Sacrificial Ritual

Dylan and the rest thread the way cautiously. "Be careful, the water is about to go up. This is the first challenge of this place. The Tide of Death Water." Having the advantage of foresight, Dylan quickly explained the three trials in this Star Domain.

Just as Dylan had finished his explanation. A puddle of black water began to rise. In just a minute, the water rose to the level of their knees.

The feeling of the water was strangely just like the air. No temperature nor texture, just caressing their skin like it doesn't even exist.

The more this is so... The more it made them unsettled. Orochi quietly rose higher, preventing the black water with an unknown effect from making contact to his feet. After all, the fear unknown is the oldest fear that exists and also the most frightening.

"Hmmm... Has it stopped rising? Is it just knee level? If that's the case, it's not that much of a problem."

"Are you an idiot? We don't even know what side effects it has when we let it touch our skin! In my opinion, we should have retreated while it was still early. The color of the water itself, at first glance, seems like bad news to me."

"Just because it's black?"

Dylan heave an annoyed sigh. "I've already explained the matter of black water, right? Don't make such a fuss! This water comes from the decomposition of corpses of beasts all over the entire Midnight Shadow Mountain. They were liquidized to a high concentration that's why the black color."

"Damn it! Telling us that doesn't make it less disgusting! What if we encounter an unknown disease?"

"There's nothing like that." Dylan smiled warily. "You can even drink it to quench your thirst. The real danger comes from its rise. Every two hours, the water would begin to ascend. It would reach the point that it would submerge everything inside this hall."

"We must hurry then." Kevin urged.

With just a few walks, although the water slightly hindered their mobility, they reached a black crystal ball suspended in the air.

"What is the origin of this black crystal? What is its damn purpose?"

Kevin leisurely reached out with his hands.

At this time, Dylan caught Kevin's hand with an apprehensive look. "Can't keep your hands to yourself huh..."

Orochi on the other hand, felt that the black crystal orb has a high degree purity of space law and one law that he couldn't determine.

What are laws? They're the elements or concepts that mages tried to comprehend in their lifetime to strengthen their spells and increase their power.

There are basic laws, such as the five elements, and higher laws, such as space and time.

Just comprehending a tiny bit of time law would take even an archmage a hundred years, depending on his talent and comprehension.

However, just a tinge, once successful. It would propel their power to greater heights and allow them to apply the law of time to their spells or even learn spells with time attributes.

Now, Orochi could actually feel the law of time! Unfortunately, it's not compatible with his godhood. He possessed the Sun Godhood after all. Not the Space Godhood. Still, if he could obtain such treasure that is rich in the law of space. It's undoubtedly a windfall!

Suddenly, Orochi saw Dylan reach out for the black crystal with a subtle smirk on his face. An extreme sense of danger appeared in his heart.

'Not good! We were all fooled!'

Suddenly, a white light came out from the black crystal and an announcement appeared in the sky.

[The Soul Devouring Profession Stone had been activated. The stone acknowledged the NPC Dylan as its master.

Hereby, the soul sacrificial ritual officially starts!]

Along with the text that announces an ominous statement. Silver shackles shot out from the black crystal, aimed at Orochi, Kenjaku, Hank, and Kevin.

The grin on Dylan's face became wider. Finally! The last step was about to be finished!

"Traitor! You treacherous mortal! I'll make you pay once I woke up again" Orochi bit his tongue. Golden blood came out of his lips.

He didn't want to use this escape method that would teleport him randomly somewhere in the world. It could be near, or it could be on the other side of the planet. Of course, he had a price to pay for using such a powerful life-saving method. That is, his strength would reset at zero and he would fall in 10 years of deep slumber. That means he needs to start from scratch again after he wakes up.

Just like that, Orochi's body released a strong golden light and his figure disappeared. Dylan, who saw this, felt disappointed. However, Kevin, Hank, and Kenjaku's souls were enough for the A-rank profession he desires. However, if Orochi, a god incarnation soul, was also sacrificed, the profession might have upgraded to S-rank directly. What a pity!

The silver shackles wrapped themselves to Hank and the other two who had attempted to flee.

Hank gritted his teeth and glared at Dylan in pain and hatred. With his eyes bloodshot, he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Dylan! What's the meaning of this!? We've got along well, right? We've treated you like a real friend! Why do you do this!!?"

"I didn't expect you to be that kind of person. What a sinister trap. You treacherous bastard! I'm already a scum but you're even worse than me." Kenjaku felt the shackles tightened. A piercing pain struck his soul and ground it to pieces gradually.

This was pure torture at the soul level. It was like their very being had been cut to pieces on atomic level!

"ARGHHH!!!"

The luster in Kenjaku's eyes disappeared as his soul could not bear the otherworldly pain any longer. His eyes became hollow, blank like a sheet of paper.

"Dylan, it's not too late yet! We've faced life and death battles together. How could you do this to us?" Tears streamed down Kevin's face as he looked at Dylan with a pleading look. The contorted expression reflected the excruciating pain that he was currently facing. His face shifted from sorrow, regret to despair.

Dylan looked at three people in front of him with pity. "Unfortunately, the benefit is too tempting for me to let go. I would like to thank you guys for the camaraderie we've built and for your painstakingly hard work. Risking your lives for my benefit." He sighed. With a sincere look, Dylan continued. "I'll be grateful to you all for as long as I've lived!"

"You despicable monster! You will sacrifice your comrades just for this!? What would you even get for doing this? Is it worth it!??" Hank screamed before his eyes dimmed and completely lost its vitality.

Kevin let out a self-deprecating laugh. "To think I'll be this naive to believe in your nonsense. All of this is a trap. I have to admit your scheme is devious. Is every moment and story we've shared just an act for you?"

"Now I've realized why you're not talking much along the way. That's why you're withholding a lot of information instead of letting us know the details and let Kenjaku come up with strategies. Really despicable..."

"Yeah, I was just acting all along. All of this is for the sake of benefits. Forgive me..." Dylan watched as the black crystal sucked the three completely. "Farewell..."