The forest stopped breathing.
Even the wind disappeared.
Kael stood motionless as the massive golden eyes stared at him from the darkness between the trees.
Not hostile.
Not calm.
Ancient.
Lyra’s voice trembled slightly.
“…Kael…”
He didn’t answer.
The system flickered violently.
====================
Emergency Alert Active
Divine Beast Bloodline Confirmed
Data Corruption Detected
Information Access Restricted
====================
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.
“…Restricted again.”
The creature stepped forward.
THUD.
The ground shook.
Mist parted around it slowly.
And for the first time—
its form became visible.
A massive wolf-like beast emerged from the darkness.
Silver-black fur covered its enormous body, but streaks of golden patterns glowed faintly across its skin like ancient runes.
Its claws sank into the earth effortlessly.
Its eyes never left Kael.
Lyra instinctively stepped backward.
“…That thing could destroy the academy…”
Kael observed quietly.
Not fearfully.
Carefully.
The beast lowered its head slightly.
And then—
Something impossible happened.
The system voice distorted.
====================
External Entity Attempting Synchronization
====================
Kael’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“…You can interact with the system?”
The beast did not speak normally.
Its voice appeared directly inside his mind.
“Shadow bearer.”
Lyra froze.
“…Did it just speak?”
Kael nodded slowly.
“…Yes.”
The beast’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.
“You carry the scent of the forgotten one.”
Kael immediately understood.
“…The sealed entity underground.”
The beast remained silent for a moment.
Then—
“So the prison still exists.”
The forest trembled slightly.
Lyra whispered.
“…Kael… what exactly are you talking to?”
Kael replied quietly.
“…Something ancient.”
The system flickered again.
====================
Attempting Analysis…
Name: ???
Classification: Divine Beast Descendant
Bloodline Purity: Unknown
Warning: Soul Resonance Detected
====================
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Soul resonance.”
The beast stepped closer.
The pressure it released wasn’t mana.
It was existence weight.
Like standing before something nature itself respected.
Lyra struggled slightly to breathe.
“…This pressure…”
Kael remained standing.
Barely affected.
The beast noticed immediately.
“Interesting.”
A pause.
“Your shadow accepts ruin.”
Kael replied calmly.
“…I survived it.”
The beast’s gaze deepened.
“No.”
“You adapted to it.”
Silence followed.
Then the beast lowered its massive head further.
Not submission.
Recognition.
The system flickered violently.
====================
Unique Event Triggered
Potential Soul Bound Candidate Detected
Compatibility: EXTREMELY HIGH
====================
Lyra’s eyes widened.
“…Kael…”
She knew what that meant.
Soul Bound.
A sacred contract between mage and magical beast.
But Divine Beasts almost never acknowledged humans.
And even if they did—
most humans died during the process.
The beast’s voice echoed again.
“Human.”
“Will you carry destruction with purpose?”
Kael looked directly into its golden eyes.
“…Depends.”
The beast tilted its head slightly.
“…On what?”
Kael answered calmly.
“…Whether destruction is necessary.”
For the first time—
the beast seemed amused.
A low rumbling sound echoed through the forest.
Not aggression.
Laughter.
Suddenly—
BOOM!!!
A loud explosion echoed from deeper in the forest.
The ground shook violently.
The beast instantly turned its head.
Its eyes sharpened.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Hostility.
The system reacted.
====================
WARNING!!!
Corrupted Mana Signature Detected
Source Approaching Rapidly
====================
Kael frowned slightly.
“…Corrupted?”
The beast growled lowly.
For the first time—
anger appeared in its eyes.
“They have come again.”
Lyra stepped closer.
“…Who?”
Another explosion echoed.
Then—
screams.
Human screams.
The beast’s golden eyes remained fixed toward the deeper forest.
“The ones who feed the apocalypse.”
Silence.
Kael’s shadow shifted violently beneath him.
The system flickered rapidly.
====================
New Emergency Quest Issued
Quest: Investigate Corrupted Mana Source
Reward: Shadow Points +300
Rare Artifact Clue
Divine Beast Favorability Increased
Failure: Unknown Consequence
====================
Kael exhaled slowly.
“…Again with the dangerous quests.”
Lyra stared at him.
“You’re not actually considering this?!”
Kael looked toward the distant explosions.
“…People are dying.”
Lyra froze slightly.
Because that answer surprised her.
Kael looked back at the Divine Beast.
“…Can you fight?”
The beast’s golden eyes glowed brighter.
“I can erase.”
Kael nodded once.
“…Good.”
Lyra grabbed his arm instantly.
“…Kael!”
He looked at her calmly.
“…If corruption is connected to the apocalypse…”
A pause.
“…then I need to see it.”
The Divine Beast stared at him for several seconds.
Then slowly turned toward the deeper forest.
“Follow if you wish to witness truth.”
BOOM.
The beast leapt forward into the darkness with terrifying speed.
Trees shook violently in its wake.
Kael immediately moved after it.
Shadow Step.
Lyra cursed under her breath.
“…You’re both insane!”
But she followed anyway.
Because deep inside—
she already knew.
Kael was walking toward something far bigger than the academy.
And the forest…
was only the beginning.