Chapter 224 – "Breaking Free from the Cage"

“Cage Escape” is more crucial than advancement for the vast majority of berserkers and sorcerers. While failed advancement may result in soul dissipation and immediate death, failure in “Cage Escape”… signifies becoming a puppet of power—where those who wield bloodline strength become the “consumed” by their own bloodline.

A powerful Legendary sorcerer once stated:

“Bloodline is the key that unlocks our path to transcendence, yet also the cage that imprisons our souls.”

It was after this Legendary sorcerer uttered these words that the act of breaking free from bloodline or any innate ability’s constraints came to be known as “Cage Escape.”

Bloodline serves as the key for sorcerers because they can abandon systems like Battle Aura, mana, and shadow energy to focus solely on developing their bloodline’s innate abilities, refining their bloodline to attain various powerful physiques.

However, bloodline is never a safe or stable power. Every bloodline inevitably contains a unique “will” or genetic instinct inherent to that lineage.

Creatures with demon bloodline will inevitably be influenced by the terrifying “chaotic evil” instinct within their blood, while those with celestial positive energy bloodline will be eroded by the extreme “lawful good” in their veins. As sorcerers grow stronger, their bloodline strengthens correspondingly, amplifying its influence until it overthrows the host and completely overwrites the bloodline bearer’s consciousness.

Since these bloodline consciousnesses tend to be extremely simplistic, beings whose consciousness has been usurped essentially become mindless lunatics driven solely by instinct—an outcome undoubtedly more dreadful than death.

Thus, the foremost priority for all sorcerers isn’t advancement or even survival, but “Cage Escape”!

The earlier one attempts Cage Escape, the better—because at that stage the bloodline’s power hasn’t firmly merged with the host’s soul, and its strength remains limited. If a sorcerer reaches Legendary status without completing “Cage Escape,” they likely never will. Over ninety percent of Legendary mad sorcerers are failed cases of “Cage Escape.”

The bloodline cage is the Sword of Damocles hanging over every sorcerer. Ordinarily, it constantly erodes the host’s consciousness bit by bit, and at critical moments will attempt to devour the bearer’s soul. Therefore, for sorcerers, the consequence of failed “Cage Escape” can only be described in four words—a fate worse than death.

When Bloodclaw mentioned that the “Black Eagle Ring” could assist sorcerers in completing “Cage Escape,” Punk immediately understood why this usually timid fellow dared to seize his spoils. The reason was simple: the value was too immense.

They say capitalists will risk the gallows for three hundred percent profit—a principle equally applicable to professionals.

But the “assist Cage Escape” function particularly highlights the Black Eagle Ring’s worth. Even if Bloodclaw wasn’t lying about its limited utility for mages, this single “assist Cage Escape” feature alone would make countless sorcerers willing to bankrupt themselves to obtain it, rendering its value far from negligible.

Moreover…………Punk glared coldly at Bloodclaw, whose figure kept flickering ahead of him, already secretly preparing an unfamiliar metamagic technique.

“In broad daylight, you openly snatch something right under my nose and still think you can escape? If I let you get away, everyone would try to see what they can take from me!”

Rarely had Punk been so consumed by fury. Ever since his transmigration, he had always been the one stealing from others—never had anyone dared steal from him. Moreover, the “Black Eagle Ring” was such a valuable Master-Level item. Who knew if Bloodclaw, having tasted success, might try again? Thus, Punk would never let this reckless Bloodclaw escape.

After the first use of “Kinetic Ejection” combined with “Mana Compression,” Punk immediately retrieved the “Activation Potion,” brewed from Lotalan’s soul, and drank it in one gulp. For Punk, who had already reached level 14, the potion’s side effects were no longer severe. Having witnessed Bloodclaw’s weakened state after using that secret technique, Punk wasn’t worried about being outmatched in combat once he caught up.

Within fifteen minutes, with tenfold mana recovery speed, Punk relentlessly cast “Kinetic Ejection” on himself as if mana cost nothing, fully committing to launching himself like a cannonball. Simultaneously, he pondered how Bloodclaw might react if unable to shake off his pursuer. In response, Punk covertly prepared an unfamiliar “metamagic technique” as a countermeasure.

“Bloodclaw! Today! You will die!”

This single thought burned in Punk’s eyes.

——————Divider——————

In contrast to Punk’s unwavering resolve, Bloodclaw, as the fugitive, was far from calm. If Punk failed to catch him, he’d only lose a Master-Level ring—but if Bloodclaw were caught, he’d lose his life.

Under the threat of death, Bloodclaw’s muscles trembled with urgency. In less than three minutes, he devoured three more “Doclayna Man-Eating Fruits,” truly feeling death creeping closer for the first time. He now regretted his momentary greed in seizing that “Black Eagle Ring.”

At only level 11, the influence of his bloodline wasn’t as pressing as those “seniors” who had long advanced to Formal-Level. If he hadn’t foolishly tried to steal from a level 14… monster, he wouldn’t be trapped in this hopeless situation.

But Bloodclaw’s regret came too late. He was like raw pork on a clothesline—stuck between going up and coming down. He couldn’t escape Punk’s relentless pursuit, and with such enmity between them, reconciliation was impossible.

“Dammit, am I really going to die today?”

Bloodclaw’s scalp prickled with panic.

“No, there must be a way, there has to be… Think, think quickly…”

Another dozen seconds flew by, and finally, a bloody glint reignited in Bloodclaw’s eyes.

He glanced back venomously at the grim-faced Punk, counted the remaining “Doclayna Man-Eating Fruits” in his Storage Ring, and gritted his teeth fiercely:

“Fine, fine! This time, I, Bloodclaw, admit defeat. We have plenty of time ahead—there will be a day of reckoning.”After speaking, Bloodclaw threw the “Black Eagle Ring” in his hand with all his strength to his left, while instantly turning his body to flee toward the right.

At this moment, Bloodclaw had no choice but to abandon the “Black Eagle Ring” to save his life. In his view, as long as Punk went to retrieve the “Black Eagle Ring,” he would have at least a ninety percent chance of escaping alive—just like when he had previously given up the “Tears of the Spring.”

“The hidden ability of the Black Eagle Ring is extremely powerful. Once it falls into the grass, you might not even be able to find it. I don’t believe you’d abandon the ring just to chase after me.”

Bloodclaw thought this while enduring the waves of heartache gripping his chest.

But this time, his plan failed once again.

As the saying goes, one of the three great illusions in life is thinking you have a significant advantage.

From the moment he started snatching the “Black Eagle Ring,” Bloodclaw had already fallen for this illusion twice. And now, he was arrogantly stumbling into it for the third time!

(End of Chapter)