CHAPTER 65: A FAILED CREATION

Rouhuo walked in front, pushing Ayame’s wheelchair along. Gari and Maldie kept pace with her on either side, looking around carefully.

"We’re almost there. Once we get close to the foggy path, it’s just a short walk and we’ll reach the shrine," Ayame said.

Then Rouhuo suddenly bristled like a startled cat.

"I think we’re closer than you think, my lady. Something’s really off here..." she muttered, her teeth starting to chatter.

The mountain forest path was swallowed by thick, heavy fog as a cold wind swept through.

"Brrr" Gari shivered hard. "Yeah, it suddenly got freezing."

Maldie looked around, confused.

"Seriously? I don’t feel anything."

"H-huh, that’s weird," Rouhuo replied. "I’m g-going to f-freeze to death."

"Let’s just focus on what’s important" said Ayame.

After a bit of quiet walking and a short climb uphill, the shrine’s silhouette began to take shape in the mist.

Ayame frowned.

The atmosphere here... it’s bleak. Heavy. Like whatever exists in this place is caught between life and death.

They finally reached the chapel. It was a small, cube-like structure made of worn, grey stone, with a black triangular roof covered in moss – some tiles already slipping loose. In the center there was no candle, no flame – only a pile of black, heavy ash even the wind didn’t dare disturb.

Someone was here recently? Ayame thought, startled as she stared at the ashes.

"Ughh," Rouhuo sighed. "After this trip, I’m taking a long break from carrying heavy stuff."

"Yeah, same. I’m really feeling it in my arms," Gari groaned.

Another gust of wind blew out from the shrine, whipping everyone’s hair - yet the black ash didn’t move an inch.

This isn’t normal ash, Ayame realized. It’s a relic.

I don’t know what – or whose – remains were used to make it, but the longer we stand here, the worse this aura gets. Something feels trapped inside this shrine.

Ayame turned around when she felt someone touch her shoulder.

"What is it, Rouhuo?"

"Huh? Nothing, my lady."

"You didn’t just touch my arm?"

The half-lioness stared back at her, just as shocked.

"N-no..." she whispered, her lips trembling with fear.

Ayame began to hear heavy, low breathing right above her.

"You..." a distorted voice echoed through the empty space, like the creature speaking was choking on its own words. "You..."

Gari yawned. While she did, she pulled Maldie close, rubbing her back to warm her up.

"So, Ayame, anything happening yet? Because this is painfully boring."

She didn’t see Ayame’s profile, didn’t hear her, like there was some invisible wall between them. The only thing she saw was Rouhuo turning the wheelchair toward... nothing. Off to the right, just past the shrine. Only then did Gari spot a fragment of Ayame’s face.

She was terrified.

What’s going on? What is she seeing? Gari thought, worried.

"Stay here a second, sweetheart. I need to check something," the half-dragon said, and once Maldie nodded, Gari shot forward.

Her instincts didn’t lie.

Ayame and Rouhuo were separated from them by an invisible barrier. Gari tried to hit it, push through it – anything.

What the hell? My wings should protect me from stuff like this!

Maldie saw the shock on her partner’s face.

"W-what’s happening?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Whatever Ayame’s seeing," Gari answered, terrified, "it’s strong enough to break the protection in my dragon wings. And it’s hiding itself inside this barrier."

"Oh god, what is that..." Maldie whispered, covering her mouth. "Please don’t tell me Ayame dragged something nasty onto us again..."

"Damn it, there’s really nothing we can do?!" Gari snarled, smashing her fist against the invisible wall.

Meanwhile, Rouhuo stood frozen as she finished turning Ayame’s wheelchair.

She could see it now too – the thing guarding the shrine.

The creature was several meters tall, with wrinkled pale skin and long, straight black hair. Its eye sockets were empty, hollow voids, its limbs thin and stick-like. Beneath its tiny nose stretched an unnaturally wide grin full of yellowish fangs. Its hands ended in long, black claws that gleamed like metal.

"Ho...shi...gane..." the monster rasped.

"W-w-what t-the h-hell i-is that?!" Rouhuo yelled, horrified.

Ayame, who had been equally terrified at first, calmed down. The sinister aura changed – now it felt... sad.

Does it just want... contact? she wondered, stunned.

"Ayame, we need to run," Rouhuo whispered.

At the word "run," the creature twitched just a little, as if reacting.

"No. You’ll only provoke it," Ayame said, though her voice trembled.

"Hoshi...gane..." the creature repeated. "The second one... is dead..."

"The second one? You’re connected to her somehow?" Ayame asked, confused.

The creature opened its maw unnaturally wide. From its exposed, black-purplish throat, a beam of energy shot straight through Ayame’s forehead. Rouhuo screamed, thinking her lady had died – but Ayame survived.

Images flashed through Ayame’s mind – scenes, moments, chaotic but clear enough to form a story.

The Second created a nameless being. She wanted – just like the Fourth – to create her own gods to inhabit the earth. But... her first experiment failed. Born from darkness, flawed and horrifying, it wasn’t fit to be a guardian or a patron of humanity. The Second sealed her failed creation here.

