?


    "Sir, the center of this cave is also referred to as ''Oksd''s Heart''," ck exined.


    Ethan and Eluna exchanged nces, nodding in acknowledgment.


    ck continued, "Previously, this ce was cloaked in darkness. But not long ago, violent tremors shook this region."


    "The rocks that were above the cave plummeted, sinking deep below the ground."


    "In other words, where we stand now should be the surface above the original center of the underground cave."


    "Hold on!" Ethan interrupted ck abruptly.


    "There''s a discrepancy," Ethan pulled out a map, saying, "ording to what you''ve said, if this is where the center of the cave copsed, the paths leading to this area should also have changed. Yet, as we followed the map''s directions, we encountered no such altered pathways."


    "Sir, ck is not lying," another voice chimed in.


    "From our investigations, not only were the central pathways of the cave unaffected, but even if someone deliberately caused a copse to block a certain route, it would revert to its original state after some time. It''s as if the cave is alive, capable of self-healing."


    "Self-healing!" Ethan''s pupils constricted, the horrifying scene of the devoureddy knight shing once again in his mind.


    Now, he was almost certain that this cave was a living entity.


    After a brief pause, ck resumed, "With the copse of the cave''s heart, the massive stone that resembled a heart also plummeted into the depths. But ever since, asional tremors, akin to a heart''s palpitations, are felt here."


    "Based on our and others'' analyses, we''re fairly certain that the Oksd''s Heart has reawakened."


    "Oksd is a deity of legends. Its heart, undoubtedly, holds immense power."


    "So, in our scramble for the Oksd''s Heart, a fierce conflict erupted. This battle led to the deaths of a majority, but it also unveiled the secret of the Oksd''s Heart to us," ck narrated.


    "Offer sufficient blood, and the Oksd''s Heart will release the Blood Source."


    "The blood-red mist we just witnessed isn''t some peculiar phenomenon. It was formed when the bodies of the deceased were thrown into the holes exposed on the ground, and then absorbed by Oksd''s Heart," ck continued, pacing onward.


    Guided by ck, the group reached another location.


    Set in the vast barren expanse, the ground was dotted with anomalous structures.


    Or rather, they couldn''t exactly be called structures — they were holes circumscribed by stones.


    These abyssal pits, leading to the unknown depths below, were the very channels to the Oksd''s Heart that ck referred to.


    "This is what we often refer to as the ''Land of Sacrifice''," ck gestured to one such encircled pit.


    "Sacrifice?" Ethan pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile, remarking, "That''s an intriguing way to put it."


    ck concurred, "In some legends, for mortals to acquire extraordinary power, they need to offer precious artifacts, various meats, or beautiful maidens to the deities."


    "The current method of obtaining the Blood Source is somewhat simr. Referring to it as a sacrifice is quite apt."


    "Of course, if you find it interesting, sir, then it surely is."


    "Now, there''s something even more intriguing. Would you like to see?" ck''s demeanor shifted as he spoke.


    His smile vanished, his face hardened, and he burst out in a fit of rage, "Arrogant boy, your hubris astonishes me! How dare you tread so recklessly into this territory with me? Did you really think I feared you earlier?"


    ck cackled wildly.


    Raising his hand, he ordered, "Everyone, let''s teach these presumptuous fools a lesson they won''t forget. Perhaps it''s time to bid them farewell."


    Pale Wolf, Eluna, Sherry, and Mia instantly sensed the looming danger, forming a defensive ring around Ethan.


    Ethan, however, gazed emotionlessly at ck, stating calmly, "My following you here was partially out of curiosity about the Blood Source''s origin. The other reason is my confidence."


    "If your tricks are limited to this simple Magic Circle, perhaps you should be the ones prepared for a sacrifice."


    "What do you mean? Have you detected the Magic Circle here?" ck asked incredulously.


    His face paled as he exchanged nces with hispanions, then snorted coldly, "Even if you''ve found it, what can you do? You''ve stepped into the range of the Magic Circle, escape is impossible now!"


    With that, ck swiftly took action.


    He and hispanions stood at specific points, channeling their energy into the ground beneath.


