Mattimeo: Blood And Desire

3

Pain wracked every inch of Mattimeo's body.

The scorpions had not killed him, but they had not left him unharmed either. Their stingers had pierced his flesh so many times that he had long since lost count. Every wound burned like fire, while a chilling numbness crept through his limbs.

Yet for some reason, the attacks suddenly stopped.

The pain didn't.

It only seemed to grow heavier.

Coldness seeped into his bones. The world felt distant, empty, and unbearably lonely.

Am I dying? he wondered.

********

Space tore apart.

A blood-red sphere emerged from the rift and shot across the sky like a falling star. In an instant, it reached the young man lying on the ground and plunged straight into his chest.

The crimson sphere dissolved into liquid the moment it entered his heart.

Like a raging flood, it spread through every vein in his body.

Mattimeo's eyes snapped open.

The agony he had already been enduring multiplied more than tenfold.

His body convulsed violently.

Veins bulged beneath his skin. Blood vessels ruptured. Every inch of flesh felt as though it were being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time.

The foreign blood surged through him with terrifying speed, merging with his own.

His fading consciousness struggled to remain awake.

I don't want to die.

I still have my revenge to take.

The blood continued to spread.

The fusion was succeeding, but the damage it inflicted was catastrophic. His body was reaching its limit. Death loomed only moments away.

Then something stirred.

Deep within his bloodline, in a place untouched by the invading blood, a sleeping presence awakened.

A deafening dragon roar erupted from the depths of his being.

A colossal crimson dragon phantom burst forth from within his bloodline and rose into the heavens.

Its scales blazed like rivers of molten blood. Its immense body coiled across the sky, casting a suffocating pressure over heaven and earth.

The very heavens seemed to tremble beneath its roar.

The dragon's ancient eyes slowly settled on Mattimeo.

For a brief moment, everything fell silent.

Then the dragon lowered its head.

Its massive form dissolved into countless streams of warm crimson energy that flowed back into Mattimeo's body.

The energy spread through every corner of him.

Torn flesh mended.

Shattered blood vessels reformed.

The damage caused by the fusion rapidly disappeared.

The destruction of his body no longer mattered.

At last, relief washed over him.

The violent struggle inside his body gradually calmed.

The foreign blood finally merged completely.

It did not replace his bloodline.

Instead, it fused with what already existed, becoming part of it.

When everything was over, the dragon's energy slowly retreated into the deepest reaches of his bloodline.

A hidden place beyond the reach of the foreign blood.

A place where the sleeping dragon continued to slumber.

********

"Duke Roland, Prince William is the best candidate for the throne, and he currently enjoys the highest support as a talented cultivator from the Celestial Blade Hall."

A middle-aged man stood before a window overlooking the Ravenshire Clan Mansion.

Even though he was a Duke, he still lived in the Ravenshire Clan Mansion because he was also the clan leader. Besides, the family estate was located in the capital of his duchy, making it far more convenient for him to remain there.

A cool breeze swept across his face. Roland slowly closed his eyes and stood still, letting the wind wash over him as it rustled his hair and robes.

"Duke Roland?"

The other man called out again, making sure the Duke was still listening.

Roland finally opened his eyes and turned toward him. His gaze settled on the man before him.

"Cedric, go back to your master like the good dog you are and tell him that I, Duke Roland, and the Duchy of Ravenmoor will never serve him. The Crown Prince is the rightful heir and shall have my loyalty."

His voice was firm and left no room for argument.

Cedric held his gaze for a few moments before finally looking away. A laugh escaped his lips.

"You do know that most of the nobles side with the Second Prince, and even the Celestial Blade Hall stands behind him. Think carefully about this. It's obvious that the First Prince is not going to succeed."

"Hah."

Roland chuckled.

"Cedric, I am loyal to the previous king, and he personally named the First Prince as his heir. But because he left and because the Second Prince has the backing of the Celestial Blade Hall, all of you nobles now want to support him and forget what is right."

His eyes narrowed.

"I would have remained neutral if the Crown Prince had never returned. But now he's back to reclaim his throne, and I must assist him in any way I can. Tell your master exactly what I said, dog."

Cedric gritted his teeth. His jaw tightened, but he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"I know you've just rejected us, but I still want to tell you this. There are many benefits waiting for you if you choose to join us.

"The Celestial Blade Hall will provide special admission slots for your younger generation. They won't have to meet the usual strict requirements. As long as the available slots are filled, you may personally choose who receives them. Those selected will also be granted special cultivation resources."

Roland merely looked at him and shook his head.

He walked toward a nearby table where a checkerboard sat. Picking up one of the pieces, he calmly moved it across the board.

"So you want me to believe that the Prince intends to give others the same fair opportunity he received? Do you think I don't know how the Celestial Blade Hall operates?"

The piece clicked softly against the board.

"I'm not going to fall for such a stupid bait. Leave now, Cedric, or I might decide to keep you in my duchy forever."

A dangerous edge crept into his voice, causing the atmosphere in the room to grow noticeably colder.

"Alright. Just make sure you don't regret this."

Cedric's voice turned icy as he spun around and headed for the door.

At that exact moment, the door burst open with a loud bang, and a very young woman rushed into the room.

Roland frowned at the interruption and was about to scold her for her lack of manners, but the panic written across her face immediately made him pause.

Then she spoke.

The words struck him like a bolt of lightning, turning his blood cold.

"Young Master is dead!"