If there was one group in this world that truly deserved to be wiped off the face of existence, it was Blood Cross.
A fanatical cult devoted to Malfus, the God of Carnage, these lunatics believed that slaughter wasn't just necessary—it was divine. They saw the world as nothing more than a hunting ground, a place where only the strongest should rule. And to them, the strongest weren't kings, heroes, or even monsters.
Those twisted beings who gained power by devouring others, growing stronger with each kill. The Blood Cross didn't just worship Fiends—they wanted to create more of them.
Their doctrine was simple:
Slaughter is sacred. Kill, and you bring yourself closer to enlightenment. The bloodier, the better.
Fiends are divine. The rest of the world saw Fiends as monsters. Blood Cross saw them as gods in the making.
Sacrifice fuels power. The cult's favorite pastime? Horrific rituals involving human sacrifices, flesh-eating, and carving bloody symbols into their own bodies.
Basically, if something sounded completely insane and evil, Blood Cross had already tried it.
They weren't just a bunch of robed maniacs waving knives around in a basement—okay, well, sometimes they were—but they were also dangerously organized.
They infiltrated cities, noble houses, and even military groups, corrupting them from within. Powerful warriors, promising adventurers—all went missing, only to return as raving, bloodthirsty Fiends.
They had temples, underground fortresses, and hidden ritual sites all over the world. Some were abandoned ruins, others were thriving hideouts, packed with devoted followers waiting for the day they could paint the world red.
Their Favorite Pastimes (A.K.A. Forbidden Rituals)
Fiend's Awakening Ritual – Ever wondered what happens when you force-feed someone human flesh infused with dark energy? Well, according to Blood Cross, one in ten will turn into a Fiend. The other nine? They just die screaming.
Crimson Baptism – You haven't lived until you've bathed in the blood of your enemies. Or so they say. High-ranking members even drink blood straight from the hearts of powerful warriors. Disgusting? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
The Offering of a Thousand Screams – Imagine gathering a thousand people, sacrificing them under a blood moon, and summoning something called the "True Fiend." Yeah, no thanks.
The Big Names Running the Show
Grand Inquisitor Veylan – The top dog. A twisted prophet who claims he hears the voice of Mafus. Half-human, half-Fiend, fully insane.
The Butcher Priests – High-ranking cultists who handle rituals, sacrifices, and turning people into Fiends. Basically, walking nightmares in robes. Valak was one of them but now he is dead.
The Crimson Reapers – Blood Cross' strongest warriors—each one a fully awakened Fiend. If you see one, run. Or start praying.
Asher and Serena looked at each other as they listened to the informant, who explained the ways of Blood Cross—the organization that Lloyd and Valak belonged to.
After eliminating him and passing the information to the guild, they rushed to Pallax City. Their recent actions had likely drawn attention, and if they weren't careful, they might end up walking straight into Blood Cross's hands.
"Damn annoying cultists," Asher muttered, rubbing his temples as the informant finished speaking. He didn't at all.
He knew just how troublesome cultists could be. There had been one such group in Volarisa, according to the history books, and even they were a nightmare. But these lunatics? They were on a whole different level—fully unhinged and extremely dangerous.
"I guess we'll have to be careful from now on," he said, sighing.
Serena nodded, her expression serious. "Yeah… This just got a lot more complicated."
The Blood Cross & Asher
And now, thanks to Lloyd's very violent death, the Blood Cross knew about Asher.
And they weren't happy.
For them, Lloyd, with his Slaughter Gift ability, was a saint sent by Mafus. And now that he was dead, they wanted Asher to die the same way.
Deep within one of their hidden fortresses, the air was thick with the stench of blood, burning incense, and madness. Hooded figures knelt in front of a massive blood-soaked altar, where the symbol of Mafus—a twisted, jagged cross—was carved into the stone.
A high-ranking priest, his skin covered in scarred rituals, raised his arms.
"Lloyd, the Saint of Carnage, has fallen!" His voice echoed through the chamber, filled with raw fury. "A mere mortal—a worm!—dared to slay him!"
The gathered cultists screamed in rage, slamming their fists onto the ground.
