The two figures moved silently through the ruined streets.
Aether walked in front.
Lyra followed close behind.
Neither of them looked back.
The sounds of the beasts were still echoing somewhere behind them.
Aether glanced at the Origin System.
[Origin Analysis]
[Hostile signatures: 27]
[Highest detected rank: D+]
[Distance: 840 meters]
The distance was increasing.
Good.
Aether slowed down.
Lyra nearly walked into him.
"Why did you stop?"
Aether raised one finger.
"Listen."
Lyra became quiet.
At first, she heard nothing.
Then—
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Something was moving across the rooftops.
Lyra looked upward.
Nothing.
Another sound.
Tap.
Tap.
This time, it was closer.
Aether's eyes narrowed.
The Origin Analysis wasn't detecting anything.
That was the problem.
"Stay close."
Lyra frowned.
"You said that like something is wrong."
"Something is wrong."
Aether looked toward the darkness between two buildings.
"But I don't know what."
They continued moving.
Slowly.
Carefully.
A few minutes later, they reached an old underground parking area.
Aether stopped at the entrance.
"This could work."
Lyra looked inside.
"It's dark."
"That's usually what underground places are."
She rolled her eyes.
"You know what I meant."
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Aether stepped inside.
The parking area was surprisingly intact.
Several abandoned vehicles were scattered around the concrete floor.
There were also signs that someone had been staying there recently.
Blankets.
Empty water bottles.
A small cooking container.
Lyra crouched beside one of the blankets.
"Someone was here."
Aether nodded.
"Recently."
"How can you tell?"
"The dust."
Lyra stared at him.
"You're seriously noticing dust?"
Aether shrugged.
"Details matter."
They moved deeper inside.
Suddenly—
A faint sound came from behind them.
Clink.
Aether immediately turned.
Nothing.
Lyra whispered,
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
Aether's hand tightened around the metal rod.
The Origin Analysis activated.
[Scanning...]
[No hostile signature detected.]
Aether frowned.
Again.
[Scanning...]
[No hostile signature detected.]
"Strange."
Lyra looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Aether walked toward one of the vehicles.
He crouched.
There were fresh scratches underneath it.
Four lines.
Deep enough to cut through the metal.
Aether's expression became serious.
"Something is here."
Lyra summoned a small amount of lightning.
"Then let's find it."
Aether shook his head.
"No."
She looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because whatever it is..."
He looked toward the ceiling.
"...it doesn't want us to find it."
A moment of silence passed.
Then—
A tiny growl echoed through the darkness.
Lyra immediately turned.
Aether raised his rod.
The growl came again.
Closer.
Then two glowing eyes appeared beneath an abandoned truck.
Lyra prepared to attack.
Aether stopped her.
"Wait."
The creature slowly crawled out.
It was small.
Roughly the size of a large dog.
Its body was covered in dark silver fur.
Two short horns grew from its forehead.
Its eyes were a strange golden color.
It looked injured.
One of its legs was bleeding.
Lyra lowered her hand slightly.
"It's a beast."
Aether activated Origin Analysis.
[Target Analysis]
[Species: Unknown Beast]
[Rank: F]
[Attribute: Unknown]
[Ability: Unknown]
[Potential: A]
[Current Condition: Severely Injured]
Aether's eyes widened.
"A potential of A?"
Lyra looked at him.
"Is that good?"
"Very."
The little beast stared at them.
It didn't attack.
Instead, it slowly backed away.
Aether lowered his weapon.
"It's afraid."
Lyra looked at him strangely.
"You can tell?"
"Look at its posture."
The beast's ears lowered.
Its injured leg trembled.
Aether slowly crouched.
"Easy."
The beast growled softly.
Aether stopped.
He didn't move closer.
He simply waited.
Lyra whispered,
"What are you doing?"
"Giving it a reason not to attack."
"How?"
"By not attacking first."
Lyra was silent.
The beast slowly stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
It stopped a few meters away from Aether.
Aether noticed something.
A faint silver mark was glowing beneath its fur.
The Origin System reacted.
[Unknown Origin resonance detected.]
[Resonance compatibility with Host: 72%]
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"What are you?"
The beast tilted its head.
Then—
A faint golden panel appeared.
[Species identification incomplete.]
[Possible classification: Origin Beast.]
Aether's heartbeat quickened.
"Origin Beast..."
Lyra looked at him.
"You know what that is?"
"No."
That answer was honest.
The beast suddenly collapsed.
Aether moved immediately.
He caught it before its body hit the ground.
It was surprisingly light.
The creature trembled in his arms.
Lyra crouched beside him.
"It's badly hurt."
Aether looked at its injured leg.
"We need to treat it."
Lyra nodded.
She tore a piece of cloth from the bottom of her shirt.
Aether looked at her.
"You don't have to ruin your clothes."
"It's just clothes."
She carefully wrapped the wound.
The beast slowly stopped trembling.
Aether watched it.
Something felt strange.
He couldn't explain it.
The moment he touched the beast—
his Origin Energy had reacted.
Not aggressively.
Almost like recognition.
[Origin resonance increasing.]
[72%...]
[75%...]
Aether's eyes widened.
[80%]
The beast opened its golden eyes.
It looked directly at him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—
[Origin Beast has recognized the Host.]
[Potential bond detected.]
[Would the Host like to establish a temporary connection?]
Aether stared at the message.
He had been looking for answers about beasts.
Now one had appeared in front of him.
Maybe this was the beginning.
He selected—
Yes.
A faint silver light surrounded his hand.
The beast's golden eyes glowed brighter.
[Connection established.]
[Bond type: Temporary]
[Bond compatibility: 91%]
[Origin Beast growth potential: Extremely high]
Aether smiled.
"So you're different."
The beast gave a quiet sound.
Almost like a response.
Lyra stared at the scene.
"Why do I feel like you just found something incredibly important?"
Aether looked at her.
"Because I think I did."
Before he could say anything else—
The parking area's lights suddenly turned on.
Every single one.
One after another.
CLICK.
CLICK.
CLICK.
CLICK.
Lyra stood.
"Aether..."
Aether slowly turned.
At the far end of the parking area stood a man.
He was holding a weapon.
And behind him were three other survivors.
The man's eyes immediately fell on the injured beast in Aether's arms.
His expression changed.
"Put that beast down."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
The man's grip tightened.
"That thing belongs to us."
Silence.
Aether looked at the small beast.
Then at the strangers.
For the first time since entering the parking area—
his expression became completely cold.
"Interesting."
The night had just become more complicated.