Among the dunes of the Khaazaka desert, a trail of sand was formed by a type of transport. It was a 4-meter-long Zantya in the shape of a shark, with someone guiding it, covered by a red blanket and wearing protective goggles. Beside it, guiding smaller Zantyas, were its companions.
"Was the qi peak detected around here?"
"Yes, more specifically 200m to the south."
"Let's get this done and return to the village. This time we'll be back earlier."
"Yes, sir."
At the house where Jian and Baiji had been earlier that day, Kano and his father, who had just woken up, were mourning the death of the old man. His son, now the head of the family and the land, was very angry for not having done anything about the hyenas. Kano tried to calm him down, but without much success.
The mysterious group mounted on the shark Zantyas arrived at their house.
"Hey. Anyone home?"
Kano and his father were worried that it might be the hyenas again, seeking revenge.
"Kano, go inside, now!"
"But father, I..."
"No 'buts'. Go!"
The man, even with Jian's talisman, had not yet recovered from the illness. He quickly went to the storage room to fetch a spear from the old Tianxin army and headed to the gate.
"Who are you? What do you want from here?"
There was no response. The man asked again and again, no answers.
He then opened the gate and attacked immediately, but no one was there. He then heard Kano calling for help inside the house. The man ran desperately. As soon as he entered, he saw a very tall figure, almost touching the ceiling, holding Kano by the collar.
"Dad, help me!"
The father charged at the giant, but as soon as the blade touched him, they vanished like a mist.
"What?!" Kano's father was confused.
Another voice was heard from someone, this time sitting in an armchair, pointing behind the man.
"Behind."
As he looked back, he saw the giant still holding his son.
"Who are you?! Let go of my son now!"
The man attacked again but was subdued by the giant with just one blow.
"And now, Lagras?" asked the man in the red cloak, sitting in the armchair.
A Kamigami in the form of a meerkat, but the size of an average human, walked towards Kano, placing his hand on the child's chest.
"There is still no compatibility in the qi, sir."
"Hmm. What are the chances that the reading from a few hours ago was wrong?"
"Zero. Even being several kilometers away, my mantra sensor never fails. That corrupted qi came from this child."
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"Very well." He stood up. "Let's make the child angrier, eheh!"
In the underground village, Jian and Baiji were looking for a solution to deal with the creature and the burning warehouse.
The panic and screams of the people intensified, and even the bravest who had stayed nearby to see what was happening began to move away in fear.
Jian was still weak from the poison spread in his body. He managed to relieve the exhaustion and pain with one of Dr. Pilo's pills.
Near them, some mages from the fire department were using their water magic to try to contain the fire.
"We can't hold on much longer! Call for reinforcements!" shouted the captain of the mage squad.
The creature was becoming more threatening. It seemed to be growing larger as time passed. It started shooting an energy beam from its mouth, decimating nearby buildings. The debris crushed some unlucky inhabitants. The situation was out of control.
Witnessing that, Jian and Baiji could no longer contain themselves and, in a moment of desperation, the two charged at the creature. Despite the heat and high pressure the beast was emanating, they managed to land some blows. Jian with his sword and Baiji with his staff.
"Baiji, could it be a case of possession?"
"I can't tell."
Dr. Pilo, who had been motionless before, ran back home.
Jian was hit and thrown against one of the nearby houses by a full blow to the stomach from one of the creature's hands, which was already getting annoyed with their presence. It then made a huge leap towards the center of the commercial district.
The mages were already running out of qi. They used their last reserves to put out the fire since the creature was no longer a threat to them in that location.
"Let's go all out!"
"Yes, sir!"
Baiji went to look for Jian among the rubble.
"Jian!"
He heard a child crying a few meters away.
"It's okay, little girl. You don't need to cry." Jian was trying to calm a little girl he had saved from the impact.
"Are you okay?" Baiji asked.
"It seems so. I managed to form a feng shui barrier around to cushion the fall."
"The creature fled. It went towards the center of the commercial district. We need to hurry."
Already in the commercial district, the creature was wreaking havoc. Several shops were destroyed, and people nearby were crushed by the debris.
Dr. Pilo arrived home and shouted for his companion.
"Rotta!"
Rotta hurried out of the house.
"Doctor, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but there's no time for that now! Help me carry 'that thing', quickly!"
The two went inside the house.
Jian and Baiji arrived at the scene, as did the village guards who were trying to evacuate the residents.
People were wondering where the village leaders were.
The creature was preparing to release another energy attack from its mouth.
"Jian, we can't let it release another attack like that!"
"I know." The effect of the pill Jian had taken was wearing off faster than expected.
Behind them, someone called their names.
"Guys!"
They turned around. It was Kamba.
"Kamba? What are you doing here?" Jian asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I came to help, of course." He took off his shirt, revealing a giant shield on his back. "It's been a while since I used it."
He positioned himself defensively, and a giant barrier formed around the creature.
"It's going to fire!" Baiji warned.
The creature fired the attack, but it was stopped by Kamba's huge barrier.
"It seems the barrier is really strong!" Jian exclaimed, showing excitement and surprise at Kamba's ability.
"It is strong, but..." The barrier started to crack. "It's still weak. It shouldn't withstand more than two of those attacks."
The creature began charging another attack.
The guards approached and asked the three to step back, but Baiji refused and asked them to continue evacuating the residents. The guard showed respect and gratitude for Baiji's words. "Be careful."
The creature fired the third attack, breaking Kamba's barrier, who fell to his knees, apparently exhausted and panting. "Sorry, guys. That was the best I could do."
Jian thanked Kamba and charged at the creature. With little qi and a fatigued body, he managed to dodge the creature's attacks. He then found an opening and managed to stab his sword into one of the creature's six eyes.
Some people passing by, even in the desperate situation, stopped to admire Jian's feat.
"Look! He managed to hurt the creature!" A glimmer of hope spread through the district streets, which quickly disappeared as Jian was brutally struck down. He fell unconscious to the ground.
Baiji tried to help his partner but was stopped by the creature's qi pressure.
Pilo and his assistant came out of the house, which was very close by.
"Baiji. Kamba. Sorry for the delay."
"Dr. Pilo?" Baiji was surprised to see Pilo at the scene.
"Leave it to me now."
"What is that?" Kamba asked, admiring the giant object Pilo and his assistant were holding. It was a kind of modified rocket launcher.
"This? It's our salvation," Pilo smiled.