Gospel of Blood

Northern Grand Duchy, Great Northern Forest.

A group of Northern tribesmen trudged through the snowy forest. The group, consisting of both the old and young, advanced with difficulty, leaving deep footprints in the snow.

The north wind howled, and the biting cold carried snowflakes that quickly covered their tracks. They leaned on longswords and staffs, supporting each other. Their weary figures and vigilant expressions indicated they had been on high alert for many days.

At the forefront, a more mature-looking Astrid glanced back at the snowy forest with worry in her eyes.

“Father, have they… caught up to us?”

Beside her, Balder, the leader of the Free Tribe Alliance, closed his eyes to sense their surroundings and replied.

“We should have shaken them off for now. This snowstorm is enough to completely mask our presence.”

Hearing her father’s words, Astrid sighed in relief.

She turned back, looking at the tribe members whose faces were pale from the cold, with a worried expression.

Noticing her concern, Balder sighed and said,

“Hold on a little longer. Once we cross this forest, we’ll be back in our tribe.”

“Thank this heavy snow. Though it delayed our journey, it also blocked the main road to the strait. If the Archduke plans to attack, at least he’ll have to wait until the weather improves. The tribe will have at least a month to prepare for war…”

Hearing her father’s words, Astrid fell silent.

After a long pause, she couldn’t help but ask.

“Father, was I… wrong?”

“Was it my actions at Winterfort that angered the Archduke, leading them to pursue us so relentlessly?”

Balder looked at his daughter with a complex expression and shook his head.

“No, Astrid, you did nothing wrong.”

“Being blessed by the Savior is your fortune, and it is also the fortune of our Free Tribe Alliance.”

“The Archduke’s desire to unify the faith of the North is well-known. The more fervently they pursue us, the more it proves that our Lord’s power is indeed returning.”

“They… are afraid.”

Despite Balder’s words, Astrid’s expression did not brighten.

She glanced at the dense forest behind them and sighed.

“I wonder… how is Lord Sebastian doing now.”

Balder paused briefly.

After a moment of silence, he sighed and said,

“Lord Sebastian is the emissary of Countess Castell. The Archduke shouldn’t kill him.”

“His strength has also returned to its peak. If he wants to leave, as long as a Legendary figure doesn’t intervene, no one in the North can stop him.”

Hearing her father’s words, Astrid sighed in relief.

After listening to the conversation between the father and daughter, a Northern warrior couldn’t help but ask.

“Lord Balder, I’ve heard… wasn’t the Crimson Blade, Sebastian, permanently demoted after his spiritual force field shattered?”

“Can a demoted extraordinary really return to his former glory?”

Balder shook his head.

“I’m not sure. I am not of that rank. But… Lord Sebastian might be connected to our Lord. Perhaps… he has also been blessed by our Lord.”

“But isn’t he a follower of Castell? Countess Castell is a Saintess of the Holy Court.”

Another person asked.

Balder sighed.

“Who knows? Rumors are rumors. There are even rumors that she is the heir to the throne of the Starfall Kingdom. Comparatively, I find Lord Sebastian’s words more credible. Perhaps Countess Castell also truly worships our Lord.”

“In any case, we need not think about such things. What we need to know is that our Lord may really be returning. The Archduke’s reaction proves it. Our task is to return to the tribe as soon as possible and have Astrid pray to our Lord again.”

“Only by receiving a response from our Lord can we gain the power to resist the Grand Duchy!”

After speaking, Balder looked at the falling snowflakes in the sky and sighed.

“I hope… everything goes smoothly.”

…

The story goes back to a month earlier.

Upon realizing that his daughter might have truly awakened the totem power, Balder decisively ordered a return to the tribe.

Although this sudden decision was questioned by other chiefs of the Free Tribe Alliance, the chiefs were convinced by the testimonies of the young men and women who witnessed the “miracle.”

Then… the escape began.

Just as Balder imagined, the decision of the Free Tribe Alliance chiefs to refuse the offer of allegiance was quickly met with pursuit by the Grand Duchy.

To capture these chiefs, northern Archduke Stefan II dispatched 3,000 extraordinary Isaac warriors.

Thanks to their years of adventuring and evasion skills, they managed to elude their pursuers in the dense Northern forest.

Despite this, their team faced several close calls. If not for the intervention of the emissary from Castell, the Flame Elf Sebastian, they might have been captured long ago.

