Chapter 5: Blood God
As all went on with Dax watching a ripple of crimson light tore through the fabric of reality by an invisible claw. From the wound created tall a figure of blood stepped out, he was like a humanoid fountain of blood, his presence was heavy enough till the point it bent the light around him.
Vabon froze mid-motion. Sweat poured down his face in rivers, soaking his collar. His breath hitched violently in his throat, and his knees buckled beneath him as if the bones had turned to water. At the moment he didn't care about the battle he was in he utterly ignored kakarai.
This must be the blood god.my body surrender to his shadow, the jolt on the mark in my soul says it all.
"M-my god!"
Without hesitation, he threw himself face first into the dirt, pounding his forehead against the blood soaked earth again and again frantically, reverent and in a state of begging.
"Praise the blood god." His voice cracked, with all he could muster he made his voice sound reverent in prayer. On the other side Kakarai shivered he was undeniably frozen in place his eye coiled with terror h didn't let his maddened words escape his lips. He had no choice but to be sane.
But the blood gods gaze was elsewhere on an image hiding in the shadows, Vabon raised his face to the image of his God facing red eyes that pierced through the darkness.
Vabon shivered to the sight of the white haired man stepping out of the shadows, why why do you look like you can see my divine. his gaze was focused knowing his god was present his fear for Dax began to subside slowly.
He turned to vabon takig a step forward like nothing is image of blood reduce to that of a 7 feet humanoid.
"Good child." it looked down on Vabon who couldn't move a muscle feeling the utter crushing pressure of god beside him
A demonic smile split across the blood soaked image of the blood god as he pointed downwards, from his dripping finger tips followed a crimson seed covered in thorns.
"Raise your head." Vabon obeyed, neck straining upward. As the seed descended gently, almost tenderly, onto the crown of his head. At this moment he could die because he had heard the voice of the blood god.
Sinking into his depths. His skin parted without resistance and his bones yielded like soft clay as it burrowed deep, vanishing into his brain.
"Be baptized in death." at the eng of the blood gods words Agony erupted A searing, white torment exploded in Vabon's chest, as though his heart had been set ablaze from within. His eyes flew wide in horror.
"...."
He looked at the image of his lord savoring his presence, "I am happy." his said but his word didn't match the fact that he was bleeding through his eyes and wailing.
The Blood God only smiled wider.
Dax watched the strange image from afar. Is this some sort of alien specie of world. It gives the air of those cataclysmic entitles that wonder the emptiness of space.
Just then the guttural screams of Vabon deafened Dax ears suddenly the flesh on his face sloughed exposing the flesh within I accept this gift my lord.he screamed once again hovering briefly His body convulsed violently as his flesh peeled away in thick, wet slabs revealing raw, bloodied muscle beneath, his hair burnt away departing with the wind.
The earth recoiled beneath his landing yet the impact trembled through the forest like a distant earthquake. He knelt head voice cold and ceremonial. "Honour to the Valiant Father of blood."
"Solos…"
Vabon's trembling arms stretched wide, palms open to the sky. Acceptance settled over him like a funeral shroud peaceful.
A faint, broken smile touched his bloodied face. For the brief moment he was still there he felt it all, the wind that passed and pierced into his exposed pores, it was like being stabbed by .milions of needles
"To die serving my lord… I am blessed."
"And why," Dax said calmly, his voice cutting through the reverence like a scalpel. "You are happy to die for that? Hahaha very humble of you."
The deity froze for a heartbeat.
Dax continued, a small, unsettling smile playing at the edges of his mouth."What are you? To make this man give up his life with ease."
Confusion flickered across the god's ancient features quick, unguarded before the mask slammed back into place.
"Bring me those eyes solos." Instead of answering Dax the Blood God turned to the kneeling figure pointing at Dax.
Then he faded like he was never there slipping out of reality like smoke but not before one final, lingering gaze.
"This world…" Dax whispered to himself, lips curling slowly until laughter threatened to spill out. Madness danced bright and sharp in his gaze. The savored the taste of the moment.
"Dax… how can you see this world as a curse." he questioned his predecessor, as a low chuckle rumbled in his chest. His smile widened filled with delight.
Meanwhile, Solos moved with ritualistic precision.
He extended one blood-drenched hand over the pools of crimson spilled across the earth as the blood responded lifting, defying gravity, flowing backward in impossible streams. It poured into Vabon's open wounds, his mouth, his eyes re knitting an reshaping.
Thud.
A single, monstrous heartbeat thundered through the entire forest.
A single, monstrous heartbeat thundered through the entire forest, the aura that erupted from Vabon's body shook the trees to their roots making them drop their leaves like green snow.
It was a silent nightmare beautiful in its horror.
Then pale flame ignited across his exposed form, licking hungrily at muscle and bone.
When the fire died, pristine white robes cloaked him spotless, veiled, hiding the monstrosity beneath.
He clutched his chest, back arching in agony.
With a sickening wet tear, two massive wings burst from his back bloody, feathered and utterly made from his blood. He was like a rising tide, sweeping across the Plains of Vabos until the sky itself seemed stained red.
"Blood World," Solos whispered, voice laced with satisfaction.
"Spatial fluctuations?…" Dax noticed the shift in reality instantly his brows narrowed, focusing trying to pierce through the bubble.
But his vision struck an invisible wall
Troublesome foe.
His gaze shifted to the priest, Kakarai and clarity snapped back instantly. He saw everything: the corrupted blood currents, the twisted mana and the strange flame burning in the madman's chest.
But even stranger…
Kakarai hadn't fled he stood motionless, staring directly at Dax with reverence.
A moment later, he dropped to his knees.
"Oh?"
Dax's brows lifted in genuine surprise.
Solos appeared behind the kneeling priest in a flash, a blade of condensed blood formed in his grip long and humming with malice.
"Condemned thing," the angel hissed.
"Die for me." The blade plunged downward but struck only empty air detonating, a fifty-meter crater blooming with blood where Kakarai had knelt.
"I cant let you kil ths man I wan to takke a peak atis mind so."dax held unto Kakarai by his robes.
Such precise control and ruthless efficiency. Solos turned slowly, for the first time, his gaze held no dismissal only cold, calculating wariness.
Before the angel could respond, Dax glanced down at the priest again.
"Madman," he said softly, voice almost gentle. "Your insanity intrigues me… but it is not enough."
He pointed south, toward distant horizons.
"I advise you to survive and head towards the House of Fall. You will see me there."
Then, with a casual twist of telekinetic power, he hurled Kakarai skyward launching him like a living projectile far away from the battle.
"Voooos!" Kakarai's joyful scream echoed as he vanished into the distance.
Dax's smile deepened, dark and knowing."Oh, the gift I have prepared for you…"
He exhaled slow and deliberate straightening himself, His stance shifted.
The air grew heavy. Murderous intent rolled off him in visible waves crimson mist coiled from his skin, chilling the blood warmed ground.
"Come to me, Cil." from the ripples of nothingness a crimson blade that drew breath manifested forcing the sky to acknowledge it.
A crimson katana tore through a rupture in space humming with bloodlust, alive and eager. She landed lovingly in Dax's waiting hand, edge singing with delight.
"You are as beautiful as ever, I've missed you." Dax whispered, fingers tracing her sharp surface with reverent affection then he pointed the blade toward the angel, eyes gleaming with predatory joy. "Let's go, partner."