The fire and smoke quickly spread to the entire city. In less than fifteen minutes since the start of the commotion, the whole city had been shrouded in an atmosphere of terror.
Bloed and the girls frowned. In their way to Animal Paradise, they met hundreds of civilians running away, being chased by teams of the church of slaughter who killed people without a care for age, race, or sex.
Bloed and the girls killed all the members of the church of slaughter they met in their way, however, it was nothing but a drop in the ocean that was Diadel City. Bloed estimated that there were at least one thousand followers of the church of slaughter causing chaos and killing crazily.
"Is the duke crazy!? How can he allow something like this!?" Liu Ying asked in anger. Watching how innocent people were being killed had put her in a terrible mood.
Bloed was not much better. Although he did not know or was related to the people of the city, watching them die cruelly in front of his eyes was not a good experience.
Actually, Bloed already had a rather good idea of why the duke allowed this. Based on the conversation he eavesdropped and the things he had witnessed, Bloed reached a rather terrifying conclusion.
"… They are sacrifices." Bloed's expression was dark.
"Sacrifices!?" Liu Ying was astonished. Bloed nodded and explained his thoughts to her. "Look at the magic circle around the city. Have you not noticed that it has turned brighter than before?"
Liu Ying was startled. "Do you mean…"
"Whatever the duke wants to do, he needs sacrifices," Regina said. "And because we rescued the slaves he was going to use as sacrifices, he had to… improvise."
"That is… Very cruel." Liu Ying clenched her fist angrily. Her mana seeped out of her body, pressuring the surroundings with fiery killing intent.
Bloed sighed. "The Duke is crazy. Does he want to become the public enemy of the entire continent? Wait a moment, could it be…"
"Huh? Did you think of something, Bloed?"
Bloed nodded to Liu Ying question. "… I think that perhaps things are not so simple as we thought. Think about it, the Duke's position in Diadel Duchy is incredibly exalted, he practically has everything he can desire. Someone like that, why would he do something so risky like this? What is his true goal? Besides, where does the Blight fit in all of this?"
Bloed's mind moved at the fastest speed possible. He thought about all the clues he had and tried to find an answer.
However, he felt like he was lacking something.
There was still an important piece of the puzzle he needed if he wanted to understand everything.
In the current situation, Bloed felt as though he was half-blind.
"So complicated…" Bloed heaved a tired sigh and looked at the front. Anyway, he would soon know the answer to his questions.
The group of three rode Leto through the streets of the city. After a few minutes, they were approaching to Animal Paradise.
But at that moment, Regina's expression changed.
"Master, stop!"
Bloed did not hesitate. As soon as Regina spoke, he used his mind to command Leto to stop.
The wolf obeyed. It stopped abruptly and looked in front with its shining blue eyes.
Bloed also directed his gaze in that direction.
At some point, three figures had appeared in front of Bloed's path, and Bloed instantly recognized one of them.
The person in the middle, the middle-aged man with a sword on his waist.
"… Sebastian." He said and narrowed his eyes.
Sebastian looked at Bloed and nodded with a respectful expression.
"Your highness, it's good to know that you are alright."
These words were like a bolt of the blue for both groups. Not only Liu Ying, but even the two hooded people behind Sebastian widened their eyes in surprise.
"Y-Your Highness… B-Bloed, is he speaking about you?"
Bloed sighed and nodded. "I'll tell you about it later."
Although surprised and confused, Liu Ying knew that this was not the moment for this. Quickly, she controlled her emotions in focused on the people in front of them.
Soon, however, her expression turned ugly.
These three people, she could feel they were much stronger than Bloed, Regina, and herself.
Especially the middle-aged man. He felt like an unending sea, his power immensurable.
However, Liu Ying realized that Bloed was not nervous.
Instead, he remained as calm as before.
"… If you are here, it means that you are under his orders, right?" Bloed asked.
Sebastian nodded. "It's good that your highness understands. His Majesty has ordered you to return."
Bloed sneered. "And why should I obey? I'm sorry, but I like my current freedom, thank you very much."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "It looks like you have misunderstood something, your highness. Your opinion is useless. The orders of the king are absolute!"
When he finished speaking, overwhelming sword intent erupted out of his body, oppressing the entire street.
Bloed and Liu Ying turned pale. The sharpness of the sword intent felt as though it wanted to pierce their skins and cut their bones.
But before Sebastian's sword intent could be fully released, the silver-haired girl beside Bloed snorted.
"Hmph!"
Then–
*Zap!*
A powerful torrent of energy sweep Sebastian's sword intent away. Regina's presence surged, becoming as powerful as a goddess of war.
Glaring at Sebastian with a look of absolute coldness, Regina took a step forward.
"Who do you think you are to talk like that to my master!?"
The city shook, and the clouds of the sky were blown away. Regina's presence was so powerful that the two men behind Sebastian were unable to breathe!
Even Sebastian was frowning with a serious look. The worst possibility had turned to be true.
"… So, my instincts were right, you are a demigod."
Regina sneered.
"Piss off, or tomorrow there will be one demigod less in the world."
Sebastian wrinkled his brows, but he was not intimidated.
"I'm sorry, young miss, but the orders of the king are absolute."
Then, his sword rang out in his sheath.
And with a smooth movement, it flew towards his hand before slashing in Regina's direction!
The giant sword slash seemed to cut the world into two. Its power was such that the people nearby were unable to breathe.
But Regina just materialized an energy blade on her left hand, then, she slashed upwards.
As though the power of Sebastian's sword slash was a lie, it was instantly swallowed by the powerful energy!
Then, the energy turned into a giant sword that descended in Sebastian's direction.
The battle between demigods had finally begun!
....
P4TRE0N: patre-on.com/aidnovels