The Dawn of the New World

The ones caught were three of Dima's followers and one of Lady Natalia's. She realized her mistake quickly enough and erected the shield back up, even if at a great cost.

More than thirty percent of the runes decorating her armor had been forcefully broken in the process. Her countenance paled as she glanced around and realized the seriousness of her situation.

The surrounding smoke walls looked more like cages than actual walls. There were various disfigured faces and beastly maws protruding from each one, trying to break out from within the smoke.

The smoke only reflected their rough shape and size but even that was enough to instill fear into each and every one of them.

"AAAAH! HELP!!"

"HELP ME!"

And when they thought it couldn't get any worse Dima's three followers all screamed in unison as their bodies began to descend into the smoke, forcefully pulled in by numerous misshapen claws and tentacles.

"YOUNG MASTER! PLEASE HELP! PLEASE!"

They all screamed looking pleadingly towards Dima but there was only disappointment within his gaze. A couple of seconds later their screams were also drowned out by the gurgling smoke right as their bodies completely vanished within its confines.

Lady Natalia's follower on the other hand was almost completely silent and even that situation continued to fight back to the best of his abilities. Alas, his fate was the same as the other three. Rows of sharp teeth reached out and dragged him into the smoke not a moment later.

Only Lady Natalia, Dima and his last servant who wore the bulbous grey armor remained within the barrier. The smoke twisted and tangled, snarled, and growled at them from every side, instilling a sense of loneliness within each one.

Jin Wang waited a few seconds for them to come back to their senses before engaging with Lady Natalia. He couldn't wait to know.

"I am curious, why did you choose to just...come at me? You were so very careful walking up here but the moment I show myself you think it's a good idea to bum rush me without any weapons or even basic spiritual energy. Was it because I was alone?"

Lady Natalia who was still looking towards the wall that had swallowed her follower turned to face him. Her face twisted into an ugly mug, very unlike her usual behavior.

"I will make sure all of your future generations pay for your crimes. Anyone you ever cared about will be humiliated every day for the rest of their miserable lives. They will beg for mercy but it will not come, I assure you of that!"

Jin Wang chuckled, "Ah, is that right? It's kind of disappointing to see that no matter how many years pass you people still use the same old threats. Don't you ever come up with anything new?"

"AAARGH!"

Lady Natalia's temper got the better of her when she saw how unbothered Jin Wang was so she roared at him from the safety of the barrier like a wild animal in a blind fit of rage.

Dima strolled up behind her and whispered something in her ear which promptly shut her up.

"You're right, my apologies. How could I lose composure so easily?" she whispered under her breath and with but a glare sat down on the spot with crossed legs.

Closing both her eyes she began laying the groundwork for a spell, leaving Dima to stand face with Jin Wang.

They stared at each other in a short bout of silence which was broken by Jin Wang.

"How did you know I was there? A special skill? An ability? Or something else entirely? I was quite confident of having hidden every shred of presence."

Dima pointed at the ground, "Footprints. You left footprints in the dust."

Jin Wang's eyes opened wide as he followed his line of sight and saw the obvious trail.

"Oh my, I was so focused on everything else that I missed something so obvious. Hahaha."

Dima glanced around at the smoke walls which covered even the top. There were vague shapes still visible within each one which made them look like portals to other worlds.

"I have never seen or heard of a spell of this nature. There was no spiritual energy when you cast it, no sign of anything being out of place and yet, it created something so powerful. Very impressive."

That was a genuine compliment despite him obviously trying to drag on the conversation to buy time for whatever Lady Natalia was trying to do. And Jin Wang of course knew what he was up to but still played along.

He wanted information out of him and Dima wanted time. It was a trade more than worth the risk of letting them escape. Once they left this area he would seal it back up so no one else wanders in.

Jin Wang gave a little bow, "Thank you but...I have to ask. You don't seem very concerned. I just killed four of your people and there is a very good chance you could be next, are you not afraid? Because let me assure you it will be quite painful."

The moment he finished speaking the smoke walls rumbled and closed in on them.. A new wave of disfigured limbs reached out from within its shallow depths.