Deep within the underground palace of Glacier Shrine in the Land of Iron, the air was cold as solidified blades.
Hyuga Xiao knelt on the stone platform, three Covenant Stone Fragments floating above his palm. Dim blue streams of light flowed between them, writhing and twisting like living creatures before finally converging into a miniature vortex at the center of the three fragments.
Kurenai Yuhi stood three steps away, her hands locked in seals as she maintained a warning barrier. Her breath condensed into white mist in the frigid air, but her eyes remained fixed on the Curse Mark on Xiao's shoulder—there, the black patterns of the Caged Bird Seal were violently clashing with the blue glow emitted by the Covenant Stone Fragments, as though countless tiny insects were crawling beneath his skin.
"Xiao..." Hong kept her voice low. "Your chakra is going berserk."
Xiao did not answer.
All his focus was on his palm. The three fragments began melting at a visible speed, turning into streams of liquid blue light that spread up his arm. It felt like molten metal had been poured over his skin, yet it carried a bone-piercing chill—two extreme temperatures ravaging his nerves at once.
"Urgh—"
Xiao gritted his teeth, veins bulging at his temples.
The liquid blue light had already spread to his neck and was gathering toward the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead. At that moment, the chakra within him completely spiraled out of control.
Boom!
A wave of blue chakra exploded outward from Xiao. The ancient murals on the underground palace walls shook as flakes rained down. Hong was shoved back three steps by the blast, her barrier shattering instantly. She barely steadied herself with one hand against the ground.
"Xiao!"
"Don't come over!"
Xiao's voice was hoarse, as though forced