Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 54: The Astonishing Blood Cloud Technique

The blood that had been flowing from his wrist quickly coagulated and scabbed over under the influence of his fighting spirit. Darn, mustering his strength, stood amidst the pool of his own blood, reciting the wicked incantation taught by the devil Ramis with his last ounce of energy.

"Blood as the conduit, evil spirits as the medium, supreme and holy, exalted and grand, great Lord Ramis of Hell, all-powerful! Please unleash the forces of loathing, hatred, and death! Blood Cloud Technique!"

As the final word escaped Darn's lips, the once tranquil pool of blood beneath him suddenly rippled, followed by small waves, and then it began to boil. Just as Darn could no longer hold on and slowly sank to the ground, the boiling blood transformed into a cloud of crimson mist, rapidly dispersing in all directions.

Is this all it takes? His mind clouded from blood loss, Darn fought to keep his heavy eyelids open, determined to witness the consequences of his bloodletting and to see how devastating the Blood Cloud Technique would be against the orcs!

At first glance, everyone, including Darn, perceived nothing remarkable about the rapidly expanding red mist. However, when the mist's edges brushed against the first orc, an astonishing event unfolded!

Without any warning, Darn heard a muffled thud, followed by the emergence of a new cloud of blood mist in the air, originating from the first sacrifice of the Blood Cloud Technique!

The muffled sounds continued in succession, and all orcs touched by the blood mist experienced their skin distorting and swelling, veins writhing beneath the surface like worms. When the terror and agony on their faces reached a peak, they would explode, becoming new members of the murderous blood mist!

As dozens of orcs swelled in pain and ultimately burst, the remaining orcs finally reacted, emitting terrified roars and furious howls. They began to retreat, but...

But the blood mist expanded too rapidly, especially after the flesh and blood of dozens of orcs became part of it, significantly accelerating its growth!

As a gust of wind swept through, one orc, lagging behind, suddenly felt a searing sensation on his back. Before he could comprehend that he was being consumed by the blood mist, his once-clear eyes bulged out, and as blood vessels covered the surface of his eyeballs, yet another mass of flesh exploded, serving as a medium for the terrifying spell.

With the flesh of the recently exploded orc splattering in all directions, more orcs' eyes became bloodshot and bulging, triggering a chain reaction as the blood spread across the grassland.

Fear, despair, and eventual surrender spread like a terrifying plague, but before the Blood Cloud Technique, which harvested lives at an even faster and deadlier pace, not a single orc could escape, nor could any survive. Except for a few orcs who briefly shone with the light of fighting spirit and magic, the majority had no resistance and became pitiful sacrifices!

"This is an evil spell! The power of this spell... must surely come from Hell! Purification spells are ineffective! This malevolent force is too strong... That human's soul has already been tainted by that sword from Hell! Buy me some time; I must inform High Priest Sazu of what is happening here!"

Among the last group of resisting orcs, one orc shaman shouted loudly. Then, with a wave of his shaman's staff, a wave of magical energy surged forth, sending a message to the distant Asuz with his life, as the omnipresent wind element became the shaman's final hope.

Another gust of wind blew, thinning and dispersing the blood mist. As Darn's vision gradually cleared, he was astonished to find that wherever he looked, the landscape was pristine and untainted, with lush green grass and vibrant wildflowers, devoid of any gruesome or terrifying sights.

The deaths of hundreds of orcs had not stained the grassland before Darn; not even a single bone remained. All the orcs who perished under the Blood Cloud Technique had mysteriously vanished, leaving only their weapons and armor as proof of their existence in this world.

What a powerful spell! What terrifying might! Is this the power of devils? Is this the power of Hell? Darn, pale-faced, gazed at the tranquil grassland, watching the last remnants of blood mist dissipate in the wind. His body swayed, and he finally collapsed.

Having lost a significant amount of blood, Darn remained unconscious for a long time. When he finally opened his eyes again, inhaling the fresh scent unique to the grassland, he found that the dazzling, warm sunlight had been replaced by the gentle glow of the moon, casting a serene and chilly light upon him.

Uncertain of how long he had been unconscious, Darn's complexion remained pale, yet his spirit had improved considerably. The prolonged slumber had allowed him to regain some strength and instilled in him a renewed confidence in survival.

Now, there were no orcs left to threaten me. What remains is how to evade the ubiquitous orcs on the grassland and return safely to Bylins...

Suppressing his fatigue and heaviness, Darn endeavored to contemplate his journey home, deliberately ignoring the events of the day, forcing himself not to recall the eerie and terrifying scene. Although that scene had been wrought by his own hands, the thought of the countless explosions of blood mist and the orcs who had suffered and died filled him with resolve.

As long as it is not a matter of life and death, as long as there is even a sliver of choice, I will never again wield this spell. The power of Hell, the power of devils, is far too terrifying and formidable; it is not a force I should command, nor one that should exist on the continent of Elyssia!

With a long whinny, Darn turned his head after making his vow, and a warm, sticky tongue appeared in his line of sight. It was his horse, which had somehow come to his side, expressing affection in its own way. After enjoying the intimate contact with his only companion, Darn, with great effort, climbed onto the horse's back and once again set off on his journey home.

Having had an unexpected encounter with the orcs and a deeply etched experience of escape, Darn was now more cautious and careful on the road.

Every moment, as he galloped across the vast Nagrand grasslands, Darn kept his eyes wide open and his ears perked, alert to every sound around him. At the slightest hint of danger, he would swiftly change direction, seeking refuge in the vast grassland.

This cautious approach slowed Darn's journey home considerably, but in return, it allowed him to evade countless orcs on the grassland, maximizing his safety.

In this manner of stop-and-go, sometimes retreating to circumvent obstacles, time gradually passed, and Darn drew closer to the south, nearing the Kingdom of Bylins. Simultaneously, Darn's body, weakened from blood loss, began to recover little by little.

In fact, Darn's body was not only gradually healing; the rosy hue was returning to his cheeks, much to his surprise, along with a sudden and rapid increase in his fighting spirit!

Uncertain of the reason, ever since he unleashed the Blood Cloud Technique-the terrifying spell taught to him by the devil Ramis-Darn had noticed that his fighting spirit was growing rapidly each day. This growth was not due to his daily training during rest but stemmed from another reason that Darn could not quite grasp.

What could it be? What has caused my fighting spirit to rise from the fifth to the sixth tier in such a short span? Late at night, as Darn camped in a low-lying area with a broad view, difficult to detect, he felt the fighting spirit flowing through his increasingly expansive meridians and began to joyfully speculate.

Recalling the lengthy time and immense effort it took for his fighting spirit to progress from the fourth to the fifth tier, Darn understood that this sudden advancement was certainly not the result of diligent practice. As he gently stroked the sword in his hand, which had once imprisoned a devil, Darn vaguely suspected that everything must be connected to this weapon known as the Hargani Sword.