Kami no gyakuten:The yamato hero-Chapter 28: The Ritual of Blood

Daigo followed Issey and Lavender into another room, his steps hesitant as an uneasy feeling crept over him. As they stepped inside, a pungent, metallic scent filled his nose—the unmistakable stench of blood. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene before him.

The room was covered in dried blood, smeared across the walls and pooling in the cracks of the cold stone floor. At the center lay a large, star-shaped symbol, drawn with precision, its deep red lines standing out against the dark stone. Near the symbol, there was a small circular mark, stained with fresh blood, as if it had been recently used.

But what unsettled Daigo the most was the massive, eerie doll sitting at the far end of the room. Its hollow eyes seemed to watch them, and its sinister grin sent a shiver down his spine. He instinctively took a step back.

"What the hell is this room?" Daigo demanded, his voice sharp with unease.

Issey turned to him, an amused smile playing on her lips. "This is where we perform rituals for Lord Satan."

Daigo's stomach twisted at her words. "Lord Satan?" he repeated, eyes narrowing.

Lavender and Issey both turned toward the giant, terrifying doll and bowed deeply. "He is the god of devils," they said in unison, their voices filled with reverence.

Daigo was stunned. The very idea of worshipping something so ominous made his skin crawl. "And why exactly are you showing me this place?" he asked, stepping further away from the ritual markings.

Issey straightened, her calm, eerie demeanor unwavering. "Because you can perform a ritual too, Daigo."

Daigo scoffed. "Why would I do that?"

Issey took a slow step forward. "Because it might help you recover your lost memories."

Daigo froze. The possibility of regaining what he had lost stirred something deep inside him. His memories... the fragments of a life he could barely recall. His name had almost slipped away—what else had he forgotten? Could this truly help him?

He swallowed, his voice quieter now. "Are you sure?"

Issey gave him a knowing smile. "Yes. If you offer something in return, Lord Satan may grant you a vision of your past."

Before Daigo could question her further, she pulled out a small silver blade, its edge glinting under the dim torchlight.

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"Wait, what are you doing—"

With a swift motion, Issey grabbed Daigo's wrist and sliced a shallow cut across his palm. A single drop of blood slid down his skin, warm and sticky, before she caught it on the tip of the blade.

"Ouch! That hurts, damn it!" Daigo winced, pulling his hand back.

Issey ignored his protest and walked toward the bloodstained circle near the star-shaped symbol. She let the drop of blood fall into the center, where it sizzled against the stone like fire meeting oil.

The room suddenly felt colder. The air grew heavy, thick with an invisible force pressing against Daigo's chest. The doll's hollow eyes seemed to darken, as if it had just awakened.

"Now, you must wait." Issey's voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Fifteen days."

Daigo clenched his jaw. "Fifteen days?"

"Yes," Lavender confirmed. "You will receive a summons from Lord Satan soon."

Daigo let out a breath, still staring at the mark stained with his blood. He didn't know if he believed any of this—but deep down, something told him this was real.

A chilling silence filled the dimly lit ritual chamber, the scent of blood thick in the air. Daigo's mind was still reeling from what had just happened. His own blood had been offered in a ritual, and now he was expected to wait for fifteen days to receive a message from a so-called Lord Satan.

He clenched his fist, still feeling the sting from the small cut on his palm. A part of him wanted to question everything, but deep inside, he couldn't deny the strange energy that pulsed through the air. Something powerful had just been awakened.

Issey, however, had already shifted her focus. She turned toward the half-human, half-fish girl who had been standing quietly beside Daigo. Her golden scales shimmered faintly under the flickering torchlight, and her ocean-blue eyes held a mixture of curiosity and nervousness.

Issey studied her for a moment before asking, "What is your name?"

The girl hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I... I don't have a name."

Daigo's eyes widened slightly. He had never thought to ask her that before. The moment she had saved him, they had been so caught up in the chaos that he had only referred to her as "the golden fish girl."

Issey smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Then it is time you received one."

She stepped forward, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "From now on, your name shall be Marina."

The girl's eyes lifted, surprise flashing across her delicate features.

Issey continued, her voice smooth and unwavering. "Marina, the Queen of the Ocean."

The room was silent for a moment. Then Daigo nodded, a small smirk forming on his lips. "That's a good name. Marina." He said the name slowly, testing how it sounded. It felt right.

Marina blinked a few times, as if absorbing the weight of her new identity. Then, a gentle smile spread across her lips. "Marina... I like it."

Daigo chuckled. "Yeah, it suits you."

Issey crossed her arms, satisfied. "A name holds power. It defines who you are. And Marina... I have a feeling you'll live up to it."

The golden-scaled girl—now Marina—nodded firmly. For the first time, she truly felt like she belonged.

Daigo glanced at Issey, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "You called her the Queen of the Ocean. Why?"

Issey smirked, stepping back toward the ritual circle. "You'll understand in time."

The way she spoke sent a chill down Daigo's spine. She knew something he didn't.

But before he could question her further, a sudden gust of wind blew through the chamber, making the torches flicker violently. A deep, distant rumble echoed through the walls, as if something ancient had stirred from its slumber.

Marina shivered, instinctively gripping Daigo's arm. "What was that?"

Issey didn't answer immediately. She simply watched as the shadows in the room shifted unnaturally, curling along the walls like unseen hands reaching for something.

Then, in a quiet but firm voice, she said, "The ritual has begun."

Daigo's stomach tightened. Fifteen days.

That was how long he had to prepare for whatever was coming.

And something told him that once Lord Satan called for him... there would be no turning back.