On a certain mountain within the southern region of the Vermilion Bird Trial Grounds, there were thousands of mutant beasts on their knees.
They all seemed to be kneeling in a massive circle around a black sacrificial altar.
A series of strange red symbols floated in the air around the altar, emanating scorching energy.
At the center of the sacrificial altar was a young boy who appeared to around fifteen or sixteen years of age that had been bound and suspended high into the air by a black vine.
Five cylindrical rods each an inch in diameter punctured his limbs and his chest, but there was no blood flowing out from the lacerations. However, a series of veined patterns in the form of blood vessels had appeared on the black rods, giving them an extremely peculiar appearance.
An extremely handsome man with a pair of black wings was looking up into the sky with a slight smile on his face. "It's almost time…"