Beibei rushed towards the corner where the most black miasma had gathered. Kunwa gathered all the remaining fabricators and ran around the edges, throwing one or two fabricators where ever he could see more miasma. Even if he could only slightly deplete the gathering miasma, it would mean that Beibei would have to absorb that much less.
Nanate too sped off in the directions where the golden bells were still constraining the groups of miasma. Using the different tools he had collected from the sphere, and his whip, he lashed out at them with renewed energy. He had to buy as much time as possible for Beibei to finish her part of the task.
The miasma rolled threateningly as Beibei closed in. The dense clouds of black fog could sense danger as the girl approached. They were already cornered by the blinding white light and burning flames. But the more they were cornered, the more vicious and hungry they seemed to become.
Beibei could almost see the saliva dripping from the invisible mouths, the miasma churning slowly into a vortex, wanting to devour her body and soul. Stopping at a safe distance, she pondered whether to use her absorption power first, or attack and break them down a bit before sucking them inside her tattoo.
The heat of the white light would soon burn out. She needed to act before the miasma got a chance to retaliate. Without wasting any more time, she released the silverish-blue flame from within.
"Frozen Flame of Annihilation!"
A shimmering silvering-blue flame emerged from her body. A faint dragon-like form could be seen, as the large stream of light twisted and coiled around the girl's tiny body, wanting to break free from her control and purge the miasma it could sense before her.
The dragon moved, it's ethereal body cutting through the air with a sharp roaring sound, as it dived relentlessly into the cowering miasma. The miasma could sense the great threat emanating from the stream of energy as it poured down over it, and it tried to disperse in different directions.
Beibei grit her teeth, taking in a deep breath to stabilize her nerves. Then she slowly added in the vortex of wind within the body of the flaming dragon. The wind grew in size, gradually melding right into the raging silverish-blue flames. The apex remaining at the point where Beibei was standing, the vortex like mouth of the tornado seemed to have grown eyes, as it twisted and turned, bending and flexing. The vortex grew larger and larger, like the wide open jaws of a bloodthirsty beast, only focused on engulfing every bit of miasma which came in its path.
Beibei almost staggered. She had barely started releasing her energies, but she could already feel her body losing its strength and essence rapidly. She knew the frozen flames required a large amount of spiritual power and mental strength, and she was lacking on both fronts. Moreover, adding on her absorbing powers had thrown her to the ends of her capability.
Her jaws locked tightly, teeth biting into teeth. She closed her eyes to lessen the dizziness and nausea overwhelming her senses. Clenched fingers dug deep inside her palms, and blood dripped in continuous streams from her tightened fists.
She couldn't lose focus! Beibei was struggling to hold on. Initially she could feel the black miasma pulsating within her body as it entered through the vortex, and then being sucked into the tattoo.
But very soon all senses, feelings, emotions disappeared from her mind. A blank darkness was descending. Her body became heavier and heavier, till she could no longer feel, sense or think.
Only a few words kept repeating itself within her mind....."I have to hold on! I have to hold on!"...
Nanate turned his head to take a look and stumbled in his movements. In the moment of distraction, long sharp black talons swiped at him ruthlessly, ripping through his chest and stomach. Blood spurted out, drenching his tattered clothes, spilling all over the disintegrating membranous barrier.
He stumbled again, unable to find his balance and fell down hard on the ground. Even so his eyes never left the girl who stood frozen like death amidst the raging vortex battling with the black miasma.
Kunwa had only reached half the area, when his senses told him something was wrong. He turned back, eyes widening as he watched the tiny little body slowly falling to the ground. Blood was dripping in continuous streams from her mouth, ears, nose and even the corners of the eyes. Palms were bloody and still clenched tightly even as her body hit the ground with a loud thump.
Kunwa felt his body freeze, unable to move, unable to think. Something within him sparked slowly, sparking again and again, as if trying to reignite. Then a blazing pain hit his mind, and he lost all his senses. The last he could remember before his sight turned dim and he lost consciousness.....was seeing a little girl, standing before him, inside a room...where he was tied up, his clothes and body in tatters......
But...where was this place? It didn't seem like a place belonging to these lands!
"Golden Lightning of Purging!"
The sky all around erupted in deep golden streaks, as large streams of shimmering gold rained down from the sky all around. Loud crackling sounds cut through the space, as the streaks turned to bolts of dense lightning, hitting the miasma gathered inside the space from all directions.
A loud roar emanated from the formless miasma, as it rushed around the space, trying to escape the burning vindictiveness of the lightning. But the golden bolts only kept growing, turning more ruthless and intense.
The consciousness of the miasma seemed to sense the person behind the attacks. Or maybe the intensity of the bolts terrified it for the moment. Whatever the cause, the miasma knew it had to relent for the moment.
As before a large black hole appeared at the center of the place, and the miasma retreated rapidly, disappearing down the black abyss, going into hiding for the time being.
The sky turned bright once more. Bolts of golden lightning still shimmered in the bright sky, merging with the slowly dissipating white light and raging flames. As the elemental energies in the surroundings gradually dispersed, the last flecks of energies burst, shimmering in the air and floating down to the ground like sparkling dust.
Only three bodies lay on the ground. Entirely motionless. Perhaps if they had been awake, they would be amazed at this sudden show of great power. Perhaps they would be mesmerized by the sparkles of energies bursting in the sky like zillions of firecrackers. Perhaps they would be overawed by the sheer dominating pressure of the lone person who slowly emerged out of thin air right above their space, watching them with sharp, pondering eyes.
But they were no longer conscious. And thus failed to realize that they had missed a momentous event in their lives. Blood soaked the ground as they lay prone. Even the hogs were severely injured, and lay barely alive, sprawled by the body of Kunwa.
Kartenu frowned deeply. A shadow swiftly made way, halting a few steps behind the Last Great Bolonus.
"Lunaeria, you should have taken better care of your disciple."
Lunaeria hung her head low. She should have guesses this girl would never stick to the mission given to her. She rarely retorted back, but then she would go around her and do exactly as she wanted. And her overlooking this point had lead to this.
Kartenu sighed.
"No matter. Bring them back. They will have a lot of questions once they wake up. Make sure none of them are infected."
Kartenu's body once more disappeared from where he was floating in the air. Lunaeria took a deep breath, then turned to look at her stubborn disciple. Was she stupid....or was she just too overconfident!