    Blue luminous lines emerged, intertwining to form intricate patterns, enveloping Ethan''s group and the gaping hole leading underground.


    "Die!"


    "Magic Circle, activate!" ck dered menacingly.


    However, in that very moment, a silvery figure streaked from the sky, reminiscent of lightning.


    ck, caught off-guard and defenseless, was directly hit by the figure.


    His body went rigid, a noticeable dent appearing in his chest.


    Though he wasn''t dead, he was gravely wounded.


    "What was that?"


    ck gasped, clutching his chest.


    With ck''s assault, the Magic Circle came to a halt.


    Ethan extended his arm and the Thunder Dragon, which had struck ck, descended from the heavens, alighting gracefully upon Ethan''s shoulder.


    It affectionately nuzzled Ethan''s face with its head.


    "From the very beginning, I had Thunder Dragon waiting in the skies," Ethan mentioned briefly without borating further.


    Apart from the Thunder Dragon''s intervention, the dormant little Baal had also awakened halfway through their journey to inform Ethan about the existence of the Magic Circle.


    Thus, Ethan had grasped the entire situation from the start.


    ck and hispanions, however, appeared somewhat confounded.


    They challenged Ethan, "If you were prepared and knew our fealty wasn''t genuine, why did you continue to follow?"


    "Why?" Ethan echoed with a mischievous glint in his eye.


    "Of course, it''s for the Blood Source!" He said cheerfully, walking towards the other members of the party.


    A realization dawned upon ck, fear etched on his face.


    He shouted at hispanions, "Run! He followed us deliberately to understand how the Magic Circle is activated and how to offer sacrifices to Oksd''s Heart! He''s turned us into the sacrificial offerings!"


    "What?!" The faces of the others went ashen in an instant.


    Ever since they entered the heart of this cave, they had offered countless sacrifices.


    And now, someone was targeting them. This was indeed infuriating. Yet, when faced with mortal danger, they chose flight over fury.


    "Flee? Think it''ll help?"


    Ethan uttered with a cold chuckle.


    Had ck and his group not turned traitorous, seeking to sacrifice Ethan and hispanions, Ethan wouldn''t have retaliated.


    After all, in such a chaotic ce, additional help would have been wee.


    But if they initiated a fight, they ought to be prepared to face death.


    Ethan, unleashing his full power, gave them no quarter.


    He darted across the terrain like a bolt of lightning.


    Sherry, Eluna, and others advanced, intercepting the fleeing group.


    The stringent requirements for using the Blood Source had hindered many, including ck''s lot.


    Hence, when confronted by Sherry and Eluna, they struggled to secure a quick victory.


    One of them had his throat pierced by Sherry''s dagger, while many others were held back, only to meet their end beneath Ethan''s lethal blows.


    Minutester, all had perished, save for the grievously wounded ck.


    ck copsed to his knees, pleading earnestly, "Please, spare me! I realize my mistakes!"


    "If all wrongs in this world could be righted by mere apologies, there wouldn''t be so much bloodshed. And remember, you''ve betrayed once, and you might again."


    Ethan dismissed ck''s plea.


    A surge of panic welled in ck''s heart.


    He then blurted out in a threatening tone, "Hmph! We''ve sacrificed many before and have amassed a significant amount of Blood Source."


    "We''ve hidden it in an extremely concealed ce, known only to me. If you kill me, you''ll never find it!"


    "Is that so?"


    The lively Thunder Dragon by Ethan''s side vanished. He gazed down at the kneeling ck, an expression of doubt on his face.


    Seeing this, ck mustered up some courage, "Exactly! And I can tell, your Bloodline is extraordinary."


    "Perhaps you can directly utilize the Blood Source. It would be a tremendous boost for you. Spare me, and I''ll lead you to its hiding ce."


    "That sounds tempting, but I don''t need it."


    Under ck''s stunned gaze, Ethan''s finger shot out a streak of lightning, piercing ck''s heart.


    Soon after, ck crumpled to the ground.


    Sherry and the others regrouped by Ethan''s side, asking, "Shall we try that sacrificial Magic Circle now?"