Bloody Odyssey

All eyes were fixed on Dax as the discussion continued. The air was heavy with anticipation and unease.

The seventh elder, with his serpentine eyes that gleamed with sharp intelligence, leaned forward. His voice cut through the room like a blade.

"What is your plan against a god?" he asked, his tone direct and unyielding. "You have killed one of his own. Do you think he will mot retaliate. Do you really care about this clan?"

He paused, letting the words sink in. The room grew even quieter.

"Or did you think that we were cowards who would never retaliate?" His voice rose slightly, filled with frustration and concern. "Dax, we were born into war."

The elders all nodded in agreement with his words but the first elder and second elder said nothing. They sat in silence, their faces unreadable, their thoughts hidden behind calm exteriors.

The seventh elder continued, his tone judgmental and heavy. "There is a god on their side. You don't realize how you've doomed the entirety of the clan."

His words hung in the air, thick with worry and accusation. The pressure in the room grew. Some elders shifted uncomfortably. The weight of his concern was palpable — fear for the clan's future, anger at the risk Dax had taken, and a deep sense of responsibility for their people.

Dax smiled faintly. Thank goodness Madeka isn't here.

"What is so funny about what I'm saying?" The seventh elder smacked his hand on his seat in anger. His serpentine eyes flashed with irritation.

He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could continue, Omin cut in.

Oppression washed over the room biting through their bones like ice, overwhelming every elder present. His voice was low and commanding.

"In my presence?"

The room fell silent. The pressure made all of the elders arrange themselves properly. Even the wild 9th elder sat calm like a child, her usual rebellious energy completely subdued.

No one dared to move or speak out of turn. The air itself seemed to hold its breath under Omin's authority.

Dax remained calm, his expression unchanging. The seventh elder lowered his gaze, the anger in his eyes dimming under the weight of the patriarch's presence. The meeting continued, but the tension had shifted.

Omin's intervention had reminded everyone of the hierarchy of the clan.

"Father, please calm down."

Dax looked at his father with a soft smile, his voice gentle yet firm. He continued, acknowledging the truths in the seventh elder's words. His tone was measured, but there was no hesitation in his eyes.

"And with all arrogance, I state this clearly," Dax said, his voice carrying through the hall. "With or without the clan, I will prevail."

The words hung heavy in the air. Some elders shifted uncomfortably, their expressions a mix of shock and reluctant respect. Dax's power surged suddenly — not oppressive, but capable of shaking the minds of all present. It was a quiet force, like the calm before a storm, leaving everyone breathless.

"What?" Omin's arm transformed in reaction, producing silver scales that gleamed under the light. His eyes widened slightly, a rare crack in his usual composure.

"I am very capable," Dax's tone was very calm — in fact, abnormally so. It carried an unshakable confidence that sent a ripple through the room.

The seventh elder's serpentine eyes narrowed, but he said nothing more. The weight of Dax's words and power left the hall in stunned silence.

Suddenly, one of the elders gasped. His vision blurred. "Where is…?"

His voice was shut off by the image of something not meant to be seen — covered in crimson and stars, blending with the cosmos.

Abomination!

His eyes widened in terror. "I… I…" He stuttered, unable to speak, floating in the vast endlessness, drifting toward the entity.

On getting closer, he noticed it was no creature or entity but a hole that absorbed all. A void that swallowed light, hope, and existence itself.

Suddenly, the sound of a wailing beast echoed, shaking the cosmos. Then he snapped back to reality. His robe was completely soaked in sweat. He was clearly terrified, his hands trembling as he clutched the table for support.

Dax walked to him, lending him a hand with a smile. The elder, terrified by his sight, unknowingly gave his hand as Dax helped him up.

"You need to be more careful," Dax's voice was playful, a light contrast to the heavy atmosphere.

Then he walked to the center where his father was sitting, leaning on the chair as his hair draped over his father's shoulder.

"I will be facing the Blood God myself," Dax said, his expression serious. This stunned everyone present — even the Ancestor. The room fell into absolute silence. The weight of his words pressed down on them like an invisible mountain.

The old man turned to Dax, his voice filled with concern. "My child, consider your words." He urged while Omin stayed silent, deeply thinking.

The Ancestor told him that it was not easy to go against a god, as even the heavens would be against him.

"Hahaha." Dax laughed, the sound echoing through the hall. "The heavens have always been against me. They came to me, so I will go to them."

—-

Later that day, Dax sat beside a pond in his private courtyard. His finger was soaked in the clear water as two fish circled slowly, following the faint trail of his blood that had dripped from a small cut. The fish moved with curious grace, their scales catching the light, but they never bit. They simply followed the crimson trail, as if drawn to it by some invisible force.

Dax watched them quietly, his expression calm but distant. "Why don't you bite me?" he spoke to the fish like he was expecting an answer, his voice soft and thoughtful. The words carried a hint of loneliness, a rare moment of vulnerability in the man who had just declared war on the heavens.

Just then, he was interrupted by Inerous, who appeared beside him with her usual quiet presence. "Master, have you forgotten about the mana core you just gained?" Her voice was gentle, a reminder wrapped in care.

Dax sighed, his gaze still on the fish. "I've tried to wield this so-called mana, but it has all been a failure." His tone was filled with quiet frustration, the kind that came from repeated disappointment. "I even tried controlling it like I do telekinesis — like an extra limb. Instead, when I control it that way, it blasts out uncontrollably."

He demonstrated, pointing toward a nearby log. His palm glowed faintly with energy. Then a force followed, crashing into the log and blasting it into pieces with a sharp crack. Wood fragments scattered across the ground.

"You see?" Dax said, his voice carrying a mix of resignation and determination. "If not for my control of energy, I would have emptied my core completely."

"Master." Inerous spoke playfully, her pink eyes glowing with a hint of amusement. "We have analyzed some low-level spells and breathing techniques. You need at least these two."

Mana is just driving force.

"Why do you even bother with the basics?" Dax asked, his tone light but genuinely curious.

"You've said it all. Driving force!" Dax's voice carried a touch of amusement and resolve.

"If i can understand the essence of it. The possibilities." Dax scientific phycosis returned breifly.

"As for breathing arts… my dark gathering works perfectly, capable of swallowing heaven and earth energy."

The fish continued circling in the pond, undisturbed by the demonstration. Dax watched them for a moment longer, his mind turning over the challenges ahead.

The mana core was a new power, but mastering it felt like trying to grasp the wind.