Zu Mari stalked his prey, lofted by his Phoenix spirit and the devoted effort of Death Shadow - the owl’s wings sent gusts of wind brushing gently against Zu’s face as he kept them well above the forest far below.

Below, the Demonic Prune Tree slithered on its way, oblivious to the waiting destruction ready to plunge down from above.

This time, Zu was taking no chances.

“If you can truly do this, I will have to admit that your mastery is complete,” said Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death. The sword lay clasped carefully between Zu’s hands, point aimed downward. Flame and shadow wreathed its blade and Zu felt its eagerness and fond concern.

If this failed, there was a good chance one of them would die. Then the loop would reset yet again and Zu would be unavenged.

No. He would not permit it.

“Wise master, you are heavy,” panted Death Shadow.

“I will lend you my strength,” Zu said magnanimously, and allowed his familiar to tap into his core’s boundless perfection.

“Thank you,” said Death Shadow, and his voice was much stronger.

“We are bonded forever,” Zu reproved. “It is only natural that my strength should be yours at need.”

“Of course, great master. I should not have forgotten.” Death Shadow was properly ashamed.

“But now you have learned, and we can put it behind us. There is nothing to forgive.”

With that dealt with, Zu returned his eyes to the foe he sought to annihilate.

The Demonic Prune Tree slithered over a rock, then settled its roots, sapping the centuries-old power gathered at the boulder’s silent heart.

Zu’s blood seethed with rage. How dare the demon ravage the land!

“It’s given us an opening! Strike now!” urged Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death.

Zu nodded in agreement. “The time is now!” With a great effort of perfect precision, he threw Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death straight at the core of the evil tree. He felt his phoenix spirit scream with eagerness as the blade dove with flame glowing to either side, spectral phoenix wings that drove it down with yet greater force.

With a crack of speed and a rush of flame, the Demonic Prune Tree was engulfed in a sea of flame. When the fire cleared, nothing remained but Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death, cleanly embedded in the stone.

The Demonic Prune Tree was defeated at long last!

Death Shadow swooped lower and set Zu gently down on the boulder beside his sword, then folded his wings and landed on his master’s shoulder.

Zu reached down and siezed the hilt of Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death, drawing it out of the stone with only a faint grunt of effort. It had been driven deep into the rock, but his strength was more than sufficient to the task.

“We have fought well,” Zu said, with an exhalation of relief.

“Now we’re going to seek out the source of this loop?” asked Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death. “The Chartreuse Cougars could not be strong enough to create something like this. Someone else is involved.”

“Another of the First Immortals?”

“No. I alone survived.” But then Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death hesitated. “As far as I know,” it finally admitted. “I confess it’s possible more of my kin were sealed instead of destroyed. Unlikely, but not impossible.”

“Then it must be one of them!” Zu exclaimed in sudden revelation. “I will wrest it away from whatever unworthy hand holds it, and you will be reunited. I, Zu Mari, swear it!”

“It would be almost impossible,” insisted Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death, doubtfully. “The chances of two First Immortals reuniting like this after so long? No. Seek not to raise my hopes so high. I would be fated only for despair and disappointment.”

Zu bowed his head, but he understood his sword’s mind. “Very well. Though I still purpose in my heart to do this, I will avoid speaking of it to you.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Come, Death Shadow!” Zu sheathed Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death at his side, then sprang into the air. Death Shadow caught him up in his claws, laboring to carry him until Zu joined his phoenix spirit to the owl’s and lent Death Shadow his power. Then they soared upward above the forest.

“Where to, master?” Death Shadow asked, turning his head in all directions. The bubble of frozen time extended as far across as a man could walk in a day, and stretched as far as could be seen lengthwise in both directions along Chartreuse Cougar territory.

Zu looked to the north, then to the south. When he stared southward a great foreboding settled over him. He shivered. For a moment his determination wavered. If he went north first…

No. Detours were not his way. He shook off the momentary cowardice with a snarl. “South. I feel a great power in that direction. It can’t be anything else.”

“At your command, master.” Death Shadow set their course and began to fly.

As they flew, Zu sank into meditation. He had bonded with the spirit of phoenix, but though it lent him its power freely he felt no true connection with it. He used the phoenix’s power like he used his own qi, yet it was a being of its own and deserved respect.

Despite his best attempts to commune with the Phoenix during the trip, it did not answer him. Perhaps it was too weak or too young to yet know common speech. It only continued to lie within his soul, brilliant flame and unquenchable life.

“Speak to me, phoenix spirit,” Zu pleaded. “Let me know you as I know the other parts of myself.”

But in this one thing he was denied. The phoenix would serve him but it would not answer his words.

So it was that Zu flew southward to face his destiny, and yet felt strangely alone despite the company of his faithful companions.