The Formation Deciphered
The memory of overhearing the conversation between Derus Robert and Matio in his past life came to mind as if passing by.
The true reason the White Blood Cult Leader was so difficult was not her immense power, but the dirty sorcery. It was hard to properly approach the threat of sorcery that could activate anywhere and in any way.
Derus said this and clicked his tongue briefly.
Especially fighting the White Blood Cult Leader in a place where the sorcery formation was pre-installed was no different from calling out for someone to kill you. Do you remember the Shadows sent to Riten Village being wiped out recently?
Yes.
Matio nodded his wooden-like head stiffly.
It was the White Blood Cult Leader's sorcery too. After filling humans inside the formation with blood energy and turning them into puppets that follow the sorcerer's commands, they extract the blood energy with higher purity alive and eat it. Isn't it amazing how it's parasitic on blood energy?
Derus instructed Matio to analyze and research that formation, calling it a beautiful and efficient way.
Of course, it failed, but thanks to learning it from the shoulder, he could fill his knowledge on sorcery and formations.
Raon recalled that day's conversation and bit his lip. 'It's definitely that sorcery.' Although the form and method were quite different from what he heard at the time, the purpose remained unchanged.
The formation installed throughout Gransavil was a sorcery that, after inserting blood energy into the humans inside, would grow larger in the future and extract purer energy to eat.
In other words, a farm. This Gransavil was becoming a human farm for the White Blood Cult to raise blood energy.
'How could they think of this?' Having lived as a hunting dog in his past life, seeing and committing countless dirty acts, but this was on a different level. It was unbelievable that they could wear human skin and do such things. 'All these people in front of me will become the White Blood Cult's prey the moment the formation is complete.'
They would think they are living as free humans, but in reality, they would become fish waiting on the customer's table in a tank, following the blood energy's will.
'I can't leave them like this.' Sylvia's voice came to mind. Her only request as a Zieghart swordsman was to wield the sword for the weak.
'No.' Watching this without doing anything was not being a swordsman, but being disqualified as a human.
"Aha hahaha!"
"Today's luck is good. Let's do just one more match!"
"No more alcohol? Bring all of it!"
"Thank you very much today."
"See you next time."
Raon looked up at the sky from the bustling central street of Gransavil where no one could see him. Staring at the blood energy mist spreading like cotton clouds, he hardened his resolve. 'I'll break it.' No matter what means.
Marta kneels to match eyes with the girl who has her mouth shut.
"What is your name?"
Since she doesn't want to talk about the wound, let's change the topic.
"Luna."
"Luna? It sounds similar to the stupid kid I know."
"The stupid kid?"
"Yeah. There's a fool who has his eyes open 365 days a year."
"Where is such a person in the world!"
"Really there. If you get the chance later, you'll see."
Marta recalled Runaan who always gets hit and chuckled.
"My name is Marta."
"Marta..."
"Luna. It's really important, so. Can you tell me how that wound was made?"
"..."
Luna shows childlike behavior but closes her mouth tightly when the wound story comes out.
"This is a recent wound. Tell me who cut you."
Marta narrows her eyes looking at the wound on Luna's arm. From the torn mark, it looks like it was cut by a sharp blade.
"N, not cut by anyone. And..."
Luna closes her mouth again as if she can't speak.
"Huu."
Marta sighs deeply and lightly throws and catches the wallet she returned to Luna.
"Then, no choice. Let's go."
"Eh, where?"
"Where else? Of course the security guard. I caught a pickpocket on the spot, I can't just leave her, right? Ah! No. I have to go to that guy first."
"That guy?"
"Yeah. The guy who turns humans into dogs. Also a mad dog."
She looks down at Luna with a cool smile.
"Ah, no! I have to go back today!"
"That's not my business."
"Please! I have a younger sibling!"
Luna grabs the sleeve with desperate eyes.
"Hmm..."
Marta bites her lip slightly. 'So that's why.' Normally, when caught by a master, the wrist is cut off, so it's common not to touch pickpockets or warriors. She thought she didn't know because she was young, but she knew and was in a hurry.
