Barrakh, or rather, Malakh.
The Gehenna Tribe viewed it as an impure energy. Their tribe had always been unconventional in their use of the energy because they didn't believe that it was beneficial to absorb it in its natural state.
The spirits allowed them to purify the energy, and with their weapon techniques, they were able to turn the energy into the pure "barrakh" that they'd been using for the majority of their existence.
There was nothing wrong with this method. The Gehenna Tribe had access to a unique set of powers that nobody else could use, and their familiarity with it allowed them to wield it with enough power to protect themselves.
However…
What was this?
What was Thalia witnessing right now?
Damien used barrakh in its normal impure form. Unlike the white halo that appeared around the Gehenna people when they wielded the energy, his was purple and black, with a heavy aura that was more than just suffocating.
She'd seen it before. It wasn't much of a surprise, since it was already known that people outside the tribe didn't use pure energy.
However, the level to which Damien used it was something she'd never seen before.
He didn't even try to control the energy's form. He allowed it to flow as it pleased, and in return, the energy responded to his wishes and did exactly what he wanted it to.
The entire time he was fighting the Uruk, she watched his energy move.
It enhanced his speed and strength, it fortified his body, and it could do practically anything as long as Damien wanted it to happen.
Against a monster who could use energy like a fifth limb, what could the Uruk do?
Thalia didn't understand that Damien was baiting and probing the beast. All she saw was him gliding around, fighting without a single bead of sweat on his forehead.
And before she could even understand what was happening, the fight was over.
The Uruk was impaled by a harpoon made of barrakh.
It didn't seem nearly long enough to accomplish such a feat, but the instant it entered the Uruk's body, the harpoon expanded and slammed out the back of the beast, breaking into the ground below with the rest of its momentum.
That barrakh then exploded, turning the beast it skewered into a rain of blood and meat.
It was that easy.
The Uruk died without any ability to resist, completely unaware of the fact that it had been fighting an unwinnable battle from the very start.
To Thalia, it was something out of a fairytale.
In reality, it was just a difference in class.
At the end of the day, the Uruk was not an Ancient.
The Uruk was not a God.
And if it wasn't a God, then it didn't have nearly enough power to stand against Damien.
Yes, Damien was missing a majority of his strength. Because of that, even he had been wary about rushing into battle with an unknown enemy.
However, when he got there and started the battle, he realized that he was overthinking.
No matter how strong the beast was, no matter how weakened he was, he still held power that nobody under Godhood could resist.
That was the kind of monster Damien became when he started comprehending true Existence.
But how was she to know that?
What Thalia saw was a miracle beyond her comprehension as someone who'd lived in the jungle her whole life.
The beast that had terrorized her and her people for ages had died.
That unkillable beast.
That unkillable beast who killed her parents.
It died to a force she had never experienced before, from a man she never expected to be a monster in disguise.
How was she meant to feel?
She didn't know.
There were multiple emotions bubbling up inside her.
Fear, relief, respect, intrigue, wariness, and most importantly…
…excitement.
It may not have made sense to an external observer. Damien surely wouldn't understand it, but this was a life-changing moment for Thalia.
One of many she'd have in the coming days.
***
The territory Damien entered through the Dimensional Crack wasn't just jungle.
Rather, the sacred jungle was the only uncharted part of said territory. There was a reason the labyrinth was placed there.
Outside the jungle that spanned more distance than that between the sun and Earth, there was an entire interconnected society of many cities, towns, and metroplexes.
And just like every other society, this one had its own ruling authority.
Somewhere deep within the territory, members of that ruling authority were moving.
A shadow approached a large mansion in the middle of a grassy plain. It brushed against the grass before disappearing, reappearing in a study-like room on the second floor.
"Reporting."
The shadow immediately kneeled and made its presence known to the man sitting at the desk before him.
"Speak."
The man's voice was dark and brooding, containing a hint of something vile.
The shadow bowed his head deeper and made the report he came to make.
The only thought in his mind was leaving this place as soon as possible.
"Traces of the Spirit Realm have been recorded by our forces bordering the Eucelian Jungle."
The man's eyes flickered over to the shadow. It was clear that his interest had been aroused.
"The Spirit Realm, you say?"
The shadow's body shook at the prospect of this conversation elongating, but he had to speak regardless.
Everyone knew of the Count's obsession with the jungle.
"Yes, sir. The Spirit Realm should be opening within the next 2 weeks. According to the findings of the research division, the Crown should be kept in that place."
The Count's eyes narrowed.
"Leave."
The shadow instantly prostrated himself and vanished, more than happy to leave that terrifying being's vicinity.
Watching the rat scuttle away, the Count felt a bit of amusement.
"Cairo, are you there?"
"I am here, Milord."
Another being appeared in the room, an old butler that had served the Count for eons now.
"Prepare a team. We will go to the Eucilian Jungle."
"Understood, Milord."
"We set out at daybreak."
"Understood, Milord."
"Very well."
Knowing this was his cue to leave, the butler bowed and made his exit, though without the same fear as the shadow.
Left alone in his study, the Count almost couldn't contain himself.
"Finally…"
"Finally…!"
The Crown, an object he'd been trying for over a million years to locate.
A trace of its existence finally came to him.
Nobody knew what the Crown was. Nobody except him.
His people thought he was obsessed with the jungle because of the secrets it hid, and in part, they were right.
However, the reason he became obsessed with the forest was a story that dated back many, many years, to a certain encounter he had in his youth.
He remembered the things he heard that day.
"As long as I have the Crown…"
…he would become invincible.
"As long as I have the Crown…"
…he could kill his God.
The night passed quietly, with none the wiser about what was to come.
And when the red sun came over the horizon, the Count's party set out.
The Saintess was never wrong.
Chaos was approaching the jungle.
The only question was…
…would the jungle be able to survive?
