The Blessing of the Ancient Gods

"That guy," Kuro muttered under his breath.

Hadn't that kid realized he was being suppressed?

That woman might have reached Middle Rank in magical power!

Kuro gritted his teeth, his expression grave, though he was still utterly astonished.

This was the first time he'd ever seen someone reach Middle Rank at such a young age.

Even if her magical rank was higher than mine, she definitely lacked my experience in battle. I might still be able to take her!

Kuro thought as his fighting spirit surged.

He poured all his strength into stirring the magic within him. His aura swelled, his hair whipped upward, and he raised his greatsword in one hand with a grin.

"Fight me!"

With a furious roar, he swung his greatsword, sending a gale sweeping toward Jeanne in an unstoppable assault.

Jeanne's face was expressionless. She seemed like a veteran who had seen countless battles and was used to scenes like this.

She didn't move. She simply watched in silence as the greatsword came sweeping toward her with the gale.

Kuro's eyes lit up with wild delight, his expression turning ferocious.

That's it. Just like that.

Even someone of Middle Rank will die!

Master stood motionless behind them. There was even pity in his eyes. This scene was so similar to what had just happened; he could almost see the future with his own eyes.

Squish!

Kuro's eyes flew wide, as did those of all the barbarians. They seemed to have witnessed something unimaginable, something that shattered their understanding of the world.

"This..."

Crimson blood dripped from the corner of Kuro's mouth. His voice was barely audible, and before he could finish speaking, he fell silent.

A silver-white blade had pierced his chest, running him through. Yet the place where he had swung his sword was empty.

"One strike. No mercy, no room to spare," Master said quietly.

"So fast."

Dark's eyes widened behind them, disbelief written across his face. He hadn't seen what had happened at all.

"Master, it looks like we'll have to leave this place first. That woman is no ordinary person. She might be descended from one of the great nobles of the Star Empire."

The blue-eyed man who spoke the language of the Star Empire said this from behind them.

"No. We haven't found the Child of God yet, so we can't go back now," Dark replied flatly. He'd paid a heavy price to come here. How could he return empty-handed?

"The real show is only just beginning. I know that when members of the Winter Tribe reach Lower Rank, they receive the ancient gods' blessing. When they're on the verge of death, it awakens, and they emerge in another form. I'm curious to see it."

Dark turned to look at Kuro, who stood motionless, anticipation in his eyes.

Jeanne's expression was cold. Then she furrowed her brow, sensing something strange.

In the distance, Aurelian, who hadn't blinked once, watched as his pupils flickered. He could feel a powerful surge of magical energy.

It was strange, yet somehow familiar, as though the sensation had been etched into his blood.

A flame of hatred flared in his heart, and his resentment surged.

It was like encountering an old nemesis he hadn't seen in ages. The blood in his veins roared and surged, urging him to fight!

Aurelian suppressed the heat rising in his chest. He knew his condition was poor; charging in would only get him killed. The barbarians surrounding him, mounted on warhorses, were also watching him warily, testing him.

He feared nothing, but sheer numbers would make things troublesome.

"Awooo..."

A low growl came from Kuro's bowed head, like the howl of a beast.

A primeval aura spread through the area. It was as if the gaze of some being had descended, affecting Kuro, whose life had already left him.

Jeanne frowned. Atonement, still embedded in Kuro's chest, began to tremble violently.

"What is this..."

She murmured, her expression shifting.

"It's here. His grace, the blessing of an ancient god. Even though its glory has faded, it's still terrifying. Someone has to die today to appease it."

Dark's eyes were full of fervor and longing.

The blue-eyed man behind him, however, looked uneasy. No one could tell what expression he wore behind his mask.

"Ah!"

As Kuro howled in agony, dense buds of flesh sprouted across his body and began growing wildly, beyond control.

A powerful wave of magical energy burst forth. Jeanne raised her pale hands to shield herself, but was sent flying!

Master behind her was caught in it too, swept away by the powerful surge and left in a sorry state.

The invisible shock wave spread outward from the howling Kuro. All the warhorses neighed and trembled violently. The barbarians' horsemanship was the only thing keeping them from being thrown into chaos.

Aurelian suddenly clutched his chest. His heart was pounding uncontrollably.

An immense will suddenly flooded into his mind. It was vast and powerful beyond anything he could imagine.

His instincts told him that if he dared to resist even a little, he would instantly be reduced to a rain of blood.

Every hair on his body stood on end, and cold sweat poured from him in waves.

Instinctive terror slowly took hold of his heart. He shrank back, trembling.

"Ah... Ku... Mo... Ye..."

A strange, halting murmur sounded in his ears, its words indistinct. Aurelian couldn't make out what it was whispering.

Aurelian felt his thoughts growing confused and chaotic.

He couldn't think or judge.

Everything before his eyes began to warp. He felt as though he had fallen into endless darkness.

Countless red eyes opened in the darkness. Their pupils shifted, turning toward the newly arrived Aurelian.

"Yaya..."

Piercing cries rang out from the darkness, one after another, then in countless voices.

It was as though they were welcoming Aurelian. Their voices conveyed excitement.

Amid the chaos and distortion, Aurelian felt himself nearing the edge of madness.

He was being watched. The countless eyes seemed to see through him, then twist and devour him.

In the gloom, Aurelian saw a colossal shadow emerge from the darkness.

The darkness churned around him. He saw a massive shadow appear, wearing a pale ram's-head mask with horns. The mask looked very much like those worn by the barbarians. Perhaps the barbarians' masks had been modeled after the one on this enormous shadow's face.

"Sacrifice."

The shadow's claws appeared and reached for him.

Aurelian's thoughts were in disarray, but his instinct to survive still urged him to flee.

"No!"

There was nowhere to run, and no one could protect him. He cried out in despair, refusing to accept this fate.

But it was no use. This place lay beyond the material world, and no one could come to his aid.

He had become the sacrifice of some being, helpless to do anything but await his fate.

Then suddenly, an angry roar rang out!

Aurelian found himself suddenly lucid, his consciousness leaping back into place.

A Stone Book radiating a bright, silvery-white light appeared before his eyes, then shot away.

His vision blurred. When it cleared again, he saw the flesh buds still growing wildly in the distance.

He couldn't help asking himself, "What was that just now?"

It seemed he had escaped disaster, saved by the mysterious Stone Book and spared from becoming food for some powerful being.