Soul of Searing Steel - Chapter 5: The Old Butler

Word went around that no one that had ever knocked on the esteemed Eleazar family’s doors seeking shelter were turned away.Fleeing the prince of Lustris no less, Arabella Sterling held out hope that those weren’t mere rumors as she crossed the border over to Umbraria, home to all creatures of the night. A land where noble blood like hers was a highly coveted delicacy.As such, she wasn’t turned away, but since the Eleazars ran no charity, Arabella was compelled to become the sole blood provider to the heir of the family in exchange for safety.Though never, in a million years, did she imagine that what had started as a simple trade off, could morph into a swirl of tangled passion when the cold and stoic vampire she served showed interest in the young woman beyond the crimson nectar coursing her veins.

Alex was an ordinary teenager—until the day he discovered his ability to drain energy from the dead. With powers rooted in death itself, Alex hides his necromancy behind a normal life, secretly entering deadly portals to fight monsters and earn money. But beneath the surface, a darker truth lingers—his parents's death and his powers are linkedAs he harnesses his necromantic abilities, draining the fallen to grow stronger, the weight of his power begins to take its toll—and the line between the living and the dead starts to blur.With enemies closing in and betrayal around every corner, Alex must master his growing abilities before they consume him—or worse, before the forces hunting him claim everything he has left.When death becomes your greatest weapon, how long can you survive before it turns against you?---

【The latest update for 'Age of Ice' has been completed, heralding the era of open beta testing for all. In one minute, every human on Blue Star will be thrown into this game.】Starting with a small bonfire, this is your range of activity.You must continually gather materials and upgrade the level of your bonfire.Bonfire → Large Bonfire → Furnace → Energy Tower → Super Energy StationBy unlocking more buildings and recruiting various troops, build your power in this extremely harsh world.Having just crossed over, Cao Xing accidentally activates the sole hidden SSS-grade talent: Eternal Power.At that moment, he discovers a beautiful Saozi (sister-in-law) accompanying him...With their hidden talent, they cooperate and gradually expand and strengthen their territory!As they explore the vast world beyond, more secrets of this expansive world come to light...

[Detecting the birth of a new god... Data traction in progress][Alert! Intrusion detected: %*#... Data traction interrupted][Divine Revelation Protocol activated. Initiating emergency replication. The Legion of Judges has been dispatched...][1%... 5%... 33%... 99%][Replication complete!][Rebooting and reconstructing the world...]…Becoming a god feels like a grand deception.Instead of ascending to the heavens, you awaken inside a mere clay idol.You have become a god—yet only the weakest, most nameless one.You don't even have a body of your own.[Detecting host awakening... Binding process initiated][Binding complete. Initial gift pack activated. Congratulations, host! You have obtained the talent: Tribute Hundredfold Amplification!][A believer offers you a pebble. You receive a Holy Crystal!][A believer offers you a wooden stick. You receive the Spear of Longinus!][A believer offers you a harmonica. You receive the Archangel’s Trumpet!]Good.”From this moment forth, the gods shall heed my command. Who stands with me, and who dares oppose?“Seated deep within the sacred temple, you gaze upon the vast cosmos at your feet, looking over the myriad realms with serene indifference.