Dyren and the others watched as Ereon's body was carried by the three robed figures. His entire body was covered in blood-streaked markings, forming strange, unique patterns.
Ereon didn't show any resistance. He looked as if he'd been tortured so horribly that he could no longer move. Saria, seeing that, kept screaming. She tried to break free from the chains on her hands and feet, but it was no use.
Not long after, Ereon's body was laid upon the altar. Blood began to be poured over him. Several other robed figures approached and circled Ereon's body.
"Let him go, you bastards! I'll kill you!" shouted Saria.
She tried to break free again, but it was all in vain. When she attempted to use her magic, she failed. No magic came from her body.
Kael tried the same, but the result was no different. Dyren just watched. He was deep in thought.
[New Mission: Save this world's Hero]
[Description: If Ereon—the hero of this world—dies, the world will be destroyed, including the user.]
That mission popped up again. Dyren clicked his tongue in frustration. He tried using magic, but it failed. There was absolutely no opportunity. He was thinking hard, because if Ereon died, then the world along with himself would be destroyed. Dyren didn't understand why this had to happen. It felt completely unfair.
"These chains neutralize magic," Dyren muttered.
He looked back at the altar. The brown-robed figures began chanting incantations in an ancient language Dyren and the others couldn't understand.
Their voices echoed, creating a strange, eerie atmosphere. The torches on the walls flickered in sync with their voices, as if the flames themselves were part of this dreadful ritual.
A magic circle began to glow beneath the altar where Ereon lay. The complex patterns carved into his body with blood started to shine a dark crimson red.
One of them raised a strange black dagger. Its blade was jagged and reflected red light. His hand trembled, but not from fear—rather from insane excitement.
"This is our offering to you, our great lord," he said, his voice echoing madly. "Accept our sacrifice. Grant us long life."
The man stabbed Ereon's chest, and light burst forth from Ereon's body. Saria screamed, but no one paid attention. The demon statue nearby responded instantly to the ritual. Its eyes turned bright red. Its limbs began to move.
A twisted smile formed on the statue's face. It crouched down and picked up Ereon's body, lifting him high, ready to devour him alive.
"O great lord, grant us long life and wealth!" begged one of the robed figures.
The others followed his lead. The demon statue raised its left hand. Blood dripped from it. The robed figures rushed forward to collect the falling blood, fighting and beating each other to claim it.
Meanwhile, the demon statue refocused on Ereon. It dropped Ereon's body and opened its mouth wide. It tried to swallow, but it realized Ereon's body didn't go down.
"Where is the offering?" asked the demon statue.
[New Mission Added: Kill Alzahkar — The Night Demon Knight]
[Reward: +2 levels, Fragment of Darkness]
Dyren laid down Ereon's body after successfully saving him. He had broken free by dislocating his own bones. Painful? Of course. But it was better than dying because he failed to protect Ereon.
"Protect him!" Dyren shouted to Saria and the others.
"What are you going to do?" asked Saria.
"I'm going to fight that demon. You guys just protect the hero, because those lunatics won't let Ereon be taken away," Dyren said as he gripped his sword, his hand trembling. He was holding back the pain of his broken bones. "Go now!" he urged.
Saria and the others nodded. Kael was about to say something, but Mireille pulled his hand first. They ran, fleeing the scene. Meanwhile, Dyren prepared for battle. He smiled—this was exactly what he wanted. A monster to fight.
"Take back my meal!" roared the demon statue.
The robed cultists ran after Saria and the others. They passed by Dyren, their goal clear—Ereon, their sacred offering.
Dyren used his skill. Dozens of skeletons emerged. He was ready to fight Alzahkar. The two locked eyes.
"You have an evil soul, human," Alzahkar pointed at Dyren.
"And you have a soul that's about to die."
Dyren charged forward and attacked. The skeletons around him followed. They moved with him into battle. The Skeleton Mages stayed in the back to provide long-range support, while the Skullguards took the front lines to shield Dyren from attacks.
"You're too arrogant, human!"
Alzahkar raised his hand. A pitch-black sphere appeared in the air. The orbs turned razor-sharp, and as Alzahkar moved his hand, the dark balls shot toward Dyren—almost thirty of them.
[Absolute Shield]
A large, glowing shield appeared right in front of Dyren. Alzahkar's dark attacks struck the barrier with brutal force, creating shockwaves that cracked the stone floor beneath them. Fractures spread from the impact, but the shield held firm.
"Oh, this is interesting," Dyren murmured, taking two steps back.
The shield didn't even break. Dyren grinned. His confidence soared. His skeleton army spread out to the sides. They moved swiftly, surrounding Alzahkar in a semi-circle formation, trying to divide his attention.
Alzahkar opened his mouth. Darkness gathered in his throat. He unleashed an attack from his mouth, obliterating all of Dyren's skeletons.
"You're pretty strong. Let's see which of us is stronger," Dyren said, growing more serious.
***
Saria and the others ran while Mireille carried Ereon on her back. They were chased by the brown-robed cultists, all wielding weapons. At first, they looked like crazed humans obsessed with Ereon, but slowly, their auras changed.
When Kael looked back, their appearances shifted. Their bodies grew taller, their skin turned red, their eyes black, with curling rat-like tails and horns on their heads. Kael was shocked by what he saw.
"They're not..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the villagers—now fully demonic—leapt and surrounded them from all sides. Their eyes burned with greed and desire for eternal life.
"Give us Ereon, and we'll let you go," one of them offered.
Saria smirked. "You think we're weak or something?" She pulled out her magic staff. "We are the Hero's party. You'll die here."
The villagers laughed. They began chanting strange ancient spells. A magic circle appeared beneath Saria and the others. They didn't feel anything at first, but a sense of dread crept over them. At that exact moment, the demon villagers rushed forward to attack.
"Fireball!" shouted Saria.
Nothing happened. Her magic didn't work.