The tribe arrived at the mouth of the cave, its ominous black maw exuding a chilling stillness. The surrounding forest had grown eerily quiet, as if even nature itself was holding its breath.
Magbo, the chieftain, raised his arms to command attention from his tribespeople. "Elder Shamans! Come forth and commence the sacrificial markings! We must prepare her for the forest deity's blessing!"
At his call, a group made up of six shamans emerged, their appearances were grim and foreboding. Their wrinkled bodies were adorned with intricate tribal tattoos, and their faces were hidden behind masks of skull. Each mask represented a beast, a bear, a serpent, a wolf, a bird, and other unknown creatures. The elder shaman, their leader, wore the largest mask, shaped like the skull of a monster bird resembling a crow but far more grotesque, with jagged beak edges.
The shamans muttered in an unknown ancient language that seemed to carry an unnatural resonance, the words vibrating in the air with faint mana.
"We shall now begin," the elder shaman intoned, his voice low and rasping.
Magbo nodded solemnly. "Do it."
Millus, still disguised as Lina, was forced to kneel upright on a large flat stone platform at the ritual site. Two stone-carved pillars stood on either side of him. The shamans tied his wrists tightly to the pillars, ensuring no chance of movement.
Millus exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. 'This is it… they're starting.'
The shamans removed the silk covering his back which exposed his bare skin to the cold forest air.
Then came the tools, carved from volcanic glass, glinting dangerously in the dim light. The elder shaman held one up, dipping its sharp tip into a viscous black substance that pulsed faintly with imbued mana.
The elder shaman raised his staff, which was adorned with bones, shrunken heads, and trinkets of creatures both human and non-human. He slammed the staff into a hole at the center of the platform. The staff's tip began to glow faintly, and the topmost ornament, a small human skull, emanated a sickly green light.
Millus observed silently. 'What an elaborate ceremony… for something so barbaric.'
The elder shaman stepped behind Millus. With a chant, he pressed the volcanic glass tool to his back and began carving the symbol of their deity: the face of the Bear God.
The pain was sharp and immediate, it was far worse than Millus had anticipated.
'Damn! This hurts like hell!' he thought, biting down on the inside of his cheek to suppress his scream.
'Crap! I need to act convincingly,' He let out an agonized wail, his screams echoed across the ritual site.
The tribal villagers watched intently, many bowing in reverence. Gabo stood by his father's side, he showed a wicked grin on his face as he basked in the spectacle.
"It's going smoothly, Father," he said. "With this, I'm sure the forest deity will be pleased, especially with the blood of someone from the grasslands."
Magbo laughed heartily. "Ha! Indeed. Her capture was a hidden blessing. After we've appeased the deity, I'll conquer the grasslands and subjugate all its people!"
The villagers cheered, their voices was full of energy.
But amidst the cheering, one tribesman glanced toward the center of the ritual site. His expression shifted as unease crept over him.
"Wait…" he muttered, his voice was trembling. "Why did the screams stop?"
Millus's cries had abruptly ceased. The air grew heavy, the atmosphere became thick with an unnatural tension. Overhead, the skies darkened, heavy clouds swirled as if it was summoned by an unseen force. Light from the sun dimmed, and the once-bright clearing was now cloaked in an ominous twilight.
Behind the silence, Millus focused inward.
'Veda,' he asked, his mind was calm despite the chaos around him. 'What's happening to me?''
'A foreign energy is attempting to infiltrate your body,' Veda replied. 'It seeks to plant itself within you as a mark of the Bear Deity's dominion. You can block it entirely if you wish.'
Millus smirked inwardly. 'Good. Let's end this farce. I'll partially activate my full intelligence and strength.'
The elder shaman continued carving on his skin with his tool that sliced into Millus's skin to form the face of the Bear Deity. But as the final stroke was made, the markings on Millus's back began to glow, not with divine light, but with a searing crimson energy.
The glass tool in the elder shaman's hand trembled before shattering with a loud crack. Shards flew through the air like shrapnels from a grenade, one of the shards embedded itself into the side of a nearby shaman. Blood sprayed from the wound as the injured man collapsed.
The elder shaman froze in shock, his wide eyes darted to Millus.
"What… what is this?!" he shouted.
Millus stood slowly, his restraints snapping as if they were mere threads. He turned towards him, his expression was cold devoid of any emotion.
"Your time is up," he spoke with a voice enchanted with an otherworldly authority.
He swiped his hand through the air in a horizontal motion. The elder shaman in front of him froze, his horrified eyes widening as his head was suddenly severed from his body. The head rolled to the ground, his expression was locked in terror, before coming to a stop at Magbo's feet.
The tension at the sacrificial site reached a boiling point as Magbo squared off against Millus, the air was thick mixed with malice aura and mana.
Magbo narrowed his eyes on Millus, he stood tall and unshaken even amidst the chaos and the screams of his people. "You're not the girl. You're an imposter, a being of the dark. Who are you really? What purpose do you serve?" His voice was laced with suspicion, but there was no fear.
