Lisa proved to be a more annoying woman than Nikolai imagined after almost an hour and a half and three refills of his MoonDucks coffee. They finally agreed on their plans, but Nikolai still felt that he had lost out on the deal while looking at her private message.

[From Lisa (Annoying cat)]

Well, thanks for the amazing night. I can still feel your scent on my body~

Mr Big Bad Wolf! Let’s meet again in the Nexus, as you promised!

I cannot wait for the next mission

White Wolf

x

“This woman makes me want to shoot her…” He then began to walk towards the arranged car. Today he planned to visit the tower after calling Nikita before he entered.

‘No, why don’t I take her to the tower and toss her inside to become food for the demons and monsters?! What a genius plan!’

[While it sounds effective, would you really be able to kill her so easily? It’s not like she’s done anything inherently evil.]

Nikolai stopped for a second, his hand on the black door, about to open when he realised Eliza was right. Lisa told him how she had survived so far. It was quite tragic that she would steal small portions of meat from the monsters they killed and live on the smallest strips of monster meat and human food, which limited her abilities as a half-breed monster.

‘Mother, does someone with only one monster parent have and disadvantage?’

[Well, they are a little weaker unless of Royal blood, but the bonus is they can actually survive on human food. The downside is while eating a normal human diet, their strength will be limited to just over half their full power, and they cannot transform into their battle or true form.]

“I’d like to drive to the city monument arena, please.”

“No problem, you are Mr Volkov, right?”

“Ah, thanks. May I take a slight rest? Sorry, it was a long night.” Nikolai apologised to his Ober driver while closing his eyes after seeing the older male nod with a smile as he saw the Imperium hotel beside them.

‘Well, what exactly are Nekomata? I’ve seen in books they have various forms.’

[Hmmm~ they are quite a rare and regal bloodline of the cat monster family. They have a feral transformation that is close to the were-cat or werewolf form. It increases the speed and senses of their body along with the sharpness of their claws greatly.]

[There is a form they use to blend in, which is like a common cat—depending on their bloodline, they can appear to be beautiful breeds. This includes special breeds like bobcats, panthers and even lynx, but those with thin blood usually look like a common tomcat.]

‘I see…’

Nikolai enjoyed the cool breeze from the slightly ajar window. The wind flowing through his hair was now white purely because it was how he looked during his missions with Ryan and also because he missed his father.

To think it only needed him to increase the werewolf blood to be more than the vampire blood flowing through his body to make the change.

He could even change his eyes from red to silver and even golden, thanks to his Lupus bloodline. However, his mother became sad when he changed his eyes and hair at the same time.

“Phew… is it busy for you today, Orlando?” Nikolai broke the silence as they drove down the highway leading to the Nexus.

“O-Oh… it’s been quiet—there seem to be some issues with the northwest building areas, so many of the workers who were my regular customers aren’t travelling. Haha, sorry for complaining… but times are tough.”

In the past, Nikolai would be like Orlando, struggling with maybe two or three jobs to make do—he thought back to the apartment he left a few days ago with beautiful new decorations and his final goal of giving his mother a new body.

There was a long way to go, and it would be gruelling for him to reach that goal.

“Oh no, you are working hard! How much easier do you make the lives of lazy people like me? Haha.” He smiled brightly before the man started laughing happily and asked him if it was his first visit to the monument arena.

It didn’t take them long to arrive, the bright sun burning down on the world below, causing sweat to fall from most individuals’ faces while others took shelter in the shadow beneath the nearby buildings and trees.

“Thanks for the ride, Orlando.”

[Paid Ober $19 + $10 tip]

Nikolai watched the car rushing off because he knew that Orlando would probably be working all day, and the daughter he mentioned during their brief chat would be waiting for her dad until the late hours of the evening.

‘Well, I did my part. He earned a tip at least.’

[You are a little too generous with these drivers. But I guess it makes things more convenient for you.]

Nikolai sighed while waving for Eliza to calm down and walking toward the huge blue orb undulating in the sky with a fake smile on his face.

He turned his vision to the thousands of people who were like ghosts floating around and vanishing as they jumped into the blue sphere.

‘I’ll call Nikita from my VIP room at the Arena.’

[By the way, have you noticed the gains you made from last night?]

His mother’s voice caused his leading step to falter, almost tripping over his leg, wondering what she meant; what could he gain from the night before?

‘What do you…

[Haa….]

It was the first time he heard his mother sigh at him!

[Go to your room first, then I’ll explain it to you properly.]

‘…’

He couldn’t help but feel a little strange. It was always a positive reaction from his mother, even when he was with different women.

However, it also felt nice because she went against him—the doubt at the back of his mind that he was controlling her mind and thoughts wasn’t true.

‘Right, I should move on to the important things.’

He quickly crossed the platform. After waiting for a moment at the crossing, he got onto the main stage and entered the familiar blue portal. The warm sensation of water sliding along his skin, seeping into his clothes felt comfortable even while Nikolai’s body rotated in the air.

A moment later, finding himself suddenly standing inside his apartment in the Jhin World’s Arena.

The silence permeated the air as he crept towards the window, a perfect view of the arena and surrounding landscape. He placed his hands together behind his back and closed his eyes. This was a habit of his whenever he began brooding over something.

‘So can you tell me what you meant now, mother?’

[Have you forgotten what abilities your third bloodline holds?]

‘I can copy any bloodline perfectly?’

[That is part of the reason, but the other… The fact you can absorb blood crystals and not just by consuming blood.]

It then dawned on him

‘Oh shit…’

Eliza chuckled at his expression while the sound of something dropping onto the ground. It was the pin!

