Aether moved through the forest without looking back.
Lyra stayed close behind him, while Nyx moved silently between them.
The sounds of the approaching beasts were getting louder.
Branches snapped in the distance.
Heavy footsteps shook the ground.
"We need to get out of their range," Aether said.
Lyra glanced behind them.
"How far?"
"At least two kilometers."
"Two kilometers?"
Aether nodded.
"The weaker beasts are spreading out. Some are already moving around us."
Lyra's expression became serious.
"So we're being surrounded?"
"Not yet."
Aether stopped.
Ahead of them was a narrow gap between two large cliffs.
A faint blue light came from inside.
He activated Origin Analysis.
[Unknown Origin Energy detected.]
[Density: High]
[Environmental danger: Moderate]
Aether studied the passage.
"That might be our way out."
Lyra looked at the entrance.
"Or a trap."
"Probably both."
She sighed.
"Of course."
They entered the passage.
The sounds of the forest quickly faded behind them.
Dark stones covered the walls. Thin blue lines of Origin Energy ran through them like veins.
Nyx suddenly stopped.
Aether turned.
"What is it?"
Nyx stared at the wall.
Its ears were raised.
Aether walked closer.
Nyx slowly lifted one paw and touched the stone.
The entire passage lit up.
Blue light spread across the walls.
Lyra stepped backward.
"What did it do?"
Aether didn't answer.
Strange symbols were appearing across the stone.
They looked ancient.
Yet one of them seemed strangely familiar.
It was almost identical to the mark Aether had seen on Nyx.
The Origin System activated.
[Unknown Origin inscription detected.]
[Analyzing...]
[Analysis progress: 12%]
[Warning: Inscription contains information beyond current system authority.]
Aether frowned.
"Beyond the system's authority?"
The system had analyzed beasts, abilities, and cultivation.
Even Kael had only partially resisted its analysis.
Yet these symbols were different.
Lyra stepped beside him.
"Can you read it?"
"No."
Aether continued studying the inscription.
"But I think it recognizes Nyx."
Nyx touched the stone again.
Another wave of energy spread through the passage.
Aether suddenly felt the Origin Energy inside his body react.
A faint symbol appeared on his hand.
Then it disappeared.
Lyra noticed.
"Aether."
"I saw it."
"What was that?"
"I don't know."
Before they could investigate further, a low growl echoed from deeper inside the passage.
Nyx immediately turned toward the sound.
Aether activated Origin Analysis.
[Lifeform detected.]
[Classification: Beast]
[Rank: D]
[Condition: Injured]
[Hostile Intent: Low]
Aether relaxed slightly.
A small creature slowly emerged from the darkness.
It resembled a fox.
Its fur was pale gray, with faint blue markings around its legs.
One of its front legs was badly injured.
The creature stared at Aether and Nyx.
Nyx took a step forward.
The fox immediately backed away.
Aether crouched.
"Easy."
The fox remained cautious.
Lyra looked at Aether.
"Are you going to help it?"
Aether examined the injury.
"It can't move properly."
"That's obvious."
Aether ignored the comment.
He took out a piece of cloth and carefully wrapped the injured leg.
The fox watched him the entire time.
After a while, its hostility disappeared.
The system appeared.
[Origin Beast detected.]
[Potential: C]
[Temporary Bond Available.]
Aether looked at the fox.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"You don't want another beast?"
"Not every beast needs to become my partner."
Nyx glanced at him.
Aether smiled slightly.
"Nyx is different."
The fox slowly stood.
It tested its injured leg.
Then it looked toward the deeper part of the passage.
It started walking.
Aether watched it for a moment.
"You want us to follow?"
The fox stopped and looked back.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"Are we seriously following an injured beast into an unknown cave?"
Aether started walking.
"Apparently."
Lyra sighed.
"You're impossible."
Nyx followed happily.
The fox led them through several winding tunnels.
The deeper they went, the stronger the Origin Energy became.
Aether could feel it flowing through his body.
His Origin Adaptation reacted automatically.
[Environmental Adaptation initiated.]
[High-density Origin Energy detected.]
