The Cursed Extra: Bloodline of Sacrifice - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Awakening of the Soul

Caspian stood at the edge of the ancient pond, as he decided to leave Zareth alone.

Stripped down to his inner garments, he inhaled deeply.

With a determined step, he plunged into the water.

The pond was neither cold nor warm, its temperature unnervingly neutral.

The liquid seemed thicker than normal water, clinging to his skin as he submerged himself up to his neck.

He could feel the faint hum of energy coursing through him, subtle but undeniable.

As he floated there.

{So, this is the legendary pond you were so eager to find,} Bloodmoon remarked, its tone curious yet skeptical.

“Yeah,” Caspian muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

{And its purpose?. Something about strengthening the soul, wasn’t it?}

Caspian nodded, closing his eyes.

“Strengthens the soul, that’s what the novel said. Although…” He hesitated.

“I’m not entirely sure what that means. It’s not like I’ll suddenly get stronger or faster. It’s… something else.”

Bloodmoon scoffed.

{You are such a fool, child. Always chasing after power, yet so blind to the true nature of strength.}

Caspian frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

{Not everything in this world is about brute strength or physical prowess,} Bloodmoon said, its tone laced with a rare note of seriousness.

{You always think in terms of swords and battles. But the soul, Caspian—the soul is what guides you through the storms of life. Strengthening it isn’t about fighting harder. It’s about being better. About finding peace.}

Caspian floated in silence, listening intently as Bloodmoon’s voice softened.

{The benefits of a strong soul are subtle, but profound. For one, it brings peace. That stillness you so often lack. Imagine facing life’s chaos without losing your balance—finding calm even in the midst of turmoil.}

Caspian said nothing.

{It’s more than just calm,} Bloodmoon continued.

{A strengthened soul gives you resilience. The ability to stand back up when life knocks you down. You’ve been through much, Caspian, but think—how often have you truly healed from those wounds? How often have you allowed yourself to grow stronger from them instead of just surviving?}

Caspian swallowed hard. “Surviving’s enough, isn’t it?”

{No, child, it isn’t.} Bloodmoon’s voice was firm.

{Surviving is the bare minimum. Living—thriving—requires more. A strong soul brings clarity to your thoughts, focus to your actions. It helps you see the bigger picture, to make decisions not out of fear or impulse, but with purpose.}

Caspian opened his eyes, staring at the shimmering surface of the water.

He didn’t speak, but his mind was racing.

{And then there are the emotions you so often ignore. A strong soul helps you understand yourself, your values, your purpose. It connects you to the people around you—makes you capable of love, of empathy, of building relationships that actually mean something. You can’t do any of that with a fractured soul.}

“Emotions,” Caspian said bitterly. “They just get in the way. Make you weak.”

Bloodmoon sighed, the sound reverberating through Caspian’s mind like a soft chime.

{You’re wrong. Emotions don’t make you weak—they make you human. They make you alive. Fear, love, anger, joy… they’re what give your actions weight. What’s the point of power if you don’t have anything worth protecting?}

Caspian’s chest tightened at the words, a faint ache he couldn’t quite place blooming inside him.

{And let’s not forget the practical side of this,} Bloodmoon added, its tone shifting slightly, as if sensing Caspian’s discomfort.

{A stronger soul means sharper instincts, clearer intuition. Your body might wield the sword, but your soul guides it. If you strengthen this… you’ll not just fight better—you’ll live better.}

Caspian leaned back, letting the water cradle him as the weight of Bloodmoon’s words settled over him.

“You’re making it sound like some kind of miracle cure,” he said, though there was no heat in his tone.

{It’s not a cure,} Bloodmoon replied.

{It’s a foundation. What you build on it is up to you.}

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Caspian floated in the still water, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

Finally, he let out a breath and whispered, “So, this is what it means to strengthen the soul…”

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Caspian felt a faint glimmer of something he couldn’t quite name—calm, perhaps. Or hope. Maybe both.

.

_________

Ding.

Absorption complete.

__________

The system’s mechanical voice echoed in the chamber as Caspian stepped out of the ancient pond, droplets of silvery water clinging to his skin.

His muscles felt light, almost weightless, and yet, there was a strange sense of fullness within him—a resonance he couldn’t quite describe.

With a flick of his wrist, flames danced to life around him. The warmth of his fire element dried his body swiftly.

{Use your UNLEASH power once. Only summon one lupivore and one mini goblin.} Bloodmoon’s said.

“Why?” Caspian asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

{You’ll understand. Just do it.}

Though he frowned, Caspian complied. With a sharp exhale, he activated

“UNLEASH”

Energy crackled in the air as two forms materialized before him—a lupivore, its sleek fur rippling, and a mini goblin.

Zareth was still in the adjacent room.

Caspian watched the creatures closely, expecting the familiar forms he had conjured countless times before.

But this time… something was different.

The lupivore’s fur shimmered faintly with an ethereal glow, its claws sharper, its stance more menacing.

The mini goblin’s skin, once dull, now bore faint, intricate markings, and its movements radiated a predatory grace.

{As expected,} Bloodmoon murmured.

Caspian’s brow furrowed.

“What’s happening? Why do they look different?”

{Their evolution,} Bloodmoon replied simply.

“Evolution?”

{When your soul grows stronger, everything connected to it evolves as well. These creatures are tied to your core, which is intrinsically linked to your soul. Strengthen one, and the others inevitably follow.}

Caspian crossed his arms.

“But aren’t these monsters connected to my core? Shouldn’t their changes be limited to that connection?”

Bloodmoon chuckled, the sound low and cryptic.

{You misunderstand, child. Your core and soul are not separate entities. They are intertwined, two halves of the same whole. The core is the vessel, the structure that houses your power. The soul, however, is the essence—the source from which that power is born. Strengthen the soul, and you fortify the foundation of your core. This bond ensures that every facet of your being evolves in harmony.}

Caspian rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“So, if I strengthen my soul, it indirectly strengthens my core? And by extension, everything tied to it—like my summons?”

{Precisely. Think of it as a tree. The soul is the root, deep and unseen, drawing sustenance from the earth. The core is the trunk, the sturdy framework that supports the branches, leaves, and fruit. When the roots grow stronger, the entire tree flourishes.}