3 Chapter 3 - Painting

Moloch opened his eyes as the bright sun peered and bled through the trees leaves. Oh god my head hurts, Moloch thought to himself. "Good, it seems the consumption of the Blood Pearl was successful." The Old Man stated.

Moloch sat up and stared at the old man and then began to look around. "I thought the world would look different." Moloch muttered under his breath. The old man began laughing, and the house had briefly shaken.

"Silly Boy, this is just the beginning. You will need strength to survive in this world. There is no free lunch in this world. Only predator and prey, winners and losers, Those alive and those dead." The Old Man said solemnly. Moloch nodded his head as he glanced at the book and brush.

The old man sighed. "Little Brat." The old man, stopped painting what looked like a ferocious elephant. "Here." As the old man used magic to Levitate the book and brush over to Moloch. Moloch reached out and grabbed the book, but in the moment Moloch touched the book it disappeared and he suddenly felt a throbbing sensation in his head.

Moloch analyzed the newfound information and picked up the brush and quickly ran over to where the old man sat. The old man waved his sleeve and suddenly a canvas appeared levitating there. "Paint something. Don't do something too complicated, this takes practice."

"Do you know the process of igniting the Demonic Blood Brush?" Asked the old man. Moloch modded his head and turned the paintbrush around and stabbed the exceptionally sturdy handle into his hand and applied mana to his blood as it filled the blood grove of the brush. Suddenly the brush's tip began to glow a deep red.

Moloch glanced towards the old man and the canvas repeatedly. "Go ahead, stop waiting for my permission to do things!" Exclaimed the old man. Moloch modded his head furiously and stared at the canvas. What should I paint? Moloch furrowed his brows as he thought. A butterfly? A dog? A cat? Moloch stared at the canvas.

Suddenly, the wind became harsh and he heard a rustling sound. Moloch turned towards the tree and watched as the leaves and branches danced in the wind. Moloch suddenly had an epiphany and turned towards the canvas and started with two vertical parallel thick lines. Moloch's hand danced across the canvas as he drew hundreds of roots and branches and individual leaves. In twenty mins, moloch stopped painting.

Moloch collapsed onto his rear. Panting and sweating like he had ran away from a ferocious dragon. He glanced towards the canvas. "Not bad Moloch." The old man said. He proceeded to tap on the painting. Suddenly, the painting ripped down the middle and a giant ten meter Blood Tree appeared rooted itself into place where the painting was. "I really did it!" Exclaimed Moloch.

The Blood Tree mirrored the movements of the Dark Oak Tree. Suddenly, the Dark Oak Tree stopped moving and a leaf fell from the ground and drifted towards the Blood Tree. As the leaf landed on the Blood Tree it suddenly bursted into flames. The Blood Tree started to move the branches quickly as if a human suddenly combusted.

"It was a good painting, a bad choice to draw another tree in front of Dark Oak like that." The Old Man chuckled. Moloch glanced towards the Dark Oak Tree and vowed to never mess with the tree ever. "That's enough fun for one day." Said the old man. "Go get yourself something to eat Moloch. It's best to replenish blood essence immediately after painting." The old man advised. "Of course grandfather, I'll be back shortly." Moloch said as he stuffed the paint brush into his robe. Moloch bowed towards the old man and then towards the tree. "I'll be back" moloch said as he walked towards the gate that opened for him.

The Old Man glanced towards the Dark Oak Tree. "Ancestor, I cant believe that brat really tried to paint your form. I don't think I've ever seen someone get close to painting the Heavenly Demon Oak before" the old man chuckled as the tree leaves swayed in rhythm with the laughter. The old man sighed. "That pesky Emperor keeps bothering me. I'm growing tired of him, it would be a shame if he was replaced in the future." Laughed the Old Man as his eyes turned from red to black and back to red.

The Tree swayed its leaves as if disapproving of his actions. "Fine fine, I'll leave it up to Moloch in the future. If he wants to feast on the blood essence of the Emperor he will surely be able to do it in the future. If wants the Imperial Princesses' Virgin Blood Essence then he will surely have it!" Thundered the old man in a domineering tone.

The Oak Tree swayed its leaves as if it was agreeing with the old man.

Moloch walked down the Main Street of the Imperial City. Walking from the Nobles region towards the commoners region. Moloch looked around and saw many stands. People selling fruits, demonic beast parts, and even equipment. He casually glanced around and eventually made it to his "hunting grounds." The Red Light District. He made a right turn after passing the Knight Bar.

Moloch saw women, young and old, trying to impress the soon-to-be customers. A younger lady about molochs age ran up to him and grabbed his arm and pressed it between her breasts. "Hi mister, are you free right now." She said with a seductive smile. "Resist, you must resist." Thought Moloch as he tried to not think about where his arms were. "No thank you, is the Lotus in?" Moloch asked.

Her seductive smile seemingly dropped. "May I know who you are so I can relay it to the mistress?" She asked plainly. Moloch smiled. "Please inform her that the Doctor is here." Moloch said. The girl nodded her head and dragged moloch inside the Blood Jade, a brothel. "Wait there." She said while pointing at a table in the corner.

Moloch nodded his head and walked to the corner table and took a seat and glanced around. He felt the mana in the room and noticed quite a few mages and knights in the room trying to restrain their mana. Having a keen sense of Blood Essence he can feel the mana of people people by focusing in on their Blood Essence.