Chapter 52: Rank of True Miracles

In a dim room, the torches at the side brightly lit of flames as embers fell from it's corners. At the middle of the room, a charming mature man kneeled on the ground, his eyes tensed and concentrated.

At that moment, the man's eyes opened. Suddenly, the pressure emanating from the man amplified. Magical energy converged around the man, forming a whirlpool of energy above him. The room quaked from the pressure, the walls beneath slighty teared apart.

The air blew harshly, while the head of the man burned. On his head, a mark of a long thin divine snake emerged. The mark was colored orange, brightly shining like burning flames. It was the symbol of greed, symbolizing the man's true nature.

"So this is the [Occultist] Divine Spirit.." Aza muttered, his eyes staring at his body. Inside his body, his Miracle Core had been reshaped into an eerie form of terrifying snake. "How interesting..."

The snake looked simple. At a glance, it looked no different from ordinary Monsters. However, if one stared deeply they would feel a chill go down their spine.

It had three scarlet red eyes that shined brightly, and on it's skin was regal scales that exuded a divine aura. Above it's head, a star shaped crown floated. The air of divinity hovered around it's body, making anyone who stared at it bow in fear and respect.

"So this is Qrqvitiq, The Apostle Of Greed." Aza spoke, his eyes shifting to the statue infront of him. The statue was exactly as similar as the mark on his head.

"That aside.." Aza shook his head, his eyes showing nostalgia, "..I didn't expect to revisit old memories."

The memories he revisited made him nostalgic. Throughout his life, he had forgotten most of his past, even his parents name due to his lifelong pursuit. It was interesting to see his past self be bewildered of his true nature.

"This was my destiny. Greed overflows me, immoral acts are my joy, and thus..." Aza commented, his face morphing into a calm smile, "...I am the most humane of all; not a monster."

Regardless, even the past wouldn't stop his plan. Nothing will. This was a plan brewed from years.

Knock! Knock!

While he was talking to himself, a quiet knock resounded from behind the door. Aza went silent, his eyes turning away from the statue. It was time for everything to bore fruit. Nothing would stop his madness.

"Speak." Aza ordered softly.

"Lord Aza, we have finished arranging the formation." A calm and respectful voice resounded from behind the door.

"Well done," Aza praised. His eyes narrowing in curiousity, "What about the lowlives we assigned?"

"Uh, this..about that.." The voice flinched, unable to continue.

"I see, I had not attached great hopes to them anyway.." Aza spoke. Even though he said that, he felt it was truly a pity. Though, he was quite curious of why they had not come back yet.

He doubted they ran away. They were greedy, not as greedy as him, but it was enough for them to not give up. Then most likely they were already dead. A small feeling of regret erupted within him. He wished he had killed them himself.

"What about the news we spreaded out?" Aza asked, sighing while shaking his head.

"It was successful. Many Miracle Invokers from Rank D to Rank C have arrived at the borders of the forest," The voice replied obediently, "We are at your orders, Lord Aza. Shall you command to take their heads, we shall do so immediately."

"Go take care of the Rank D's, as for the Rank C's..." Aza ordered, his lips curling into a smirk. He couldn't wait to try his newfound powers, "I will take care of them myself."

"...Understood, Lord Aza." The voice replied, hesitantly.

"Go." Aza commanded softly.

As soon as he said that, the voice behind the door vanished.

Aza concentrated his psyche while he closed his eyes. A small magical thread floated on his mind, it was mystical. Ah, there we go. It was easier then he thought, now he could sense the people they 'invited over'.

His mind easily connected to the formation, because of that he could easily sense the other Miracle Invoker's inside the formation. Most of the Rank C's were spread out, while many of the Rank D's were grouped together.

"Let's see...who should I kill first?" Aza hummed quietly, pondering while he stood at the dim room. The formation was quite convenient, he could already sense countless magical energy from different directions.

At that moment, he sensed a large amount of magical energy gathered together on the forest. He raised his brow in interest. He immediately commanded the formation to check the scene.

As soon as he saw the scene, he laughed.

"Hahahahahahaha..." Aza chuckled, a wicked grin growing on his face. This was perfect. It was just not a single Rank C Miracle Invoker, but a group of Rank C Miracle Invokers. "This night would truly be a feast of blood."

Aza laughed, his smile widening each second. Moments later, his laughter died out. He shouldn't tally any longer, his body was already craving for it, "Well, It's time to show how truly miraculous the power of a Rank B Occultist."

—

Inside the Silent Demon Forest, several Rank C Miracle Invokers were casually walking the forest, threading the dark paths with ease.

"Is it it really true though?" A thin man with ordinary features asked, his voice filled with doubt.

"What is?" A mascular man with a rough face questioned, his eyes raising in confusion.

"You know," The thin man gestured, his voice raising in excitement, "The Nascent Bead."

