Netherworld, Bone Wasteland.
The howling cold wind swept through the enormous skull, several meters tall and bearing bull-like horns. Crouched inside was a gray-skinned figure trembling from its injuries. It had no time to worry about its pursuer, because it would die before long.
One Eye swept his gaze across the scene inside the skull. In the Netherworld's harsh environment, places capable of sheltering one from the cold wind had long since been converted into crude shelters. He looked toward the former owner of this humble refuge—a skeleton that appeared to belong to an elderly Iron-Blooded Hound. Among this slaughtering and battle-loving race, few could peacefully die of old age inside a shelter.
"Cough, cough, cough~!"
The One-Eyed race member broke into a violent fit of dry coughing. Just as it prepared to face death, it suddenly noticed a golden sphere between the ribs of the canine skeleton. About the size of a walnut, the sphere was perfectly smooth and gave off a faint golden glow. Countless thoughts surged through its mind. This opportunity on the brink of death drove it to crawl over without hesitation and tightly grasp the golden sphere.
The instant it grasped the sphere, its single eye widened. Its body rapidly withered and collapsed as though all its strength had been drained. In a very short time, it had become a corpse wrapped in skin and bones.
Crack~
The walnut-sized golden sphere split open. Golden liquid flowed out, gradually forming a pool of golden divine blood about a meter across. After a brief moment of calm, a hand suddenly stepped out of the liquid. With a slap, it braced itself against the golden pool.
Almost at the same time, in the Netherworld, at the Iron-Blooded Hounds' settlement.
Compared with its old, dilapidated state, the Iron-Blooded Hounds'