Blood and Muscle Purification (1)

Outside the Apartment Complex, 10:00 AM

Ariase followed his uncle to a secluded area far from prying eyes.

Herman, now wearing a gas mask and layering on additional face masks, looked like someone gearing up for hazardous work.

Despite his odd appearance, Ariase didn't ask questions and simply obeyed, trusting his uncle's judgment.

They eventually reached the northern edge of the nearby forest park, where they found a quiet, undisturbed spot.

Herman inspected the area and nodded in approval before speaking.

"Alright, kiddo, this is it. And don't you even dare puke on me, or else you can kiss your extra allowance next month goodbye."

"Do you remember what I said earlier?"

Ariase sighed, repeating his uncle's earlier instructions in a resigned tone.

"Yeah... Don't reject the flow of mystic energy, stay calm throughout the process, and—most importantly—vomit in the opposite direction."

"Good!" Herman smirked under his layered masks.

"Now let me finish gearing up before we start. And take off your clothes. If I see a single stain of impurity in there—you'll be the one scrubbing them clean."

"Yes, yes, I got it."

Ariase rolled his eyes as he removed his morning pajamas, neatly folding his clothes and placing them at a safe distance.

As he did, he couldn't help but eye his uncle with a mix of curiosity and dread.

'Just how bad can purification be? I mean, I can just clean myself afterward...' he wondered.

Herman looked utterly ridiculous in his gas mask and surgical gown.

'He even now looks like a suspicious back-alley surgeon gearing up for an illegal operation... Where does he even get this stuff?'

Finally, Herman finished his elaborate preparations, standing there like a biohazard operative.

His voice was muffled by the masks, but Ariase caught the gist of his instructions.

"Alright, sit in a lotus position, just like earlier."

Ariase complied, settling himself on the ground as he observed his uncle intently.

Herman's spirit mark began to glow, its golden hue illuminating the air around him as he spoke a single word: [Ancestria]

The world seemed to hold its breath.

A gentle golden wind swept through the area, making the grass sway rhythmically.

Animals, drawn by the sudden shift, began to gather—birds perched on branches, stray cats and dogs forming a silent audience, as if paying homage to the divine energy manifesting before them.

From the shimmering air, golden luminescent crosses of varying sizes materialized, each one descending to the ground with a resounding thud.

They struck the earth in precise locations, forming a complex, sacred pattern.

The ground beneath them came alive, as if consecrated by the ritual.

Scarred trees began to heal, their bark smoothing and their leaves glowing with renewed life.

Even the grass turned a richer, more vibrant green, as though nature itself was rejuvenated by the divine presence.

Ariase watched in awe, his breath caught in his throat.

'Woah... This is the power of a semi-divine talent?'

The sheer magnitude of what he was witnessing left him speechless.

The golden crosses, now embedded in the earth, began to seep a radiant golden liquid that trickled down like molten sunlight.

His uncle's low, resonant chanting filled the air, weaving an atmosphere of reverence and authority.

Ariase itched to turn and look at him but refrained, remembering Herman's strict warning not to disturb the ritual or move unnecessarily.

The air grew heavy, brimming with an almost tangible golden energy.

Then, Herman opened his eyes, and they shone like twin suns, an overwhelming golden light spilling from them as he uttered another command.

[Expanse of Divine Purity]

The atmosphere shifted again, a deep, enchanting bell tolling in the distance.

It wasn't just sound—it was judgment made audible, a celestial resonance that sent shivers down Ariase's spine.

Around them, the scattered crosses began to emit radiant beams, connecting in midair to form a massive dome.

Glyphs of ancient intricate design scrawled themselves across its surface, glowing with divine mystic energy that seemed to separate this small area from the rest of the world, as if creating a sanctified space.

Within the dome, the golden liquid that had seeped from the ground defied gravity.

It rose into the air, forming countless droplets that hovered like shimmering dew.

Their enchanting aroma filled Ariase's senses, a sweet, otherworldly scent that was both soothing and invigorating.

The droplets refracted the light, casting dazzling rainbows across the enclosed space.

Herman, now fully immersed in the ritual, turned to Ariase, his voice steady but firm.

"Ready yourself, Ria. This is going to hurt—a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean excruciating."

Ariase swallowed hard, the beauty of the scene suddenly paling in the face of what was to come.

He steeled himself, trying to calm his nerves as the golden droplets began to drift closer.

His uncle sighed, his tone heavy with both worry and determination as he spoke.

