The trio rushed out of the portal, finally entering Barren Canyon.
They scanned their surroundings, noting the vast, desolate land. Sparse, twisted trees stood like eerie sentinels, their bark pale and brittle, untouched by ti.
"So, this is Master’s ho?" Jisvruul muttered.
Jisvruul, I’ll be passing you a few things. Help plant them all over.
Without hesitation, Jisvruul opened his maw, his throat widening unnaturally. From deep inside, Yur dropped a series of saplings into his stomach.
A mont later, Jisvruul vomited them out, his saliva dripping over the dozens of Mother Tree saplings that now lay on the barren ground.
Have Velmira plant these all over.
Jisvruul turned to Velmira, pointing at the slimy saplings. "You, plant these."
Velmira’s lip curled in distaste. "Why ?" She crossed her arms. "Why don’t you do it?"
"Master has a different task for ." He lifted his chin proudly.
Sighing, Velmira rolled her eyes and bent down, picking up the saplings. Despite her reluctance, she worked efficiently.
Unlike Jisvruul or even Yur, Velmira had spent centuries in Zulmasharr. She knew how to nurture corruption into life, how to twist nature into sothing unrecognizable.
She had, after all, turned a massive portion of the Land of the Mother into the Eyes of Dripping Blood.
Terraforming was a skill she had perfected over ti.
Take out now.
Yes, Master.
Jisvruul hunched forward, his jaw stretching as he expelled Yur from his stomach. The slimy, mangled body of his master landed softly in the center of the canyon.
Zul, how is the Asheseed Relic?
This was one of his greatest concerns. Rituals required an imnse amount of Demon Points, and though he was accumulating them rapidly, they were still not enough to sustain him forever.
The Asheseed Relic was vital.
With Mal’s mories now woven into his being, Yur’s understanding of the world had expanded. He no longer viewed things through the lens of a single life.
He had lived as Mal. He had died as Mal. And from that knowledge, his goals beca clearer than ever.
[Scanning...]
[Complete!]
[The Asheseed Relic is undamaged! However, several Ritual Fruits have been consud or destroyed.]
As long as it’s intact. Relief washed over Yur. The Asheseed Relic was a one-ti purchase—if it were damaged, he would never be able to replace it.
The next available relic in the Zulmasharr store was so astronomically expensive that even if he multiplied his Demon Points by a hundredfold, he wouldn’t co close to affording it.
"Done." Velmira returned, dusting off her hands, having completed her task flawlessly.
Jisvruul, I have a task for you.
Yur began explaining the Rite of Blood Dominion, the ritual necessary for him to rank up. The only way he would ever heal.
Jisvruul listened intently, his expression unreadable until a smirk spread across his face.
"You, co here." Grabbing Ris, he threw her onto the ground like a discarded rag. He then beckoned Velmira over.
Graa! (Listen carefully.) Speaking in the demon tongue, Jisvruul relayed Yur’s instructions to Velmira.
Velmira remained silent, listening with sharp focus. Slowly, a sinister smile curved her lips.
I like this.
"Alright, let’s get to work." Before Ris could process what was happening, Jisvruul and Velmira vanished.
Where did they—? Suddenly, countless hands grabbed her.
"Stay still!" She struggled wildly, her limbs thrashing, but they held her firm.
"You, don’t just hold—tear!" Jisvruul snapped at Velmira.
"Let go!" Ris scread, panic consuming her. "Let go of !"
Jisvruul reached over, his clawed hand gripping her jaw. "I hate this voice of yours. It’s so ugly."
With a brutal yank, he snapped her jaw downwards, shattering it completely.
Velmira tore off her right arm.
Ris howled, a guttural, agonized scream escaping from her broken mouth. But she couldn’t even form words anymore.
"Rip her wings too!" Velmira, ecstatic with the violence, ripped both wings from her back.
Jisvruul grabbed her other arm, tearing it from its socket. Then, together, they seized her legs and wrenched them from her body.
Blood sprayed onto the barren ground.
"Stop the bleeding. Make sure she doesn’t die."
"I know that." Velmira waved her hand, releasing a dark yellow aura that wrapped around Ris’ mutilated body, sealing the wounds to keep her alive—but only barely.
Ris’ body convulsed. The pain was unimaginable. Tears stread down her face as she scread through her shattered jaw.
Jisvruul smirked, grabbing her by the horns. Dragging her toward Yur, he tossed her at his master’s feet. Then, crouching beside her, he watched with excitent.
[Ris is now in front of Host! Begin the process.]
Yur summoned the tenth and final Blood Sigil. It descended like a colossal cage, its bars dripping with crimson energy.
The final offering—Ris.
From the mont they t, she had always been a chain wrapped around his neck. She kept him alive, but only at arm’s length. She wanted too much from him—things he would never give.
A cage. That was what she had always been. You made feel like a slave! But... I am free!
Jisvruul lifted his leg and kicked her into the blood cage.
"AHHHH!!!" The mont her body crashed inside, the sigil trembled violently.
Blood-red energy wrapped around her, constricting her aura. But she wasn’t going down easily. Even mutilated, she still had power.
Jisvruul! Subdue her! Use your powers! Keep her mind broken!
Yes, Master!
Jisvruul unleashed his Blind Wail.
"ARRAAAA!!!" The sheer force of the shriek sent shockwaves through the canyon. Countless lesser demons died instantly.
"Idiot!" Velmira quickly enclosed the area in her aura, preventing the sound from killing the other demons. Then, without pause, she attacked Ris with her own corrupt essence.
Heavy. Nauseating.
Ris convulsed, her body rejecting the unnatural invasion.
"AHH!!" She scread, struggling with all she had.
Why is this happening?!
We have an Oath of Blood!
How is he harming ?!
She didn’t realize—Yur had never sworn not to harm her. The oath only bound him during the final ritual and when giving her the flas.
He had always planned to kill her! It was just a matter of when and how!
With Jisvruul’s wails crushing her mind...
Velmira’s essence tearing through her body...
And Yur’s Severed Crucible devouring her aura...
The Blood Sigil’s gates trembled— They were about to close.
Almost there.
Just a little more.
Yur focused every ounce of his willpower! And then the doors finally—
[Blood Sigils {Rank 5} Complete: 10/10]
[Reward: 400 Demon Points]
[Reward: 500 Demon Points]
[Demon Points: 9812]
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