Carving Stone to Record Merit

"Mountain God's Gaze!"

God Mountain stood towering, the wooden huts weathered by time, and the ancient altar on the summit flickered with a dim glow. As the old priest shouted, the "eyes" of the god turned their gaze upon them. Then two clusters of ghostly blue flame suddenly rose from behind those eyes.

Boom!

Everyone present took a step back in unison. Black Wolf looked carefully, only then discovering that two middle-aged priests behind the altar had each lit a brazier. Within the braziers burned ghostly blue flames that flared violently, giving off a familiar "demonic" aura.

"The eyes of the god and the Stone of the Dead?"

Black Wolf was startled and uncertain as he stared at the old priest before him. His personal guard Mavik was somewhat panicked, while Grey Earth Puapu's eyes flickered.

The old priest's expression was solemn. He turned the assembled metal-and-stone sphere, moved his hands and feet in mysterious motions, and chanted in a strange, low voice.

"...Noble Mountain God! You have opened your eyes and looked upon the offenders before you. Please, for now, calm your wrath as well, and do not send down boundless thunder and flame."

The old priest's chant suddenly rose high, then abruptly sank low, as though he truly were conversing with a god. Under everyone's awed gazes, the two middle-aged priests carried the braziers to the front. The old priest gave a loud shout, drawing the dark-blue stone sphere through the air and passing it over the flames. The stone sphere faintly reddened, then suddenly came apart, once more turning into scattered stones that hung down from the old priest's arms!

"Ah! The Mountain God's divine power..."

Mavik let out a low cry. The understanding he had received since childhood surfaced in his heart, making this fierce warrior