The evening sky was a beautiful blend of colors, the sun sinking on the horizon while a faint moon loomed above, casting a soft glow. Birds whispered their final songs of the day as the cool breeze brushed against our faces. The fading sunlight filtered through the thick branches of the trees, creating patterns of golden light on the ground.
We stepped inside the shield, its energy tingling against our skin. As soon as we entered, several tribal warriors ran toward us, their expressions stern and unreadable. One of them, a man with deep scars on his arms, spoke first.
"Are you here for the journey to the den?" his voice was rough but filled with curiosity.
Eran stepped forward and responded, "Yes, and these are my students."
I grinned and shouted, "I am Vitrit!" expecting some reaction, but the tribesmen barely acknowledged me. Their attention remained fixed on Eran, treating us like mere followers.
"Follow us," one of the warriors instructed, turning away. As we walked, he continued, "Do not use your magic unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do, we will consider you a threat."
Eran nodded. "We'll be careful."
"One more thing," the warrior added, glancing at each of us. "Once you have entered our land, you will not be allowed to leave until the ritual is complete."
The seriousness in his tone made me uneasy. What kind of ritual required outsiders to stay trapped here?
As we followed them deeper into the village, the scene around us became clearer. The ground was filled with warriors—some sharpening their weapons, others eating, while a few sat in groups, engaged in hushed conversations. Their eyes turned to us, their gazes intense and judging.
A large man with a scarred face sneered at us. "Children? What are they doing here?"
The murmurs spread among the warriors, but the tribesmen guiding us ignored them and led us toward a shaded area.
I leaned toward Eran and whispered, "Is this mission supposed to be secret?"
Eran's face darkened. "I'm surprised, i think it is due to action of four demons are stopped.
We settled down under a large tree while Eran remained alert, observing every movement around us. Akriya approached cautiously.
"None of the tribal members are watching us. Should I create a wooden house for shelter?" Akriya suggested.
Eran shot him a sharp look. "Don't do anything reckless. If they consider it suspicious, we'll be in deep trouble."
Instead, we sat beneath the tree, discussing the situation while keeping an eye on the warriors around us. As night fell, Eran set up a night watch rotation. "One person will stay awake for four hours, then wake the next one. We need to be careful."
The night passed peacefully, though tension remained in the air.
The Ritual Begins
At dawn, a group of tribal members arrived and ordered us to follow them. We walked through narrow paths surrounded by towering trees until we reached a vast clearing. The ground was covered with soft grass, but the sunlight barely reached through the thick canopy of leaves above, creating an eerie, dim atmosphere.
In the center of the clearing, the tribe's leader stood tall, his long robes swaying in the breeze. He raised his hand, and a great bonfire was lit. The flames roared to life, their golden light dancing against the surrounding trees.
The ritual began. Tribal members moved in unison, circling the fire while chanting an ancient song. Their voices echoed through the clearing, a haunting yet beautiful melody.
I tried to understand the words, but they made no sense. I turned to Eran and whispered, "I can't understand their song. What are they saying?"
Eran shook his head. "It's an ancient tongue. Just stay quiet and observe."
The ritual continued, the chanting growing more intense. I felt uneasy, as if something unseen was shifting around us.
"I need to use the toilet," I muttered to Eran.
"Come back quickly," he warned.
Akriya decided to come along. As we stepped away from the ceremony, curiosity got the better of us. We wandered through the village, exploring the surroundings.
That's when we saw something unusual.
Behind a stone house, three warriors stood, arguing intensely with a lone figure. Their voices were low but aggressive. Before we could react, the lone man moved with blinding speed—his blade flashed, and in the blink of an eye, all three warriors were dead.
Blood splattered onto the ground as their heads rolled, their bodies collapsing like lifeless dolls.
I gasped. My eyes had barely caught the movement. It happened so fast that my brain struggled to process it.
Akriya grabbed my arm. "We have to tell Eran!"
Before we could move, the man who had just executed the warriors vanished into thin air, and the bodies disappeared as well. The ground looked untouched, as if nothing had happened.
Then, a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
I spun around, sword in hand, heart pounding. A tribal member stood there, his expression unreadable.
"What are you both doing here?" he asked, his tone firm.
Akriya quickly responded, "We just came here to… use the toilet. We're going back now."
The warrior narrowed his eyes. "Do not move. The chief and leader are coming here. Bow your heads in respect."
I wanted to protest, but then I saw them—approaching from the other side of the stone house was a man wearing a crown, flanked by several warriors.
The warrior beside us immediately bowed his head, so Akriya and I followed his lead.
The Leader's Ritual
The leader stepped in front of the stone house. He unsheathed a blade and sliced his palm, letting blood drip onto his other hand. With a steady motion, he began drawing strange symbols onto the stone with his blood.
A low rumbling sound filled the air. The ground trembled slightly as the symbols on the stone began to glow. Then, with a deep groan, the stone shifted, revealing a hidden doorway. A brilliant blue light seeped from within.
My heart pounded. What was this place? What was behind that door?
The chief stepped forward and presented a key to the leader, bowing deeply. The leader took the key and inserted it into the lock. As soon as it clicked open, the door creaked, unleashing a powerful gust of cold wind.
Just then, everything changed.
A man and a woman appeared out of nowhere, dressed in dark robes, their eyes gleaming with malice. They moved with terrifying speed, cutting down guards in mere seconds.
Shouts erupted as warriors tried to fight back, but the intruders were too fast. Blood splattered the ground as bodies fell one after another.
The tribal warrior beside us ran to join the fight. Akriya and I hesitated for a moment, then exchanged a determined glance. "We have to protect him," I said.
Suddenly, I saw Eran, Ryoshi, and Lucior approaching, their weapons drawn.
"Are you both safe?" Eran asked urgently.
"Then suddenly Eran shouted, "Protect the door!" He vanished into the chaos, fighting to protect the people. Akriya quickly grew a giant tree to block the stone house's entrance, shielding it from the attackers.
As the battle raged on, chaos consumed the once peaceful ground. Warriors clashed, steel against steel, as the sky darkened with the intensity of the fight. Then suddenly, a black lightning-covered hand tore through the massive tree Akriya had grown to protect the stone house. The sheer force shattered the thick trunk, sending splinters flying like deadly arrows. Akriya stumbled back, shocked at how effortlessly his barrier was destroyed.
The leader emerged from the house, his expression a mix of confusion and fury. "What is happening here?" he shouted over the noise.
I immediately yelled back, "Stop! Don't come out of the house!" and sprinted toward him. When I reached him, he grabbed my arm, his eyes demanding an explanation.
"I don't know exactly what's going on," I admitted, breathing heavily. "But most of the warriors are betrayers! They are killing the tribe and targeting this house. I think this attack is on you.
The leader's eyes darkened with understanding. "I see…No this attack is not on me, This has happened before. Every time the den's gate opening ritual is performed, an attack occurs. They want what is inside this house… the book." He clenched his fists. "If they are this aggressive, then the Upper Four Demons may be here."
Just as he spoke those words, a bright blue light flashed in the air. My eyes widened as I saw Lucior hurling his electrified sword straight at the leader! .