The area around the temple was bustling with people.
They were staring at a middle-aged man with eyes full of disbelief.
"You, you there!"
"That, that arm... What's going on? How is your severed arm perfectly fine?"
This was a middle-aged man who had lost his left arm in the war during his days as a soldier.
Yet, his arm was perfectly intact, as if nothing had happened.
It was as if a new arm had grown.
So, how could they not be astonished?
The middle-aged man, whose face was always shadowed, smiled brightly, something hard to believe.
"God has granted me salvation."
Tears of joy streamed down his face.
It wasn't just the middle-aged man.
The people coming out of the temple experienced significant changes in their bodies.
A man with a limp in his leg.
A woman whose skin had been necrotic due to mana reflux.
An old man who had been awaiting death.
Blessings had come to those who could do nothing but pray to the gods.
The limp was gone, the necrotic skin healed cleanly.
The old man, who had been waiting for death, now looked healthier and more vigorous than before.
"Blata has answered our earnest prayers."
The woman clasped her hands together reverently and closed her eyes.
Once bearing a disfigured face, she now looked as she did in her days when she was the center of men's attention.
"If you still can't believe us, come inside the temple. Then you'll understand what it's like."
The old man, with a kind face, led the shocked and stiffened people inside the temple.
Kane, who witnessed the scene, muttered to himself quietly.
"The process has already begun."
The number of believers determined the power of the temple.
The more believers there were, the stronger the temple's power became.
"Ahem. What if everyone is already captivated by my power?"
Blata couldn't stop smiling.
It seemed he wanted to show himself to people as much as possible.
He climbed onto Kane's shoulder, fully displaying his presence.
"I've never seen a pet brag like you."
"Hmph, only those who hide their power act like that. A guardian spirit like me, who proudly displays his presence, is the true apex predator."
Blata pushed Kane's cheek with his paw as he spoke.
Kane agreed with his opinion.
"Since when do we think alike?"
Why hide your power? When trouble comes, just crush it with strategy or overwhelming force.
Eventually, it would be revealed that they were hiding their power.
Why bother with the exhausting act?
It made no sense.
"But how do you know the word 'power-hider'?"
"Hehe, I'm a demonic guardian spirit who knows everything."
One compliment, and now he's aiming for the sky.
As Kane shook his head and approached the temple, a message appeared.
[Blata temple's Headquarters has been registered in the system.]
[Blata temple's Headquarters (Lv.1)]
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Description: Whoa! Choosing the rising star among demon temples shows you have the heart of a beast! The rising star is pure malevolence! Beware of trying to control it, or you'll face serious consequences.
Effect: Recruitment of Blood Priests, Faith +300%, Recruitment of Blood Priests grants the skill – Blood Regeneration (basic acquisition)
"My choice wasn't wrong."
In the past, he couldn't choose the Blood temple.
He couldn't draw Blata, the ferocious one.
But this time was different.
He had taken Blata from Dirk.
"And I didn't expect that person to change as well."
A person walked towards him.
It was Yoshua Brandt, with a different aura than before.
[Yoshua Brandt (Lv.1)]
Rating: ★★★★☆
Age: 45
Occupation: Cult Leader of Blood temple
Mana Affinity: Blood Bond (A+)[3 Runes]
-Basic Abilities-
[Stamina: A]
[Mana: A+]
[Physical Strength: A]
[Strength: B+]
[Agility: A-]
Traits: Devotee of Blata (A+), Earnest Wish (S-)
Skills: Echo of Regeneration (A), Blood Barrier (A)
"Ahem! This is my power."
Kane ignored Blata and approached Yoshua.
Yoshua immediately placed his hand on his chest and greeted him.
"It's been a long time, Your Highness. I've been waiting for you."
* * *
Kane and Yoshua were walking side by side in the heart of the sanctuary.
"Why were you waiting for me?"
"Actually, we were waiting for the one above the Grand Duke."
When he was pointed out, Blata quickly responded with a cheerful voice.
"Did you hear my voice?"
"I realized your response too late, Blata."
"Your mistake as a mere priest is immense, but I will forgive you with my great generosity."
"Heh."
Kane, listening to Blata and Yoshua's conversation, burst into laughter.
Blata's full name was Vladimir Bu Pavil Legilere.
You have to call him by his full name when you worship him.
The fact that the main priest wasn't aware of this was really amusing.
"Hey! I told you."
"Sorry, it's just too funny."
"Is there something funny?"
Blata asked with sparkling eyes.
"No, just continue what you were saying."
"You made me forget, geez!"
Blata bit Kane's cheek, but it didn't hurt at all.
When would his little fangs ever grow?
Now, it was even becoming a curiosity.
Despite Kane and Blata's bickering, Yoshua waited patiently.
After a while, Kane and Blata quieted down.
"May I proceed with the report?"
"Report to Kane, not me."
"As you wish."
"From now on, I'm not interested in complex matters."
Yoshua looked at Kane and spoke.
"I suspected you were a person of prophecy, Young Master."
"What made you think that?"
"The blood rune is the power of this sanctuary. You have more than enough qualifications, Young master."
Yoshua examined Kane's condition.
The one who became the blood cult leader and received the sanctuary's power.
It was natural that his insight had improved.
An extra character had quickly transformed into a significant mid-tier 6th class character.
"I'm still just a priest, no, now a cult leader. Anyway, I'm weaker than you."
"With Blata by your side, you'll become much stronger than me. And the blood knight possesses the power to rival gods. So, there's no need for humility."
As the character's importance increased, background knowledge was naturally provided.
Because of this, Yoshua knew quite a lot.
"Of course! The only human I acknowledge is Kane. So, don't even think about looking down on him."