"I don't know, but it's highly likely." The muscular man replied, "Afterall, the source of the information came from a famed source, calle—"

"Shush!" A voice suddenly resounded behind them, "Did you hear that?"

Both the masculine and thin man suddenly stopped, their eyes narrowing in confusion. They stared at each other before shaking their heads. The harrowing forest was utterly devoid of noises, the only sound was the constant blow of the wind.

"...I swear I heard something," The voice muttered, bewildered and confused.

"Maybe you're just imagining things," The thin man replied, his eyes staring at the man behind them.

"I don't think so," The man strongly insisted.

"Then, what was the noise?" The muscular man asked, annoyed of the insistence.

"I don't know.." The man spoke, his head dropping low.

"Tsk, then it was nothing. Don't disturb the group if you have nothing to do." The muscular man chided in, clicking his tounge in annoyance. They shouldn't have added this man to the expedition.

"...Hey," The muscular man whispered to the thin man beside him. The thin man nodded, his body leaning in to listen, "Who added that idiot to the group?"

"It wa—"

"What was that motherfucker?!" The man behind them shouted, his eyes angrily staring at the muscular man, "I heard that! Do you have a problem with me huh?!"

"Good thing you know, shithole," The muscular man scoffed in annoyance. Oddly enough, just talking with the man made him irrationally angry. "Now, shut the fuck up before I put you on your place."

"God—you're really asking for a fight?!" The man screamed, seething in rage. His body taking a step forward.

"Hey, hey—chill, don't start a fight here." A calm voice suddenly intervened.

"Don't tell m—" The man shouted, his eyes shifting to the new person.

Bam—!

Without notice, the muscular man suddenly striked the man without mercy. The man's body fell to the ground as a loud resounding thud rang out in the forest.

"...Didn't I just tell you to not start a fight?" The new person sighed, his eyes calmly staring at the muscular man, "Explain. Now."

"No reason. He was just pissing me off," The muscular man dismissively waved his hands. The man was unnaturally getting on his nerves.

"Damn you!" The man cursed, his body immediately standing up. However, before he could retaliate, a hand grasped his wrist tightly.

"Hey..." The new person spoke, his eyes coldly staring at the man, "...Listen to me, will ya?"

As soon as the man spoke, the atmosphere turned frigid.

The man was about to curse in fury, however once he saw the person, his body stiffened. He instantly lowered his head, slightly bowing in indignation, "...Tsk, fine."

"There, there! Isn't it better to not fight at all?" The new person expressed happily, his cold smile turning into a casual cheerful smirk. He patted the man's shoulders, "Listen to your leader, alright?"

"Heh. Coward." The muscular man muttered quietly, his head shaking in dissapointment. His eyes shifted to his leader, "Where's the Nascent Bead anyway?"

"Well, the sources said it was about—" The leader of the group replied, his hand pointing at a place, "That way."

Thud—!

However, just as soon as the words dropped, a jade bead fell from the tree. The jade bead was mystical. Magical energy hovered around the bead, alluring those who stare at it in greed.

"Wh—what?!" The leader of the group gasped. He raised his hand, pointing at the bead while shivering in excitement, "That's the bead!"

Everybody in the group was immediately excited. They hurriedly looked at the bead, and sure enough, pure magical energy was stored inside the glossy cover of the bead. This could easily elevate their body to Peak Rank C, making them have a chance to advance the realms of Rank B early.

"Bu-but..." A voice suddenly spoke, stuttering, "Who's gonna keep it?"

Suddenly, everybody in the group, including the leader, immediately stiffened. Right, they had not compromised that yet. Instantly, everyone took a step back as they warily stared at each other.

"...Why don't we talk about it in the plaza?" The leader of the group suggested, his body taking a step forward to the bead.

"So you could ask your guild to cover for you?" The muscular man scoffed, "Go to hell."

"...We don't have to do this," The leader of the group spoke, his eyes staring coldly at everybody.

"Then, I ge—" The muscular man spoke, however before he could finish his words, his body immense aching pain. He looked at his stomach. There was a silver, metal claw piercing right through him, completely shedding his body.

Thud—!

The muscular man's body fell to the ground. Everyone in the group flinched in shock, their eyes staring at the man that killed the muscular person.

"Heh, you thought you killed me earlier?!" The man maddenedly slashed his claw to the muscular man, piercing the skin and bones while blood erupted from the body. His eyes widened, within his pupils was greed swirling like madness, "You think you already killed everyone?! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no."

"Die, die, die, die! The bead is mine!" The man laughed, greed swirling within his pupils. He stared at the bead, nodding, "Now, everyone is dead the bead is mine!"

Everybody stared at the man like a madman. However, even so. Violence sparks violence. A reaction sparks another reaction. What has started, will inevitably, end.

The thought of they could be next ran through their mind. Suddenly, while everybody was warily staring at each other, they all simutaneously saw the person beside them attack. They retaliated.

In that instant, everyone slaughtered each other.