Millus smirked, then shadows swirled around him as his regal form materialized, which fully revealed himself. His silver hair glistened under the dim light as crimson eyes pierced through the dark. The aura he emitted was suffocating for ordinary beings, an unearthly presence that dwarfed everyone around him.
"Who am I?" Millus spoke with his calm yet commanding voice. "Lowly animals such as yourselves do not deserve to know the name of your better. Let it suffice to say I am here to cleanse this wretched gathering of filth."
The blood from the fallen shamans began to swirl around him, condensing into deadly crimson spikes that shot outward like spears. The sharp projectiles of condensed blood impaled several of the shamans who had stopped their chants, cutting their lives short as they collapsed to the ground.
"Gabo! Watch out!" Magbo shouted as he lunged forward, grabbing his son and hurling him out of harm's way. Gabo was sent flying back but was caught mid-air by one of the more seasoned hunters, who pulled him to safety.
Meanwhile, Millus waved his hand, muttering an incantation under his breath. Dark mana flooded the area, and a veil of illusion magic covered the entrance of the cave. "I'll not have the slumber of your so-called deity disturbed. It shall have its turn soon enough," Millus said coldly, while showing a wicked grin on his lips.
The elder shamans who were desperate to stop him, unleashed their most potent spells. One of the elders raised his staff and shouted, "Forest spirits, lend us your power! Protect this sacred ground ours!" But before their magic could take hold, Millus stepped forward faster than a blink of an eye. He appeared in front of him, his crimson eyes glowing brighter.
"You waste your pleas on forces that have long abandoned you," He said mockingly. "This ground belongs to me now."
He raised his hand, and a dark surge of energy shot through the remaining shamans and formed back within his hands. Their bodies convulsed violently as their life force was drained away. Two shamans, however, did not die. Instead, their bodies twisted grotesquely, their features warped into something monstrous. They rose from the ground, now hulking, mindless creatures with pale, veined skin and blood-red eyes.
'Two failed conversions,' Veda's voice echoed in Millus's mind. "But they shall suffice for now." He replied to her.
Millus smirked. "Go," he commanded the abominations. "Make them regret their existence."
RAGHH!
The creatures roared and charged into the crowd of tribesmen, they tore through into them with savage brutality. Their blood sprayed as hunters tried to fight back against them but were quickly overpowered by the monstrous strength of the failed experiments.
"Hold them off!" one hunter shouted, rallying his fellow hunters. "Protect the chieftain!"
But their efforts were futile. For every abomination they managed to wound or slow, Millus summoned new horrors from the dark magic circles forming in the air. Black wolves with glowing red eyes, ghouls, living armors, and wraiths emerged, each one descending upon the panicked tribesmen.
"Arghhh! Help me!" a hunter screamed as a wolf latched onto his throat.
"They just keep coming!" another one shouted in desperation.
Magbo clenched his fists as he watched the carnage. "This is no ordinary enemy," he muttered. Then, with a booming voice, he roared, "All warriors, to me! We hold the line here!"
The experienced hunters grouped together, forming a protective circle around the surviving villagers. They fought fiercely, their weapons glowed with traces of aura. But no matter how many monsters they struck down, more seemed to take their place.
Then amidst the chaos, Magbo turned his fiery gaze toward Millus. "You," he snarled, then he stepped forward. "You are the dark omen that fell from the sky, the being summoned by that wretched girl. You've been hiding in the shadows all along. I felt your presence back then, it was faint, but now you stand before me."
Magbo grinned, baring his teeth like a feral beast. "Good. Now I'll have the pleasure of killing you myself!"
Millus tilted his head, amused by the chieftain's bravado. "How quaint," His voice dripped with mockery. "You truly think yourself capable of defeating me? You're nothing but a beast in human skin, groveling at the feet of false gods. Come, show me your so-called strength oh mere beast of the forest."
Magbo sneered. "Your words won't save you, dark one. Prepare yourself!"
The chieftain's aura flared, an intense golden energy surrounding his massive frame. His tattoos glowed with power, and his muscles rippled as he readied himself for battle. The title he bore as the ''Beast of the Forest' was no mere formality, it was earned through countless battles and hunts.
Magbo charged in, his steps shook the ground as he closed the distance in an instant. His massive hand was enveloped in aura, and came crashing down toward Millus.
Millus didn't flinch. He sidestepped effortlessly, the force of Magbo's blow creating a crater where he had been standing.
"Haha! Impressive force," Millus said with a smirk. "But your form is lacking."
He retaliated with a wave of his hand, sending a dozen crimson spikes hurtling toward Magbo. The chieftain roared, swiping at the air and shattering the spikes with his aura-covered fists.
"I'll rip you apart!" Magbo bellowed as he lunged again. This time, Millus met him head-on, their fists colliding in a shockwave of energy that sent both of them skidding back.
The battle between the two titans had begun, the ground trembling under their might as the villagers watched in awe and terror.
