storm. Flesh that had been severed reattached itself, the seams visible briefly as glowing lines before fading to smooth skin.
One titan, larger than the others, rose first. Its movements were jerky and unnatural, like a puppet being controlled by an inexperienced master.
The titan opened its mouth, and a roar tore through its throat.
The next second more roars echoed across the battlefield, as the eleven titans also rose to their feet.
When all twelve titans stood, they moved in perfect unison. Their massive forms turned toward Lucian.
"BOOM!"
The ground shattered as they dropped to their knees, the impact sending through the ground that could be felt for miles.
The Blood Shadows’ eyes, glowing red like burning coals, fixed on Lucian with a mixture of awe and absolute loyalty.
Lucian roared into an unrestrained laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"My army is growing even more now."
With this army, the fight towards the Attack Titan wouldn’t be all that difficult to deal with. Surely it wouldn’t be so easy but at least it shouldn’t almost take his life.
The titans remained kneeling, waiting for their first command. The blood-red threads of mana connecting them to Lucian pulsed with each beat of his heart.
"BOOM!"
The ground trembled as the 12 Blood Shadow’s knees slammed to the ground, bowing in show of their undying loyalty to their master!
"BOOM!"
The ground trembled as the 12 Blood Shadow’s knees slammed to the ground, bowing in show of their undying loyalty to their master!
Lucian’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he surveyed his growing army. The Blood Shadows waited, perfectly still, for their master’s command.
"Rise," he commanded, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
The titans rose in unison, their movements now fluid and coordinated, no longer the jerky motions of their initial awakening. They stood at attention, awaiting further orders.
Lucian closed his eyes, focusing inward. The recent battle had given him not just new soldiers but also valuable insights into his own abilities.
"It’s time to make some changes," he murmured to himself.
He immediately set his eyes on the Diamond scale skin and immediately spoke.
"Reroll Diamond Scale."
[Talent Reroll Initiated]
[Diamond Scale (C) → ???]
"BOOM!"
A massive die the size of an entire planet appeared before Lucian like a meteor. In that instant, the die spin rapidly and rapidly until it slowed down.
A shimmering light enveloped his body as the talent began to change. The sensation was similar to shedding skin, but on a much deeper level. He could feel the very essence of the talent shifting, reforming into something new.
The energy swirled around him, growing more intense with each passing second. Lucian gritted his teeth, enduring the pressure as the talent transformed. Then, with a flash of golden light, the process completed.
[Talent Reroll Complete]