Adam motioned to the leopard-bug unit, he asked it to relay a message through the hive mind, requesting the transportation of the incapacitated wolf back to the hive.

The unit's multifaceted insect eyes flickered with understanding. It stood still for a moment, seemingly communicating silently through the intricate network that connected all hive units.

Within moments, another hive unit arrived. This one was a large beetle-like creature, it's hard, glossy shell reflecting the faint light of the forest. It had a sturdy frame and a pair of strong, pincer-like appendages that made it perfectly suited for the task at hand. With careful precision, it hoisted the unconscious wolf onto its back and skittered away.

"Come on," Adam said, leading Stella towards Zara who was once again perched on her throne in the hive staging grounds.

"Ah, you must be Stella, Adam's friend," Zara said. Her stature was commanding, and she sat once again on her throne, adding to her air of authority. Yet, her tone held an unexpected warmth that made her seem less intimidating.

Stella, for her part, was taken aback by Zara's appearance. Adam thought, ‘Guess she didn’t expect Zara to look human’ Despite her initial apprehension, she met Zara's gaze with a determined look in her eyes.

"Yes, I am. And you're Zara, I presume?" Stella asked, her voice steady and tone curious.

She knew that Adam had a deep level of trust in Zara, and she was eager to understand the nature of their relationship.

Zara nodded, a small smile playing on her mandibles. "Indeed, I am. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Stella. Adam has spoken highly of you."

Stella took a deep breath, her eyes scanning over the staging grounds activities and the overbearing hive structure in the background. "This place... it's incredible," she said, a hint of awe in her voice. "How did it all come to be?"

Zara smiled at Stella's curiosity. "The hive is an extension of my being, a manifestation of my will and power in the Dreamverse. It grew as I did, evolving and adapting to my needs."

Stella looked at Zara with wide eyes, fascinated. "And the Dreamverse... it's so different from Earth. How does it all work?"

From the corner of his eye, Adam observed as Zara patiently began to explain the intricacies of the Dreamverse to Stella. He could see the way she wove tales of what the Dreamverse is, the system that runs it, and the awakening that beings go through to awaken their talents.

Watching Stella's reaction, he noted how her initial fear and wariness were gradually replaced by a growing comfort and respect for Zara. The conversation seemed to shine a light on why Adam valued Zara's presence so much. The Hive Empress was not just a being of immense power, but also a wise leader.

Adam, however, was itching to get back to business. He interrupted their conversation, "You two can get to know each other later on. Right now, we have an apocalypse to deal with."

Stella's expression turned serious at his words.

Turning to Zara, Adam said, "I need some help understanding something. I bought a blueprint from the shop that requires units of wood. Do I just cut some of the trees down?"

“What blueprint?” Zara listened attentively as Adam explained the new blueprint he had acquired. After considering for a moment, she decided to help him out. "I have units of wood in storage that you can use. It should be enough for your blueprint."

Zara reached across, her fingers gently pressing against Adam's forehead. A message popped up before his eyes.

*[Zara’Yebrel’Rukk’Zol, Level ??? (Tier ???)] is trying to give you three units of wood. Will you accept? Yes/No*

He selected 'Yes'

*You have received 3 units of wood.*

"Remember, your followers can gather more by cutting down trees, or you can trade with others for it," she explained.

Zara then promised to provide the necessary blood for the altar. She closed her eyes, sending a silent command through the hive mind. Soon, a vial filled with dark red liquid was brought before her. "I'd like to be there when you perform the first sacrifice," she said. Adam nodded in agreement.

Next, they needed a suitable location for the altar. It would be used often and needed to be accessible without hindering the hive's activities. Zara assured Adam that an area would be cleared for this purpose.

"Follow this hive unit," she instructed, gesturing towards a nearby creature. "It will lead you to the area. Meanwhile, I will give a primer on the Dreamverse to Stella."

Stella hesitated for a moment but ultimately agreed to stay behind with Zara.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Adam followed the hive unit to the designated location. Pulling up the blueprint, he checked that all the necessary resources were available. After verifying everything was in order, he spent one soul shard, 100ml of Tier 0 blood, and the three units of wood Zara had given him.

As soon as he clicked on 'Build Blueprint', the altar materialized before him, its ornate design and foreboding presence fitting for the solemn rituals it was meant to host. Adam took a moment to admire the altar, noting its intricate carvings and the faint energy that seemed to emanate from it.

Adam studied the altar closely, tracing his fingers over the etched designs and feeling the residual energy it emanated. Satisfied, he turned his attention to the Cult Shop and purchased the Sacred Sacrificial Ritual Scroll using his remaining two soul shards and 3000 dream coins.

When the scroll materialized in his hands, he found it completely blank. Puzzled, he glanced at the hive unit next to him and suddenly a message popped up:

*Found a suitable sacrificial target. Would you like to see the sacrificial ritual information for the target? Yes/No.*

Choosing 'No', he decided to bring forth the wolf he'd selected as a sacrificial target. He asked the hive unit to bring the wolf over. When the wolf was brought before him, he clicked 'Yes' on the message.

