Gospel of Blood

Deep within the central castle complex of the Harcos Sanctuary.

An ancient stone door connected to the underground, leading through a rune-engraved stone tower into a vast subterranean ruin.

Deep in the ruins, a tide of monsters roared and howled, charging towards the stone tower that leads to the surface.

These monsters are pitch black, hideous, and emit an aura of darkness and corruption, unmistakably frenzied blood fiends.

Around the stone tower, bloodbornes in black robes stand solemnly, arranged in a disciplined formation.

Their bodies radiate magical power, manipulating dark red magical barriers that envelop the stone tower.

The remnants of sword techniques and magical glow flashed continuously. Clan members in armor transformed into bats or black mist at times, moved in and out of the magical barriers. Some slice through the monsters with their swords, while others shred them to pieces with magic.

Below the stone tower, the corpses of monsters have piled into small mountains, with black and red blood dyeing the ground a deep black. The rich smell of blood filled the entire ruin.

And deeper in the ruins, countless more blood fiends continue to emerge from the darkness, seemingly endless under the dim magical lights.

Suddenly, a series of frenzied roars erupted. Several monsters, far more terrifying than the others, leap out of the “tide” and charge towards the stone tower.

The outermost bloodbornes are severely injured in just one encounter with these monsters. Even the defensive barrier protecting the stone tower shook violently under their attacks, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Seeing the unstoppable monsters, the defending clan members’ expressions changed dramatically.

“Oh no! These are the Fallens nearing the strength of Blazing Sun!”

“Retreat! Strengthen the barrier!”

But just as these monsters were about to breach the stone tower, dark red radiance descended from the sky, and blood arrows pierced the ground, puncturing them one by one.

“Prophet!”

The sight of the figure above the stone tower revitalized the bloodbornes.

“What’s the situation?”

Margo, the Prophet of the Harcos Clan, asked calmly, glancing at the blood fiends in the ruins.

The bloodbornes looked at each other, saluted the Prophet Margo, and said,

“It seems that the seal of one of the duke-ranked beings has loosened, causing this disturbance.”

“We apologize for disturbing you and the other lords. We will quickly clear out the monsters.”

The Prophet shook her head.

“It’s not your fault. Even fallen bloodbornes who have lost their sanity still retain an instinct for self-preservation. It’s my removal of the legion’s main force that has made them restless.”

She then looked at the bloodborne warriors who followed her and continued.

“Blood Legion, hear my command. Those of viscount rank and above, stay in the forbidden area to maintain the seal and suppress the fallen bloodbornes. You don’t need to continue pretending to be high-ranking bloodbornes of count rank and above.”

Several count-ranked bloodbornes who had followed looked at each other with concern and said,

“Prophet, if so many ‘high-ranking bloodbornes’ leave all at once, won’t it expose our true situation at the banquet?”

The Prophet Margo said,

“I will handle the banquet. Maintaining the seal is most important. This is the task entrusted to us by Her Majesty the Queen. We must fulfill our duty until Her Majesty succeeds.”

“These past two years, their power has been growing stronger. Do not be complacent. This is for Her Majesty the Queen and for the future of our Harcos Clan.”

“Her Majesty is at the most critical moment. Once she succeeds, we can free ourselves from the curse.”

“Everyone, continue to fight. All for the future of the Bloodborne!”

“For the future of the Bloodborne!”

The bloodbornes raised their swords and spoke in unison.

……

Banquet hall of the Queen’s Palace.

Melodious music flowed gently, and elegant bloodbornes chatted and laughed.

Charlotte leaned against the VIP seat, slowly opening her eyes and gazing thoughtfully out the window.

The last bit of mental power attached to the bloodborne warriors has been severed.

But in her mind, the scenes sensed before the break still replay.

A stone tower, seals… and ruins.

Bloodbornes, monsters… and battle.

