21 Chapter 20 - War in Wakanda Part 3

The beginning of the white gorilla mountain was composed of rocks as dark as coal and as sharp as knives. As I ascended halfway up the mountain, I could see a large number of trees, casting an even darker shadow over the mountain, making it truly immense. The top of the mountain had the shape of a gorilla skull, entirely black and made of the dark stones. This was my destination.

Since my means of transportation was unavailable, I had to climb the mountain the old-fashioned way. The rocks were hard enough to make me feel uncomfortable as I ascended. I imagined the difficulty for an ordinary human to climb would be insurmountable. Now I understood why Bashenga hadn't attacked the tribe on the mountain. It was practically impossible to get an army to climb this mountain.

The Jibari tribe must know easier climbing paths, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to seek them out. As I reached the middle of the mountain, signs of life began to appear in this barren land. Giant trees stretched from the center to the top. Before they began worshiping the new god and starting a war, the Jibari tribe was skilled in carpentry, mainly sustaining themselves through cultivation. Then they started hunting the only species of white gorillas in the world to eat their meat and gain more strength. That alone was reason enough for me to come here and teach them a lesson.

As I climbed, I began to lose myself in my thoughts. Why would a gorilla god instruct his worshippers to kill their own kind? It made no sense.

Ahead, I saw small plantations on the ground. I could see women working in them, planting and harvesting crops. There were also some simple huts scattered around the fields.

"A STRANGER!" one of them yelled upon noticing my presence, sending them all into panic. They dropped everything and ran up the mountain, while men armed with simple planting tools turned weapons rushed to attack me.

As they approached, I struck them with the shaft of my spear. I didn't want to kill them. I was here to fight the worshippers of the ape god, not to massacre the inhabitants of the tribe.

The number of men I left behind me, screaming in pain, began to increase. Some had broken legs, most were unconscious. Those still awake started screaming in pain, alerting the other small farms I encountered along the way. I saw some curious children peeking out, trying to figure out what was happening before being dragged away by their mothers.

The reason for my not-so-subtle approach was precisely this: to make them all retreat, leaving a clear battlefield for me. The "temple" of the ape god was in the center of the mountain's underground. I didn't know if the villagers knew the way to get there, and I didn't want to be attacked from behind by them while fighting. Nor did I want any innocent bystanders to come and get hurt. This way, I made it clear that only the ape-god could stop me.

After a while, the brave farmers stopped trying to attack me. The women now tended to the wounded, dragging them away. I continued my journey uninterrupted until I reached the gigantic skull.

It took two hours to reach the top. Inside the gorilla's skull, there was a large cave. It was there that I discovered a vast number of tunnels that ran from the top to the bottom of the mountain. It would be foolish to try to check all the routes of the tunnels.

I enter the cave entrance, walking slowly, creating a golden light to illuminate the way. After walking for a few minutes, I see the tunnel branching into six paths. Fortunately, my boat has some very useful equipment, which the general used to discover the large number of life signs right in the middle of the mountain. Then it was just a matter of finding out which tunnel would get me there the fastest.

Without that, it would take days to reach them, and time is not on our side. I need to get back quickly and help in the battle that must already be underway.

I choose the third tunnel and forge ahead. Along the way, I enter several other different tunnels. It feels like I'm in a labyrinth. Finally, I see two torches bringing some light to the entrance in front of me.

"Hey, whose light is that?"

A guard at the entrance is blinded by the light I'm emitting. People who spend a lot of time in darkness become more sensitive to light. I shoot a beam of energy, killing the guard. I didn't mind being discovered from the outside, but here, a little caution might be necessary.

(Maybe their god is here.)

I stop emitting light and enter. The path is now lit by torches. I don't encounter anyone else as I move forward. They must all be in the center.

"Huuhuuuhuu"

Suddenly, I hear a grunt beside me. Then I see a dark wooden cell. I tear a torch from the wall to see what's inside, and what I see fills me with even more anger.

In the cell, I see several white gorillas chained to the floor, some even babies, all bleeding from some part of their bodies.

(I hate hunters who kill for pleasure.)

I break the door and enter the cell. Inside are six gorillas and four babies.

Even if I were to set them free, I doubt they would find their way out. They would wander through the tunnels until they died of hunger. Or I could kill them quickly and painlessly here.

(Animals are my weakness.)

I approach the first gorilla. He's scared and snarls at me, unfortunately chained and unable to move. When I touch the gorilla, I use my rune to enhance its regeneration, healing all the wounded.

