Over 1,000,000 men, women and children of various backgrounds...all resurrected in a finger snap. The scenes of their deaths were still fresh in their minds. But compared to the euphoric feel of having returned from the shadow realm, that didn't count for squat.
Tears of joy streamed down the revived citizens' cheeks, and they dropped to their knees, prostrating themselves at the Red Sun, and letting its light wash away their pains and insecurities.
Even the blood Hakim had consumed filtered out of his pores, returning to their owner!
It was a miracle! Another Mystery of Mithras!
"AAAARGH!" The realization that his blood feast had been undone with three words was too much to bear. Hakim snapped at last, unleashing his Fractal Blood Field!
A torrential tide of sanguine flames coiled upwards, spiraling towards the sky as Hakim emerged from the rubble, blood-colored rays flashing in his eyes as his Fractal Blood Field spread far and wide!
This time around, the Blood Field had no flaw, powered by the divine flames Hakim had inherited from his grandfather. Worse, his Blood Potency had now surpassed the 129,600 mark, enabling him to unlock another legendary ability of the Blood Aristocracy: the Astral Blood Ring!
A scarlet halo formed above Hakim's head, coating the Huntmaster in a sheen of cosmic energies.
"I have never been so humiliated in my life. Mithras, I will have you pay for this shame...by ripping your throat apart and feasting on your heart!" Hakim pledged, and with a primal growl, lunged at Mithras—carrying his Fractal Blood Field alongside him!
The Spiritual World didn't have ten people who could resist the current Hakim. Even the mighty Embryonic Wisdom demigods of the Balmarian Aristocracy would find themselves outmatched. Yet Mithras wasn't fazed, leisurely raising his hands as his Inner Flames erupted!
Wrathful God Fire, Pyrogasmic Genesis, Blood Genesis, all erupted at once, firing upwards as they fused into an organic whole, becoming a single flame that rippled with infinite solar energies.
Hakim's every instinct went on maximum alert, his body and soul begging him to flee!
But now...it was too late!
[Solar Blood Field]
With this new flame as the foundation, Mithras unleashed his improved version of the Fractal Blood Field, blasting through Hakim's and setting him ablaze!
"AAAAAAAAARGH!"
It hurt!
It hurt like hell!
Never in Hakim's life had he faced such horrendous pain, as if the temperature could keep rising without limit! Billions of degrees! Trillions! It wouldn't stop!
Stop it please, why won't it stop?!
Hakim's soul cracked a little, his mind going numb as his Abomination took over!
[Thaumaturgic Blood Shift]
With a series of hisses and shrieks, Hakim's joints cracked, his body ballooning to 2.5 m as he morphed into a humanoid beast, with blood-colored skin, protruding ruby shards, and abnormally large fangs.
Five pairs of flesh wings sprouted from Hakim's back, and his Blood Potency...doubled!
Still, Ishtar wasn't afraid. There was no need to be. And as Akamana stared at the Solar Blood Field, she too realized...that the die was cast.
'Why do the Balmarian worship Mithras as the Sun God when he was never a God to begin with? Because he is light. Fire, sparks, lightning, light, name it, the true Mithras is the source of all light, light that later became the stars, constellations, and a variety of astral phenomena and entities.
The first handmade paradise arose from that light, filled with solar deities who worshipped Mithras as their Father, Brother, and Master!
<Sid Flame: Solar Genesis (tyrant class)>
<Destiny: Blank>
<Controlled Destiny: Great Blood Emperor (saint class)>
<Talents: Human Aphrodisiac (tyrant class) <> Wisdom of the Slithering Emperor (divine class) <> Netori Milk Fountain (divine class) <> Thunderclap (divine class) <> Born to Dominate (divine class) <> Perfect Spear (divine class) <> Priapic Dragon Bones (12/36) <> Idol of Vanity (tyrant class)>
—Status—
Hammer on his shoulder, Mithras stood over Hakim, watching him disintegrate inside the Solar Blood Field.
"Any last word?" Mithras asked, but to this...Hakim had nothing to reply.
Was this really how it ended? Was his story culminating here? It didn't look like he'd have a say in it. Might as well...death...can't be worse than life.
Understanding the message, Mithras bared his fangs, dropping on Hakim's throat!
But as Hakim closed his eyes, accepting his fate, a sanguine-red beast flew out of his soul, throwing itself at Mithras with a Fractal Blood Field!
Shapur's abomination made a desperate gamble! And it wasn't alone, soon followed by Trajan, Hadrian, Gurdenhozer and Arminius' Abominations! All flying out of Mithras' soul to launch into a suicidal charge!
All first-gen Abominations possessed complete blood mastery, with the same level in the dark arts. For that reason, except for Odoacer and Sucuria, the first gen didn't dare to embrace...much less try to tame their abominations: convinced that they'd lose their lives in both cases.
They weren't wrong, but though these five entities could individually start a world calamity, in Mithras' Solar Blood Field...they were vermin!
Mithras clenched his fists, disintegrating the Five Abominations on the spot!
"Interesting...within the Solar Blood Field, I can decimate without my fangs. Sweet." Mithras noted the perk, but as he sought Hakim's trace, he realized the Huntmaster had sneaked out with the Dark Rites already.
"Hakim, your grandfather loved you. And his brothers loved him. An iron blood bond that transcended even death.
And so, it is because of the first generation's love...that you escape with your life today. Hilarious..." Mithras couldn't help but notice the irony of the situation, shaking his head as the five abominations reformed at his feet, all prostrated in complete submission!
Mithras ignored them, walking towards Akamana, and towering above her with his imposing frame.
"Mhm...you've gotten taller. I preferred you at 1.88."
"Your opinion is irrelevant. It's all about me and how I feel about myself."
"Ouch, roughing up the sugar mommy on second meeting? Why the rage? Why the hatred?! And here I thought you missed me! At least miss my cash! My poor heart has snapped in two because of youuuu!" Akamana and Mithras went back and forth, the Grand Priestess reeling back as she faked a pained look.
Chuckles broke in the audience. Mithras, however, wasn't amused, his smile vanishing as his eyes pierced through Akamana with irresistible intensity.
"I dunno...maybe because I can see through your flames now, you know?" Mithras said, closing in on Akamana with a series of leisurely steps.
"You...you can?" With each step that Mithras took, Akamana backpedaled, shaking as she tried to put distance between them. A pointless escape, Mithras reached in, stopping Akamana's retreat and pulling her towards him.
"Yes...Manu," Mithras said...dispelling Akamana's Cruel Genesis, and revealing her true appearance.
If the trailing dark hair, flawless skin and sinful curves were no doubt marvels, it was that unique pair of lilac eyes that first caught Mithras' attention. As mysterious as mischievous. A true sight for sore eyes.
Manu's eyes!