The ground exploded.
A deafening roar rolled across Green Paradise Zoo, shaking every enclosure from the reptile house to the aviary.
Trees swayed violently, windows shattered, and frightened animals cried out into the night.
A massive crimson claw burst from the earth.
It was larger than a city bus.
Each black talon carved deep trenches into the concrete as the creature slowly pulled itself upward.
Dust and broken stone rained in every direction.
Arjun instinctively shielded Aisha with his body.
“What…
is that?”
No one answered immediately.
Not Bruno.
Not Varkhaz.
Not even Ren.
All of them stared at the gigantic claw with expressions Arjun had never seen before.
Fear.
The system materialized in front of him.
Unlike its usual blue interface, every panel was now a flashing crimson.
WORLD BOSS ENCOUNTER
Entity Analysis…
Scanning…
Scanning…
Scanning…
ERROR
ERROR
ERROR
Recognition Failed
“What do you mean ‘recognition failed’?”
Target predates the current database.
“…That’s not comforting.”
It wasn’t intended to be.
Another claw tore through the ground.
The earth split open with a thunderous crack.
A wave of crimson spiritual energy surged outward, flattening nearby fences and snapping centuries old trees like twigs.
Bruno stepped forward.
The panda’s playful demeanor vanished completely.
Golden light surrounded him once more.
His eyes glowed like miniature suns.
Behind him, the Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf lowered its body into a battle stance.
Silver spiritual energy gathered around its paws.
Ren slowly removed his white coat and folded it neatly before placing it on a nearby rock.
Arjun stared.
“You’re taking your jacket off?”
Ren smiled.
“It was expensive.”
“…Fair enough.”
Even in the middle of an apocalyptic disaster, Arjun couldn’t deny the logic.
The system chimed in.
✔ COMEDY BONUS ✔
Host’s Stress Level Reduced.
“I wasn’t making a joke.”
Humor often appears naturally in desperate situations.
Before Arjun could argue, the creature finally emerged.
Its body resembled a lion, yet no lion could ever inspire such primal terror.
Its crimson scales shimmered beneath the moonlight.
Black flames danced across its shoulders.
Two enormous horns curved backward from its skull.
Golden chains wrapped around its body, though most had already shattered.
Only one remained intact.
Its burning red eyes slowly swept across the battlefield.
Every living creature instinctively lowered its head.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
The system finally produced an answer.
IDENTIFICATION SUCCESSFUL
Name:
Crimson Earth Devourer
Ancient Title:
The First Beast of Calamity
Current Status:
Seal 1 — Partially Released
Threat Level:
CALAMITY
Arjun swallowed hard.
“Partially?”
Correct.
“What happens if it’s fully released?”
The system remained silent for several seconds.
Then—
Host is advised not to ask depressing questions.
“…So it’s really bad.”
Correct.
The Crimson Earth Devourer slowly inhaled.
Its nostrils flared.
Then…
It looked directly at Arjun.
“…Keeper.”
The deep voice echoed across the shattered zoo.
Arjun froze.
“You…
know me?”
The beast tilted its gigantic head.
“I remember.”
Before Arjun could reply, Bruno stepped in front of him.
The panda pointed an accusing paw at the beast.
“No hurting Keeper.”
The gigantic monster blinked.
Then…
It blinked again.
“…Bear.”
Bruno puffed out his chest proudly.
“Yes.”
“…You got fatter.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Aisha covered her mouth.
Varkhaz looked away.
Even Ren coughed suspiciously.
Bruno’s jaw slowly dropped.
The Crimson Earth Devourer tilted its head innocently.
“You were smaller.”
Bruno gasped dramatically.
“I am not fat!”
“You are.”
“I am fluffy!”
The beast considered this.
“…Round.”
Bruno pointed an offended paw.
“Keeper!”
“It bullied me!”
Arjun pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You fought celestial armies.”
“I know!”
“And now you’re arguing because someone called you round.”
“…Very round.”
“I heard that!”
For one bizarre moment…
The terrifying atmosphere completely vanished.
Even the Crimson Earth Devourer’s lips twitched upward in what looked suspiciously like amusement.
The system quietly updated.
✔ UNIQUE EVENT ✔
Heavenly Bear Emperor has been emotionally provoked.
Current Mood:
Offended
Combat Effect:
Attack Power +15%
Arjun stared at the notification.
“…Seriously?”
The Bear Emperor fights harder when insulted.
“I can’t believe that’s a real passive skill.”
Before anyone could speak again, the remaining golden chain around the Crimson Earth Devourer’s neck shattered with a deafening clang.
CRACK!
The beast’s expression changed instantly.
The warmth in its eyes disappeared.
Black corruption spread across its crimson scales.
It let out a roar so powerful that the entire zoo trembled.
Ren’s smile vanished.
“No…”
Varkhaz clenched his fists.
“The corruption…”
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf growled.
“It has reached the heart.”
The system released one final alert.
BOSS PHASE TWO INITIATED
Corruption Level:
31%…
34%…
39%…
Rising
New Objective:
Purify the Crimson Earth Devourer
Warning:
Defeating it by force will permanently break the First Seal.
Arjun’s heart sank.
“So we can’t kill it…”
The corrupted beast roared again.
Its burning eyes locked onto him.
Then it charged.
The ground shattered beneath its feet as the colossal monster rushed straight toward the Keeper.
The Crimson Earth Devourer charged.
Each thunderous step split the ground beneath its colossal body, leaving spiderweb cracks racing across the zoo’s main plaza.
