Chief Lisun finally released his grip on Rara's waist and tried to wrench her claws away from his neck. The struggle was intense, his muscles straining as he grappled with her.
Her eyes, glowing a menacing red, showed no hint of relenting. Desperation etched on his face, Chief Lisun resorted to sheer force, gripping her wrists with a painful tightness and yanking her hands away with a violent jerk.
The movement left deep, five-line scratches on either side of his neck, which began to ooze a mix of blood and sweat.
Around them, the tribe's ceremonial circle was forming. The air was thick with the pungent scent of tiger's blood, mixed with the rhythmic clang of gongs. Tribal dancers, adorned in elaborate garb and painted faces, moved in an eerie, synchronized pattern around a large, ancient stone.
The low and high cultivators watched in silence, their gazes fixed on the transparent shield that now encased Bun Kukkinos.
The shield, a shimmering barrier of light, crackled faintly with each passing moment.
Rara, now even more agitated by the sight of the shield, seemed driven by an otherworldly fury.
With a sudden burst of energy, she kicked Chief Lisun hard in the stomach. The force of the blow sent him reeling backwards, causing him to stagger and crash into a nearby ceremonial drum, which fell over with a resounding thud.
As Chief Lisun attempted to regain his footing, a sharp pain pierced his side. He bent over, clutching his ribs, and spat a stream of blood onto the ground.
His eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
The crowd, a mix of astonished onlookers and tribal members, gasped collectively. Chief Lisun, the formidable head of the palace guards, had been bested by a seemingly fragile woman.
"Stop her!" Chief Lisun roared, his voice tinged with panic as he addressed his stunned subordinates.
His command snapped his subordinates into action. They lunged towards Rara, but she evaded them with the grace of a serpent, her movements fluid and precise. Despite her agility, Rara's new body, weakened by its rebirth, struggled under the strain. Blood trickled from several cuts on her skin as she pressed on towards the circle.
She reached the edge of the transparent shield, panting heavily. The king's bodyguard, Blake, a burly figure in ornate armor, charged at her, but his approach was abruptly halted when Rara dropped to one knee.
She closed her eyes in concentration, her hands performing a strange, intricate dance—one palm pressed firmly against the cold stone, the other reaching skyward as if to grasp the heavens.
Suddenly, as Blade swung his sword at her, Rara vanished from sight. The audience was enveloped in a stunned silence, their eyes widening in collective awe and confusion. Whispers spread through the crowd, "Is this... magic?"
Chief Lisun, his face etched with frustration and resignation, sighed deeply. His efforts to stop her had failed. Even if Rara begged for rescue now, it was too late. Her actions had crossed an unforgivable line.
The king's expression turned grim, and his lips curled into a scowl. The ministers around him were in shock, their faces pale. The Gods had chosen Rara, and she had magic? The implications were profound and unsettling.
For centuries, the nation had awaited this moment. Despite numerous celebrations and ceremonies, no one had ever received the Queen's Ring hidden within their glass.
It was said that the Gods would bless the empire through the Chosen Lady. The Gods were well aware of the centuries-old enmity between humans and supernatural beings.
Once, both lived in harmony, even intermarrying. But peace shattered when rumors spread that the supernatural wished to conquer the world, causing fear and conflict.
Now, when a supernatural being was captured, they were brought to be punished by the Gods' Fairies, and vice versa. The ritual, despite Rara's interference, continued unabated. A powerful wind whipped through the area, causing the low-cultivated spectators to stumble and cling to each other for support.
From four directions—cloud, soil, fire, and water—a tumultuous fog converged on the circle. The atmosphere crackled with raw, elemental power. The audience watched in stunned silence as the fog swirled and coalesced into a menacing storm.
To their astonishment, Rara had reappeared inside the circle with Bun Kukkinos. As the fog approached, Bun Kukkinos, his face etched with panic, implored, "Your Highness, just leave me! I'm an old man. My time has come. Save yourself and escape!"
Rara ignored his pleas. She placed her hand firmly on the stone, her face contorted with effort. The fog enveloped her, and she let out a piercing scream that echoed through the field. Her body felt as if it were being torn apart and reassembled in a relentless cycle of agony. Her once-black hair flamed into a vivid red, and her brown eyes turned a fierce scarlet.
Prince Ariel watched in horror, his heart heavy with regret for not intervening sooner. Yet, he knew that even if he tried to help, the king and queen would punish him severely. Closing his eyes, he turned away, unable to bear the sight of Rara's suffering.
Despite Rara's heroic attempt to shield Bun Kukkinos, the fog proved too powerful. He received his punishment, turning to ash before her eyes. Rara, overwhelmed with grief, placed her hand on his as he died. A scarlet light surged from her hands, streaking across her forehead before disappearing.
As Bun Kukkinos's remains turned to ashes, Rara was engulfed in a wave of sorrow. Her anguished scream shattered the transparent barriers and the massive stone. The scarlet fog that enveloped her expanded rapidly, forcing the other fogs to retreat in defeat.
The audience gasped, their expressions a mix of awe and terror. Even the king and queen recoiled, their faces pale with fear. They watched as the chosen one, marked by the Gods, defied their punishment.
In the midst of the chaos, Rara's spirit, drained and weakened, retreated to a dark, mysterious space within her mind. There, she found herself conversing with Bun Kukkinos, in a serene, white-walled room with a white floor.
"What are you standing there for? Come and join us!" Hara called out, waving cheerfully.
Rara, her mind racing, joined them. Meanwhile, Chief Lisun, seeing Rara's exhaustion, approached her cautiously. Noticing she had fallen into a deep sleep, amusement danced in his eyes. He picked her up gently, cradling her as he shielded her from the audience's view, and carried her back to his designated spot.