The Forsaken Heir's Ascension
Chapter 70: Sacrifice to the Thunder God: The Rise of the Storm

Chapter 70: Sacrifice to the Thunder God: The Rise of the Storm

In a dark hall lit by warm yellow light from torches mounted on golden pillars, silence hung heavy. All the villagers, dressed in white, knelt in reverence before a towering golden statue.

It was the statue of an eagle—its beak raised proudly toward the sky, like a sovereign ruler surveying its domain. Its eyes were black, so deep they resembled the abyss itself. Feathers were etched in exquisite detail, and talons—sharper than any sword—gripped the raised golden platform it stood on.

Haron stepped forward and knelt. In a praying tone, he declared,

"O Mighty One of Thunder, Ruler of the Sky — grant us this chance to offer the sacred sacrifice."

Thunder crackled through the chamber, and all the villagers prostrated themselves, chanting in unison:

"The Thunder God is great!"

Rising, Haron raised his hand and commanded in a voice like a storm,

"Bring the sacrifice!"

Karon approached with a frown.

"What about the one with the wolf?"

A sinister smile curled Haron’s lips.

"Leave him for now. Once the Thunder God grants us youth, we will dispose of them both."

On the outskirts of the village, in a small, dim hut, a boy sat cross-legged in a meditative pose. A large wolf stood guard before him, ears alert, growling low.

Inside Alex’s mind space, he pondered strategies to defend it. Then—

A storm surged.

And then—

ROARRRRRRR!

A furious, ancient roar ripped through his consciousness. Ink-like shadows that had clung to the edges of his mind vanished in an instant.

"Who’s in my mind space?" Alex asked, startled.

Louder now, he shouted into the void,

"Who are you?!"

He received no answer. Disappointed, he turned to leave. Then—

A voice. Primal. Ancient. Echoing like thunder:

"IT’S NOT TIME."

Alex’s eyes snapped open as he was pulled out of the mind space.

"What was that?" he muttered.

"Woof!" barked Hati, alert and tense.

Sensing the wolf’s agitation, Alex asked,

"What is it?"

Hati darted outside, growling toward the shadowed trees. Alex followed, cautious.

"Is someone out there, Hati?" he called into the night.

No answer came. After a moment, Alex said aloud with false nonchalance,

"Let them be. Someone’s probably just... taking care of their business."

He dragged Hati back inside and whispered,

"Don’t alert the enemy."

Back in the dark chamber, the golden statue of the Eagle God now stood at the center of six golden altars. The floor around the statue was engraved with a wide eagle-shaped depression—its wings spread open, its surface coated in gold.

Elders stood in solemn silence around it.

Then, a commotion. The crowd parted.

Old villagers emerged, carrying the unconscious forms of Meika, Rina, Lyra, Kaelan, and two other young hunters. They were all placed upon the altars, wrists and ankles bound.

Suddenly, their eyes fluttered open.

Rina, with tears streaming, stared into nothing.

"Mother... I missed you, Mother."

Kaelan laughed madly, eyes filled with lust, reaching toward the air.

"Selene, you’re mine now! No one will take you away again. Come here, love, and kiss your husband!"

Meika wept bitterly.

"Father... why did you leave me alone?"

Lyra smiled, radiant and calm.

"Riven, I love you. We’re finally getting married. That’s all I ever wanted."

The others spoke similarly, lost in dreams crafted from their deepest desires, blind to the ritual and the world around them.

Haron raised his arms and bellowed,

"All who were chosen before, stand before the altars!"

One by one, villagers stepped forward, each standing opposite one of the chosen youths—male for male, female for female. Haron himself took his place before Kaelan.

"Now," Haron roared,

"kneel before the true god!"

They dropped to their knees in unison.

And then—

RUMBLE... RUUMBLE...

Thunder rolled across the sky—though no clouds could be seen above.

"Woof!" Hati barked at the sky, ears pinned back as thunder rumbled above them—loud, unnatural, and focused directly over the village centre.

Alex narrowed his eyes. This isn’t normal... Then, realization struck him like a bolt.

"The food! They’re in danger!"

Without wasting another second, he sprinted toward the center of the village where the storm clouds churned more violently. But just as he approached the inner path, a figure dropped down in front of him.

An old voice, deep and rough, stopped him cold.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Alex halted. A man stood before him—his form aged, but his presence sharp as a blade.

Alex calmly pulled an emerald-green spear from his spatial ring.

"I’m going to meet my friends."

Karon, his lips curling into a twisted smile, casually examined his nails.

"They’re a bit... occupied right now. You’ll have to wait."

Alex lowered his stance, bringing the spear to a ready position.

"Occupied with what?"

At his side, Hati growled, fur bristling.

