With the newly crafted bait in his inventory, Adam made his way back to the cliff face where the ibex roamed. As he cautiously approached the herd, he could feel the tension in the air, but he pushed on, determined to test his creation.
He needed to test the bait to see if all the work he put in crafting it was worth it.
Unsure of what to expect, he scattered the bait and retreated to a safe distance, watching intently. It didn't take long for one of the ibex to pick up on the scent.
With surprising eagerness, it scampered over and began feasting on the blood-ensnared delicacy.
Watching this unfold, a sense of triumph welled up within Adam. The bait was a success! However, this was merely the first hurdle.
His gaze shifted to the rest of the herd, a new problem already forming in his mind. How was he to isolate one ibex from the others?
A pitfall was his first thought, but he dismissed it quickly. These ibex were expert climbers, and their earth manipulation abilities would allow them to escape easily. He didn't have enough time, or resources, to construct an elaborate trap.
He pondered on this, growing increasingly frustrated. His [inventory] was devoid of anything helpful, leaving him at the mercy of his wits.
With a sigh, he realized that the solution was going to be more straightforward - he needed more bait. If he could make the bait more enticing, one ibex might stay longer, providing him the opportunity he needed. It was a simple plan, but right now, it was the best one he had.
---
With a plan in mind, Adam painstakingly created each bait using the same blood from the ibex, he was starting to run out of the ibex blood but he knew soon he would have more blood then he would need.
Each drop of blood he used made him a little weaker, but he knew it would be worth it if he could manage to ensnare an ibex.
He scattered the bait across various spots nearby the ibex.
He positioned himself at the furthest baiting spot, waiting patiently. He was banking on the stronger ibex claiming the bait closer to the herd, leaving a weaker one to venture further out.
Sure enough, an unsuspecting ibex ambled towards the bait. Its expression carefree, it didn't notice Adam until it was too late.
In one fluid movement, Adam lunged forward, his sacrificial knife delivering a swift [Soul-Piercing Strike II] to the ibex.
The creature bleated in pain, but before it could react further, Adam used [Soul Severance II], immobilizing it.
With a grunt of effort, he hoisted the paralyzed creature onto his shoulders and started running back to his sanctuary.
The sound of distant, frantic bleating echoed behind him, but he didn't dare look back. His only focus was on the mountain sanctuary. It was only his greater-than-average strength that allowed him to keep moving with the added weight of the ibex.
As he ran, an absurd thought crossed his mind: he must have been a comical sight, running with an ibex slung over his shoulder.
A faint smile touched his lips as he thought about this. Despite the danger he'd faced, he could still find humor in his situation.
With renewed vigor, he pushed on, reaching the safety of his sanctuary. He had managed to kidnap his first ibex; the first step of his plan was complete.
---
The journey back to the sanctuary was a grueling one. Four times, Adam had to call upon [Soul Severance II] to stun the ibex, each instance draining him a bit more. The ibex's strong will whittled away at the effectiveness of the skill, the duration shortening with each use.
As Adam let the ibex down onto the cold, stone floor of the sanctuary, he saw fear reflecting in its eyes. No doubt the creature was confused and scared, but he had a mission to accomplish.
Striding towards the altar, he retrieved hidden straps integrated into the stony structure. The moment the effect of the [Soul Severance II] faded, the ibex jolted, its fear transforming into frantic desperation.
"Calm down," Adam's voice was steady and unemotional. He swiftly delivered a punch to subdue the creature. He held no illusions of mercy or kindness – this was a task that needed completion, regardless of the means.
He strapped the ibex onto the altar. "It's just business," he murmured with an indifferent shrug, before turning away from the creature.
Adam then reached for the sacred sacrificial scroll. As his fingertips brushed over the ancient parchment, he reminded himself of the critical nature of this ritual. Even a minor misstep could jeopardize the entire sacrifice, turning his considerable efforts into dust.
The tuft of the mountain being absent from his inventory, Adam decided to go ahead with a regular sacrifice. The sacred ritual would have to wait.
He started practicing the gestures, his fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air, following the illustrations on the scroll. The ibex watched in muted silence, restrained and bewildered.
Adam then turned to the ibex, a strange idea brewing in his mind. "Have you heard of the Tuft of the Mountain?" He asked, his tone edged with a weird sense of hope.
The ibex, not understanding human speech, simply bleated in response. Frustration gnawed at Adam. He knew these creatures were intelligent, tier 1 beings, after all. But without a common language, the exchange was futile.
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Despite its limitations, the ibex seemed to comprehend Adam's inquiry. It gave a slow nod, a small confirmation that triggered a ripple of excitement in Adam. "Where is it?" He asked, anticipation fluttering in his chest.
But all he got was another bleat, echoing around the sanctuary.
Adam's hope quickly crumbled into disappointment. He didn't know what he had expected from a creature that couldn't speak.
As if understanding his frustration, the ibex tugged at the leather straps, its actions seeming like an attempt to lead him somewhere.
Adam shook his head, his face set in a stern mask. "I don't trust you to lead me to it. I'll find it on my own." The ibex's frantic bleat echoed through the sanctuary, a plea for mercy that Adam swiftly ignored.
He took a syringe, purchased earlier from the [Cult shop], and extracted some blood from the anxious creature. As he transferred the warm liquid into a separate vial, the ibex's cries escalated.
The ibex's pleas were piercing, a heart-wrenching call for help. Yet, Adam remained unfazed. "Enough of this," he asserted, his voice strong and commanding.
The ritual was about to begin; he couldn't afford any distractions.
Adam, resolute and aloof, advanced towards the bound ibex, the Immortal Dream Blade held aloft. Its intricate etchings shimmered in the stark, cold light of the sanctuary, the weapon radiating an ominous air of dread.
