In the Offering room, some of the blood pool has been drained, but it is more than enough. Once again it pulsed like a heart, but it flooded out of the hole, and pooled over the quartz floor.

The blood glowed a dark red and flowed towards the chest Axel placed Isa in. It warmly wrapped around her naked body, flowing into her wounds as the symbols on her arms pulsed in sync with the blood.

Isa's skin retained a slightly healthier glow, although still pale. Her eyes snapped open revealing green eyes that glowed a dark red.

Six needle-like legs made of blood curved out from her back, piercing the chest before ripping it to splinters. Isa's sharp blood limbs pierced the quartz floor, raising her up as the blood continued to flow out of the deep hole in the center.

Isa walked closer to the deep pool of blood using her newly made limbs of blood to advance; her spine was severed when Milo stabbed her through the stomach, making her unable to use her natural legs.

Isa willed the spilled blood to wrap around her body, hardening to make a smooth dress of crimson from the neck down to her toes as it had the texture and image of flowing liquid. Not a single drop of blood was out of place as the dress became solid, thick, and yet wavy. Beautiful.

The former ruler of Sky City inhaled the metallic scent of blood as a wave of nostalgia and dark memories returned. But Jess would help her in her revenge, and avenging Reginald: the one man who cared about her, and cared for her when she was vulnerable.

It's so sad what happened to him: burned alive as his eyes boiled from the inside out; blinding him while the intense heat damaged his brain, causing him to lose most of his memories.

He didn't die, thankfully, but now he needs constant watch. Reginald developed an "innocent" personality, doing everything with a smile, helping others, feeling sadness but ultimately wanting to help others.

In Jess blunt words, he acts like a child, and doesn't know that the bad actions he is doing is wrong... especially when it comes to eating people.

It started so innocent; all he wanted to do was protect her from soldier from the Kingdom of Sand. That female soldier tried to capture her, taking Isa away to the very kingdom that started the Triple Devastation.

Reginald retaliated by tackling the soldier to the ground, but without any magic, and his body severely damaged, he couldn't win... that is until he chomped down on that soldier's throat.

Isa watched in disturbing horror as the female soldier screamed in agony while Reginald ripped chunks of flesh off her body. He didn't stop as she screamed, or when a few of his teeth fell out due to the rough material of the armor the soldier was wearing.

But after Reginald had his full, he started to cry as the rain poured down from the sky. Not because of what he did, he doesn't know that it's wrong to eat people, he was sorry that he couldn't do anything to protect Isa.

Despite what he did, his motives were, and still are, pure. 'I want to protect the Founder' is his desire, so innocent and kind. What kind of monster would take that away from him?

At that moment, Isa just realized that she's not so different from the motherless abomination that she was sent to help.

They're both freaks, this world of idiots turned their backs on them, someone screwed them over and made their lives miserable, and they're both trying to avenge someone they care about.

Maybe that's why she decided to do this: empathy and compassion. But Isa knew that she just wants the knowledge that these cultists have of blood magic.

Of course Isa will practice it after she gives the knowledge to Jess, she did help Isa and her friend. Jess' demon friend, Maura, sold her enough knowledge on blood magic for the task at hand.

Blood magic uses your own, and someone else's, blood as fuel to cast magic instead of Mana. It's not really special, like all categories of magic, blood magic has it's own unique abilities.

However, blood is more potent than Mana, or to be more specific, the life energy in blood as consuming that raw energy enhances the user physically. But unlike Mana, blood doesn't regenerate as fast. Isa has to harvest from mobs that actually bleed in order to refuel her, so skeleton-type mobs are out of the question.

But if she's not careful, Isa will burn out her own life energy and die young. That shouldn't be a problem; Jess shared her power with her. She invited Isa to the Party system, opening a new range of possibilities. She now has stats to improve, her health and Mana capacity adjusting accordingly as she does.

While Isa's Vitality stat is over 500, she, like everyone else in the Party, can increase it through other means besides leveling up.

This power that Jess has, it enhances the natural 'rules' and abilities of the natural world; jumping, running, mining, fighting... even magic.

With her Vitality stat so high, she can regenerate HP at a much faster rate, but it's still slow if she wants to do more advanced blood magic.

Cassie can increase her Heos (Chaos) affinity by absorbing negative energy, Jess' power made it so easy, so what's stopping Isa from enhancing herself?

Isa willed her artificial legs to place her above the pool of blood, and then slowly retract back into her scarred body, descending her into the crimson liquid. Before Isa was submerged in the, surprisingly warm, blood, she took in a deep breath and willed the slits on her body open before draining the pool of blood into them.

This deep pool of blood, painfully harvested from the emotional victims, is so convenient and perfect for gaining more power.

And she felt it: the pain that's infused in this crimson liquid, the despair from the victims, and the pride form the cultists who sacrificed themselves. This blood, the emotions running through it, is a type of commodity that demons feed off of and bargain with.

