The dust vortex seemed to shroud the both of them, shrinking visibly. The Sky serpent, being used to the skies, couldn't help feeling claustrophobic, and it's breathing began to quicken. The dust blocked the moon, and the serpent lost its vision.
It felt like it was in a void, it's only companion being the two red lights that sought to devour its soul.
It felt like it could no longer breathe in this space. All it could feel was stinging pain from the dust scraping its wounds. Watching the eyes, it felt like years would pass in a second as it waited for death, and it's body fell completely limp as all thoughts of resistance fled its body.
As it listlessly stared into the scarlet eyes, a blood red qi seemed to deep into the serpent's eyes. The crack in its soul was easily infiltrated and a sigil was formed by the qi before imprinting itself in the depths of the serpent's soul.
This was an ability made through the path of fear. When he decided to graciously spare their lives for the sake of the Chen sister's well being, he decided to train his own skills.
He would use them to cultivate the path of fear. He knew that he must understand
the concept and use the power of the path on other beings to fully master it, like how he killed a lot people to master the path of blood. It was simply difficult to find chances to beat people up and scare them in a normal human setting. That Chen Yan would never allow it. Fortunately his chance was here.
He wasn't actively trying to increase his strength lately, as he put his focus on adapting to the human's environment. He would take opportunities as they come. And this one would do just fine.
To truly cultivate the path of fear, he must mark others with an imprint of fear. The Imprint Of Fear is merely a mark representing the fear toward the path of fears cultivator. It represents the deepest root of fear, in that just thinking of him would incur trauma. To complete it, he must traumatize them. It was a lot easier as the Path Of Fear amplified any feelings of fear toward Hades if the condition was right: a fine recipe of powerlessness, hopelessness, and loneliness.
It naturally won't be possible to complete the Path of Fear with just these few beasts, and he didn't want to bother imprinting the brats, as it might cause trouble later on, it was of no use on ones as weak as them. It was already fine that their young minds were a little scarred from him, he hadn't the need to go further.
Once the imprint was complete, he changed his target, and the pressure on the serpent was released. Once free, the serpent's eyes rolled back into its head, and passed out immediately. The only reason it was conscious until now was that it didn't dare look away.
He proceeded to repeat the process on the foolish turtle and the amateur tiger. He would have one on one sessions with them, where the dust storm would confine them so that they couldn't see the outside world, and they would feel alone in the world except for him.
He would look into their eyes like death was their only answer, and would weigh down their bodies with the the piling dust, burying them put to their mouths, insuring they couldn't move, and could barely breathe. Any claustrophobic feelings they didn't have before he would make sure to instill on them now.
It didn't work on the tortoise though, it was an earth element beast, and was used to sleeping underground. There was no way to make him feel claustrophobic. There was no choice but to try a different approach.
The foolish turtle stared at him in silence. Trembling, but not yet broken. Hades approached, wrenched open its mouth and with a flap of his wings, made a small vortex that funneled the dirt to fly into the tortoise's gaping mouth.
Instantly understanding what was happening, it immediately tried to close its mouth, but the sand entered through its nose instead, forcing his mouth back open, allowing more sand to funnel in. The dust soon began to enter its ears.
The tortoise desperately tries to will its power over the earth to expel he dirt, dust, and sand, but it was far more difficult to manipulate the small elements than simple earth or mud.
The roof of the vortex vaguely cleared, and moonlight washed in, and the turtle saw the diabolical grin of Hades standing before him, ever present scarlet eyes burning themselves into the tortoise's own eyes and soul.
The tortoise vaguely felt the dust enter through all orifices in its body: mouth, nose, ears, eyes, open wounds, etc. It's body grew heavier and heavier, as the tortoise saw a horrifying vision of its own body bursting under the weight of the sand.
It never realized wind could be used in this manner, and manipulate another element to his extent.
But here it was, dragging its body down into the earth like resentful spirits pulling its ankles. It's soul cracked as it fell deeper and deeper, and the imprint was formed.
It was far easier with the tiger though. Already submissive after its defeat to him, upon being buried and left helplessly sinking further in darkness, its will easily broke and its soul easily infiltrated.
He could feel the intangible essence of fear full his nose, and the Path of Fear rapidly improving as he traumatized them.
He finally turned to the bird. He had had enough of birds when he was attacked by them in the Divine Hall.
Hades instinctively held a slight distaste for this bird, it might have been the light element that had an instinctive pressure on him. His eyes narrowed slightly.
The bird was horrified at the sights of the torture inflicted upon the other beasts, she could see clearly through its eyes imbued with light qi. But like the others, she was helpless to resist. It was originally more adept in support in the first place. Now that it couldn't fly or move, there was nothing it could do.
She was a regal beast with a sacred bloodline, yet was under the paws of a heavy darkness.
She understood darkness beasts as depraved and despicable. Would this evil being bury her like the serpent? Stuff her like the tortoise? Or perhaps even worse? Her imagination ran wild at the thought.
In the end, he decided he'd gone far enough, and turned back, he heard that causing trouble for females in human society was very troublesome.
The Phoenix watched the returning back with a strange feeling in it's heart...