The glowing bamboo forest stretched across the northern section of Green Paradise Zoo like a living fortress.
Every stalk shimmered with golden spiritual energy.
The White Fox Society’s warriors were trapped inside, slashing desperately at the bamboo.
It didn’t leave a single scratch.
One masked warrior swung his halberd dozens of times before stopping to catch his breath.
“…Why won’t it break?”
Bruno scratched his round belly.
“Because…”
The panda grinned proudly.
“It’s good bamboo.”
Arjun covered his face.
Even in the middle of a life-and-death battle…
Bruno was still Bruno.
The system appeared once again.
✔ BATTLE STATUS ✔
Imperial Bamboo Domain
Integrity:
100%
Enemy Escape Probability:
0.02%
Arjun raised an eyebrow.
“Only zero point zero two?”
One enemy is thinking very creatively.
Before Arjun could ask what that meant—
A loud crack echoed through the enclosure.
Everyone turned.
One masked warrior had somehow squeezed halfway through two bamboo stalks.
Unfortunately…
He became completely stuck.
His white cloak dangled helplessly as he struggled.
“…Help.”
Another masked warrior stared.
“…Are you serious?”
“I miscalculated.”
Bruno blinked.
Then casually walked over.
“You trapped?”
“…”
“…Yes.”
The panda nodded sympathetically.
“Happens.”
Then he gently pushed the warrior backward with one finger.
Pop!
The warrior fell flat on his back.
Bruno offered him a bamboo shoot.
“Snack?”
The warrior looked utterly confused.
“I…”
“…can’t accept this.”
Bruno shrugged.
“More for me.”
Crunch.
Arjun sighed.
“This battle has completely lost its dignity.”
Aisha laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
For the first time since strange memories had begun resurfacing, she genuinely relaxed.
Watching Bruno treat an elite assassin like a lost tourist was somehow therapeutic.
Nearby, Varkhaz finally finished binding the unconscious attackers with chains forged from black spiritual flames.
“My lord.”
Arjun looked over.
“Everyone except their leader has been captured.”
He followed Varkhaz’s gaze.
Ren still stood outside the bamboo forest.
Hands clasped behind his back.
Completely calm.
Almost amused.
Not once during the battle had he drawn a weapon.
Not once had he shown concern for his defeated subordinates.
It was as though this entire confrontation had merely been…
a test.
The realization made Arjun uneasy.
Ren smiled politely.
“I must thank you.”
Arjun blinked.
“…For what?”
“You answered several questions tonight.”
“I don’t remember taking a quiz.”
Ren chuckled.
“The Bear Emperor obeys you.”
He raised one finger.
“The Guardian trusts you.”
A second finger.
“The former Demon General follows you.”
A third.
Finally, his eyes settled on Aisha.
“And the Queen’s memories are returning.”
Silence settled over the battlefield.
Even Bruno stopped chewing.
Aisha unconsciously clenched Arjun’s sleeve.
“What do you mean…”
“…returning?”
Ren sighed softly.
“So you truly remember nothing.”
The smile disappeared from his face.
“You deserve to know.”
He slowly removed his fox mask.
Arjun finally saw his entire face.
He looked younger than expected.
Perhaps twenty-eight.
Sharp golden eyes.
Refined features.
An almost scholarly appearance.
Nothing about him resembled a villain.
Except for the unsettling calm in his gaze.
“My real name is Ren Akihiko.”
“I was once…”
He paused.
“…one of the Nine Guardians of the Demon Realm.”
Bruno’s bamboo slipped from his paws.
The wolf’s golden eyes narrowed.
Varkhaz’s expression froze.
“…Impossible.”
Ren smiled sadly.
“I thought you would say that.”
The system suddenly erupted into alarms.
CRITICAL DATABASE UPDATE
Historical Figure Confirmed
Name:
Ren Akihiko
Former Title:
Guardian of the Western Gate
Current Status:
Traitor
Arjun frowned.
“So you used to protect the Demon Realm?”
Ren nodded.
“Yes.”
“And now you’re attacking it?”
“No.”
His answer came immediately.
“I’m trying to save it.”
The system flashed crimson.
