Water crashed against the walls.
The entire chamber shook.
Aether pulled Lyra back.
"Stay behind me."
Lyra summoned lightning around both hands.
"I'm not planning to stand around."
"I know."
Aether kept his attention on the lake.
The creature continued rising.
First came its head.
Then its massive shoulders.
Dark blue scales covered its body.
Two long horns curved backward from its skull.
Its eyes were golden.
But unlike Nyx's eyes, there was no curiosity in them.
There was only ancient awareness.
The creature emerged from the lake.
It was enormous.
Even on four legs, its body stood nearly six meters tall.
A long tail moved slowly behind it.
Water poured from its scales.
The Origin System activated.
[Origin Analysis]
[Analysis failed.]
[Species: Unknown]
[Rank: Unknown]
[Attribute: Unknown]
[Abilities: Unknown]
[Warning: Target exceeds current analysis authority.]
Aether's expression became serious.
The system had never completely failed like this.
Lyra stared at the creature.
"What is that?"
"I don't know."
The creature slowly looked toward Nyx.
Nyx didn't move.
The two beasts stared at each other.
Aether noticed something strange.
The massive creature wasn't attacking.
Instead, it lowered its head.
Its golden eyes focused on the small silver beast.
Then it spoke.
"Bearer of the Origin Mark."
Nyx's ears moved.
Aether stepped forward.
"You know Nyx?"
The creature's gaze shifted toward him.
"And you carry the other half."
Aether felt a strange pressure inside his body.
The symbol within his Origin System suddenly became hot.
He clenched his fist.
"What is the Origin Mark?"
The creature didn't answer immediately.
Instead, it looked at Lyra.
Then toward the injured fox.
Finally, its gaze returned to Aether.
"You have awakened too early."
Aether frowned.
"Awakened what?"
The creature's expression remained unchanged.
"The path that should have remained sealed."
Aether took another step.
"You're going to have to explain that."
Lyra glanced at him.
"You really aren't afraid of this thing, are you?"
Aether kept his eyes on the creature.
"Being afraid won't make it explain."
The creature suddenly laughed.
It wasn't a loud laugh.
It sounded almost like a distant rumble.
"Interesting."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
"I am the Guardian of this Origin Zone."
The creature looked around the chamber.
"I have protected this place for longer than your species has recorded history."
Aether was silent.
That raised more questions than it answered.
The Guardian turned toward the lake.
"Long ago, this place was part of a greater Origin Domain."
"What happened?"
"The Domain was destroyed."
Lyra stepped closer.
"By what?"
The Guardian looked toward the ceiling.
"The same force that is beginning to return."
Aether's expression changed.
"Kael?"
"No."
The Guardian's answer was immediate.
"Kael is merely a traveler."
Aether remembered the man's spatial abilities.
"Then what is returning?"
The Guardian didn't answer.
Instead, the water behind it began glowing again.
Aether sensed a strange energy spreading through the chamber.
The Origin System appeared.
[Foreign Origin energy detected.]
[Environmental influence increasing.]
[Origin Adaptation responding.]
[Adaptation Progress: 7% → 9%]
Aether felt warmth spread through his body.
His breathing became steadier.
The strange pressure around the chamber weakened slightly.
The Guardian noticed.
"You adapt quickly."
Aether looked at his hands.
"So that's what Origin Adaptation is doing."
"Your body is learning."
The Guardian's eyes narrowed.
"But learning alone will not save you."
Aether looked back at it.
"I'm not expecting it to."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the Guardian turned toward Nyx.
"The child is incomplete."
Aether frowned.
"Child?"
Nyx growled softly.
The Guardian continued.
"Her bloodline has not awakened."
Aether glanced at Nyx.
"Her?"
The Guardian looked at him.
"Did you think the creature you bonded with was an ordinary beast?"
Aether didn't answer.
He already knew Nyx was unusual.
But hearing it from something this powerful confirmed his suspicion.
"What is she?"
The Guardian's eyes briefly flashed gold.
"That answer belongs to her."
Nyx stepped forward.
Aether immediately noticed the change.
The golden symbol beneath Nyx's fur appeared again.
The Guardian lowered its head.
"The seal is responding."
The system appeared.
[Nyx Synchronization: 9% → 10%]
[Hidden Evolution Pathway reacting.]
[First Bloodline Lock detected.]
[Condition for unlocking: Unknown]
Aether stared at the notification.
"Another locked ability."
The Guardian spoke again.
"She will remember when the time comes."
Aether looked at Nyx.
The little beast stared back.
There was something different in her eyes now.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
Almost recognition.
Suddenly, the injured fox cried out.
Aether turned.
The fox's body was surrounded by blue energy.
Its injured leg began healing.
The Origin Energy around it became stronger.
The Guardian looked at the fox.
"Even a weak bloodline can evolve in this place."
Aether immediately understood.
"So Origin Zones don't just strengthen beasts."
"No."
The Guardian's voice became deeper.
"They change them."
Aether looked around the chamber.
The plants.
The crystals.
The lake.
Everything was saturated with Origin Energy.
"This place is causing evolution."
"Only for those capable of surviving it."
The Guardian raised one claw.
A small wave of energy spread across the chamber.
Several crystals detached from the walls and floated toward Aether.
They stopped in front of him.
The Origin System immediately identified them.
[High-Purity Origin Crystals detected.]
[Purity: High]
[Origin Point conversion possible.]
Aether's attention sharpened.
The crystals were different from the ones the survivors had found.
Much more powerful.
The system displayed another message.
[Conversion available.]
[Estimated Origin Points: +32]
Aether didn't hesitate.
"Convert."
The crystals shattered.
Pure energy entered his body.
For a moment, his entire body felt like it was burning.
Then the sensation disappeared.
[+32 Origin Points]
[Origin Points: 100/100]
Aether froze.
The system appeared again.
[Origin Awakening — Stage 1 has reached its Origin Point requirement.]
[Breakthrough available.]
[Breakthrough condition detected.]
[Host must stabilize accumulated Origin Energy.]
Aether slowly exhaled.
Finally.
He had reached the limit of his current stage.
Lyra noticed his expression.
"What happened?"
Aether looked at the system.
"I can break through."
Her eyes widened.
"Already?"
Aether nodded.
"But not here."
The Guardian seemed to understand.
"Correct."
Aether looked at it.
"Why?"
"Because your breakthrough will disturb the Origin Zone."
The chamber suddenly became silent.
Aether looked toward the lake.
The Guardian continued.
"And something else will notice."
Aether's expression hardened.
"What?"
The Guardian looked toward the darkness beyond the chamber.
"Those who are searching for the Origin Heir."
Aether remembered Rowan's warning.
He also remembered Kael.
Then the golden symbol on Nyx's forehead suddenly appeared.
For one brief moment—
the entire chamber shook.
Far away, beyond the forest, a spatial distortion opened.
A man in a black coat stepped through.
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So you've reached an Origin Zone."
Back inside the chamber, Aether suddenly turned toward the entrance.
He had felt it.
Someone was approaching.
The Guardian looked at him.
"The first hunter has arrived."
Aether tightened his grip.
"Kael?"
The Guardian shook its head.
"No."
Its golden eyes became cold.
"Something far worse."