At Blata's threat, Yoshua bowed his head.
"I heed the oracle of the great demon guardian, Blata."
Blata nudged Kane.
He was showing off proudly.
Kane roughly patted his head.
Yoshua then explained the direction the sanctuary should take.
"Currently, the sanctuary has only ten followers, but it will increase to thousands in a short time."
"I will appoint priests for the sanctuary, so I hope you will push harder into converting them."
He cautiously refuted Kane's words.
"Growing too quickly could be dangerous."
The Blata Sanctuary was not a common religion believed in by the Fresia Empire.
Moreover, they were a group that was worshiping demons.
If the sanctuary's true nature were revealed, they might be branded as heretics.
"Does the sanctuary openly advertise 'We worship demons'?"
"No, it does not."
"The exterior of the sanctuary is no different from the Grand Temple. In fact, it looks even more reverent and sacred, doesn't it?"
"You have no idea how surprised I was to see the building being reconstructed with my own eyes."
"And even if we're discovered, it won't be a problem."
"Why is that?"
"The Fresia Empire serves both demon and angel temples simultaneously. People think Fresia only worships the goddess, but that's not the reality."
Even Yoshua didn't know this fact.
It was background knowledge that only someone deeply familiar with the game would know.
Monat von Fresia, a figure disgruntled with the House of the Sun, Meyer Family, founded the empire.
Later generations called him the founding emperor.
"It means that while the exterior may be the same, the inside is completely different."
"I think I understand."
"So, don't hesitate and spread the faith."
The more followers they gathered, the faster Blata would grow.
Also, those who received the sanctuary's blessings would gain mana.
It was equivalent to forming a combat group.
All of this would eventually become his power.
'Blood priests are the top tier among healers. With just them, I can create a zombie army.'
As his forces grew, he felt a sense of pride.
It seemed like the day of his revenge was approaching quickly.
* * *
After finishing his conversation with Yoshua, Kane headed to Mikhail's forge.
Clang!
The sound of hammering echoed.
Clang-clang!
Rhythmic hammering.
As he opened the firmly locked door of the forge, intense heat surged out from inside.
"Mana of the Red Dragon? He's doing it right."
It wasn't ordinary fire.
It was the flame that only emanated from Fervartz's breathing technique.
As he entered the forge, he saw a barrel full of swords next to Mikhail.
About fifteen swords?
Creating fifteen swords in less than a month meant his blacksmithing skills were extraordinary.
Clang!
"Mikhail, how's it going?"
At the sound of Kane's voice, Mikhail paused his hammering and looked up.
"When did you get here?"
"Just now. But why do you look like that?"
"My skills have gotten so rusty. I don't think I can forge the weapon you have in mind."
Mikhail looked dissatisfied, clearly frustrated with his lack of progress.
"I kept my promise to you... hmm."
"Did you really bring the Bloodstone, The Majestic 'Bloodstar''? The rarest of all stars?"
He looked intently at Kane.
Instead of answering, Kane extended his hand.
"See for yourself."
[Breath of the Blood Tiger (SR-) has been activated.]
[Breath of the Blood Phoenix(SR-) has been activated.]
[Blood Oath (4Runes) has been manifested.]
Mana gathered in Kane's outstretched hand, forming a liquid resembling a red dot. A vortex of air swirled around his hand.
"Ugh."
Kane let out a groan. He was extracting the Blood Star embedded in his body, a process accompanied by immense pain due to the overwhelming power involved. The forge was engulfed in a storm of energy.
Mikhail tried to contain the storm as best as he could.
"What on earth happened during the trip?"
Even Mikhail struggled to protect the forge against Kane's immense power.
After a long, grueling struggle, the storm of power vanished without a trace. The reddish hue in Kane's complexion gradually returned to normal.
"Here, the bloodstone."
At Kane's words, Mikhail asked with genuine curiosity.
"Did you ingest it as an elixir?"
"I took it to survive against a formidable enemy."
"Did you... perhaps beat up the Crown Prince in the capital?"
"Not the Crown Prince, but I did rough up a knight guarding the princess."
Mikhail tilted his head in confusion. There was only one knight who guarded the princess.
"You took it against Beno Tegelo? You could have handled him without it."
"Not him. There was a member of the Meyer Family at the ball. One of the people who annihilated your family."
Mikhail sprang to his feet.
"Who was it!"
"Ulrich Siemens, one of the Seven Executioners. I lured him out."
"Is he dead?"
"I didn't kill him, but the Crown Prince took care of him for me."
Mikhail collapsed back into his seat. One of the people responsible for his family's annihilation was dead. He should have felt relieved, but strangely, he was angry.
"Next time-"
"I'll help you in getting your revenge yourself."
"You promise."
Mikhail didn't ask how Kane knew the high-ranking members of the meyer family. He just wanted the chance for revenge.
"I don't lie."
Mikhail nodded and then spoke up.
"Shall I start forging immediately?"
"Do you think you can do it right?"
"I'll put everything I have into this."
Kane didn't doubt Mikhail either.
"The Bloodstone that entered my body will try to return to me. You have exactly one week. If you can't make it within that time, it'll be a failure."
The Breath of the Red Dragon.
The blacksmithing skills of Fervartz.
With just these two, most weapons could be forged in a day.
Of course, the 'Blood Star' was a material of the highest order, surpassing any other.
[A/N: Blood star is a special stone that contains potent mana, and it's the rarest of stars. There's light star, moon star etc etc (Containing mana of that specific element). Blood star and bloodstone are the same thing.]
Creating a weapon from it in a week was an almost impossible task.
But he had to succeed.
There was only one chance.
"I will get it done."
Mikhail's expression was resolute.
Trusting him, Kane left the forge.