The blood-red spiritual aura spread across the sky was suppressing the entire battlefield. Thousands of soldiers' weapons radiated a terrifying glow. Humbha Yakshini's laughter still echoed through the atmosphere, and Snehwal's knees had begun trembling under that overwhelming pressure.
But then— KRRAACK!!!
The entire sky suddenly split apart, as if an invisible force had torn heaven itself in half. A massive pale white-pink crack emerged across the sky.
In an instant—the spiritual energy throughout the battlefield became chaotic. The wind stopped. The faces of the soldiers froze. Even Humbha's laughter abruptly came to a halt.
Then—from within that shattered crack, a soft pink light slowly began to flow outward.
Tick… tick… tick…
As if a tiny star were pulsing inside the darkness. Snehwal's eyes narrowed.
"This…?" And in the very next moment— whoosh…
A tiny figure slowly descended from within the crack. It was not some giant monster. Nor was it a royal cultivator.
Instead— A small squirrel.
But… Her body was no longer ordinary like before. The surrounding environment could be seen through her body with the naked eye, as if her figure was half-transparent, like she was not a complete physical body but the manifested form of some higher spiritual entity.
Around her, particles of white and pink spiritual energy drifted peacefully. And the pink gem embedded in its forehead slowly began to flicker— Thump… thump… thump…
With every flicker—the entire sky trembled. The breathing of thousands of soldiers grew heavy. Some soldiers directly fell to their knees.
This pressure… felt even greater than the seventh stage itself.
Humbha Yakshini's eyes widened. "This… is impossible…"
Behind her, the faces of Jury, Lith, and Shon had completely lost color. It was that same squirrel.
But now—it no longer resembled an ordinary creature in the slightest. For the first time, King Omas took half a step backward on his heavenly platform. His legs were trembling slightly.
Disbelief filled his eyes. "A… spiritual being…?"
Even the black messenger standing beside him had fallen completely silent. His shadow itself was trembling.
Below—Snehwal stared at it for several moments.
Then… a slow smile appeared on his face. As if an old memory had suddenly awakened deep within him.
He remembered that forest. The dead wild man… that pink gem… and that strange deal…
"So… you really weren't ordinary…" he thought silently.
The squirrel floated gently through the air as it slowly descended.
There was no longer any mischievousness in its tiny eyes.
Only an ancient calmness remained.
Then it slowly raised its tiny paw—
And— DHAMMM!!!
The entire battlefield shook violently.
The spiritual pressure spread by Omas's army shattered in a single instant. Soldiers were thrown backward.
The crimson spiritual energy floating in the air dispersed completely. For the very first time, fear twisted Humbha's face.
"A senior cultivator…" she whispered softly.
"This… is a high-ranking senior cultivator…!"
The entire battlefield had now fallen silent.
No one moved. No one even dared to breathe.
And then— The little squirrel slowly landed upon Snehwal's shoulder. The pink gem on its forehead glimmered faintly.
Then, in its tiny voice, it said— "How are you, little human?" Snehwal glanced at the squirrel's tiny body and thought inwardly—
"Little human…?" At that same moment, Lily also remembered that day.
Lily immediately bowed respectfully and said— "Senior… please forgive me. That day, I could not properly show you the respect you deserved."
The squirrel lightly lifted its nose and replied— "It's alright. I forgave you a long time ago."
Hearing this, the expressions of Lily, Master Jins, and Liora visibly relaxed.
Then the squirrel suddenly burst into cheerful laughter and showed its two tiny teeth as it said— "Don't worry. I'm here now… everything will be fine."
Then— Its eyes slowly settled upon Omas.
A slight fear trembled deep within King Omas.
And the squirrel spoke in a calm yet heavy voice— "Didn't I tell you…? One day, the consequences of your evil deeds would return before you… bitter and unavoidable."
King Omas tried to suppress the fear rising within him, but the slight tension on his face was still clearly visible. In a slow yet stern voice, he said— "Beast cultivator… we hold no enmity toward you. Then why are you interfering in our affairs…?"
The squirrel's tiny eyes narrowed slightly. The pink gem on her forehead flashed brightly once. Then, in an anger-filled voice, she spoke— "You use your authority to crush the weak… and for me, that alone is enough reason to kick you right in your backside."
A few soldiers trembled lightly despite themselves. For a brief moment, King Omas's face twisted. The anger within him was now slowly beginning to surface.
Just then— Humbha Yakshini stepped two paces forward.
Her blood-red and black aura slowly began spreading once again. A cruel smile appeared upon her lips.
"But…" she said in a low voice,
"How long can you continue opposing us with merely this consciousness… this spiritual energy without a body…? I would like to see that as well."
There was no fear left in her eyes now—only cruel curiosity.
Hearing this, some courage returned to the faces of Jury, Lith, and Shon standing behind her. Even the black messenger became steady once again.
Only Humbha's host still appeared disturbed. His breathing had become unusually heavy.
But then— the squirrel suddenly smiled.
Within that tiny smile existed both strange playfulness and dangerous confidence.
"Oh, dear great Yakshini…" she said in a teasing tone,
"My goal was to make your face swell up… and it seems today that goal will finally be fulfilled."
In an instant— the entire atmosphere tightened once again.
Spiritual waves began colliding across the sky. The air grew heavy.
And everyone could feel it— This war… could begin at any moment now.