While travelling through the Mydlands, Dar and Tao come across a momentary shaking of the earth. Elephants are trampling to escape a fierce hunter. The hunter massacres several of the creatures, then plasters her painted palm imprints on them. When Dar and Tao come across the dead elephants, Tao deceivers this as the work of the Umpatra - a fierce warrior from the Uplands who's tribe believes eating the hearts of their enemies will give them their rival's power. This warrior, who considers magic dishonourable, must make an honourable kill every day or else lose part of her hand.

Suddenly, an eclipse takes place and flames erupt. In the flames, the image of a small man, who threatens the Beastmaster and the natural world. Elsewhere, this man appears to the Umpatra warrior, a woman named Nokinja. He is her chosen warrior, and once she defeats Dar, she will eat his heart and become the new Beastmaster. Dar, searching for the one who killed the elephants, is knocked out by the nature demon Curupira. When Dar wakes up, he discovers he has been tied down by a snake. Curupira verbally abuses her Beastmaster, telling him he has disappointed her by not stopping the Umpatra warrior. Once Dar frees himself, he continues his search.

Spotting Nokinja laying down, Curupira tries to kiss her life away, however, this is not the Umpatra warrior - it's actually the small man, Ketzwayo, in disguise. Ketzwayo is also a demon, but one of chaos who hates Curupira and wants to destroy all nature since it's meaningful to his demon rival. The two make a deal: if Dar is defeated by Nokinja in battle, Curupira and nature will be put in chaos and destroyed, but if Dar wins, Ketzwayo must leave the Mydlands. Later, Curupira encounter the Ancient One, who's started a new growth process. He is growing younger, instead of older. In talk with the Ancient One, Curupira is reprimanded about the rules of the demon game. As long as a demon possesses a mortal's soul, the demon is unkillable. Since Ketzwayo possesses Nokinja, and Curupira possesses Dar, the demon of the loser of the impending battle to the death will likely meet their fate.

That night, Dar arrives back at Tao and his camp, surprised to see an Amazonian woman in a red dress. Though she tends to Dar's wounds and promises to guide them around the forest, she is really the wicked Nokinja. The next morning, Dar wakes up from a nightmare in which Curupira takes his life from him, to discover Kodo and Podo missing. Ruh and Sharak already captured by the Umpatra, Dar seeks her out to rescue all his friends. On the way, Dar must help Tao across a log occupied by a lazy lizard.

When Dar and Tao arrive at the battlefield, a fierce battle ensues between Dar and Nokinja. Ketzwayo and Tao look on. As Nokinja gets the better of Dar, Dar reveals the treachery behind her scarless body and nearly unmatched fighting skills. Ketzwayo is using his magic to help her win. At first Nokinja believes she is just better, but then she realizes the truth. In one final act to redeem herself with an honorable death, she pierces herself with her own weapon, a spear, in a ritualistic suicide. Dar, now respecting is rival, tells her she died with honor. With Ketzwayo no longer in possession of a human soul, Curupira takes his life from him, then warns Dar and Tao to sleep with their mouths open after Dar frees their animal friends.