"Ria, once purification begins, I can't stop it midway. No matter what happens, you must endure. There are no shortcuts in this world—none worth taking. "

"We are still mortals, bound to the pain of our existence. It is our destiny to suffer as much as we strive to live. So, use this as a foundation—a cornerstone—for you to climb higher. I endured it, and so will you. Remember, this is your life, not mine."

Herman's words carried a weight that Ariase felt in his chest.

There was more to this ritual than he'd been told—he could feel it.

He nodded, steeling himself, and thought with resolve, 'Uncle… he's right. This is my second chance, the only one I'll ever have. I better not waste it.'

'I-I'll endure this and become strong no matter what... This time, I'll see the end of my story.'

The golden droplets hovering in the air suddenly began to shift.

Their radiant beauty turned sinister as they elongated into sharp, needle-like threads.

Without warning, they shot toward Ariase's bare body, piercing his skin in countless places.

The pain was instant, sharp, and overwhelming.

"AAAHHHHH!" Ariase screamed, his voice raw and filled with anguish as the golden threads dug deeper into his flesh.

His muscles spasmed, his back arched, and his fingers clawed at the dirt beneath him.

"CCRAA—AAAH!!" he tried to curse through gritted teeth, his voice trembling.

The golden threads moved like living things, weaving through his body with precision and purpose.

Everywhere they passed, glowing lines etched themselves into his skin, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with an otherworldly light.

But to Ariase, it felt as if a molten fire was coursing through his veins.

The pain was so vivid, so painful, that he couldn't tell where one sensation ended and another began.

Herman watched his nephew's tears streaming down his face, his cries tearing at his heart.

His hands moved in complex, deliberate patterns, guiding the threads with as much care as possible

'Sigh... I thought I would enjoy this, but now I'm feeling guilty... So, Ria… endure it well. You have to...'

'Even if your soul wasn't damaged, I would have made you undergo this purification eventually. But seeing your soul in such a state… I had no choice but to resort to this method sooner than planned.'

Ariase, meanwhile, was lost in a storm of agony.

His thoughts spiraled into despair as he writhed under the relentless assault.

'Endure, my ass! Screw this! How can this hurt so much? These damn threads… they're digging so deep! They're burying themselves in my skin!'

He clenched his teeth so hard they felt like they might crack, grinding them against each wave of fiery torment.

His body burned with a searing heat, as though he were being boiled alive in scalding oil.

And then, as if the ritual had reached its breaking point, something began to change.

At first, it was a slow drip—thick, viscous, and black as night—seeping from the pores of Ariase's skin.

The sight made him panic.

'W-What the?! Is my skin melting?'

But before he could spiral further, the stench hit him—a smell so potent, so vile, that it overpowered the pain, making him forget his suffering momentarily.

The acrid, pungent smell filled his nostrils like a tidal wave, a mix of rotting garbage and raw sewage.

It was as if every revolting odor imaginable had been condensed into one unbearable assault.

The sheer intensity of it made his stomach churn violently.

'Ugh! Hurgh!' Ariase's thoughts screamed as he instinctively held his breath, his face twisted in absolute disgust.

The black liquid continued to seep out from his body, pooling around him, releasing more of its unholy stench.

He squeezed his eyes shut, his veins bulging red from the effort of holding back.

'So this is why he's dressed like a damn biohazard worker! He knew this was coming!'

His lungs burned from the lack of air, but the alternative—breathing in that stench—felt worse.

His body, however, betrayed him.

Involuntarily, he gasped and inhaled, and the smell flooded his senses like an invading army.

It was no longer just a smell—it was a vivid taste of air, a physical force that made him gag violently.

"Blargh!" The bile surged up, and Ariase doubled over, vomiting onto the ground as his entire body convulsed.

His tears mixed with the sweat pouring down his face, desperately trying to remove the taste that clung to his tongue like poison.

Herman remained focused, his hands moving in precise, practiced gestures as he chanted, the golden threads responding to his commands.

But as his nephew's retching echoed through the air, his lips began to twitch involuntarily.

'Herman, don't you… dare laugh. This is serious. Keep it together.'

'Haha… No, calm down! This is not the time for this…'

But then Ariase's miserable groan, followed by another helpless gag, nearly sent him over the edge of laughing.

His shoulders trembled slightly as he suppressed the urge to snicker.

'Sigh... I should have brought a camera for… documentation purposes,' he thought, his mouth curling into a suppressed smirk.

'This would've been a legendary shot!'