Bloody Odyssey

Chapter 96 96: Blood God.

Dax lay in the center of a massive crater, eyes shut.

Half his body was exposed — black bones gleaming beneath the moonlight where flesh had been torn away by the god's blast. His breathing was shallow. His heart beat slow and labored.

Master!

Inerous's voice cut through the haze of pain, tense and urgent.

He's preparing another one.

She could sense the massive energy fluctuations gathering above — the Blood God drawing power from somewhere deep and terrible. And beneath that power, the sickening loss of life spreading through the city like a plague.

For the first time, Inerous sounded truly uncertain.

In a blink, another beam blasted toward the crater — traveling with destructive glory, tearing through the air and leaving nothing but heat and pressure in its wake.

Dax's eyes snapped open.

Like he was possessed.

He moved faster than sound. Cil manifested in his palm, the blade singing with hunger as it awoke. He was already moving before the beam reached him — dodging, weaving, cutting through the night like a madman.

One by one, bolts of blood followed him.

They curved through the air like living serpents, relentlessly tracking his every movement. Yet Dax was everywhere at once — a blur of motion, blade flashing as he cut down the attacks mid-flight.

He gazed upward through the sky.

His eyes locked onto the distant figure of the Blood God — veiled in crimson terror.

He's not physically here… and he can do this much?

A wild, exhilarated smile spread across Dax's face despite the intensity of the battlefield. Truly the peak of life.

He's not like Sterion, who hasn't shown himself yet.

"It's an honor," Dax whispered, voice filled with dark delight.

Master, calm down! Inerous urged, her tone sharp. This is not a specimen. This is a god. This is definitely not even half of what he can do.

Those dangerous beams are created from the lives of many in the city. If you continue fighting out here, the deaths will demonize both you and the entire Godfall clan.

Dax's jaw tightened.

"How annoying."

In the past, this wouldn't have been a problem. He would have welcomed the destruction and embraced the chaos as fuel.

But I will not run.

If I will cut you up one day… today will be the first step.

His breathing slowed. From the back of his head, a terrifying sensation sprang forth — an intensity that shattered the already devastated earth beneath him.

City Hall

Men in prominent attire rushed through the halls in panic. Voices overlapped in chaos. Orders were given and immediately ignored.

"Mages, set up the city barrier!" A sturdy, refined young man commanded through the commotion. He was fearless — the kind of man who had never truly known defeat. "Do not hesitate! This is the only way to minimize casualties!"

On the city lord's seat, Maya sat frozen.

The woman whose spirit beast had been killed by Dax.

"Why is all this happening?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Why… this place?"

Regret and hatred consumed her entirely.

On the arrival of those white-haired demons… we should have done something.

"City Lord!"

An old man, bent by the weight of time and leaning heavily on a cane with servants supporting him, walked through the open path.

"Maya," the old man called, but she remained lost in thought.

"Maya!" He yelled.

"Maya, you need to get a grip."

The old man spoke with the familiarity of someone who had advised past city lords for decades. His eyes, however, were always calculating.

Just then, screams from the city echoed loudly enough to reach the mansion.

"Dear Goddess Erona — Goddess of Water, who protects the body of the sky — protect your people once again through this deadly night."

Maya knelt before the gathered officials. Her body began to glow with radiant light as others bowed their heads. Some wept. Some simply stared in awe.

A brilliant pillar of light rose toward the sky, stunning everyone present. The mages who had been trying to set up the barrier froze, forgetting their duties entirely.

Just then, two figures manifested to protect her.

Byako — the man with dual blades — stood to her right, hands resting on his hilts.

Elia — Maya's most trusted and coldest ally — stood to her left, her eyes fixed on the old advisor with clear hostility.

"You old bastard," Elia spat. "You don't want to die so much that you forced her hand."

"Corrupt pig."

The old man's expression remained unchanged. He had lived too long to be moved by insults.

"It saddens me, Elia." He leaned on his cane. "But this is the only way to save everyone."

"I swear… you all will regret this one day."

Rage burned in Elia's eyes, but Byako remained silent beside her, his gaze never leaving the old man's throat.

Hahahahaha.

A madman ran through the ruined city without restraint.

His hand had fused into the shape of a sword — flesh merged with metal, bone protruding from the knuckles. The familiar face of his brother Mike was etched onto his arm, surrounded by the faces of many others. Victims. Offerings. Art.

He was soaked in blood. His black hair danced wildly with his movements.

But in one moment, he felt death brush past him.

He looked behind but saw nothing. Yet something had definitely seen him.

That was Dax's killing intent — and Madeka had felt it too.

He released him?

She smiled darkly. "I'm coming, my love."

The madman — Kakarai — continued racing forward until he saw the image of a half-headless corpse moving as if alive.

"Vos!"

His voice carried pure elation as he cut with unnatural speed. The corpse blocked. The floor beneath them cracked violently.

"Hee!"

Kakarai's eyes widened in maddened happiness.

"Kakarai!"

The headless apostle recognized him more than anything else in the world.

Just then, the hand blocking the blade was sliced clean off.

Sword ki?

His eyes met the faces etched on Kakarai's arm. "I see," he cackled.

Nadia couldn't believe her eyes, but this was not impossible in her understanding. The other guards, however, were visibly shaken.

Kakarai still wore the robes of the Blood River, making him an obvious enemy to the Godfall guards. Alfonzo raised his hand like a gun and fired.

But the bullet passed through empty air.

Where did he go?

Kakarai had vanished like he never existed.

"He's not our enemy," Nadia said, turning to Alfonzo.

Just then, she felt dangerous, oppressive fluctuations behind him.

Alfonzo was already reacting.

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot and clashing metal resounded through the ruins. Kakarai's blade met the barrel of the gun inches from Alfonzo's throat. Sparks flew. Both figures held their ground.

Kakarai vanished again, appearing meters away. He shook his blade arm and pointed at Alfonzo.

"Vos."

His voice was flat, but the meaning was clear.

"He's with Dax," Nadia advised Alfonzo. "So I advise you focus on the real enemy."

"Thanks to you all… I've recovered."

The apostle stood whole in the midst of the rubble. No longer headless. No longer regenerating. He held a small child in his arms — the boy couldn't even struggle. His eyes were glassy, his small body limp like a doll.

The apostle ripped him in half.

Blood bathed his face, his chest, and his outstretched arms. He tilted his head back, mouth open, drinking deeply.

"The best…" he murmured, eyes closed in demonic savor. "Ohh, I love the blood of children."

Kakarai twitched.

"Vos."

His voice was deep — like a horror crawling up from the depths of the earth. It shook the hearts of all who heard it.

"You haven't changed, old man."