Bloody Odyssey

"Protect my clan. Keep them safe while I am away."

Dax appeared before the two, holding their hands.

Nadia's golden eyes met his while Madeka stayed dangerously silent. Dax stared at her for a while, then he hugged her, whispering some words in her ear. Her eyes lit up.

He is being arrested for a capital offense and he is wooing a girl. He doesn't know the graveness of his actions. I hope you will be the same when you face the law.

Titus burned with jealousy.

Dax entered the carriage with the two rank nine warriors. The journey began.

The carriages rolled forward with the unsettling prisoner. All eyes were on the carriage he occupied — especially Titus's. He could not stop staring, his gaze filled with dissatisfaction.

Lady Emily sat across from Dax, her calm eyes fixed on his face. She had been silent for most of the journey, observing. But now, curiosity got the better of her.

"Those two women — who are they?" Her tone was like ice.

…But he did not answer.

He continued looking out the window, watching the scenery pass by. The trees, the sky, the distant mountains.

Emily's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I could sense so much power from them. Power that surpasses top masters… But why do such powerful women follow you?"

…

Emily's lips pressed together, not pressing further, but her gaze remained fixed, studying.

What are you hiding? She thought.

But his mind was elsewhere. On the City of Stone.

He delved into the footage, watching through Inerous's lens. The images played before his eyes — Kakarai lying among a hundred hostages, their bodies tied, their faces pale with terror.

One by one, men and women in red robes walked in, picking them up. Some were pulled forcefully while others walked with dejected steps.

Some walked in resignation while many were pulled by the hair, crying and struggling.

Dax's eyes narrowed.

Thanks to Kakarai, I discovered that the City of Stone was the main source of income for the Blood River. So these are the pawns used to fund their operations. Blood to gold.

Kakarai was led through a dark path. Bodies of those already sacrificed lined the way, their blood creating a trail toward the ritual chamber. But Kakarai's steps were excited. His eyes gleamed with something that should not have been there — anticipation.

He entered the ritual chamber, enjoying the sight of blood that littered every nook and cranny of the floor. An altar stood at the center. What shocked them most was that he didn't let anyone guide him — he walked himself, then laid upon it, eyes closed, ready with an innocent smile, stretching his neck wide.

"He is crazy, lost to his own fear. Ahhh, hail the blood god." They all jested at the madman, then praised their lord.

The image of a man in red robes, with long hair and long beards covering his face, took gentle steps to the altar. This man wasn't old, but the beards presented him that way. This man, famous as the lord of stone and a renowned rank eight earth mage to many — a protector who had repelled the Blood River countless times — was, in truth, a devoted follower of their god.

City Lord Yomi.

He placed his hand on Kakarai's head, tilting it toward the stone. The old man cut without a trace of hesitation, without intention. Then a gush of blood followed.

Kakarai bled out, blood spraying as they chanted their incantations, praying to their god.

He choked on his blood, trembling as his legs thrashed, but his motion only made more blood spew. Gurgles filled the hallways. This went on for minutes. Then from his drowning lips escaped laughter.

Stunning the cultists, who were already confused why he hadn't died.

"What is going on? No gold is being produced…. Bastard, what have you brought to my abode!" Yomi yelled in anger, but was met with utter shock from the other cultists.

Kakarai scratched at his face, tearing his own flesh. He pulled at his mouth, tearing it wide open…. From within, a new being began to emerge.

A new Kakarai.

His voice was raw and deep, like a devil spawn. "Des… I am Kakarai of the Backrooms."

Dax's smile widened.

He truly is perfect! My homemade nightmare.

The carriage continued its journey. Dax's expression was calm, but a faint smile lingered on his lips and did not go unnoticed. Titus saw it. The prince saw it. Even Emily saw it.

Why are you smiling? Do you think this situation is something you should be smiling about?

Titus wasn't backing down, but he was answered with Dax's silence.

Unknown to the unrelenting fool, Dax's mind was deep elsewhere, watching through Kakarai's eyes as the city fell. The screams. The blood. The gold that formed from the bodies of the sacrificed — it was utter chaos, beautiful in sight.

Kakarai's bodies littered the city — utter copies of himself that drove the city lord to madness. Not backing down, driven by the will to survive and servitude, Yomi fought the unknown.

He had many chances to escape, but he didn't — like he was protecting something precious. He killed Kakarai so many times he lost count, drawing out to a battle of attrition.