“What did I gain from that annoying woman? Even if she’s a monster, her bloodline was only half Nekomata!”

[Oh my dear boy, could you not remember the taste? A blood’s taste reflects the rank and level of one’s heritage. That girl’s mother was definitely part of the Nekomata royal family. Otherwise, how did you gain the skills that only a pure Nekomata would have?]

Nikolai sat on the comfortable sofa and tried to sense his newly found powers, though he didn’t have a new bloodline. There were definitely some changes, but he couldn’t quite grasp them using his detection method.

‘I can’t tell… Sorry, mother.’

[Don’t get so tense. You are a youngling still learning the ropes. Though I will need to rest, use the necklace and don’t refuse my help anymore, okay? If you are worried, infuse me with your soul energy, like the book told you to.]

He couldn’t refuse her request and nodded while taking the booklet about spirit engineering. “Since the source of your power.”

Nikolai could feel the three hearts beating but for soul power. He only needed to mix his vermillion essence and celestial aura slowly, feeding the purple soul force into the necklace.

“Do not rush or become uneasy; the spirit will gradually return to its best state.” He whispered and tried again—finally, the feeling of being drained began to set in.

“Huh, huh!”

He breathed out quickly after moving away from the pendant. The small gemstone now shone with a brilliant purple shine before a blue screen appeared before his face, showing a familiar scene.

—⁂—

[Name: Nikolai Báthory Volkov]

[Heritage: Vampire (Progenitor 15% Awakened), Werewolf (Origin 20% Awakened), Lupus Diabolus (??? 20% Awakened)]

[Clan: Báthory, Volkov, ???]

[Racial Level: 3]

[Bloodline: Hybrid]

—

[Physical: 201]

-[Strength: 200]

-[Endurance: 155]

-[Dexterity: 200]

-[Agility: 250]

[Mental: 136]

-[Intellect: 140]

-[Wisdom: 100]

-[Charisma: 169]

—

[Devil Art: Devil Wolf Form (Arms, Claws)]

[Blood Arts: Blood Aura(C-)]

[Skill: Devil God’s Howl]

[Skill: Moonlight Rend]

[Devil Art: Obsidian Eye]

[Devil Art: Obsidian Focus] (Enhance senses)

[Nekomata Art: Cat’s Eyes]

[Nekomata Art: Fleet Footwork]

[Nekomata Art: Sharp Claws]

—⁂—

“Oh…”

Somehow, he learned three skills, and his blood art improved again. For the first time, he also expanded his Physical power using the plus sign to see that his originally weakest physical attribute had almost doubled.

‘I see what you mean now. No wonder I couldn’t notice. Because I didn’t try to utilise the improved agility…’

Nikolai then looked down and began to read what the three new abilities added to his current arsenal.

[Nekomata Art: Cat’s Eyes] – Increases the dynamic vision, sight range and night vision of your eyes passively. Can focus on the target to improve visual clarity.

[Nekomata Art: Fleet Footwork] – Can fall from greater heights, taking no damage—body reflexes and ability to react improved. Increases agility.

[Nekomata Art: Sharp Claws] – All claws and bladed weapons used by the owner are sharpened and able to penetrate surfaces more easily. (Includes weapons and natural appendages)

“No wonder mother told me to check.”

Nikolai closed his eyes as the screen vanished, resting them for a bit. Then he began to think of all the things that had happened since last night, as he took his phone and began dialling Nikita’s number.

‘To think I gained so much from that annoying cat, well I guess she can help me climb the tower in secret. That was her request anyway.’

“Nikolai?!” A loud voice sounded from the phone as it rang for a single tone.

“Hey Nikita, sorry, I was pretty busy.”

“Hmmm~ I thought you were with that woman and got so angry! But she shouted down the phone at me!”

Nikita was huffing and puffing at the end of the call. Nikolai could picture her trying to calm down. Yet her excitement at being on the phone, which was quite rare, also made her more energetic.

“Oh… Selene shouted at you, haha. I was with Ryan Seong last night and ended up staying at a hotel.”

“…”

“Did you sleep with a random slut?” Nikita’s voice became a little dark and cold.

‘Technically, I didn’t sleep with her, and she isn’t a slut, right?’

Nikolai shook his head and replied. “No, I just enjoyed some drinks with Brian, Bruce and Ryan. I even met Bruce’s wife, so don’t worry. I was just a little too drunk last night, so I didn’t come home.”

“Tsk… but you told that leech you love her, she kept sending me screenshots of your message!”

‘Shit, Ah! I know!’

“Nikita, I love you.”

“Wah?!” A shocked voice, followed by the sound of things flying and falling onto the floor. It sounded like she fell off the bed or dropped the phone.

“H-hello?”

“I’m fine!!!” Her high-pitched voice screeched across the line, making Nikolai twitch and pull the phone away from his ear.

“But why…”

“N-Nothing… Hmph… I forgive you since you seem to understand you were wrong!”

“Good.”

Nikolai sighed in relief, happy to see he had defused the bomb before he returned home. He couldn’t deal with a real argument after entering the tower and fighting all day. “N-Nikolai?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

“I-I… I love you too!” The sound of her making quite adorable squeals, likely trying to mute her voice by covering the voice receiver with her hand.

‘Damn, what is this cute existence…’

Suddenly, her voice became louder. It seemed she stopped making strange noises and howling in the background, but she sounded a little breathless.

“Mother is calling me, I have to learn some stupid things with her… so, see you later at home? Okay?”

“Ah, I’ll see you at home. I might be a little late, but I won’t stay out this time. I promise.”

“Nn!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep