Herald of Death

Shenghua was about to break the news about Kyrian's father, but she was interrupted by a single dark line appearing in the sky directly above them. An ominous feeling covered them and the looming darkness signaling the omen of destruction peered as a pale hand emerged from the line of darkness - which was now distorting as if it appeared in waves.

The Qilin transformed back to her original form and used a multitude of magic spells to hide Kyrian and delay the portal from fully manifesting above them. A green aura reminiscent of nature and life emanated in front of Shenghua's snout until it concentrated to a single orb that grew into a sphere the size of an apple. The earth shook as the mana accumulated into a single sphere of power.

Despite Shenghua's affinity for life magic, the mastery of such arts blurs the lines of classifications and enables mana users to bend their mana according to their will. If she wanted life to grow, it would grow. If she wanted to take a life, then life would be hers to take.

Shenghua aimed the sphere at the emerging hand and shot out the mass of concentrated mana into a beam that accelerated imperceptible to mortal eyes to intercept the figure from coming out of the portal.

The forest was blown away from the shockwave that originated from the contact point of the sphere and the hand. Devastation laid upon them as the water from the river vanished while trees seemed to lose their vitality and the surrounding fauna was sucked dry of their lives.

Kyrian stood behind Shenghua as he was protected while the aftermath of life and death occurred.

As this happened, the surrounding beasts rushed to the battle to help their leader. The echoes of various beasts reached Kyrian's ears as he feared that he would be discovered on top of being killed by the mysterious being that was trying to cross the portal.

----

Meanwhile, Puarem was on her way to their tribemates to give out the order of her master when the ominous line appeared in the sky. Luckily, she was far from the explosion when it transpired. Puarem was in a conundrum whether she would go back to her master and check out her condition, but it dawned on her that going there would only endanger Shenghua as she would be a deadweight. She recently started sensing mana on her fifth birthday last month, and going there would distract her master. 

She decided on the most helpful way she could.

Puarem pushed her hooves to her maximum capability to run away and contact the other leaders to help her master to defeat the opponent before it was too late.

----

From Shenghua, a string of words in the form of a ball emerged from her head and flew towards Kyrian's forehead. A flux of information appeared in Kyrian's mind as he floated abruptly while being covered in [Verdant Veil]. The boy catapulted into the horizon like a shooting star, but this star had no shine nor glow; it was invisible to anyone who looked at the sky.

The speed of his flight made his vision blurry; he could not see the direction to where he was going.

Suddenly, he heard his auntie's voice. "Kyrian. Listen carefully to the words I'm about to tell you. A [Death Herald] coming here means that your father failed to block the gates of hell. He must have been injured, forced to ran away, or worst – dead." 

First of all, Kyrian thought his father died a long time ago. Now, he was learning that his father was alive but could have potentially died. A flash of anger appeared in his eyes as he thought, 'How many lies have I been told? Did mother lie to me? Is Shenghua lying to me?'

As he was furiously thinking about the situation, the voice in his head continued, "Remember to use the scale I gave you to look for the answers you are seeking. As much as this auntie wanted to dote on you, the current situation prevents me from doing so. In exchange, I placed a single drop of my tear inside your gourd. Drinking it will heal you even on the verge of death. This tear is effective to even if you grow stronger. Take care, Kyr-"

The message ended abruptly when a sphere darker than the night wrapped the sky; instantly covering hundreds of kilometers in circumference. The heavenly bodies in the sky seemed to dim the moment the sphere manifested in the battlefield, and the moonlight appeared to be absorbed by the large dome of darkness.

As Kyrian saw the dome, the feeling of death intensified, his breath catching as if the hands of death were gripping his heart and squeezing it until it was crushed. The sensation gradually lessened as he moved away from the center of the battle. While relief washed over him as the pain subsided, his worry grew as his communication with Shenghua was cut off.

While Kyrian zoomed across the horizon, his fatigue began to set in. Worries and thoughts swirled in his mind, their weight growing heavier with each passing moment. The situation was out of his control, but he couldn't help but feel distressed. Yet, the strain of the recent events took their toll, slowing his breathing as exhaustion crept in and welcomed the sweet embrace of slumber.