Under the light of the blood moon, the wooden cage swayed, held on the shoulders of the four guards. The seven youths in red cloaks inside knew what awaited ahead. They could not change that, for they were the Sacrifices.
Slowly, one of them opened his eyes painfully.
"Kai... Kain! Can you hear me? Answer me!"
In the blurred veil, he saw Ignis's fiery hair and her bright amber eyes, rare gems.
Kain smiled weakly, waking up with that view was not a bad thing. "Yeah... I guess so..."
Once in the corner, Kain glanced at the mark on his chest - now it was complete.
'I don't know what that menacing old man did, but before I passed out, I saw a stream of runes. Hm. If I'm a Sacrifice, I've gone to the next level right now, something like that, right?''
[Name: Kain
Codex: -
Mark: Forsaken Sacrifice
Rank: Tarnished
Core: Shattered
Traits: [Cursed Blood] [Frost Veins] [Lost Lamb]
Runes: [Tainted] [Rune Brand]
[Frost Veins] Trait description: [The blood flowing through your veins is not like others. Scaring you or enraging you is possible, but is a true ordeal, especially in the face of death.]
[Lost Lamb] Trait description: [Lamb that ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time... The desire to survive will always signal a coming disaster... Run, run, and keep running until your legs can no longer move, when you will reach a dead end... Only then will the lamb will become a ...]
Kain nodded deeply, the runes lost in the depths of his eyes.
'It seems all the Traits worked even when I was unaware of the details of two of them. That explains why I was so calm in the face of the monster...' he frowned. 'The last Trait is strange, I'll have to look into it later. I have more important things to do now.'
How to get out of the cage?
How to survive and not become another sacrifice to the Dark Horn?
And, more importantly...
'How to find the Ascension Rune?'
Thump.
The cage descended. A black-haired giantess opened the door, her green eyes glittering beneath the dark edge of her hood.
"Come on. If the sacrifice is brought late then that prick Olaf won't pay us in full," she threatened hurrying them on.
One by one, the youths left, Ignis turned to see Kain going last.
The giantess smirked. "You need a special invitation?"
With a snort, Kain stepped forward as a sudden shiver ran through his body. He abruptly turned around, looking into the distant darkness of the forest.
'What, what is this strange feeling...? Is there someone hiding out there? Is it the Dark Horn's enemies, or did someone come here personally after me?'
A massive palm slammed on his back, pushing him forward. "Go ahead, everyone is waiting for you!"
The smell of blood wafted up Kain's nose as his eyes headed forward. The Dark Horn followers hurriedly prepared for the ritual, setting up torches and thrusting stakes into the ground. Ahead was a small lake, with water as red as blood.
Mork approached Kain, leading him to the seal in front of the lake. "It is time to fulfill your duty. We will remember every one of you - oh, honorable Sacrifices."
Equal distance apart, Kain, Ignis, and the other five Sacrifices stood on the edge of the seal. A wide-open paw with four claws was depicted in the center.
Kain frowned, searching around. 'I was expecting to see a pentagram or something similar, but... this is even worse.'
Soon, one follower after another began to kneel, keeping their arms folded. Only the young ones did this, the older followers got down on one knee, and old men like Mork stood straight on two legs. The giantess and the other four guards remained to the side.
Olaf stepped forward, standing between the lake and the seal. No amulet was visible, but a massive black staff appeared in his hand like a log charred in a fire, a screaming face frozen on top of it.
Thump.
The seal erupted from the impact on the ground as the surface of the lake shuddered, expecting fresh blood.
Then, the followers began to chant, quietly afraid to overlap the elder's shout.
"Great Curved Horn..." Olaf spread his arms out to the sides, the red energy surging out of the seal, heading towards the youths. "Accept the offering from your faithful servants and take the flesh and blood of the prepared Sacrifices!"
Kain's eyes went wide, staring in fear at the energy covering his legs like a deadly cocoon.
'Fuck! This is no longer a joke at all! I have to get out of here, right now!' his eyes twitched towards the lake.
He was willing to take the risk. Anything was better than being a victim.
Whoooooooooooosh.
Cutting through the wind currents, the blades thrust into the heads of the three followers. Before they could realize anything, a shadow swept between their ranks, blood gushing out.
"Agh...?" Mork lowered his gaze, blood flowing from his neck, flooding his old palms.
He slumped, taking one last look at Kain, then his gaze darkened forever.
"What's going on here?"
"We're under attack!"
With a menacing look, Olaf waved his hand.
"Guards, get to your work! The ritual must go on!"
"Yes!" The two guards drew their swords from their belts as a multitude of red eyes suddenly appeared behind them.
The jaws of the dark hounds clawed into their shoulders, tearing them apart. One of the hounds appeared next to the giantess.
"Get away!" she roared with a powerful kick, throwing the hound back into the forest.
At the same time, the unknown silhouette continued to slaughter one Dark Horn follower after another. However, Olaf was not going to be distracted - he had to complete the ritual. It only needed him - the Executor and the Sacrifices - to do so.
"What the...?" Olaf's eyes went wide. Five youths shackled with fear stood inside the seal, while Kain and Ignis ran away.
'Hurry, fuck!' Kain inwardly roared, the forest was close.
The staff crashed to the ground as the eyes of the crying face flashed. The dark flames moved away from Olaf, running across the ground in all directions.
"You are going nowhere, dear Sacrifices..." his voice wheezed, carrying no malice, but frustration.
In a heartbeat, a blaze rose right in front of Kain, who was ready to flee.
'Shit! How did he do that!' Kain gritted his teeth, looking back.
Only Olaf could cancel the cage.
Or... his death.
Two blades pierced the chest of the third guard, leaving him not even chance. His massive body crumbled with a clatter, revealing the silhouette behind.
Shadows ran at her feet, her blue eyes shining brightly, gazing intently at Kain.
"Highest Sacrifice..." she whispered, a cold vapor drifting over her shoulders. "I will save you..."