Bon and Kartia stepped out of the shabby room where they had just finished their meeting with Chief Couger. As they walked through the dimly lit village paths, their voices carried into the night—bickering as usual.Behind them, a man watched their retreating figures, his brow furrowed with concern."Are you sure they're up to the task, Chief?" the man, Azuya, asked, doubt lacing his tone.Chief Couger exhaled a long trail of smoke from his pipe, his gaze still fixed in the direction the two had gone. "They may not look like it, but they're exactly what this village needs right now."Azuya frowned. "But Chief—"Couger turned toward him, his eyes sharp. "Azuya, tell me—what do you think the King of the Jungle is?"The sudden question caught Azuya off guard. He hesitated before answering, "It is said that the King of the Jungle is the ruler of all wild lands—the one who has reached the very top, standing above all others."Couger nodded. "Indeed… and that boy wants to be such a person."Azuya's frown deepened. "What is that supposed to mean? There are many predators out there chasing that title. Most of them die early in the Great Jungle. Even those who last long enough leave nothing but a trail of blood behind them."The Chief chuckled, shaking his head. "Let me put it this way, then. I don't trust that Bon will succeed in his goal—but I trust that the kind of person who dares to dream of becoming King of the Jungle will cause chaos wherever he goes."Azuya's eyes narrowed as the Chief continued."Like you said, those who chase that title leave a blood trail in their wake. That boy is ambitious enough to aim for something greater than himself… which means, at the very least, he can cause chaos here, too. And chaos is exactly what we need right now, isn't it?"For a moment, Azuya was silent, contemplating the Chief's words.Finally, he sighed. "If you say so, then I'll take my leave. Everyone must play their part if we are to cleanse this village of this abomination."With that, Azuya turned and exited the room, using a different path than the one Bon and Kartia had taken.Meanwhile, Bon and Kartia had reached the ceremonial grounds. The ritual had not yet begun, but the area was already alive with murmurs and anticipation.Bon stopped, stretching his arms behind his head. "Alright, I'll be the one to cause a scene and take Aisha from the ceremony."Kartia's head snapped toward him. "No. I have to be the one to take her."Bon exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "Listen, I'm a predator. You, on the other hand, are tied to this village—even if it's not your original home. If you make a move, people will doubt you. But me? I don't care about their opinions. I'll put on a show, steal the kid, and bring her to you. Your job is to protect her with everything you've got."Kartia's lips pressed into a thin line. "Who put you in charge, anyway?"Bon only grinned, already turning to walk away."Until dawn, then."Kartia scoffed but didn't argue further. She, too, disappeared into the night, each of them setting out to fulfill their roles in the chaos that was about to unfold.The ceremonial grounds were alive with rhythmic drumbeats, their deep, echoing sounds carrying through the air. Dancers moved in synchronized circles, their steps creating a trance-like rhythm. The scent of roasting meat mingled with the thick aroma of burning incense, filling the night with a strange blend of festivity and impending doom.Men sat in groups, laughing, drinking from clay cups, and singing old songs passed down through generations.One particularly drunk man swayed on his seat, gazing at the bright flames. He raised his cup and slurred, "I wonder if my death will be as lively as this."His companion turned to him, confused. "Who's dying?"The drunkard chuckled darkly, pointing toward the ceremonial platform. "The brat, of course. Offering? That's bullshit! Look at her parents, trying to act tough when you can see it in their eyes—they want their child to live. What a damn shame."CRACK!A wooden staff struck the drunk man's head with sharp precision."What the hell?! Who—"THWACK! Another blow landed before he could finish, leaving him clutching his head in pain."If the Chief were here," an elderly woman muttered, gripping her staff, "your death would have been lively, too." She raised the stick again, ready to strike.The surrounding men rushed to stop her. "Shaman, please! Forgive him, he's a fool!"The old woman—the village shaman—glared at the drunkard but lowered her staff. "The Chief never attends the prior celebrations," she muttered. "At dawn, he must accompany the sacrifice to the altar."With that, she turned away, disappearing into the crowd as the celebration continued.Yet, amidst the revelry, no one noticed the meat vanishing from the fire pit—pulled from its skewer by unseen hands.Near the AltarAisha's parents knelt before her, their faces calm but their eyes betraying a storm of emotions.Her father placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "This is your destiny, my special daughter." His voice was firm, filled with conviction. "To be chosen by the Great Swamp God is the highest honor. Because of you, this village will continue to thrive. Look around… see their smiles? They are rejoicing because of you. You are the reason this village still stands."He turned to Aisha's mother, nodding solemnly.Her mother swallowed hard, brushing a strand of hair from Aisha's face. "Dear daughter, when you reach the Swamp God, please send our prayers. His divinity has protected this village for generations. You are our voice, our messenger."Aisha didn't respond.She only smiled.As dawn neared, the entire village fell to their knees, their heads pressed to the ground. Prayers filled the air, murmured words of devotion and desperation—pleas meant to be carried to the Swamp God through the sacrifice.The Shadows BeyondFrom the far end of the ceremonial grounds, Kartia stood in silence, her fists clenched at her sides.Then, Bon appeared next to her, tearing into a chunk of meat with his teeth.Kartia shot him a sharp glare. "What are they doing?" Bon asked through a mouthful of food.She exhaled, forcing herself to stay focused. "It is believed that the sacrifice can communicate with the Swamp God. The villagers are sending their prayers through her, so their wishes can be heard and their prosperity can continue."Bon tilted his head. "And how long do they stay like that?"Kartia started to answer but stopped mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing at the half-eaten meat in Bon's hand."Wait… where did you get that?" she asked, voice filled with suspicion.Bon shrugged, taking another bite. "Stumbled upon it on my way here."Kartia rubbed her temples, choosing to ignore him. Instead, she straightened her posture, her expression turning serious."It's time."Bon wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Light the fire."Kartia didn't hesitate. She moved through the village, lighting torches and setting fire to the huts, creating a chain reaction of flames connecting across the village.At the same time, Bon propelled himself into the air, using his wind abilities to launch toward the ceremonial platform.He crashed down in the center, an explosion of wind erupting in all directions.The impact sent dust and embers swirling into the air, cloaking the area in a thick cloud.Through the haze, Bon grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement."It's time to go wild."