Beginning Beyond The Horizon

A typical early morning, bustling with people, was interrupted by Zahog's screech. As the screech grew louder, people walking on the streets and people at home rushed out into the busy streets to see who was making such noise. Those who came out early saw a firebird heading straight to the sea, while those who came out late only heard strange stories from those who witnessed the sight.

Hearing the screeches of the Zahog circling the island, Meng walked out of the cave. He knew that the wall around the island was too strong for Zahog to break through. In order to ensure that Zahog could break into Kinigan Island and get out of the black cave, he walked to the edge of the island and stood at the entrance of Kinigan Island. When Zahog approached, he conjured a bow and shot an arrow at Zahog.

As the arrow struck Zahog, she flapped her wings, knocking the arrow away from her, and turned to see Meng standing by the thinnest layer of protection wall holding a bow. She rushed towards Meng angrily and sprayed flames directly at Meng.

Meng stood there and watched the invisible magic wall cracking, and then Zahog launched a wave of flames at Meng again, and more cracks formed. Just when Meng was about to use his arrows again, Zahog flew towards Meng with all her strength, so Meng quickly turned into a deer shape, and ran towards the black cave, leading Zahog to his master's imprison cell.

When the bell rang, the four Tanzanies, Bong, and Fufu had already rushed from the house to the street. They saw people running in and out of their homes, grabbing their belongings.

A man rushed to the four Tanzanies, Bong, and Fufu and said, "What are you guys doing standing still? Pack your things and go to higher ground. The waves are coming." He quickly rushed in his home.

"The waves?" Hajime murmured. "Could it be a tsunami?"

Fufu said, "So, they thought the waves were coming?"

Yul said, "No matter what they think, the important thing is that they need to get out of here before they get burned alive."

Michio said, "I agreed with that."

Jiāo rushed towards the four Tanzanies, Bong, and Fufu. Jiāo waved her hands at the four Tanzanies , Bong, and Fufu. "Hey!" She shouted. "Hajime!"

"Jiāo, what's wrong? Where's Baishui?" Hajime asked.

Jiāo said, "The Ninth Prince went to Kinigan Island with other elders. It seems that Zahog has breach Kinigan Island."

Yul said, "Take us there."

Jiāo said, "I'm here to take only Hajime to help his Highness. Master Bai and the other eight princes are not here, so the ninth prince cannot defeat Zahog on his own."

"If you are going to Kinigan Island, we are coming with you," Lixin said walking towards the main entrance.

Jiāo said, "However, His Highness said that only Hajime is allowed on the island."

"Now is not the time to decide who can go and who can't. If we survive, I will take responsibility," Hajime said, turning to the others. "Baishui told me that the only way to defeat Zahog is to imprison her under the South Sea and let the cold water slowly take away her powerful flames."

Yul said, "Jiāo, is there any way to send a message to Gatekeeper Bai?"

Jiāo said, "Yes, but it will take two days to reach Master Bai, and it will take another two days for Master Bai and the eight princes to come back."

Yul said, "We're running out of time, we need something more urgent."

As soon as Yul finished speaking, Zahog came crashing then slid down the street that was crowded with people. As Zahog slides down the street, her wings injured and killed those in her path.

Bong shouted, "Watch out!"

Yul and Lixin quickly pushed everyone back into the house and closed the door. Zahog's wings scraped against the house wall. One of the door panels fell to the ground as the noise rushed past them. The people inside the house walked out onto the street again, and the damage Zahog had caused was indescribable.

Lixin said, "That thing will kill everyone."

Another wave of fire was fired directly at Zahog, who was already lying on the ground, pushing Zahog towards the street. Fearing that Zahog would hurt or kill more people, Hajime took out the green scales from his bag and threw it behind Zahog trying to stop her. Baishui flew over directly, stood behind the green scale, and used his own strength to try to stop Zahog from sliding down.

Standing at the end of the street, Zoya stood with her eyes closed, her lips began to chant, the middle finger and ring finger of her right hand were making circles in the palm of her left hand, and the blood was swirling. Vines began to rush out from behind Baishui. Other vines burst out of the ground and grabbed hold of Zahog's feet, trying to stop her from sliding forward. After some struggle, Baishui and Zahog finally stopped a few feet away from Zoya.

In anger, Zahog quickly stood up and blasted a powerful flame forward, but her flames were blocked by a magical force, which diverted Zahog's flames to the people on the streets and houses.

