When Polemos walked inside Carl's tent he noticed a very interesting design on the floor. There was a big circle that had multiple lines, pathways, squares, small circles, triangles, and things Polemos had never seen before. He was instantly intrigued as he put his hand to his chin as he looked and tried to study what Carl had made in his tent.
'This is something else, is this what Carl plans to use? If it is then damn it's like another grenade.'
When Captain saw Polemos stop to focus and study the circle he was looking over towards a table that had vials and bottles. They were of different sizes and shapes.
'What is all this? Is this all for Mana washing his marrows? I've never heard or seen half of the things that are on the table.' Captain was very surprised as well as confused as he looked at the contents on the table then looked back at the circle. 'The only thing that I've seen that resembles that circle are some of the arrays Mesakyle has in his tent.'
When Carl finally entered his tent he saw Polemos was focused as he was looking at the array on the floor as he smiled and laughed.
"It's interesting isn't it Polemos?"
Polemos smiled as he heard Carl's laughter and responded with interest in his voice, as he continued to look at the array.
"Is this a Mana Array?"
"Yes." Carl's responded
"What's it called?" Polemos asked with interest as he continued to study and look at the array.
Carl responded with a deep and bloody voice that made even Captain raise his brows.
"Blood of the Beast."
When Polemos heard the name of the array it made a large and evil smile form on his face as he laughed in an evil manner.
"This sounds perfect, if it's anything like the other gifts you've given me then this should be something amazing. But since it's called Blood of the Beast, does it require anything special as a catalyst or anything unique?"
Carl only shook his head as he walked over towards the table and picked up what looked like a stone and tossed it towards Polemos as he explained what it was.
"For the Acolyte stage the only thing that is really required would be a Mana Stone of either the low or intermediate rank."
When Polemos caught and looked as well as felt the crude looking Mana Stone in his hand as he had a couple questions that he immediately wanted answered.
"Please don't tell me that this is used as a form of currency. And how can you tell the difference between the stones?" Polemos's face was dead serious as he asked his questions as the first one was very important as the second was just because he wanted the knowledge for it.
Carl and even Captain looked at Polemos with raised brows as when they heard the first question he asked they immediately bent over with laughter that filled the entire tent.
""HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...""
Polemos's face didn't change as they continued to laugh.
Carl was able to quickly adjust himself but Captain had a smile on his scarred face as his scars twitched slightly showing he still wanted to laugh.
"Why in any Gods name would we do something so stupid as to use them as currency they are used in many things, even rewards but, as a form of currency. Never." Carl smiled as he continued. "And to tell them apart it may be hard but, it is the thickness of the fog in the stone that tells them apart."
"Even though we're a small nomad tribe I know that if we used them as money then it would undervalue the use of Mana Stones. Even Mesakyle has used them, hell he even has a ring that holds them for when he needs to charge his arrays." Captain was able to hold his laughter back as he gave a response of his own.
When Polemos heard what both Carl and Captain said he was surprised as well relieved.
"You have know idea how relieved I am to hear that even from you Captain. Thank the damn Gods." Polemos looked like he lost a great burden off his mind as he looked at the Mana Stone, then remembered Carl mentioned it was enough for the Acolyte Stage he looked at Carl but it looked like Carl knew what he was going to say and shook his head.
"I know what you want to say but, unfortunately I only have a copy of the Acolyte Stage. If you're looking for the other part, look for those two asshats, they'll definitely have it. But enough distraction we need to start as this could take a while to complete. Captain grab those two bottles and follow me to the circle, gotta do a couple more things then it'll be done." Carl spoke as he also grabbed two more bottles and walked to the array.
Captain just nodded his head and listened to what Carl asked as Polemos watched the whole thing and listened to Carl as he spoke about how the whole process started.
It took both Carl and Captain what felt like thirty minutes to finish up, then Carl went to the entrance of his tent and activated an array.
When Polemos saw that he was surprised and asked.
"What type of an array was that?" But when he heard Carl's answer he felt his spine shiver.
"It's a Silent Array. It makes sure no noise will leave my tent."
When Carl said what type of array it was he also remembered what Carl said about the Blood of the Beast array.
'Shit he did say it was gonna be brutal but, if that's necessary then I'd better prepare myself mentally.' Polemos took deep breaths in order to help calm himself as well as to try and steady his heart for the upcoming washing.
When Carl saw that Polemos was trying to calm himself he smiled as he went to Captain as he pointed to a circle.
"I'll need you to sit and act like you're meditating. Don't worry I'll be doing the same, it'll help stabilize and maintain the entire washing process. But will both be drained afterwards, especially you Captain, since you're only at the peak of the ninth stage."
When Captain heard Carl he nodded his head and walked towards the circle and sat down and waited to start the process.
Carl nodded his head towards Captain and headed over to his own circle and sat down as he placed a few more Mana Stones in front of himself and spoke to Polemos.
"Whenever you're ready, Polemos it's all set up."
Polemos slowly opened his eyes as a purple light flashed in his eyes as a devil-like smile formed. He turned around as he walked towards the middle of the array and sat down.
He took a deep breath as he slowly released it.
"Ready."
Carl spoke in a deep and bloody voice.
"Blood for the Blood Gods and Blood of the Beasts!"
The circle around Polemos started to shine a bright blood red color as it slowly started to create small tendrils of Mana around the circle.
The tendrils of Mana also took on a blood red color and it looked coagulated as they started to grow longer and wave. Then it looked as if they gave sentience as all 206 of them pointed their tips towards Polemos.
When Polemos saw that his pupils shrunk but, a smile formed on his face as his eyes turned to excitement.
When Carl and Captain saw the look on Polemos's face they both had the same thought cross their minds.
'He is a Mad One.'
Then Carl spoke again but Polemos wasn't able to hear what Carl said as the moment he spoke the blood red coagulated tendrils drilled into his skeleton!
Polemos clenched his teeth hard and groaned as he was in massive pain and this was only the beginning as they only drilled into his skin and muscles so far.
When the tendrils drilled into Polemos skin he felt as if something was trying to melt and cook his flesh and muscles but, it took on a different form of pain when they drilled into the bone and washed the marrows.
When the tendrils drilled into his bones Polemos felt everything. From the start of them drilling into his bones to the snapping of his bones as the tendrils even branched out inside of his bones.
Polemos roared in a deep and agonizing pain as he never felt this type of pain before and he died once.
Carl and Captain could only watch as they continued the whole Mana Washing process and it only just started.
Carl didn't even know how long it would take as it was something he hadn't done since he left his tribe and retired.
Captain just was trying to focus on his mana as Carl didn't lie when he said he would be exhausted his mana was draining quickly.
Then when Polemos thought that the pain couldn't get any worse the array proved him wrong. As the tendrils started the actual process of Mana Washing his marrows as he felt something that was cold, hot, searing, numbing, dark, and a mind breaking pain flowed through.
When the actual Mana Washing process happened Polemos was slightly raised as the tendrils picked him up as blood started to slowly flow from the holes that they drilled through. As it slowly flowed out the holes they formed small rivers across Polemos's flesh and slowly dropped to the sands below forming a small puddle of blood under him.
Screaming in agonizing pain and agony!
But what no one was able to notice was the black scale flashed slightly sending a dark pulse in Polemos's body during the start of the Mana Washing.
And it was only the beginning.