Eugene fixed his eyes forward after jumping down from the hole. The first thing he saw were the people hanging like fruits on a black, wriggling tree. Although briefly, Eugene checked every one of them.

No one was dead, but their faces were pale, and their bodies were wrapped in wiggling darkness. The sight was enough to infuriate Eugene.

He had heard Hector and Eward talking about sacrificial offerings. That had to be the reason why they were hung on the tree — to become sacrifices.

Underneath the tree stood more people looking in Eugene’s direction. They were Hector… and Dominic Lionheart, Captain of the First Division of the Black Lions. Eugene saw Dominic holding the Demon Spear Luentos and a skinny arm lying around a little further away.

Then there was Eward Lionheart, behind whom was a magic circle drawn with blood that connected the ground and empty space.

Hadn’t Eugene thought no one had died? Well, clearly, he was wrong. One man was dead, his face contorted in pain. His chest had probably been cut in half when he was alive. His heart and a bloody dagger were lying beside him. Along with the blood, Eugene could smell a particular medicine that even the strong bloody smell could not mask….

The dead person was none other than Deacon Lionheart.

Eugene was not really acquainted with that eighteen-year-old boy. The boy was his distant, very distant relative. Although they had both participated in the Bloodline Continuation Ceremony years ago, they hadn’t talked with each other. Though they had exchanged words during their encounter at the Black Lion Castle, it wasn’t enough to be called a conversation.

During that brief meeting, Eugene could see that Deacon envied and idolized him.

Deacon’s talent was so-so, and his family wasn’t so powerful....