[Host, summon Huno and Silla. You need them to avoid disturbances or interference during the ritual.]
Seojun nodded. "Huno, Silla," he called out, his voice firm but calm.
With a sudden burst of energy, Huno and Silla, appeared before him. They had sensed the urgency in Seojun's call and immediately took their positions, surrounding him protectively.
He turned his attention back to the massive, wilting tree before him. The Aeternum Yggrith was groaning in pain, its branches creaking and leaves falling like black tears onto the forest floor.
Seojun took a deep breath. "If there's no other way... I have to do this."
[This is the safest option,] the system. [It's less dangerous than the first way, where you'd lose half your lifetime. But it still carries risks, host.]
Seojun stared at the massive tree, Aeternum Yggrith. "I understand," he said softly.
The system flickered again, projecting a circle of runes around Seojun's feet. [The ritual will begin now. You must focus your energy on the tree's core,] it instructed. [Do not waver.]
Seojun took a deep breath, closing his eyes and concentrating. He felt a surge of energy starting to flow from his body, like a river being pulled toward the Aeternum Yggrith. The tree seemed to respond, its branches shaking and its leaves quivering. Slowly, a dim light began to form around the tree's core, pulsating as if it were a beating heart.
Meanwhile, in the territories of the other clan lords, something unusual began to happen. The sky above started to darken, casting deep shadows over the lands. The beasts—great and small—began to act strangely. They became restless, their eyes glowing an eerie red, and they started to attack anyone nearby.
Kazrak, the lion-faced demon lord, was watching over the beasts that he planned to offer to Lord Seojun as a gift. Suddenly, the beasts' eyes flashed red, and they went berserk, charging wildly. "What's happening?!" Kazrak shouted, dodging as one of the beasts lunged at him.
He quickly took to the air, soaring above the chaos, and noticed the darkened sky stretching far and wide. Then he felt it—a powerful aura coming from the direction of the Aeternum Yggrith. "What is going on over there?" he muttered, noticing some of the crazed beasts running directly toward the great tree.
Kazrak wasn't the only one who noticed the change. In the sky, he saw the other clan lords flying toward the source of the disturbance. As he hovered, trying to make sense of the situation, a plant demon floated toward him. It was a large flower with petals like wings, its voice soft but urgent.
"Someone is trying to save the great Yggrith, Lord Kazrak" the flower said.
Kazrak's eyes narrowed. "Save? What do you mean?"
"The great Yggrith is dying," the plant demon explained. "And someone is trying to save it without the Vitalis Myceleum. But it is causing the beasts of all domains to lose control. You must help him."
Kazrak's mind raced. If the great Yggrith dies, the whole domain could fall apart. He glanced back at the other clan lords, who were also looking toward the Aeternum Yggrith with concern. If there was a chance to save the tree, they couldn't ignore it.
"We need to head there now," Kazrak growled, making up his mind. He could see that the other clan lords were already moving toward the Aeternum Yggrith with the same urgency.
Back at the tree, Seojun continued with the ritual, his energy pouring. Huno and Silla stood close to Seojun, their eyes sharp and bodies tense. They could sense the danger approaching. As Seojun continued the ritual, more beasts charged toward them, their eyes glowing red with madness. The air was filled with growls, roars, and the sound of heavy footsteps pounding the ground.
Huno's growled in unison, his middle head barking commands. "Stay back! Protect the master!" With a loud roar, he lunged at the first wave of beasts, his jaws snapping down on one, tossing it aside like a rag doll. The other heads blasted flames and ice, keeping the crazed creatures away from Seojun.
Silla, in his silver-scaled form, dragon body nine heads moved swiftly between the beasts, slashing at them with his sharp tail and fangs. "None shall pass!", his eyes locked on the approaching threats.
[Barrier activated. Any interruption could cause serious harm to the host,] it announced. The glowing barrier surrounded Seojun like a protective shell, keeping him safe from the chaos outside.
Despite the barrier, the ritual remained fragile. If Seojun was disturbed, the energy flow could break, and that might be very dangerous for him. The system knew this and ensured the barrier was strong. [Host must stay focused,] the system reminded.
Huno barked fiercely as more beasts tried to break through, slamming into them with his powerful body. His heads worked together "Stay down!" he growled, holding his ground.
Silla, moving like a silver flash, struck any beast that got too close to Seojun's barrier. "We will protect him," he muttered to himself, determination in his eyes. He knew how important this was—not just for the tree, but for Seojun's safety too.
The beasts kept coming, but Huno and Silla didn't back down. They fought harder, determined to keep any threat away from their master. The dark sky above rumbled with thunder as the beasts seemed to grow more frenzied, driven by some unseen force.
Seojun, deep in concentration, didn't see the battle raging around him. His focus was entirely in the Tree.
Huno and Silla were pushed to their limits as the waves of beasts grew fiercer. Bloodthirsty roars and snarls filled the air as more and more creatures charged toward them. Silla, realizing the overwhelming numbers, decided it was time to use a powerful skill.
"Time for reinforcements," Silla muttered. His silver-scaled body shimmered, and suddenly, eight other serpents appeared beside him—his clones, each bearing a single head like his own. Together, they looked like a squad of fearsome silver serpents, their scales gleaming under the darkened sky. The air filled with the hiss of Silla and his clones as they moved like a tide, striking with fangs and tails to repel the wave of attackers.
One of the clones lunged at a beast that resembled a massive black panther, its eyes burning red and saliva dripping from its fangs. The clone coiled around the panther, squeezing tight until the beast was crushed with a sickening crunch. But there were too many. A monstrous boar-like creature with six tusks and spiked fur charged toward them