A Blow

Late at night.

Inside an abandoned factory.

The surroundings were pitch-black, but a large number of white candles had been lit in the basement.

In their warm, eerie glow, a crowd of black-robed cultists gathered furtively.

"Our Lord, the God of Blood, is the only ruler in this world!"

"This world is doomed to destruction. Only those who worship the God of Blood, Agula, can attain final salvation!"

An old man with platinum-blond hair, a face full of wrinkles, a jumble of talismans hanging from his body, and tattoos covering his skin raved as he incited the ignorant congregation.

"Now, let us prove our loyalty to Our Lord!"

Behind the old man was a pool, with a bright-red statue of a vampire bat standing in the middle.

After praying, he led the way in rolling up his sleeve, exposing an arm covered in scars. He took a silver dagger, cut himself, and let his blood flow into the pool.

"My blood's blood, offered as a sacrifice! I give my soul, to be with God!"

He prayed aloud, then passed the dagger to the next person.

The other person cut open his arm without hesitation and let his blood pour into the pool as well.

By the end, the pool of blood rippled with a strange red light. The statue of the monstrous vampire bat in its center seemed to have come alive.

"Our Lord... please bestow Your grace upon us!"

As the ritual drew to a close, the old man filled a silver goblet with blood and drained it in one gulp. "Our bloodlines flow through each other's veins. We are all blood brothers!"

"Blood brothers!"

The other cultists did the same. Several more, their faces pale and evidently attending the ritual for the first time, were also forced