After Romann had left, the group of six was left to decide on their next course of action.
Ellie suggested: "It would be wise to take a two-week break and visit our homes. Once we come back, we can discuss and hopefully reach a decision together about whether we want to remain as a team or split off."
Cesar was about to respond, but Yusuf interrupted, his tone filled with resolve. "There's no need for me to think it over. I've already made my choice. From now on, I'll be venturing on my own. I wish you all the best, but I plan to explore the mortal rings alone. This training has taught me the importance of pushing myself beyond my limits."
With a final wave, Yusuf bid farewell to the group and walked towards the housing units, his determination clear.
Cesar looked at the remaining members. Al felt Cesar's gaze, and he quickly averted his eyes. Before Cesar could say a word, Louise spoke up next. "I'm sorry, everyone. I wish I could stay with all of you, but my great-great-grandfather would give me an earful if I remained in a place where I'm completely overshadowed," she confessed, her gaze shifting from Cesar to Al, Jin, and finally Ellie.
Louise disappeared down the road, and Ellie's eyes followed her, causing a flicker of doubt to creep into Ellie's mind. She reconsidered her own choice to stay.
Jin, however, wore an unwavering smile, radiating confidence. "I'm sticking with all of you," he declared cheerfully. "I know the statistics of those who venture into the Mortal Rings without a reliable phantom seed. It's alarmingly difficult to gather merits and focus on cultivation alone."
Cesar's smile broadened in response. Before anyone else could say anything, he spoke up. "In that case, we'll move forward as a team for now. Ellie mentioned going home. We should do so as a team; it will strengthen our bond,".
Caught up in the collective spirit, Ellie couldn't help but join in, her face glowing with excitement. "It's settled then! We'll visit our homes together. I can go last; my mother is never in a hurry."
Cesar's expression soured. "As the captain, I'll take the final spot. You can go after Al or Jin. They can determine who goes first by playing a paper, scissors, rock," he asserted, gesturing with his spear as if it were a royal scepter.
Jin glanced at Al, noticing his unusual silence. "It's fine. Let's visit Al's home first. Besides, my family resides in the territory controlled by the Lightning-Stone Leaf, so I can afford to go second to last," Jin suggested.
Al observed the collective excitement, though deep down, his original plan had been to stay home after the initial training concluded. Expressing his intentions to his companion had suddenly become increasingly complex, especially since he didn't want them to go out of their way to visit his house only for him to part ways with them.
"Cesar and I met not too far from where I live," Al contemplated, a wistful smile forming as he looked at Jin. "I'll simply bid them farewell after accompanying them to Cesar's home," Al quietly planned.
"Sure, that's fine with me; we can visit my home first," Al responded to the group.
~~~
A few hours later, the four stood outside the mountain, away from the road. Al's eyes darted through the thick bushes, filled with desperate determination. "It's somewhere around here, I know it," he insisted, his voice tinged with urgency. Cesar joined him in the search.
Skepticism flickered across Cesar's face as he scanned the area. "Are you sure? I don't recall there being so many trees," he remarked, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. They were searching for the car Al had driven him and Cesar in.
"Found it!" Cesar exclaimed, his voice echoing through the air. He removed branch after branch, thoughtfully placed by Al, to uncover the car. "Damn, Al, you didn't have to hide it so thoroughly. I stubbed my foot on the tire." Cesar grumbled, his frustration evident.
As everyone gathered around, Al approached the car's rear and reached underneath, searching for his keys.
Jin's eyes widened in admiration as he gazed at the vehicle. "Wow, this is a real beauty, Al. You never told me you were into cars," he remarked, his voice filled with awe.
Al, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, shrugged modestly. "I'm not, but my father helped me build my old girl here," he said, clasping the keys. Opening the car, he welcomed everyone inside.
Cesar and Jin moved to the back to make room, allowing Ellie in the driver's passenger seat.
After several attempts, Al started the car, and they drove off. The engine's revving drowned out their conversations until the car was finally in motion.
"I just don't see how this car is a girl. It's definitely more of a guy," Ellie remarked. Al swiftly responded with a mischievous smirk, "She's a girl because all the guys I know want to have her, but only I get to drive her." His reply elicited laughter from Cesar and Jin.
Ellie cringed, finding it ridiculous. "That's stupid! Wouldn't that mean your dad had her before you?" she retorted. Jin and Cesar began laughing even harder.
Al's face flushed with frustration, "Fuck off!".
Realizing he had reacted strongly, Al quickly composed himself. "I meant my father helped me build her, not that it was his. By the way, does anyone know the location of the other Mortal Rings?"
Ellie keenly noted Al's change in mood, making a mental note.
Eventually, they stopped to refuel the car and change into regular clothes. They wanted to blend in rather than stand out.
Jin suggested they tune in to the radio to catch up on the world's current state. Over a few hours, they absorbed the shocking magnitude of changes that had unfolded in a few months.