To his surprise, words began to materialize on the previously blank scroll. They appeared as if written in blood, a chilling sight. Adam poured over the information, a frown creasing his forehead as he tried to comprehend the strange requirements for a sacred sacrifice. A wolf's left ear, a paw from a large cat, and blood from three different dogs, all to be done during a full moon. It was perplexing, to say the least.

"Well, the sacred sacrifice is out," Adam muttered to himself. He didn't have the necessary items or the time to acquire them. His only option was to perform a normal sacrifice. He read through the instructions for this. It was straightforward enough - place the conscious, un-drugged wolf on the altar and stab it with his sacrificial knife.

Adam sighed as he read the words he was required to speak. They were sinister and needed to be spoken with a certain tone and pitch. He practiced a few times, the solemnity of what he was about to do sinking in.

Steeled for the impending ritual, Adam turned to the hive unit next to him and instructed, "Tell Zara I'm starting the ritual. She may want to watch."

The hive unit's eyes glazed over momentarily, then focused again. Speaking with Zara's voice, it replied, "There's no need, I'll observe from here. I'm still sharing information with your little friend. You go ahead and start the sacrifice."

Adam nodded in acknowledgment and took a deep breath to steady himself. He ordered the hive unit holding the immobilized wolf to place it on the altar. He reached into his inventory and pulled out his sacrificial knife, its blade gleaming ominously.

With an air of solemnity, he started performing the sacrificial ritual, uttering the prescribed words with a chilling precision.

Adam drew a deep breath, gathering his thoughts and focusing his intent. The terrified wolf lay on the altar beneath him, its eyes wide with fear. He held the sacrificial knife aloft, the blade glinting ominously under the hive's dim light.

"Under the gaze of death and dreams, I, Adam, the Soul Sovereign, stand as the arbiter of life and death," he began, his voice echoing through the cavernous hive. His words rang with a deep, commanding authority that permeated the air.

"In the name of our immortal cult, we acknowledge the mortality of our sacrifices. This wolf, a creature of the wild, a symbol of freedom and untamed power, offers its life willingly in the face of our dominion," he continued, locking his mismatched eyes with the terrified creature.

He pointed the knife towards the wolf, tracing an intricate path in the air. "This life, bound by the natural law of the wild, now feeds the ever-lasting existence of our cult. Its soul, untamed and free, now bound by the eternal cycle of death and rebirth."

Lowering the blade, he concluded, "In the grand theater of existence, this wolf surrenders its final act to the immortal script of our cult. In my divine name, I accept this sacrifice and offer it to the cosmos."

Taking a final, deep breath, Adam plunged the sacrificial knife into the wolf. The air was filled with an eerie silence, as if time itself was holding its breath.

Suddenly, his vision was flooded with system messages.

*+10 sacrificial points*

*You have received Soul orb (Tier 0)*

*You have sacrificed [Wolf, Level 8]. Applying sacrifice modifiers. Calculating…16 xp rewarded*

*You have received wolf’s fang*

*You have received…*

He'd earned a few miscellaneous items that the wolf would have dropped if Adam had looted it. But, Adam was happy seeing the 16xp; it was double what he would have gotten if he killed it in combat. It was a good sign it meant that he and his cult members will level up quicker than others, and Adam could power level his newer members that is if he has enough sacrificial targets, or he can even funnel the sacrifices into a single cultist and level them up rapidly.

He couldn't help but think that was a lot easier than he thought it would be. He didn’t stutter or even forget his words, it was like he had done many sacrificial rituals before, he found some of the steps strangely familiar. A realization dawned on him - his [Ritual Mastery I] skill must be assisting him.

As he looked over some of his other messages one of them stood out.

*You have completed a sacrificial ritual for [Wolf, Level 8] - [Immortal Dream Cult] has received reduced experience for sacrificing an enemy below it’s level*

Adam stood there, his mind whirring with plans and strategies. He had figured out how to level his cult, but the next step was a challenge. Where would he find tier 1 enemies to sacrifice? The act of sacrifice yielded more experience than traditional combat, but it wasn't as straightforward. It was a strategic balancing act; he couldn't lug every defeated enemy back for sacrifice. No matter how alluring the promise of experience was, it would just slow him down in the long run.

Adam rubbed his forehead, grappling with the emotional weight of his actions. Sacrificing a being for personal gain was far from a common occurrence. He thought he'd feel a pang of remorse, a twinge of guilt at the very least.

But he didn't. Instead, he felt indifferent. 'Well, there's nothing "normal" about any of this, is there?' Adam mused to himself, shaking off the unusual train of thought. This was the Dreamverse, after all. The wolf he had sacrificed was a hostile creature who attacked him. It was him or them. And the sacrifice had granted him invaluable knowledge and a slight boost in power.

A sudden thought struck him then. 'Stella. I need to check on her.' He glanced down at himself, noting the blood that stained his clothes. 'But first, a clean-up is in order.' His mind was already whirling with the next steps in his quest for survival and power.