The cellar was filled with the heavy smell of iron and coal. The flickering light of the torches hanging on the walls cast long shadows across the stone. Near the large anvil in the center, Lupi was still working. He carefully examined the metal glowing red in the flames and occasionally struck it gently with his hammer. Each blow echoed through the chamber.
At that moment, the door opened.
The heavy wooden door creaked as it moved aside, and Zuzit stepped inside. The tip of his staff made a dull sound each time it touched the stone floor.
Lupi lifted his head. As soon as he saw the old sage, he asked his question.
"How is the warrior?"
Zuzit walked a few steps and approached the table beside the anvil.
"Good."
He paused for a moment, then added,
"He's improving faster than I expected."
Lupi raised his eyebrows.
"How fast?"
Zuzit stood still, leaning on his staff.
"He has begun to feel the power of his blood."
"And… he can use it."
The expression on Lupi's face changed.
"So soon?"
Zuzit nodded.
"Yes."
"I didn't expect him to reach this level so quickly."
Lupi thought for a few seconds. Then the faint smile on his face disappeared.
"Zuzit…"
His voice became serious.
"We need to move quickly."
Zuzit turned his eyes toward him.
"What happened?"
Lupi took a deep breath.
"I heard the news coming from outside."
Zuzit waited silently.
Lupi continued.
"The gods…"
"They've found the humans hiding in the Harnos Forest."
Zuzit's expression suddenly hardened.
"What did you say?"
Lupi nodded.
"Most of the people living there…"
"Are those who escaped from the old kingdoms."
"The last humans who managed to remain free."
Zuzit slowly walked to the table and sat down.
He clasped his hands together.
"How many people were there?"
"Thousands."
Zuzit closed his eyes.
"And the gods?"
Lupi answered.
"The God of Wind."
"The God of Lightning."
"And several demigods."
The cellar suddenly fell silent.
Zuzit lifted his head.
"So…"
"…the last refuge of humanity is about to fall."
Lupi nodded heavily.
"Yes."
Then he pointed to a chest against the wall.
"The sword and armor are ready."
"If you want, we can send the warrior immediately."
Zuzit shook his head at once.
"No."
"He's not ready yet."
At that moment, footsteps came from the stairs at the back of the cellar.
A young girl walked down.
Her long black hair fell over her shoulders. Her eyes carried a calm but powerful expression.
Her name was Elra.
She walked toward Zuzit.
"Zuzit."
The old man lifted his head.
"Elra."
Elra spoke directly.
"Do we have another choice?"
Zuzit remained silent.
Elra continued.
"If the Harnos Forest falls…"
"There will be nowhere left for humanity to hide."
Zuzit rested his staff against the floor.
"I know."
Elra stepped closer.
"Then let's send Tara."
"Work and I will go with him."
Zuzit shook his head.
"No."
Lupi interrupted.
"Do we have any other choice?"
Zuzit frowned.
"How much time do you think we have?"
"By the time Elra and Tara reach there…"
"The gods will have already burned everything."
The cellar fell silent again.
Then Lupi suddenly lifted his head, as if remembering something.
"Did you forget?"
Zuzit looked at him.
"What?"
Lupi spoke slowly.
"Tara can open a gate."
Zuzit thought for a few seconds.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
"The Blood Sword…"
Lupi nodded.
"Yes."
"Blood energy can cut through dimensions."
"A strong enough user…"
"…can open a door between two places."
Zuzit slowly stood up.
"Elra."
The girl looked at him.
"Prepare yourself."
"You're going to the Harnos Forest."
Elra nodded.
But at that moment, the cellar door opened again.
Tara and Work entered.
Tara's wounds had almost completely healed. His Blood Synchronization had rapidly restored his body. But Work was still injured; dried blood marked his shoulder and chest.
Work looked directly at Zuzit.
"I'm coming too."
Zuzit shook his head.
"No."
Work frowned.
"Elra…"
Elra looked at him.
Then she raised her hand.
A faint blue light formed around her fingers.
The light spread across Work's body.
His wounds began to close.
The bloodstains faded.
Within seconds, Work was completely healed.
Zuzit smiled slightly.
"So your healing power is that strong."
At that moment, Tara looked at Lupi.
"The armor."
"The sword."
"Give them to me."
Lupi opened the chest.
He took out a heavy suit of black armor. Red lines ran across it like veins.
Then he pulled out the sword.
Crimson streaks ran through the metal like frozen blood.
Lupi handed it to Tara.
"This was forged from your blood."
Tara put on the armor.
It fit his body perfectly.
It felt like part of him.
Then he grabbed the sword.
The moment he held it, the blood energy inside him trembled.
Tara looked at Zuzit.
"Now the real question…"
"How do we get there quickly?"
Zuzit raised his staff.
"You must open a gate with your Blood Sword."
Tara frowned.
"How?"
Zuzit struck his staff against the ground.
TACK
Ancient symbols on the stone floor began to glow.
A large magic circle appeared.
Runic marks burned with crimson light.
Zuzit looked at Tara.
"This seal will focus your power."
"Use your blood energy."
"And send all of us to the Harnos Forest."
Tara looked at his sword for a few seconds.
Then he looked at Zuzit.
"Alright."
He stabbed the sword into the ground.
Suddenly a crimson aura exploded outward.
The air trembled.
Blood energy began swirling around the sword.
The symbols shone brighter.
The ground cracked.
The crimson light grew stronger.
Tara clenched his teeth.
The energy kept intensifying.
Then he lifted the sword.
And slammed it down.
In an instant, a red tear opened in the air.
It looked as if the world itself had been cut in half.
Through the rift, a dark forest filled with wind could be seen.
Harnos Forest.
Elra whispered,
"He did it…"
Zuzit narrowed his eyes.
"So he really can…"
Tara took a heavy breath.
"Hurry."
"I can't hold this gate open for long."
Work drew his sword.
Elra gathered her magical energy.
Lupi silently watched them.
Zuzit leaned on his staff and spoke.
"Remember."
"There are gods there."
Tara turned his eyes toward the gate.
Then he rested the sword on his shoulder.
"Gods?"
His eyes glowed crimson.
"I was born to kill them."
And the three of them stepped together into the crimson gate.