Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1263: The Baptism

The divine weapon of darkness, Beelzebub, suddenly announced that he would commence a ritual called the Blood Baptism right after Kahn introduced it to everyone else.

This took Kahn by surprise because the word ‘blood’ indicated something ominous already.

“How long was I gone for?” asked Kahn to others.

“You’ve been gone for an hour at most.” replied Kassandra.

“Huh?”

Kahn raised an eyebrow and accepted the remark. What felt like at least 20 years he lived as Morpheus was just an hour in the world outside.

[Wait… does that mean he has at least spent close to 6000 years of real time within that sealed realm, waiting just for me?] wondered Kahn with a shock.

“Who did you meet inside that realm?” asked Vildred.

Sigh!

Kahn sighed and looked at Argos, as if asking for his approval.

The vampire king, on the other side, nodded his head while closing his eyes.

Kahn then recounted what happened inside to every minute detail.

But he did leave out the plans to kill the demon god as he couldn’t risk leaking that information, not even to all the people he trusted.

As for Argos, Kahn looked at him with a sympathetic gaze as he learned the secret behind his existence and why Morpheus went as far as erasing his existence from the new timeline.

[All of us have our duties to carry and parts to play, it seems.] spoke Kahn to himself as he looked around the people who would play the most important part in the Great War.

As they were on the way, Rathnaar spoke in Kahn’s mind.

[Be prepared, kid. I have heard of this ritual. You might see things you don’t like.]

[What do you mean?] asked Kahn.

[You serve the God of Death as his chosen Hero. There ought to be a price for it.]

That was all the former Peak Saint of Vantrea said and stopped responding.

In half an hour, Kahn and the group now stood in one of the sacred sites of the Cult of Darkborne.

This time, there were not that many followers.

Morrigan Morningstar, the High Priestess, along with all the members of the Divine Cadre of the Darkborne, waited for Kahn in this building that had a similar architect that of a cathedral.

However, Kahn now had an incredulous expression as he clenched his fist tightly as he saw what was ahead of this grand chamber that was at least 300 meters long.

“Satbi Al Sumake De Tenebris Mi Vialka!” chanted one of the priests from the Divine Cadre.

Following him, the others also continued various chants, all of them holding censors in their hands.

The smoke turned the chamber foggy while a massive statue with the sigil of the Cult of Darkborne stood tall at the end of the chamber.

It was Morrigan who led Kahn and his entourage to the centre of this massive chamber as the hymns continued.

This time, other than Morrigan, Argos and Lucian, everyone else had a shocked countenance because of what lay at the top of the ceiling of this grand chamber.

Hanged by the legs from the chains attached to the ceiling were the sacrifices.

And what were the sacrifices?… They were living people.

It consisted of hundreds of humans, beastkins, even dark elves and wraith-like creatures. All these different races, species, hailing from both genders, were clasping their hands and chanting the same religious hymns as those of the divine cadre.

“They have been waiting. Please reveal the divine weapon of darkness, my lord.” spoke Morrigan with a respectful bow.

Swoosh!

Even without Kahn’s permission, Beelzebub made a dramatic entrance as it revealed its insurmountable, deathly, and grim aura.

BOOM!!

“It’s here. The grace of God of Darkness is finally among us!” shouted one of the cardinals.

Outside of this site, the people who previously witnessed Kahn’s inauguration as the Cult Leader of the Darkborne were also watching this entire scenario.

The entirety of the Abyss Empire watched this ritual with anticipatory eyes.

“To be chosen as the great sacrifice to appease our God and mark the beginning of the new era for the Abyss Empire… I can only envy their lives.” spoke one of the chapter masters with white braids and a bear’s hide as part of his armor.

[Is this really necessary?] asked Kahn to Lucian.

[Please do not object, Cult Leader.

This is also a form of devotion. People feel like they have been chosen by their god for a monumental ritual like this that happens once in a few centuries.

We can not disgrace their sacrifice. Or it will be seen as a bad omen by the followers.] responded the Champion of the God of Darkness.

[Embrace it. And live up to their expectations.] he remarked and indicated that Kahn steeled his resolve.

Beelzebub started a few chants of his own and declared in a majestic voice…

“I! The manifestation of the God of Darkness’s power and will… grant these blessed souls a death of honor.

I shall sanctify their souls and ingrain their names in the history of the Abyss Empire as one of the greatest devotees who shall be embraced by the God of Darkness!”

His grand declaration echoed through the Abyss Empire as people knelt instantly as if they witnessed a divine intervention.

“I cannot stand this.” spoke Kahn with a low voice.

It was Morrigan who responded in a hushed tone…

“Please do not worry, my lord. They are the most vehement devotees chosen by the cult for this sacred ritual.

And there is a reason why only the divine weapon of darkness, the great Beelzebub, is needed to perform this sacred ritual every time the new Hero/Heroine of Darkness becomes the Cult Leader of the Darkbrone.

“What reason would that be?” inquired Kahn with a dejected tone.

“Because the death granted by the divine weapon of darkness also results in an instant reincarnation of the soul.” revealed Morrigan.

“What do you mean?” asked Kahn with a serious tone.

“Every time this ritual is performed, those who are to be sacrificed will enter the cycle of reincarnation and will be reborn in the Abyss Empire with a prosperous fate.

Their next life would be filled with comfort, wealth, and fulfilment.” elaborated the high priestess.

“The God of Darkness is both merciful and fair. He always treats those who sacrifice themselves in his name with love and care.” spoke Morrigan vehemently.

[So that’s his schtick! No wonder people are keen to die in his service since he is the literal God of Death who can grant them better lives after reincarnation.] concluded Kahn.

Meanwhile, Beelzebub in his War Scythe form, swung itself from afar and automatically sliced their necks off.

In a single slash, Beelzebub slit their throats without harming anything else or even cutting off their heads, all hundreds of them.

“Rgghhh!”

Some moaned, and some wailed as blood dripping from their bodies fell.

As the chanting continued, it formed a pool of blood below in a massive curved basin.

Kahn then had to take off his clothes, leaving behind only an undergarment as the divine cadre painted runes and glyphs on his body.

Finally, after all of them were dead… Morrigan stepped inside the pool of fresh blood and asked Kahn…

“Are you ready to be reborn?”