A rift opened in the air. It looked like a gash in the sky. Although the sky above the Opal Colosseum was blue, the sky behind the gash was ugly and red. The atmosphere there rippled like the air over hot coals.

Then there were arms and hands. It was only one at first, with sinewy flesh and skin the color of volcanic rock. It seized the gash and forced it open further.

Immediately, more hands drove the gash in the sky apart. When the gash ran all the way to the ground, dozens of creatures tumbled out. They had no hair on their bodies, and their skin was smooth and shiny. Their eyes were bright colors, some of them red, some orange, and others yellow. Their eyes gleamed like gemstones.

They had large, square teeth, white like pearls. Their earlobes were long and floppy. They wore leather armor and thick boots. They overran the Colosseum, creating carnage as they caught minor gods who were fleeing in the rafters.

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Now, just moments before all this chaos broke out, you will remember that Isshakhu had called out to Ziph to stop the fight. When the rift opened up in the sky, she was charging down the bleachers to save her ex-lover from certain death.

As it happened, one of the otherworldly creatures took notice of Isshakhu and ran toward her. Now, as she saw the monster sprinting at her, Isshakhu’s screams changed from cries for mercy to terrified shrieks.

Hearing her shrieks, Ziph turned from Bagua and Millagua to intercept the creatures.

Meanwhile, Siynh was also storming the Colosseum floor. He, too, was determined to save his father, Millagua; but then, when he saw his mother Isshakhu in danger, he ran towards her. Presently, a pair of the dark creatures spotted him, too, and marked him.

His life would soon be forfeit.