The Bloody Ceremony

[Rixer]

I'm pleased that things are going smoothly for our plans. Just a little more and the demon lord Fagrusil's plans will come into effect. Thanks to his revival about a few years ago, we are now building our army so we can move with our plans.

It will be the strongest army the Munrem realm has ever seen.

For now, I have to endure working as the second Apostle for Varlin and collect as much bloodstones as possible. In this continent, we have several supply chains including this one with also a group of demons to supervise them. As we speak, the manufacturing sites are being built like this one.

However, the Silver Clan is our main supplier for bloodstones.

Varlin, the one we assigned as the Infitius, is just an ordinary human and a figurehead, however, we only gave him a fraction of our power to sell the whole thing.

However, the bastard is getting cocky.

Right now, we are inside the ancient Silver temple found in the middle of the village. Varlin is surrounded by a group of hot human women, satisfying his lust.

Varlin cackles as he plays with their body and kissing them tirelessly on his throne. He suckles on one of their breast.

"Kyah, Lord Varlin, it's embarassing, don't do it too much."

I grunt from annoyance, seeing this idiot doing as he pleases. The other demons can't take it guarding him since he usually acts like this, thus I have to assign them for another task. Being the second strongest and the smartest of this demon squad, I give the orders around here. Even the first apostle follows my orders.

That includes how this piece of shit Varlin acts. If we should have let a demon act as a figurehead, this wouldn't have happened.

"Varlin, that's enough! I have something to discuss with you."

Varlin sighs upon seeing me in the eye. He is a tall and burly man with auburn hair and charismatic look. His naked body is exposed as well as his fit and fine muscles. He gestures so that the women around him bows and left.

"Rixer, how long do we have to play like this? I'm getting bored of this place."

"Until our lord tells us to stop. Anyway, I want you to deliver a speech to those werewolves. The way we are working them might turn them into a rebel. We can't lose an important blood stone production site."

Varlin laughs as though there is nothing to worry. He rests his leg on his other leg. "Well, I have no choice since that's the quota you gave me, 300 bloodcrystals per week. Besides those bastards can manage. Hahaha!"

"Also, there is another thing that I want to discuss---"

Varlin's expression turns serious as he listens intently on what I was about to say.

"Looks like some idiots are messing with our manufacturing centers which is why there is a held back in our supply chain. Also, one of our researchers almost got taken."

***

[Shira]

This is the second laboratory that we found, thanks to the clues that we picked up through our journey.

Near the borders of the central and western region of Groundwell, inside a cave we managed to pin down a manufacturing center for the bloodstones. This one was a bit hard to locate since it's distant from any settlement.

We took down around fifteen Neo-Infitius cult members as of the moment. We are currently advancing inside the cave leading us to a dark tunnel that forks into several paths.

I have three classmates with me as a support. They are also part of my Order, the Righteous Order.

[Name: Freya

System: Enigmatic Seer

Level: 127]

Freya is a gloomy girl with frickles and curly hair. She is the core of the group due to her information gathering ability. She is floating on the air as she holds a ball of crystal. She gives direction where we will go through this tunnel. "To the right, president."

[Name: Scaven

System: Lethal Assassin

Level:135]

Scaven is quick on his toes and has the sharpest senses among us. He can also take out opponents higher level than him with his system ability. He is quiet and serious.

[Name: Seth

System: Dimension Wanderer

Level: 116]

And there is Seth, his ability baffles me. It has potential but I'm not sure about the user. He speaks a lot but his abilities are a bit lacking.

"Eck!" He squeals surprised. After seeing it clearly, he sighs. "Oh that was a rat, haha."

I notice Scaven has noticed something.

"What is it?"

"Five enemies incoming."

Looking into the pool of darkness, five flying demons the size of an infant reveal themselves. Encircling above us. They have large red, buldging eyes, large jaws and sharp claws. They squeal after being detected.

"Keh, enemy?"

[Demonic Grunts

Level 100 ]

Freya casts a spell, her robe spreads outward, fluttering chaotically. She casts a spell with her eyes glowing in white. A barrier appears around us that when the demonic grunts dives towards us they get electrocuted.

Scaven leaps up, slashing each grunts one by one, upon landing back to the ground, he sheathes his blade. Just in time the grunts falls apart in mid-air.

They're quite reliable that I don't have to do anything.

Freya raises the orb on her hand, she speaks sternly. "President, we're close."

I nod and we advance.

As for Seth, he fell on the ground from earlier. "Damn, you guys are quite good that I'm being left out." He stands up after he notices that he is getting left behind. "Hey, wait!"

