Dragonblood Pact

Even Jelena, whose consciousness had begun to blur, forced herself to raise her head and look at Liu Qian in disbelief. A faint glimmer flickered in her dull eyes.

Liu Qian said solemnly, "The blood in my body can form a magical pact with humans and reshape their bodies. The Blood Magic curse inside you will be purged, and you will gain power beyond anything you had before..."

Jelena's violet pupils contracted sharply. "You mean Janice can escape Valyria's curse too?"

"That's right."

Liu Qian nodded.

Janice clamped her small hands over her mouth, her eyes wide. She could scarcely believe her ears.

Escape the curse that had followed me as I grew up, branded into me? Could it really be true?

For the first time, a heartfelt smile appeared on Jelena's icy, beautiful face, like the first snowfall melting away.

But the smile vanished almost immediately, replaced by an even deeper gravity.

She remembered the "extremely harsh conditions" Liu Qian had mentioned.

Magic never gave anything for free.

Magic demanded a price.

"What is the price of the pact?" Jelena asked calmly.

The flame of hope in Janice's eyes wavered too as she waited anxiously for his answer.

Liu Qian swept his gaze over the sisters and spoke each word with absolute clarity. "You will become my Flame Knights, pledging your eternal loyalty and serving me. Your lives will also be bound to mine. If I die someday, you will die as well."

Of course, he was talking about his third active skill:

Dragonblood Pact (Forms a pact with humans to make them absolutely loyal Flame Knights, granting them dragon blood and reshaping their bodies. Combat strength/number increases with bloodline purity. Their lives are bound to the host. Flame Knights can resurrect the dead as Dragon Spirit Guardians. Current number: 2. Cost: 1,000 magic power/use)

At present, Dragonblood Pact allowed him to form two pacts.

He remembered that the initial limit had been one. When his bloodline purity reached 10%, he had gained one more.

Following that pattern, he would probably gain another for every 10% increase.

He had never used this skill before. Dragonblood Pact required the other party to agree willingly, and no one would casually bind their life to someone else's while pledging eternal loyalty.

Within Jelena, the proud blood of a Valyria Dragonlord roared in fury.

Once they signed this Bloodfire Pact, given Liu Qian's unfathomable mastery of magic, the sisters would have no way back. Even their souls would bear an eternal brand.

Yet when she looked at her tearful younger sister, Janice, beside her, her heart felt as though it were being cut apart.

Was I supposed to stand by and watch Janice follow in my footsteps, turning into a mindless monster under the curse before finally dying in agony?

No! My sister had to live! Healthy and whole, free of the curse!

A Blood Magic pact tested the character of both parties.

She looked at Liu Qian with a complicated expression.

Just as Janice had said, he was a good man.

Liu Qian had no idea he had just been handed the "good guy" label. He only saw Jelena take a deep breath and say, "I can swear loyalty to you, but you must guarantee my sister's safety."

Liu Qian nodded in agreement.

He could tell that Jelena doted on her sister above all else. Even her dream of restoring Valyria had to take a back seat. If Janice could live, she would give up everything.

Liu Qian looked at Janice.

Janice nodded. She trusted that Liu Qian would not hurt either of them.

"Good. Come here and swear your allegiance to me!"

A smile rested on Liu Qian's face. Gaining two knights of Valyria blood was a decent result.

Jelena and Janice were utterly bewildered by his words.

Liu Qian realized that Valyria had no knightly traditions, so they did not know how to swear the oath.

In truth, he could have dispensed with the ceremony entirely. Dragonblood Pact would guarantee the knights' absolute loyalty.

But Liu Qian felt that a ceremony would make the oath more deeply ingrained in the minds of those swearing it.

Drawing on scenes he remembered from the original story, Liu Qian made a few creative alterations and taught them how to pledge their allegiance.

His modified oath omitted the gods, leaving only an oath sworn before the world.

Jelena acted first.

Enduring her physical discomfort and the turmoil within her, she walked up to Liu Qian and knelt on one knee, her knee touching the cold stone of the battlements.

Then she unfastened the sword at her waist, which had accompanied her through bloody battles, and laid it flat before Liu Qian's feet.

She raised her head, her Ice Purple eyes meeting Liu Qian's directly. The cold scrutiny of the past was gone, leaving only solemnity and resolve.

Liu Qian picked up a longsword abandoned nearby by one of the defenders. He raised it and gently rested the blade on Jelena's right shoulder. Its cold touch made her tremble slightly.

