Crash!
With the sound of shattering glass, the sphere illuminating the darkness was completely destroyed. A gust of wind rushed into the workshop, pouring in from the hole in the stone gate, pushing further into the depths of the workshop.
It was a wind that sounded like the cry of a beast.
“…”
Rania and Kalt remained silent.
Both of their gazes were fixed on the depths of the workshop shrouded in darkness. A significant presence was felt from the deep blue eyes flickering like an azure flame.
…It was the omen of disaster.
A massive presence. When a being of a different caliber reveals itself, the surrounding mana gets crushed and suffocated. Such a phenomenon was occurring now.
‘It’s not the betrayer.’
Rania was certain.
When the betrayer manifests, it does not emit this kind of energy. When it reveals itself amid the stench of thick blood, the mana around disperses like it is avoiding the betrayer.
Neither was it the Death’s Blade.
If that monster had appeared, the mana would be torn rather than crushed.
‘…This is the first time I’m sensing this energy.’
So this was the omen of a different disaster.
The surrounding mana knelt before the enormous being, as if obeying. The mana crawled low on the ground, strange. Rania stared at the source of this unusual flow.
That being was also looking back at Rania.
The blue eye hidden in the darkness remained still. It did not reveal its obscured body in the shadows. It merely watched the two humans in front of it. In the silence, a thud echoed as something fell.
A rock fragment from the ceiling hit the floor.
A small noise broke the stillness. Taking that as a cue, swish, Kalt drew his sword. Rania slammed her fist into the ground.
And then.
Boom!
The azure light flickered in the darkness. In an instant, the flow of air reversed, twisting the direction of the wind that had been blowing from outside the workshop. A fierce gust of wind rushed out from deep within the workshop.
The wind carried the scent of beasts.
And also the smell of humans.
2.
It awoke in the darkness.
A land untouched by starlight, a forsaken land, where the discarded became once more a forsaken place; it was born. The air was thick with the smell of death.
It realized.
That it had returned from death.
That the eternal rest had been disturbed.
This realization brought a momentary displeasure. It recalled its first life. The memories were hazy, nothing properly surfaced. The only thing remembered was the brilliant light seen in its last moments.
The longed-for light.
A light so dazzling it seemed blinding.
Recalling the beautiful flash that it longed for, it rose. The being that had drawn together useless dead was not here. Its reviver had left it stranded; therefore, it walked aimlessly.
Where should it go?
What should it pursue?
There was no purpose. No reason. The only desire was for the radiant light. Thus, it was not a king. Fallen to a mere beast, it wandered. No matter what it swallowed or devoured, the emptiness remained unfilled, the beast returned to where it was born.
Believing that something lay here.
And then, the beast encountered.
A sword.
In the darkness, a sword gleamed silver-white, the blade trembling and singing with clang. The sword’s aura emanated above the blade.
Finally, it saw the knight wielding the sword.
The light it desired was there.
The moment it realized this, the beast was already running.
*
Boom, the air ruptured.
A gigantic being streaked through the air.
The revealed entity bore the same appearance as the failures, but it was not formed from sludge. It had flesh, hide, and fur. It radiated an oppressive aura not felt from the failures.
Thud!
Rania, wide-eyed, slammed her fist into the ground, but the beast was quicker. In an instant, the beast zipped past her with a speed that surpassed Rania’s.
From the start, the beast did not target Rania.
Its azure eyes, bursting muscles, and sharp claws were directed solely at Kalt. The beast charged forward, its fists swinging at Kalt, crushing the stone floor in its wake. The sound of air tearing rang out.
“…!”
Kalt swallowed hard and swung his sword.
The shimmering silver blade clashed with the beast’s claws, and it was Kalt’s sword that was sent flying. Stunned, Kalt’s eyes widened from the painful impact.
‘What power is this…?!’
Spinning as the sword ricocheted, Kalt continued his strike. The superhuman sword traced a sharp curve, again clashing with the beast’s claws.
Bang!
The sound of metal on metal rang out.
This time, the beast’s claws were forced back, but unlike Kalt, who wielded only a single sword, the beast had all its body as a weapon.
Bam!
The beast struck with its foreleg. Kalt hurriedly brought his sword up to block the incoming kick. Crash!, and Kalt’s body was propelled into the air.
“Ugh!”
Though he had blocked with his sword, the impact was not completely negated. Gasping for blood-soaked air, Kalt gritted his teeth. The beast aimed to chase him down as he rolled on the ground, but…
Smash.
She wouldn’t let it.
In an instant, Rania caught up to the beast and struck it with her fist. A flash erupted from her clenched fist.
Kaboooooom!
The shockwave slammed into the beast. The ground shook, and the beast staggered a few steps back. But that was all. The spell that should have shattered bones did not draw even a drop of blood from the beast.
Keening.
It merely narrowed its blue eyes.
The beast slammed its foot into the ground. It clenched its fist and lowered its posture. The moment Rania saw this, her brow furrowed.
“What is that…?”
Right after, the beast swung its fist.
As if mimicking Rania.
Its body was two or three times the size of a human’s, possessing the natural hard bones and muscles of a beast. As its body contracted, it exploded in size. The punch broke the air, not even containing mana, yet evoked a miracle like magic.
Kabooooooom!