I have an idea of how to give them a chance to escape. I leave the cell without freeing them and stand outside. Then I begin to use my powers along with the red diamond, enhancing my control with the runes. In front of me, a small flame appears and takes the form of a small rodent.

It starts to move around me, very happy that I created it.

"Go, set them free."

As if the flame rodent understood me, it rushes into the scene and melts the chains, freeing the gorillas. After being released, they look at the rodent before starting to chase after it. The flame rodent runs through the tunnel I came from, heading towards the exit. Gorillas primarily feed on leaves and fruits, rarely consuming small animals. However, these gorillas haven't been fed for a long time and are famished. The small fire rodent was imbued with a bit of life; I've never attempted this before, but I've had the idea of giving "life" to my flames in mind. If the gorillas follow the rodent, they might be able to escape.

(Now they just need a bit of luck.)

After completing my good deed, I continue on my path. The corridors start to widen, and for some reason, I no longer encounter any guards.

I finally reach the end of the tunnel. When I emerge, I find myself in a large circular space with a dome-shaped ceiling, over sixty meters wide and eighty meters high.

I see several people wearing gorilla skins kneeling around a construction that appears to be a sacrificial altar in the Inca style. On the altar lies the body of a white gorilla, its stomach open, blood flowing down the altar.

(They're performing a ritual.)

There are various carcasses hanging on the walls without skin, some fresh and others in an advanced state of decomposition.

(They've skinned the gorillas.)

Taking advantage of the fact that they haven't noticed me yet, I patiently analyze the situation.

There are several entrances around the space. If I engage in a prolonged fight, they might flee out of fear. It would be impossible to hunt them down through all the tunnels. I need to kill them all with a single blow.

I don't have the means for a large-scale attack at the moment. Since I'm underground, I can't use sunlight like I did in the Kingdom of the Light Elves. I only have one option: to use the power of Balthakk.

I've only used minor tricks with this power so far, but I believe the situation demands it. During my time studying the crystal's power, I sought help from Amora. She has some knowledge of spells that can be used by borrowing the power of these deities.

She told me that since I possess the direct power of one of them, I can use the spell without being trained in that branch of sorcery. However, Balthakk may attempt to attack my body while I do so. She told me that my time limit is one second, just one second before being consumed by Balthakk's full power, or my body will explode. Either way, Balthakk could simply recreate my body and claim its prize in the bet.

(So be it, just one second.)

As I plan my next move, the old man performing the ritual plunges his hands into the gorilla's body while chanting words I can't understand. Those kneeling on the ground repeat the same words as if it were a refrain of a song.

(I think it's time to put an end to this charade.)

I hurl Sigel; it flies beautifully into the air before striking the old man square in the chest at the center of the altar.

"HAH!"

The old man screams in pain; the spear pierces his body, pinning him in place. Everyone freezes, watching the old man scream. Some rise and look at me at the entrance, but it's all about to end.

I concentrate, invoking Balthakk's power into the diamond on my spear, which is positioned right at the center of all my enemies. I activate the power of the runes to enhance my regeneration just in case something goes wrong.

"KILL THE INTRUDER!!"

The old man, still alive, screams in pain and anger.

(Too late!)

Feeling the connection to the power of the diamond, I speak the words of the spell.

"I invoke the light of Balthakk."

There is no great explosion or cries of pain; a simple purple light covers the entire space up to the ceiling. During this brief light, I feel a sharp pain in my arm. I increase the energy in my rune to boost my healing.

The light lasts only a second and then disappears as if nothing had happened, but the effects are unmistakable. The once vibrant place is now silent, with everyone who was here reduced to mere skeletons on the ground. Most of them are still kneeling, making the scene even more disturbing. One second, just one second to kill over sixty people. But it was not without a price. In my arm, veins now appear purple, as if poisoned, attempting to overtake my body. If I were to use more power, I could be consumed by Balthakk.

"You... damned... you'll pay for this!"

A sound startles me. Not everyone is dead. In the center of the altar, the old man pierced by my spear is still alive, half of his body now skeletal, while the other half seems protected by a white light.

On his chest, I can see a small amulet emitting the light. Unfortunately for the old man, the amulet isn't powerful enough for complete protection. He doesn't have much time left.

"Our... god... will... take... care... of... you..."

These words make me very uncomfortable. Then the old man dies.

I reach out to summon my spear to leave when I hear it.

"ROAAARRRR!"

The sound is loud enough to make everything tremble. Suddenly, right in front of me, like a mirage taking form, appears a giant gorilla with fur as white as the moon. It stands nearly fifteen meters tall.

"ROAAARRRR!"

It lets out another roar of rage. I know I'm facing another god.

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