Millus flexed his broken fingers as his hand regenerated, it was a smooth and seamless process. He studied Magbo, who stood just a few meters away, his aura flickering like a golden wildfire. Millus let out a low chuckle. "So, you're not just all talk. Interesting. Perhaps this fight won't be boring after all."
Magbo clenched his fists, his glowing tattoos pulsed as he prepared to charge again. "You may have tricks, outsider, but I will crush you with my strength. No monster, no outsider is above my tribe!"
'Veda, I understand that my body's not built for brute combat, but I don't need to outmuscle him, I just need to outmaneuver him,' Millus thought while calculating how to counter Magbo's attacks.
Switching his tactics, Millus activated his Gauntlet of Nirvana, which materialized over his forearms like sleek, obsidian armor. The ancient artifact hummed with dark energy which perfectly complemented his fighting style.
"Let's see if your pride as the Beast of the Forest can withstand me," Millus muttered as he adjusted his stance using the Jade serpent combat art, a close quarter combat style of the acolyte class.
Magbo roared as he charged again. This time, his strikes were faster, his movements becoming more precise. His massive fist shot toward Millus like a cannonball. Millus didn't block, but instead, he sidestepped with inhuman precision, the blow only grazing past him and creating another crater in the ground.
Millus countered with a swift uppercut reinforced by the Gauntlet of Nirvana, aiming for Magbo's ribs. The blow connected, sending a shockwave through the chieftain's body. Magbo staggered back, coughing, but his aura quickly surged again, healing the damage.
"You'll need more than that, monster!" Magbo bellowed before launching a flurry of strikes.
Millus parried each attack with calculated ease, with the gauntlet absorbing the brunt of the blows. His movements were fluid, it was almost like a dance, it contrasted sharply with Magbo's use of brute strength.
Meanwhile, outside the battle of the two. Gabo stood within the defensive formation, watched in disbelief as his father struggled to gain the upper hand against Millus. "What… what is that thing? How can he keep up with Father?" he muttered with a voice trembling.
Outside the formation, Bak-am was locked in a desperate battle against the summoned monsters. His hunters fought courageously, but the creatures were unlike anything they had ever faced.
"Focus on the smaller ones! Don't engage the larger monsters directly!" Bak-am commanded his men with a voice hoarse because of shouting.
A towering Minotaur, wielding a massive double-bladed axe, emerged from the final magic circle. Its crimson eyes glowed with malice, and its steps shook the ground as it charged toward the hunters.
Bak-am gritted his teeth. "Form up! We will take it down together! Attack from the sides!"
The hunters surrounded the Minotaur, striking at its legs and trying to bring it down. But the creature's skin was unnaturally tough, and its attacks were devastating. One of the hunters that was caught by the axe was flung into the air, his body was cut in half and landed to the ground with a thud.
"This… this isn't a normal bull head monster," Bak-am muttered as he dodged a blow. "These weapons… they vanish when we try to use them. What kind of curse is this?"
He glanced toward the barrier that surrounded their escape, a shimmering wall of dark energy. One of his hunters approached him with panic evident in his eyes.
"Head Hunter! We've tried everything! We can't break through the wall!"
Bak-am clenched his fists. "Damn it. Then we hold the line here. The chief will save us. For the tribe!" he shouted, rallying his fellow tribesmen.
The hunters responded with a roar, their morale was bolstered for now. But as the Minotaur swung its axe again, it cut down another fighter, Bak-am couldn't help but wonder how long they could hold on.
Back in the center of the battlefield, Millus and Magbo clashed again. Millus had switched to an aggressive stance, his strikes were faster and more unpredictable. Each blow he landed disrupted Magbo's aura by hitting his weak points, which forced the chieftain to constantly readjust.
"Your aura is impressive," Millus remarked while dodging another punch. "But it's like a raging wildfire, powerful but uncontrolled."
Magbo growled, his frustration mounting. "You talk too much!"
He unleashed a devastating attack, his aura condensing into a massive golden spear that he hurled at Millus. The projectile tore through the air, its power shaking the ground.
Millus extended his hand, the Gauntlet of Nirvana glowing with dark energy. He caught the spear mid-flight using the skill from the Jade serpent combat art, energy dispersing defensive stance, the impact forced him back several steps. "Impressive," Millus said, examining the spear before snapping it in half. "But it's not enough."
Magbo's eyes widened. "Impossible!"
Millus smiled coldly. "Now, it's my turn."
He raised his hand, summoning a wave of shadows that surged toward Magbo like a tidal wave. The chieftain braced himself, his aura flaring to its maximum. But as the shadows engulfed him, they drained his strength, forcing him to his knees.
"Do you feel it?" Millus asked while stepping closer. "The weight of your sins? The futility of your struggle?"
Magbo glared at him, his golden tattoos flickering as his strength waned. "I will… not… fall!"
Millus leaned in, his crimson eyes locking onto Magbo's. "Oh, you will," he whispered into his ears. "And when you do, your people shall also kneel before me."
End of chapter