SACRIFICE.
"Should we kill him?"
Suddenly, Joseph heard those words, which sent shivers down his spine.
"Not now, he is a sacrifice."
What sacrifice?
Joseph just heard them with a nervous look. By the sounds of it, he could tell they weren't far from him.
"Can't we taste him? He looks tasty to me."
"No, not now. He is the sacrifice for our tribe."
What are they even talking about?
Sacrifice, eating... Aaaaahhhh, someone please save me!!!
Joseph cried deep inside his mind while staying still, not letting them know he was hearing them.
"Let's go. We have to make arrangements for today's sacrifice."
"Yes."
Thud...
Gasp...
After Both of them left the place Joseph took a gasp of relief for the time being.
I have to do something, or I'll be gone!
Joseph struggled to get out of his restraints, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get out.
Damn it, what should I do?
Joseph started to panic as he couldn't find any way to get out of this situation.
If only my mark had some cool powers...
Wait!!!
Joseph touched his left hand with his right hand and felt the strange mark carved into his body.
I don't know what it does, but it seems this is the best time to find out!
Joseph spoke to himself as he slowly channeled his mana towards his left hand.
Come on, plot armor or anything, I know there is some kind of power hidden in my hand, just come out, pleaseeeeee.
"Huh?"
A surprised tone escaped Joseph's mouth as his mana hit his left-hand mark. Suddenly, a cold and chilly feeling took over his body, and that feeling was replaced by a hunger to devour anything.
What is happening to my body?
Joseph spoke to himself, and suddenly the mark started to glow red as it hungrily sucked every drop of mana inside his body.
What's happening?
Joseph spoke as he felt his body drying up. All the mana he had accumulated after he got some rest and some food just vanished inside the mark, and a sudden dizziness took over his body.
Wh...Th....H..ck!!!
Joseph tried to say something, but no matter how hard he tried, his body didn't listen to him, and he lost consciousness.
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Meanwhile, somewhere near the cave area, two figures stood wearing big cloaks and hiding their faces.
"This is the place..." a girl spoke in a low tone.
The other person just nodded without saying anything.
"Then let's go. We have to carry out this job swiftly." The girl spoke with a meaningful look in her eyes, while the other person just followed her lead without changing his expression.
THUD...
"What's this feeling?" Suddenly, a dark feeling spread through the surroundings as the girl looked towards the place with a worried look.
Suddenly, a warm feeling spread throughout her right thigh.
"It can't be..." Her eyes widened with shock and surprise.
She looked towards the cave with a serious face while the other person stood there looking at her with expressionless eyes.
"There is someone like me..." she muttered to herself as she looked towards the other person, whose only eyes were visible.
"Let's move..." she spoke, and the other person just nodded his head and followed her closely.
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What the heck!!!
Joseph found himself inside a dark place. He was very afraid about his condition right now. Though darkness didn't scare him, the unknown did.
What's that??
As Joseph examined his surroundings, his eyes met a weird-looking stone wall.
Joseph slowly walked towards the stone wall to examine it and found several carvings written on it.
The stone wall was very weird as it was just standing there out of nowhere with a big circle-like form with weird carvings engraved over the surroundings of the wall.
It's like a seal!!!
Joseph's eyes widened as he looked towards the wall with a big circle acting as a gate and many weird symbols carved on the sides of the wall.
I knew it there is Some hidden Power inside me...I just have to find a Way to Unlock it...
There are exactly thirteen symbols!!!
Joseph slowly touched the wall with light hands and felt a cold sensation spreading through his body.
What's happening???
Suddenly Joseph felt his mana getting drained from his body, and suddenly the wall started to shine in a bright red color, which started to change into black.
Joseph took his hand back and looked towards the wall, which had stopped shining.
Wait, that symbol... it's glowing!
Joseph looked at a particular symbol that had a small shine to it before it got extinguished as if it had lost its power.
Wait, that symbol... it's the same as my mark!
Joseph looked at his arm and saw a mark that was left for him by the previous body owner.
Yep, no doubt about it... both are identical.
So does that mean these symbols are marks, and there are thirteen mark holders?
Joseph looked towards the seal with a frown on his face.
Joseph turned his Gaze towards his arm and then took a deep breath and with an Unwilling Expression reached out his hand toward the wall again.
Well... we'll see what will happen...
Joseph slowly touched the wall and felt his mana get sucked by the wall, but this time he didn't take his hand away and stood there firmly.
The wall again started to shine with a light red color, which again started to turn black.
The red color slowly followed its way toward a symbol on the right and started to shine in a deep red light.
That's it... I can't pour much mana or I'll fall unconscious...
Joseph took his hand back, and the red shine also disappeared without a trace.
Joseph clenched his fist as his hand felt sore.
He looked towards the wall which had some cracks on it but was still standing there very strong and wondered.
I can feel it... there is something behind this wall...
If I want to know about this, then I surely need more mana...
Joseph looked towards the wall with many symbols engraved on it. He started to remember the symbols in his mind but suddenly a weird thought spread inside his brain.
If these are symbols, then where is mine??
Joseph had two symbols on both of his hands. There was one symbol that belonged to the real Joseph, but the second symbol that belonged to him was missing from the wall.
Now that I think about it... that symbol is the main reason I'm here...
I poured my mana into it and then suddenly lost consciousness... wait...
A worried look came on his face as he looked around his surroundings.
How will I leave this place? If I don't do anything, they'll kill me...
Joseph grabbed his head with a sullen look and started to think.
This body was useless for him, but still, he had to say that this body had some advantages, including his brilliant and fast mind and a very cute face.
I have to think... wait...
Joseph looked towards his other hand where his mark was situated.
If this thing can bring me here, then there is a possibility that it can also take me out.
Joseph took a deep breath and nodded to himself as he got ready to get sucked dry by his mark again. He focused the last bit of his mana into his mark, which this time, for some unknown reason, didn't hungrily devour his mana.
Feeling that his mana was in his control this time, he took a sigh of relief as he felt his consciousness get pulled away from this place.
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"We are here..." At the same time, the girl and the mysterious person entered the cave entrance. The cloaks they were wearing protected them from the bone-cracking winds.
"What's this?" The girl spoke with a narrowed look. There was a section in the cave from which some smoke was coming out.
She walked towards the area and saw a place that was closed from three sides due to the big broken rocks that had fallen from the ceiling.
"Someone was here... it's still not cold... Though the fire has stopped, it is still emitting some warmth and has some smoke coming out of it."
She looked ahead with a serious look and signaled the other guy to move towards the deeper section of the cave.
The guy, just like a loyal servant, nodded his head and moved ahead while she followed him from behind.
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"Is he ready?"
In a dark room, there were five people. While four were kneeling on the ground, the other person stood straight.
"Yes, Elder... He's ready for the sacrifice."
One of them spoke with a little tremble in his voice.
"Very well... then let's present them this boy."
With a deep elderly tone, the other person spoke, and hearing him, the other four stood up while their faces were still looking toward the ground.
"May the Lord accept our gift!"
"May the Lord accept!"
"May the Lord accept!"
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Everyone started to chant the same thing with a pleased look on their faces as the elder, who had many wrinkles on his face and didn't have any upper clothing other than some leaf-made shorts, had an evil smile on his face.
'May the Devil accept our sacrifice...'