[Level 138: 522/2050 >>>> Level 141: 522/2080] [All Stats have been moved up by three points] [Blood Mana Extracted: 5,490] [Blood Mana Lv5: 47,532/64,000 >>>> 53,022/64,000] [Your Blood Strength grows.] [Your Blood Mana Manipulation grows.] [Level 141: 522/2080] [Blood Strength: 574] [Blood Lust: Level 7] [Class: Bishop] Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 [Rank: Blood Commander] [Blood Mana Lv5: 53,022/64,000] [Blood Coins: 2,100,011] [Conjured Warriors: 989] Piles of bodies of the Raiders, unknown species, and a few Granian soldiers were counted and left to decompose in large numbers, the majority belonging to the unknown species. A few survivors were captured and interrogated to learn who had sent them and what was promised afterward. In Akrina, no one would willingly fight a war that did not include them unless they were promised large sums of money, property, colonies, or other things. Upon interrogation, it was discovered that the unknowns were mercenary clones designed by the Ethisian allies known as the Yrrejites. The Yrrejites, small and stubby like the Raiders, made up for their lack of combat-fit bodies with their powerful minds, technology, and most importantly, money. These creatures managed to do something the Granians couldn’t: creating perfectly cloned species designed for battle. The Granians managed to understand the basics of cloning, but all of their clones were partially mindless and incapable of making rational battle decisions. When they were deployed, it was mainly for distracting, bombarding, and overwhelming enemy numbers, a phenomenon which they came to learn wasn’t as effective as they had hoped. The Yrrejites, however, managed not only to clone species but also to intertwine specific intricate strains of DNA into said clones to make their bodies slightly stronger than other species. In addition, they managed to instill fragments of a warrior’s consciousness into their minds. This allowed their clones to make their own independent decisions while also being fully obedient to ONLY the Yrrejites. "These species," the Blood Mutants approached Grim who had interrogated most of the mercenary clones, "they look like you but have bodies as tough as Ethisians. They all look the same too. I’m guessing they’re perfect clones?" "Yes and no," Grim answered. At that moment, the Granians returned to the Colonial ships with a course set for the Citadels. "A perfect clone is one that can make one hundred percent independent thoughts on its own without any manipulation from outside sources. These clones are perfect only for war, as you just witnessed. Though their makers can condition them to be fit for other tasks." "They possess Granian DNA, hence the resemblance to our species," Gravax joined in on the conversation. "They also possess Ethisian and Soxan DNA all spliced together to create these. I’ve taken the liberty of studying a few more of these species. Perhaps we too can create perfect clones of our own." "I thought you did so already?" Anya asked, recalling the clones that attacked Earth and were used in some distant battles they fought. "Aren’t yours equal to theirs?" "Ours..." Grim thought long and hard, seeking a perfect explanation for the Human’s question. Looking at Ace brought him to a perfect answer, "...ours are like the dead Ace brings back. They’re only good for killing and overwhelming enemy numbers. The red dead soldiers he possesses are like the mercenary clones; capable of making their own battle decisions but solely loyal to him." Grim’s explanation summed it up perfectly, but it also brought the others back to the realization of what Ace had done. While they moderately got accustomed to using simple Blood Clone techniques, he was on another level that not only allowed him to raise the dead but also made them fight for him. "How long did it take you to learn that?" The Humans asked questions one by one, neither giving him a chance to respond yet. "When did you know you could do that?" "Is it possible for the rest of the Blood Mutants to learn this, or only you?" Jim, Anya, and Skyler questioned, showing their interest in Ace’s special ability. Cherry, on the other hand, remained quiet, showing her lack of interest in Ace’s abilities. The Blood Knight recently started making astute observations of her brother, learning and seeing the man he was turning into. She learned of how his rage for the Granians became invisible to them yet still felt by the Humans which, to her, was incredible given that neither she nor the others were able to hide theirs properly. However, there was also the added observation of his Blood Energy. Like her, Cherry, Jim, and Anya had Blood Energy which allowed them to transform, manipulate blood to their will, create and destroy, among many other abilities. Theirs were normal, flowing with a malicious aura only directed at their enemies, and calm when used in training. Ace was constantly malevolent, whether training or in battle. It changed many aspects of his physique, such as his now blood-red long hair and frequently glowing red eyes with a more toned and lean physique. It also changed his Blood Abilities, making them seem far superior to the others in completely wrong ways. Cherry couldn’t tell whether it was the fact that he was a Blood Bishop or maybe something else that made him that way. This observation was one of the reasons she declined her brother’s offer to move her to the Blood Bishop rank, despite knowing the strength benefits it would have on her and her abilities. ’First, he can summon an army of defeated Ethisians and now he can raise the dead back,’ she muttered under her breath. ’That blood Ethisian Enoris mentioned she felt a malevolent force of energy linked between her and Ace. I wonder what exactly drove him to that state and what else will it do to him? To us? To the Granians?’ Despite her concerns and worries for her brother, Cherry still loved him and cared a great deal for him. Ace was no longer the naïve, overthinking Blood Mutant he was like on Earth, which was a good thing to her. However, with his sudden change in strength, character, and raw power, she was afraid that he’d end up becoming another threat not just to the Granians but to the other Humans and everyone else in Akrina. Who knows, maybe he would return to Earth and become a threat to them as well.