The ancient forest had gone silent.
Not the peaceful silence of untouched nature.
This was the silence of fear.
Every creature hiding beneath the roots, every predator watching from the darkness, every beast that ruled this region had sensed the arrival of something far more dangerous than themselves.
Kael stood at the edge of the black valley, his cloak moving with the cold wind. Behind him stood his companions, each one carrying injuries from the previous battle.
But none of them dared complain.
Because the creature before them was not just another beast.
It was a Sovereign-class existence.
The Abyssal Fenrir.
A beast said to have survived the destruction of three ancient kingdoms.
Its enormous body was covered in dark silver fur, and strange crimson patterns flowed across its skin like burning veins. Each breath it released shook the earth.
"Impossible..." Lyra whispered.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
"The records said the Abyssal Fenrir disappeared thousands of years ago."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Records can be wrong."
The Beast Sovereign inside him reacted the moment it saw the Fenrir.
[Ancient Beast Bloodline detected.]
[Compatibility: 87%]
[Warning: Target possesses Sovereign Will.]
A faint smile appeared on Kael's face.
"So you are one of the old ones."
The Fenrir lowered its head.
A terrifying pressure exploded outward.
The weaker beasts nearby immediately collapsed.
Even Kael's companions struggled to remain standing.
"Master!" Lyssa shouted.
Kael raised one hand.
"Don't interfere."
"But—"
"This fight belongs to me."
The Fenrir's golden eyes locked onto him.
Then it spoke.
Not through sound.
But directly into his mind.
"Human... you carry the scent of the Beast Sovereign."
The entire group froze.
Kael's expression changed slightly.
"You know about it?"
The Fenrir stepped forward.
Each step created cracks in the ground.
"I knew the previous holder."
The air became heavy.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"Tell me."
The Fenrir stared at him.
"Why should I?"
A wave of killing intent erupted.
"Prove you are worthy first."
The next instant—
The valley disappeared.
A massive claw descended from above.
Kael activated Beast Shift.
Black scales covered his arms.
His eyes turned golden.
He blocked the attack with both hands.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him shattered.
His body was pushed hundreds of meters backward.
Blood flowed from his mouth.
But he smiled.
"Good."
The Fenrir looked surprised.
Most creatures would have lost consciousness from that attack.
But Kael stood again.
Stronger.
The Beast Sovereign power inside him awakened.
[Battle instinct increasing.]
[Enemy analysed.]
[Weakness detected: Left shoulder.]
Kael vanished.
The Fenrir's eyes widened.
Too fast.
Kael appeared beside it and struck.
BOOM!
The impact forced the ancient beast to move.
For the first time in centuries...
The Abyssal Fenrir was pushed back.
The forest trembled.
Lyssa stared in shock.
"He's fighting a Sovereign beast..."
"No," Lyra said quietly.
Her expression became serious.
"He's becoming something even worse."
Inside Kael's mind, the Beast Sovereign whispered.
"Careful."
"That creature is not your enemy."
Kael frowned.
"Then why is it attacking?"
The answer came instantly.
"Because it is testing whether you deserve the throne."
Kael looked at the Fenrir.
The beast stood proudly, blood dripping from its shoulder.
Then it smiled.
For the first time.
"Good."
"You are not like the others."
The crimson markings on its body began glowing.
The entire valley shook.
"Show me your true form, Beast Sovereign."
Kael's heartbeat stopped for a moment.
Because he understood.
This was not a battle to defeat a beast.
This was a trial.
A trial to decide whether he was truly the next ruler of all beasts.
The darkness around him began moving.
His power began changing.
And for the first time since gaining the Beast Sovereign inheritance...
Kael felt fear.
Because something inside him was waking up.
Something even the previous Sovereign had sealed away.
The Primordial Beast.