Fear and the Blood Sea's return

*Boom*

The earth beneath then cracked and shook at increasing rates. The gathered tribes all picked up their pace and ran towards the ceremony location.

" Vellomao, hurry, we need to get to the ceremonial cliff before the blood moon appears!"

Running for his life, Vellomao ran at full speed. As he got closer to the blood sea, a strange feeling started appearing.

Not putting too much attention to the strange feeling, Vellomao, following behind the others, struggling to keep up.

* Boom!*

The sounds of booms became louder, not that they were stronger than before, but they reached their destination.

They were on top of a massive black cliff. Below on the other side; was the thing that was making the noises. In the blood sea, countless creatures crashing into the cliff that hungered to devour the living being that gathered.

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

The ground was convulsing so strong that a few unlucky souls near the edge fell to hell.

The dark clouds in the sky covered the entire sky. A gust of wind came out of nowhere and blew the course clothing of Vellomao as thin crimson light rays fell on top of him.

No one could appreciate the scene as they all had their focus on something much bigger. In the middle of the sky above the sea was a crimson moon.

The hunger monsters below the cliff stopped their frenzy as they came down and swam below the surface.

" We can only conduct the ceremony of the blood god during when the blood moon appears."

A sacred ceremony is an event that occurs every few years when the blood moon appears above the blood sea.

This is the one night where the furious monsters in the sea came down; the sea was safe enough for the tribes to jump into the sea to conduct the awakening ceremony.

Many will fail to awaken; those who fail will not return out of the sea. If lucky, their spirit would combine with the blood god.

" All children and tribe members who have not awakened are now to go to the edge of the cliff and worship the blood god!"

Gulping with anticipation, Vellomao walked with Hermione and Poldi to the edge.

Gazing down at the sharp rocks and the turbulent waters, strange feelings in his heart exploded as fear conquered his body.

His legs were trembling as he had a hard time keeping himself upright.

Noticing the strange behavior of Vellomao, Hermione asked him in a concerted voice: "Vellomao, are you okay."

" Yeah... I'm just a little nervous ."

In an understanding look, she placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him some encouragement.

" Don't worry. You are not going to mess this up. Even if you don't awaken, your spirit will return to the blood god.

Looking at the encouraging smile from Hermione, he didn't have the guts to tell her that he might be afraid of heights.

Seeing this scene, Poldi, who was on the other side of Hermione, had a dangerous glow in his eyes.

"Worship the blood sea!"

" The sea that gave life to all beings. The origin, The Great Father!"

" We return to the sea during the rising blood moon!"

" We return to the god who created all life!"

" We return the blood and flesh that which have to be given to his children!"

" Today, we will return to the sea of life and be born anew!"

" Jump!"

Hearing the signal, first, it was 1, 5, then 10, then 20 people were jumping down from the cliff.

Some of the people that jumped weren't lucky enough to be able to survive the fall. With some dying from the rocks or getting eaten by the monsters.

Hermione and Poldi both jumped down without hesitation while Vellomao stuck in place.

A flashback that didn't belong to him appeared in his head. Some were about falling. Some had the whooshing sound of winds.

' Maybe I don't have to do this?!'

' I can just stay weak inside the tribe.'

' Even if I get exiled, I have a better chance of surviving than jumping to my doom.'

Turning his head back, he saw the tribe Chief and remaining tribe members that weren't participating.

' I just need to walk back.'

The Chief, noticing Vellomao, frowned and gently waved his hand.

Vellomao felt a strong force that was pushing him. The push grew stronger and stronger until he couldn't fight it anymore and getting thrown off.

" Aaahhh!"

The wind, howling in his ears. Batting his body, and the feeling of falling to his death. Vellomao a strange sensation that he had experienced this all before.

Falling into the crimson waters, Vellomao tried to swim up to the surface but felt that the distance between the surface and Vellomao expanding.

Only red covered his sight; the thick blood of the sea caused Vellomao to feel a sense of heaviness and restricted the type of movements that he could do.

No matter how hard and fast he swam, the gap was only increasing. His body became exhausted and pained as the blood in his body felt like it was trying to escape from his body.

' Please, I don't want to do this anymore!'

' Someone save me!'

As he slowed down, a strong current appeared and carried the tired body of Vellomao deeper into the bloody sea.

' There's someone here!'

Soon, he was able to see the faint figure of someone that was also getting carried along with the current.

" Wac...."

Unable to open his mouth, to warn the figure of the numerous tiny shadows approaching them.

As the shadows neared, the figure noticed them. But it was already too late due to the strength of the current and the speed of the shadows. That figure never had a chance of escaping, getting torn apart and eaten while its blood became part of the sea.

' If I die, no one would even know when or how I died.'

While Vellomao was in despair, the current continued to drag his powerless body further and further.