“So, beneath the Sanctuary castle complex of the Harcos Clan, high-ranking fallen bloodbornes are sealed…”

“Sigurd’s memory also mentioned that the Harcos Clan has been fighting the bloodline curse, but since he was just a palace guard, there were no detailed specifics.”

“It seems that the underground ruins are the main battleground for the Harcos Clan against the fallen bloodborne.”

“Unlike the Nez Clan, the Harcos Clan hasn’t participated in any large-scale wars on the continent, but their true state appears even weaker than the Nez Clan…”

“They seem more prone to ‘falling’, and most of their high-ranking bloodbornes seem to have already fallen.”

“The sane Harcos Clan is waging an ‘internal war’ against the fallen high-ranking bloodbornes. The barrier enveloping the Northern Grand Duchy might not just be to suppress divine power but also to delay their own fall.”

“The Harcos Clan is obviously in trouble. Considering the recent scenes and Sigurd’s memories, it’s clear they are finding it increasingly difficult to combat the fallen bloodbornes.”

“Yet even so… the Crimson Queen Rowena hasn’t intervened.”

“Is it really as the Prophet of the Harcos Clan said, that she is at the most critical stage of her ascension?”

“Or is there something wrong with her?”

Charlotte pondered, her mind raced.

“Your Majesty Charlotte, what are you thinking about? How about trying some of our Harcos Clan’s special blood wine?”

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

Charlotte returned to her senses, seeing the captain of the Harcos Clan’s palace guard, Sophia, walking over with a goblet. Cautious glances from the hall fell upon her.

Charlotte swept her gaze around, and those who looked at her quickly averted their eyes.

Though they looked away quickly, Charlotte could still sense a hint of nervousness from them.

Charlotte chuckled softly.

She looked around, and wherever her gaze fell, bloodbornes would look away. Finally, her eyes settled on Sophia, who was noticeably more tense, even showing signs of being on edge.

“Nothing, just curious about what the Prophet went to do.”

Charlotte gracefully took the goblet from Sophia and took a sip.

Sophia stiffened slightly.

Forcing a smile, she said,

“Just some internal clan affairs, some clan members who drank too much are causing trouble. It’s not a big deal.”

“Oh? Such a matter can actually alarm the Prophet?”

Charlotte appeared surprised.

“Uh… some higher-ranking individuals. Only the Prophet can handle them.”

Sophia said stiffly.

“Higher-ranking individuals, huh…”

Charlotte’s expression was inscrutable.

Seeing Charlotte’s knowing and playful expression, Sophia felt her heart sink.

She hesitated for a moment, just about to change the topic, when she heard Charlotte said,

“Lady Sophia, I come here with goodwill and an olive branch. May I know when I will truly be able to meet Her Majesty Rowena?”

Sophia’s movements paused slightly. She took a deep breath and repeated,

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty Charlotte, but Her Majesty the Queen is currently meditating deep within the palace and cannot meet with you at this time.”

“Oh? For the time being? Do you know how long this might take?”

“This is for Her Majesty to decide. When the time is right, Her Majesty will appear.”

“Appear… Lady Sophia, do you know when Her Majesty last appeared?”

“This…”

Faced with Charlotte’s gaze, which seemed to see through lies, Sophia felt immense pressure. She felt as if all her thoughts were laid bare, a pressure she had only felt once before when receiving the Queen’s blessing at her birth during the blood baptism.

All eyes in the banquet hall focused on Sophia and Charlotte. At some point, the bloodbornes’ conversations had stopped, and they silently observed the two, a tense atmosphere slowly rising.

“Hehe, Your Majesty Charlotte, it is true that Her Majesty cannot appear. If you wish to discuss cooperation with our clan, you can talk with me.”

An elderly voice interrupted Charlotte’s question, breaking the stifling atmosphere.

Sophia’s spirits lifted. She turned to see the figure re-entering the banquet hall, quietly sighing in relief, then respectfully bowed.