Centuries later, locals discovered the forgotten chapel, but refused to approach it, sensing its overwhelming, sinister aura. They warned others away, and eventually the Second’s failed creation sank into emptiness – starved for contact, drowning in loneliness.

"What’s your name?" Ayame asked.

The creature shut its jaws. Ayame felt those two empty sockets staring straight into her soul.

"Lánshuò..." it whispered, as if afraid of its own name.

"If you help me, I’ll give you freedom," Ayame said firmly. "I’ll trust you, no matter what you look like."

"My lady! She literally just–" Rouhuo began, but Ayame cut her off:

"That wasn’t an attack. She wanted me to understand her."

"Hoshi...gane... the second is dead... Yuri..."

"Yuri?!" Rouhuo exclaimed in shock. "How do you know her name?"

"She was probably connected to the Second’s mind somehow. What do you want from my brother’s daughter?" Ayame said. Then, slowly and steadily repeated her name: "Lánshuò."

The moment Ayame spoke her name, the shrine shook. The ash scattered, and the whole structure collapsed. Lánshuò threw her head back and screamed like she was being skinned alive.

Her mouth split open, cracks forming and glowing with purple magic.

"Ayame!" Rouhuo cried, hugging her lady in panic.

Gari and Maldie turned toward the collapsing shrine, then back at Rouhuo and Ayame.

"What the hell is going on over there?!" Gari shouted.

"I don’t know, but I hope Ayame’s safe..."

Then they heard a scream – a scream coming from nowhere.

From their perspective Lánshuò’s towering form flickered into existence for a split second, then vanished again.

"W-what was that?" Gari whispered in terror.

Maldie swallowed hard.

"Is Ayame... fighting that thing?"

Lánshuò arched her long, skinny neck, her veiny skin stretching. Cracks stayed etched around her lips, filled with glowing purple magic. In her empty sockets, something like pupils formed – two pulsing orbs of purple energy. They trembled, rotated, drifted slightly - unstable, restless.

"So you really are just like I thought," Lánshuò said, her voice feminine but unnaturally deep and muffled, echoing as if from behind a wall. "Voices from the world told me you’re wise, Ayame."

"Voices from the world?" Ayame said, then gently stroked Rouhuo’s hand, letting her know everything was okay.

Rouhuo slowly opened her eyes, relaxing her tightly furrowed brow as she released Ayame. Even though Lánshuò looked terrifying, Rouhuo didn’t feel any malovent intent from her.

"I was so lonely for so long... I kept listening for anyone’s voice. Eventually, I started hearing voices from the farthest corners of the world. I could speak to them too. I’m the one who spread the rumor that I grant wishes for a price. Well, it was partially true. Unless someone wicked came. Then I killed them without hesitation."

Lánshuò’s gaze drifted over Ayame and Rouhuo.

"Ohh, I see the flames in your hearts, dancing in time with each other. So you’re more than just lady and maid."

"Why did the Second One seal you here? If you were just flawed or failed creation, she wouldn’t have sealed you off like this. There must’ve been more to it."

Lánshuò grinned demonically, stretching her unnatural smile even wider.

"The Second One protected the balance of this world. When the Fourth flooded the world with gods, the world longed for emptiness. I’m the embodiment of that longing. I devour the Fourth’s gods to make more space in this world. My lady decided I was too dangerous, because my hunger won’t be satisfied until the last of the gods dies."

"What kind of monster are you?!" Rouhuo burst out, unable to hold back.

"Rouhuo, calm down. Honestly, this works out for us," Ayame said. "I freed you, but I want your help."

"I don’t have to obey you. You inherited my lady’s power, but you’re not her successor."

Ayame’s expression faltered.

"What do you want from Yuri?" she asked, a trace of fear in her voice.

"I’ll be her guardian angel. She’ll see me too. And in return... I’ll devour other gods. That’s enough. The Fourth one keeps sending them after you anyway, and soon he’ll come himself— or so the voices tell me."

"Wait, what about your wish, Ayame?" Rouhuo asked.

Ayame sighed.

"I lied about wanting my old power back. I figured I’d bind her with a pact, but if she sees Yuri as her new master, that’s even better. And since I’m the one who freed her, I can set her demands. Protect Yuri, even if it costs your life."

"Oh, don’t worry. I plan to. And if I ever see you two as a threat, I won’t hesitate to kill you either."

"I don’t care – as long as my family’s future stays safe."

"Careful what you say. You humans never realize which words turn into prophecies," Lánshuò said, then glanced toward Gari and Maldie, who were still trying and failing to break through the barrier. "Well then. Time to meet my new lady. Hopefully she’s better than my creator."

Lánshuò vanished, melting into the shadows. Moments later the barrier dissolved, and Gari and Maldie rushed to Ayame and Rouhuo.

Before Gari could speak, she noticed Ayame’s expression – fear mixing with hope and surprise.