The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Back in the tunnel, before the three humans disappeared.

The woman bear-fox squinted her eyes at Xinyi. "You really came as she said. But let's see if you can pass this." Before they could blink their eyes, the three humans disappeared. 

"Mistress," shouted Nianshi.

"My Queen," yelled the Hutyuns. Both jumped to where she stood but caught nothing.

Out of anger, the Hutyuns turned into an enormous fiery sword and pointed its end on the female bear-fox. They readied to attack straight to the human bear-fox and torture her to make her bring Xinyi back, but Nianshi held the sword's hilt., "Let me handle this. Go. Find them."

"Uhm," the Hutyuns said in unison and became invincible. They flew away to search for her in the tunnel.

"You're wasting time. You can't find them unless I allow them." The bear-fox eerily roared into laughter.

"You, fox. Where are they? Where did you take them?" Nianshi growled as a mighty lion-dragon. His eyes turned into the lion's eyes and his claws made a loud resounding Ting! as his hands turned into the dragon's front feet.

His transformation astounded the human bear-fox and curtsied. "Oh, it's the Great Mighty Lion Dragon. I didn't recognize you."

If the second guardian was astounded to know Nianshi's identity, Nianshi was equally astounded but did not show it in his face. He even thought of taking advantage when the table had turned in his favor.

"Good. Now you know who you're against with. Bring them back now or I'll tear you apart." Nianshi pointed his sharp claws at her.

He expected for the other to yield. However, the bear-fox's mood became hostile instead. Her eyes turned red and her body returned to its animal form.

The bear-fox gritted her teeth. "What's this? I respected you, but you threatened me instead. I never thought the great legendary lion dragon was nothing but a bully. Shameful. Now, you need to fight me if you want her back. Let's see whose flesh would turn into ground meat."

Her words struck Nianshi. A pang of shame hit him but didn't show it. This was a lesson to him. He understood his bad temperament made him lose his chance, but he would not back off and ask forgiveness. His pride as the legendary lion-dragon boiled in his chest. He would not give in to just anyone, not even to a spirit guardian, but only to his Mistress. 

"Great. Let's fight. The loser yields," bellowed Nianshi.

The Hutyuns heard them well and flew at lightning speed to support Nianshi. However, before reaching them, Nianshi and the bear-fox instantly vanished before their eyes.

"Oh, no, not them too," yelled the Hutyuns in panic. They roamed aimlessly in the silent and endless tunnel, searching for everyone, aside from the spider.

The imprisoned fox-spider saw everything and wished to get away, but could not. "Please, anyone. Help me get out of here."

Beside the stone cage, three backpacks with tied sleeping backs on top sat.

---- o ----

On the mountain where Lofey and Tyriece left their horses, Nianshi and the bear-fox appeared. The horses neighed uneasily, wishing to run for their lives, but they were tied well at a tree and could not run away.

Nianshi saw the scared horses and waved his hand. In an instant, a light blue film bubbled around the two flying horses. 

No harm will come to you now. Nianshi told the horses in their minds. The horses were grateful and bowed with one knee bent. With the horses safe, Nianshi growled and transformed into a lion dragon. These astounded the bear-fox more, scaring her to death, but her pride as a spirit guardian would not back down either.

"There are only two reasons you suppress the Sorceress. Either you are impressively stupid or impressively brave," roared Nianshi, looking down at the human-size bear-fox.

"I am neither. I have to do it for a reason I can't tell," the lady bear-fox felt a suffocating mental attack from Nianshi. She lifted a paw with long shiny claws and slashed it straight at Nianshi. Claws made of ice flew at Nianshi. 

Nianshi instantly bent backward, dodging the flying claws at a hair's-breadth. He roared aloud, "And why is that?" His voice, filling the entire mountain top, pressing his surging power at the bear-fox.

His mind battling her brains like daggers striking every part. As a legendary dragon and chosen by the late Sorceress, he had this power over any spirit animals, guardian or not, and used it to his advantage. He had to make this bear-fox bend to his will so she would release Xinyi and the rest. But he knew making a spirit-guardian bend to his will was not a simple task or she would not qualify as a guardian.

The bear-fox cringed in pain. "I can't tell you or it will cause her life. But if she succeeds, it would be her great fortune." She closed her eyes and focused her heart on not giving up. Her life and her clan's lives were at stake here. 

She recalled the words from the one who made her a guardian here. Although she could not remember who the woman was, but the warning was still fresh in her mind, as if she heard just a minute ago.

"You and this mountain will explode once you reveal the secret you're guarding, burying your entire clan living in this mountain. So you have to safeguard it with your life until the person I send would come and take over," the woman with blue hair said.

"Who made you do this?" Nianshi loudly yelled. A light shot from Nianshi's eyes to the bear-fox's forehead, hitting her mental core this time. 

The bear-fox made a hysteric growl while holding her head, feeling like it would explode any second. She focused all her powers from her entire body to her head to protect her brain. The pain lessened, but Nianshi's attack kept coming. 

"Please don't press me. It is something that has to be done," begged the bear-fox. I have to run away or I'll perish. Her eyes didn't move, but it stealthily scanned an escape route.

"Release them now," he roared, piercing his attack to her brain like a grinding machine, attacking every nerve. She almost lost her sanity. The bear-fox crawled backward as she cried in pain.

His roars shook the bear-fox resolved, but she fought the urge. She growled in pain to fight back. She muster all of her strength and stomped a leg. The ground quaked and sharp spikes of ice speedily rose from the ground under her opponent. Nianshi hurriedly flew up, but most of the spikes hit him.

Without delay, she opened her black and white wings and flew away as fast as she could to hide, but Nianshi caught up and struck her wing with his claw. Her body shot down like a comet to the snowy ground and transformed to a human form again.

He transformed back to a human too and went to the wounded lady lying helplessly. "Release them and I will stop."

"No, I'd rather die than giving up." In her mind, This is it. Goodbye, my family.

Out of a sudden, her earrings glowed. Nianshi jumped back. He saw an outburst of flaming light coming out from her body. She stood up and her eyes turned burning-red, staring daggers at him. Bursting fire surrounded her. All the snow melted under her feet. However, her body didn't submerge in the hollow ground. 

"What audacity. How dare you attack me?" 

Her voice changed. It sounded like roar of a mighty being. Nianshi felt the power surging from that voice. He knew this was the odd but familiar feeling he had when they entered the tunnel.

"Who are you?" Nianshi said.