Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

Night had already fallen over the northern forest.

The Abyss-Class Ruin stood quietly between the trees, but the area around it had changed. No animals moved near the entrance, and the Spirit pressure leaking from inside was much stronger than before.

Then the double doors opened.

A Qield’s Watcher stepped out first.

Its body was tall and humanoid, covered in dark wolf-like fur, with one horn on its forehead and long claws dragging against the ground. It did not move like an ordinary beast. Its eyes scanned the forest with awareness.

The second Qield’s Watcher followed soon after.

Both A-Rank monsters stood outside the entrance while more monster eyes appeared in the darkness behind them.

The Outbreak had begun.

Inside the ruin, Zenon Drakes lay against a broken pillar.

His armor was destroyed, his sword was cracked nearby, and one of his arms no longer moved properly. Blood kept filling his mouth, but he was still alive enough to reach into his coat.

He pulled out a silver pocket watch.

The relic looked ordinary, but the golden markings around its edge proved otherwise.

[ Call’s Echo ]

A communication relic used only during ruin emergencies.

Zenon pressed his bloodied thumb against the center rune and forced Spirit into it.

The watch activated.

Far away, inside the Explorer Guild Headquarters of Markdelio, one of the golden watches on the Guild Master’s desk began shaking.

The Guild Master immediately reached for it.

Zenon’s broken voice came through.

”H-help...”

The Guild Master’s expression changed.

”This is... Zenon Drakes...”

The office became quiet.

Zenon continued with difficulty.

”An Abyss-Class Ruin... has mutated into a Cataclysm-Class Ruin...”

Several assistants froze.

”I repeat... the Boss is S-Rank...”

Static interrupted the message.

”The ruin clearing... has failed...”

Zenon coughed.

”It’s an Outbreak...”

The Guild Master stood from his chair.

Zenon’s voice weakened further.

”The monsters are likely going toward Ormolio...”

A pause.

”Send reinforcements real—”

The connection died.

No one spoke for a moment.

Then the Guild Master struck the desk.

Boom.

”Damn it.”

His expression became serious immediately.

Abyss-Class Ruins did not mutate into Cataclysm-Class without warning under normal conditions. Guild analysis artifacts were made specifically to prevent this kind of mistake. If the report was correct, then either something inside the ruin had awakened after entry, or the ruin had been interfered with.

He did not waste time thinking further.

He took another [ Call’s Echo ] relic and connected directly to the Ormolio branch.

A branch officer answered.

”Explorer Guild Ormolio Branch speaking—”

The Guild Master cut him off.

”This is Headquarters.”

The officer’s voice changed at once.

”G-Guild Master?”

”Listen carefully. The northern Abyss-Class Ruin has mutated into Cataclysm-Class. Zenon Drakes’ expedition has failed. Confirmed S-Rank Boss inside and a confirmed Outbreak.”

The other side went silent.

The Guild Master continued.

”Monsters are likely moving toward Ormolio. Mobilize every available explorer. Evacuate civilians from the northern roads. Do not let low-rank explorers approach the main outbreak path.”

He looked toward the northern map.

”We will send S-Rank reinforcement.”

Then he gave the main order.

”Hold the outbreak for five hours.”

The officer almost choked.

”F-five hours?”

”Five hours. If the S-Rank Boss exits before reinforcement arrives, Ormolio may fall.”

The officer answered quickly.

”Understood!”

The Guild Master ended the call and turned to his assistant.

”Call Mark. Now.”

The assistant’s face paled.

”...Mark, sir?”

”Yes. Tell him Ormolio has five hours.”

[A/N: If the timing feels off, don’t worry He said five hours to make him come Quickly.]

Morning arrived in Ormolio normally.

Merchants opened their shops, explorers moved toward the Guild, and carriages filled the main roads. No one in the city knew that monsters from the north had already begun moving.

Inside the Golden Inn, Atlas opened his eyes.

He stayed still for a few seconds and checked his body first.

The fatigue from yesterday had decreased.

Raising Stamina had worked.

His muscles still carried some heaviness, but his breathing felt better, and the usual tired ache after several fights had lessened.

’Stamina really was lacking.’

Strength made him dangerous in short fights.

Stamina made that strength usable for longer.

That difference mattered.

Atlas stood and prepared to leave.