“Prophet…”

Seeing the Prophet’s return, the bloodbornes in the banquet hall also breathed a sigh of relief.

“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Your Majesty Charlotte.”

The Prophet apologized again to Charlotte.

Charlotte smiled.

“It’s nothing. But, Prophet, are you saying you can represent God and sign an agreement?”

The Prophet Margo paused slightly. She shook her head and earnestly said,

“I am not qualified to represent God. However, before Her Majesty went into meditation, she entrusted me with all clan affairs. If you wish to discuss cooperation with the clan, you can talk to me after the banquet, and I will report all agreements to Her Majesty for her divine judgment.”

Charlotte nodded, glanced around, and smiled.

“Very well. In that case, let’s get straight to the point. This performance-like banquet is rather dull, and I believe the warriors in this hall would prefer not to waste their time here. After all, they have more important matters to attend to.”

Hearing this, Sophia’s expression changed slightly, and the bloodbornes in the banquet hall instinctively paused, showing expressions of alertness.

Seeing Charlotte’s calm demeanor, the Prophet sighed deeply. She glanced at everyone and said,

“You all… may withdraw for now.”

The bloodbornes in the hall hesitated.

“Withdraw. Her Majesty Charlotte has already seen through your strengths and weaknesses. There is no need to waste any more time here.”

The Prophet repeated, and the bloodbornes finally started to move. They bowed to the Prophet and then gradually left.

Sophia hesitated but, under the Prophet’s commanding gaze, eventually nodded silently and followed the others out of the banquet hall.

Soon, the grand palace was left with only Charlotte and the Prophet of the Harcos Clan. The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence, broken only when Charlotte spoke first.

“Prophet, I wonder how long the Harcos Clan can maintain its current state?”

The Prophet paused. She smiled and said,

“Your Majesty Charlotte, I do not understand your meaning.”

Charlotte shook her head.

“No, you do understand.”

The Prophet frowned slightly. She was about to say something when Charlotte suddenly said,

“Seven Counts.”

The Prophet froze slightly. She looked at Charlotte, who continued with more numbers.

“Two hundred twenty-three Viscounts, five hundred forty-three Barons, and four hundred thirty-two attendants close to Baron rank… Great Prophet, am I correct?”

The Prophet’s expression became solemn. Charlotte had accurately reported the true strength of the bloodbornes who had attended the banquet.

“Your Majesty Charlotte, you are more formidable than I imagined. To see through our clan’s strength despite the barrier, it seems the God’s favor upon you is stronger than I thought.”

The Prophet sighed and smiled bitterly.

She continued.

“I admit, our Harcos Clan is facing some minor troubles, but they are not major issues.”

“Oh? Minor troubles? All high-ranking bloodbornes have fallen, the number of clear-minded clan members is dwindling, the overall strength has plummeted, the power to resist blood fiends is weakening, and even the forces entering the Myria continent can only reach the level of Viscount. This… is also a minor issue?”

Charlotte said, looking at the Prophet with golden-red eyes glimmering.

“And you… how much longer can you hold out?”

The Prophet’s expression finally changed, and the atmosphere grew tense again.

“Prophet.”

Charlotte continued.

“I can help you deal with the bloodline curse issue and purify the fallen bloodbornes’ power.”

The Prophet’s eyes narrowed. She was silent for a moment before suddenly laughing.

“Your Majesty Charlotte, you must be joking. Our high-ranking bloodbornes are only in a deep slumber. When Her Majesty’s meditation ends, they will naturally awaken…”

“I can roughly guess which God you serve, but the affairs of our Harcos Clan are not for the Holy Court to meddle in. Since you chose a different path, we have long since parted ways. Out of past friendship, we do not interfere in your conflicts with other clans, but we ask you not to extend your reach into our territory. Her Majesty’s wrath… is something you cannot withstand.”

“You have your path, and we have ours. Your so-called ‘purification’ is something we do not need. Keep it for yourselves.”