Damian returned with more black beast meat, but this time Awana intercepted it before Damien could handle the preparation.
"Thank you," Awana said with a calculated smile, extending his hand. "Let me take care of this so no mistakes occur due to your incompetence."
Damien reluctantly surrendered the meat with a resigned sigh.
"Now transform your chains into a bowl," I commanded Awana, my tone leaving no room for argument.
"But I need my legs," Awana protested, his face darkening with displeasure. "I'd rather face starvation than lose my mobility."
Damien shook his head and proceeded to transform his chains—which functioned as his prosthetic legs—into a spacious bowl for the meat.
Awana seized the vessel from Damien with swift, practiced movements that betrayed his familiarity with survival tasks.
The fire continued to burn, having diminished slightly yet maintaining adequate intensity for cooking.
With calculated precision, Awana drew his crimson blade and activated its protective aura. According to its description, the aura served dual purposes: offense and defense. He balanced the blade in one hand while gripping the bowl with the other. Extending the crimson aura, he enveloped both his hand and the bowl within its protective radius. Adjusting his technique, he positioned the bowl slightly outside while keeping his hands fully shielded by the glowing barrier. Carefully, he lowered the bowl into the flames. The metal heated quickly along with the meat inside while his hand remained unharmed within the protective field. Eventually, he withdrew it from the fire, the meat cooked to perfection.
Ray continued waiting patiently for his court heal.
Meanwhile, Lily concentrated on refining her light abilities, attempting to mold the energy within her body into tangible weapons rather than merely producing light beams or shields.
Michael observed eagerly, his stomach growling in protest. He hadn't eaten since before their selection for the trials—hours before he'd even received the letter. Hunger clawed at his insides relentlessly.
Damien, Awana, and Michael each broke off substantial portions of meat. Michael devoured his share as though he hadn't eaten in days—which was essentially true. Damien ate slowly, contemplating whether to save some meat before deciding its imminent spoilage made conservation pointless. Awana consumed his portion at a measured pace, neither rushing nor dawdling.
Ray finally opened his eyes and noticed the others eating. He approached them, wondering if food might help heal his star core.
"May I have some?" Ray asked, glancing at the group.
Awana smiled. "Certainly," he replied, tossing a generous piece toward Ray, who caught it effortlessly before sitting down to eat.
Lily remained too absorbed in her attempts to transform light into physical weapons to register any hunger.
Far away in the Blood Continent, millions of miles from the Shadow Forest with its Blood Castle, a man dangled by his hair above a pit brimming with blood.
"Blood God Iro, bless our castles as we offer this sacrifice," intoned seven cult members in crimson robes. They positioned the terrified man at the edge of the blood pit and released countless blood-draining insects upon him. The creatures feasted until nothing remained but a desiccated corpse. The insects then began to glow with a red hue as they expelled their harvest into the pit—a reservoir filled not by nature but by countless sacrifices.
The cultists dropped the man's remains and kicked them toward a meat grinder at the rear of the castle. Bones, flesh, and organs merged together until nothing recognizable remained.
The seven members approached the blood pit, bowing to their deity with reverent smiles. They lifted their heads, eyes glowing crimson, and chanted in unison: "We are your followers, we are your soldiers, we are your servants." They repeated this mantra until their ritual concluded, then rose and departed.
The blood pit lay beneath the castle, virtually underground. The cult members ascended the stairs to reach the main castle—a breathtaking structure with crimson lighting and red marble flooring, resembling a palace drenched in blood.
The seven dispersed as citizens throughout the Blood Continent cheered at the sight of the castle. Even blood beasts paused their battles with blood knights to bow before resuming their combat.
"We are your followers, we are your soldiers, and we are your servants."
Everyone except the talking beasts chanted the phrase repeatedly until the blood son descended. Soon after, they retreated to their quarters and drifted into slumber.
Ray, Michael, Damien, Lily, and Awana remained blissfully unaware of what awaited them on the blood continent. Their previous journey to the shadow continent had merely been an appetizer—a small taste of adventure compared to the main course that loomed before them. The blood continent, with its crimson skies and ancient secrets, would test not only their courage but the very bonds that held them together.