The two cannibal females dragged Charles toward their tribal session. He headbutt one of the dogs and dashed from them. But a short black dog landed on his shoulders and knocked his head with a thick bone club. The poor wolf crashed into the mud as stars danced above his head.

The tribe snickered as the two females dragged his body toward the stake. Attacking only one of them wasn’t enough for his escape.

“We have to save him now!” Lucy exclaimed. “They are going to cook him alive at their stake!”

“How? We don’t know their true numbers and how strong they are,” said Ivy.

Lucy grimaced, but she won’t give up. “Byron, can you transform into a shark now?”

“Only at night,” said the panther.

Lucy glanced at Tashina. "What about your fear gas?"

Tashina shrugged. "Mi broadcast sum, but it wi affect everyone."

Ivy grimaced. "I didn't come here to wet myself."

Lucy gazed at the village. Already the cannibals tied Charles to the log on the stick pile. The others danced around him, cheering and howling. His head hung with his eyes closed, still unconscious.

Time was running out.

Lucy glared at Tashina. “Can you use illusion spells?”

“Mi cud, but mi illusions ave a limited time span,” said the hyena. “Wah illusion yuh want?”

Lucy grinned. If the fear gas was too strong, then using a similar trick should help Lucy save Charles’s life. “We need a big illusion to scare the cannibals away. Then we can free Charles before they return. Can you do that?”

Tashina pursed her lips hard together. “Hmmmmm… Mi wi cast one as lang as mi cya. But yuh muss move quick.”

“I will.” Lucy opened her character statistics and added two points to her speed attribute.

Speed: 8

She will worry about her last point later. With her speed at the highest level, it should help her move fast. “Okay, do it.”

Tashina nodded and rose from her cover. She held out her paws and chanted a spell in her own native language. Then-POOF! She shot a black energy ball over the village, leaving a trail of green smoke.

The phantom exploded over the village as a giant black wolf head appeared in the air. All the cannibal members stopped their ritual and gazed at the strange shadow.

The illusion roared like a beast, so loud, Lucy’s bones trembled. It looked and felt very real.

The entire tribe soon screamed in terror. They dropped their belongings and raced from the square. Every single one retreated into the jungle with their tails between their legs.

The floating wolf head laughed before fading away into the breeze.

Tashina sighed. “Dat all mi cya duh fi now.”

Ivy jumped to her feet and shook her fists in excitement. “That was awesome, Tashina! You scared those bloody savages away like they were frightened fishes in the sea!”

The hyena smiled at her. “Mi duh enjoy fans inna mi present.”

“Excuse me, but we have to reach Charles now.” Lucy rosed and drew out her cutlass. “We can praise Tashina later.”

The cocker raced down the slope into the village. She reached Charles and checked his pulse. He still breathed.

“Charles! Charles!” Lucy smacked his face, but he didn’t open his eyes. Indeed, those savage wretches knocked him out cold.

She slashed the ropes off his wrists behind the log. When his body fell, Byron caught him.

Quest completed! You received 1,000 EXP Quest Updated! Escape from the Cannibals After saving your friend, the cannibals notice your presence. If they catch you, you will be roasted and served on a platter. Aye or nay is not an option. Run!

Lucy widened her eyes at the notification. Her blood started to pump. “We got Charles! Now run!”