"Due to tribute?"
"Yes. It's tomorrow... "
Luna nods with trembling chin. The shame and desperation of the child touched the skin.
"Good. If you tell me, I'll give you all this."
Marta points to the wallet in her hand.
"A, all of it?"
"Yeah. All."
"Uum..."
Luna's eyes roll left and right uncontrollably. The eyes glittering with fear, embarrassment, and anxiety slowly stop.
"..."
"I understand."
"Good."
Marta throws the wallet to Luna without any hesitation.
"Huu..."
Luna fiddles with the received wallet and sighs deeply.
"Actually, this wound wasn't from anyone."
"What?"
"While burying stones in the ground, I got a wound on the edge of the stone."
She strokes the still healing wound and frowns.
"Burying stones?"
"Yeah. If you bury a stone in the designated place, you get money. I got this wound while doing that. And this one hasn't healed well even though it's quite old."
Marta carefully examines Luna's arm. Hearing it, it looks like a thick blade wound rather than a sword. A sharp stone could easily do it.
"Who told you to bury that stone?"
"That..."
"You said you'd tell me."
"Mr. Tus, the merchant uncle."
"Merchant?"
"Yeah. He buys food and snacks for homeless kids, makes places to stay, and sometimes gives pocket money while making them work."
Luna smiles faintly while talking about Tus. She seems to like the person.
"Why did he tell you to bury the stone?"
"He said it's a stone that protects the village from evil spirits."
"Other people don't know about it?"
"No. They know, but they just accept it. Because he believes in superstitions well. But recently, he told me not to talk about it..."
"I see."
Marta clenches her fist while listening to Luna. 'I got him.' That Tus guy was definitely the White Blood Cult. It was clear he was doing dirty deeds on this land without being suspected, using the child. 'At first, he gave a fake stone, and now that interest has waned, he buried a stone with blood energy.' In the early stages where others might suspect, he made them bury ordinary stones, and now that interest has waned, he gave a real stone with blood energy. He was a clever guy.
"Luna. Thank you."
"Haa..."
Luna bites her lip with a face tainted with guilt.
"You might have saved this village."
"What? Saved?"
"You'll find out later."
Marta smiles faintly and pats Luna's shoulder.
"With your help, I think I can really find the evil spirit."
Raon listens to Marta's story with a faint smile.
"Too late, I thought I had to tie you up, but you came to ask for information."
Marta brought the biggest clue than anyone. The surprise was even greater because I didn't expect it at all.
"Those who talk a lot and those who doze off are different."
Marta looks at Burren and Runaan and snorts.
"Kyu!"
"..."
Burren frowns angrily, and Runaan blinks as if nothing happened.
"This is the stone Luna mentioned."
"Me?"
"Not you!"
Marta waves her hand at Runaan who turned her head, and offers a palm-sized stone to Raon.
"I didn't feel anything special about it."
"Hmm..."
Raon examines the stone given by Marta and narrows his eyes. 'It's definitely there.' When using the Fire Ring at full power, he could discover the trace of blood energy embedded deep in the stone.
If it weren't for the heightened senses now, he might not have noticed it. 'Using children like this.' He was a smart guy.
No one cares about abandoned kids. The black market doesn't care much about kids' futures, using the excuse that there are many paths. When they reach appropriate age or have jobs, maybe. But they didn't care much about kids who were no different from beggars. 'They also used human psychology there.' At first, he made them bury worthless stones to give pocket money to kids, pretending to be a kind merchant, then installed the stone with blood energy after all suspicions were cleared. He was cautious. 'He probably used it in that formation.' Tus guy must have used the kids to bury these stones to supplement the formation in the sky above Gransavil.
"I also found something."
Raon sits Burren, Marta, and Runaan, and tells them what he has learned so far.
"S, such crazy things..."
"U..."
Burren bit his lips bloody, and Runaan, who always reacts calmly, was so angry she was about to draw her sword.
"I have to go to Luna. If Tus reveals that he met me, it's dangerous!"
