The crow-masked man glanced around the scattered cemetery as he commented. "I guess I’m late to the party."
"I did as you instructed. I proved myself worthy to tread the path of godhood... So tell me now, how do I go about it?" Damian inquired.
The crow-masked man chuckled. "Calm yourself, young master Damian. You are quite impatient."
"I am not!... I only wish to not waste any more time in doing what has to be done to regain the lost glory of my people."
"You don’t say." The crow-masked man was joking as he spoke at a leisurely pace.
Frustrated by the man’s antics but too scared to do anything about it, Damian was forced to take a step back. "Please... I need to know. I have held up my side of the bargain, it’s time for you to do the same."
"I never said I wouldn’t." The man casually said before making his way over to one of the more intact coffins in the hall.
Making himself comfortable, the man remarked. "Now then... have you ever heard of a Blood God?"
"...No," Damian remarked after a brief hesitation.
"Ah, all you newborns that don’t know their family history." The crow-masked man sighed, as though disappointed.
"No, wait!" Damian quickly said in worry.
"I...I think I’ve heard of it before."
"Wasn’t that the failed experiment carried out by the Montgomery family in a bid to save their dying monarch after he was poisoned by a Hyena Queen?"
"It would seem you know your history." The crow masked man said before adding gently. "Anyway, that is it. You will become the Blood God.",
"But that’s a failed experiment." Damian didn’t hide his discrepancies on the topic.
If his memory served him well, the Montgomery family was wiped out after the experiment failed and the entire process to become a Blood God was lost for generations.
For the strange man to talk about it now... what was he to say?
The crow-masked man chuckled. "Do not worry about anything. I have already prepared everything you need. All you have to do now is prepare to become a God. Do you understand this?"
"... Will it truly work?"
"I will give you a chance to cut my head off if it doesn’t." The crow masked man said before taking out the brown box underneath his armpit and tossing it at Damian.
The latter caught it and after opening it up, felt his worldview change upon setting eyes on the content of the box.
"A Crimson Heart," Damian said with pure greed in his eyes.
’With this...’ he thought. ’I could become a powerhouse!’
His race had been forced to hide for so long, surviving from hand to mouth while their prey, mankind, living over their heads, enjoying life.
Damian was tired of that and now with the opportunity to become a god capable of changing that fate, he prepared himself for what would be a most thrilling experience.
Just then, the crow-masked man flinched as though having heard something worrisome.
Letting out a sigh, he muttered. "This is troublesome."
Then he got to his feet. "Well then Damian."
"I will be taking my leave. Everything you need is in that box, you’d better use it well."
"Don’t worry, I won’t mess this up."
"Very good." Satisfied with Damian’s response, the crow-masked man took his leave while whispering something incomprehensible to himself.
With the closing of the cemetery door, Damian was once again alone in the haunting environment but instead of worry or fear, a great joy filled his expression.
It was nighttime in Eventide with the Nighteye illuminating the night sky.
Alex glanced at the sleeping Nadia and after ensuring she was okay, he turned his attention back outside.
The journey to Popolis which was on the eastern side of the Empire was quite long, considering the size of Ra’as was twice that of Asia, Africa, and North America put together and multiplied by two.
Based on his estimates and the recorded time for the journey, it would take two weeks ( 20 days ) by train to reach Popolis and that was if there were no unnecessary stops.
Thankfully, the train had a kitchen and toilet to help those traveling the long distance cope.
Of course, those required money to use.
In any case, Alex prepared himself for a long ride and after checking for a bit longer, decided to take a nap.
But just as he closed his eyes, intent to do so... There was a catch.
An explosion caused the train to tremble vigorously.
Alex quickly turned alert while Nadia was forced out of her slumber.
With a frown on her face, she asked. "What’s happening?"
Alex looked outside for a moment and upon noticing a faint yellow glow from the side of his eyes, he replied. "Nothing good."
The trembling train soon stopped shaking and after a bit longer stopped moving altogether, pausing in the middle of the tracks.
"Come," Alex said as he gestured for Nadia to follow him.
Alex closed his eyes for a moment before opening them the next second, activating his Spirituality as his eyes flashed goldenly.
As they stepped out of their carriage, he looked both ways before slowly stepping out.
Others from the neighboring carriages poked their heads out but after pondering their options, decided to stay put for fear of getting into trouble after leaving their seats.
"That way." Alex pointed as he took the lead with Nadia behind him.
The latter had already activated her spirituality as she prepared for any eventualities.
The train had grown eerily quiet causing both of them to raise their guard.
As they approached the end of their boxcar, Alex gestured for her to remain quiet before he slowly reached for the latch to open it.
Just as he did so, a terrifying screech echoed in the silence, bombarding their eardrums for quite some time before it finally came to an end.
Holding back the vomit welling up in his stomach, Alex pushed up the latch and after opening the door, frowned at the sight ahead of him.
Nadia was a step late but once she saw it, she couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief as faint yellow reflected in her irises. "Oh, my goodness."