With a determined silence, the burly man sliced his palm, causing a gush of blood to spill forth. The sudden gory spectacle left the onlookers stunned. Though he winced slightly, he persisted, allowing drops of blood to splatter onto the floor. As the crimson droplets met the ground, intricate patterns began to materialize, casting an eerie red glow.

"By God..." gasped the astonished witnesses.

The burly man proceeded to chant cryptic incantations, their meaning lost on Nathaniel and the other