Ethan inspected the circle on the ground as the tree shook with the impact of the firedogs charging it and bashing it with their bulk. Maple held on to a branch for dear life. Her face drained of blood, and she made an adorable sound each time the tree shook.
Sophia spoke in Ethan's mind.
"Alas, the circle back there draws the dire wolves and the firedogs to this side of the barrier."
"Alas, Sophia, this circle in the clearing looks like a communication sacrifice circle. We have seen enough of these through the years on our campaign against the rebel sects."
"Alas, you are right. Many young women have been sacrificed to contact someone in another realm. This crime should not go unpunished, as Heather would say."
Ethan felt a sudden pain in his heart as Sophia mentioned Heather. He looked at his team, holding on to the trees so as not to become food for the monsters beneath them. He needed to do something fast to save them. His eye caught the dire wolves that Zelda had killed the leather ruined.
"Alas, Zelda, cut down your kills. Let us see how many dogs will take the bait."
Ethan threw Zelda towards the hanging carcasses. She cut the ropes. Two firedogs turned, sniffing the air as they trotted to the dead animals. Three left to deal with, he could manage, and a plan started forming in his mind.
"Alas, Wendy and Lucy, take your swords, impale the fire dogs from above, control their panic, and let them trample the circle."
"Hail, that should do the trick."
"Squee, there should be another way to do this."
"Hail, Lucy, I will be the only one receiving essence tonight."
Lucy drew her sword, staring at Wendy, and then fell sideways, plummeting down, the blade pointing at the firedog's neck as it crashed into the tree. Wendy followed, her two short swords drawn and pointing down.
"Alas, Ting-Ting to me."
Ting-Ting unsheathed herself, flying into Ethan's hand. He pointed the blade down, timing his jump. The Firedog barked in pain as the blade pierced it behind its shoulder blade. Blood flowed down its body as it caught fire. Steering the fire dog with his sword, He steered it to the first circle. The firedog ran in circles, kicking its back legs up, trying to dislodge him. He flew off the firedog as it fell to the side, its life spent. The circle had been trampled and would not work.
Ethan flew back to the second circle. The firedogs moved slowly around, their blood changing to a golden mist. Lucy's firedog fell over dead as a doornail. Two minutes passed, and Wendy's firedog stopped, swayed, and fell sideways as she somersaulted with her blades, performing a perfect landing and bowing deeply before Ethan.
The two remaining firedogs ate the dire wolves' corpses, not bothering Ethan and his party. He flew up into the tree, taking Grace around her waist. He brought the three ladies out of the trees. Lara took Ethan's hand, staring up into his deep blue eyes.
"I want the power that Wendy and Lucy have, please. I will do anything, and I mean anything."
Grace and Maple did not waste a second. Maple was on her knees, holding onto Ethan's robe. He looked at Wendy and Lucy, who held their thumbs up with big grins.
"Alas, you will be disciples of mine and call me Master from now on. Wendy and Lucy remain my wives."
Ethan lifted Grace to her feet and moved the three women to stand beside each other.
"Alas, Wendy, explain to them what I do to give you powers. If you find it acceptable, then join me. If not, I will not hold it against you. We are friends first, after all."
"Hail, Ethan will finger your little flowers and plough you. Receiving his essence feels like heaven has blessed your body. Warning: without his essence, you will die."
Wendy eyed the three as they communicated silently. Grace turned to Ethan, her resolve clear to see.
"We accept your deal; we only ask that we can live our lives as independent women. We do not want to share your bed at night and prefer to sleep in our beds."
"Alas, I agree to your terms. Consider that I must fill you with essence at least twice weekly."
Maple stepped forward, holding her hand for Ethan to take.
"S-S-S, start with me, please."
Ethan understood Maple's desire to become more robust as a body enhancement magus. Although she had little to no strength, he respected her skills as an herbalist and her sharp mind regarding medical treatment.
Two figures emerged from the structure in the middle, and the two massive firedogs walked into the structure, returning to the abyssal forest. A man and a woman appeared. They looked the same, and they were twins. They had robes like Ethan's, and he recognised them as cultivators.
"Alas, Sophia, what are cultivators doing in this realm."
The man pointed at Ethan.
"Count this your lucky day, giant. I sense no cultivators or magus among you. Your lives are spared today."
The two ran to the left at incredible speed, jumping into the trees, and then jumped from tree to tree, seemingly balancing perfectly on the tops.
Lilly spoke in his mind.
"Alas, you can fly and catch them easily."
"Alas, no, my love, let them go for now. We need to contact Thompson and let him know what has been happening here."
"Alas, Ethan, you saw the corpses that litter the forest around the circles."
"Alas, Yes, say nothing for now to the women."
Ethan walked into the structure, motioning for the women to stay. He strolled down the dark passage for five minutes. He could see a light at the end. He decided to investigate this place later. He could hear a commotion. The women were calling to him, panic in their voices.
Ethan flew at incredible speed, making the trip out of the tunnel in four seconds. Wendy and Lucy stood near the entrance, calling to him. He walked to the two and hugged them.
"Squee, we thought you were lost to us forever. The structures turned to rock."
Ethan turned. The structures were gone, and only rock was visible. He touched the rock; it felt solid. How did he pass through it?
"Alas, this is cultivator powers at play here. We will not have trouble with dire wolves and firedogs anymore."
Ethan felt the two cultivators would leave the village and move to another area to practice their sorcery. With all the bodies around, they would be insane to stay here, and murder did not go down well with the police.
"Alas, let us return to the area where we camped before. The night will be upon us soon."