Isa concentrated, focusing, not letting the overwhelming pain overtake her as she absorbs more blood. She can feel the life energy in this pool of liquid. This pool of blood, judging by its underground location, is just outside the outer wall of the Clockwork Fortress.

But that's not all. She burned the blood she stored inside her, immediately refueling it while the pool drained, to reach out to feel the entire volume of this dark liquid.

Isa closed her eyes and flexed her pale fingers, concentrating while submerged. She can practically feel this liquid, the life it has, and how it connects to four other pools of blood: five in total.

'How many were sacrificed?' Isa thought in horror as another question rose. 'What is keeping this blood so fresh?'

Isa knew that blood this fresh shouldn't be possible. To sacrifice this many people, to get this amount of blood, would be suspicious. Even if the cultist harvested this blood over a long period of time, the blood itself would have died and become completely useless for blood magic.

She used more blood to fuel her detection magic as the symbols on her arms glowed and pulsed. Isa felt a foreign energy mixed in, and the only word to describe it? Chaotic.

This is the type of energy that Chaos Sorcerers have, but they're only born once a century, and Cassie is the only one! So how did these cultists harness such corrosive power?

Isa scrambled to get out of the pool of blood; the last thing she needs is chaos energy inside her veins; she absorbed enough blood fortunately.

Despite Jess' power breaching limits, Isa is still a human. The Blood Mage Class allowed her to store more blood inside her, but there is always a limit. That will change when she gets her hands on the knowledge in this fortress.

Isa didn't know how long she has been in that blood, but it was too long. She can feel the chaos energy mixed inside, eating away her insides as she vomit blood on the quartz floor.

She will just have to find another source of blood, one that isn't tainted. Isa then tapped on a symbol on her left arm, activating a blood mage's version of a healing spell, using her HP as fuel instead of her MP to drastically regenerate her health. A familiar blue screen appeared in front of her.

Ping!

You have absorbed massive quantities of blood over a long period of time! You have increased you Vitality stat by 300!

Isa felt the shift: her stats increasing and her body adjusting accordingly, her vitality greatly enhanced... for her, it wasn't enough; she wants more blood, more power.

"Stats." Isa called as she caused her blood limbs to protrude out her scarred back, raising her up, as her useless legs are unable to do so.

Ping!

[Isa] Level 457

Exp: 34,000/45,700

Class: Blood Mage

Title: Avarice of Blood

Species: Human

Elemental Affinities: [High] Aqua (Water), [High] Vita (Vitality), [Medium] Ordo (Order), [High] Perdito (Entropy)

HP: 12,970/12,970

MP: 7,170/7,170

STR: 121

DEX: 300

VIT: 840 ([Base] 540 + [Blood Magic] 300)

INT: 260

WIS: 270

LUK: 210

Points: 0

Isa checked her stats, vowing that when she levels up she will put the points into Vitality and Luck. She wants more rare loot to drop from monsters, and people, when she kills them.

Isa looked over her profile: the stats, the image of her current state, the conditions her body has; the equipment slots where she can pull up this screen, place armor of any size into the appropriate slot, and it will instantly appear and adjust to her size. It is how Slab got his armor on despite his large, mutated size.

She nearly froze when she saw her description. It revealed everything about her personality and her life: from how she proudly built Sky City, grieved when Milo destroyed it, the rage she felt when all of her citizens died, and the hope Jess gave her.

Isa forced herself to dismiss the screens. She really... really did not want to be reminded of her past, not now of all places.

But she knows that no good deed goes unpunished... and she will be the one to deliver that punishment it to Milo when she finds him.

----------

Chai P.O.V. At the top of the inner wall...

Chai watched the trio discussed their naïve plan, while under the effects of a Potion of Invisibility, stalking behind them.

"We help the refugees," Explained Jesse, walking on top of the iron inner wall of the fortress, his rejuvenated confidence made him ignore the harsh cold as the two females followed him while a third stealthy followed. "We make sure everyone gets fed, and everyone can at least smile knowing that they're safe."

"What about the soldiers?" Bailey reminded, shivering a bit. "They won't sit back while we do what we want."

"We take care of them along the way," Proudly declared Jesse, his naïve smile annoying Chai. "We'll convince them somehow. But let's find everyone else and meet up."

"Well what about the commander?" asked Bailey. "She never comes out of her office, and her soldiers have been loyal to her for years. They might kill for her if she said so."

"Then we reason with her too," Affirmed Jesse, still smiling. "The main thing we do is help people, maybe open her mind for the better. It's what a hero would do."

"Then I'd like to see you try, hero," Chai spoke, irritated, ready to start what she was paid to do.

It's amazing how contagious the symptoms of naivety can be! They still didn't notice PAMA, and that cloaked abomination, attacking the Clockwork Fortress and the screams from the people below.

Or maybe they're all dead, and the rest are assimilated into PAMA's network of slaves. Damn, they sure are efficient.

The trio looked behind them as Chai stealthy advanced to their blind spot, wielding her large grey cleaver in her right hand, and just in time for her invisibility to wear off. Chai took advantage of their confusion because the second they turned back, she charge at them and stabbed Bailey with her cleaver, and tackling her off of the iron wall.

