Elemental Cats

Since Lucy didn't know what to do, he just started tearing at the darkness that was the figure's mind. And the effects were immediate as the figure stumbled and started falling before standing upright, leaning backward, and letting out an anguished howl.

It seemed like having its mind torn apart and stretched beyond its limits was far from comfortable and prevented the figure from taking any action against Toz and the cats.

The two other hooded figures also noticed what was going on but focused on finishing the ritual as soon as possible instead of canceling it to help their companion. They redoubled their efforts, pouring their energy into the magic circle at an even greater pace, drawing more lightning out of the beasts gathered. Although only from the two thirds of the magic circle they were in charge of.

The vortex trembled on the verge of breaking down from the unstable flow of energy, but despite the shakiness, it continued swirling, establishing the spatial tunnel.

Lucy didn't know if the figure would rampage wildly if he completely destroyed its mind. If it did and charged forward in the direction it was facing, even if it was currently kneeling on the ground clutching its head in pain, it would be heading straight toward Toz and the other cats.

Instead of completely setting its body free from the constraints of the controlling mind, Lucy stopped his assault on the figure's mind when it was obvious he wouldn't be able to move or do anything due to the pain. The remaining shreds of rationality were enough to feel pain but not anything else.

Since one figure was dealt with, only two were left, but Lucy had used up a large part of his mana to incapacitate even a single one. The remaining two had to be dealt with another way.

Thankfully, they didn't seem to be capable of doing anything but focus on the ritual. Since that was the case, Toz could rush forward and lop the head off one of the figures.

After he started moving and right as he was about to charge into the clearing and through the rushing wind to attack one of the figures, the ritual reached the point of no return.

The spatial vortex stabilized. The space in the rift no longer swirling. Instead, a solid ethereal mass hanging in the air, shining in sparkling red colors.

The spatial tunnel was vastly different from any portal Toz had seen so far, as tiny bright red crystals slowly floated around in the depths of the sanguine hole through the universe.

When the spatial tunnel settled, a tremble ran through the clearing, instantly calming the wind and silencing everything for a short moment. The tremble stretched into the forest, and even the leaves on the trees stopped shaking and stilled.

That was only the beginning as a heavy pressure followed that tremble, enforcing a menacing atmosphere on the clearing. The feeling of the atmosphere and the emotions it invoked in the ones who experienced it were similar to the energy emitted by the robed figures when they performed the ritual. Just a lot purer.

Mindle and Nil were especially affected by the atmosphere due to their weak level of power and found it difficult to even move. However, the pressure on them lessened thanks to Toz and Lucy's help.

Eventually, as the pressure dissipated and spread out through the forest, the effect on Toz and the cats wasn't as noticeable. Aside from the tangy smell and sticky feeling when moving, the pressure barely had any lasting effects. At least for the human and the beasts in the forest.

The three robed figures, even the one who could barely move before, inhaled a seemingly euphoric breath. Since the ritual was complete, the two who had been too busy to help their companion or attack Toz and the cats were finally free to move around.

Toz, who had just shown himself was in a precarious spot and was quick to retreat back into the forest.

One of the figures wanted to chase after him but was held back by the other.

"Don't. We have to hurry through and get out of here. Grab Chid."

The previously raspy and distorted voice sounded domineering as it resonated through the atmosphere brought by the portal.

Although the other figure hadn't spoken, with how much more character the voice had, Toz guessed he would be able to tell them apart based on their voices alone if both of them had said something.

Toz was careful as he moved through the forest.

Although the figures had said they were leaving and wouldn't be going after him, it was better to not remain in the same spot.

And so he went back to the third of the magic circle where he had sensed the feeling coming from his inclination the strongest.

Although the feeling was weak, it was still there, which meant that the cat was fortunately alive. Unlike most other beasts on the magic circle who had been killed by the forceful extraction of their mana and essence, becoming mummified husks.

After the two robed figures brought their buddy through the portal, leaving only a few ripples in the mystical red mass, Toz went forward and began searching through all the cages looking for a sign of the cat type spirit beast. A tail. A whisker. Anything that could bring him to the cat that needed help.

After tearing through the cages of beasts, inadvertently helping the other ones still alive, and still not finding anything started making the group desperate. However, just when they went to the last group of cages and discovered real hope of finding the cat, the situation turned for the worse.

They had heard the robed figures mentioning they would summon a Demonic Spark Bear with the portal, which was why they had been stressing so much to find the cat.

And right when they were about to find it, the red portal trembled and ripples appeared on its surface.

Accompanied by an overwhelming sense of malice and pressure, a large blackish red paw pierced through the portal.