"It should be right.....about.....here!" Muttered Ray before shouting loudly while looking at a particular place. It was the same place where he found the bloodstains. While it can't be seen in the darkness. Ray could see it clearly with his eyes that was infused with mana to enhance its capabilities. A night vision of sorts.
Flora shifted her eyes to where he was looking. "Blood? What is the-" Then it hit her, Flora was a very smart person by nature so she didn't take long to link everything together and understand what's going on.
"Is that the blood of one of the victims?" Flora asked to make sure she was right and Ray just nodded with a smile.
"Most probably it is. Now, this shouldn't be the only bloodstain here. Let's search around." He suggested while scanning his surroundings. Some animals tried to come closer and check if they can kill Flora and Ray but just their strong auras made these creatures shudder with fear and flee immediately.
Ray ignored the monsters lurking around and searched for anything suspicious and his theory was in place, a few tens of meters away from where he stood there was another bloodstain and another one even farther away, creating a trail that could lead to something.
"Perfect! We're close." Muttered Ray and then he told Flora. Thus, The young couple followed the trail of blood. There was some distance between each bloodstain so it took them some time but eventually, they reached a halting point where the trails stopped.
The blood stopped in front of a huge tree log hidden between the sea of trees around it. It was old, rotten to some point and mostly covered in moss and other life forms. It was a marvellous piece of history of this forest. The log was massive but from one look nothing could be noticed on it. Ray on the other place, felt a weird aura emanating from it that made him feel restless. This aura was evil, malicious and unbearable.
"Can you feel it?" Ray questioned Flora with an extremely serious face. What was inside that log was something that could kill Ray and he knew it.
"This cult is not something we can deal with." Muttered Ray as he gulped a mouthful of saliva.
'Ray. Don't even think about entering. Just run. This is not something you could deal with.' Sanguis who woke up at some point warned him with a grave voice. He also felt that aura.
"Run from what?"
*Swish*
Without even thinking Ray swung his sword to his left with all of his might. His body moved on its own when it felt the grave danger coming from this entity.
Even though he didn't waste a tenth of a second before attacking his sword met the air and the person behind was standing 5 meters away.
"Don't waste your efforts, kid. I could've killed you before you even knew I was there." When he finally made a good look at this person.
He was a middle-aged man. he wore a weird black robe like that of priests except more sinister and evil-looking, with extremely sharp eyes that could pierce through anything and look through everything. His cold almost soulless eyes lingered on Ray's silhouette briefly before looking at Flora.
Ray couldn't be any warier, he was sweating and his hands were shaking a little bit. Since the moment he set foot in the lower realms, he never met anyone who could make him shudder with fear like this. Even Galdof didn't make him scared.
'Who is this man? I didn't even feel his existence?' He gritted his teeth and looked at Flora who was beside him. She was also trembling and had a pale expression.
"Didn't you learn to not lose concentration in a fight? Not that I can call this a fight." The voice of the man was in his ear. Before he could even comprehend what happened, sharp pain in his stomach made grown with pain, his eyes widened and he was sent flying tens of meters before hitting a tree. A single punch made him gravely injured, it was an overwhelming defeat without putting a fight in the first place.
"Ugh!"
"RAY!!!!" Flora ignored the man and ran with all of her might towards her lover. Ray lost the ability to breathe for a few seconds, with one hit, he broke two of his ribs.
'This is not good. I can't fight with him. He's overwhelmingly strong.' Thought Ray while trying to stand up.
"Ray! Are you ok?" Asked Flora worriedly. She stood in front of Ray while holding her sword.
The strange man didn't even bother to look at her, " Listen, kid. I'm not here to fight nor do I even care about you. You stay quiet and wait. Now...When are you going to appear, Sanguis?" The last word made Ray's widen with shock. 'How did he know about Sanguis?'
"It's been a long time, Marilas." A blood-red magic circle appeared on Ray's chest and out of it came Sanguis.
He was still in his book form. His appearance made Marilas' face change. His cold face now had a huge grin of delight and....hatred? These two opposite emotions created a weird expression.
" How long has it been? 20? maybe 30 years? since the moment you killed my father. I was waiting for this moment." Responded Marilas.
"Quite your stupid ideas. I never killed him. Your father was simply consumed by greed....greed for power. Blame him for being a fucking idiot." Somehow, Sanguis was capable of insulting this strong monster without batting an eye.
"Greed for power? HAHAHAH! I assume you forgot your nickname Sanguis. While you're the second strongest grimoire of the seven you're also called the grimoire of death. Every host you take ends up dying a horrible death. My father's death was nothing but a continuation of that curse." Laughed Marilas disdainfully.
Then he continued "I see you got a weak kid this time. Is he really going to make you reach your goal?" The mockery was as apparent as the sun in the sky.
"Sanguis...Who...is...that" Finally being able to speak. Ray asked Sanguis.
"Don't put your nose in this Ray. I will deal with it." Sanguis' voice lacked any kind of confidence that he always had.
"Listen, Marilas. I know what you're doing. I also know your goal. You want to achieve your father's dream, right? Killing the boy won't be worth it." Sanguis tried to convince Marilas.
"Hmm? who told you I will kill him? I want him alive so you could watch how I will crush the lower realms under my foot and ascend. I know where you are and so I will always follow you." Shouted Marilas.
"Now, that I found where you are. I will fulfil my father's dream and then I will crush you with my bare hands. Greed for power? be it, I will seek power and make it mine! Only those who are greedy are worthy to become supreme rulers." He continued.
He was totally mad, arrogant to the bone and very greedy. The manifestation of sins and corruption.
"You won't be able to do it Marilas and you know that. Ascending? Fuck off, This wishful thinking of yours never changed since you were a child?" Sanguis responded angrily.
"We will see... As for you, boy. That fucking book will make you regret you even existed. Remember my words." His last words before disappearing were directed to Ray who couldn't even react to it.