Though puzzled by the help from Castell’s emissary, the reason became clear when Sebastian openly revealed his true faith to everyone.

After some discussion, Balder accepted Sebastian’s proposal to accompany them to the tribe and help them establish contact with the Lord.

However, despite the emissary’s presence, the Northern Grand Duchy did not relent in their pursuit of the delegation.

Helplessly, Sebastian persuaded the group to go ahead while he stayed behind to delay the pursuers.

Then came this rare snowstorm.

Northern snow is formidable, and the blizzard directly blocked the roads, slowing down the escape and hindering the pursuit.

However, Balder and his group didn’t know that despite Sebastian’s confident words when parting ways, his actions were not as smooth as he had hoped.

Or more accurately, the Northern Grand Duchy’s obsession with the Free Tribe Alliance exceeded even Sebastian’s expectations…

“Lord Sebastian, you have no way out. You are a follower of the Divine Queen. We do not wish to escalate the conflict, but we ask that you do not overstep our boundaries.”

“Regaining your strength was not easy. Restoring your power after a fall is a miracle in itself. I imagine… you wouldn’t want to lose your strength again for those savage tribesmen, would you?”

In the Great Northern Forest, marquis Vladimir calmly addressed Sebastian, who was surrounded by Isaac warriors.

Sebastian was not in good shape.

Though his clothes were still tidy, his face was pale, and he looked exhausted, with his aura somewhat unstable.

These were signs of overusing his spiritual force field.

However, his eyes remained bright, seemingly unconcerned about his dire state.

“Marquis, I restored my power once means I can do it again. If you wish to use the threat of losing my power to persuade me, you will fail.”

“Helping the Free Tribe Alliance is not a whim. It is the will of my Lord.”

“Marquis, the Archduke… should not want to oppose the God behind Castell, right?”

Vladimir’s expression darkened at Sebastian’s words.

After a moment, he sneered and said,

“Hmph, what God? This is the North, not the Starfall, nor Castell.”

“I don’t know which God you worship, whether the Lord or a subordinate God, or even an Evil God trying to seize the Lord’s power…”

“But this is not Yunette. Other Gods cannot extend their reach to the North!”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? So… the Archduke is truly supported by a mysterious God?”

“Let me guess… the Archduke seems close to the bloodborne’s Harcos Clan. Could it be… the God behind the Archduke is the Crimson Queen of the Harcos Clan?”

Vladimir’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He looked deeply at Sebastian and chuckled.

“Lord Sebastian, you are indeed dangerous.”

“My thoughts have changed. Though we do not wish to oppose the Divine Queen, you… know too much.”

With that, he gestured to the surrounding Isaac warriors.

“Kill him! His power is exhausted. He can no longer resist!”

Upon Vladimir’s command, the Isaac warriors raised their enchanted crossbows, glowing ominously.

Seeing the crossbows aimed at him, Sebastian smiled wryly and sighed.

He was indeed in a dire situation.

Having barely regained his power through the blessing of the True Ancestor, he found himself in this precarious position again, all because of his mission.

But…

“I am now a follower and familiar of the True Ancestor. Even if I die here, the True Ancestor should be able to recall my soul.”

“With the True Ancestor’s power… I should be able to have my body rebuilt.”

“Although… if I’m resurrected, I might become a true bloodborne.”

“Hopefully… right? The True Ancestor wouldn’t abandon me, right?”

Sebastian thought anxiously.

Few can truly be unafraid of death, and Sebastian was no exception.

However, being a God’s follower comes with certain “privileges.”

Looking at the crossbows aimed at him, Sebastian whistled, suppressing his anxiety.

Vladimir narrowed his eyes.

He raised his hand, ready to command, but at that moment, a herald’s urgent voice came from the rear of the troops.

“Marquis! Marquis! An urgent order from the Archduke! An urgent order from the Archduke!”

“His Highness orders all troops to cease action, abandon the pursuit of the Free Tribe Alliance, and terminate the mission!”

Terminate… the mission?

Both Sebastian and Vladimir were stunned.

…

Winterfort, Winter Palace.

Northern Archduke Stefan Sobieski sat high on his throne. He looked at the young woman seated on the other throne, smiling.

“I did not expect that the Divine Queen would choose the North as her first point of contact after ascending. As the Northern Archduke, I am truly honored.”

“Your Majesty Charlotte, as you wished, I have already sent a magic message to order the cessation of the pursuit.”

“Now… can we have a good talk?”