His plan for the day was simple. Enter another Veil-Class Ruin, assimilate the remaining Traits away from the city, and continue testing the Codex under controlled conditions.

[ Spirit Horn ]

[ Spirit Poison ]

[ ??? ]

Those Traits were still waiting.

A ruin remained the safest place to test them because the space inside naturally blocked most outside detection.

Atlas adjusted his black attire, raised his hood, and left the room.

He ate breakfast quickly on the lower floor of the inn, then went toward the Explorer Guild.

The moment he entered the Guild hall, he stopped.

The atmosphere was different.

No one was laughing.

No one was drinking loudly.

No one argued over mission rewards.

Explorers had gathered near the central mission board while Guild staff rushed between counters. Communication relics glowed across the walls, and the receptionist who usually greeted people with a smile now looked completely serious.

Atlas narrowed his eyes beneath the hood.

’Something has happened.’

A Guild officer stepped onto the raised platform near the mission board.

”A Red Emergency Order came from Headquarters!”

The hall became noisy immediately.

Someone shouted, ”What happened?!”

The officer raised his voice.

”The northern Abyss-Class Ruin expedition has failed.”

The hall quieted.

Then he continued.

”The ruin mutated into Cataclysm-Class after entry, Confirmed Outbreak and monsters are moving toward Ormolio.”

The hall broke into panic.

”Cataclysm-Class?!”

”That ruin was analyzed as Abyss-Class!”

”Who was leading the expedition?”

The officer clenched his jaw.

”...Zenon Drakes.”

That name changed the reaction.

Zenon Drakes was an A-Rank sword wielder and the successor of the Drakes Duke Household. If his expedition failed, the situation was not something ordinary explorers could solve casually.

Atlas stayed near the side and listened.

An Outbreak meant a failed ruin clearing.

If the Boss remained undefeated and the ruin opened, monsters could exit into Eliomor. A low-ranked Outbreak could be handled locally, but an Abyss-Class Outbreak was already dangerous.

This one had become Cataclysm-Class.

The officer continued giving orders.

”All C-Rank and above explorers are required to mobilize for northern defense lines. B-Ranks will form interception parties. A-Ranks will move toward the main outbreak path.”

Guild staff began distributing mission papers.

”D-Rank explorers are not required on the front line.”

Some lower-ranked explorers relaxed.

Then the officer added:

”D-Ranks will assist evacuation routes, supply movement, and outer-road scouting. Anyone refusing emergency assignments will lose Guild privileges until further review.”

Atlas’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Troublesome.

His original plan for the day was ruined.

His first thought was to leave. He had no loyalty to Ormolio, and risking himself for the city made no sense. But after a moment, he reconsidered.

If Ormolio fell, he would lose access to Guild information, shops, inns, supplies, and the route he was preparing for leaving the continent.

There was another issue too.

An Outbreak meant monsters.

Monsters meant blood, and blood meant Traits.

Atlas’s fingers tightened faintly beneath his sleeve.

That thought came too naturally.

The Codex could benefit from this situation, but that also made the situation dangerous for him. If he became greedy or careless, he would expose himself.

A Guild assistant began assigning lower-ranked explorers.

”You, Eastern road evacuation.”

”You, Supply carriage escort.”

”You three will go for Southern Forest scouting.”

Then she reached Atlas.

”You are D-Rank, correct?”

Atlas nodded once.

She handed him a parchment.

”Outer northern road observation, Do not engage unless necessary. Report monster movement and assist civilians if you encounter any.”

Atlas accepted the assignment.

Observation, officially low risk.

Several D-Rank explorers nearby looked terrified because even scouting near a Cataclysm-Class Outbreak could become fatal if the situation changed.

Atlas ignored them.

His gaze moved toward the northern windows of the Guild.

Far beyond the city walls, a red pillar of Spirit light burned in the sky.

Emergency signal.

That was enough to show the direction of the Outbreak.

Atlas stared at it for a few seconds.

Then turned away and left the Guild with the other assigned explorers.

Outside, Ormolio had already begun reacting.

Guards moved through the streets.

Carriages were being redirected.

Civilians whispered near shop entrances.

The red signal remained visible above the northern horizon.

Atlas adjusted his hood.

His expression stayed calm.

But his gaze remained fixed toward the north.

The monsters from the mutated ruin were already moving toward Ormolio.