As the sun slipped below the Xiaxoan horizon, the stage was set. The atmosphere around Rhabut’s quarters in Tlangthar was dense with unseen power. Layers of shamanistic magic, meticulously prepared over hours, now coiled like a serpent waiting to strike. Glyphs carved into the earth glowed faintly, their restrained energy humming with potential. Shaman-soldiers moved silently, their black garbs glistening faintly under the pale light. The armor they wore was lightweight but rune-etched, allowing both protection and agility. Totems strapped to their backs whispered unintelligible hymns, resonating with the ancient mana of the land.


    Zakop and his advisors stood at the center of their ranks, their breaths synchronized in the deep rhythm of preparation. Pupi held his staff steady, its carvings pulsing faintly as the runes reacted to his touch. Chinzah flexed his fingers, gripping a blade infused with both shamanic enchantments and alchemical precision. Mualza, Hwehwe, and Lianchhia completed the vanguard, their totems placed strategically to encircle the camp. Each bore the weight of their land’s history and its future.


    Inside, Rhabut and his guards remained oblivious to the gathering storm. His men laughed and spoke in low tones, their voices muffled by the reinforced walls of their quarters. Rhabut himself reclined in a chair adorned with runes of the Kirat Empire, sipping wine from an enchanted goblet that kept its contents perpetually chilled. His arrogance hung heavy in the air, his confidence in his magical guard’s superiority absolute.


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    Pupi gave the signal with a subtle flick of his staff. The runes around the camp flared to life, their glow now vibrant and searing. Waves of paralyzing energy rippled outward, locking the guards in place before they could even react. Their enchanted weapons hummed impotently as the magic took hold, freezing them in mid-motion. The shamans moved in unison, activating the first wave of their assault.


    Zakop and Chinzah burst through the reinforced doors, their weapons gleaming with deadly intent. Chinzah’s blade, forged from rare minerals imbued with thunder essence, struck first, slicing through the frozen air with a crackling burst. The first guard fell before he could draw breath, his enchanted armor shattering under the strike.


    Rhabut roared in anger, his voice amplified by a spell woven into his golden jewelry. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the paralyzing energy in a small radius around him. His guards, now freed, charged forward, drawing weapons glowing with Kirat runes.


    The room erupted into chaos. Mualza surged forward, wielding a hammer that resonated with earth magic. He slammed it into the ground, creating a shockwave that destabilized the advancing guards. Lianchhia followed with a flurry of fire spells, her movements precise as she manipulated the flames to dance around her allies, striking only the enemy. The heat singed the air, forcing the guards to retreat momentarily.


    Rhabut summoned a glowing shield, its surface swirling with ethereal energy. “You dare challenge the Empire?” he roared, his voice shaking the walls. He thrust his hand forward, releasing a barrage of golden spears made from concentrated mana. Zakop and Chinzah dodged with practiced agility, their armor’s runes absorbing the residual energy.


    “Your arrogance will be your downfall,” Zakop replied, his voice calm but resolute. He drew a small vial from his voidpouch and shattered it against his blade. The liquid ignited with a green glow, enhancing the weapon with corrosive properties. His strike against Rhabut’s shield sent cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


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    Pupi remained at the periphery of the battle, his staff carving glowing sigils into the air[weaken][Curse of Sinlung]. “Keep their defenses suppressed!” he commanded, casting a debilitating curse that sapped the guards’ strength. Several staggered, their weapons falling from trembling hands.


    Hwehwe and Mualza worked in tandem, their combined spells creating a deadly synergy. Hwehwe unleashed a torrent of wind blades, slicing through the guards’ ranks with surgical precision. Mualza followed with a surge of stone spikes erupting from the ground, pinning the remaining guards in place. The two moved fluidly, their teamwork honed over years of battle.


    Meanwhile, Lianchhia engaged Rhabut directly, her fiery spells clashing against his golden shield. Sparks flew as she hurled an orb of molten lava, forcing Rhabut to divert his energy to block the attack.


    “Your tricks are pathetic,” Rhabut sneered, his shield flaring brighter. He reached into his own voidpouch and pulled out a staff encrusted with Kirat jewels. With a flourish, he struck the ground, releasing a wave of energy that sent Lianchhia sprawling.


    Zakop seized the opening. He activated the totem at his side, drawing on its stored mana to enhance his speed. In a blur, he closed the distance to Rhabut, his blade finding purchase against the weakened shield. It shattered with a resounding crack, leaving Rhabut vulnerable.


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    The guards, though formidable, were overwhelmed. Chinzah’s thunder-infused blade carved through their ranks, each strike precise and devastating. Hwehwe’s wind magic created a barrier around her allies, deflecting incoming attacks. Mualza’s stone hammer crushed through enchanted armor, leaving no doubt as to the power of Xiaxo’s shamanistic might.


    Rhabut, now exposed, unleashed his full arsenal[Prison eternal][Rule of the Empire]. Golden chains erupted from the ground, ensnaring Zakop and Mualza. “You will all pay for this insolence!” he bellowed, summoning a massive orb of mana above his head.


    Pupi’s voice cut through the chaos. “Now!”


    The remaining shamans activated their totems simultaneously. A torrent of energy converged on Rhabut, disrupting his spell and forcing him to his knees. Zakop broke free of the chains with a surge of raw strength, his blade slicing through the air.


    “This ends here,” Zakop said, his voice steady. He drove his blade into Rhabut’s chest, the enchantments flaring one last time before dimming. Rhabut’s eyes widened in shock before his body fell limp, his jeweled adornments clattering to the ground.


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    The battle was over, but at a cost. The room was littered with the bodies of Rhabut’s guards, their lifeless forms a testament to the power of Xiaxo’s shamanistic warriors. Half of Zakop’s forces bore minor injuries, while a quarter required immediate attention for severe wounds. The healers moved quickly, their spells stitching wounds and stabilizing the fallen.


    Zakop and his advisors regrouped, their breaths heavy but their resolve unbroken.


    “We’ve sent a message,” Chinzah said, his voice low. “But the Empire will respond. This is far from over.”


    Lianchhia, clutching her side where a burn marred her armor, nodded. “They will come for us. But tonight, we have shown them the strength of Xiaxo.”


    Pupi’s eyes glimmered with both wisdom and worry. “Prepare for the storm. This is only the beginning.”


    Zakop surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on the fallen and the injured. “We have defended our dignity,” he said finally. “But tomorrow, we must prepare for the consequences of what we have done. Xiaxo will endure."


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    As the group dispersed to tend to the wounded and secure the area, the first light of dawn crept over Tlangthar. The battle was won, but the weight of the Empire’s retaliation loomed large. Yet, within the quiet resolve of Zakop and his allies, there burned an unyielding hope—a hope that the land and its people could stand against any storm.