***

[Alver] - A werewolf guard from Silver village

A few hours from now, these humans will be sent to the peak of the silver mountain, the wolf altar, to be sacrificed.

Perhaps, I shall listen to this human since her time will be ending soon.

Right now, she is clinging on the iron bars, staring at me like an upset child.

"Say, what does it mean to have a friend?" I blurt.

Damn it, I shouldn't have said that. It will only mean that I'm a loser who doesn't have friends.

The girl chuckles and tries to hide it with her hand.

"What was that laugh for?! Now that I'm opening up to you."

"Sorry, I didn't expect that. I mean the only time you would talk back is when you get mad. But if you want to understand it, why don't you start with me. I'll be your first friend." She reaches her hand out to me.

I hesitantly reach out and shake her hand. If at least, something to remember her by.

"Hey what do friends do?"

She smiles widely, "they let them out of the cell and not let them die."

"Nice try, but I'm not stupid. If that's your purpose of wanting to befriend me then I'll annull our friendship."

"It's a joke, geez." She says casually. So she's sincere in wanting to befriend me, huh? I can't read her mind. I mean we are the reason why they are inside the cage.

Regardless, there is something that I want to say to her. I don't usually care about humans but if she's gone, the cell will be a little quiet. You could say I may be a bit lonely here. No other prisoners is as annoying as her, but at the same time I'm starting to get fond of her.

It won't be the same as always without her.

"If there's anything I want to say it's that, forgive me for locking you up here. I have no choice for this matter."

The steadiness of her smile does not waver. "I know. You just follow orders right? I totally understand." She hands out something to me. "Here."

I grab it and assess it. "What is this?"

Looking at it, it seems to be a shell of a tiny mollusk, it is as small as a pebble. It's shiny and smooth and perhaps very valuable.

"It's a seashell. I told you didn't I? I collect it on beaches down south and I give one to my friends. Especially to the last friend that I will make."

I hold it close, cherishing it. I'm starting to feel bad, but I can't betray my clan.

"I haven't told you my name, didn't I? My name is Sherry, nice to meet you Alver!" She says.

"Sh-Sherry." I can't believe saying her name feels embarassing. "If only our situation was different I--"

From the outside, someone is calling.

"Alver, load these sacrifices up. The ceremony is about to begin."

Damn it, it's too late!

Later, the prisoners are put into their cage.

In my werewolf form, I carry them on my back, marching across the mountains to the peak.

Arriving there, the peak of the mountain has a crater. At the bottom of the crater, a wide altar is found which is made of silver. There are also several werewolf statues as well found around the altar in battle poses.

Lord Rixer, the second apostle is already found waiting for us. He is already ready. "You took too long. You're late, whatever your name is again."

How many times have I did this already? And he doesn't know my name.

Putting the cage down on the altar, I kneel. "Forgive me, Lord Rixer. My name is Alver."

"Whatever, your name don't matter, now leave, if you don't want to get caught up in the ceremony."

I nod and walk away. There is some slight bitterness in my heart though. The apostles don't care about us and only care about themselves.

A voice calls out for me. "Alver! Please don't forget about me!"

Looking behind me, the Sherry calls for me crying. She frowns as she cries like a kid.

I gasp seeing tears fall from her eyes. I thought she was strong and doesn't fear death but it seems she was just acting. I thought she was fine all this time but she's frustrated.

What did I expect? She is still young and she doesn't deserve to die like this.

Rixer stomps the ground, shaking the earth and causing her to squeal. "Shut up, human! I can't concentrate with you crying!"

Sherry stops crying since the other men with her close her mouth. They all become quiet after being scared from the Apostle's threats.

Rixer begins chanting. A large crimson magic circle shows up below the sacrificials. Afterward, a blood red glow shoots up into the sky, turning the atmosphere slightly blood red.

I have seen this ceremony several times. Their flesh will melt and blood will soon come out from their bodies and merge with the Magus stones found below the cage. It will take a few hours but this is how the blood stones are made.

I clench my fist hard since I'm powerless in this situation. If only there is something that will--

Several voices from the sky says in unison.

"Creatures detected."

"Mana activity detected."

Looking above us, several men wearing an odd mask and a majestic robe are flying about.

The second Apostle is shaking after seeing them, he yells. "Don't tell me, you are the real Infitius?!"

The blood ritual stops and the sky returned to its usual blue hue.

Huh? Did he say real Infitius? No way!

[Verni]

My clones have detected an unusual activity of mana on a mountain that they decided to check it out. It was a major activity which is why all of them gathered into that location.

As for Vermil, since she decided she will face that demon alone, I will leave it to her.

I will check what's going on there. Perhaps this will give me clear answers to whatever is going on in this world.