WARNING
Truth Detection
Probability Statement is Genuine:
97.8%
Arjun’s heart skipped a beat.
“He isn’t lying?”
Correct.
————————————- This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Everything became more complicated.
If Ren wasn’t lying…
Then why was he hunting the Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf?
Why attack Bruno?
Why form the White Fox Society?
Ren slowly reached into his coat.
Instantly, Bruno jumped in front of Arjun.
Golden spiritual energy gathered around his paws.
“Bad Human!”
The wolf lowered its body.
Varkhaz ignited black flames.
Even Aisha instinctively stepped back.
Ren stopped immediately.
“My apologies.”
He slowly withdrew…
Not a weapon.
An old photograph.
Its edges were faded with age.
He tossed it gently toward Arjun.
Bruno almost punched it out of the air before Arjun hurriedly caught it.
The photograph showed six people standing beneath a gigantic cherry blossom tree.
Arjun recognized three of them immediately.
Bruno.
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf.
A woman with flowing silver hair…
Who looked exactly like Aisha.
Standing beside her…
Was a young man wearing black robes.
His face…
Was unmistakably Arjun’s.
Arjun felt his breath catch.
The smile on the man in the photograph was warm.
Natural.
As though he had known the people beside him his entire life.
The photograph slipped slightly in Arjun’s trembling hand.
“This…”
He whispered.
“…Who took this?”
Ren looked directly into his eyes.
“You did.”
The world seemed to stop turning.
Before anyone could speak again—
The system released a single silver notification.
✦ MEMORY RESONANCE ✦
Synchronization Reached:
5%
Hidden Memory Unlocked…
Loading…
A sharp pain exploded inside Arjun’s head.
The photograph slipped from his fingers.
And for the first time…
He remembered a name.
Not his own.
A name someone had once called him.
“Kael…”
The memory shattered before he could grasp it.
Arjun staggered backward, breathing heavily.
Ren’s expression softened.
“So…”
He murmured.
“It has finally begun.”
“Kael…”
The name echoed through Arjun’s mind like a distant bell.
His vision blurred.
The zoo disappeared.
The bamboo forest.
The White Fox Society.
Even Bruno’s worried voice faded into the background.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Then—
A single ray of golden sunlight pierced the void.
A vast palace gradually came into view.
It floated above an endless sea of clouds, supported by colossal pillars carved from black jade.
Countless banners fluttered in the wind, each bearing the same symbol—a golden eye surrounded by silver flames.
Thousands of powerful beings knelt below the palace steps.
Dragons.
Phoenixes.
Giants.
Demons.
Spirit Beasts.
Immortals.
Every race stood together.
And they all faced one person.
A young man dressed in flowing black robes.
His long dark hair danced in the wind.
His eyes shone like molten gold.
When he smiled, even the heavens seemed brighter.
Someone stepped forward and knelt.
“My Sovereign.”
Then another.
“Our King.”
Then thousands of voices merged into one.
“Long live the Sovereign!”
Arjun instinctively took a step closer.
The man slowly turned around.
It was…
Him.
Or rather…
Someone with his face.
Before Arjun could understand what he was seeing—
The vision shattered like broken glass.
“Arjun!”
He suddenly gasped and opened his eyes.
The night sky returned.
The bamboo forest stood around him.
His knees were pressed against the ground.
Aisha knelt beside him, supporting his shoulders.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with worry.
“Can you hear me?”
Arjun blinked several times before nodding.
“…Yeah.”
His voice sounded distant even to himself.
“I…”
He looked toward Ren.
“You called me Kael.”
Ren gave a slow nod.
“I did.”
“Who is Kael?”
For the first time since they met, Ren’s confident smile completely disappeared.
“He was…”
Ren searched for the right words.
“…the greatest ruler our world has ever known.”
Silence.
Bruno quietly sat beside Arjun.
The panda gently placed one paw on his shoulder.
“You remember?”
Arjun slowly shook his head.
“No.”
“I only saw fragments.”
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf finally spoke.
“They will return.”
“When?”
“When you are ready.”
The system suddenly released another silver notification.
