The voice echoed across the sky.
“I have finally found you.”
It wasn’t loud.
Yet every human, animal, and spirit beast within hundreds of kilometers heard it as clearly as if it had been whispered directly into their ears.
Green Paradise Zoo fell into absolute silence.
Even the Crimson Earth Devourer stopped struggling against the corruption.
The enormous golden eye hanging above the clouds stared unblinkingly at Arjun.
It felt less like being watched…
And more like being judged.
Arjun instinctively took a step backward.
“…Why is everything powerful looking for me?”
The system appeared.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARNING
Divine Presence Detected
Current Mental Pressure:
Increasing
Recommendation:
Do not look directly into the entity’s eye for prolonged periods.
“I’ve already been looking.”
Host has made another questionable life decision.
“…That’s fair.”
Marshal Liang immediately drew a long silver spear from his back.
The weapon hummed with ancient runes.
Every Dragon Division officer followed suit.
Their spiritual energy merged into a gigantic silver barrier that spread across the entire zoo.
Ren’s expression became grave.
“I never thought it would awaken this early.”
Varkhaz frowned.
“This isn’t awakening.”
“It found us.”
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf looked toward the heavens.
“…It can smell the Keeper.”
Bruno quickly stepped in front of Arjun.
“No smelling Keeper.”
The panda pointed an accusing paw toward the sky.
“Go away!”
Nothing happened.
Bruno frowned harder.
“I said…”
He took a deep breath.
“…GO AWAY!”
The giant eye blinked once.
Then…
To everyone’s surprise…
The clouds rippled slightly.
Arjun blinked.
“…Did that actually work?”
The system responded.
ANALYSIS
Heavenly Bear Emperor’s intimidation has produced…
0.8% hesitation.
Bruno puffed out his chest proudly.
“It listened.”
Partially.
“I’ll take it!”
Aisha couldn’t help laughing despite the overwhelming tension.
“Bruno…”
“You’re unbelievable.”
The panda grinned.
“I know.”
Suddenly, the sky split apart.
A beam of golden light descended from the enormous eye.
It wasn’t an attack.
It landed nearly fifty meters away from the group.
The ground trembled.
When the light faded…
A single figure stood there.
A man.
He wore brilliant white robes embroidered with countless golden dragons.
Long silver hair reached his waist.
A golden crown rested upon his head.
His face…
Looked almost identical to Arjun’s.
The only difference was his eyes.
Instead of warmth…
They contained endless arrogance.
Arjun stared.
“…He looks like me.”
Ren quietly corrected him.
“No.”
“He looks like Kael.”
The newcomer slowly opened his arms.
“So…”
His smile was flawless.
“The fragments were right.”
His gaze settled on Arjun.
“You really were reborn.”
The system erupted into alarms.
IDENTIFICATION COMPLETE
Name:
Lucien
Alias:
The False Sovereign
Former Position:
First Disciple of the Keeper
Current Status:
World Enemy
Threat Assessment:
EX
Arjun frowned.
“…First disciple?”
Lucien smiled pleasantly.
“Master.”
The word stunned everyone.
He bowed respectfully.
“I have searched for you for ten thousand years.”
Bruno immediately whispered,
“…Keeper?”
Arjun looked just as confused.
“I have no idea.”
Lucien straightened.
His smile remained gentle.
“I rebuilt the world after your sacrifice.”
“I united kingdoms.”
“I destroyed those who opposed peace.”
“I completed the dream you abandoned.”
Marshal Liang’s face darkened.
“Peace?”
He stepped forward.
“You call ruling through fear…”
“…peace?”
Lucien looked genuinely puzzled.
“They stopped fighting.”
“They obeyed.”
“There was order.”
His smile never changed.
“Is that not peace?”
Silence followed.
Arjun slowly realized something terrifying.
Lucien truly believed he had done the right thing.
He wasn’t insane.
He simply viewed the world differently.
The system quietly displayed a new notification.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Lucien
Alignment:
Lawful Tyrant
Loyalty Toward Keeper:
Threat to Humanity:
Extreme
Arjun sighed internally.