The reports spoke of the global vanishings that had taken the world by storm. The vanishings were subsiding, but what remained were gruesome scenes scattered worldwide. Entire homes of families killed, with bodies brutally mutilated or crushed, would occasionally be reported.
Witnesses shared accounts of people being tossed, sliced, or hurled like dolls by unseen forces. The military and police forces had long lost their grip on power.
Churches and temples had become stupendously wealthy and had taken matters into their own hands, hiring mercenaries to protect their most esteemed members and holy men. This development provoked anger and resentment within the already fragmented and vulnerable global governments.
A swift bill was drafted, compelling the churches to hire the military or police for any defensive purposes. While religious institutions worldwide were displeased, they agreed to convene in a week to sign the bill, at least in the United States and most first-world countries.
Some governments had forcefully coerced the churches into cooperation in other regions of the world. Religious institutions were never allowed to accumulate authority or wealth in those regions.
As Al absorbed the unsettling updates, he stomped on the accelerator, propelling the car forward through the highway. Al drove the entire way, pausing only for gas refills and restroom breaks. Before they knew it, they were entering Al's hometown, Santa Rosa.
It was approaching afternoon, and Al reiterated the instructions he had been repeating for the past few hours: "Remember, we met during our trip to the Holy Land and, afterward, decided to visit each other's homes. Since it's Saturday, my mom will make us attend Sunday's morning service tomorrow. We can use that as an opportunity to assess any changes in the world."
The group nodded in agreement. They were inside Al's house within a few hours, accompanied by his mom, Alice, who eagerly gave them a tour.
Initially, she was furious, as each letter she received seemed to disregard her previous messages. After he did not return home when he was supposed to, she became worried until he called her.
When Alice inquired about what Al had learned or any letters she had sent, Al skillfully diverted the conversation. Alice didn't seem to mind as long as her child was back.
Alice walked the group around the house, showcasing hanging pictures and Al's album collections. Cesar noticed a recurring person in almost every photo—a boy who had been by Al's side.
Before he was introduced to cultivating Will, Cesar remembered Al's story of his best friend transforming into a hybrid and being killed by Romann's team.
On the other hand, Jin was curious and pointed at one particular photo, asking Al's mom, "Excuse me, Miss Alice, who is that?" as he gestured toward Mark, standing next to Al in a park.
"Oh! That's... that's a dear friend of our family who God took during the great rapture almost half a year ago," Alice replied. She didn't sound sorrowful but rather reminiscent.
After Alice had prepared dinner for the four of them, she insisted that Ellie stay in the same room as her, separated from the young men.
Alice began fixing a place on the floor for Ellie to sleep in. "So, how did you and my Alex meet? I hope he didn't go too far with any of his pranks," she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Ellie initially felt slightly uneasy, but Alice reminded her of her mother. Both of them had very soothing voices. "Well, I can't speak of any pranks, but as far as I can tell, you've raised an exceptional young man, ma'am," Ellie replied.
Alice listened with a soft smile, tears streaming down her face as she heard about the boy she and her husband had raised. Ellie quickly moved to comfort her.
"I'm sorry, it's just..." Alice sobbed, struggling to regain her composure in front of a stranger.
Ellie held her tightly, experiencing a mix of emotions. While Alice bore some resemblance to her mother, she was entirely different. Alice's tears were raw and human, evoking a warmth Ellie had never felt in her mother. Her mother refused to display emotions or even discuss Ellie's father.
"It's okay, Alice. It's okay to cry." Ellie whispered, fighting back her own tears. Ellie shared how her mother had also experienced the loss of her father when Ellie was born. However, unlike Alice, her mother never displayed any emotion about it.
Meanwhile, Cesar and Jin were in Al's room, discussing the time it had taken to drive from the 15th Blood Ring to Al's home. Cesar explained how they should ditch the car and travel on foot, confident they could travel much faster.
On the other hand, Jin disagreed, pointing out the vast difference in speed between a car and even the fastest animal.
Al interrupted the two, "Actually, I think Cesar might have a point. Maybe we should start traveling without cars."
Cesar's suspicions about Al's intentions grew stronger despite Al agreeing. He was convinced that Al was planning to leave them. Filled with anger, Cesar pointed at Al and shouted, "This asshole is planning on leaving us too!"
Al, trying to calm Cesar, replied jokingly, "Hey, remember you're in this 'asshole's' home, so cool it! And besides, I haven't decided yet, so don't go deciding for me."
"So, it is true you are thinking about leaving us." Jin said, sounding disappointed, Al groaned before saying "For two guys you sure sound like whiny girls."
The night quickly passed. In the morning, Ellie and Alice had prepared breakfast for the group. After eating, they accompanied Alice to Sunday morning mass, where Al's grandparents eagerly awaited their arrival.
As they entered the temple grounds, someone covered Al's eyes from behind, and a familiar woman's voice asked, "Guess who?" Al immediately guessed, "Kesha!" His smile widened with surprise, as he hadn't expected to see her here.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming home yesterday? I've been trying to stay in contact, but you make it difficult. Anyways, who are they?" Kesha pointed towards the three people beside Al.
