This was taking far too long. Clearly the subjugation team had taken the time to search the forest and make sure the beast hadn’t used the strange properties of the place to escape, but those same properties made searching it extremely fast. It was most shocking how long the exploration had taken, given the length of time the lightning had continued to fall. This team was incredibly diligent and methodical in their search, and once the forest was determined not to be the way forward there was only one obvious landmark to check.

From up here, Puren Ning could even see a figure coming down the path from the village. For some reason only one person was coming to check the mountain, but that could change in an instant. As soon as they found any sign of the beast, high ranked individuals would always have some sort of communication device to call in backup. Even if the beast would be fine with fighting a group of hunters sent to kill him, she would probably fare less well in the crossfire.

“This humble servant would bring to the master's attention the approaching cultivator. With respect, this one requests to leave before the inevitable confrontation.”

Down on the ground, the beast looks over toward where the figure quickly approaches.

“Bring me to the flat outcropping we passed earlier. That will be the stage for our meeting.”

Halfway down the mountain, Puren Ning lets go of the beast. The figure had finished it’s ascent while they were traveling, and that meant she had a small window to get away before explosions started happening in the general area. Before she could start running though, she was commanded once more.

“Give me the arm. When meeting for the first time, one must set the stage appropriately. Stand next to me, and be ready to play your part.”

Stuck in place now, she hands over the metal arm to the beast, who slips it onto his left arm and turns away from the path down. The black material remains unnervingly inert in the sun’s fading rays, not a single gleam reflecting off its surface. Soon, the moon would be rising, and everything would be increasingly more dangerous.