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Chapter 339: 339
Watching the Apelings interact with the human world revealed their naivety. Their willingness to flaunt their wealth as if it were normal was fascinating to him. When he started spreading the rumor, he believed it would work.
However, once the rumor took hold, he realized how little he understood the Apelings. The retaliation and brutality they displayed were no less than what the followers of Björn would do.
His failure reached the ears of the higher-ups, and he was given one last chance before being replaced. Despite the threat, he wasn’t as concerned about his position as he was about the indirect damage caused by the Apelings.
The small kingdom he had allied with began withdrawing after the Apelings’ actions, and even ordinary people became afraid to join Björn’s teachings. This news hadn’t yet reached the higher-ups, but he knew that if they heard of it, he would be killed.
In a desperate attempt, the priest turned his attention to the guarded land of the Apelings. Though desperation gnawed at him, he had come prepared. He knew the risks, but he also knew the rewards if he succeeded. If Nwadiebube, the enigmatic and powerful figure in the region, accepted his offer, the chances of success would skyrocket. But even without Nwadiebube’s assistance, the priest was confident that this mission could restore his standing and bring in a wave of new followers and worshippers for Björn.
Looking up at the sky, he noted that it would still be some time before the sun dipped below the horizon. Time enough to prepare. His gaze shifted to the group of red-robed figures standing before him, their faces obscured by deep hoods. These were the mages he had brought with him, each essential to his plan.
"Keep yourselves hidden and start laying the groundwork for the spell," he commanded, his voice low and urgent. "I’ll let you know when it’s time to activate it. Until then, stay concealed. We can’t afford to alert anyone."
The mages nodded in unison before disappearing into the shadows of the forest. The priest watched them go, ensuring they moved silently and undetected. He turned back toward the center of the camp, where a crude statue of Björn stood, fashioned from rough stone and wood. It was far from a masterpiece, but it served its purpose—a focal point for his rituals and the embodiment of Björn’s power.
His hand instinctively moved to the space ring he wore, his fingers brushing against its surface. A familiar sensation stirred within him, one he hadn’t felt in a long time. The warmth of power, the echo of his lost status, began to rise inside him once more.
A red light flickered in the priest’s eyes as he breathed in deeply, anticipation growing. Soon, the night would come, and with it, his opportunity to turn the tides in his favor. Tonight, he would make his move. The land he coveted, the land so precious to the Apelings, would be the key to his redemption—or his downfall.
For now, all he could do was wait and prepare. But with each passing moment, the hunger for power swelled within him, eager to be unleashed.
As the mages moved into the forest, their red robes blending with the deep shadows cast by the thick canopy, they worked in silence, each fully aware of their role. They spread out in a wide perimeter, their faces hidden, their hands moving with practiced precision as they began inscribing runes into the earth. Each symbol they carved into the soil glowed faintly red, leaving behind a shimmering residue of energy. The air grew thick with an almost imperceptible hum, a warning that the spell was slowly taking form.
The mages’ movements were swift and coordinated. One began tracing lines between the runes with a small dagger that seemed to never run out of blood, the blade leaving glowing bloody streaks that interconnected each symbol. Another raised a staff, muttering incantations under their breath, their voice low and steady. The runes flickered in response to the words, brightening as the spell weaved together, piece by piece.
Back in the camp, the priest stood before the statue of Björn, deep in thought. His fingers continued to absentmindedly trace the edges of his space ring as he considered his next steps. With the mages hard at work, he turned to the few trusted lieutenants that remained by his side. They haven’t experienced war like his brethren but they have shown exceptional talent each powerful figures in the fourth stage.
"The Apelings will likely sense something is wrong once the barrier is in place," the priest began, his voice calm yet edged with intensity. "That will be our signal to move. The spell will hold them, cutting off any chance of communication with the ou. But the mages must remain undisturbed until the spell is complete. Once the barrier is activated, we strike swiftly."
One of the lieutenants, a brutish man with a heavily scarred face, grunted in approval. "Do we expect heavy resistance? The Apelings may be quiet, but they can fight when provoked."
The priest’s red eyes gleamed. "We don’t need to defeat them all. Besides, our goal today isn’t to battle the Apelings."
A few of the men raised their brows in surprise, and the priest smirked. "You are among the very few who will witness something thought to be a myth."
He continued, "In the teachings on the Nature God, it’s said that he gifted his son something to ensure the prosperity of the kingdom his son created. There has been much speculation about the nature of this gift."
The priest pointed toward the shadowed walls just visible from the forest. "Behind those walls lies the gift the Nature God gave to his son."
"Our mission is to claim that gift. If it’s something we can take, we’ll take it. But if it cannot be taken, we will destroy it." His gaze swept over the group’s eager faces.
The priest’s words hung in the air, heavy with intrigue and promise. His lieutenants exchanged glances, their curiosity now fully piqued. The prospect of laying their hands on a mythical relic, one tied to the very foundation of the Apelings’ kingdom, stirred a sense of excitement that even seasoned warriors found hard to suppress.
"The gift of the nature god," one of the younger lieutenants muttered under his breath, almost reverently. His eyes shone with wonder at the thought.
Meanwhile, behind the ancient walls, the Apelings were enjoying themselves, their guards lowered as they drank and laughed. A hologram floated before them, displaying the images of the competition in the capital, where their fellow Apelings competed with pride. Laughter echoed through the hall, but it was suddenly cut short.
For a brief moment, sharp looks flashed in their eyes as every Apeling felt it—an almost imperceptible shift in the earthen element that coursed through the land. It was a subtle, unsettling sensation, like a foul presence pressing against their connection to the earth, disrupting their bond. It passed as quickly as it came, replaced by confusion.
They exchanged wary glances. A collective unease settled over them. One of the elder warriors frowned, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if seeking the source of the disturbance. "Did anyone else feel that?"
The Apelings murmured in agreement, unsettled. A disgusted shiver ran through them. The land, their sacred connection to the earthen element, had reacted as though something unnatural had touched it, something foreign and unwelcome.
At the center of the group, a female figure shifted her gaze away from the hologram, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She was the daughter of Terra, left in charge of the sacred lands while her father attended the annual competition in the capital. Her father had guarded the "Garden" for centuries, and she had no intention of being the one to let it fall.
She stood, her commanding presence silencing the murmurs around her. "Send scouts," she ordered, her voice calm but firm. "Have them search the perimeter. We need to know if something is out of place."
Her warriors nodded and swiftly dispersed. She remained still, her eyes hard as stone. Whatever the disturbance was, it could not be ignored. The Garden was too important, too sacred. If there was a threat, she would eliminate it before it had a chance to take root.
She turned back to the hologram, but her mind was elsewhere, focused on the nagging sense of unease. Whatever was happening outside the walls, it would be dealt with. The Apelings would not be caught off guard. Not on her watch.
Five scouts moved out quickly. With their attunement to the earth element, they could pinpoint the source of the disturbing sensation. The Terra clan members were always large and heavy, yet as they ran this time, the earth absorbed their sound, allowing them to move swiftly and silently.
Soon, they reached a point and halted; any farther and they would be leaving their territory. The scouts exchanged glances, and one placed a hand to his ear. "Princess, we’ve located the source of the disturbance, but it’s beyond our territory."