"BAILEY!" Jesse and Petra, and Olivia in the distant, screamed. Within seconds, Chai felt the weightlessness of falling while the cold wind rushed passed their faces.

Bailey herself let out a pained scream a second later, breaking Chai out of that peaceful trance as blood splattered out of the wound she inflicted.

She knew she wouldn't have long before Jesse and his friend would try something. Before he could do anything else, Chai pulled out a Splash Potion of Blindness, gripping it in her free hand, before throwing it behind and up at Jesse.

His cries of the sudden impact confirmed her hit, and she felt pride knowing that the skills she gained and honed, as a mercenary, hasn't rusted.

Looking down at the approaching, fog-covered ground, Chai quickly pulled out a Splash Potion of Teleportation, provide by the woman who hired her, and threw it at the ground before impact, teleporting them somewhere isolated.

They landed in a large obsidian box, no windows, no door, with no one to interfere and ultimately no exit. The only way out is the Potion of Teleportation Jess provided for her, purposely kept in its drinkable form, and sending Chai one message.

Only one can leave this room.

Chai lift her cleaver, and slung it on her shoulder... with Bailey still impaled in it! Her weight caused her body to sink down the wide blade, impaled diagonally though her stomach, through her spine.

Chai casually drank a Potion of Strength as Bailey screamed in silent agony before using her temporary strength to slice downwards, throwing Bailey off her blade as she collided into the obsidian wall.

She left a splat of blood on the dark wall as a loud CRUNCH-! echoed from the impact; her left arm is broken. Chai approached her. Bailey, no longer able to control her lower body, soiled herself.

"Why are you doing this...?" Bailey whimpered, blood flowing out of the grave wound as Chai dragged her blood cleaver across the obsidian floor. "What did I do to deserve this?!"

"So much," Chai revealed, much to Bailey's confusion... or perhaps it's the massive amount of blood-loss. "But not to me, to Jess."

"H-Her?" Bailey whimpered in disbelief as Chai loomed over her, standing in a mixed puddle of Bailey's blood and urine. "I didn't do anything to her!"

"Yes, you did," Chai corrected, stomping on Bailey's right arm to prevent her from moving, breaking the bones inside the limb, causing her to scream in pain. "At the Tournament, months ago... ring a bell?"

"I know I was wrongly imprisoned!" Bailey yelled, trying to distract herself from the humiliation and agony, and irritating Chai to the point of rage. "I'm an alchemist, I brew potions to help people-!"

"You don't even know what an alchemist is!" Chai snapped at Bailey's ignorance, interrupting her. "I don't need the Class to see the difference, but I can clearly see how you're nothing more than a stupid girl who thinks she can go and do whatever she wants!"

"I don't do whatever I want!" Bailey screamed in a last desperate of arrogance. "I brew potions, that's what alchemists do! We help people, just like I did with Lukas!"

"You, and every person I met who has the Alchemist Class, are so damn delusional," Chai couldn't even be surprised by her annoying behavior. "Besides," Chai scoffed. "Lukas died a long time ago..."

Chai then raised her weapon above her hear in both hands, ready to strike.

Bailey screamed in fear. That's all she can do. Chai stabbed through her gut earlier, through her spine, paralyzing her from the waist down. Not to mention both of her arms are broken.

Chai watched as the girl under her screamed and begged and sobbed... and it bore her. She just shook her head in disappointment at the pitiful sight before, might as well get this over with so she can get paid.

"Wait!" Bailey begged, sobbing, watching the descending blade stop inches before her head. "Please, tell me what I did. What did I do to enrage Jess?!"

"Well one: being an arrogant alchemist when you don't even know what it is; like other alchemists she killed!" Chai spat, hatred of the annoying girl before her clear. "And two: you hurt her son."

'Jess has a son?!' Bailey thought in surprise, which quickly turned into panic when she realized that she hurt him, whoever he may be.

She won't get any more information. Those were the last words Bailey heard from Chai before she chopped her head off.

A/N: I'm back! Ugh, school! Well, we've seen Isa, and a bit of her backstory along with Reginald's condition and Milo's actions. Everyone's perspective of the Clockwork Fortress is coming together in one dark tale. Oh, and Bailey died and hurt Jess' son. Who knows who he is... oh right, me! Again! HAHAHAHAHA~!

Also, I noticed one thing... this story reached 2k votes! Thank you all, so much! I know it's been a while since I did that, but I really appreciate it.

But no rewards like cookies this time! No, I will be posting a Q&A chapter next where you will post your questions in the comments, and I will try to answer them. When that chapter updates, it will have a shorter chapter, and answers to the questions.

Also, I've received questions in my inbox on why they can't see my story anymore on the 'What's Hot', 'Rising', and 'New' lists on Wattpad  It's because I've change the story rating to mature (for obvious reasons). And it's because i'm curious, I will change the setting back and forth once a while to see my story rank.