Chapter 22 - A Due Upgrade

Voices.

He heard voices again, floating the same way he did when he absorbed his first gem. The pain subsided, and he waved his arms around. Nothing about his experience changed much compared to back then.

The only thing that changed were the voices.

Still muffled, he could at least grasp some words here and there. "Violence" was thrown around a lot, as well as "sacrifice". "Blood" made its appearance sometimes, while "ability" scarcely popped in. What the context behind those words were was something he couldn't figure out, only infer.

The same visions of battlefields and sacrifices came in. This time, the figure was clearer, standing in each vision. He stood tall, his waist on the same level as an average human's head. His armor was dark and rusted, as if it came out of the workshop battered and bruised. His helmet, adorned with large horns, covered his face, blocking all view of it except his red eyes. He'd never seen this figure before, but he knew he was Fermigan, the former God of Blood.

The voices joined into one, and this time, he understood part of it. "As long as blood runs through your body, you are capable of violence and sacrifice." He frowned, wondering if these blood gems would actually turn him more violent.

As he prepared to wake up, a familiar figure swam towards him. Hemofemina? What was she doing here? He tried to speak, but no words came out. She cupped his face in her hands, bringing him closer to her.

"Good job, Peter. I know you're tired now, but there's something that you must do for your friends, no?"

He nodded. He couldn't leave the Elf alone with that figure.

"Then let me take the reins. Your consciousness may be exhausted, but I can do your work for you. That is the least I can do for your help."

He nodded again, feeling himself fading to sleep.

. . .

Taykaw stared at Peter, watching the blood gather around the gem in his body.

"What an odd fellow. Did he really think that would work?" He switched his gaze to the Elf's, who smirked confidently at him. "Interesting. Your companion decided to kill himself, and you're smiling?"

She forced the words out of her throat. "He'll come back. You'll see."

"I suppose I will. But you definitely won't." He crouched over her again, putting the dagger up to her throat. "You were certainly impressive, elf. But nobody kills me. Not without divine magic. And you've been out of all kinds of magic since the start of your service."

Just then, her blood shot through his body, forcing him up into the ceiling.

He crashed onto the floor, dazed from the sudden attack. He got up slowly, looking for whoever attacked him. In the doorway stood Peter, and to his shock, the gem and the wound disappeared, the only evidence remaining being the blood on his tunic. His previously black hair turned a light brown, and his eyes, a dark brown, turned red, shining brilliantly like a ruby. He stood confidently, ready to fight. But Taykaw knew it wasn't him. Not completely him, anyway.

"Who are you?" He asked, stepping away from Peter.

"This man's name is Peter. But he's not here right now. I am stepping in for him." He entered the cabin, matching Taykaw's pace. "I'm afraid your little journey to reviving Fermigan ends here, Taykaw."

"How did you penetrate my body? No mortal can touch it! No one!"

"How disappointing." Sensing blood near the Elf, he fetched the vial of deer blood from her pouch. "I would've hoped that one of Fermigan's dedicated servants would recognize blood magic when he sees it. I haven't been around since his death, but even I know what it looks like."

"Haven't been around since his death...?" He racked his brain for anything familiar, striking across a particular name. "No, it can't be... Hemofemina?"

Hemofemina clapped her hands. "Congratulations! You remembered my name. Want a reward?"

"But how? The Gods stripped you of all your power when they caught you!"

"Not everything. I could still see the souls of everyone who was carried over from their world into this world's. And, more importantly, I retained the ability to take a soul and reincarnate them into my domain."

"Impossible! You mean to tell me that this kid is your patron?"

"Yes, he is. He's done a wonderful job, considering his circumstances. And now that he's powered me up again, I have something I need to do for him." She uncapped the flask, swirling the blood for a bit. "I've always wanted to eradicate Fermigan's legacy. It may be impossible, but any piece of it disappearing will always benefit the world. And today, I will eradicate you."

Taykaw tried to move, but the deer blood shot out of the flask and into him. It spread throughout his entire being, contorting him from the inside. Pain. Real pain entered his mind for the first time since Formigan's defeat.

"Hurts, doesn't it? But you'll have to bear with it. It's what happens when you hide your core so well."

He willed his skeletons to attack her. They sprinted towards her, weapons in hand. She formed the Elf's blood into a needle and, in one swift motion, disabled them all.

"Your skeletons are quite weak, Taykaw. I suppose that's what happens when you focus on overwhelming numbers instead of actual, quality bodies. How the mighty have fallen, indeed."

"Be quiet!" He yelled through gasps of pain. "You can't destroy me! Not when I've spent so much time bringing my master back!"

"Oh, poor you. No mortal, not even the elves, can escape death forever. The only question remaining is how long you'll last in the underworld. Personally, I hope it takes a long, long time to tear your soul apart."

Before he could respond, the blood found his core and, after molding itself around it, crushed it.

His body twitched, then convulsed. He floated in the air, his staff disintegrating. The remaining skeletons outside collapsed, sinking back into the tar. White light burst through his robe, enveloping him whole. His physical form imploded and, after a second or two, exploded, leaving only scraps of the cloak he wore.

Hemofemina looked at her handiwork, ensuring he was no more. Then, she dusted off her clothes, and closed her eyes. "Peter?" She asked.

He responded. "Yes?"

"It's done now. Taykaw is no more. Thank you for allowing me to take care of him. Now, return to your body. There's more that needs to be done, yes?"

"Yes."

And with that, Peter's consciousness returned fully to his body.