Dust filled the ancient chamber as the cave entrance collapsed.
More than thirty masked Beast Tamers marched inside, surrounding Kai and Nova from every direction. Each of them wore black robes embroidered with a crimson serpent.
The man leading them stepped forward.
Unlike the others, he wore no mask.
His pale face was covered in strange black markings, while his crimson eyes seemed to glow in the darkness.
The scarlet serpent resting on his shoulder hissed softly, its forked tongue flickering in the air.
Asterion's expression immediately darkened.
"So..."
"The Shadow Cult has finally shown itself."
The man chuckled.
"You still remember us after all these years."
He gave a mocking bow.
"I am Mordecai, First Elder of the Shadow Cult."
Kai activated Eye of Truth.
Name: Mordecai
Title: First Elder of the Shadow Cult
Level: 147
Rank: Saint Beast Tamer
Danger Level: Catastrophic
Kai's pupils contracted.
Level 147.
He had absolutely no chance against someone like that.
Even Nova stiffened.
"Master..."
"He's terrifying."
Mordecai's gaze fell on Nova.
His eyes widened slightly.
"The Primordial Nine-Tailed Origin Fox..."
"It truly exists."
He laughed.
"Our Sect Master will be delighted."
Then his eyes shifted to Kai's wrist.
"And the Beast Sovereign Bracelet."
"How fortunate."
"Today, I shall claim both."
Asterion stepped between Kai and the Shadow Cult.
"You will not touch my successor."
The Guardian's silver wings spread wide.
An overwhelming Divine Aura erupted from his body.
The cave shook violently.
The weaker cult members staggered backward.
Even Mordecai's serpent lowered its head uneasily.
"So..."
Mordecai smiled.
"The old guardian still has some strength left."
Asterion's voice thundered through the chamber.
"Kai!"
"I'll open a path!"
"You must leave!"
Kai clenched his fists.
"I can't leave you here!"
Asterion laughed.
"My duty ended the moment you received the inheritance."
"My life has already lasted ten thousand years longer than it should have."
"Now go!"
Before Kai could argue—
Asterion roared.
Brilliant silver flames burst from his body.
The entire cave became a sea of light.
"Divine Sky Roar!"
BOOOOOOM!
A shockwave blasted through the chamber.
Dozens of Shadow Cult members were thrown backward.
The cave walls cracked.
Massive boulders rained from the ceiling.
"Nova!"
Kai shouted.
"Let's move!"
Nova immediately understood.
She leaped onto Kai's shoulder.
Using Shadow Flash, Kai sprinted through the opening Asterion had created.
The Shadow Cult members tried to intercept him.
But every time one approached—
Asterion's claws sent them flying.
"You shall not pass!"
Mordecai frowned.
"Waste of effort."
He slowly raised one hand.
The crimson serpent on his shoulder suddenly grew.
Its body expanded from one meter...
To ten...
Then fifty.
It burst through the cave ceiling, revealing a monstrous serpent covered in crimson scales.
Its enormous golden eyes locked onto Kai.
"Hissssss!"
The System immediately sounded an alarm.
Enemy Beast Identified
Name: Crimson Sky Serpent
Rank: Saint
Level: 152
Kai's heartbeat quickened.
"A Saint Beast..."
Even Asterion's expression became serious.
"Mordecai..."
"You dare summon it here?"
Mordecai smiled coldly.
"I've wasted enough time."
"Kill them."
The gigantic serpent opened its mouth.
A beam of crimson energy shot toward Kai.
"Master!"
Nova jumped into the air.
She gathered every bit of Origin Energy she could muster.
"Origin Barrier!"
A golden shield appeared before them.
The crimson beam slammed into it.
BOOM!
The barrier shattered instantly.
Nova was thrown backward.
She crashed into Kai's arms.
"NOVA!"
"I'm okay..."
She smiled weakly.
"I just..."
"I'm still too little..."
Kai's heart ached.
He gently held the exhausted fox.
"You've done enough."
Asterion roared again.
His body began glowing brighter than ever before.
Kai noticed something horrifying.
The Guardian's body was turning transparent.
The System spoke.
Warning
Guardian Asterion is burning his soul.
Estimated remaining lifespan:
Three minutes.
Kai clenched his teeth.
"No..."
Asterion looked back and smiled.
"Do not mourn me."
"It is an honor..."
"...to protect the next Beast Sovereign."
He turned toward Mordecai.
"Come."
"Let us finish what began ten thousand years ago."
Silver flames engulfed his entire body.
His aura skyrocketed.
Mordecai's confident smile disappeared.
"You're insane."
"You'll destroy your own soul."
Asterion laughed.
"A guardian without something to protect..."
"...has no reason to exist."
He spread his wings.
"Heavenly Beast Judgment!"
The entire mountain exploded.
A pillar of silver light shot into the sky, visible from hundreds of kilometers away.
Deep within Azure City...
Principal Evelyn suddenly stood from her chair.
"That aura..."
She immediately summoned her contracted beast.
"Prepare the Royal Guard!"
Meanwhile...
Far beyond the borders of the Azure Kingdom...
Inside an ancient palace floating above the clouds...
Seven elderly men opened their eyes simultaneously.
"The Guardian has awakened."
"No..."
One of them frowned.
"He is dying."
Another slowly stood.
"So..."
"The heir has finally appeared."
Back on the battlefield...
Kai was carried away by the shockwave.
He landed several hundred meters outside the collapsing mountain.
Dust and rocks filled the sky.
The cave...
The inheritance...
Everything disappeared beneath countless tons of stone.
Kai stared silently.
"Asterion..."
Nova gently rubbed her head against Kai's cheek.
"He fulfilled his duty..."
A single silver feather drifted down from the sky.
Kai caught it carefully.
The System displayed a notification.
Guardian's Blessing Received
Asterion's Final Feather
Rank: Divine
Description:
Contains the final blessing of the Guardian.
Can be used once to summon Asterion's spirit.
Kai closed his hand around the feather.
"I'll never forget you."
Suddenly—
A terrifying pressure descended from above.
Kai looked up.
Mordecai floated in the sky, completely unharmed.
Although his robes were torn, his smile remained.
"I underestimated that guardian."
"But..."
He looked directly at Kai.
"Now..."
"No one can save you."
The Crimson Sky Serpent emerged from the smoke behind him.
It stared hungrily at Nova.
Kai slowly stood.
He knew he couldn't win.
He couldn't outrun a Saint Beast either.
The System suddenly spoke.
Emergency Function Available
Would Host like to activate...
Infinite Luck?
YES / NO
Kai didn't hesitate.
"...YES."
The System responded instantly.
Infinite Luck Activated.
Calculating...
The impossible becomes possible.
At that exact moment...
A brilliant golden meteor streaked across the sky, heading straight toward Mordecai and the Crimson Sky Serpent.
Mordecai's eyes widened.
"What?!"