Everyone raised their heads as a gust of wind swept through the coliseum.
"Wrooooooooowh"
A massive jet-black raven landed on one side of the building. Its talons dug into the structure, tearing parts of it off with the sound of splintering wood.
The sky began to darken, not because of the hour, but due to the overwhelming shadow of the raven circling above the coliseum. Screams erupted from the stands as several spectators ran in panic, while others froze in fear. The aura radiating from the beast was so dense that even elite warriors felt a chill run down their spines.
Without warning, the raven let out a deafening screech and dove down, extending its talons toward the nearest structures. With a single blow, it brought down a side tower of the coliseum, sending debris crashing onto unsuspecting spectators. A guard tried to face it with a glowing spear, but was tossed aside like a leaf in the wind.
Nulambart, still panting from his fight with Gus, felt an instinctive urge to rise and protect his people, but his body wouldn't respond. He could only watch helplessly as the raven swooped in, its beak open like a scythe, aiming straight at a young girl who hadn't managed to escape in time. That was when a green flash crossed his field of vision.
"I won't allow it!" shouted Aggro, leaping swiftly from his seat.
Aggro's body blurred, and in the next instant, his Sacred Avatar Realm power surged forth, turning him into a dark green flash that blocked the raven's attack.
Nulambart and Gus, who had been mid-battle, stared distractedly at the scene before collapsing to the ground.
Lying on the warm earth, Nulambart could see Aggro wielding a dark green whip. Unlike his sons' weapons, this one twisted with a life of its own, clearly bonded to its wielder's soul.
The whip extended several meters with a dominant aura, repelling the raven's beak and sending the beast flying hundreds of meters away.
The residual waves of Aggro's power even struck the young fighters in the center of the arena.
"That's the power I was trying to replicate with my crafting, but nothing compares to the true strength of a Sacred Avatar Realm creator," Gus said with a soft sigh.
"Your weapon is extremely powerful, Gus… Be at ease," Nulambart replied, exhausted.
"Hmmp. Nulambart, this time the bell saved you," Gus muttered before refocusing his eyes on his father.
Nulambart noticed the boy's cheeks had turned slightly red.
Aggro, meanwhile, was frowning as he looked toward the spot where the spiritual beast had crashed.
After confirming its location, he turned to his daughter.
"Daughter, I need you to channel your energy into the seal of our ancestors while I take care of the beast," Aggro ordered swiftly.
"I'll go now, Dad, but I can't do it alone," Aggi replied anxiously.
Aggro glanced at the injured youths and said:
"Take Gus and Nulambart with you. If their wounds aren't too severe, your mother will be able to help them."
"We have to reseal the entrance that bastard raven forced open," he finished solemnly before flying off toward the beast.
Aggi and Aggar immediately jumped into the arena, lifted the injured boys, and called the guards to bring the carriage they'd arrived in.
Once it arrived, mother and daughter helped the injured aboard, preparing to depart. But before leaving, Aggar had something important to say.
"Tribe members, I ask you not to be alarmed by what's happening."
"My husband will handle that beast, but until then, I ask you to remain in the building and stay calm," Aggar said calmly before stepping into the carriage and departing quickly.
Aggar was a symbol of wisdom and serenity in the village, so those present cheered their leader as they watched her leave.
Inside the carriage, Aggar positioned herself between the wounded, extending her arms toward each to begin healing them with the white energy radiating from her body.
Nulambart and Gus relaxed as they watched their wounds slowly disappear.
"You're both lucky to have been in the sacred pond recently. Otherwise, I fear even I wouldn't have been able to help you so quickly," Aggar chided softly, then turned to Nulambart.
Nulambart had been feeling a buzzing in his head for some time, accompanied by occasional sharp pain.
"Nulambart, your soul was close to breaking before, and now it's even worse," Aggar said, looking at him seriously.
"Listen, Nulambart. I know you want to rescue your parents no matter what, but you have to understand there are many dangers you'll have to face before helping them."
"The sacred essence herb can help you and your parents. I know you know that… But you were wrong if you thought we had it in this village. That's why even my daughter hasn't been able to heal her soul," Aggar said, glancing at Aggi.
Nulambart was stunned, as Aggar had voiced exactly what he'd been thinking.