Marta turns as if ready to dash out. She told Luna not to talk, heard the answer, but became anxious.
"Marta. Going out is good, but the one you really need to look into isn't Luna."
Raon shakes his head slowly.
"That Tus guy is going to call Luna soon. Watch him."
"Tus calling Luna?"
"Yeah. Not much time left until the formation is complete."
When seeing the blood energy cloud floating in the sky, it won't take long for the formation to activate. Considering Tus's caution, he will move the kids again this time.
"Marta and 1st squad, after identifying Tus's location, monitor. Burren and 3rd squad support 1st squad. Runaan and 2nd squad track the White Blood Cult as usual."
"Understood."
"Yeah."
Burren, Marta, and Runaan nod and leave the room. 'I should go too.' Raon opens the door without a sound, and leaves the room.
Although it was dawn, the night in Gransavil was still glamorous and noisy. Standing on the rooftop of an old tavern without showing his face to anyone, he looked up at the sky.
"Clean."
Looking at it this way, the night sky was clear enough that no small dark clouds were caught. Chuckling, using the Fire Ring, the blood energy clouds filling the clean sky filled the view.
Raon mocks the red clouds and strokes his hair.
"Let's see who wins."
The underground common area where faint light spreads. The 7th Apostle stretches his hand and touches the blood-filled common floor. White light bursts from his palm, and the blood starts to bubble and boil.
The blood with heat moves flexibly like a living snake and draws a hexagram on the floor. The right side slightly distorted, similar to Gransavil. The 7th Apostle smiles satisfiedly looking at the hexagram drawn with blood.
"Tus."
"Yes."
Tus kneeling on the floor behind.
"This side is complete. The other side?"
"Preparation is all done. After coordinating the spell, install the blood stone tonight."
Tus's tone is extremely polite like welcoming a god.
"Using those kids again?"
"Yeah. Thanks to pre-work, it's the most inconspicuous method."
"He has a dirty head, doesn't he." The 7th Apostle tilts his chin and chuckles.
"The kids will have a lot of blood energy, so it will taste good."
"Sorry, but those kids can't be eaten."
"What?"
"When the sorcery is complete, the blood stone will suck the life force and turn them into mummies."
Tus speaks of the kids' lives like roadside stones and bows his head.
"Kuhahaha!" The 7th Apostle leans against the wall and bursts into laughter.
"I was just joking because you seemed to cherish the kids, but it wasn't necessary."
He looks down at Tus and smirks.
"You are the proudest cult leader of all. The blessing of the blood god will always be with you."
"Overwhelming praise."
Tus trembles with shoulders in excitement.
"What is Raon doing?"
"Same as yesterday. He's wandering around Gransavil searching for the cult."
"Perfect." The 7th Apostle scratches the wound on his chest and grins.
"As planned, open the sorcery tonight, activate tomorrow night."
"I will follow your orders."
Tus bows and sinks into the floor.
"Tomorrow. Finally tomorrow." The 7th Apostle's eyes flash red like the blood energy rising in the floor.
"Raon Zieghart. You don't know how long I've waited for this day."
I will tear your flesh and blood alive.
Raon the next day wandering Gransavil.
He stops in a quiet alley when the moon rises after inspecting the formations here and there. 'It's not easy.' An unknown energy embedded in the blood energy whirls endlessly, interfering with the interpretation of the sorcery. He couldn't properly grasp the flow because of the gaps between the blood energies.
'What is it?' The familiar energy is clear, but it's hard to identify its identity. It sticks to the blood energy like chewing gum and never reveals its true appearance.
He knew deciphering the formation was difficult, but he didn't expect he wouldn't figure out the identity by tonight.
"Haa..."
He sighs deeply and looks at the formation again. In the red mist, the woman with red lips seems to mock him that he can't do it.
-You damn bastard...
Las trembles his chin and reveals his nails.
-Stop drinking so much and eat some food!
The guy is flailing his limbs saying he can't smell alcohol from his mouth.