Karon’s amused eyes turned murderous as he glanced at the wolf. He raised a finger, pointing it directly at Hati.

"I’ve never liked dogs."

With a snap, a bolt of lightning shot from his fingertip.

Hati leapt to the side, the bolt narrowly missing him—its energy singeing the fur along his back.

Karon’s smirk returned.

"Not an ordinary mutt, huh?"

Hati snarled, then lunged straight at the old man’s throat.

Karon tilted his head just enough to avoid the bite—but not the claws. Three red lines slashed across his cheek, proof that Hati’s attack had landed.

Now furious, Karon turned his back on Alex and raised both hands toward the stormy sky. Lightning curled around him like a serpent.

But Alex was ready. His emerald spear flew forward like a meteor.

"Did you forget about me?" he yelled.

Karon tried to dodge, his reflexes swift, but not fast enough. The spear grazed his side, tearing through the fabric and scratching skin.

Alex grinned.

"Grandpa, your bones are getting rusty."

Enraged, Karon summoned two bolts of lightning—one for Hati and one for Alex.

RUMBLE!

BOOM!

A flash exploded around them. One bolt struck Alex’s right foot. Pain seared through him as he stumbled with a scream.

"Ahhhhh!"

Karon sniffed the air, smiling with delight.

"A little more roasting and you’ll be well-done."

Alex clenched his teeth. Blood trickled down his mouth. He gave a short nod toward Hati.

Without a word, both lunged—one low, one high.

Hati darted toward Karon’s legs, teeth bared. Alex, despite the pain, moved in for the kill, spear aimed for the neck.

But just before the spear struck home—it vanished.

Karon’s eyes went wide.

Too late.

Hati’s jaws missed, but his paw raked across Karon’s thigh, piercing flesh. Karon let out a strangled cry.

Then, from behind—

SHLUNK!

The emerald spear reappeared, bursting through Karon’s back, ripping through his heart.

Blood spilled from his mouth. He turned his head, face twisted in pain and resentment, eyes locking onto Alex.

Thud.

He collapsed to the ground.

Alex dropped to his knees, grimacing as he placed a hand over his wounded foot. Wood-elemental energy wrapped around the injury, but the wound greedily devoured the energy, healing far too slowly.

He groaned.

"I’ll have to finish this later. We’re out of time."

Struggling to his feet, he limped forward with Hati at his side.

Inside the dark chamber, the golden statue of the Eagle God stood surrounded by six glowing altars. Blood drained slowly from the captives, flowing into a massive eagle-shaped depression etched into the floor, its wings spread wide, coated in gold.

The victims—Rina, Meika, Lyra, Kaelan, and two young male hunters—still lay bound, eyes open but glassy. Their minds trapped in illusions, they were lost in their deepest desires:

Rina stared into the air, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Mother... You’ll be with me forever right?"

Kaelan chuckled, eyes gleaming with madness.

"Selene, you’re finally mine!"

Meika wept calling her father’s name.

"Father?"

Lyra smiled, her voice soft and warm.

"We have two kids now darling"

The other two hunters murmured nonsense, just as lost in their dream worlds.

All the while, the elders of the village stood in front of them, eyes closed, drinking in the power. Their bodies pulsed with energy—their wrinkles fading, black hair returning, backs straightening. They were growing younger, stronger, reborn through blood and thunder.

Then, above them—

RUMBLE... RUMBLE...

The thunder growled across the cloudless sky.

A shadow formed of thunder—shaped like a colossal eagle—descended from the sky, mirroring the stone statue below. Its body crackled with lightning, wings stretched wide, and talons glowed with raw energy.

The villagers dropped to their knees, foreheads pressed to the ground, chanting in unison:

"Thunder God is the greatest god!"

The thunder eagle looked around, its eyes made of pure lightning. A sharp glint flickered within them—a gleam of satisfaction.

Then it let out a cry.

The scream of an eagle, laced with the fury of a storm, echoed across the world. Mountains trembled, rivers stirred, and even the cloudless sky gave thunderous response.

The villagers raised their voices louder.

"Thunder God is great! Thunder God is great!"

The old villagers standing before the two hunters smiled with glee. The hunters’ bodies began to wither, flesh collapsing inward until all that remained were dried, lifeless husks.

The elders, now youthful—no older than twenty—stood tall, renewed by the sacrifice.

From the dead husks, a blue ethereal glow—souls of the hunters—rose upward, shimmering like mist. The thunder eagle opened its beak and the glow was sucked inside.

It devoured the it like a delicacy.

Then, wings spread wide, it cried into the heavens once more—this time in pure bliss.

The sound echoed like a storm in celebration.

The Thunder God had tasted its favorite snack.

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