The silhouette flew in circles above the boy who lay on the ground like a corpse. It descended from the sky like a meteorite.
Boom.
The ground cracked, and debris flew everywhere. On the back of the winged creature, another silhouette could be seen. This one didn't look like a creature—it looked like a human.
After the debris settled, the creature and the humanoid figure became visible. The creature was a bird, but not like any regular bird—it was twice the size of a human. On its back sat an armored man, like a knight from centuries ago.
The armor he wore resembled medieval knight armor, but with more ornaments and intricate carvings.
Above the armored man's head floated a halo with four petals, its light illuminating the surroundings. It looked like an illusion—untouchable and ethereal. Its existence was beyond reality, impossible to hide even if one wanted to.
The armored man stepped down from the bird and walked toward the boy. His gaze was fixed on the single-petal halo floating above the boy's head.
The boy hadn't realized that since returning from the white space, not only had his hand changed—something else had appeared: a halo with one petal above his head.
The armored man approached, then grabbed the boy's neck with his left hand and lifted him to see his face.
"It is sad that you have to bloom so young," said the armored man, emotionless.
The boy stared into the man's eyes. The only part of his body he could move was his eyeballs.
The man's eyes had no whites—what should have been white was black like ink, and his irises were golden, unlike any regular human.
"It is sad that you must die here."
The boy tried to move, but his body was too exhausted to obey. Only his eyes darted around in desperation.
The armored man drew a sword from his left waist and prepared to stab the boy's heart. The blade looked like it wasn't made of any metal—it was black and didn't reflect light.
"Goodbye, boy," the armored man said with a flat tone.
But before the sword could touch the boy, a shadowy figure burst out from the darkness and attacked the armored man.
Boom.
The attack didn't injure the armored man, as he blocked it with his sword. But the impact sent both him and the boy flying.
Before the boy could hit the ground, a cloaked figure caught him and dashed away to create distance from the armored man.
The cloaked man also had a halo above his head, with four petals levitating in silence. He laid the boy down at a safe distance.
From behind the cloaked man, a black creature resembling an insect crawled out of his shadow. The creature looked like a beetle but had mantis-like scythes on its front limbs.
"As usual, you people from The Garden show up to mess everything up," the armored man said, still emotionless.
"You're the one disturbing the balance of nature," the cloaked man replied.
"Let me kill that boy."
"Of course, I won't let you do that. This boy has received the blessing of the God."
"No, it's not a blessing—and it's not from God."
"I won't argue with someone without emotion," the cloaked man said, forming a knife of shadow in his right hand.
"Then I'll just kill you both."
The armored man leapt at the cloaked man, and the bird behind him followed, aiming to attack the insect.
Their clash caused a burst of power—debris exploded outward, dust covering the surroundings.
But the attacks didn't stop. The armored man slashed, and the cloaked man dodged and countered.
Clank.
The shadowy knife hit the armor but didn't pierce—it only left a dent.
Clank.
Clank.
Clank.
Multiple attacks followed, but none managed to harm the armored man.
High above in the treetops, the insect-like creature leapt between branches, attempting to strike the bird.
The bird, with its advantage in flight, didn't descend unless certain its attacks would land.
It used its talons to strike at the insect, but the insect's hard shell protected it.
The bird's attacks, like the cloaked man's, proved useless.
This stalemate didn't last. Two more creatures, each bearing a human on its back, arrived to support the armored man.
These humans also had halos with four petals above their heads.
One creature was a bear with burning claws, the other a deer with branching, intricate antlers.
The new arrivals stopped behind the armored man and dismounted.
One was a bald man wearing an office worker's uniform, the other a woman in casual clothes and glasses.
Despite their appearances, both held weapons in their right hands—the man wielded a massive hammer, the woman a dagger.
"Do you need help?" the woman asked in a flat tone.
"Kill the boy lying over there," the armored man replied, devoid of emotion.
Upon hearing that, the cloaked man blinked—vanished into shadow—and reappeared beside the boy.
He picked the boy up and attempted to flee.
The armored man, the bald man, and the woman saw this and gave chase.
The cloaked man disappeared again into the shadows with the boy, but only briefly—he soon emerged and ran on foot at full speed.
The insect tried to block the pursuers, but the bear's flaming paw smacked it away.
Boom.
The insect wasn't injured, but it was knocked aside, allowing the others to continue their pursuit.
The deer used its ability to alter terrain. The ground shifted beneath the cloaked man's feet, slowing him.
The armored man mounted the bird again and ascended into the sky, but suddenly the bird stopped gaining altitude.
Above it, a solitary figure levitated, watching everything unfold below.
"Stop," said the figure, her voice a whisper, yet everyone could hear it.
Those chasing the boy halted and looked skyward at the levitating figure.
"Go back to where you came from, or I will kill you," said the figure in the sky.
It was a woman—but no ordinary woman.
From her back grew two pairs of wings, like a bat's but covered in reptilian scales.
A long tail, covered in red scales, swayed gently behind her.
From her temples arched two majestic horns, glowing like burning steel.
Above her head floated a halo with five petals, radiating quiet, overwhelming power.