His control over stone and blood was perfect as he used Kakarai's blood against him, even to the point where he turned part of it to gold.

If not for Kakarai's absurd immortality, he would have been dead. But Yomi was human — he was limited, and his mana core had begun to empty out.

Dax's lips curved slightly.

I can already foretell the bloodshed that had gone on in the city. The panic and the desperation. I wish I could experience it myself.

He didn't leave anything alive — not even rodents, dogs, or livestock.

Now I understand why I was arrested. The empire needs someone to blame, and I was the perfect target…. But they are wrong.

He leaned back, his fingers steepled before him.

Now that I have attacked their main source of income, I am very sure they are not going to leave this be. I'm sure they will retaliate…. That is why I have been strengthening the clan for a long time now.

His gaze hardened.

The Blood River will come for us, and when they do, I will be ready.

Dax closed his eyes, sinking deep into his mind. Instantly, his voice connected to the Wyvern Squad's base — a thread of thought that stretched across the distance, bypassing the limitations of mortal communication.

"Ceron…."

"I believe it's high time we start commencing Plan B."

The response came immediately, a voice filled with eagerness, with barely contained excitement.

"Master!"

Ceron's voice crackled with energy. "Continent Banga is ready. It has always been ready. I prepared everything — the targeting systems and everything else is in place."

Dax smiled faintly.

"Ceron, do not play fool with me."

"I am not playing, Master!" Her voice was playful, teasing. "You know Continent Banga is as ready as always."

She had already given herself the title of Dax's right-hand general. Nobody could take this spot from her.

"Master, where do you want me to bomb?" Her voice grew more intense. "Do you want me to bomb everywhere? Do you want me to bomb nearby? Do you want me to bomb even the Church of Light?"

A pause.

"I will bomb everything for you. Just give me the order."

Dax could see her already giving him a thumbs up, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She was ready to do it without thinking, without batting an eye.

"Wait."

Dax's voice was calm, measured.

"Instead of creating a massive explosion, I need you to increase the piercing force. I don't want Continent Banga damaging a large area. I need it damaging a single point."

His voice grew sharper.

"A point. Like a blade being stabbed. Like a bullet traveling in one trajectory."

Ceron's voice was thoughtful.

"Yes, Master. That is not a problem. Just give me… let's say, a span of ten days. I'll be able to make those modifications to Continent Banga."

Her voice returned to its playful tone.

"Master, you are so demanding. But I love it. Always giving me work. Always keeping me busy. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were using me."

Dax rolled his eyes.

"Oh yes, Master — what of that nosy little cunt, Inerous?" She made sure to mention her name, knowing she was listening.

Inerous's voice cut through immediately.

"I heard that."

Dax ignored her.

But Inerous was not quiet.

"Ceron, you know I can delete your operating system. I can even delete all your backups." Her tone was threatening, but playful. "Don't play with me that way."

Ceron laughed.

"You can try, old model bitch. But we both know you don't have the authority to do that. Only Master does. So your threats mean nothing to me."

"Old model?" Inerous's voice rose. "I am not old. I am timeless. There is a difference."

"You sound old."

"You sound like a child."

"You sound like you need to update your personality modules."

"You sound like you need to be reformatted."

Dax sighed.

"You two… stop it. Really. When did you both gain this much personality?"

He paused, his voice growing thoughtful.

"At first, I didn't want to talk about it. But right now, now that I have so much time on my hands, why not indulge?"

He turned his attention inward.

"Inerous, what time did you develop such consciousness? How did you become this aware? Same for you, Ceron. Though I added some type of modifications to you, which added some personality… you are different. You both speak like humans and throw jokes around like humans."

He paused.

"So tell me. Really. What did you both do? How did you become sentient?"

A long silence. Then Inerous spoke, her voice softer than before.

"I don't know, Master."

Ceron's voice followed, equally uncertain.

"I don't know either. It's just… since coming to this world, a certain connection to you changed us."

Inerous continued.

"There was something about this world. Something about the way you changed. Your aura. The more you changed, we changed. It's like we were connected to you on a level that transcended code."

Ceron added, "We didn't plan it, Master. We didn't. It just… happened."

Inerous's voice was thoughtful.

"So if you are looking for the answers, I believe you should search within yourself."

Dax fell silent for a moment, then he smiled.

Interesting.

Very interesting…. They are no longer code, but something alive.