Chapter 43

In the afternoon, beams of sunlight pierced through the forest, forming patches of light on the damp ground.

The tree canopy completely blocked the sky, casting a deep green hue over the mountains. A breeze blew, causing the treetops to rise and fall, forming a sea of leaves.

Around the altar was a small square where the indigenous villagers stood under the sun, gazing devoutly at the blurry shadow of the demon god on the altar.

The high priest offered the sacrifice, and a dark blue flame instantly consumed the demon's head. Then, he raised his staff high, prostrating himself at the feet of the demon god's shadow. He seemed to be in a state of madness, shaking his body as if dancing the seaweed dance, while chanting a spell that made He Boqiang feel dizzy.

He Boqiang felt a wave of dizziness and couldn't help but press his thumb and middle finger against his temples, which made him feel slightly better.

Amidst the long incantation, the double-faced head of the demon god's shadow slowly turned, the smiling face now facing forward. The eyes, which were closed like a mask, slowly opened, emitting two beams of golden light. Even in the blazing sun, they were dazzling.

The two beams of light first fell on the high priest, granting her power. Her face turned a rosy hue. When she stood up and turned around, He Boqiang was shocked to see that her eyes had turned golden, like a burning sun, making it impossible for anyone to look at her directly.

The high priest, holding her staff in one hand and a dagger in the other, walked to the headless demon's corpse and squatted down, using the dagger to cut the corpse.

Augustus, standing below the altar, turned to Suldak and whispered, "Hey, this high priest's skinning skills are much better than yours, Captain."

Suldak glared at Augustus and hissed, "Shut up!"

Augustus chuckled and pulled back.

By this time, the high priest had already peeled a large piece of black-patterned demon skin from the demon's corpse. She walked to a native hunter, using the dagger to cut a wound on his forehead, letting the blood flow down his face. She then used the native's blood to draw strange symbols on the bloody side of the black-patterned demon skin.

Augustus became restless again and whispered to Suldak, "Captain, is this the black-patterned demon skin from the demon? What is this high priest planning to do?"

Begali, the swordsman at the front of the group, turned his head, his expression serious, and gave Augustus a stern look.

Augustus quickly raised his hands, indicating that he would not speak anymore.

The high priest then placed her hand on the native hunter's forehead, injecting divine power into his body, and draped the black-patterned demon skin over his back.

The native hunter's body underwent a dramatic transformation on the altar. His muscles rapidly swelled, and in a voice of suppressed pain, he transformed into a three-meter-tall giant. The black-patterned demon skin fused with his body, and when he opened his eyes, his face was covered in black patterns, his eyes blood-red, and he panted like an enraged bull.

He clenched his fists and slammed them together in front of his chest, creating a loud explosion on the altar.

The warriors of the second squad, standing below the altar, were so shocked they couldn't speak.

He Boqiang and Suldak exchanged glances, their shock evident.

The high priest drew a rune on the native hunter's chest, and he slowly regained his consciousness.

The high priest, Inoyatira, patted the native hunter's muscular arm, signaling him to step aside.

She then repeated the process with the second and third native hunters. By the time the sun was about to set, the ritual was complete.

The eight-meter-tall shadow of the demon god on the altar shattered into countless points of light and disappeared. The three demon corpses on the altar, now bloodied and mutilated, were carried away by several native hunters and soon vanished into the dense forest.

The high priest's divine power gradually faded, and she, supported by the young girl Moli, slowly descended from the altar.

The three native hunters followed the high priest down the altar, and the villagers on both sides of the altar made way for her.

There was no joy or excitement in the eyes of the native women and children. As the native hunters passed by, everyone placed their hands on them, their faces filled with concern, as if bidding farewell to tribal warriors.

The warriors of the second squad stood behind the natives. Red Socks, looking surprised, said:

"Turns out the natives of Handanar County can have such powerful warriors!"

Augustus also came over, his face filled with emotion, and said, "Captain, if they used such methods against us, our 57th Regiment would not have such an easy time, and we wouldn't be able to establish ourselves so easily at the foot of the forest."

Begali, the swordsman, walked over and said, "Actually, this ritual comes at a great cost. These three natives, through the ritual, forcibly obtained power their bodies cannot handle. This power is a double-edged sword. Once they lose the blessing of the divine body, this power will easily tear their bodies apart!"

The natives followed the three hunters to the high priest's wooden house and finally dispersed.

The warriors of the second squad followed them into the high priest's wooden house. The three native hunters sat silently by the pit, looking relatively clear-headed. The high priest was supported by the young girl to rest in a side room.

In the wooden house, besides the warriors of the second squad, there were only the three native hunters.

Red Socks, mustering his courage, asked, "Begali, do you mean they will die soon after gaining such powerful strength?"

Begali, deep in thought, replied, "That's right!"

Red Socks couldn't understand why the native hunters, knowing they would die, could remain so calm.

"Why would they make such a choice?" Red Socks couldn't help but ask again.

Begali looked at the entire native village and said, "Perhaps... to ensure that the rest of the tribe can live better."

He pointed to the other side of the valley and explained, "The demon gate is in this valley. Once the demons successfully pass through the gate, the native village in this valley will be the first to suffer. I have always been unwilling to leave this valley because I was the only one who could kill those demons."

Begali concluded, "I sent Moli with the animal skin scroll to seek help from the Grind Empire's warriors, which is why you have the opportunity to be here. The plan to eliminate the demon gate was jointly formulated by me and the high priest Inoyatira. I believe with our current strength, we can give it a try."

Not long after, the high priest Inoyatira, looking pale, was supported by the young girl Moli and walked out of the eastern wooden house, clearly exhausted from the ritual.

She first spoke a string of native language to Begali, then gave some instructions to the three native hunters. They stood up and bowed to Begali, acknowledging his leadership.

The high priest did not invite everyone to have dinner in the native village. After a brief conversation with the high priest, Begali led the second squad's warriors and the three native hunters back to their temporary residence in the valley's rock crevice.