Phoenix cowered behind a stone pillar. The blood-red light from the Token in his hand flashed erratically as the Spell he chanted grew more and more frantic.
Suddenly, he snapped his head up, looking at the cocoon on top of the altar.
The writhing threads on the cocoon's surface slowed for a moment.
Ecstasy spread across Phoenix's face.
"It worked! The Blood Sacrifice Order is taking effect! It's listening to me—"
He didn't get to finish.
A fissure suddenly split open in the center of the cocoon.
Within the fissure, there were no eyes, no mouth—only a deep, swirling, dark red void.
Then, a main Tentacle, ten times thicker than the other threads and so dark it was nearly black, slowly extended outward.
The tip of the Tentacle split open, revealing rows upon rows of continuously writhing, sharp teeth inside.
It "looked" at Phoenix.
The ecstasy on Phoenix's face froze instantly, replaced by incredulous terror.
