Chapter 163 Mental Liberation

—

Screee!

The party covered their ears as the Mother Worm released an ear-piercing shriek. The soundwaves sent sand flying in every direction. The force of the billowing sands was akin to a forming sandstorm.

"Why is its screech so powerful?!" Ezra shouted over the noise.

"Huh?!"

The entire party struggled to understand what she was saying. So she leaned close to Kieran and spoke next to his ear. This action made a sweet breath waft past his nose while tickling his ear.

"I said—why is its screech so powerful?"

"Oh! It's most likely a high-level boss!" Kieran responded.

The screeching stopped a few moments later, but an enormous sand eruption followed as the 20-meter-long Mother Worm reappeared. Compared to their first run-in with this beast, the Mother Worm's current appearance differed significantly.

Not only did it reveal a massive horn similar to the Sand Severing Sand Worm, but there were several of them, double and even triple the size that flowed down its back.

"That's new…." Nemean gulped while analyzing the sight before him.

"It's enraged right now. We only intruded before, but the situation now is different. We've killed its offsprings," Kieran answered.

He slowly stood up despite the residual exhaustion that weighed heavy on his mind, gripping Crimson Ashrune with a resolved expression.

"Wait—!" Sera moved her hand, placed it on Kieran's chest, and looked at him with trembling eyes. "Are you sure you're in any condition to fight? You just said you were mentally exhausted. When we started the game, multiple warnings notified us of the aftereffects."

The warnings she spoke of referred to the ones Kieran skipped while talking to the faerie. He was accustomed to Zenith Online already, so he understood the debrief process.

"Probably not, but I do not need to be as reckless. I have all of you by my side," Kieran responded, placing his free hand on Sera's. This gesture consoled her and soothed her worries.

She gave a subtle nod while retracting her hand.

Meanwhile, the party discerned the Mother Worm's information.

「 Lv.41 Colossal Mother Sand Worm (Unique BOSS)

Field Boss

Insect Type, Sand Type

Health: 2,750,400/2,750,400 (100%) 」

'A Field Boss, is it? Then it serves us well that we're a small party. Otherwise…'

The thought of this boss's Health inflating many times higher unsettled Kieran.

Whim!

Kieran's blade emitted a subtle hum as Blood Mania cloaked his presence in an extraordinary sight. After continually using this skill, Kieran's affinity with the power intensified. The crimson wisps that separated from his body and dispersed into the air were thicker and carried more energy than before.

Additionally…

"Hooo!"

Kieran exhaled and closed his eyes.

'This state of dulled perception isn't bad. This range reduction has led me to focus my perception on myself. Doing so allowed me to understand a few things about this power.'

A vibration occurred atop Crimson Ashrune as Kieran used the benefit of Focus to increase his manipulation of this skill. Despite the coating's completion, Kieran Health continued dropping.

65%...50%...30%...

The Health decline continued until Kieran opened his eyes. At that moment, his Health froze at 15% while a sort of blood cocoon formed around the hand that wielded Crimson Ashrune.

'I won't dare say I've mastered this power, but I understand its flow much better now. Blood Mania isn't just the sacrifice of vitality; it's the manipulation of it.

〈System: Your mastery of ?Blood Mania? has naturally deepened.〉

〈System: ?Blood Mania? Skill Rank has changed.〉

〈System: Your understanding has resonated with the control and manipulation aspects of ?Blood Mania?. The details of this skill have been amended accordingly.〉

「 Blood Mania (Lv.3)

Skill Rank: *S → *S+

Skill Type: Hybrid

Mastery (06.66%)

*New ?Vampiric Blood Encrustation? - The user encrusts a medium of choice in a hardened blood coating. The coating adopts the medium's qualities and heightens it at a 0.1% Health per second cost. While active, this effect triggers the user's Lifesteal Trait.

*New ?Blood Strengthening? - The user can empower blood attacks or strengthen their power by exhausting vitality. The amount of Health required varies depending on the blood attack's skill rank. Basic attacks are set at 10% strengthening per 1% of Health.

100% - 81% Health: Attack Power +15%

80% - 51% Health: Attack Power +30%

50% to 21% Health: Attack Power +50%

20% or below Health: Attack Power +125%

*New ?Vim Restoration? - Dissolving the Vampiric Blood Encrustation returns the exhausted vitality but maintains the same level for Blood Strengthening for 60 seconds. The user can use this effect twice before it enters a 300-second cooldown period.

