The chamber remained silent after the intruders disappeared.
Only the faint sound of the lake could be heard.
Aether stood beside the water, staring at the place where the silver-haired woman had vanished.
She had left too easily.
That bothered him.
She had clearly been stronger than the six cultivators she brought with her. Yet she hadn't seriously attacked him after their first exchange.
She had been measuring him.
"She wasn't trying to kill me."
Lyra looked at him.
"You noticed too?"
Aether nodded.
"Her first attack could have been much stronger."
The Guardian turned toward them.
"She came to confirm something."
Aether looked at it.
"What?"
"That you have truly awakened."
Aether glanced at the system.
[Current Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 2]
[Origin Points: 135/150]
[Origin Adaptation: 12%]
He still needed fifteen more points to reach the next breakthrough requirement.
But the number wasn't what concerned him.
It was the title the hunter and the silver-haired woman had used.
Origin Heir.
Aether looked at the Guardian.
"Tell me what an Origin Heir actually is."
The Guardian remained silent.
Aether waited.
"You're not going to answer?"
"I cannot tell you everything."
"Why?"
"Because some knowledge becomes dangerous once it is remembered."
Aether frowned.
"That's not an answer."
"It is the only answer I can give."
Lyra stepped closer.
"Then tell us what you can."
The Guardian looked toward the lake.
"The Origin Heir is not a title given by humans."
Aether listened carefully.
"It is a position created by the Origin itself. Long ago, the Origin Domain had guardians, rulers, and inheritors. When that domain was destroyed, the inheritance was sealed."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"And you think I'm the inheritor?"
"No."
The Guardian looked directly at him.
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"The Origin has already recognized you."
Aether remained silent.
"So I'm not chosen by someone."
"You were recognized by something older."
Before Aether could ask another question—
Nyx suddenly cried out.
A sharp golden light erupted from her forehead.
"Nyx!"
Aether immediately moved toward her.
Nyx's body trembled.
The silver mark on her forehead had expanded.
Thin golden lines spread through her dark-silver fur.
Her eyes became brighter.
The lake responded.
Ripples spread across the entire surface.
The Guardian's expression changed.
"Everyone move away."
Aether didn't move.
"She's in pain."
"I know."
"Then I'm staying."
The Guardian stared at him.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Finally, the ancient creature lowered its head slightly.
"Then be prepared."
Nyx suddenly collapsed.
Aether caught her before she hit the ground.
Her body was burning with Origin Energy.
"What is happening?"
The Guardian's voice became heavy.
"Her bloodline is awakening."
Aether looked down at Nyx.
"You said she was incomplete."
"She was."
"Then why now?"
The Guardian looked toward Aether.
"Because she is connected to you."
Aether's expression hardened.
"Through the synchronization?"
"More than that."
The system appeared.
[Origin Beast Synchronization: 10%]
[Bloodline reaction detected.]
[Unknown Origin Beast bloodline is undergoing forced activation.]
[Warning: Current bloodline stability is low.]
Aether immediately frowned.
"Can I help her?"
The system remained silent for several seconds.
Then another message appeared.
[Possible method detected.]
[Transfer stabilized Origin Energy.]
Aether placed his hand against Nyx's back.
Origin Energy flowed from his body into hers.
The reaction was immediate.
Nyx stopped trembling.
The golden light surrounding her became steadier.
Aether felt something strange through the connection.
Not words.
Not thoughts.
An emotion.
Fear.
Nyx was afraid.
Aether's expression softened.
"I'm here."
Her trembling slowly decreased.
The golden markings became less violent.
Lyra watched quietly.
"She can feel you."
Aether nodded.
"I think so."
The Guardian observed the scene carefully.
"Interesting."
Aether looked up.
"What?"
"The synchronization is responding to your emotions."
Aether glanced back at Nyx.
"Meaning?"
"Your connection is becoming deeper."
The system confirmed it.
[Origin Beast Synchronization: 10% → 13%]
[Connection stability increased.]
[New function partially unlocked.]
[Origin Beast Status — Limited Access.]
Aether's eyes widened slightly.
"Finally."
A small interface appeared.
[Origin Beast: Nyx]
[Species: Unknown Origin Beast]
[Rank: F]
[Potential: A]
[Condition: Bloodline Awakening]
[Abilities: Unknown]
[Bloodline: Locked]
[Transformation: Locked]
[Evolution Path: Hidden]
Aether stared at the final three lines.
Transformation.
Evolution.
Bloodline.
So the Guardian hadn't been exaggerating.
Nyx wasn't simply a strange beast.
She had an evolution path.
But it was completely hidden.
The system suddenly flickered.
[Additional information detected.]
[Origin Beast bloodline evolution varies according to species.]
[Not all beasts possess the ability to transform.]
[Transformation requires sufficient cultivation and bloodline stability.]
Aether nodded slowly.
That explained the fox.
Its bloodline had attempted to change, but its cultivation wasn't enough.
Nyx was different.
Whatever she was, her bloodline had been sealed.
Aether closed the interface.
"How strong can she become?"
The Guardian looked toward Nyx.
"That depends on what she truly is."
"Can she become stronger than you?"
The Guardian was silent.
Aether raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't answer."
"I don't know."
That answer surprised him.
The Guardian continued.
"I have guarded this place for longer than your civilization has recorded history. I have seen countless beasts evolve."
Its gaze settled on Nyx.
"But I have never seen a bloodline like hers."
Nyx slowly opened her eyes.
Her golden gaze met Aether's.
She looked tired.
But she was no longer trembling.
Aether gently placed his hand on her head.
"Feeling better?"
Nyx made a quiet sound.
"Good."
Suddenly—
Boom!
The entire chamber shook.
Aether immediately stood.
The Guardian turned toward the lake.
The water was moving.
Not from the surface.
From underneath.
Something was rising.
Lyra summoned lightning.
"Again?"
Aether tightened his grip on the damaged metal rod.
The Guardian's expression became grim.
"No."
The lake suddenly split apart.
A massive claw emerged from the depths.
The creature beneath the water was far larger than the Guardian.
Aether's system activated automatically.
[Analysis initiated.]
[...]
[Analysis failed.]
[Target exceeds current analysis authority.]
Aether stared at the enormous silhouette beneath the lake.
The Guardian took a step forward.
For the first time, its voice carried genuine alarm.
"Impossible."
Aether looked at it.
"You know that thing?"
The Guardian didn't answer.
The creature slowly lifted its head above the water.
Two enormous golden eyes opened.
The chamber shook beneath its presence.
Then the creature spoke.
Its voice echoed through the entire Origin Zone.
"Guardian..."
The ancient Guardian froze.
The creature's gaze moved past it.
Straight toward Nyx.
"Why has the lost bloodline awakened?"
Nyx's golden eyes widened.
Aether stepped in front of her.
The creature noticed him.
Its enormous gaze settled on Aether.
Then it said something that made the Guardian's expression change completely.
"You..."
A pause.
"You carry the same origin."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
The creature continued.
"Then the seal truly has failed."
The lake exploded upward.
And the battle that followed would determine whether Aether could remain in the Origin Zone—
or survive leaving it.