The eyes of the two guards widened after Hazor disappeared before their eyes. Both of them didn't even have time to move to look for Hazor, because in the next instant Hazor appeared behind them both.
'Impossible! The hallway must be too narrow for that!' The black haired man thought.
Hazor swung his sword quickly towards the black haired man's chest, however his attack was parried by the blond guard. As there was no time to draw his sword, the guard named Norgold had to use his own bracelets to defend his friend, which was not without cost to him. The blacksteel of Norgold's armor was pierced by Hazor's sword, and the old man's sword plunged deep into his skin.
Then Norgold used his uninjured right arm to try to grab Hazor by the neck, but the old man jerked back.
"Are you okay, Everton?" Nargold asked the black haired man.
Everton broke into a cold sweat with Hazor's speed and agility. "Y-yes, I'm fine! Thanks!"
Norgold gritted his teeth as he stared at Hazor. 'Damn, this old man is very strong, I can feel his battle experience terrifying my soul now. He turned into a totally different person after unsheathing his sword.'
The two armored knights' hands were shaking just from looking at Hazor. Deep down, they knew they didn't stand a chance.
The old man with the beard and gray hair swung his sword hard, hurling the drops of Norgold's blood that soaked it to the ground. "It's not just me you should be worried about, boys."
Norgold and Everton had just a second to think and remember the person who was with Hazor before they started to hear the calm walk behind them. They turned around and saw Luke removing the white cloak, which he used to disguise himself.
In Hazor's eyes there was calm and experience, but in Luke's eyes there was something that was above calm, there was certainty and understanding. Just looking the half-wolf straight in the eye was enough to make them feel totally invaded. The expression on Luke's face was as if he was sure of the outcome even before the swords met, as if he already knew everything about the enemy.
Also, Luke's battle aura was just as big as Hazor's, if not even bigger, putting even more pressure on the environment. This was just terrifying.
Everton and Norgold were unable to react as Luke Lange approached. Not because they didn't want to, but because their limbs just didn't move. Their minds were in a mess as they didn't know which was the best choice to go for. If they attacked Luke Lange, this would definitely be their death certificate, and if they didn't move he could still choose to kill them both.
In the end, Everton dropped to his knees on the ground, dropping his thin sword.
Norgold looked to the side, saw his companion surrendered and didn't think much more. He lowered his head and knelt as well.
As Luke approached the two, he didn't understand exactly why the two men had given up so easily when a few seconds ago they were so proud. Luke Lange looked at them simply and asked, "What happened? Won't you fight to the death with the old man? That seems to be what he wants."
Everton, Hazor and Luke definitely didn't expect this.
"What? What are you talking about, man?" Luke asked.
"Everton and I joined the Children of Sakan because we wanted to become stronger… We thought that by reaching high office we might become Corrupted someday, but when I noticed that you two are so strong without using a drop of Corruption, I decided that I want to become just like you!"
The black haired man looked at Norgold and smiled briefly, proudly. 'Generally, Norgold is someone extremely arrogant and easily influenced, but this also makes him constantly evolving, not content with his current strength. If he perceives that someone is strong, he starts to respect that person.'
The half-wolf clicked his tongue a few times, disappointed, and crossed his arms. "I can't say for the old man, but I wear something akin to corruption, something that pushes me forward, something you Melki Empire see as taboo. I use Gene Ability."
Norgold looked at Luke for a few seconds, and blinked his eyes constantly, trying to understand what those words meant.
Everton noticed the blond haired man's confusion and whispered, "He eats monster cores."
"Wehw! Isn't that a little gross?" Norgold's first reaction was a distinct look of disgust.
"In reality it is like swallowing a small stone. It sucks at first, but then you get used to it." Luke explained.
"Khum!" Hazor pretended to clear the throat in his throat. "Mr. Lange, we were in an emergency situation, weren't we? The cursed item will not find itself alone."
"Yes, you're right. Will you two want to continue with this already lost fight or would you prefer to help us?" Luke asked Norgold and Everton.
"We will go with you!" They responded in sync.
At that moment, Hazor smiled as he cleaned and illustrated the sword to put in the scabbard. This scene reminded him of a very ancient past.
Luke shrugged, because either choice would have the same end result, one would just require a little more dedication than the other. "Oh, whatever. Show the right way this time to where the Bishop and the red-haired woman are. We don't have time to waste."
"Yes sir!" Norgold and Everton exclaimed.
Luke was picking up the white cloak from the floor to pick it up again and was startled by the shouts of the two young men. "Shhh! Don't make so much noise."
"Yes sir." They whisper this time.
Norgold and Everton looked to be no more than twenty years old, but they were tall, and their well-forged armor made them look more robust. They were definitely two strong for the average Melki Empire, and could become even stronger if they ever rebelled against the custom of not ingesting Monster cores.
*
Some people usually say that human beings are religious by nature, others say that religious and philosophical thoughts were born only from the moment that humanity conquered the top of the food chain. The truth? Well, it sure isn't that simple.
Since the dawn of human development, stories are told and through them ancient values ??are passed on to future generations. All religions use this technique as a way to spread the principles that must be followed. However, when power as frightening as the feeling of believing in something falls into the wrong hands, the truth changes, the world changes, and history takes a turn that cannot be changed.
From the investigations that Luke Lange did during the last few months, he discovered many things about the Sakan Religion, including, he was sure that this was just another way for demons to try to manipulate the masses.
In a large chamber in which there was a large altar in its center, there were also three people.
One of these people had a bizarrely strange appearance, as he wore a long black cloak with hand-stitched details, a completely black robe over his chest and also an iron mask that looked more like the long ears of an elf, the small eyes of an elf, and the memorable helmet horns of the Flak Kingdom's warriors.
This person was caressing the stone altar and meanwhile asked Meredith, "Are you sure you want to proceed with the sacrificial ritual?"
The half-fox was on her feet, but the woman beside her, the one who had spied on her room the day before, was on her knees and her head down.
"The Hotelier told me that you guys were having sex a few minutes before the match. If that's really true, why sacrifice someone you've already dated? Again, the man under the mask asked.
Meredith was prepared to be asked questions like that, but she was surprised it was the Hotelier who told her. "Your doubt is fair, however, I will have to disappoint you. The relationships I had with the man were just a way to feel less guilty, I sought to reward him for his life with the best night I could dream of having."
Amara blushed a little just hearing the half-fox say that.
"Hmm… If you feel guilty about offering ONE mere human sacrifice to Sakan, maybe you should reflect on your beliefs. Sakan is endless, insatiable. The only reason we offer sacrifices for him is as a way of showing our love for him."
"Yes, you're right. I still have a lot to learn."
Suddenly, the Bishop turned toward Amara and Meredith and gasped. "Anyway, we will continue with the sacrifice. Amara, I requested the acolytes to bring the man a few minutes ago, where are they?"
"They must be about to... They've arrived." The parched-skinned woman answered, stood up and moved out of the way.
Then the iron door of the altar chamber was opened, and four men entered the room.
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