It was a logical answer. Well… the first one that came to his mind, rather. For, in truth, he had not paid much attention to the question that showed his brother's concern. He was thinking of something else. He was thinking about their mother. No matter how much he had been told that she was well, he would have wanted to make sure for himself. Sometimes he looked up to the upper levels of the stump, hoping to see Looï among the villagers busy erasing the scars of the battle. But Without success: at no time did he see passing the figure he knew by heart.

It was a logical answer. Well… the first one that came to his mind, rather. For, in truth, he had not paid much attention to the question that showed his brother's concern. He was thinking of something else. He was thinking about their mother. No matter how much he had been told that she was well, he would have wanted to make sure for himself. Sometimes he looked up to the upper levels of the stump, hoping to see Looï among the villagers busy erasing the scars of the battle. But Without success: at no time did he see passing the figure he knew by heart.

Pü took off his pair of magic amplifiers, blew out the film of ash that had settled on them and tied them to his belt. He headed with his brother to the Ceremonial Square and jumped into the pit. Seeing it thus deprived of its ancestral totem, now broken, did not leave him indifferent. Sang Fu-Tao, her father, turned to them:

Pü took off his pair of magic amplifiers, blew out the film of ash that had settled on them and tied them to his belt. He headed with his brother to the Ceremonial Square and jumped into the pit. Seeing it thus deprived of its ancestral totem, now broken, did not leave him indifferent. Sang Fu-Tao, her father, turned to them:

Other warriors gathered around the four Zorais.

Other warriors gathered around the four Zorais.

The Black Mask nodded sternly.

The Black Mask nodded sternly.

The Black Mask detailed the strategy to his soldiers. And just as he was about to finish his presentation, a noise echoed through the gallery. In a split second, the Zorais drew their weapons and took up their positions, ready to intervene. A deathly silence filled the pit. The soldiers focused all their senses on the dark hole from which the monsters had emerged the first time, and where they now hoped to see their comrades reappear. Pü swallowed. He heard nothing, saw nothing and smelled nothing.

The Black Mask detailed the strategy to his soldiers. And just as he was about to finish his presentation, a noise echoed through the gallery. In a split second, the Zorais drew their weapons and took up their positions, ready to intervene. A deathly silence filled the pit. The soldiers focused all their senses on the dark hole from which the monsters had emerged the first time, and where they now hoped to see their comrades reappear. Pü swallowed. He heard nothing, saw nothing and smelled nothing.

This thought, however banal, resonated intensely in his mind. As he had reminded his brother earlier, these creatures exhaled a pestilential smell. It was mainly thanks to this that their assault had been so masterfully countered. Their stench had betrayed their approach and allowed the tribe to mount a major defense. He didn't smell anything, so why panic? He didn't know, and yet the mental echo didn't falter. There was something else, lurking in the shadows. An insidious answer, ready to pop up at any moment.

This thought, however banal, resonated intensely in his mind. As he had reminded his brother earlier, these creatures exhaled a pestilential smell. It was mainly thanks to this that their assault had been so masterfully countered. Their stench had betrayed their approach and allowed the tribe to mount a major defense. He didn't smell anything, so why panic? He didn't know, and yet the mental echo didn't falter. There was something else, lurking in the shadows. An insidious answer, ready to pop up at any moment.

As the soldiers dispersed, a huge creature was emerging from the darkness. While its general look was reminiscent of the creatures of the first wave in many respects, there were many others that set it apart. Measuring about five meters, it was on the whole much more imposing. Its legs, much more thick and vigorous, also seemed much more dangerous and deadly. Instead of fangs, two enormous nozzles, oozing with an organic and smoky liquid, crowned the head of the monster. Her abdomen, wigh was for her deprived of sting, was not arched under the legs, but stood proudly at the back of the thorax. Its armour, of a jet black, was coloured of yellow by place. Drawing a pair of sinister eyes on its abdomen and swollen skull, the pigments formed patterns reminiscent of those, intended to ward off predators, that can be found on the wings of certain butterflies. If the giant insects they had defeated a few hours earlier were low-ranking soldiers, this creature seemed to be an elite soldier. The four Zorais backed away cautiously, without taking their eyes off her, while the crash of the first clashes could be heard in the distance. No sooner had she emerged from the darkness than a creature identical in every way to her followed on. Pü swallowed. How many of these horrors were they going to face? He got his answer when a third and final monster struggled out of the breach. When he realized that its legs were even more imposing than the first two, he understood why his father had ordered them to stay. Twice their size, the chitin colossus was an enlarged version of the two kinreys that had preceded him. In addition to the size difference, its carapace was painted in gleaming colors ranging from blue to orange, and its back was studded with sharp spikes. Positioned between his dark armored soldiers, about ten meters from the homins, his presence was all the more overwhelming.