“…Why can’t my enemies just be evil?”
Complex antagonists increase reader engagement.
“…You’re breaking the fourth wall again.”
Please ignore that statement.
Aisha blinked.
“Did your system just…?”
“Nothing.”
“It definitely said something strange.”
“It does that sometimes.”
Lucien took one slow step forward.
No one could sense him moving.
One moment he was fifty meters away.
The next…
He stood directly before Arjun.
Bruno’s paw shot forward.
BOOM!
Lucien casually stopped the strike with one finger.
The impact split the clouds.
Mountains in the distance trembled.
Yet Lucien’s sleeve didn’t even flutter.
Bruno’s eyes widened.
“…Strong.”
Lucien smiled kindly at the panda.
“You’ve grown.”
Then he looked back at Arjun.
“Come with me.”
“I will restore your memories.”
“I will return your throne.”
“I will give you back everything you lost.”
Arjun remained silent.
Around him…
Everyone waited for his answer.
Even the system.
MAIN STORY CHOICE
The False Sovereign has extended an invitation.
Accept?
YES / NO
Arjun looked at the glowing options.
Then at Bruno.
At Aisha.
At the Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf.
At Varkhaz.
Finally…
He smiled.
“I’m sorry.”
“I already have a home.”
Lucien’s smile remained.
But his eyes…
Lost all warmth.
The night became deathly still.
Arjun’s answer echoed through the shattered zoo.
“I’m sorry.”
“I already have a home.”
For several long seconds…
Lucien simply stared at him.
His gentle smile remained on his face.
Yet something invisible changed.
The warmth in his golden eyes slowly disappeared, replaced by a cold indifference that made even the air feel heavy.
Above them, the colossal golden eye in the heavens narrowed.
The pressure increased.
Nearby trees bent until their branches touched the ground.
The system flashed urgently.
WARNING
False Sovereign’s Emotional State
Disappointment: 97%
Hostility: Increasing…
Recommendation:
Do not provoke further.
“…I think that ship has sailed.?
Correct.
Lucien sighed softly.
“I expected that answer.”
“You always were stubborn.”
Arjun folded his arms.
“We’ve never met.”
Lucien smiled faintly.
“No.”
“You simply don’t remember.”
His gaze drifted toward Bruno.
The panda immediately stood in front of Arjun again.
“No touching Keeper.”
Lucien chuckled.
“You still protect him first.”
Bruno blinked.
“…Obviously.”
“He’s Keeper.”
Lucien nodded slowly.
“As loyal as ever.”
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf stepped beside Bruno.
Silver spiritual energy flowed around its body.
“I will not allow you to take him.”
Varkhaz’s black flames erupted once more.
“Neither will I.”
Aisha silently moved beside Arjun.
Without saying a word…
She slipped her hand into his.
Arjun looked at her in surprise.
She avoided his gaze, her cheeks faintly pink.
“I…”
She cleared her throat.
“I’m standing here because someone has to stop you from doing something reckless.”
Arjun smiled.
“Of course.”
The system reacted instantly.
✔ RELATIONSHIP UPDATE ✔
Fox Queen’s Trust
Increased!
Current Level:
Very High
Host should continue making sensible decisions.
“I’ve made one.”
Personal record achieved.
Lucien observed the group quietly.
Then he laughed.
Not mockingly.
Not cruelly.
Genuinely.
“So…”
“You’ve gathered them together again.”
His expression became nostalgic.
“It looks almost identical to ten thousand years ago.”
Ren stepped forward.
“Lucien.”
The False Sovereign looked toward his former companion.
“You betrayed the Guardians.”
“I opposed you.”
“You abandoned peace.”
“I rejected tyranny.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
For the first time…
Lucien’s smile faded completely.
“Tyranny?”
He looked toward the stars.
“I ended every war.”
“I erased famine.”
“I united every kingdom.”
“Children no longer feared monsters.”
“No nation invaded another.”
He looked back at Ren.