Al quickly responded, "Oh, them? I met them on the church trip I went on. We decided to meet up after discovering we all play the same online RPG game."
Kesha seemed skeptical and turned her attention to Ellie, who was noticeably shorter than her. "So, you play online games with a bunch of guys?" Kesha asked, staring at Ellie, who met her gaze without hesitation and replied, "Well, these guys all suck, but yeah. Why?"
"That's awesome! I used to spar with a group of guys. There was this one loser I always beat the crap out of until he stopped showing up." Kesha gestured towards Al.
Ellie turned around, pulled the group closer, and whispered, "Guys, we should consider adding another player to our online team if you catch my drift."
Al was the first to respond, a touch of disbelief in his voice. "Are you crazy? Kesha's Will hasn't even awakened, and we have no idea if it ever will. Plus, I've known Kesha forever and can't bear the guilt if something bad happens to her because of me."
Listening to Al's words, Cesar interjected, "I agree with Ellie. We should consider adding two more members, but Al makes a valid point. We can't recklessly endanger people's lives. If we're recruiting, it's best that they already have an awakened Will."
All the while, Kesha's annoyance grew with their hushed conversation. "I can hear you whispering my name, you know," she snapped, clearly irritated.
All eyes turned to her, and Al, at the forefront, calmed Kesha down. "Let's just head inside the church. Tell me what's new at the old boxing gym."
Al sat with his family while Ellie, Jin, and Cesar sat beside Kesha.
"Nothing seems to have changed," Al thought, observing the surroundings as they prepared to welcome the father.
Suddenly, a group of heavily armed personnel entered the room, their rifles adorned with crosses at the end. Al's shock grew when the crowd erupted in wild cheers as the father entered. The whole scene felt surreal.
Al turned to his mother and asked, "Is this normal?" She nodded enthusiastically, clasping her hands together to pray. Al then glanced at Cesar and the others with Kesha; they appeared at ease.
"She must have explained the situation to them," Al speculated, keeping his eyes fixed on the father as he slowly approached the podium. "My children, please take a seat. I assure you that no Devil will ever enter this house of worship," the father declared, quieting the entire room.
Everyone, including Al, took their seats. "I'm curious to hear this church's explanation for what's been happening in the world."
Thirty minutes into the sermon, the father's voice transformed from gentle to a thunderous shout. "It is the wrath of God, striking down the depraved and Godless! Think of every tragedy, from gruesome crimes after the rapture of the righteous—all of them have been godless heathens!"
Al's blood boiled as he heard the father's booming words. What kind of God would take his father and leave him alone with his mother? Yet, when he looked at his mother, she wept and prayed, nodding fervently.
Al then turned to his grandparents, who listened to the sermon with unwavering faith in their eyes. Now, he understood how those two individuals seemed unfazed when their son, his father, had vanished.
"This is God's message to the world, proclaiming the end of man's time. Surrender your body, mind, and spirit to our Eternal Creator now and forever!" As the father uttered these words, he retrieved the container for the Eucharist.
Before opening it, he instructed everyone to kneel and pray with their heads down. Al slowly raised his head, pretending to join in prayer, and what he witnessed made him want to hide under the benches. It was blinding—a radiant light emanating from the container, revealing a 20-meter lion's head absorbing the faint glimmers of light emitted by the congregation.
The container swallowed the light in less than a second, including the lion's head. Suddenly, a cry pierced the air near Kesha's location. When Al turned to see what had happened, everyone around him rose to partake in the Eucharist, obstructing his view.
The remainder of the mass proceeded without any further paranormal occurrences. As the father concluded his final words, Al swiftly approached the rest of the group.
Acting friendly, Al exclaimed, "What a beautiful mass, right, Kesha? Shall we step outside and discuss it?" Glancing at the rest of the group, he noticed Cesar struggling to stand.
Once they were outside, Cesar's condition took a sudden turn for the worse. His face turned pale, and he began sweating profusely, struggling to catch his breath. "I just need some air and water, please," Cesar uttered.
Kesha hurriedly ran off to fetch a cup of water while Cesar, with the assistance of Ellie and Jin, pulled everyone in closer to avoid drawing attention.
"I felt my A.R.C shut down, and my Will violently ripped away from me the moment I started praying. Even now, I'm finding it difficult to perform any breathing exercise," Cesar explained, his words laden with shock.
Al, equally stunned, turned to Jin and Ellie. "Wait, neither of you saw the enormous lion head made of light?" Cesar and Ellie looked at him with confusion while Jin, who had remained oddly quiet throughout, flinched at the mention of a lion.
"I-I-I thought it was just a figment of my imagination. When I saw it, I sensed an overwhelming power, a beckoning and a promise. Then, I felt my Will yearning to leave my body, and that's when I forced myself to look away. I think Cesar was harmed because, unlike me, he prayed. Whatever that was isn't here to help anyone. We are way outmatched here. We should leave and report this to the 15th Blood Ring as fast as possible," Jin spoke with a gravity that struck every one present except Al.