Chapter 32: Blood Unification
Lara Smith joined the Standorce and became their sixth member. Their current mission was to find the lost Djinns in Gaia.
"I'm glad you joined us, Mother," Vladimir said.
"I will not leave your side, my son," Lara replied.
Valkyrie reported that there was an unusual activity in the Valmore Cave located at the North West islands of Gaia.
"Good day, my King. I've scouted the area of the Valmore cave and sensed a blood-attuned element roaming around the cave. Maybe it's a Djinn hiding from wizards," Valkyrie reported.
"We are going to investigate that area, Valkyrie. Where is Adeath?" Vladimir asked.
"He's on his way, my King. He's keeping an eye on the Groban Volcano along with DragonKnight," Valkyrie replied.
"These Djinns would be a great help for us in preparation for the war with Thalos and Death. We just need to be patient and believe my brother would complete his training and return here in time. We should find the remaining eight Djinns. Five of them are scattered here, and they should be in good wizards' hands," Vladimir said.
"Yes, my King," Valkyrie replied.
King Vladimir gathered his alliance along with his mother and Zion. They investigated the Valmore cave and found that the one lurking there was a Blood Djinn.
"She is indeed one of my comrades who has an unbalanced gem. She is the bearer of the Exile Ruby Gem, that Ruby gem is not ordinary. Ruby gems are very rare to find, but the rarest of them all is the Exile Ruby, which is the only one left in this universe. It can create tremendous havoc to all life forms because it has the ability of amplifying blood magic twenty times than the usual. You should take her with you, King Vladimir, but it's not that easy to tame her; she is very picky when it comes to choosing her master," Zion told Vladimir.
"Thanks for the heads up, Zion. I would love to be her master; I'll do my best to tame her," Vladimir said.
"And by the way, King Vladimir, she's not the type of Djinn who follows her master easily. She is fond of giving commands; if you want to get along with her, you must treat her as your superior. Here's your gauntlet. Don't worry; she's not a warfreak type of Djinn. You can deal with her on your own," Zion warned Vladimir.
"Thanks a lot, Zion," King Vladimir replied.
"And there's one more thing... she wants to be alone, so it's better if you will go alone to tame her," Zion added.
"Okay, Zion. Just wait for me here, guys; I'm sure I can get back in no time," King Vladimir confidently said.
King Vladimir entered the Valmore cave alone and sought the Blood Djinn. Along his way, a giant centipede rushed toward him, attacking aggressively. Vladimir dodged the attack, but the centipede kept coming.
"What the?!!" Vladimir shouted.
The centipede's venomous fangs snapped mere inches from Vladimir's face, forcing him to stumble backward. He attempted to use his blood cleansing magic, but it proved ineffective against the creature.
The centipede's relentless assault left Vladimir battered and bruised. Just as he thought all was lost, the Blood Djinn appeared, taming the giant centipede with a mere glance.
The Djinn's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity as she approached Vladimir. Her gaze pierced through him, making his skin crawl.
"Are you the Blood Djinn?" Vladimir asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The Djinn didn't respond, instead choosing to circle around him, her eyes never leaving his. Vladimir felt a shiver run down his spine as she drew closer, her presence suffocating.
Suddenly, the Djinn reached out and crumpled Vladimir's heart gently, her grip like a vice. Vladimir's vision blurred as pain washed over him.
"Ugghhh!!!" Vladimir spat out blood, his voice strained. "You can take my life, but I'm not going to resist, my friend. I'm just here to talk."
The Djinn's grip tightened, and Vladimir felt his consciousness slipping. But then, she loosened her hold, her gaze lingering on his face.
"It is fine; I'm here to find you a home," Vladimir offered, his voice weak.
The Djinn stared at him, her expression unreadable. Vladimir activated his blood mode, and their eyes met in a flash of understanding.
For what felt like an eternity, they stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. The air was thick with tension, and Vladimir ...could feel the weight of the Djinn's gaze upon him. Then, in a sudden movement, the Djinn reached out and touched Vladimir's gauntlet. The Exile Ruby Gem formed at the center, surrounded by six empty holes that signified her super abilities.
"From now on, I will be your home, and you will be known as Viluz," Vladimir mentally communicated with the Djinn.
"You better be a great master, or else I'm going to rip your heart into pieces," Viluz responded, her mental voice cold and detached.
"That's a great deal, Viluz. I'll assure you of your safety inside me," King Vladimir said, feeling a sense of relief and excitement at having secured the powerful Djinn's loyalty.
As Vladimir and Viluz formed their bond, he could feel her power coursing through him. He knew that with Viluz by his side, their chances of success in the upcoming war against Thalos and Death would increase significantly.
With Viluz now a part of him, Vladimir exited the Valmore cave, ready to continue their mission to search for the rest of the lost Djinns. His team awaited him, eager to hear about his encounter with the Blood Djinn.
"Welcome back, my King," Valkyrie said, noticing the change in Vladimir's aura. "I sense a new Djinn's presence within you."
"Yes, Valkyrie. This is Viluz, the bearer of the Exile Ruby Gem," Vladimir replied, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's proceed with our mission. We have more Djinns to find."
With renewed determination, the team set off toward their next destination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.