My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse

Then, Kisha clicked on the mystical items to check their descriptions.

...

[Bloodline Evolution Fruit]

[Description: A divine fruit nurtured and safeguarded by a guardian beast for a thousand years, destined to awaken its bloodline and ascend to nirvana, becoming a living god among heavenly beasts. However, just as it reached the final stage of ripening, a rival heavenly beast, lurking in ambush, attempted to steal the fruit. A fierce battle erupted among the heavenly and mythical beasts, shaking the entire continent and plunging the world into chaos. Amidst the turmoil, the Bloodline Evolution Fruit mysteriously vanished.

Grade: Mythical

Type: Consumable]

...

The fruit was as large as a melon, with a scaly white skin that resembled a fusion of raspberry and lychee, with a slight fuzziness akin to a kiwi. However, what truly set it apart was the unmistakable golden glow that enveloped it, exuding an aura of holiness and divinity.

Kisha could feel the overwhelming spiritual energy radiating from the fruit—far surpassing even the most potent spiritual crops and fruits harvested from her territory. And there weren't just one, but two of them.

Recalling Bell's explanation, Kisha knew that in the Murim world, some beasts possessed hidden bloodlines—some weak, others pure, like Bell's.

The purer and stronger the bloodline flowing through a beast's veins, the greater their strength and the higher their chances of evolving to reach their pinnacle. Some would ascend into legendary beasts, others into mythical beings, and beyond.

Now that she had this fruit, she felt it would be invaluable in the future. Even if she didn't obtain a mythical weapon or armor, this alone made up for it.

Satisfied, Kisha stored the fruit in her inventory before turning her attention to the final mythical item—a manual.

It belonged to the same league as the 'Manual: Profound Understanding of Mana: Stages and Techniques' she had previously purchased for 400,000 points. However, this time, the manual focused on 'Aura'.

While she had heard of Aura before, she didn't know much about it. Her curiosity piqued, she eagerly examined it further.

...

[Manual: Profound Understanding of Aura: Bloodline Tempest]

[Description: This manual contains the hidden, exclusive technique of the Hero Emperor of the North, the legendary warrior who defeated the Demon Lord during the invasion of the Aisim Continent. The technique, known as Bloodline Tempest, was a divine gift bestowed by the Goddess of Peace and Harmony to give humanity hope and the strength to resist the demons that sought to rise from hell and claim their sanctuary.

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Only those with the bloodline of the Hero Emperor of the North can practice this technique, as it requires an imprint of his lineage to function. Without it, attempting to cultivate this power would lead to stagnation, rendering the user incapable of progress—and ultimately crippling their meridians.

Grade: EX

Type: Consumable]

...

Kisha stared at the manual again and again. On the surface, it sounded incredible—an overpowered technique that could grant immense strength. However, the key issue was its prerequisite.

Not just for her, but for anyone. No one could practice this technique without the Hero Emperor's bloodline, and no matter what they did, there was no way to acquire it.

In the end, keeping this manual might do more harm than good. She exchanged a look with Duke, and from the disappointment reflected in his eyes, she knew they were both thinking the same thing—they would have loved to try it.

But aside from the prerequisite, another thought struck Kisha. She vividly recalled what happened when she accidentally gained a second type of energy within her body. The imbalance had nearly caused her to explode into nothingness.

That experience was a stark reminder—even if she found a way to practice this technique, she would still have to ensure the different energies within her remained in perfect harmony. If not, the clash could turn fatal.

"It seems like we can't do anything about this one," Duke sighed in disappointment as he stared at the manual's description.

There was something about it that resonated with him—not the manual itself, but the aura it described. He had a feeling that aura could grant him a power distinct from the spiritual energy already flowing through his veins.

His thoughts drifted back to Kisha and the time she had gained a second energy source after wearing 'The Princess's Tear Necklace'. It had nearly cost her her life, but once she managed to balance the two energies, the strength she radiated was undeniable.

For some reason, Duke felt tempted. He wanted that kind of power.

Whether it was to protect his loved ones or simply to surpass his current strength, it didn't matter—Duke felt an undeniable urge deep within him, a drive pushing him to become stronger, so powerful that no one could stand against him.

However, the excitement in his heart was dampened the moment he saw the manual's prerequisite. No matter how much he wanted it, without the required bloodline, it was nothing more than an unattainable dream.

Seeing Duke's expression shift from eager anticipation to quiet disappointment, Kisha felt a strong urge to find a solution. Maybe she could search for a different manual in the system mall or check the achievement shop for something she could gift him.

Duke never coveted her things, nor did he proactively ask for anything from her. Yet, whenever she gave him something, he would light up with pure joy, cherishing it as if it were the most precious gift in the world. Now, seeing him long for something he couldn't have made Kisha's heart clench.

Maybe it was her natural instinct to pamper the person closest to her heart, or maybe she just couldn't stand seeing Duke look like a disappointed big puppy—it was tearing at her heart.

"Host, actually, I can check if either of you has compatibility with this manual, if you'd like," 008 suddenly interjected, halting Kisha's train of thought.

"Compatibility test? You can do that?" Kisha asked, though she kept her expectations low. She didn't want to get her hopes up, only to have them crushed later.

"Yes, just give me a moment..." 008 responded before falling silent. Kisha assumed the system was running the compatibility test, so while waiting, she stole a glance at Duke. His expression had already returned to normal, as if the disappointment she had seen earlier had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

Kisha sighed silently. She chose not to tell Duke about the compatibility test just yet. If the results weren't favorable, she didn't want to be the one to raise his hopes only to shatter them, making his disappointment even worse.

The few minutes of silence felt like an eternity, making Kisha fidget anxiously.

Meanwhile, Duke, instead of showing any more of his disappointment, quietly slipped on the Kratos' Gloves that Kisha had given him. A small smile played on his lips, as if he was soothing his disappointment by focusing on the gift she had already given him—as if that alone was enough.

For some reason, seeing this side of him only made Kisha's heart soften even more. It strengthened her resolve to find him a different manual because, deep down, she could tell just how much Duke truly wanted it.