The four Tanzanies and the others stared at the other end of the street. They saw the burning fire in front of them blocking the street. It suddenly separated and formed a corridor. From the corridor, a young man wearing a red armor, holding a long dragon spear walked out of the flame with Meng.

Zoya looked at the burning houses and dead people on the street. Her heart was pounding. She said to herself, "This is the image I saw in Lan Huan's past."

The young man raised his chin and closed his eyes. The fresh air around him made the hairs on his body stand up. Even the blazing fire around him made his heart surge. For millennia he had dreamed of this moment, and now as a free man he wanted to visit his enemies. Maybe grab a cup of tea or stop by and have dinner with them. The fresh air tickled his nostrils as the flames moved themselves away and the fresh air blew past him. He hadn't seen sunlight for thousands of years, and after thousands of years, the air around him was still the same as he remembered.

"People come and go, but the mountains and seas remain unchanged," Huoyan said, walking towards Zahog who was roaring at him not far away. "But personal resentment, no matter how time passes, will never disappear, even if their bones are completely fused with the soil." He pointed the dragon spear at Zahog. "If you think you can defeat me, just step forward, Queen of Hellfire Apex." The left corner of his mouth raised.

"That's..." Hajime murmured.

Yul said, "That's Huoyan." Yul's heart trembled as he watched Huoyan standing there, looking at Zahog fiercely, without any fear.

Abrafo looked at Huoyan standing in the distance. "How on earth are we going to defeat him?" Abrafo said, looking worriedly at his friends.

Zahog screamed and rushed towards Huoyan, blasting out her eternal flame at the same time.

Huoyan smiled and flew forward, standing on the roof of an inn. Zahog's flames blasted into the inn, instantly burning it down and causing everyone inside to run out onto the street. Some people were uninjured, and some were severely burned. Hearing the screams of the others, Huoyan laughed, and continued to jump from one building to another, letting Zahog continue to chase him, blasting her eternal flame everywhere. People who were not injured rushed out with buckets of water to try to put out the blaze. Seeing people trying to leave by sea, Huoyan flew towards the ships and Zahog chased after Huoyan, firing her eternal flame directly at those who tried to flee the burning city through the sea.

"This is bad, Huoyan using Zahog to turn this place into a pit of fire. Everyone needs to get out of here now," said Yul, who rushed out into the street. "Stop putting out the fire, everyone gets out of here!"

Fufu shouted, "The fire can't be put out, get out quickly! Get out quickly!"

Michio said, "We're going to help those we can right now."

Lixin looked at his subordinates and said, "Go and help them."

"Hajime!" Baishui was seriously injured and walked towards Hajime with Zoya.

Jiāo rushed forward, supported Baishui, "Your Highness..." She looked at Baishui's burned left shoulder. "How long will it take for these... to heal?" She burst into tears.

Baishui asked, "Did you send a message to father?"

"Yes, I did," Jiāo said, wiping her tears.

Michio kicked open a door and ran into the house, dragging the seriously injured person out of the burning house. Since he was closest to Meng, he saw Meng's gesture, which he had seen Kaizen do countless times. Michio quickly let go of the injured man, pulled out a talisman from his sleeve, and sent the talisman flying straight for Meng who was less than thirty yards away from him.

Meng saw the arrow coming; he had to move his hand as the arrow destroyed the portal he was trying to create. He raised his hand and blocked Michio's three-section staff.

Michio asked angrily, "You want to open a portal?"

Meng fiercely resisted Michio's blow and tried to smile. "Monk, you are a kind soul. When you still have the chance, you should run," he muttered. "You're not going to like what's about to happen."

Michio knew that using chi to create a portal would consume a lot of energy, so he clenched his left fist and punched Meng hard in the abdomen, causing Meng to slide backwards towards the burning flames.

Michio looked at Meng and said, "We will stop what you are trying to do."

Meng groaned in pain and said, "But it has already happened, and there is nothing you can do to stop it." He created three portals, but the third one was destroyed by Michio; he used ninety percent of his energy and used the last remaining energy to block Michio's bowl. He slowly stood up with trembling legs, knowing that he had exhausted the last bit of his strength. When those grunting, growling, hissing sounds approached him from behind, he knew his time had come. He searched the sky with his eyes, and when he turned to the sea, he saw Huoyang fighting Zahog. He smiled. "Master, I have fulfilled my promise to you." He turned to look at Michio with a smirk on his face. "Run, you fool."