“Tell me.”
“What part of that is evil?”
No one answered.
Because none of them could deny that his achievements were real.
Marshal Liang finally spoke.
“The methods.”
Lucien nodded.
“I expected that answer.”
“You value freedom.”
“I value survival.”
His voice remained calm.
“If humanity must surrender a little freedom to avoid extinction…”
“…is that truly such a terrible price?”
Arjun found himself unable to interrupt.
Lucien wasn’t ranting.
He wasn’t threatening anyone.
He was explaining his beliefs.
And somehow…
That made him even more dangerous.
The system quietly displayed a notification.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Lucien
Core Belief:
Perfect Order Creates Perfect Peace
Psychological Assessment:
Will never compromise.
Lucien slowly raised his right hand.
Golden light gathered above his palm.
The Dragon Division instantly formed defensive formations.
Marshal Liang pointed his spear forward.
“Protect the Keeper!”
The elite officers moved without hesitation.
Their combined spiritual energy formed a massive silver dragon above the zoo.
The dragon roared toward the heavens.
Lucien glanced at it.
“…Impressive.”
Then…
He flicked one finger.
Boom!
The gigantic silver dragon shattered into countless particles of light.
Every Dragon Division officer was thrown backward.
Marshal Liang slid nearly thirty meters before planting his spear into the ground to stop himself.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Arjun’s eyes widened.
“…He destroyed it with one finger.”
The system answered immediately.
POWER COMPARISON
False Sovereign
Estimated Power Released:
Less than 1%
“…You’re joking.”
Negative.
A cold chill ran down Arjun’s spine.
If this wasn’t even one percent…
How powerful was Lucien really?
Bruno growled.
Golden light exploded around the panda.
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf released a silver moon-shaped aura.
Varkhaz’s black flames climbed into the sky.
Even the Crimson Earth Devourer, still trapped in the purification process, struggled to rise.
Lucien looked at them all.
His expression softened.
“I have no wish to fight you.”
He looked directly at Arjun.
“I only want my Master back.”
Arjun shook his head.
“I’m Arjun.”
Lucien closed his eyes.
“…For now.”
Suddenly…
The system froze.
Every notification disappeared.
The blue interface cracked like glass.
SYSTEM CONNECTION LOST…
Rebooting…
Rebooting…
ERROR
ERROR
“What?”
Arjun called out mentally.
No answer came.
For the first time since receiving the glitched system…
It had gone completely silent.
Lucien slowly smiled.
“I apologize.”
“I disconnected it.”
Arjun’s heart skipped a beat.
“You can do that?”
“The fragment recognizes me.”
He took another step forward.
“The system was created by us.”
“It naturally obeys higher authority.”
Bruno immediately moved to block his path.
Lucien sighed.
“…Must we really do this?”
Before anyone could react—
A deafening laugh echoed across the heavens.
“Hahahahahaha!”
The sound was wild.
Carefree.
Ancient.
Everyone instinctively looked upward.
The clouds suddenly split apart.
A gigantic golden staff descended from the sky, spinning like a meteor before crashing into the ground between Arjun and Lucien.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire zoo shook violently.
Dust billowed into the air.
Lucien’s calm expression changed for the first time.
“…Impossible.”
A playful voice echoed through the smoke.
“Impossible?”
“That’s rude.”
A silhouette slowly emerged, resting one shoulder against the enormous golden staff.
The newcomer wore battered crimson armor, a tattered yellow scarf, and a mischievous grin.
Golden eyes sparkled with endless amusement.
Most striking of all…
A long monkey tail swayed lazily behind him.
Bruno gasped.
The Moon-Devouring Heavenly Wolf’s eyes widened.
Even Ren looked stunned.
The system, despite being disconnected, briefly flickered back to life with a single line.
————————————-???
HAS LOGGED IN.
User Recognized: Great Sage Equal to Heaven
The monkey warrior twirled his staff onto his shoulder and grinned at Arjun.
“Yo, Keeper.”
“Miss me?”
To be Continue….