"An insult to our god!"
"He must be torn apart!"
The priest's bloodshot eyes gleamed as he continued, "Mafis demands blood! We shall send forth our chosen, the Butcher Priests and the Crimson Reapers, and they shall bring us Asher's head!"
The entire chamber trembled as dark energy pulsed through the air, responding to their murderous intent.
"And if this Asher is strong… then we shall baptize him in blood and turn him into one of our own."
Asher leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. The flickering candlelight of the dimly lit inn cast long shadows across the room. Serena sat across from him, arms folded, her expression grim.
"Blood Cross…" she muttered. "I've heard of them before, but I didn't think they were this insane."
"They worship Malfus, the so-called 'God of Carnage,'" the informant said, shifting uncomfortably. "To them, Fiends are the true rulers of the world, and anyone not 'blessed' with Fiendish energy is just cattle."
Asher sighed, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "So, Lloyd wasn't just some random lunatic—he was their damn saint."
The informant nodded. "Yeah. And now that he's dead, they'll be looking for whoever killed him."
Serena groaned, slumping back in her seat. "Great. Just what we needed. A bloodthirsty cult that thinks their butchered psychopath was a divine messenger."
Asher smirked slightly. "Annoying as hell, but it just means they'll come to us. Saves us the trouble of hunting them down."
"You don't understand," the informant said, lowering his voice. "Blood Cross doesn't just send assassins or warriors after their enemies. They perform rituals—forbidden ones. The kind that twist reality, summon monsters, and… worse."
Serena frowned. "What do you mean 'worse'?"
The man hesitated before finally answering. "They don't just want to kill you. They want to turn you into one of them."
A tense silence filled the room.
"I think we should separate ways. They only know about me, not you," Asher said.
The informant shook his head. "No. By this time, they might have already learned about her. Soon, they'll be coming after both of you."
Serena frowned. "So, we're both targets now?"
The informant nodded. "Lloyd must have had a tracking artifact. Most powerful clans have treasure items that record how their members die. The Blood Cross wouldn't let his death go unnoticed."
Asher's eyes narrowed. "That means the other churches must have noticed too. Malfus isn't the only god, right?"
The informant sighed. "Of course, there are other churches. But Lloyd was working freely here because this kingdom falls under Malfus' domain."
Asher exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Damn fanatic territory rules. So, every god has their own domain, and if one god's followers enter another's… war breaks out?"
"Exactly," the informant confirmed. "Most gods prefer keeping their worshippers in their own lands, which is why these cultists aren't afraid to act freely here."
Serena's expression darkened. "So, if we just leave this god's domain, we'll be safe?"
The informant nodded. "Yes, but the nearest border to another god's domain is 500 kilometers away. If you can survive the journey, you'll be safe… for now."
Asher and Serena exchanged glances. The choice was clear—run or fight.
"I can save myself even if I were to fight. I have many abilities that allow me to escape at any moment," Asher said, glancing at Serena. "But I can't guarantee your safety the same way." He clenched his fists. "So, we're running to the next god's domain."
Serena nodded. "Okay… but what if they go after the village?" she asked, a little afraid.
"They won't," Asher reassured her. "The village is in another god's domain—a Demi-God's. He's not as strong as Malfus, but against the Blood Cross' base, he's powerful enough. They won't dare cross into his territory."
Serena let out a relieved sigh as Asher turned his gaze toward the horizon. Their path was clear—escape now, or risk being hunted down. New novel chapters are published on Novel~Fire. (n)et
Asher didn't waste any time. With a flick of his wrist, he activated his movement skill, his body surging forward like a shadow through the night. Serena followed closely behind, her steps light yet determined.
The road ahead was long—500 kilometers to the next god's domain. They had no time to waste.
"How long do you think we have before they come after us?" Serena asked, her voice steady but tense.
Asher narrowed his eyes. "If they're as fanatical as they seem, they're already moving."
Serena cursed under her breath. "Great. So, what's the plan? Run the whole way?"
"Not exactly," Asher said, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape. "There are shortcuts… but they're dangerous."