Elemental Cats

"You- Do you really wish to become the Blood Ancestor's Inheritor?"

Red Hook was a little upset that she didn't get any more compliments for being so lucky to have gotten the Bloodletter. She turned to the Blood Demon kneeling on the floor with a skeptical gaze.

"What do you mean?"

"The Blood Ancestor is the founder of the Tribe of Blood. Naturally, the best place to receive his legacy would be at the Tribe of Blood."

"Huh. Isn't it just a ploy to take the Bloodletter from me since you can't defeat me on my own?"

"No. Since you have received the Bloodletter's recognition, taking from you wouldn't do anyone any good since it's impossible to know if someone else will also be able to get it. And I would prefer not to go into too much detail until I hear your answer. But the original plan with this whole debacle was to find the Blood Ancestor's legacy or inheritance and bring it back to the Tribe to find a suitable Inheritor from any of the different factions."

"That's too few details. So, even if you would prefer not to, explain more."

Red Hook used the dagger to manipulate the demonic energy in the room and reinforce the cage around the Blood Demon in a threatening manner. She was still draining the orb, but that didn't interfere with the cage anymore.

The Blood Demon looked hesitant.

"Is it alright to assume that you are at least slightly interested in my proposal?"

"Don't say proposal. It sounds like marriage."

Red Hook glared at the Blood Demon and controlled the cage so that it shrank and began restraining the Blood Demon's movements.

The Blood Demon gulped and realized that he should just talk and try to save his life instead of wasting time.

"Ahem. I told you the Blood Ancestor was betrayed, right?"

"Yeah."

"Relatively recently, the Tribe of Blood got some information that the last location the Blood Ancestor went to before or when he died was this Dragonglass Mortal Realm."

"'Huh?!'"

Toz and Red Hook were both shocked at the Blood Demon's words.

"Do you mean there are multiple Mortal Realms?"

The Blood Demon looked at Toz in surprise.

"Of course. Anyways, the Tribe of Blood's wish has always been to find the last traces of the Blood Ancestor and, if possible, revive his legacy. And if necessary, choose a suitable Inheritor from amongst the younger generations.

"But now that you have already appeared and received the Bloodletter's recognition, you're already the Blood Ancestor's Inheritor in the eyes of most of the Tribe of Blood. Of course, some will try to kill you and take the dagger for themselves since becoming the Blood Ancestor's Inheritor is the first step to taking over the Tribe of Blood."

"Wouldn't most want to kill me, though? This thing is pretty great, after all."

"Well, as I said before, there are multiple factions within the Tribe of Blood. The faction I'm with, as you might have noticed, is more favorable to demons than humans."

"No shit."

"But there are multiple other factions who care more about one's abilities rather than race. As long as you can use blood magic or something close enough, you're more than welcome. And if you excel at it, even better. Granted, not all of them are as invested in finding the Blood Ancestor's legacy and Inherhitor as my faction, but they will at least not try to kill you at any given opportunity."

"So? You just said that you're in the faction that will kill me as soon as they can. You're not making a good impression here."

Red Hook shrunk the cage a little more.

"T-that's understandable. But look at it like this. I Either suck it up and guide you to the Tribe of Blood so that you can become the Blood Ancestor's Inheritor. Or I remain stubborn and die. You go on with your life and go to the Transcendent Realm until it comes out that you have Bloodletter and get assassins after you."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I am merely stating facts. You might be powerful. But that's only within the Mortal Realm, where outside transcendents can't act and where there are no aspects. Someone at the transcendent level is only bottom feed in the Transcendent Realm. Without the Tribe of Blood backing you, it will be impossible for you to live long enough to become the second Blood Ancestor."

"..."

"Well, as long as you play it safer than safe and be so cautious you don't meet anyone that can tell what the Bloodletter is, you could stay alive. Though it might be better not to use Bloodletter at all."

Red Hook sank into deep thought, but the Blood Demon didn't push her for an answer and waited patiently, despite the discomfort of the cage.

"Oi, Pirate King. Don't make a decision now. Kahglia is apparently the daughter of some bigshot in the Transcendent Realm. Let's ask her what she thinks."

"Really? Okay."

The furrow in Red Hook's brows disappeared as if it was never there. She put the matter of joining the Tribe of Blood aside and focused on draining the last of the blood attribute demonic energy in the orb hovering in the middle of the room. But the cage around the Blood Demon remained unaffected, even when all the demonic energy in the room had been drained.

"That should be all, right?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here and find Kahglia."

Toz stretched his arms as he, the cats, and Red Hook walked out of the room. Red Hook carried the Blood Demon inside the cage with magic.

When they left, Toz and the cats threw some magic at it to destroy everything and make sure that there is nothing left to cause trouble in the future. Not that there should be anything since the Tribe of Blood's objective has already been cleared.

However, the Blood Fiend still had some demonic energy left since Red Hook had only drained the energy of the ritual.