The city grew darker with every passing minute.
Aether walked through the ruined street, his footsteps barely making a sound against the cracked pavement.
Lyra followed a few steps behind.
Neither spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was cautious.
Both of them were listening.
Watching.
Waiting.
Aether occasionally glanced toward the buildings surrounding them.
The Origin Analysis remained active in the corner of his vision.
[Origin Analysis]
[Nearby Origin signatures detected: 7]
[Hostile signatures: 5]
[Human signatures: 2]
[Highest detected threat: Rank D]
Aether's eyes narrowed.
Five hostile.
Two human.
One of those humans was Lyra.
The other...
He couldn't determine their exact location.
"Something bothering you?" Lyra asked.
Aether looked at her.
"You noticed?"
"You've been looking around every few seconds."
Aether gave a small shrug.
"Habit."
"You're weird."
"So I've been told."
Lyra almost smiled.
Then—
A loud roar echoed through the city.
ROOOOOAR!
Both of them stopped.
The sound wasn't like the Ironclaw Hounds.
It was deeper.
Heavier.
The windows of nearby buildings vibrated.
Dust fell from the walls.
Lyra's expression changed.
"That..."
Aether looked toward the source.
"Rank D."
"You can tell?"
"I can sense it."
That wasn't entirely true.
But it was close enough.
The Origin System had already begun changing his perception.
The stronger his Origin Energy became, the more clearly he could feel the energy of other living beings.
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Aether looked at Lyra.
"Can you fight?"
She tightened her grip around the metal pipe.
"Yes."
"Even injured?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Aether continued walking.
Lyra stared at him.
"That's it?"
"What else should I say?"
"Maybe something like, 'Don't worry, I'll protect you.'"
Aether looked at her.
"You want me to say that?"
Lyra immediately looked away.
"No."
"Then I won't."
"You really are annoying."
Aether smiled faintly.
They continued forward.
After several minutes, they reached what appeared to be an abandoned convenience store.
The front entrance had been destroyed.
Shelves were overturned.
Glass covered the floor.
Aether stepped inside.
"Here."
Lyra followed.
Aether searched the store.
Most of the food had already been ruined.
But he found several sealed bottles of water.
He handed one to Lyra.
She stared at it.
"You found water?"
"Looks like it."
She accepted it.
"Thanks."
Aether took another bottle for himself.
He sat against the wall.
For the first time since entering this world, he allowed himself to relax.
Only slightly.
Lyra sat across from him.
She opened the bottle.
"Where did you come from?"
"Here."
She frowned.
"You know what I mean."
Aether looked at her.
"Before all this?"
"Yeah."
He thought for a moment.
"A normal place."
"Family?"
Aether's expression became slightly more distant.
"Not here."
Lyra noticed the change.
She didn't ask again.
Instead, she looked at the strange bracelet-like interface surrounding Aether's wrist.
"What's that?"
Aether looked down.
The Origin System's interface was invisible to Lyra.
At least, that's what he assumed.
"Nothing."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"You just stared at your wrist."
"Thinking."
"About what?"
"How to get stronger."
That answer surprised her.
"Stronger?"
Aether nodded.
"In this world, strength decides whether you live."
Lyra lowered her eyes.
"That's true."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lyra said quietly,
"When the beasts appeared, I thought I was going to die."
Aether looked at her.
"I almost did."
"You survived."
"Because of my ability."
She looked at the lightning surrounding her hand.
"It awakened when I was attacked."
Aether activated Origin Analysis.
[Thunderheart Physique]
[Current synchronization: 13%]
[Lightning Manipulation: Level 1]
[Potential: B]
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"Your ability has room to grow."
Lyra looked surprised.
"How do you know?"
"Observation."
"You're definitely hiding something."
Aether smiled.
"Maybe."
Before Lyra could respond—
BANG!
The entire building shook.
Both of them immediately stood.
Aether's expression became serious.
Another impact.
BOOM!
The front wall cracked.
Lyra summoned lightning.
"Aether."
"I know."
Something was outside.
Something large.
Aether activated Origin Analysis.
[Target detected.]
[Species: Unknown Beast]
[Rank: D]
[Attribute: Earth]
[Ability: Stonehide]
[Potential: B+]
[Warning]
[Target possesses unusually high Origin density.]
Aether's eyes sharpened.
"B+ potential..."
The wall exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive beast charged through the building.
It resembled a gigantic wolf, but its body was covered in dark stone-like armor.
Its eyes glowed orange.
Lyra fired immediately.
Lightning struck its chest.
CRACK!
The beast barely moved.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Aether grabbed her shoulder and pulled her backward.
The beast's claws slammed into the ground where she had been standing.
BOOM!
The floor shattered.
Aether jumped onto a broken counter.
He looked at the beast carefully.
"Stonehide."
"What?"
"Its defense is strongest around the body."
Lyra understood.
"Then where do we attack?"
Aether's eyes moved downward.
"Joints."
The beast roared and charged again.
Aether ran.
Instead of retreating, he moved directly toward it.
Lyra shouted,
"What are you doing?!"
At the last possible moment, Aether slid beneath the beast.
Its enormous body passed over him.
He swung his metal rod.
CRACK!
The rod struck its rear leg.
The beast stumbled.
[Weakness detected.]
[Rear joints: 31% weaker than body armor.]
Aether's eyes lit up.
"There."
Lyra immediately understood.
Lightning gathered around her entire body.
Blue-white energy surged through the store.
She raised her hand.
"Get away!"
Aether jumped backward.
Lightning exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
The beast screamed.
Its stone armor cracked.
But it didn't fall.
Instead—
The cracks began closing.
Aether's expression changed.
"Regeneration?"
[Ability detected.]
[Stone Regeneration.]
[Warning: prolonged battle unfavorable.]
Aether looked at the beast.
Then at Lyra.
"One more attack."
Lyra nodded.
But before either could move—
Aether felt something.
A strange sensation.
The Origin System suddenly pulsed.
[Origin System]
[Emergency condition detected.]
[Host has encountered a superior lifeform.]
[Hidden function activation requirements partially fulfilled.]
Aether froze.
[Hidden Function: ???]
[Progress: 97%]
His eyes widened.
"Three percent."
Lyra looked at him.
"What?"
Aether's gaze returned to the beast.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Nothing."
The beast roared.
Aether tightened his grip around the metal rod.
This time—
He didn't feel afraid.
He felt excited.
Because for the first time since arriving in this world...
Something had appeared that could actually push him.
And Aether Draven had no intention of running.
"Let's finish this."
The Origin System pulsed again.
[97%...]
[98%...]
[99%...]
The beast charged.
Aether stepped forward.
And somewhere deep inside his body—
Something began to awaken.