"Found you."
The voice echoed through the darkness.
Nobody moved.
Aether's eyes adjusted slowly.
The parking area was almost completely black.
Only faint moonlight entered through the destroyed wall.
Lyra stood beside him.
Her lightning flickered around her fingertips.
Aether raised one hand.
"Don't."
Lyra looked at him.
"What?"
"Don't use too much."
She understood.
"If whoever that is can detect energy, it'll give away our position."
Aether nodded.
His eyes moved across the darkness.
Nothing.
No movement.
No footsteps.
No breathing.
Even the Origin System remained silent.
That bothered him more than anything.
"Interesting."
Marcus whispered from the ground.
"What is?"
Aether didn't answer.
Instead, he looked toward Nyx.
The small beast was still growling.
Its fur had risen along its back.
Its golden eyes stared directly toward the entrance.
Aether trusted that reaction.
Something was there.
Something the Origin System couldn't properly analyze.
Then—
Footsteps.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
A man.
He looked to be in his early twenties.
A long black coat covered his body.
Unlike Marcus, he wasn't holding a crude weapon.
His hands were empty.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
He stopped beneath the broken entrance.
Aether immediately activated Origin Analysis.
[Analyzing...]
[...]
[Analyzing...]
[...]
[Analysis failed.]
Aether's eyes narrowed.
The man smiled.
"That won't work."
Aether's expression didn't change.
"You know what I'm doing?"
"I know enough."
The man looked at Nyx.
"And apparently, you've found something interesting."
Nyx growled louder.
The man's smile disappeared.
"That beast shouldn't be here."
Aether stepped slightly in front of Nyx.
"Why?"
The man looked at him.
"Because it belongs somewhere else."
Aether frowned.
"Where?"
"Not your concern."
"Then why did you come here?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his eyes moved toward Lyra.
Then Marcus.
Then the other survivors.
Finally, back to Aether.
"I came for the beast."
Aether's expression became cold.
"No."
The man tilted his head.
"You refuse quickly."
"I don't like repeating myself."
A faint smile returned to the man's face.
"I see."
He took one step forward.
Nyx suddenly growled.
The man's eyes sharpened.
"So it really bonded with you."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"How do you know about the bond?"
"Because I've seen one before."
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Aether's mind immediately began working.
This man wasn't guessing.
He knew.
That meant there were others who understood Origin Beasts.
Possibly people who had been in this world longer than them.
Aether took a step forward.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"Call me Kael."
"Just Kael?"
"For now."
Lyra whispered,
"I don't trust him."
Aether replied quietly,
"Neither do I."
Kael heard them.
"Smart."
Aether stared at him.
"You came here alone."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Kael's smile widened.
"Because I don't need help."
The instant he finished speaking—
BOOM!
Kael disappeared.
Aether's pupils contracted.
He raised his arm.
CLANG!
A powerful strike collided with his forearm.
Aether was pushed backward.
His feet carved two lines across the concrete floor.
Lyra immediately attacked.
Lightning exploded toward Kael.
BOOM!
Kael moved sideways.
The lightning struck the floor.
He appeared beside Lyra.
Aether's expression changed.
"Lyra!"
Kael's hand moved toward her.
Aether rushed forward.
He grabbed Kael's wrist.
For the first time—
Kael looked surprised.
Aether twisted his arm.
CRACK!
Kael pulled away.
Aether followed with a punch.
Kael blocked.
BOOM!
The impact shook the parking area.
Both stepped backward.
Aether looked at his fist.
The collision had hurt.
Not badly.
But enough.
Kael looked at his own hand.
A small crack had appeared across one of his knuckles.
He smiled.
"You really are unusual."
Aether didn't respond.
[Origin Analysis]
[Partial information recovered.]
[Target: Kael]
[Species: Human]
[Origin Cultivation: Unknown]
[Ability: Spatial Manipulation]
[Threat Level: High]
Aether's eyes sharpened.
"Spatial..."
Kael smiled.
"Finally figured it out?"
Aether looked around.
That explained the missing footsteps.
The strange movement.
The failed analysis.
