Vincent had received four WhatsApp messages.
Sam had sent screenshots of the Google locations of the four caves they were supposed to explore the next day. Vincent typed back a simple reply: "Okay, Sam."
Earlier, while traveling in the jeep, Vincent had begun to mention the name of the region inhabited by the Tsak'ala tribe. Before he could finish, Amanda suddenly shouted, "Pyramid!" catching everyone off guard.
The locations Sam had shared were: Jolia Cave, Naj Tunich, Calendaria Cave, and the Sorcerer's Cave.
A large gathering of Mayans had assembled at a sacred ground.
The Mayan priest scanned the crowd—there were enough people now. He removed the bell hanging around his neck and placed it on the ground. Silently invoking Kukulkan, he prepared himself to begin his sermon.
The king's younger daughter had given birth to a male child the previous day. Just like yesterday, sacrifices had been arranged again today. This time, three slaves and seven prisoners were chosen.
The priest began his sermon.
"O Mayans… sacrifice is a tradition we must never abandon.
Whenever a man ascends the throne as king, and whenever an heir is born, sacrifices are mandatory.
Only then will the land prosper.
Only then will the people be free from disease.
Evil forces will never dare to approach us.
And above all, the blessings of the gods will remain with us."
True to these beliefs, sacrifices had been performed the previous night as well.
As darkness fell, the Mayans arrived at the open ground carrying flaming torches. Conch shells were blown in unison. The crowd surrounded the altar, chanting loudly in celebration. For them, this was not horror—it was a festival.
Those sacrificed that night belonged to the same Mayan tribe.
A devoted elder brother had willingly agreed to sacrifice his own younger brother.
"Congratulations, my brother… congratulations,"
he said with tears of joy.
"You're going straight to heaven now. A life of eternal happiness awaits you."
"Yes, brother… I'm going to heaven!"
the younger one cried in excitement.
Unable to contain his joy, the boy climbed the steps and lay flat on the altar.
The elder brother followed, tears of bliss in his eyes.
He raised the knife and plunged it straight into his brother's chest.
With a single strike, the boy was sent to heaven.
Carefully, the brother removed the heart without damaging it and handed it to the priest. Blood dripped along every step he walked. The surrounding Mayans erupted into cheers. The celebration began.
Next, those waiting to be sacrificed were laid down in a single row on the altar.
The priest lifted a massive blade and, with one swift motion, slit the throats of four men at once. Their severed heads rolled down the steps, blood spilling freely—a gruesome yet revered spectacle.
King: "Are today's sacrifices ready as well?"
Guard: "Yes, my king."
Saying this, the guard left to perform the final rites for his own brother, who had been sacrificed the night before.
The priest's sermon continued for over half an hour.
"If we commit sins in this life, we are punished in the next.
Ordinary people go to hell after death.
The wealthy and the nobles go to heaven.
Their riches in this life are proof of their virtue in the previous one."
Suddenly, bubbles began forming in the river below.
Cheren stood at a distance, listening silently.
"Infants who die at birth, those who offer themselves for sacrifice, and Mayan warriors—
these souls are not reborn.
They go directly to the gates of heaven."
As the priest spoke passionately, his hand accidentally struck the bell beside him.
The bell flew and landed on a crocodile emerging from the river.
The priest turned.
Realizing the crocodile was about to attack, he tried to flee—but it lunged forward, clamping onto his thigh and dragging him into the river.
The seated Mayans stood frozen in shock, staring at the water.
Cheren wasted no time. He drew his knife and sprinted toward the river steps.
Before Cheren could reach him, Guerrero had already leapt onto the crocodile, forcing its jaws open with all his strength while standing waist-deep in the river.
Cheren jumped from the bridge, driving his blade into the crocodile's neck with full force. The knife pierced through and lodged itself deep into the riverbed.
As the crocodile loosened its grip in agony, Guerrero lifted the priest and carried him to the steps. He tore off his shirt and tightly bound the priest's wounded leg.
Cheren and the Mayans stared at Guerrero in awe.
When even the Mayans had retreated in fear, Guerrero's fearless dive into the river—risking his own life—elevated their respect for him to an entirely new level.
Cheren: "Get on the horse, Guerrero."
Guerrero: "What is it, Cheren?"
Cheren: "I'll explain. Get on."
Without another word, Cheren took Guerrero and rode straight toward the palace.
Meanwhile, Vincent's team split into two groups and entered the Mayan caves.
The path inside Jolia Cave twisted endlessly. Amanda and Beulah followed closely behind Sam.
Inside Naj Tunich, Vincent, Rebecca, and David separated, each heading in a different direction. The cave walls were covered with murals of Itzamna, Kukulkan, the First Ancestors, and even Yogthe, the god of destruction.
The Sorcerer's Cave echoed with ancient incantations carved into stone.
They explored every cave—
except one.
Calendaria Cave.