After the parade had long since ended. Fox and Sorra lead the rest to the throne room, where the king was currently having a meeting with Mara.
Mara turned around, her brow raising and a grin forming. "Well, look who it is! What's with the little Posey?"
"These are our friends. They're more of the warrior types, so they've come to assist us in this little hunt we've got going on." Fox said, crossing her arms.
Gaiho nodded, standing up. "Very well. We do need all the hands we can get." He walked down from the steps leading up to his throne.
"This cult has been shown to have a strong devotion to a being they worship called the Lord of Blood." Gaiho said, taking out a sheet of paper and revealing a symbol on it.
The symbol resembled a black Trident with its point covered in blood, and a circle surrounded the Trident, also covered in blood.
"Lord of Blood, hm?" The Mother spoke, forming in front of Vatel. "Well, at least we can be certain that it's not his physical body."
Gaiho raised a brow. "Who is this, friend of Fox and Sorra?" He asked, looking at Vatel.
"Oh, first, my name is Vatel. Second, this is The Mother of Beasts. We call her Mother for short." Vatel said, Introducing everyone else.
"I see... Well then, Mother... My name is King Gaiho, if you know anything about this 'Lord of Blood', do tell. His ways are an afront to our Goddess." Gaiho said.
The Mother (Alice) chuckled, beginning to walk around the opulent throne room. "Gods can't manifest in the mortal worlds without causing large amounts of destruction."
"So? What does this mean for the cult?" Emopa asked, tilting his head.
"Usually they don't even demand sacrifices, even if they're Sentinels. Unless they're preparing a vessel, or even an Apostle. If they are, then that's bad." Alice walked up to Emopa.
"But an Abomination or a Kagehara should be able to handle an Apostle with ease." She grinned, Vatel pulling her back slightly.
"Any idea where we could start?" Static asked, tipping his hat to the king.
"There are multiple sightings. Some around the kingdom, and even neighboring ones. Specifically in the Forest of Atu, the Nymph's Passage, Buto Sea, and the Desert of Dungeons." Gaiho said.
"Alright. Let's get going!" Mareth said, walking out with Static.
One by one they left, planning to head out to different locations. Emopa being the last to leave. However, as he stepped through the door, he felt a familiar yet hostile energy.
"Well, if it isn't another Abomination." Sam called out, a large grin plastered on her face. "Though you seem different."
Emopa turned around, raising a brow. "What're you talking about?"
Emopa got a strange feeling from her. She didn't have a shred of mana, yet he felt like if he fought her here and now, he'd die.
"Don't play coy. You're an Abomination; I'm an Abomination... a rare sight. Though I'd never expect an Abomination to side with a Sentinel." Sam giggled, The Father's voice speaking in Emopa's head.
"Emopa, leave as soon as you can... She's bad news. She has purple eyes like you. Not really a good sign."
Emopa began to back up, "Well, it was nice meeting you."
He turned around, starting to walk away. However, his wrist was grabbed, Sam giggling as she held it.
"It's rare for two Abominations to be in the same universe, let alone the same planet. Come on, let's talk. I have info on the Apostle too." Sam said, winking.
Emopa narrowed his eyes but gave in.
Sam lead him to a more secluded part of the castle. "I'm going under the alias Sam Aliva. Obviously, my last name is Abomination."
Emopa nodded, "So, what info do you have?"
"Info that could give you the possible location of the Apostle, but first I need some questions answered." Sam said, leaning against the stone wall.
"What is it?" Emopa narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you the vessel of a Sentinel, and why do you have mana? Abominations aren't supposed to have mana, unless you're an Alter." She gave Emopa a once-over.
"Purple eyes too... Interesting. Know your dad?"
"No, nor do I know my mother. So don't ask anyone about that." Emopa said, turning around.
"Sorry about that." Sam said, sighing. "Can you at least explain the mana bit?"
Emopa shook his head, prompting Sam to sigh again.
"Alright, you seem relatively new to all of this. You don't have the signature bloodlust of an Abomination either; you're not even hiding it." Sam patted his shoulder.
"Thesia, it's an abandoned town on the outskirts of this empire, south. You'll find a cathedral there. Now go; I have my own goals here I need to accomplish."
Emopa nodded. "Alright." He said, leaving.
After he left, Sam sighed and shook her head. "Well, assuming he awakens, then he might be the guy we've been hoping for."
Meanwhile, Mareth and Static were wandering the Forest of Atu. The trees were pretty sparse.
"Alright. What exactly are we supposed to be looking for?" Static asked, watching Mareth look around.
"The people, of course. Me and you are gonna kick ass and take names." Mareth began to walk toward a clearing, Static following behind him.
They came across people performing a ritual on a man that was still alive. They were chanting in some unknown language.
Mareth immediately intervened, kicking one of the cultists in the face and sending them flying back, disrupting whatever they were doing in the first place.
Before the rest could react, some of their heads were blown off by an object rapidly moving. It was Static's yoyo.
"Great, wonderful, amazing!" Static said, spinning it around and clapping his hands together, making it disappear. "You know, clearing out these guys would be easy!"
The cultist that was kicked to the side began to stand up, getting grabbed by Mareth while Static went to check on the person. "Where is the ring leader in all this?"
The cultist began to laugh. "As if I'd tell you anything!" He said, Mareth punching his face in return. "You'd be wise to answer, you know." He said, using a skill called [Verger's Authority].
The cultist's eyes widened as they began to shake uncontrollably. "O-okay! They're in the chapel!"
"Where is it?" Static asked, the disoriented man standing beside him.
"N-northwest of here, near the sea..."
"Good," Mareth said, knocking him out.
"Alright. I think Sorra and Fox went there, so we could join them." Static said, humming as he carried helped the guy walk.
"Yep." Mareth followed behind him.