The lake exploded.
Water crashed against the walls of the chamber as the enormous creature rose from beneath the surface.
Aether immediately pulled Nyx behind him.
Lyra moved to his side, lightning already gathering around her arms.
The Guardian stepped forward.
Golden energy spread across the floor.
"Stay behind me."
Aether didn't move.
"What is it?"
The Guardian's eyes remained fixed on the creature.
"An Ancient Beast."
The massive creature continued rising.
Its body was covered in dark blue scales, each one larger than a human's torso. Two enormous horns curved backward from its head, while several glowing lines ran across its neck like ancient seals.
The system tried to analyze it again.
[Origin Analysis activated.]
[Analyzing...]
[Analysis failed.]
[Target exceeds current analysis authority.]
[Partial information recovered.]
[Species: Ancient Beast — Unknown]
[Rank: Unknown]
[Potential: Unknown]
[Ability: Unknown]
Aether frowned.
"Still nothing."
The creature lowered its enormous head.
Its golden eyes focused on Nyx.
"The lost bloodline."
Nyx growled.
Aether stepped forward.
"She's not yours."
The creature's gaze shifted toward him.
For several seconds, it simply stared.
Then—
"You protect her."
Aether tightened his grip.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Aether didn't hesitate.
"Because she's my companion."
The creature was silent.
Then a strange pressure spread through the chamber.
Aether's knees bent slightly.
Lyra immediately struggled to remain standing.
The Guardian raised its arm.
Golden energy collided with the invisible pressure.
BOOM!
The entire chamber shook.
"Do not test him."
The Ancient Beast looked at the Guardian.
"You have become weaker."
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
The Guardian's expression darkened.
"And you have remained sealed for too long."
The creature gave a low laugh.
"Yet I still remember."
Aether looked between them.
"You two know each other?"
"We were enemies."
The Guardian's answer was simple.
The Ancient Beast corrected it.
"We were guardians."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"Guardians of what?"
The creature looked toward the lake.
"Of the Origin Domain."
The chamber became quiet.
Aether remembered the Guardian's earlier explanation.
The Origin Domain had been destroyed.
Its inheritance had been sealed.
And now something was waking up.
The Ancient Beast lowered its head.
"Then the humans have already begun searching."
Aether nodded.
"They came for Nyx."
"No."
The creature's gaze returned to him.
"They came because of you."
Aether remained silent.
The Ancient Beast continued.
"Your awakening has disturbed the old seals. Every surviving faction that remembers the Origin Domain will eventually notice."
Lyra frowned.
"How many factions?"
The creature looked at her.
"Enough."
That wasn't particularly helpful.
Aether decided to ask a different question.
"What happens if they find me?"
The creature stared at him.
"Some will attempt to kill you."
"Others?"
"Some will attempt to control you."
Aether's expression remained calm.
"And the rest?"
"They will attempt to use you."
Aether gave a quiet sigh.
"Sounds annoying."
Lyra looked at him.
"That's your reaction?"
"What else should I do?"
She almost laughed.
The Ancient Beast watched the exchange.
Then its gaze returned to Nyx.
"The girl cannot remain here."
Aether's expression changed.
"Why?"
"Because this place is no longer safe."
The creature looked toward the ceiling.
The ancient symbols carved into the stone had begun glowing.
"Something outside has started breaking the remaining seals."
The Guardian immediately understood.
"How long?"
The Ancient Beast closed its eyes.
"Not long."
Aether looked at the system.
[Origin Zone stability: 83%]
[Warning: External interference detected.]
[Origin Zone stability: 78%]
The number continued falling.
Aether's expression became serious.
"We need to leave."
The Guardian nodded.
"Yes."
But before they could move—
A violent explosion came from the entrance.
BOOM!
The six armored cultivators had returned.
This time, they weren't alone.
Behind them stood dozens of awakened humans.
Some carried weapons.
Others had visible abilities surrounding their bodies.
And at the front stood the silver-haired woman.
She looked directly at Aether.
"I told you we'd meet again."
Aether sighed.
"You really don't know how to leave someone alone."
She smiled.
"Unfortunately, I have orders."
The Guardian's eyes became cold.
"You dare return?"
The woman looked toward the Ancient Beast.
Her expression changed.
For the first time, genuine surprise appeared on her face.
"The Ancient Guardian..."
The Ancient Beast opened one golden eye.
"You know of me."
The woman immediately stepped backward.
"Everyone retreat."
The six cultivators looked confused.
"But—"
"Now."
Her command was immediate.
The awakened humans began retreating.
Aether watched her carefully.
"You came here for me."
"Yes."
"And now you're leaving?"
"I came expecting an Origin Beast."
Her eyes remained fixed on the enormous creature.
"I did not come prepared to fight an Ancient Beast."
Aether almost smiled.
"At least you're honest."
The woman's expression remained serious.
"This isn't over, Aether Draven."
She turned away.
The Ancient Beast suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
The woman froze.
"Tell your master something."
She slowly turned around.
"What?"
The Ancient Beast's golden eyes glowed.
"The Origin Heir has awakened."
The woman stared at it.
"And?"
"Tell them the Origin Domain will not belong to humanity again."
Her expression became difficult to read.
Then she opened a spatial gate.
The group disappeared.
Aether watched the gate close.
"That was surprisingly easy."
The Guardian shook its head.
"No."
Aether looked at it.
"They weren't retreating because of you."
The Guardian looked toward the Ancient Beast.
"They were retreating because they understood what stands before them."
The Ancient Beast turned toward Aether.
"Do not misunderstand."
Aether raised an eyebrow.
"I wasn't planning to."
"You are still weak."
Lyra looked at Aether.
He had just reached Stage 2.
Aether didn't take offense.
"Fair."
The Ancient Beast continued.
"But your potential is unusual."
Aether's system appeared.
[Potential: ∞]
The Ancient Beast stared at him.
Its expression changed.
For the first time, it looked genuinely shocked.
"∞..."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"You know what that means?"
The creature didn't answer.
Instead, it looked toward the Guardian.
"You really found him."
The Guardian nodded.
"Yes."
The Ancient Beast slowly lowered its head.
"Then the cycle has begun again."
Aether frowned.
"What cycle?"
The Ancient Beast looked at him.
"The cycle that destroyed the Origin Domain."
Aether waited.
But the creature said nothing more.
Instead, it looked toward the collapsing chamber.
[Origin Zone stability: 61%]
Cracks began spreading across the walls.
The Guardian immediately moved toward the exit.
"We have minutes."
Aether looked at Nyx.
Then at Lyra.
"Let's go."
They started running.
Behind them, the Ancient Beast returned beneath the lake.
Aether stopped for half a second.
"You're not coming?"
The creature's voice echoed from beneath the water.
"My time has not yet come."
The lake began closing.
"But yours has."
Aether turned away.
He ran after the others.
As they reached the passage, the system appeared one more time.
[Origin Zone instability increasing.]
[Emergency objective detected.]
[Escape the collapsing Origin Zone.]
[Reward: +15 Origin Points]
Aether's eyes sharpened.
"Fifteen."
His next breakthrough requirement was 150.
Exactly what he needed.
He accelerated.
Behind him, the ancient chamber began collapsing.
And somewhere deep beneath the lake—
the Ancient Beast opened its eyes again.
It was waiting for something.
Something even older than itself.