✦ MEMORY RECOVERY UPDATED ✦
Keeper Synchronization:
5.3%
New Passive Unlocked:
Echoes of the Past
Host will occasionally witness fragments of forgotten memories.
Arjun frowned.
“So my memories are going to attack me randomly now?”
Correct.
“…Wonderful.”
Host is adapting well.
“I don’t have a choice.”
Ren quietly walked closer.
This time, neither Bruno nor Varkhaz stopped him.
The former Guardian stood only a few steps away from Arjun.
“There isn’t much time.”
“What do you mean?”
“The seals protecting this world are weakening faster than we predicted.”
He looked toward the night sky.
“The first seal has already broken.”
“The second is cracking.”
“The third…”
His expression darkened.
“…has begun to awaken.”
A cold breeze swept across the zoo.
Even Bruno stopped smiling.
Arjun noticed.
“What’s the third seal?”
Before Ren could answer—
The system suddenly interrupted.
INFORMATION RESTRICTED
Access Denied.
Reason:
Host Synchronization Too Low.
Arjun sighed.
“You really have terrible timing.”
Thank you.
“…That wasn’t a compliment.”
Ren smiled faintly.
“Your system hasn’t changed.”
Arjun’s eyes widened.
“You know about it?”
“I know what it truly is.”
That sentence instantly captured everyone’s attention.
Even Aisha looked surprised.
“The system…”
Arjun asked slowly.
“…isn’t just a system?”
Ren shook his head.
“It never was.”
The air suddenly became heavy.
“It is a fragment.”
“A fragment?”
“A fragment of the World Core.”
Nobody spoke.
Ren continued calmly.
“It was created to guide you after your death.”
“My death?”
“You sacrificed yourself.”
The words landed like thunder.
Bruno lowered his head.
The wolf closed its eyes.
Even Varkhaz looked away.
Only Aisha seemed confused.
“No…”
She whispered.
“He wouldn’t…”
Ren looked at her gently.
“He did.”
“He gave up everything to stop the Eternal Rift.”
Aisha unconsciously touched her chest.
Another faint memory surfaced.
She saw herself crying.
Holding someone’s hand.
Begging him not to leave.
Then…
Nothing.
The memory disappeared.
Tears rolled down her cheeks before she even realized she was crying.
Arjun looked at her in concern.
“Aisha?”
She quickly wiped her eyes.
“I…”
“I don’t know why…”
“But hearing that…”
“…hurts.”
Without thinking, Arjun gently held her hand.
“It’s okay.”
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment…
Neither of them spoke.
Neither understood why the other felt so familiar.
Yet neither wanted to let go.
Bruno quietly smiled.
The wolf looked toward the moon.
Varkhaz pretended to admire a nearby tree.
Ren folded his arms.
“So even after forgetting everything…”
“…you still find each other.”
The peaceful moment lasted only seconds.
Suddenly—
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
The system turned crimson once again.
WORLD ALERT
Massive Spiritual Disturbance Detected
Location:
Beneath Green Paradise Zoo
Seal Integrity:
42%
Emergency Recommendation:
Proceed to the Underground Sanctuary Immediately.
The ground trembled.
At first, it was barely noticeable.
Then the tremors grew stronger.
Trees swayed violently.
The bamboo forest rustled as if something enormous were moving beneath the earth.
A deafening roar echoed from deep underground.
It wasn’t an animal.
It wasn’t a human.
It sounded ancient.
Hungry.
Bruno’s cheerful expression disappeared instantly.
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf slowly stepped in front of Arjun.
Varkhaz summoned black flames around both fists.
Ren turned toward the center of the zoo, his golden eyes narrowing.
“So…”
He murmured.
“It has awakened earlier than expected.”
A massive crack suddenly split the ground beneath the old reptile house.
Brilliant crimson light burst into the night sky.
From the depths of the earth…
A colossal claw slowly emerged.
The system displayed one final notification.
EMERGENCY WORLD BOSS
The First Seal Has Broken
Entity Identified:
???
Threat Level:
CALAMITY
Survival Probability:
Calculating…
Error
For the first time since Arjun received the mysterious system…
Even the system could not calculate the outcome.
To Be Continue….