'There's no choice.' It's a shame, but there's no time to quietly eat because the interpretation of the sorcery is dragging on.
-Kyu, the fragrant food smell is vibrating right in front of me, why can't I eat! When will this king suffer misfortune!
"Um..."
Raon rubs his stomach. He hasn't eaten properly since yesterday, so he's hungry.
-The word 'after eating in the Demon Realm' has meaning. Let's eat first. After eating, good thoughts will come to mind.
Las rambles strange proverbs and keeps calling for food.
"I get it."
Since he used the Fire Ring too long, it might be good to take a short break, so he nods.
'Where is good?'
-R, really? Really going?
'Before changing your mind, tell me.'
-This king is attracted to the restaurant on the right. The barbecue smell coming from there will drive me crazy!
"Barbecue..." Raon chuckles and walks in the direction Las said. Before entering the noisy restaurant, he looks at the formation one last time. 'Still changing... eh?'
When trying to calm the Fire Ring, suddenly the blood energies in the sky shake greatly, causing a change he hadn't seen before.
Kugugugugu!
From all over Gransavil, red blood energy and pale yellow energy rise like mist and gather into blood energy clouds.
-F, food is...
'Quiet.' Raon pushes Las away and bites his lip looking at the yellow energy that seeped between the blood energies.
"Here."
It was here...
The familiar energy caught in the blood energy mist was none other than Yogi.
Raon grinds his teeth. 'These crazy guys.' People with negative emotions like fear, resentment, anger leave eerie energy, that is, Yogi when they die.
The blood ghosts guys probably used the Yogi of the people they killed to improve that sorcery formation. Because of the Yogi caught in the blood energy, there was no way to dismantle the formation until now.
Uuuuuung!
The Requiem Sword also feels it and raises a powerful sword cry. It was an howl filled with anger, resentment, and screams.
-F, food should be eaten later, right? Uum...
Las naturally falls away.
Raon grips the trembling sword body of the Requiem Sword tightly and returns to the alley where almost no one comes.
Ziiing!
He breathes and uses the Fire Ring. The seven rings that became one with the Requiem Sword's scream create a grand resonance using the body as a wind instrument.
The whole body heats up like a furnace and the mind is elevated.
The heightened senses focus all nerves on the interpretation of the sorcery. In extreme immersion, the brain rotates fiercely.
Uuuuuung!
The swirling red mist becomes clear as if visible. Like mana circuits swinging, the blood energy races in a predetermined orbit in the mist.
The heart beats roughly, but the head is clear like a lake.
Drawing a picture, he reads the flow of blood energy in a single moment and puts it in his head.
The body that was tired just a moment ago is full of vitality as if it wasn't his own.
The blood energy keeps swelling, but inside it. All of the flow flows into the retina.
He raises his finger and draws a line. The orbit that went against the sorcery flow filled in the retina spreads along the red light cluster.
A perfect solution. The answer to erase that great sorcery anytime is spreading through the fingers.
"Haa..."
Hot breath spreads across Raon's lips. The sunrise sun that has set the moon and risen is pouring crimson sunlight as if rejoicing.
He understood.
All the answers to what that formation is and how to erase it are drawn in his head. 'It's over.' If he wants, he can break that sorcery formation anytime. Naturally, a round smile appears on his lips.
"Las."
Raon lifts Las's sagging neck like a sleepy puppy.
"Let's go eat."
-R, really?
Las opens his mouth as if he didn't know he would call for food right away.
"Yeah. I'm hungry too."
The head was clear, but because he consumed a lot of stamina and mental power, he was howling for food in his stomach.
-Kyu, now our minds are in sync! Then let's go to the place I wanted to go yesterday!
"Yeah."
Raon smiles faintly. He was hungry too, but since Las waited without saying anything, he was grateful, so he would eat as the guy wanted for breakfast.
-Now I like you a bit. Yeah. This is coexistence, symbiosis. You too...
You have deciphered an absolute-tier blood array.
The title has been generated.
The trait has been generated.
All abilities have gained 5 points.