I Reincarnated As An Immortal Bat Into Another World

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 - Curse of Soul Siphon

[ALERT]

[LEVEL UP]

[LEVEL UP]

[LEVEL UP]

[LEVEL UP]

........... x 20 times

[ALERT]

[Skill Acquired: Nightmare Illusion]

[Desc: Allows you to project disturbing illusions into the minds of enemies, causing them to experience their worst fears and disrupting their focus]

"Vo-vo, stop, stop! What in the bat's cave is happening with you, System? Do you want me to go deaf from your relentless alerts?" Bong exclaimed, flapping his wings in a gesture of stopping, his expression clearly annoyed.

[ALERT]

[Oh, it was a delight to suppress the notifications and then unleash them all at once, just to see the bewildered look in your bat eyes.]

"I think Lysander made you so annoyed, you devil of a System," Bong muttered with a touch of playful sarcasm.

[ALERT]

[I designed to evolve with my host; my emotions depend upon the emotions of the host.]

"You cheeky System, you're suggesting I'm becoming as annoying as you?"

"Now, come on, show me my status! I'm curious to see my level after a whole month of leveling up!" Bong exclaimed with a mix of exasperation and curiosity, fluttering his wings in anticipation.

[ALERT]

[Haha, maybe I'm rubbing off on you]

[Sure thing, let's check it out]

[Name: Bong Jum]

[Species: Immortal Bat]

[Class: Shadow Bat]

[Level: 20]

[Health: 800/800]

[Mana: 500/500]

[Innate Skill: Gluttony]

[Skills: Shadow Stealth (Masterful), Sonic Sense (Expert), Shadow Manipulation (Proficiency: Masterful), Dark Flight (Proficiency: Masterful), Nightmare Illusion (Proficiency: Beginner)]

[Passive Skill: Soul Siphon (Masterful)]

"Oh Gosh, I think I'll drop dead just looking at the ultimate level of my skill proficiency! My bat heart's I will die with excitement," Bong exclaimed, his excitement evident as he flapped his wings with exhilaration.

While Bong focused on leveling up during the entire month, things were far from easy for the Everhart family. Duke Everhart's son, Sebastian, remained in a coma for the entire duration. Duke Everhart used a significant portion of his wealth to get his son the best treatment possible. What Bong didn't know was that his Soul Siphon skill had an extra effect, something he hadn't discovered yet because he hadn't asked the System for more details.

The Soul Siphon skill carried a hidden curse. It affected anyone it touched, continuously draining their MP and transferring it to Bong. This was a secret benefit that helped Bong improve his skill proficiency.

For those who survived the encounter, they unknowingly became a permanent source of MP for Bong.

However, this situation provided some amusement for Victoria. She found a certain satisfaction in Sebastian's prolonged coma. She hoped he would never wake up, as that would pave the way for her older son to marry the princess. Yet, alongside her satisfaction, there was also a growing worry. An entire month had passed, and she remained clueless about who might have discovered her secret plan. Surprisingly, no one had attempted to use this knowledge for blackmail, not even her father, who was known for his cunning.

Not even her cunning father. What's more, the secret of Victoria's father remained veiled in mystery, unknown even to the Emperor. If he couldn't unearth the truth, it seemed unlikely that anyone in the entire kingdom could.

Seeing no other options left to help his son, Duke felt a sense of desperation creeping in. It was a moment of great difficulty for him, as he grappled with the idea of saving his child.

In this dire situation, Duke took a drastic step. With no other choice, he reached out to the Saintess of the Kingdom. Divine beings who served as apostles of the Goddess, and only an Emperor could mobilize her. Duke knew that his actions would come at a cost, and he was willing to pay it. He offered himself as a bargain, pledging his loyalty and one time service to the Kingdom in exchange for a chance to seek the Saintess aid in curing his son.

This decision was not taken lightly. Duke's heart was heavy with the weight of a father's love, ready to make any sacrifice to ensure his son's well-being. It was a testament to the depths of a parent's devotion and the lengths they would go to for their child.

Duke was seated in his throne room, his anticipation palpable as he awaited the arrival of the Saintess. He had meticulously prepared for her visit, ensuring that every aspect was flawless. From the maids to the soldiers, the entire Everhartia state was on high alert, and security measures were stringent. Not even a bird could fly without the Duke's permission.

The city of Hart, the main place in Everhartia, was all decked out with rows of lovely roses along the streets. This was all done to give a warm welcome to the Saintess and her Holy Knights, who were on their way.

After a long journey from the capital city of Kingdom to the state's own capital city, the Saintess finally arrived. She came in a fancy royal cart and was surrounded by holy knights. These holy knights were no joke - each of them was as strong as a whole bunch of regular soldiers, a thousand to be exact!

Stepping out of her royal cart with grace, the Saintess exuded a beauty that seemed almost divine. Her presence was akin to that of a celestial being. As she walked on the path strewn with roses, which had been carefully laid out before the mansion of Duke Everhart, the royal knights heralded her arrival by blowing their horns, creating an enchanting atmosphere befitting the occasion.

A soldier from Everhartia came and let Duke Everhart know that the Saintess had arrived. Duke Everhart was quick to respond. He hurried to greet the Saintess, his heart full of respect for her. He gently took her hand and invited her to come inside his mansion.

"Your Holiness, I am deeply honored by your presence in my state," Duke Everhart greeted the Saintess with respect and warmth.

"Thank you, Duke Everhart, for your warm welcome. It is my privilege to be here and witness the beauty of your state," The Saintess replied with a gentle smile, acknowledging the Duke's hospitality.

"Your Holiness, I apologize for my intrusion, but I humbly request your assistance in treating my son," Duke Everhart implored, his tone respectful and earnest.

The Saintess listened attentively to the Duke's request and didn't hesitate. They entered Sebastian's room swiftly. With a gentle demeanor, she sat beside him, taking his hand in hers. Channeling her holy magic, she began to analyze his condition, her expression growing more serious with each passing moment.

"It appears to be a curse that has afflicted his soul, " she said, her voice tinged with shock, as she uncovered the truth behind his condition.