1100 Consider it my gift



Liam's mind spun. He knew that he could probably run into more powerful beings out in this vast universe or multiverse or however many realms or worlds there were but he did not expect to run into one immediately.

Interrupting his thoughts, the elf spoke again. "I am not going to harm you, human. So stop thinking of how to run."

"And what are you even going to do after you run? With your depleted life force and crippled body, you would die before you take a few steps."

"It is in fact quite surprising that you stayed alive until now. You must have gathered a good amount of luck. Perhaps that is why you ran into me." The elf shrugged.

"Trust me. Of all the elves you could run into, I am your best bet. I absolutely abhor my people. But you… you are interesting and you are someone I could use."

"I have no idea how you wandered into this mystic realm without an invitation or without even access to the gate but you seem to have a nifty skill. What is that? Some sort of soul technique you lucked into?"

Liam's face changed. He no longer looked panicked. Instead, he calmed down a little and asked the question the elf expected him to. "How can I trust you?"

The elf smiled. "You just have to. You are still alive, aren't you?"

Liam watched as the smug and confident elf then glided down toward the corpse of the beast and shoved it somewhere, probably into his spatial artifact.

The elf proceeded to examine the chasm more closely while Liam stayed behind. He had to navigate this situation very carefully. He needed to find out more details first and for that he needed to play along and appear very non-threatening to the elf.

Also… Liam lifted his hand up with a sigh. He had been so focussed on the inner injuries that he did not notice how he had become all shriveled up like a dried tomato. This was why the elf was sarcastically referring to him as an elder.

He looked at his gnarled hands, their skin thin and transparent as parchment, veins protruding as if wanting to break free from the confinement of his fragile body. His hair was long and white. His life force looked drained.

Liam looked at the elf who was busy searching the nook and corners of that chasm, wondering if that elf had any cure of sorts. 

Clearly, he needed his help to deal with the soul blood beasts. There had to be some way he could get the elf to cough up some healing item, better than the ones he had.

He watched the elf keenly. He could tell that the elf was far from ordinary. His swift execution of the beast, the ease with which he-

Suddenly something interrupted Liam's thoughts. 

His gaze shifted to take a look, when from the corner of his eyes he noticed the thing that had grabbed his attention, something small and silvery, perhaps a wisp of energy.

And it directly entered the sword in his other hand.

Liam watched in silent astonishment as the silvery wisp of energy merged seamlessly with his sword. 

For a moment, the sword glowed softly, radiating a soothing aura that seemed to pacify the pain in his frail body. Then the glow dimmed, leaving behind just the sword.

Liam did not intend on probing the sleeping dragons at the moment, especially when his soul was injured but without a doubt, he could tell that something significant had happened.

The sword looked and felt different than before. The single wisp of silver was enough to do that?

As if answering his question, the elf grumbled loudly. "Why the heck can't a piece of sword essence or something else valuable be nudged here somewhere? God damn it. I am never ever lucky."

The elf then appeared in front of Liam. "Are you ready to leave? We might possibly encounter more of those nasty fuckers. Your only job is to take them out." The chubby elf sighed.

Liam nodded, his grip on the black dragon sword tightening. It seemed that the elf didn't sense the small essence that slipped into his sword.

Or did he and he planned to take it from him later just like the blood essence? Well whatever his plan was, he needed to be prepared.

And while he was still playing the part…

"What are those blood drops from the beasts?"

Liam half expected to have touched a nerve but the elf casually shrugged. "Oh that? You can keep that. Consider it my gift."

"Oh? That's very generous of you."

Unexpectedly, the elf started laughing. "Human, before you go and use it, let me warn you. That is not something that can cure your condition. That's poison. That will rip apart and kill whatever is left of you."

Liam looked confused. "I don't follow."

"It's blood essence. It's pure primordial blood essence."

Liam's eyes immediately lit up.

"Yes. Yes. I know it's very valuable and the Emperor has been trying for centuries to integrate with it but it's kind of useless. Its essence is so powerful that it immediately kills anyone who tries to use it."

"...."

"What? You don't trust me?"

Liam smiled.

"Come on. Why else would I give it to you?" The elf took out another crystal from somewhere and held it in his hand. It was a lot denser, with a lot more crimson threads swirling inside.

"It is not that rare, at least for someone in the high society of the Empire like me."

"And no one has ever found out how to use it?" Liam probed again.

"Well, the Emperor did come close but a herb is required for that process, a Grade-S herb!  A freaking herb found in an S- Ranked world! And even with that, the chances are quite slim. In fact, one would gain more from just consuming that herb." 

The elf clicked his tongue. "Alright, let's stop wasting time and get moving."