Vile Blood

War is my destiny and my purpose, I was born from a wandering tribe and our cry was always the same.

“Blood for Mars, bones for Ares!” I shouted alongside countless of my brothers in battle, our attack was always the most appropriate, I was the son of the warrior who led us, but that did not mean I was taken into account for his honor guard, I had to earn my place here with steel and blood, two mountains of corpses cemented my passage to the top “Blood, give your blood to Mother Mars and may her fury feed me, may your bones be given to the god of war Ares for eternity, I condemn your souls”

That life was mine and I wouldn't trade it for anything. My death, on the other hand, was disconcerting, with so many regrets, so many warriors I wanted to face in our own tribe.

The soft touch, the warmth and the figure of the woman, only increased my bewilderment, as I saw a single drop of bright red liquid fall from her finger and with that I felt myself melt like sand, I carried fear in the process, but at the same time my descent and before I knew it I was rising.

“Exceptional warriors, our war awaits us again, set out on this longed-for war.”

I saw the vessels of Blood and the white cloths of who seemed to be a woman of the Holy Faith and soon more sand warriors besieged and where before there was sand, now there was flesh, blood and then armor.

“BLOOD FOR MOTHER MARS!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, grabbing the first weapon at hand and running off in no particular direction. “BONES FOR THE GOD OF WAR ARES,” I shouted with such confidence that I don’t even remember when my throat started to hurt. When I found enemies, I pounced without a moment’s hesitation.

It didn't take me long to notice how most of them were children and teenagers, as they always called us when we faced the cursed kingdom, but more importantly, how the sand now spread around me when more warriors came to face me, I remember it very well.

“In the name of Alba, do not hesitate.”

The battle was worth telling, 12 against me, I took 4 out, left 3 more badly wounded, when the guy with the white hammer stood in front of me.

“Repent for your sins in the afterlife, alongside the darkness you serve.”

“Mother Mars will take me in her arms once more, and great Ares will grant me his fury.” In a burst of strength, I felt it and leaped at the warrior, but the hammer struck the side of my face before I realized it.

The next thing I remember was darkness, a half-consented battle, it was cloudy, I couldn't see well, but as I felt the attacks I responded, I wanted to see who I was facing, to call out the name of Mother Mars and my god Ares, but my mouth didn't work, I remember three daggers and then nothing, my strength abandoned me and there I asked myself if asking for the fury of my god was not allowed to me for having failed twice and in that endless void I knew, this was the destiny of the defeated, mine, of my enemies, of the countless of my tribe.

I meditated for so long that I didn't remember it, when I finally felt it, my skin was reborn, while again the red drop fell into my mouth and my strength was renewed.

“Blood for Mars, bones for Ares,” a woman exclaimed.

As I charged at our enemies, their black clothes easily gave them away, but I had seen them before; they were the same ones responsible for my first death.

“The last one, we have to get rid of him soon.”

"Wait".

I didn't know what the approaching girl wanted, but I didn't give it much thought as I grabbed the first weapon in front of me and prepared for war. "Before I decide to attack, I introduce myself. My name is Fix, King of the cursed kingdom, and I would like to train you, warrior." Those words were the beginning of my rise and my victory. I remember them vividly to this day, and knowing it was a man made me feel foolish in those early days, judging only by the face and perhaps remembering the lessons better because of that very problem.

The training was hellish, warrior after warrior beat me daily and every little while I felt like I was being sent back to Mother Mars, she would come and hand me a piece of spherical metal, I would swallow it hastily, every time I ate it, my strength was renewed, my wounds healed, my own sanity returned with much more force than I wanted to admit.

"I see things have improved. He managed to take on 16 Dark Guard warriors with relative ease before being taken down by another surprise attack," the general said cheerfully.

“In time, he will undoubtedly be one of the best.”

“Boy, you’re ready for a real challenge.”

I quickly dispatched the three warriors in front of me with an axe attack and a tackle. "With great pleasure, my King, reveal my enemy and witness his fall." I repeated the same words many warriors in black spoke before me.

“Bring the grim.”

The cage opened, as I could see a scaly and feathered creature passing in front, not unlike the rhinos I saw, as I continued watching the wings formed in front and the head splitting in two and tangling together made me have expectations, because of the large row of teeth between both and the tail showing spikes and the harness that connected them.

“Take your oath and we will set you free.”

The whipping of the chains as he ran toward me made me understand why he was still alive; that strength was monstrous, a challenge worthy of Mars letting me return soon.

“BLOOD FOR MARS, BONES FOR ARES!” I screamed with all my might and the roar of the chains being released made me understand that the rest time was over. I went towards the creature without hesitation, its jaws open again intriguing me.

I slid under the right and took the axe to the side of its mouth. “Ares, grant me your wrath.” I exerted all my strength and half of its head emerged along with what seemed like half of its mouth, but the tail’s attack sent me to the side with the axe and decapitated the missing half of the creature. “Adored Mars, I offer you the blood of this vile creature, so that you may quench your thirst.” The blood washed over me and I felt the pain disappear, but at the same time I felt the creature’s charge, while I noticed the sand rise around me. “May the red sands of Mars be bathed in blood once more.”

I grabbed his shoulder to stand and ran back to the creature, feeling it hit me with all the force it could offer.

“Vile creature, you will fall before my axe.” I attacked the weak neck and finally finished, but at the same time I felt my strength fading, while I calmed my doubts.

“Young Hachi,” you are ready to go, remember our agreement.

“I will tell my brothers to come to your service if they wish.”

Life disappeared in the same process, while I felt that emptiness again and soon I saw it, the same white finger and the drop of blood crystallizing, letting me see a crimson flash and suddenly a forest again.

“Blood for Mars, Bones for Ares.” Everyone ran and fought with that cry in their mouths and blood on their hands.

I was the only one who didn't run senselessly, as I noticed corpses around and began to arrange them in a small seat, I waited, as I watched, savages, no different than animals that attack the first thing they see, while I continued collecting the corpses and waiting, when I saw a warrior in white, he attacked and I responded, but it wasn't fun, I took bones to make part of my armor, I took the white fabrics and passed the bones in between, I formed a plate with the many ribs that I managed to bone.

I didn't think about it much, while I continued hunting, if there were more of my people in the forest I would bring them to my wandering tribe and we would leave for more wars and finally a message reached my ears, Lasha, ready for war, I would not miss that event for anything, I got so many war tribes that I had a small army, a certain Abadon arrived to tell me his plans of conquest to which I joined and I offered him to be part of my warrior tribe once everything was over, although I estimate that he would not accept in the end, it did not change that it would be a fight worthy of being remembered, in addition, assaulting a city that big would bring me the favor of the gods without a doubt.