The parking area became completely silent.
The man at the far end stared at Aether.
His weapon was a crude spear made from a metal pipe and a sharpened piece of steel.
Behind him stood three other survivors.
Two men.
One woman.
All three looked nervous.
The man with the spear took another step forward.
"I said put the beast down."
Aether didn't move.
The small creature in his arms trembled slightly.
Its golden eyes remained fixed on the strangers.
Aether noticed that immediately.
Fear.
Not aggression.
Fear.
His eyes became colder.
"Why?"
The man frowned.
"What?"
"Why does it belong to you?"
The man pointed toward the beast.
"We found it injured earlier."
"So?"
"So it's ours."
Aether looked at him for several seconds.
"That's not how ownership works."
The man's expression darkened.
"You new here?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
The man raised his spear.
"Because people who don't understand how things work in this world don't survive very long."
Lyra stepped beside Aether.
Lightning slowly gathered around her fingers.
"Neither do people who threaten strangers for no reason."
The woman behind the man whispered,
"Marcus, forget it."
Marcus didn't listen.
His eyes remained fixed on Aether.
"You're awakened."
Aether said nothing.
"I can tell."
Marcus smiled.
"Then you should understand the situation."
He pointed toward the injured beast.
"Give it to us, and nobody has to get hurt."
Aether glanced down at the creature.
The Origin System appeared.
[Origin Beast]
[Current condition: Severely injured]
[Bond compatibility: 91%]
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
[Temporary bond established]
[Warning: External hostile intent detected.]
Aether's gaze returned to Marcus.
"No."
Marcus's smile disappeared.
"What did you say?"
"I said no."
Lyra glanced at Aether.
She knew that tone.
He wasn't negotiating anymore.
Marcus's grip tightened around his spear.
"You think because you killed a few beasts, you're untouchable?"
Aether looked at the spear.
Then at Marcus.
"Do you?"
Marcus suddenly charged.
The spear shot toward Aether's chest.
Aether moved his body slightly.
The spear passed beside him.
He grabbed the shaft.
Twisted.
CRACK!
Marcus's wrist bent awkwardly.
He released the spear with a cry.
Aether caught it before it fell.
He kicked Marcus in the stomach.
BOOM!
Marcus flew backward and crashed into a parked car.
The other three survivors froze.
Lyra stared at Aether.
"You didn't even use your ability."
"I don't need to."
Marcus slowly pushed himself up.
His face was filled with anger.
"You bastard!"
His body suddenly erupted with red energy.
Aether's eyes narrowed.
[Origin Analysis]
[Target: Marcus]
[Species: Human]
[Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Middle Stage]
[Ability: Reinforcement]
[Physique: Ironbone Physique]
[Potential: C]
[Threat Level: Low]
Marcus charged again.
This time, his movements were faster.
His fist came toward Aether's face.
Aether raised his arm.
BOOM!
The impact shook the parking area.
Aether slid backward several meters.
He looked at his arm.
Then at Marcus.
"Stronger than I expected."
Marcus grinned.
"Now you understand."
Aether shook his arm.
"Not really."
His eyes sharpened.
"I was just checking."
Marcus's expression froze.
Aether disappeared.
BOOM!
He appeared in front of Marcus.
One punch.
The reinforced man's body flew backward.
CRASH!
He slammed into the concrete wall.
The wall cracked.
Marcus fell to his knees.
He tried to stand.
Aether was already there.
He grabbed Marcus by the collar and lifted him slightly.
"You said this world has rules."
Marcus stared at him.
Aether's voice remained calm.
"Then learn another one."
He released him.
"Don't threaten people who haven't attacked you."
Marcus fell to the ground.
The other survivors immediately lowered their weapons.
The woman stepped forward.
"We're sorry."
Aether looked at her.
She swallowed.
"We didn't know the beast had already bonded with you."
Lyra frowned.
"How did you know?"
The woman pointed toward Aether's hand.
A faint silver mark had appeared on his palm.
Aether looked down.
The mark hadn't been there before.
The little beast suddenly moved.
It jumped from his arms and landed on the ground.
Its injured leg trembled.
Aether reached toward it.
The beast hesitated.
Then it walked back to him.
It pressed its head against his hand.
The silver mark glowed.
[Bond synchronization increased.]
[91% → 93%]
[Temporary bond stability improving.]
Aether smiled faintly.
"So you really chose me."
The beast gave a quiet growl.
Lyra crouched beside it.
"Does it have a name?"
Aether looked at the creature.
"No."
Lyra smiled.
"Then you should give it one."
Aether thought for a moment.
The beast's dark silver fur reflected the weak lights above.
Its golden eyes reminded him of something.
"Nyx."
The creature's ears lifted.
Lyra smiled.
"Nyx?"
Aether nodded.
"Yeah."
Nyx looked up at him.
The Origin System reacted immediately.
[Name registered.]
[Origin Beast: Nyx]
[Bond: Aether Draven]
[Potential: A]
[Growth condition: Unknown]
[Unique trait detected.]
Aether's eyes narrowed.
[???]
[Locked.]
He stared at the final message.
Again.
Another locked function.
Another mystery.
Aether sighed.
"Of course."
Lyra looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She crossed her arms.
"You really need a better answer than that."
Aether ignored her.
He looked at the survivors.
"Who are you?"
The woman answered first.
"I'm Mira."
She pointed toward the other two.
"That's Evan. And that's Kai."
Aether nodded.
"And Marcus?"
Mira glanced toward the injured man.
"He found us after the beasts appeared. He helped us survive."
Aether looked at Marcus.
"Then why steal the beast?"
Mira hesitated.
"Because..."
She lowered her voice.
"People have been disappearing."
Aether's expression changed.
"Disappearing?"
"Yes."
Mira looked toward the entrance.
"At first, we thought the beasts were killing them."
"But?"
She swallowed.
"Some bodies were never found."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"How many?"
"At least twenty."
Lyra's expression became serious.
"Twenty people?"
Mira nodded.
"And there's something else."
"What?"
Mira looked directly at Aether.
"Before they disappeared..."
"They all reported seeing strange lights in the sky."
Aether went completely still.
The words immediately reminded him of something.
The hidden figure.
The shattered clouds.
The strange presence watching from above.
His Origin System suddenly appeared.
[Warning.]
[External Origin interference detected.]
Aether's eyes sharpened.
Mira continued.
"We don't know what is happening."
Aether looked toward the ceiling.
Neither did he.
Not yet.
But he was beginning to realize something.
The beasts weren't the only danger in this world.
And whatever was watching from above...
might have been watching him from the very beginning.
Nyx suddenly growled.
Aether looked down.
The little beast was staring toward the parking entrance.
Its golden eyes had become extremely alert.
Aether immediately activated Origin Analysis.
Nothing.
No signature.
No movement.
Nothing.
Yet Nyx continued growling.
Aether's expression hardened.
"Everyone."
They looked at him.
"Get away from the entrance."
Mira immediately understood something was wrong.
"Why?"
Aether slowly raised his head.
"Because something is standing there."
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
Every light in the parking area went out.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And from somewhere beyond the entrance...
came a quiet voice.
"Found you."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
This time—
the voice was human.