"Nulambart, we know where to find it, but you'll have to face many perils before reaching it, and returning to your parents."
"Don't take risks that might destroy your future, because right now, people are depending on you… including us," Aggar finished, her expression softening.
Nulambart nodded slightly with a faint smile, realizing he had made a serious mistake in assuming too much.
"Mom, don't be so harsh with my friend… Better scold your crazy son," Aggi said with a smile.
"Foolish sister, Mother should be proud of the whip I forged, not scolding me," Gus declared.
Watching this family interact and realizing the serious error he had made, Nulambart felt his heart tighten. He began to remember that several days had already passed since he'd left his parents, and his sister was still in the hands of that perverted prince.
"I really am stupid. I wanted to be a hero and save everyone with the power I'd gained, even if it meant sacrificing my soul completely…" Nulambart whispered, his voice trembling.
"But I'm not a hero. I'm just someone who wants to see his family… safe again," he said, holding back tears.
Seeing the pained expression on his face, Gus and Aggi watched as tears began to fall from Nulambart's eyes, now tinged red.
No one in the family said a word, understanding what the boy was feeling at that moment.
Minutes passed, and the carriage finally reached its destination. Along the way, Nulambart noticed they had followed the mountain from which the Redemption Waterfall flowed, reaching the edge of the village before meeting a dense surrounding forest.
Everyone disembarked, including the fighters, who were now steady on their feet. Nulambart had stopped crying, though his eyes still held a reddish hue.
Before them stood a 20-meter-tall pillar carved directly into the mountain. Like the pond in the palace, it was etched with ancient seals. However, this magnificent pillar had serious cracks running through its structure.
"Nulambart, this is the most important structure in our village, the Ancestral Sealing Pillar. It was carved by our ancestors and keeps our village protected from the spiritual beasts in the forest," Aggar explained.
"Right now, the pillar's energy is weakening, causing cracks in the protective barrier. That allows nearby spiritual beasts to enter."
"To temporarily solve the issue, we need to infuse all our energy into the pillar. That will stop other beasts from coming in until Aggro can defeat that raven and return to help," she added.
Nulambart nodded, understanding the tribe's means of survival in the dangerous Elvareth Forest.
Without wasting time, they began the preparations.
"Take these, kids. They're soul energy-replenishing pills I crafted," said Aggar, handing them each a bright white pill.
"Friend, we can only use these once a week. Otherwise, we could permanently damage our souls," Aggi added, lifting a finger like a teacher.
Nulambart and Gus took their pills. They felt a surge of energy flood their souls, though violently, blood leaked from their mouths.
Still, they regained about half of their soul energy, enough to aid the sealing.
Each of them placed a hand on the pillar and began circulating their soul energy.
As they all touched the pillar, a soft white glow emerged from its surface. Soul energy flowed slowly, as though the ancestral seal reluctantly accepted the aid of its heirs.
But then, a bluish glow broke the calm.
It came from Nulambart's palm.
A faint hum rose from the pillar, as if it were waking from a long slumber.
The cracks flickered with gentle lights, and an ancient rune lit up right beneath his hand. The pillar began absorbing his energy faster than the others'.
"Nulambart… what is this?" Aggi whispered, staring at the glow in fear.
Aggar looked on with a pale face.
"The Pillar has recognized him…"
"Recognized? Why me?" Nulambart asked, panting, a trickle of blood running from his lips.
Aggar stepped forward quickly, examining his aura with narrowed eyes.
"Your soul… still carries traces of a different spiritual signature. Something deeper than you. The pact you made… even dormant, it still marks your soul."
"And what does that mean?" asked Gus, clenching his fists.
"It means the Pillar believes Nulambart… is part of the forest."
Silence fell, heavy and oppressive.
"He can seal it. But if he keeps channeling energy at this rate, he'll lose what little remains of his soul."
Nulambart struggled to breathe, feeling something tremble inside him.
"If I stop… will the beasts keep coming?"
"Yes," Aggar answered gravely. "And we won't be able to stop them without the seal."
The boy swallowed hard. He looked at the cracked pillar. At the wounded fighters. At the village beyond the forest.
Then he lowered his gaze to his hand, still pressed against the pillar.
"Then… tell me what I have to do."