Born in Blood



The Temple of Shadow spent one week preparing immensely for the attack on the Verdant Warrior Sect.

Weapons were given out. Spells, techniques, pills of every kind.

They didn't underestimate their opponents.

Even two Elders were going to fight!

They were up against the entire Sect, including their Patriarch.

Although it was a small-sized Clan, their Patriarch was a powerful Rank 4, a master of their Sector's martial arts.

For that, Elder Verium and Elder Jane, the strongest of the Temple, were going to be there to face him.

However, it wasn't like they were fighting alone.

Elder Orisa was in charge of formations around the Sector.

Although they were isolated from the rest of the region, that didn't mean lower ranking members of the Sect couldn't contact other Clans.

Orisa's presence would ensure there was no outside interference.

No one was to be a witness to the massacre.

Not even their Spirit Beasts and younger disciples.

Orisa's Shadows were designed for that purpose, after all.

Elder Aki would forge the weapon Verium would use against the Patriarch, and Jax would inscribe it for him.

Elder Jane was there as a supporting hand, and her responsibilities were organizing the attack.

Although combining all hands and striking the Verdant Warrior Sect as five was the most ideal plan, not all of the Temple were participating in the attack.

They couldn't just leave the base vulnerable as they attempted a raid.

Some were alchemists. Others were forgemasters and inscribers. 

Their goal was to help with the raid by supplying weapons and inscribed items. 

Meanwhile, Liam was excited to the bone.

There was only one instance in his life that he saw a Zenith fight another Zenith.

It was when Liam's grandfather and Patriarch of the Royce family punched a Lava Lion Zenith once in the head.

And killed him with one attack!

What could two monsters in the fourth Rank accomplish?

Liam was just itching to find out.

Anytime he saw something in the higher Ranks, Liam's ambition and greed for strength grew to new heights. 

Like adding fuel to a flame.

Still, usually, he would never be excited for such an event. 

It was risky. 

It was dangerous. 

Death was a possibility.

Yet Liam still smiled!

'It's the Dark Star,' Liam realized, then frowned. 'It's intensifying my emotions again.'

Liam was in his quarters, in the midst of forging a special item he thought of throughout the past two months.

From the corner of his eye, Liam glanced to the left.

Eve looked back with demanding, dark, empty eyes.

"You killed me."

Liam glanced back to his item and continued forging.

"You valued power over me."

Liam continued forging, a slight scowl growing on his face.

"What kind of son are you?"

Liam's frown deepened, but he hadn't stopped forging.

"You let me die!" 

Just as his fist clenched, Eve's voice disappeared together with her presence.

Realizing she was gone, Liam let out a soft breath.

It was uncomfortable, having your dead mother talk to you and guilt trip you.

But that's exactly what happened to Liam ever since he applied his tattoos.

All he could do was ignore it.

In the meantime, Liam visited the Shifter again.

When the Octopus saw Liam arriving, it squealed again, but didn't attack like last time.

Liam smiled lightly.

He took out Rank 3 Spirit Beast meat and threw it at the cage, slowly taking a few steps forward.

The Shifter let out another loud squeal, before its tentacles curled and wrapped around the pieces of food.

In an instant, the Octopus consumed them.

Liam threw another, and another, until he had gone through three Spirit Beast corpses for the Shifter to eat.

By then, Liam was a step away from the cage, his two multi-colored eyes fixed with the Octopus' inky six.

It didn't attack, but Liam could sense that it was contemplating whether or not to.

Liam gave the Shifter a piercing glare.

"Behave. And I won't turn you into food."

The Octopus didn't understand Liam's words. 

But with its intelligence, and Liam's hostile gaze, it could deduce a vague threat.

'Now that I think about it, I haven't named it anything.'

Liam pursed his lips in thought, then gave it another piece of meat.

A few names surfaced in his mind that were too grand and didn't fit for a creature so pathetic and weak.

"Egg. A description should suit you better."

Thankfully, Egg didn't understand.

Otherwise it would have attacked Liam instantly.

///

A large group of Acolytes, Disciples and Shadows gathered outside the Temple's halls.

Flying above ground was Elder Jane. Her ebony hair fluttering with an invisible wind.

Beside her were the four other Elders.

In front of them were the small number of Shadows, with Krel in their lead.

Behind them were the Disciples, with Zeth leading them.

And behind them, were the Acolytes.

A total of 250 members.

Liam had been promoted to a Disciple after receiving his tattoos. 

He wore a tight black wrapping made from a special Spirit Beast, showing his defined muscles.

His lustrous hair was hung tightly in a bun.

Using the King's Eye, his eye colors had reverted to black.

Now that Liam had begun practicing the Ten Thousand Shadows Art, the Elders could give him special treatment.

Elder Jane already gave Liam pills bolstering his core and bodily progress.

'I'm still not at the liquid stage. I'm close, though. Maybe a week or two away.'

"I will reiterate the plan of attack," said Elder Jane, her voice reaching all. 

A large, 3D ethereal map made out of Shadow flickered in the air.

It depicted a large, jagged, cone-like mountain that stretched to a cloud-piercing height.

Atop of the mountain was a plateau, where the Verdant Warrior Sect had made their training grounds.

"You all will be split into groups, led by one Shadow each."

"Once the Isolation Formation is activated, we will move quickly by disabling the outer forces of their Sect."

"After the first wave of enemies is cleared, we will move deeper in."

"When their Patriarch comes out, Elder Verium and I will take care of him."

"Kill them all. Let none survive."