Six souls remained to face the eldritch unknown, following James Allison's tether deeper into untouched wilderness. After days of travel and halting attempts at comradery, the Heroes of Men came across a shard of the Black Stone embedded in a shattered tree trunk. John Conrad, entranced by the stone and with his body seemingly acting on impulse, impaled his hand on the shard, stirring corrupted memories of the past now infiltrated by the black stone Beast. The companions moved to rescue him but were too late, forced to watch as Conrad's body was violently crushed to pulp - both in the past and the present. Refusing to be hunted any longer, Dark Agnes drew the sigil in the dirt with the tip of her sword, summoning the Beast, set to slay it. Beckoned from beyond, the Beast answered the call and battle was formed. Despite Agnes' valiant efforts, and with Conan struck down attempting to save her, the Sword Woman met her end and torn in two by the Beast's terrifying teeth as the companions retreated to safety. There, settled in Brissa's arms and with his lifeblood leaking into the jungle floor, Conan's wounds proved fatal...
