Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 324: Temporary Solution to an Eternal Curse

It had been around 449 million years ago when Lapis first switched bodies. But switching bodies wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

Just like organ transplantation, soul transference carried the risk of incompatibility. If the new body couldn’t withstand the transfer, it would ultimately break down, leading to its destruction and the soul’s death.

"What’s more, I’m a rather special kind of Dhampir. I possess the same trait that you do, Sir Jamie, though only a lesser version."

David and Wanete were visibly puzzled by Lapis’ words, but Jamie was not.

He knew what trait she was referring to and had already started connecting the dots between the trait and her actions.

"Queen’s Blood. Because of it, you’re incapable of switching to just any body. It has to belong to someone who also carries Queen’s Blood."

Queen’s Blood was a special trait that, when manifested, ensured its bearer could achieve great heights of power. It also came with a limited ability to command and control weaker members of their race, with the added—and far more dangerous—capacity to exert influence over even those who surpassed them in strength.

They were, quite literally, Racial Royalty.

This trait was one of the reasons Jamie had become the ’Perfect’ Hybrid, and it was something both Lapis and Davina shared.

Because of that trait, even if Lapis switched bodies, the new body wouldn’t be able to endure and would gradually break down due to incompatibility, even if it was strong enough to withstand her soul.

But the bodies of fellow Queen’s Blood holders—regardless of their Existence Realm, affinities, or other unique traits—could accommodate her soul with little to no incompatibility.

"However, switching bodies was only ever a temporary solution. Well, after 450 million years, I suppose ’temporary’ doesn’t really apply anymore."

Setting aside her choice of words, Lapis spoke nothing but the truth.

As she said earlier, the curse was engraved into her very existence. No matter how many times she changed bodies, it followed her.

Switching bodies only delayed the inevitable. Each time, the curse would have to adapt to her new form before resuming its growth, slowly accumulating power until it once again reached the point where it could kill her in both body and soul.

And so, when that time came, she was forced to transfer again, and again, and again.

Ever since the curse nearly killed her the first time, she had been moving her soul from body to body to resist the ever-approaching spectre of death.

The duration she could remain in each body was never consistent. The more power she exerted, the faster the curse grew, shortening the time she had before she needed to switch again.

Once, she had managed to remain in a single body for five million years. Another time, she barely lasted five years before the curse forced her to abandon it.

Over the course of 449 million years, Lapis had changed bodies nearly 500 times.

"489, to be exact. This makes it 490, I suppose."

490 Queen’s Blood holders.

This trait was rare. Even on the scale of the universe when rare often became pretty common.

But with the influence and power Lapis wielded as a Race Empress, finding 490 of them over the span of 450 million years wasn’t a challenge.

"It’s best to take over their bodies while they’re still mortals," she added. "Things get complicated with Deity bodies."

As Lapis spoke, she stretched her arms and glanced at the back of her palm before continuing.

"Altering the form of a Deity’s body to match mine is quite difficult, after all."

Given what Jamie now knew about the curse, it was clear that the body Lapis had been using in her interactions with him before this wasn’t truly hers.

Yet, it had resembled her so perfectly that Jamie hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

This was partly due to the infusion of blood from her original body, but more importantly, because her soul was in control.

A person’s physical appearance was dictated by their soul’s metadata, and over time, the metadata of Lapis’ powerful soul had moulded these borrowed bodies to match her true appearance.

That was why no one had ever suspected she wasn’t in her real body.

"...didn’t you say you couldn’t talk about it without making the curse worse?"

Wanete’s sudden question made Lapis turn to her, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

"Didn’t I mention the exception?

The curse’s ability to kill me weakens temporarily when I change bodies. While it’s busy adapting to my new vessel and figuring out how to kill me in this one, it doesn’t have the capacity to stop me from speaking about it."

That explained why this current conversation was even possible.

"I had my eye on this girl for a while, but I was hoping to avoid going after her if possible.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a suitable body in time, and an incident a few years ago drastically shortened my time in my previous vessel."

Now knowing that the curse advanced faster whenever she exerted too much power, Jamie finally understood why Lapis’ right-hand man, the Vampire King Christoph, had always interfered whenever she attempted to fight.

He had been trying to prevent the curse from worsening even further.

"That’s about it," Lapis finished with a shrug, letting out a deep sigh.

Immediately, Jamie posed an important question.

"The bodies you’ve used before—what happened to them afterwards?"

"Mm?" She raised an eyebrow at Jamie’s question before responding a moment later.

"Whatever their original owners wanted.

I usually leave before the curse can kill me, and since it always followed me, they were fine after a few years. Some even got significantly stronger, depending on how much I fought while using their bodies.

When I’m done, I send them on their merry way—after ensuring their permanent silence, of course. A few still work for me, but aside from those, I have no clue where the others are. I don’t keep tabs on them."

Her response was about what Jamie had expected—detached, almost indifferent.

She silently clenched and unclenched her fists before letting out a satisfied sigh.

"This girl is a rather good vessel. It usually takes me much longer to adapt enough to manifest any of my Authorities, let alone my Ultimate Skill."

Lapis’ quiet remark made David’s expression darken. Regardless of her reasons, goals, or circumstances, he refused to accept anyone taking over his sister’s body.

The problem was, he lacked the power to act on that conviction.

And as for asking Jamie for help? That wasn’t exactly an option.

Lapis had known Jamie for hundreds of millions of years, while David and the others had barely known him for a year.

It was obvious whose side he would lean toward. And that wasn’t even considering the fact that Lapis was one of his disciples.

Noticing the change in David’s expression, Lapis sighed again.

"It’s not as if I enjoy taking over other people’s bodies," she admitted. "But I don’t exactly have the luxury of choice. It’s either that or let this curse finally catch up to me. And, well..."

Her tone darkened as she continued.

"I’ve been running for 450 million years. I’m not about to stop now."

Just as Lapis finished speaking, her face suddenly went pale. She covered her mouth with one hand and burst into a violent fit of coughing.

"Gah... Geh..."

"...!"

A great deal of blood spilled from her lips, and Jamie’s brow furrowed at the sight.

"Lapis, wh—"

But at that moment, just as Jamie spoke—

"...?!"

Anadus Prime—no, the entire Pinecone Galaxy—was hit by a violent tremor.