"How can you be so sure?" Daniel said with a frown.
"Don’t you remember what Black Scar said? The bodies were torn apart. And that turning into dust—it’s a signature move of the Corruption Worshipers. No doubt about it." Kayn sighed and answered seriously.
"Besides, only they can kidnap someone in the middle of a crowd and leave no trace."
"I see..." Leia muttered thoughtfully.
"So what do we do now?" Daniel looked between the two.
He even felt a slight headache—why was he getting involved in something ? He just wanted to go to the Central Plains.
Was that too much to ask?
"The more important question is—why are Corruption Worshipers even in this city?" Kayn quickly added.
"Is it possible... they kidnapped my Lady too?" Leia frowned.
"Most likely. These creatures never show up somewhere unless they’re planning to cause a disaster. They wait for the right moment... and this is the perfect chance." Kayn took a deep breath and said seriously.
The battle tournament had attracted people from all over. There were even two Divine Climbers. Causing chaos at a time —it was just like something the Corruption Worshipers would do.
"My question still stands. What do we do?" Daniel repeated.
"Damn it, I don’t know! Dealing with Corruption Worshipers isn’t part of my mission. Maybe we should go report this to the city guard captain?" Kayn said, clearly frustrated.
Even he didn’t want to get involved. Corruption Worshipers were a real headache. Wanderers stayed away from them as much as possible.
"Not a bad idea..." Daniel thought for a second and nodded slowly.
"But the problem is... would they even believe us? Believe what we say?" he then hesitated.
"And why would they kidnap my Lady and your friend in the first place?" Leia sighed.
"I don’t know. Maybe they want to use their blood for a summoning." Kayn shrugged.
"Just two people’s blood?" Leia gave him a suspicious look.
"We only know they took two. Who’s to say they didn’t take more?" Kayn’s tone turned serious.
"Damn it, so what do we do?" Leia finally echoed Daniel’s earlier question, falling silent.
"We have no way of tracking them. And besides, it’s your fault! Weren’t you supposed to be her guard? How’d you let her get taken?" Kayn snapped.
"She knocked me out and ran away from the palace! I didn’t know she was going to run—if I had, I would’ve gone with her. I would’ve never let her go alone!" Leia turned sharply, her voice rising.
"You think I’m stupid? Of course you helped her. Otherwise, how could she escape from a palace full of guards?" Kayn sneered.
Daniel looked at them both, expressionless. Without a word, he raised his hand.
A dim red light glowed between his fingers.
"Come out, Vorak," he said quietly.
A blood-colored ripple appeared on the ground, and from it, Vorak emerged and knelt.
"At your service, my lord."
"Can you find the girl, Eva?" Daniel asked, his tone serious.
"Depends how far she’s gone... but I’ll try." Vorak blinked slowly and bowed his head.
"Right now," Daniel ordered.
Vorak didn’t say anything more and started sniffing the ground like a trained bloodhound. He stepped forward, sniffed again, paused... then began moving slowly.
Daniel followed him with calm steps.
"Where are you going?" Leia and Kayn said at the same time.
But when they saw Daniel ignoring them, they exchanged a worried look and followed.
Their path took them through sewage tunnels. The sound of dripping water echoed everywhere, and the air reeked of rot. After several twists and turns, Vorak stopped in front of a large iron door that opened outward. A gentle push was all it took to make the rusted door creak open.
Outside, a cold wind was blowing. The sky was gradually darkening.
Vorak moved ahead, then suddenly gestured at Daniel to get on. Without paying attention to the others, Daniel climbed on, and Vorak began to run.
"Hey, wait!" the two shouted, running after him.
They ran for about ten minutes, passed a cracked road, and finally stopped in front of an abandoned tomb.
"Ugh, bastard, you couldn’t give a little warning?" Kayn asked, panting.
Leia didn’t say anything, but she looked annoyed too.
"What is this place?" Daniel asked, ignoring their questions.
"Just an old tomb. Some poor guy’s resting place no one remembers," Kayn replied sarcastically.
"No... This is the tomb of the founding emperor’s father," Leia stepped forward, her voice lowering.
"What?!" Daniel and Kayn said in unison.
At that moment, elsewhere, the sound of blood dripping—like the cursed ticking of a clock—filled the air.
Eva slowly opened her eyes. Her head was hanging... no, she was suspended by thick chains. The chains looped around her wrists, connected to rusted hooks embedded in the stone ceiling.
Her half-open eyes stared around. The walls were cold stone, covered with ancient carvings and dried blood stains. The red light filling the space came not from torches... but something beyond reason.
Beside her, another girl was also hanging. Pale skin, long golden hair reaching her waist. A noble-looking face, with high cheekbones, dim violet eyes, and lips trembling in pain. Her torn, expensive dress still spoke of a powerful family.
Eva could hear her ragged breathing.
"You... woke up?" the girl asked weakly.
"Who... are you?" Eva forced herself to speak.
"My name... is Lorena. Lorena de Willheart... daughter of Duke de Willheart," she said, her voice shaking.
"So... you’re a duke’s daughter? Where are we? I don’t even... Why am I here?" Eva asked, confused.
"I don’t know. I just saw them bring you here unconscious... like me, tied up ." Lorena blinked slowly.
"At last... the last heir of House Irenwald is awake." A deep, heavy voice echoed from behind them.
"Who the hell are you? How do you know who I am?" Eva twisted in her chains, shouting with rage.
How was that possible? She was sure—other than Daniel and the Church of Destiny, no one else should’ve known she was still alive.
From the darkness, a man in a long black robe stepped forward. The hem of his robe was soaked in blood. His face was hidden in shadow, but his glowing red eyes burned like hellfire.
"Seeing you... really was a miracle. I didn’t expect it, but who would’ve thought I’d be lucky enough to have the Irenwald’s heir delivered straight to me?" he said with a calm, venomous smile.
Eva frowned, grinding her teeth.
"Anyway, allow me to introduce myself. I am Azarath... one of the bishops of the Corruption Worshipers." The man took a step closer.
"Corruption Worshipers?... How dare you come here? If the royal family finds out, you’re dead!" Lorena whispered in horror.
"Girl, we’ve been planning this for decades. You think we didn’t consider that?" Azarath let out a cold, lifeless laugh.
"Decades?!" Eva said, eyes wide.
Azarath slowly turned, gazing out at the sea of blood spread before them.
"Yeah. We’ve been looking for a way into this tomb for a long time... and finally, we succeeded. We knew from the start that getting into this place wouldn’t be easy."
"This tomb?... Where are we?" Lorena asked, her voice dry and shocked.
"Well, you’re going to die anyway... so I suppose it’s fine if you hear the truth." Azarath smirked.
"This is the tomb of the father of the founder of the Elthanor Empire... or rather, the lie that man used to hide this beautiful sea of blood."