When me, Brick, the old man Bark and 5 people he brought along reach the cave, it has already passed noon. Rey has already been waiting for us.

When he sees many people, he was surprised. I hope he would have good news for us.

“Rey, have you found out their camp? Was Larry there?” I asked.

“I’ve found out what we need to know. I know where their camp is and Larry is also there,” he answered.

I was about to ask him for further information but before I ask,

“How is Larry?” Bark interjected.

Rey looked at me as if he is asking who the man asking him the question is. I am feeling that Rey is becoming more and more like me. May be my actions are affecting him?

“He is Mr. Bark. Larry’s uncle. These men are the men he prepared to save her.” I told Rey. He is cooperating with us.

“is that so. Then, I’ll continue. But don’t be so anxious. Although the news is bad, it is not the ending. We Larry is also captured. They are going to make sacrificial objects out of Larry and Black. Plus, both of them are injured. Larry’s right hand and Black’s left hand has been served respectively. They are going to do the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow night.” Rey said.

Bark’s face is too intense. He looks too angry and anxious at the same time.

“Relax a little bit Bark. According to Rey, we still has enough time to save them. The ceremony is going to be at tomorrow’s night. We can at least prepare for the battle.” I tried to calm him down.

“What if they kill her before the ceremony. We need to get there right now.” Bark urged.

It doesn’t look like he is going to listen to me.

“Mr. Bark. Let me elaborate some more.” Rey interjected. “Both Black and Larry are going to be sacrificial objects. According to the intel I collected, they are made sure to be kept alive until the ceremony. I don’t know about their ceremony. I don’t know if they will kill them during the ceremony. But it shouldn’t be our concern. We must save them before the ceremony. They still don’t know that we are preparing to attack them. It is an ambush. So, we have much advantage on them. But believe me. If we are not prepared, our victory wouldn’t be 100% sure.”

“Besides, during a ceremony, usually, defense is the weakest” I added.

“Mr. Bark. Consider listening to their plan. We also want to get Ms. Larry back as soon as possible. But we don’t want to lose her because of our impatience.” The guys Mr. Bark took along also suggested him.

“Alright. Tell me about your plan” he said.

“Okay, according to all the information we have gathered so far, I have thought of a plan.” And so, I told them the plan we would be following to save Black and Larry.

After some time, we moved out of the cave. I really don’t want to travel at night after hearing Rey’s experience. Night in the forest in soul world is dangerous.

We went near their camp. But I don’t let anyone go too near. I only let Rey occasionally spy on them from afar.

“This place, here shall be where we fight.” I told to everyone.

“Okay” everyone replied.

That night, we made a camp a bit far away from their camp. Just like usual, in turn, Brick, Rey and I serves as watchmen. Old man Bark and his men said they would help us keep watch. But I’m worried that if discovered unluckily, if the riders see new faces, they would be more nervous and more defensive during our attack or they might change their plan. If they see one of us, since we were too weak in their eyes there is a chance that they won’t even consider us as a threat.

But luckily, they didn’t patrol at night due to danger or we were lucky enough to be out of their patrol range. We didn’t encounter them. The next morning, I occasionally let Rey scout and make sure all of us are ready for battle.

Just like that the night of their traditional sacrificial ceremony has arrived.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Currently, Larry and Black are tied to a pole in back-to-back position with the pole between them. Vines are used to tie their bodies.

Both of them has lost their arm on the right and left side respectively. They are very weak due to loss of blood. They look so weak that they don’t seem like able to open their eyes. To lessen blood loss, the arms are wrapped with the brown clothes.

The sketch of a giant bird-like demon is drawn on the poles using their blood.

Besides, the body of a giant crow-mok is placed on the table, right to Black or left to the girl. Its body is tied to the table using vines. The edge of the table ends at its chest. Its head is straightened using a vine that extends from the top of the pole. It looks like the crow-mok is looking into the night sky. Although the crow is alive, it is too injured to fight for its survival. It can barely move. Moreover, its wings has been broken. So, it is impossible for it to escape.

A blood circle is drawn on the ground with the three of them in the center. The circle is not a huge one. It is just enough to encircle the pole and the table. Along the line of that circle, firewood, as well as dry leaves are placed in an orderly fashion.

Four people are standing surrounding the circle while one is standing in the circle between the two humans and the giant crow-mok. Not too far from them, 5 dog-moks are sitting quietly.

Rey, Brick and I are in the bush outside the range of their sense as well as the dog-moks.

“Rey, are you ready?” I asked.

“At my best possible condition” he answered.

“Brick, are you ready?” I asked again.

Without talking, he just nodded. It seems all three of us are ready for the operation “rescue love birds”.

Looking at the sacrificial ground, I am waiting for the moment they would start the ceremony, the perfect time to surprise-attack those people and save Black and Larry. I wish they start soon because I’m worrying that Black and Larry would die of blood loss.

Soon, the five of them started reciting some prayers in unison.

“O the Great Nethyn, the sun in the sky states it is the savor of the world since it gives light to living things. O the Great Nethyn, the moon in the sky states it is the savor of the world since it gives peace to the living things. O the Great Nethyn, these things are obstructing your noble procedure of destruction and creation. O the Great Nethyn, we, the followers of Nethynism gives the life of these two humans and the giant crow-mok’s as well as the blood of anithyn as a sign of support to your noble procedure. O Great Nethyn, with your eternal mercy, please, bless the anithyn with great strength.”

They are repeating the prayers times and times again. After 9 times of reciting the prayers, the one in the circle, Sabertooth, take the dagger tied on his waist. The other four also take their own daggers. Then, the four surrounding the circle no longer recite the prayer. Only Sabertooth who is in the circle continue reciting. After a single time reciting alone, he stopped reciting.

He raised his dagger and, with his dagger, he stab his left arm which is not the hand holding the dagger. He paused for a while. Then, he recites the prayers again. He take the dagger out of his arm. Then, he stabs the dagger into the giant-crow’s chest in the place where the heart is supposed to be. The dying giant crow-mok, exhaled its last breath. Taking out the dagger, he moved to the pole where Black and the girl are tied to.

At that moment, the four surrounding the circle stab their arms with their daggers. And they recite the prayer along with Sabertooth once again. Then, Sabertooth(in the circle) stabs his left arm again. There is sign of pain on his face. Blood is flowing from his left arm.

From my perspective, it looks kind of silly to see someone stabs himself again and again. But it is their sacrificial ceremony after all.

After another round of prayer, SaberTooth was about to stab Black in his chest,

“Now,” as soon as I command, Brick and Rey immediately use soul fusion and jumped to the sacrificial ground like a real highJump.

“I hope they can hold on the four surrounding the circle for some time since I have to deal with SaberTooth and save Black and Larry.” was the scenario I hoped the riders would believe according to our action.

This time, luck is on our side. They set no one as guards as well as have to injure themselves. Tonight, I have a feeling that our mission would succeed for sure