Kael wasn't simply fast.
He was manipulating space.
Kael raised one hand.
The air beside him distorted.
Lyra immediately moved closer to Aether.
"What can we do?"
Aether watched the distortion.
"Don't let him separate us."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"You're learning quickly."
The space around Aether suddenly twisted.
He felt himself being pulled sideways.
Aether immediately slammed his foot into the ground.
BOOM!
Origin Energy erupted from his body.
The spatial distortion weakened.
Kael's expression changed.
"Interesting."
Aether looked at the system.
[Origin Adaptation activated.]
[Spatial interference detected.]
[Beginning adaptation...]
[Progress: 3%]
Aether smiled.
Kael noticed.
"What are you smiling about?"
Aether raised his head.
"You just made a mistake."
Kael's expression became serious.
Aether charged.
Kael attempted to distort the space again.
But this time—
Aether moved through it.
Not perfectly.
His body still felt like it was being pulled apart.
But he continued.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Kael's eyes widened.
Aether reached him.
Punch.
BOOM!
Kael blocked with both arms.
The impact sent him crashing backward.
He landed several meters away.
Silence.
Aether slowly lowered his fist.
The Origin System appeared.
[Spatial resistance: 11%]
[Origin Adaptation progress: 17%]
Kael stared at him.
Then laughed.
"Hahaha..."
He wiped a small amount of blood from his mouth.
"I understand now."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"Understand what?"
Kael looked directly at him.
"You're not adapting to the world."
His smile disappeared.
"The world is adapting to you."
Aether froze.
For a moment—
even he didn't know how to respond.
Kael looked toward Nyx.
"That's why the Origin Beast chose you."
Then he looked back at Aether.
"And that's why they're going to come."
"Who?"
Kael's expression became unreadable.
"The people who were waiting for someone like you."
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"What people?"
Kael stepped backward.
The space behind him began twisting.
Aether immediately moved forward.
"Wait."
Kael smiled.
"Not yet."
The distortion expanded.
Before disappearing, Kael said one final thing.
"Take care of the beast, Aether Draven."
Aether froze.
He had never told Kael his name.
The spatial distortion swallowed Kael.
Then—
he vanished.
The parking area became silent again.
Lyra stared at the place where he had disappeared.
"How did he know your name?"
Aether didn't answer.
He was staring at the Origin System.
[Unknown information leak detected.]
[Host identity has been exposed to an unidentified entity.]
[Security function unavailable.]
Aether's expression darkened.
Nyx suddenly walked toward him.
Aether crouched.
The little beast pressed its head against his hand.
Aether gently touched its fur.
"It's okay."
Nyx's golden eyes slowly relaxed.
Lyra watched them quietly.
For some reason, seeing Aether with the strange beast made her smile.
It reminded her of the Aether she had known long before this world changed.
The same calm eyes.
The same habit of protecting others without saying much.
But now—
there was something different about him.
Something she couldn't explain.
Lyra looked away before he noticed.
Aether stood.
"We're leaving."
Mira looked confused.
"Where?"
"Somewhere Kael can't easily find us."
Marcus, still sitting against the wall, spoke quietly.
"Where would that be?"
Aether looked toward the distant city.
"I don't know."
He paused.
"But we'll find one."
He turned toward the exit.
Nyx followed immediately.
Aether looked down.
"You coming?"
Nyx gave a quiet sound.
Lyra smiled.
"Looks like you've already got yourself a follower."
Aether shook his head.
"Partner."
Lyra raised an eyerow.
"Already?"
Aether looked at Nyx.
"I don't keep things I don't intend to protect."
Lyra's expression softened.
She quietly followed him.
None of them noticed the faint silver mark appearing on Nyx's forehead.
For a single second—
the mark formed a strange symbol.
The same symbol that existed deep within Aether's Origin System.
Then it disappeared.
[Unknown connection established.]
[Origin Beast synchronization: 2%]
[Hidden evolution pathway detected.]
And far above the ruined city—
a pair of golden eyes opened in the darkness.
A voice whispered:
"The Origin Heir has awakened."
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%]
[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 movemening.
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.