[Adaptation Progress: 7%]
Aether slowed down.
This energy was different.
It was purer than the energy outside.
It was also strangely calm.
After several minutes, the tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber.
Lyra stopped.
"So this was underneath the forest?"
Aether looked around.
Glowing crystals covered the walls.
A clear blue lake occupied the center.
Strange plants grew around it.
The Origin System began analyzing the area.
[Unknown Origin Zone discovered.]
[Energy Density: Extremely High]
[Resources detected.]
[Origin Crystals]
[Origin Herbs]
[Unknown Origin Plant]
[Environmental Evolution detected.]
Aether focused on the final message.
"Environmental evolution."
Lyra looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
"This place is changing."
Aether walked toward the lake.
The energy beneath its surface was unusually dense.
He could sense something.
Something was sleeping below.
Then Nyx suddenly ran toward the water.
"Nyx!"
Aether followed.
Nyx stopped at the edge.
The surface of the lake began glowing.
A golden symbol appeared beneath the water.
Aether froze.
It was the same symbol from his vision.
The same symbol connected to Nyx.
The Origin System appeared again.
[Unknown Synchronization detected.]
[Nyx Synchronization: 4% → 9%]
[Hidden Evolution Pathway reacting.]
[Origin Beast Evolution conditions partially revealed.]
Aether stared at the message.
"Evolution..."
Nyx looked back at him.
For the first time, Aether understood something.
Nyx wasn't simply a strange beast that happened to follow him.
There was a reason for their connection.
And this place seemed to know that reason.
The injured fox suddenly growled.
Aether turned toward it.
The fox was staring at the lake.
Its fur had begun glowing faintly.
Lyra noticed.
"Wait."
The fox's body trembled.
For a brief moment, its body began changing.
Its front legs became slightly longer.
The blue markings across its body became brighter.
Then the transformation stopped.
The fox collapsed.
Aether immediately moved toward it.
The Origin System appeared.
[Bloodline Fluctuation detected.]
[Transformation attempt failed.]
[Cause: Insufficient cultivation.]
Aether stared at the message.
"Transformation?"
Lyra looked confused.
"Transformation into what?"
The system gave no answer.
Aether looked at the injured fox.
There was clearly more to beast evolution than he had imagined.
Some beasts possessed bloodlines capable of developing beyond their current forms.
But the process required enormous amounts of power.
Aether looked at Nyx.
"How much do we actually know about beasts?"
Lyra shook her head.
"Almost nothing."
"Exactly."
Aether looked back toward the lake.
"Then we need to learn."
Suddenly—
the water moved.
A small ripple spread across the surface.
Then another.
Nyx's golden eyes began glowing.
Aether felt the symbol inside his Origin System react.
The entire chamber trembled.
Lyra summoned lightning.
"What is happening?"
Aether stepped backward.
"I don't know."
The lake began rising.
Something enormous moved beneath the surface.
The system attempted to analyze it.
[Unknown entity detected.]
[Analysis failed.]
[Analysis failed.]
Aether's expression became serious.
The shadow beneath the water grew larger.
Much larger.
Then two enormous eyes opened beneath the surface.
Aether felt a pressure unlike anything he had encountered before.
Nyx didn't retreat.
Instead, it stepped toward the lake.
The golden symbol appeared beneath its fur.
Aether's Origin System suddenly reacted.
[Origin Points acquired from previous battle.]
[+18 Origin Points]
[Origin Points: 68/100]
Aether's eyes flickered toward the notification.
So the battle against the Stonehorn Bear had left him with more than just experience.
He had gained another eighteen points.
He was getting closer.
But the strange pressure from the lake quickly drew his attention back.
The voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Ancient.
Calm.
Almost emotionless.
"Finally..."
Lyra froze.
"You heard that too?"
Aether nodded.
The voice came again.
"The Origin Heir has brought the key."
The lake exploded.
Water crashed against the walls.
The mysterious creature beneath the surface began rising.
Aether instinctively stepped in front of Lyra.
Nyx stood beside him.
Whatever was beneath the lake had been waiting for them.
And now—
it had finally awakened.