Chapter 418: Devil or Not

"Hah... Hah..."

The Reptilian girl ran.

She did not know what she was running towards, only that she needed to get away.

’The further I get from that cursed cage, the less Kurnish will come for me!’

Branches scratched her arms and face as she forced herself through the thick vegetation.

But even though her life depended on it, obstructive thoughts swarmed and clouded her mind and judgement.

’Where am I going? Back to...? I can’t! There’s nowhere for me to go-’

"HSSSSSS!"

Her entire body jolted.

The screech had come from somewhere to her left.

Then another hiss from the right.

’Spirits...’ She gritted her teeth. ’Is that really what these are?!’

The Kurnish were sacred to all those she knew.

’If they really carried my ancestors or my descendants... Why are they trying so hard to hurt me?!’

"HSSSSSS!"

She flinched again.

’If they’re my descendants in the first place, why are they trying to eat me?! How can I have descendants if I’m eaten by them?!’

The girl had no reason to assume that the Kurnish would do anything other than eat her.

Broadcasts, this one and the previous ones, ended right as the Sacrifice was grabbed by the Kurnish.

No one truly and definitely knew what happened to those Sacrifices.

’People just want their OWN descendants to be BLESSED, even if it means the SACRIFICE never having descendants!’

Selia’s breathing became heavier.

’No.’

She shook her head.

’These things aren’t sacred! They aren’t to be worshipped! They are simply...!’

A Kurnish leapt towards her, its serrated jaw opened wide.

"Famished animals!" she shouted and swung the thick branch in her hand.

Huff- Huff-

’Everyone is celebrating now... The Seven Days of Yanna have started! The Sacrifice is all but done for everyone!’

She gritted her teeth and started running again.

’Except if that person... That thing... Only showed itself as Kurnish to me! Some kind of illusion that only affected me! But if that were the case, the helicopter would have moved to follow us! If the helicopter hasn’t moved, then the Seven Days of Yanna have definitely started!’

The Seven Days of Yanna are a weeklong holiday during which many things are prohibited including working and interacting with electronics.

Because the Seven Days of Yanna start the moment that the Sacrifice is taken away, even the person controlling the helicopter remotely, as well as the camera attached to it, must step away and take a weeklong rest!

Additionally, the large screens that show the broadcast will also remain on, showing nothing but an empty cage and the nature surrounding it.

’Everyone is celebrating... Celebratin... My death...!’

Tears welled up in the Borgian girl’s eyes.

’Could Mom... Also be celebrating...?’

She must be.

After all, the Sacrifice is only informed the day of.

The family orchestrates everything.

’Mom has agreed to it... In fact, she might have even nominated me!’

After all, her mother was the only person to whom she had admitted to being a virgin.

Her stomach churned, and she wished that the earth would split to swallow her whole.

"Ugh..." She covered her mouth, feeling the urge to vomit.

"HSSSS!"

Her head snapped upward.

A Kurnish burst through the bushes ahead.

"AH!"

Selia stumbled backward.

The creature charged, its claws stretching towards her.

Her eyes shot around wildly. Her gaze landed on a rock, and she snatched it from the ground.

"GET AWAY!" she shouted, throwing the rock with all her strength.

BANG!

"HRAAGH!"

The rock smashed against the side of the Kurnish’s head, staggering it.

"HSSSSSS!"

Another one came from her left, and she swung the thick branch again.

BAM!

The branch collided with its jaw.

The Kurnish spun sideways and crashed against the ground.

’It’s heavy so I’m having trouble running while keeping it in my hands, but it’s saving my life right now!’ she thought as she rose to run.

Rustle!

She turned, but was too late.

A third Kurnish was lunging from behind.

"AH!" she exclaimed... As the Kurnish smashed into a tree trunk.

She gulped.

’Lucky.’

The Borgian girl started running again.

A couple of steps away,

’Haa...’ an invisible Cero sighed. ’That would’ve been the third time she died.’

While keeping a watchful eye on her, Cero quickly devoured the fallen Kurnish.

’Hm...’

He pensively stared at her once he regained her side.

’It seems like the Kurnish are able to sense her somehow.’

Indeed, by following her, Cero had run into many more of them than he had alone.

’How are they able to sense her? Even those far away that did not see the cage are coming for her.’

Cero narrowed his eyes.

’But that’s not the end of it. On top of them being able to sense her...’

Almost immediately, two Kurnish appeared in front of and to the right of the Borgian girl, forcing her to turn to the left.

’Are they taking her somewhere?’ Cero thought with a raised eyebrow. ’To the place where they keep the previous Sacrifices?!’

He cracked his knuckles.

’Could the previous ones be alive as well? No, I doubt it. I’m sure they are all dead.’

The girl ran another 200 meters away before abruptly coming to a stop.

"The end of the forest...!" she whispered under her breath before stepping through the final, dense line of trees, only to find a wide-open space.

’This must be the place,’ Cero nodded. ’The place they were taking her to.’

Two almost symmetrical lakes occupied the clearing. Between them stretched a long, narrow path leading towards a large, deep cave on the opposite side.

’That cave must be where they’re taking her.’

The Borgian girl started running.

More and more Kurnish appeared.

"Fuck...!" she cursed under her breath as they leapt out of the lake one by one.

Before long, more than twenty Kurnish had emerged, leaping out of either lake to occupy the path.

’What now? I can’t turn back, I can’t fight that many!’

Her gaze studied the cave she was running towards, and she slowly came to a stop, despite the twenty-plus Kurnish standing behind her and the additional ones emerging from the lakes or stepping through the trees.

"C..." she stuttered, her eyes stuck on the bones set up in that cave, bones that she immediately and unequivocally was convinced were those of the previous Sacrifices. "C...!"

The Kurnish growled and leapt towards her. As she watched them approach, it had never been clearer.

There were no Spirits. No Devils or Demons.

There was only kill or be killed.

There was only wilderness and nature.

"Cero!" she shouted.

Taken aback, the girl could not help but take a step back as his wide back and imposing frame appeared right in front of her.

"Took you a while," he sighed.

The girl’s eyes opened wide.

’He didn’t just teleport or something,’ she realized. ’He was just invisible before.’

She gulped and couldn’t look away from him despite the incoming danger.

’He was here with me...The entire time.’

Tears welled up in her eyes.

’The only one who is with me...’

Mom has agreed to it... In fact, she might have even nominated me!

’The only one who is on my side...!’