The first Sky-River Wraith drifted forward, its body twisting like a strip of smoke in a storm.
Its eyes burned in the gloom, green as rotting emeralds, and its mouth stretched too wide for any living thing.
Ashan felt the air grow colder. The herd stirred restlessly, their glowing horns dimming under the wraith's shadow. The calf pressed close to his side, and even the Nightfang Wolf's hackles rose.
"They'll try to scatter the herd," the wolf murmured, voice sharp. "If they succeed, the beasts will panic — and the Crossing will claim them."
Ashan licked his lips. "And by 'claim,' you mean—"
"They will fall. Forever."
No pressure, then.
The lead Sky-River Beast took a step forward, its massive head lowering as if to challenge the wraith, but the shadow surged toward it with frightening speed. Ashan's body moved before his mind could catch up.
The Heavenly Whip cracked.
The sound split the air like lightning. A ripple of silver light shot along the whip's length, striking the wraith's form. The shadow reeled back with a shriek — not of pain, but of something like surprise.
Ashan grinned grimly. "Guess you didn't expect a mortal shepherd with god-tier equipment, huh?"
But his victory was short-lived. The clouds above split, and more wraiths poured out — half a dozen at least, circling like vultures. The air churned with their icy presence.
The wolf's voice came urgent. "You can't fight them all head-on. Use the whip to control the herd. Keep them moving across the Crossing — the light will weaken the wraiths."
"Right, control the herd, not just fight… got it."
Ashan shifted his stance, turning the whip in a wide arc. The cord sang through the air, the rhythm deep and steady — the same beat he'd used to lead them here. The herd responded instinctively, the lead beast stepping onto the glowing current of the Crossing.
The wraiths struck.
One dived low, passing under the Crossing's light, aiming for a younger beast near the rear. Ashan spun, snapping the whip in a vicious crack that tore through the shadow's form. It dispersed into shreds of mist, but already began to reform.
From the other side, two more closed in.
The calf bleated in terror. Ashan's chest tightened — he couldn't protect all sides at once. His mind raced. He needed a way to split the whip's power.
As if hearing his thoughts, the Heavenly Whip pulsed in his grip. The cord shimmered, and for an instant, Ashan swore he saw faint threads of starlight branching from it like spider silk.
Multiple strikes… at once?
"Alright, let's try this."
He flicked the whip forward — and the cord split into three glowing strands, each lashing in a different direction. One struck a wraith from the left, one from the right, and the third coiled briefly around the calf's small frame before releasing, leaving a faint shimmer of protection.
Ashan laughed under his breath. "Now we're talking."
The battle became a dance. The herd moved in a slow, steady line across the High Crossing, hooves striking the current of light without sinking. Ashan wove the whip's starlit strands around them, driving back wraiths that lunged too close, shielding beasts that faltered.
But the wraiths weren't mindless.
From above, a larger one descended — easily twice the size of the others, its body flickering with veins of green fire. The air grew so cold Ashan's breath misted. The smaller wraiths pulled back, circling like satellites around their leader.
The wolf's growl was low and tense. "That one is their alpha. Defeat it, and the rest will scatter."
Ashan tightened his grip on the whip. "So, same as dealing with an angry ram back home — take down the big one, the rest give up. Only difference is this one looks like my nightmares after bad goat stew."
The alpha wraith struck fast. A tendril of shadow lashed toward him, and Ashan barely rolled aside, the cold slicing through his shoulder like a blade. His arm went numb, but he kept moving.
The whip lashed out, one strand coiling around the alpha's neck. For a heartbeat, Ashan thought he had it — but the wraith twisted, the cord passing straight through its body as if it were smoke.
"You need to strike its core!" the wolf barked. "The green fire in its chest — that's where it's bound to this realm!"
Ashan's eyes locked on the glow at the wraith's center. It wasn't easy to aim at something constantly shifting, but he'd herded stubborn beasts before — the trick was to watch for the moment they committed to a move.
The alpha lunged, shadowy claws swiping. Ashan stepped into the attack instead of back, the whip arcing overhead in a blinding flash. The starlit cord came down hard, striking straight through the wraith's chest.
The green fire exploded outward, shattering the alpha's form into shards of darkness that dissolved into the air.
For a moment, the world went still. Then, as if a cord had been cut, the remaining wraiths scattered, their forms unraveling into harmless mist.
Ashan let out a long breath. His arm ached, his legs trembled, but the herd was safe.
The lead beast stepped fully onto the far side of the Crossing, its horns blazing gold once more. One by one, the others followed, until only Ashan, the calf, and the wolf remained.
The wolf glanced at him. "You've done well. The herd will remember your guidance. And so will the gods."
Ashan chuckled weakly. "Hope they also remember I'm not doing that for free. Maybe toss in a few divine snacks next time."
The calf nuzzled his leg, and despite the ache in every muscle, Ashan smiled.
He'd survived his first true battle in the divine realms.
But somewhere deep inside, he knew — this was only the beginning.
The High Crossing faded behind them, the silver current dissolving into mist. Ahead lay new lands, new skies, and challenges far stranger than anything the Forbidden Valley could have prepared him for.
And Ashan — shepherd, cultivator, and now reluctant hero — stepped forward into them.