Sonic Location

Rain understood what Chris meant. Chris was interested in the Shield Bash Combat Technique, but asking Rain outright how to master it would have been too forward. That was why he had called it an "exchange."

"Sure."

"We just finished the mission, so let's take tomorrow to rest. Are you free the morning after, Rain?" Chris asked, delighted.

"That works. The morning after, then." Rain nodded.

"Count me in," Grand cut in.

"Sure." Rain smiled.

Leia was curious. Chris and Grand often exchanged pointers with each other, but why did they both want to do so with Rain this time?

Leia's beautiful eyes widened slightly. She decided she would go and watch, too.

Half an hour later.

Back in his room at the inn, Rain finally had a chance to examine the newly acquired Giant Vampire Bat icon.

The icon showed a Giant Vampire Bat gliding with its leathery wings spread. Rain placed it in the fourth and final empty bloodline slot and pressed down. The black-and-white image immediately sprang to life.

Rain felt a strange change taking place in his body.

Something around his vocal cords seemed to strengthen rapidly, leaving him with an urge to shout and clear his throat.

At the same time, a jumble of sounds filled his ears. It was like standing in the busiest market of his previous life, with noises from every direction pouring through his ears and into his brain.

After a brief spell of discomfort, though, Rain discovered that a little concentration let him distinguish sounds that had once been too faint and indistinct to hear. For instance—

"The Adventurer next door seems to have hired a prostitute. The bed is creaking, and she's moaning. It sounds like a symphony."

"About two meters down the corridor to the right of my door, some kind of rodent seems to be creeping along. Its claws are scraping faintly against the floor."

"Downstairs, Ms. Rona is listing dishes for a guest..."

My hearing really has improved!

I must have gained the Giant Vampire Bat's hearing talent.

Rain promptly opened the system panel:

[Name: Rain]

[Occupation: Farmer]

[Active bloodlines: Goblin Warrior Bloodline ×1, Cold-Enhanced Goblin Bloodline ×1, Boarfolk Warrior Bloodline ×1, Giant Vampire Bat Bloodline ×1]

[Bloodline talents: Rapid Reproduction lv3... Robust lv1... Dim-Light Vision lv1... Frost Affinity lv1... Brute Strength lv2... Thick Hide lv2... Keen Scent lv2... Hammer Proficiency lv1... Keen Hearing lv2]

[Spell-Like Abilities: Freezing Ray lv1, Savage Charge lv1, Sonic Location lv1]

[Strength: 5 (+3)]

[Agility: 5 (+1)]

[Constitution: 5 (+3)]

[Intelligence: 7]

[Perception: 5 (+2)]

[Charisma: 5]

Rain immediately spotted the new entry under bloodline talents: Keen Hearing lv2.

Keen Hearing lv2. Effect: Your hearing is greatly enhanced, allowing you to clearly distinguish faint sounds within fifty meters.

It may be a monster, but it still follows the basic rules of biology. Bats have exceptionally sharp hearing.

His attention soon shifted to the Spell-Like Abilities below.

There had been two before. Now there were three.

Sonic Location lv1. Effect: You can emit high-frequency sound waves to detect small creatures and obstacles within roughly fifty meters ahead.

(Note: Detection range increases in narrow passages.)

Sonic Location? Rain's eyes lit up.

He had heard of this famous bat ability even in his previous life.

Bats had poor eyesight, but by constantly emitting ultrasonic waves, they could navigate narrow, winding caves with ease.

So that itchy feeling in my throat was my vocal cords growing stronger, letting me emit extremely high-frequency sound waves?

Rain pondered this for a moment. Then he closed his eyes, parted his lips, and deliberately made a sound toward the side of the room near the door.

A peculiar sensation swept through him.

His eyes were closed, but his ears twitched as they picked up the returning echoes. At the same time, a three-dimensional map of the room seemed to form in his mind, as though it had been scanned by radar.

It consisted entirely of lines, yet he could clearly make out the outlines of the objects around him.

"Incredible!"

Rain opened his eyes again and grinned.

Even in thick fog or total darkness, I'll be able to find my way.

No, that's not all. I'll be able to track enemies hiding in the dark, too.

A realization flashed through Rain's mind like lightning splitting the darkness.

He remembered that bats in his previous life hunted by sending out rapid, almost continuous bursts of ultrasound to pinpoint moving prey.

His grin widened.

He quickly opened the window and parted his lips toward the street.

As his throat vibrated faintly, delight shone in his eyes.

It works!

Even in a deep tunnel or cave without a trace of light, I probably won't be caught off guard by an enemy ambush.

Like a child with a new toy, Rain stayed by the window, testing his new Spell-Like Ability again and again.

The more he tested it, the more often he nodded.

Half an hour later.

It barely uses any mental energy, but it puts quite a strain on my vocal cords.

After repeatedly emitting high-frequency sound waves beyond human hearing, Rain's throat felt dry and hoarse.

He returned to the center of the room and drank some water. Then he turned his attention to the Giant Vampire Bat icons in his sixteen-slot inventory.

Time to fuse the bloodlines.

Rain had not forgotten that four ordinary bloodlines could be fused into one of a higher level.

After all, an ordinary Giant Vampire Bat Bloodline gave me Sonic Location lv1. What will a higher-level bloodline give me?

Rain placed the four Giant Vampire Bat icons in the bloodline slots and focused.

A system prompt appeared:

[Cannot activate four identical bloodlines of the same level. Fuse them? Yes/No]

"Yes!"

Without hesitation, Rain chose "Yes," his heart racing with excitement.

The next instant.

The four identical Giant Vampire Bat icons warped and blurred. Then three of them vanished.

The Giant Vampire Bat in the first slot, meanwhile, grew more muscular. Its wings became longer and broader, and its fangs sharper.

Rain focused on the new icon, and its name appeared in his mind: Giant Vampire Bat Leader.

A leader? Rain's face lit up.

Clearly, it was a level above an ordinary Giant Vampire Bat.

When the Giant Vampire Bat Leader icon lit up, Rain's smile grew broader still.