The five surviving Sacrifices turned around with trembling eyes, looking at the departing giantess.
"W-Wait!" one of them stammered.
She stopped, glanced over. "Argh? You think I'm your babysitter?! Why on earth would I do that?"
They gulped. They had nothing to say.
"Tsk, fine," she snorted. "I'll take you to the nearest town. You can do whatever you want from there. It's not my problem.
"And!" the giantess clenched her fist. "Don't even think about falling behind or complaining! I usually charge money for protection! A lot of money!"
Watching the fleeing youths, Ignis looked into the forest.
"Kain..." she turned around. "Roland... Can we...?"
"No. Miss. Ignis, that's out of the question," he shook his head. "Brigta is right, that girl is stronger than all of us. I don't know why she wants that guy, but if we get in her way, she'll kill us.
"I can't let that happen. It is my sacred duty to protect you."
...
Step. Step. Step.
Stepping along the river, Kain followed Valkyra.
"Where are we going?" Kain asked, glancing at the mountain in the distance. "Why did you save me?"
She stopped and turned around. "Because the Dark Horn followers don't deserve to use you - the Highest Sacrifice."
Kain raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Why? You're strong, but... what about the Curved Horn?"
His attempt to intimidate Valkyra with the Dark Horn's deity only elicited an ironic smirk from her.
"The Curved Horn? Oh, Highest Sacrifice, the Dark Horn's deity is on the lowest ring of the Sacrificial Bridge."
"So... Are you a member of a stronger cult?"
"No," she replied sharply. "My master has no cult. He entrusts his work only to a select few Blades. I am one of the Blades of the Crimson Reaper."
"And..." her voice trembled. "It is my duty to find the Highest Sacrifice and perform the ritual. Naturally, with honor to you and my master."
Kain frowned. 'Shit, I was a sacrifice for some bastards, now nothing has changed only the fanatic is much more dangerous.'
Then, he looked towards the forest. "What if I run away? It seems you, like the Dark Horn followers, can't hurt me."
Suddenly, Valkyra dropped to one knee, head down.
"With all due respect, Highest Sacrifice, but I can't let that happen. Don't worry, I'm strong enough to stun you and carry you on my shoulders if you choose to resist."
Kain was at a loss for words.
"That's..." he coughed. "Encouraging..."
...
Gray clouds covered the sky, blocking out the light from the risen sun, the blood moon left far behind.
Kain had followed Valkyra for three hours. As dawn approached, all he could achieve was blisters on his feet and ropes binding his hands tightly.
Strangely enough, Valkyra didn't mind talking to him and answering his questions. To her, he was a valuable thing, not a person.
'Hmm, so the Bridges are sort of pantheons for the deities of the Astral Dimension, and rings are levels, bottom to top, from weakest to strongest, right?' Kain pondered as he followed Valkyra down the winding path by the cliff. 'Who is the Blind Twin in that case? He's probably part of the Sacrificial Bridge too, should I ask her that...?'
The decision was made quickly.
"Valkyra!" he called out to her. "You said this place is called the Dormant Worm Mountain?"
She nodded.
"Why?"
"It's simple, the Highest Sacrifice. As the name implies, the great worm is asleep. It takes a good reason for it to awake, and it's unlikely to happen during the day," she emotionlessly replied. "I can't protect you from such a creature, but it won't be necessary. The path over the mountain is the shortest way to the Forgotten Tomb."
'I see... This is the site of my next execution, but I'm not going to die.'
Step.
Kain approached the edge as Valkyra abruptly turned around, staring at him intently.
"Highest Sacrifice... What are you doing?" she became wary, her shadow shuddering filling with eyes.
Kain, glaring at the peaks hidden by the mist shrugged. "Nothing, I just wanted to ask you a question."
"Sure, I'll answer everything. Just step away from the cliff! The ground here is loose, you could fall!"
"I don't think so."
He stared at her.
"Valkyra, what do you think luck is?"
"Agh...? Highest Sacrifice I don't know what you mean..." she gulped.
Kain sighed. "Luck, is it when things happen the way you want them to at the right moment, or is it when bad luck bypasses you? Unfortunately, I'm devoid of both the former and the latter.
"But, that's not a problem."
Step.
Kain came to the very slope, one more step, and he would crash straight into the bottomless abyss.
He turned around, staring at her, the cold wind blowing against his back.
"Kain Linch."
"What?" Valkyra's eyes went wide.
"My name is Kain Linch, not the Highest Sacrifice, you stupid bitch!"
Then, he jumped back.
"NO!!!!"
Valkyra's scream shattered her cold expression. She rushed forward, the hounds bursting out of her shadow, but it was too late.
With eyes brimming with tears, she could only watch the falling Kain, not long before the pikes would pierce his body.
At the same moment, a wild shudder went through the entire mountain as if a great earthquake had begun.
Or... something awakened in the depths.
A massive creature burst out, shattering the layer of stone with a roar, coming out of its long slumber.
GGGROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!
The shrill sound of the worm echoed for kilometers, catching Kain with its body, weighing no more than a flea.
All the beasts, monsters, and humans around, froze listening to the doom.
Some were wary, some hid in burrows, and others smirked, spotting an opportunity.
Clinging to the worm's fur, Kain held on with his last strength, the forests and lakes passing before him to a blurred shroud.
But, a random rock struck his forehead, weakening his grip.
With a muffled pain, Kain collapsed onto the hill, rolling down the slope, miraculously avoiding the protruding snags and sharp rocks until he finally landed.
Step.
A shadow fell over Kain, forcing him to raise his head, blood pouring down his face. A silhouette half-hidden in the bright sunlight towered over him, holding a spear with a slain rabbit over his shoulder.
"Hah, you're a tough guy. How are you feeling?"
Kain spat out a clot of blood. "Been much better..."
The man smiled broadly, looking at the raging worm in the distance.
"Good answer. The kind a hunter should have!"