"Jelena, do you swear before the world to obey the one to whom you pledge your allegiance-Liu Qian-to become his absolutely loyal Flame Knight, follow his commands, defend the weak, protect women and children, and fight bravely without fail, no matter how difficult, humble, or dangerous the road ahead, never dishonoring your duty?"

Liu Qian's voice was low and powerful, echoing across the silent battlements.

"I, Jelena Baelor Lys, in the name of the Valyria Dragonlords, the Guardian of Tyria, and House Baelor Lys, swear before the world to serve Liu Qian. I will ensure your safety and obey your commands. If necessary, I am willing to give my life fighting for you."

Jelena spoke with unshakable resolve. Her oath rang like clashing metal, carrying far into the night wind.

Only now did Liu Qian learn that Jelena actually belonged to the renowned House Belerys.

House Belerys had ranked near the top among the Valyrian Dragonlord Houses, far above House Targaryen.

But House Targaryen had followed a prophecy and fled straight to Dragonstone, enjoying almost four hundred years of prosperity after the Doom. Even now, with its dynasty overthrown, it still wielded considerable influence.

House Baelor Lys, by contrast, was now all but extinct. Outside the Valyrian Ruins, almost no one recognized its name.

He lowered the sword in his hand and extended his left index finger.

With a slight movement of his will, a tiny cut opened in the skin of his fingertip.

A drop of searing golden dragon blood, imbued with powerful magic, gathered at his fingertip and radiated intense heat.

"Open your mouth."

Without hesitation, Jelena tilted her head back and parted her bloodless lips.

As though alive, the drop of golden blood fell into her mouth and slid down her throat into her stomach.

Boom!

An indescribable heat instantly erupted from her stomach.

It was not pain. It felt as though a miniature sun had ignited inside her.

Wild, pure power became a surging golden fire dragon, roaring as it raced through every part of her body.

That power forcefully scoured her blood vessels. Wherever it passed, the gray-brown scales melted and receded as swiftly as snow beneath a blazing sun.

Fair, rosy skin emerged once more.

Strength replaced weakness, exhaustion vanished, and a new vitality filled her entire body.

More wondrous still, fragments of unfamiliar knowledge sprouted and took root like seeds in the depths of her consciousness.

The power finally gathered in her sea of consciousness, forming an ancient pact scroll made of pure blood and fire.

At the top of the scroll stood Liu Qian's name, radiating unquestionable authority.

Without the slightest hesitation, Jelena used her will as a pen and clearly signed her true name beneath it—Jelena Baelor Lys.

There was no resistance, no agonizing pain. Only a sense of absolute obedience to the other party in the pact arose from the depths of her bloodline.

In a daze, she seemed to see Liu Qian transform into a majestic Great Dragon wearing a crown of golden thorns. His immense draconic presence loomed like a tangible mountain, stirring instinctive awe and submission deep within her soul.

The bond of blood had been forged.

Liu Qian likewise clearly sensed Jelena's obedience, arising from her very soul.

The pact had been formed with unexpected ease.

Jelena looked at Liu Qian, knowing that her transformation was complete.

Liu Qian slowly moved the sword from Jelena's right shoulder to her left. His voice was solemn and carried the weight of a promise. "I, Liu Qian, swear before the world that you, Jelena Baelor Lys, will always have a place by my hearth. You will drink at my table and share my meat. I swear never to bring dishonor upon your service.

Rise."

Liu Qian turned to Janice.

There was nervousness in the girl's eyes, but stronger still were her hopes for her sister's recovery and her trust in Liu Qian.

Following the same procedure, he guided Janice through the same oath of allegiance.

The instant the searing drop of dragon blood slid down Janice's throat and the pact took effect, the gray-brown scales on her right cheek, which resembled an ugly birthmark, rapidly melted away as though erased by an invisible hand, revealing delicate, snowy skin with a soft pink glow beneath.

Her grotesque right eye also regained its human appearance, once again shining with the pure, brilliant luster of a violet gemstone.

The girl had always possessed flawless features. Now that the curse was gone, her face was like an exquisitely sculpted work of art, breathtaking in its perfection.

Osarion had spoken the truth.

The Valyria ancestors had used Blood Magic to refine their bloodlines, granting their descendants beauty that was almost inhuman.

As Liu Qian gazed at Janice's restored beauty, a faint, gratified smile appeared on his face.

From the first day he had met this girl, she had been like a frightened fawn.

The scales on her right cheek had been a heavy shackle, leaving her melancholy and insecure. Her gaze had always been evasive, and she habitually used her long hair to hide the ugly right side of her face.

At such a young age, she had borne pain and fear that should never have been hers.

Now, those shackles had finally broken, and the gloom had cleared.