Takara turned to see his attacker: the Scarlet Empress. She allowed him to deal with Feot -- to whom, surprisingly, he gave a merciful death -- before facing him herself. She told him to get his comrades out of "her manse"; when he essentially refused, she vanished and the world started attacking him. Fern, in the Manse, managed to bleed off the excess Earth and Water Essence before the streets-flowing-like-water could do too much damage. Takara had to evade some Dragon-Bloods, but they stood precious little chance.