Deep in the valley of the Ghezzak, two of the land's apex predators confronted each other, their eyes locked in a silent exchange of primal intent.
She dared to touch him...
She dared to take him from us...
She will suffer for this greatly...
Hen're'it remained still at first, her gaze fixed upon the woman who mirrored her in shape and size. However, as she attempted to peer into the depths of the other's body, down to her codex, she encountered an unexpected barrier. Her vision was obscured, a phenomenon she had never experienced before. Was this what her life mate saw, or rather, didn't see many moons ago?
Nevertheless, her hand rose swiftly, a rapid motion missed by the beastly onlookers. Their stake in this battle was clear – if the mother of the Ghezzak triumphed, they would all become mere prey, regardless of their beastly forms.
In the fraction of a second that her hand moved up between them, it came to life with fire, encasing itself before exploding outward. The sky, rather than being illuminated, seemed to atomize as the condensed fire increased in force and destructive output.
As the fiery blast engulfed the mother of the Ghezzak, she did not miss a single moment. Her body began to burn away, yet she showed no outward sign of distress or injury. The flames continued, the charred skin melting away to reveal a reddish exoskeleton underneath.
Hen're'it abruptly stopped, her eyes blinking rapidly as she staggered back, the flames almost vanishing as quickly as they appeared. Her hands clawed at her throat as she moved backward, a burning, scorching feeling overwhelming her.
What was this sensation? What was this burning agony?
It wasn't until the last second of her life that she understood – the reddish substance wasn't skin; it was condensed poison. Her eyes saw the codex, its complexity changing every second, becoming more potent. Her body, in its current state, couldn't compensate and adapt.
For the first time, the great goddess Hen're'it found herself approaching death's door, a realization that unfolded amidst the fiery battlefield in the valley of the Ghezzak.