CHAPTER 5
A ripple of crimson light tore through the air, and a figure stepped out beside Vabon.
The cultist froze. Sweat drenched his face, his breath hitched, and his knees buckled beneath him.
"Ah—!" His eyes bulged.
"M-my god!"
He threw himself to the ground, pounding his forehead against the dirt as if begging forgiveness for sins yet uncommitted.
"Why… why is my god here?"
"Be joyful, my servant," the Blood God replied, eyes vast and ancient, reflecting realities no mortal could comprehend. "I will grant you power—power far beyond your imagination."
"The Blood God is merciful," Vabon whispered hoarsely, overwhelmed. The moment his gaze flicked toward Dax, terror strangled his voice. "I accept."
"Good."
A demonic smile twisted the god's face.
A small thorn-covered seed appeared in his hand, glistening with fresh blood.
"Raise your head."
Vabon obeyed. The seed descended softly onto his crown—then sank through flesh and bone as if his body were liquid.
"Be baptized in death."
A searing agony erupted in Vabon's chest. His eyes widened, horrified.
"Lord… something is wrong with me."
He looked up.
The Blood God only smiled.
---
**Solos.**
Flap. Flap.
An angel descended—no, a massacre given form. His robes were drenched in blood, his veil dripping crimson, and his vast wings sprayed red with every beat. Even the earth recoiled from him. He landed gently, yet the ground trembled.
"Kneeling," he intoned, "Valiant Father."
"You know what to do, Solos."
Vabon trembled, arms stretched wide, accepting the inevitable.
"I see. This is my end."
His voice wavered, yet peace settled upon him like a final blessing.
"To die by my king's hand… I am blessed."
---
"And why," Dax said calmly, pointing straight at the Blood God, "do you think I can't see you?"
The god froze for a heartbeat.
"Blood God," Dax continued with a small, unsettling smile.
A flicker of confusion crossed the deity's face, but he quickly masked it. Instead of answering Dax, he turned to his angel.
"I want his head."
He pointed at Dax—then faded from reality.
But not before one last glance.
In that brief moment, greed swallowed the Blood God whole.
_I want those eyes._
---
"This world…" Dax whispered. His lips curled slowly until he nearly burst into laughter.
"This world is fascinating."
He tilted his head. Madness glimmered behind his eyes.
"Dax… the you before me saw this world as a curse." He chuckled. "But I? I see a playground. I'll enjoy it for the both of us."
---
Meanwhile, Solos guided Vabon's spilled blood. The crimson pools on the earth lifted, flowing backward in defiance of nature, pouring into Vabon's trembling body.
**Thud.**
A heartbeat roared through the entire forest.
The aura that erupted from Vabon shook the ground itself.
His body convulsed. Flesh peeled away in wet slabs. Hair disintegrated. In a blink, he was stripped to raw muscle—yet he uttered not a single scream.
It was a silent nightmare.
Then flame ignited across his exposed form. When it died down, a pristine white robe and veil cloaked him, hiding the horror beneath.
He clutched his chest, back arching violently.
With a sickening _tear_, two bloody wings burst forth.
A crimson aura spread like a rising tide, covering the Plains of Vabos.
"Blood World," Solos whispered.
---
Dax sensed it immediately.
"What a strange skill…"
He narrowed his eyes, focusing—but this time, something resisted him.
He could not see through the angel. His vision hit a wall.
Troublesome.
His gaze shifted to the priest, Kakarai—and everything snapped back into clarity. He saw the blood flow, the mana currents, the strange flame burning in the priest's chest.
But even stranger…
Kakarai hadn't run.
He was staring directly at Dax—with reverence.
A moment later, he knelt.
"Oh?" Dax murmured, genuinely surprised.
Solos appeared behind Kakarai, a blood-forged blade forming in his hand.
"Condemned thing," the angel hissed.
"Die for me."
The blade plunged downward—
—and struck only air, detonating the ground into a fifty-meter crater.
Kakarai was gone.
"You came for me," Dax said casually, now holding the priest in one arm, "so why kill your own man?"
Such control.
Solos turned. His gaze locked onto Dax, no longer dismissive but wary.
Before battle could erupt, Dax glanced at the priest again.
"Madman," he said softly. "Your insanity intrigues me… but it is not enough."
He pointed toward the south.
"I advise you to head to the House of Fall. You will see me there."
Then—
With a twist of power, Dax hurled Kakarai across the sky toward the Kingdom of Valen.
"Voooos!" Kakarai screamed joyfully as he vanished. "My lord awaits! Hahahaha!"
Dax's smile deepened.
"Oh, the gift I have prepared for you…"
He exhaled once, straightened, and shifted into a chillingly cold stance.
Murderous intent rolled off him in waves—visible, tangible.
"Come to me, Cil."
The air shattered.
The sky screamed.
A crimson blade descended from a rupture in space, humming like a living beast. Bloodlust radiated from her as she landed lovingly in Dax's open hand.
"My baby," Dax whispered. "I've missed you."
He raised the blade toward the angel.
"Let's go, partner."