Lamp posts bent from the pressure alone, and nearby animal enclosures shook violently.
The distance between the ancient beast and Arjun disappeared in seconds.
“A-Arjun!”
Aisha instinctively reached for him.
But before she could pull him away—
BOOM!
Bruno leaped.
The giant panda landed directly in front of the charging beast, his paws digging deep into the concrete.
“Keeper stays!”
The Crimson Earth Devourer’s massive claw collided with Bruno’s crossed arms.
The impact echoed like a cannon blast.
A violent shockwave erupted across the zoo.
Windows shattered.
The nearby lake exploded into towering waves.
Even Ren was forced to slide several meters backward.
Bruno, however…
Didn’t move an inch.
His feet remained planted firmly on the ground.
“…You’re still heavy.”
The Devourer’s crimson eyes flickered.
“…You’re still round.”
Bruno’s face twitched.
“I said…”
Golden spiritual energy erupted around the panda.
“…I’M FLUFFY!”
With a roar that rivaled thunder, Bruno pushed forward.
The Devourer’s gigantic body was forced backward several steps, carving deep trenches through the earth.
Arjun stared in disbelief.
“Bruno actually pushed it back…”
The system appeared immediately.
✔ COMBAT ANALYSIS ✔
Heavenly Bear Emperor
Current Strength Released:
14%
Reason:
Host Safety Override
“Only fourteen percent?”
Correct.
“I don’t even want to imagine one hundred percent.”
Neither does the planet.
Before Arjun could respond, the Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf flashed across the battlefield like a silver comet.
Its claws traced glowing arcs through the air.
Slash!
The beast’s corrupted shoulder split open.
Instead of blood…
Black mist poured from the wound.
The Devourer roared in pain.
“The corruption…”
Ren narrowed his eyes.
“It isn’t merely possessing it.”
“It’s consuming its soul.”
Varkhaz thrust both fists forward.
Black flames erupted into towering pillars, trapping the spreading corruption before it reached the nearby zoo buildings.
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He shouted without taking his eyes off the flames.
“It can’t be purified through ordinary attacks!”
Arjun gritted his teeth.
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
The answer came from the system.
✦ EMERGENCY MISSION UPDATE ✦
Purification Protocol Available
Requirements:
Physical Contact with Target Keeper’s Authority Target’s Willingness to Resist Corruption Success Probability:
Unknown
Arjun blinked.
“…You want me to touch that thing?”
Correct.
“It could crush me!”
Also correct.
“You’re unbelievably unhelpful.”
Host requested honesty.
Ren stepped beside him.
“The system is right.”
Arjun stared.
“Don’t encourage it.”
“If the corruption reaches its core, the First Beast will disappear forever.”
“And?”
Ren’s voice grew solemn.
“So will the First Seal.”
Silence.
Arjun finally understood.
The beast wasn’t merely imprisoned by the seal.
It was the seal.
Destroying it would tear open the barrier protecting the world.
No wonder the mission specifically demanded purification.
There was no shortcut.
Aisha suddenly grabbed Arjun’s wrist.
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“You can’t.”
He turned toward her.
“If I don’t…”
“I know.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“But every time someone says there’s only one way…”
She hesitated.
“…I feel like I’ve already lost you once.”
Those words struck Arjun harder than any attack.
He gently squeezed her hand.
“I’ll come back.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No.”
He smiled weakly.
“But I’d like to believe it.”
For several seconds…
Neither of them moved.
Then Bruno’s strained voice echoed across the battlefield.
“Keeper!”
The panda was being pushed backward.
The Devourer’s corruption continued spreading over its body, making it stronger with every passing second.
Golden cracks had begun appearing across Bruno’s glowing aura.
He couldn’t hold it much longer.
Arjun took a deep breath.
Then he stepped forward.
“I’m doing it.”
The system immediately responded.
✔ HOST DECISION CONFIRMED ✔
Courage Evaluation:
Approved
New Temporary Title:
The One Who Faces Calamity
“…That’s surprisingly cool.”
We occasionally try.
Arjun couldn’t help smiling.
Then he ran.
The battlefield blurred around him.
Ren and Varkhaz charged forward to create an opening.
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf darted beneath the Devourer, slashing at its legs to slow its advance.
Bruno gathered every remaining ounce of strength and pushed with a mighty roar.
The colossal beast staggered.
“NOW!”
Ren shouted.
Arjun sprinted through the opening.
His heart pounded wildly.
The Crimson Earth Devourer lowered its burning head.
Their eyes met.
For a brief instant…
The corruption faded.
Within those crimson eyes, Arjun saw not a monster…
But a guardian desperately struggling against the darkness consuming it.
Without hesitation, he reached out.
His palm touched the beast’s forehead.
The world turned white.
A deafening chime echoed in his mind.
✦ AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED ✦
Keeper Confirmed
Beginning Purification…
1%
The Devourer suddenly stopped moving.
The battlefield fell silent.
Then—
A pulse of brilliant golden light exploded from Arjun’s hand, illuminating the entire zoo like a second sunrise.
Far beyond Green Paradise Zoo…
Across mountains…
Cities…
And forgotten ruins…
Ancient beings opened their eyes simultaneously.
One sentence echoed through the hidden corners of the world.
“The Keeper has returned.”
And somewhere, in a place beyond mortal sight…
A mysterious figure seated upon a black throne slowly smiled.
“So…”
The figure whispered.
“At last.”
To Be Continue….