Prerequisites: True Berserker 」

Everything about Blood Mania underwent considerable changes. While Blood Mania didn't become so powerful it was considered a broken skill, the detriments of this skill became manageable. Managing his Health before this change was somewhat tricky.

However, the change from S to S+ caught Kieran's eye. As far as he knew, such a ranking didn't exist. But, the system revealed why the skill was given this unprecedented ranking.

〈System: ?Blood Mania? possesses more untapped potential. Its current grading is stronger than S Rank Skills but weaker than SS Rank skills. It will be treated as an S Rank Skill until it truly evolves.〉

'So that's how it is,' Kieran inwardly noted before glancing down at Crimson Ashrune, more importantly, his left hand that wielded it while stimulating the Vampiric Blood Encrustation passive.

The blood cocoon that wrapped around Kiernan's hand seconds prior had formed a refined version of the gauntlet used to fight against Jackson. It continued just past his wrist.

Everyone looked at Kieran as the air around him transformed.

While Kieran still gave off an unbelievably dangerous sensation, it was as if he had reined that feeling in, or rather, brought it under subtle yet incomplete control.

"Whoa! Dude, your hand!" Bastion exclaimed.

Everyone reacted to Bastion's remark, focusing on Kieran's hand. One question crept into their mind—did it hurt? It seemed like the crystallized blood merged with his skin.

"Yeah. With misery comes sunshine," Kieran smiled cryptically. "Ezra, take the lead. Show me the results of my advice."

"Understood!" Ezra said.

"Bastion, Nemean—prepare to intercept the outcome of her actions."

"Camila," Kieran suddenly said, which gained Camila's gaze. "I don't know what has upset you, but don't harbor those feelings and let them poison your heart. I noticed that Ezra kept looking in your direction. She worries about you."

"I didn't ask her to worry," Camila answered with a slight frown.

Kieran turned towards her with a soft expression. "Excellent leaders will always worry. Discontented teammates will lead to them questioning their abilities to lead. Confide in your guild master. It's clear she's a genuine person."

Camila blinked while struggling with what Kieran said. Voicing her problems was not something Camila often did, or at all for that matter.

Kieran could tell this was the case because she carried the same feeling that he died with—feeling wronged.

"I—"

"There's no need to answer. Just think about my suggestion," Kieran interjected.

Snap!

Kieran snapped his fingers and glanced in Altair's direction. "Assist."

It was only one word, but Altair understood the message.

"Luna."

"Yes, Aatrox?" Luna's clear eyes filled with admiration while awaiting instruction.

"You are excellent. Now, keep up with Altair; I know you're capable of it. I'm not sure what holds you back but act with confidence. Relax your shoulders and move with vigor. Announce your presence at all times," Kieran commented.

The party couldn't understand where Kieran's change in demeanor came from. But, it stemmed from Kieran coming to an understanding—why should he change his core because of another person's actions? Fall into despair and live that lonely life once more?

It was something he chose not to do.

Thus, his personality that fell to the depths of his soul after his parent's unfortunate death flourished once more—he spoke his mind and did so without relenting.

Luna stammered, but when she looked into Kieran's calm gaze, all her mental struggles seemed to wash away.

"Your dream is to be an amazing leader, yes? Don't sully that dream by thinking you're inferior." Kieran looked around and nodded. "None of you are inferior. It's all about the effort we put in—so tell me. Are we going to defeat this boss?"

"That thing is dead!" Bastion shouted, which was soon followed by Nemean's chant.

"Off with its head!"

The party's morale was instantly set ablaze as Kieran took a steady yet powerful step forward. His slow, measured gait was like the descent of a blood deity who would achieve everything they sought without being restrained.

Kieran had become unfettered!

Liberation of the mindset was one of the most powerful transformations that could ever transpire.

This change marked the beginning of a new path—a path rife with conquest and camaraderie.

Whoosh!

Kieran sped forth, leaving a deep footprint in the sand. Kieran's lip curved upward into a devilish smile that revealed his sharp canine teeth. He drew back his sword-wielding arm while hovering his free hand above it.

Zeut!

Kieran suddenly disappeared and reappeared tens of meters away, just steps behind the others that rushed into battle.

The True Berserker's slumber was over.