As the soldiers dispersed, a huge creature was emerging from the darkness. While its general look was reminiscent of the creatures of the first wave in many respects, there were many others that set it apart. Measuring about five meters, it was on the whole much more imposing. Its legs, much more thick and vigorous, also seemed much more dangerous and deadly. Instead of fangs, two enormous nozzles, oozing with an organic and smoky liquid, crowned the head of the monster. Her abdomen, wigh was for her deprived of sting, was not arched under the legs, but stood proudly at the back of the thorax. Its armour, of a jet black, was coloured of yellow by place. Drawing a pair of sinister eyes on its abdomen and swollen skull, the pigments formed patterns reminiscent of those, intended to ward off predators, that can be found on the wings of certain butterflies. If the giant insects they had defeated a few hours earlier were low-ranking soldiers, this creature seemed to be an elite soldier. The four Zorais backed away cautiously, without taking their eyes off her, while the crash of the first clashes could be heard in the distance. No sooner had she emerged from the darkness than a creature identical in every way to her followed on. Pü swallowed. How many of these horrors were they going to face? He got his answer when a third and final monster struggled out of the breach. When he realized that its legs were even more imposing than the first two, he understood why his father had ordered them to stay. Twice their size, the chitin colossus was an enlarged version of the two kinreys that had preceded him. In addition to the size difference, its carapace was painted in gleaming colors ranging from blue to orange, and its back was studded with sharp spikes. Positioned between his dark armored soldiers, about ten meters from the homins, his presence was all the more overwhelming.

The kinkoo's skull swept the air from left to right, as if it were looking around. Yet, like all the insectoid creatures they'd encountered so far, it didn't seem to have any visual organs. Nothing except this huge pair of yellow fake eyes, both splendid and terrifying. When he finally turned his head towards the four homins, Pü felt nauseous. The air had just been suddenly charged with odorous effluvia. Beyond their intensity, it was especially their subtle multiplicity which upset the olfactory system of the young Zoraï. Because what he inhaled at the moment did not look like a jumble of odors without tail nor head. It was rather a coherent composition. Yes, the creature seemed to distill selected fragrances in the atmosphere, similar to the notes of a score… It tried to communicate! The nausea turned into dizziness. They had been wrong, all along. As usual, her father did not give in to panic.

The kinkoo's skull swept the air from left to right, as if it were looking around. Yet, like all the insectoid creatures they'd encountered so far, it didn't seem to have any visual organs. Nothing except this huge pair of yellow fake eyes, both splendid and terrifying. When he finally turned his head towards the four homins, Pü felt nauseous. The air had just been suddenly charged with odorous effluvia. Beyond their intensity, it was especially their subtle multiplicity which upset the olfactory system of the young Zoraï. Because what he inhaled at the moment did not look like a jumble of odors without tail nor head. It was rather a coherent composition. Yes, the creature seemed to distill selected fragrances in the atmosphere, similar to the notes of a score… It tried to communicate! The nausea turned into dizziness. They had been wrong, all along. As usual, her father did not give in to panic.

Too focused on the fight, Pü had, for a moment, forgotten his mother. But several bearing roots had now caught fire at the top of the village. Fights were raging there. Was Looï all right? His youngest son's throat tightened.

Too focused on the fight, Pü had, for a moment, forgotten his mother. But several bearing roots had now caught fire at the top of the village. Fights were raging there. Was Looï all right? His youngest son's throat tightened.

:''"But, Niï, I am your Shadow, I cannot let you run this risk! When father dies, you will become Black Mask, I must protect you whatever the cost! The Prophecy says that…."

:''"But, Niï, I am your Shadow, I cannot let you run this risk! When father dies, you will become Black Mask, I must protect you whatever the cost! The Prophecy says that…."

Niï was still staring at the pit. He continued, and his voice went off the rails.

Niï was still staring at the pit. He continued, and his voice went off the rails.

Pü rubbed his mask and stammered.

Pü rubbed his mask and stammered.