I raised the sculpture higher, directing the calming light towards them.

As the light enveloped the stone creatures, their rigid forms seemed to soften slightly, their sharp edges becoming less defined. The grinding sounds lessened, and the heavy, oppressive atmosphere around them began to dissipate.

It wasn’t attacking them. It was… soothing them. Bringing them into balance.

I realized that the fused sculpture wasn’t just a weapon or a shield. It was a connector, a bridge between different forms of ancient power. In the rain forest, it had channeled the vibrant, living energy of the Lim Ling to dispel the chaotic energy of the Lin Xiao. Here, it was channeling the harmonizing energy of ancient stone and ritual to calm the restless spirits of the mountain.

I kept the light focused on the stone creatures, and continued to concentrate on the idea of balance. The old man’s chanting in the village came back to me, the rhythmic, ancient sounds that invoked a deeper power.

I started to hum softly, a wordless melody that felt instinctively right, a tune that resonated with the ancient energy of the mountains and the sculpture.