As he approached, the ibex struggled violently against its restraints, a desperate and futile attempt to break free. Adam, however, remained unfazed by its fear-filled thrashing, his focus unwavering.
Raising his free hand, Adam commenced the ritual with solemnity. "Under the watchful eyes of the cosmos, I, Adam, the Soul Sovereign, stand as the harbinger of life and death," he declared. His voice echoed throughout the sanctuary, a proclamation that seemed to permeate the very stones around him.
His hand moved in the air, tracing mystic symbols, his fingers flowing through an unseen canvas of power. He was the puppeteer, manipulating unseen strings, commanding the forces that lay beyond the veil of mortality.
"By the authority of our undying cult, we acknowledge the transience of mortal life. This ibex, embodiment of mountain tenacity, offers its life under our reign," he continued. His eyes, mismatched yet equally intense, bore into the terrified creature.
With the Immortal Dream Blade, he carved a complex pattern in the air, the weapon's path leaving a shimmering trail of condensed mana. "This life, captive to the untamed wilderness, now fuels our eternal existence. Its spirit, once resilient and free, is now entwined in the ceaseless rhythm of death and rebirth."
He brought the blade to a halt, its point hovering precariously above the quivering creature. "In the grand theater of existence, the ibex delivers its final act to the immortal play of our cult. In my divine name, I accept this sacrifice, offering it to the unfathomable cosmos."
Adam's gaze hardened, his mismatched eyes reflecting the chilling resolve within him. With a final, decisive motion, he thrust the Immortal Dream Blade into the ibex, putting an end to its struggle.
In the immediate aftermath, an eerie silence filled the sanctuary, a chilling stillness that bore witness to the grim scene. Adam stood over the now still creature, his face a mask of stoic resolve as the sacrificial ritual came to a gruesome end.
After the ritual, Adam kept his gaze on the ibex. System messages flooded his vision, but he swiped them aside. His focus was on the creature lying lifeless on the altar.
A strange thing began to happen. The ibex started to fade.
Like watching a piece of ice melt, it slowly disappeared, bit by bit. Its once solid form started to dissolve, turning into wisps of smoke that danced in the air. It was an eerie sight, one that filled the sanctuary with an uncanny silence.
This process kept going until the ibex was no longer there. It didn't just vanish, but it seemed to be drawn into the altar. The tier 1 sacrificial altar seemed to drink in the essence of the ibex, soaking up the last of its existence.
The altar glowed softly, a haunting light that reflected the energy it had absorbed. It was a sight that sent a chill down Adam's spine. Yet, at the same time, he felt a sense of accomplishment. The ritual was complete, and his task was done. The sight might have been creepy, but it marked the end of his task.
Adam inspected the altar, noticing a faint '1/10' glowing on the surface. He pondered what it could mean. ‘Something must happen when it reaches 10,’ he mused. It wasn’t in the altar's description; it was a mystery he'd have to solve on his own.
Once the eerie spectacle ended, Adam shifted his attention to the messages flashing on his system interface.
*You have sacrificed [Ibex, Level 17]. Applying sacrifice modifiers. Calculating…5000xp rewarded*
*+34 sacrificial points*
*You have received Soul orb (Tier 1)*
*You have received…*
'Wow, that's a hefty chunk of experience,' Adam thought, his excitement bubbling up. He was on the brink of level 14 now. Just one more sacrifice and he'd reach that milestone. His anticipation soared.
The rewards from this sacrifice also brought a grin to his face. His very first tier 1 soul orb was a promising start, and the hefty sum of dream coins and sacrificial points was a delightful bonus. His mind began to wander, picturing the plethora of items available in the [Cult shop] that he could now afford.
But he had to restrain his enthusiasm for now. There was more work to be done. More sacrifices needed to be performed. This was just the beginning.
As he sat down to craft more bait he couldn’t help but wonder how his parents were getting on.
---
In the heart of Ventcroft's lush forest, Melissa faced a harsh reality that she could never have imagined. Tasked with killing a fierce boar, she was flooded with a mix of fear and dread that pulsed in her veins.
The reality of fighting, of dealing death – it was all so foreign, so deeply unsettling to her. To make matters worse, her mother was being her usual sociopathic self.
Her heart hammered in her chest as the boar lunged at her.
“Eeek.” With a startled shriek, she narrowly avoided the beast's ferocious charge, momentarily losing herself in her distress.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Stella, using a spell.
The words, "Ice Bolt!" resonated through the still air as a spell shot out and struck the boar, bringing it down to the forest floor. It writhed, its movements sluggish and uncoordinated, as it tried to struggle back to its feet.
Melissa gripped her spear, her knuckles white.
She felt a pang of regret - she had chosen the warrior class and spear following her son, Adam. She'd hoped to glean an insight into his journey in the Dreamverse, to understand his choices and experiences. Now, faced with the visceral reality of what being a warrior entailed, she couldn't help but question her decision.
Her gaze strayed to her husband, Yusuf, standing at a safe distance with his bow and arrow. A pang of envy hit her. His class - an archer - seemed so much more desirable now. He was safe at a distance, away from the immediate danger that the boar presented.
Her good friend, Annabelle, had chosen the same path as her young daughter - the mage class. Then there was Matriarch Emmanuelle, who had, predictably, selected the healer role. She hovered at the back, issuing commands that were increasingly grating on everyone's nerves.
Just then, their hive unit guide entered the scene. Its eyes gave a fleeting, disinterested glance at the boar before turning to the group.
Its voice rang out in the quiet of the forest, "Who will finish it?"