Under the jarring pressure, Rania gritted her teeth and unleashed a spell. The stone floor of the workshop flipped in an instant, throwing Rania back. With this opening, the beast’s head jerked with a crunch.
The beast gazed at the knight.
While adjusting its stance, the beast opened its claws wide towards the knight rushing at it. The beast, used to grabbing at air, realized nothing was in its hand and splayed its five fingers straight. Its sharp claws resembled a single sword.
The clash of swords ensued.
But unlike before, it did not get pushed back. At the moment of collision, Kalt angled his sword. He let the beast’s claws slip by and swung his sword upwards.
Swish!
The tip of the sword grazed the beast’s forearm. A mark was etched across the beast’s skin, and soon after, dark blood burst forth.
‘Shallow.’
Kalt clicked his tongue.
He had aimed to sever the entire arm, but the beast’s hide was tougher than he had expected. The sword had not penetrated deep enough, leaving only a shallow wound. The beast, which instantly healed the injury, took a step towards Kalt.
A clash was imminent.
Again, trying to let the beast’s claws slip by, Kalt suddenly gasped. The beast’s movements were different from before. At the moment of collision with the angled sword, the beast twisted its forearm.
The beast mimicked the technique Kalt had showcased.
It angled its claws. Following that, Kalt’s sword was sent soaring into the air with a clash.
It was guided, reversed.
Kalt gritted his teeth and twisted the path of his sword to deflect the beast’s claws. His hand felt sore. His arm cried out in pain due to the forced twist.
‘What the hell is this?’
Blocking the beast’s relentless attacks, Kalt groaned. It was incomprehensible. The technique he perfected over years was instantly mimicked by the beast before him, as if it were ‘recalling’ a technique it already knew.
Clang, clang!
With each passing exchange, the beast’s movements grew faster. More precise. As if it was learning.
‘A beast that learns…?’
Its size could easily rival that of two or three humans.
With the inherent recovery of beasts and their strong physique. The techniques it exhibited were indeed threatening. With each exchange, Kalt’s body screamed in agony.
“Rania! Hurry!”
Kalt yelled.
Moments later, a streak of light fell between Kalt and the beast. Rania appeared, scattering light and ash, reaching out her bare hand toward the beast’s claws.
Eeeeek!
Though the claws could push back even a superhuman sword, they couldn’t shake off Rania’s hand. The chain wound around the beast’s claws, releasing a burst of light. With a crack, the stone floor Rania stood on splintered.
Pop!
Rania yanked back on her arm, gripping the beast’s paw. The beast lurched forward for a moment, and Rania placed her empty hand against its chest.
Chain.
The chain extended from her empty hand, wrapping around the beast’s body. It penetrated its flesh, flickering a bright blue.
Judgment.
Spell-Bunch.
Boom!
With a loud bang, light erupted.
The concentrated bolts of lightning surged down the chain and coursed through the beast. Its flesh darkened and charred from the massive current, smoke billowing up from its body. Unable to endure this, the beast shook violently.
Crackle, crackle.
The residual lightning coursing through the beast made it appear as though it was burning in blue flames. Frantic shocks racked its body, causing its head to gradually lower.
Thump.
With its head sufficiently lowered.
Rania reached out and gripped the horn extending from its head. Just as she raised her hand to tear off the head of the beast, it trembled.
Suddenly, the beast lifted its lowered head. It met Rania’s gaze, her eyes at the same level as its own. In that moment, its azure flame-like eyes sparkled.
Crack, crackle!
The chains snapped one by one.
Smoke wafted from the beast’s body, and wounds healed in an instant. Its expanded body became even larger than before. Only then did Rania realize.
It had intentionally let itself be caught.
To lure out an opening.
Right after, the beast’s sharp claws soared towards Rania’s eyes. Rania twisted her head and kicked the beast in the abdomen, retreating. The beast that had broken every chain stood on its two feet.
Its arms hung limply, touching the ground.
A white breath streamed forth from the beast’s maw. Rania rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand, noting the claw-induced wound there. As the beast instantly recovered from its injuries, Rania’s wound also healed in no time.
Rania narrowed her eyes.
The beast’s glowing eyes also contracted.
Rania instinctively understood that the beast was the ‘success’ of the king of beasts, resurrected by the betrayer. And she was also certain that it must be eliminated here. With resolve, Rania pressed her hand against her chest and murmured.
Acceleration.
3.
The interior of the now chaotic workshop.
Kalt sat on the ground, breathing heavily. Clang, the sound of his sword hit the floor as it fell.
Huff, huuu.
Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, Kalt exhaled deeply. His gaze fell upon Rania, still standing there.
Drip, drip.
Rania was patching up the bleeding wound on her shoulder. Kalt clicked his tongue inwardly. She had never sustained such serious injuries since becoming a hero.
“What the hell was that?!”
Kalt gasped out a question.
Just moments ago, he had seen the furious movements of Rania accelerating, and the beast reactive to her. He had witnessed the beast finally clawing into her shoulder.
“An ancient disaster.”
Had her restraints lifted due to facing the king of beasts?
Sighing, Rania continued.
“A unique entity known as the king of beasts.”
“…The king of beasts?”
“It’s an entity that existed centuries ago; it seems that the betrayer revived it.”
Rania lightly waved her arm.
With a splash, something rolled on the floor. It was the beast’s right arm. After the fierce battle, Rania had torn off the beast’s right arm, and in turn, it had plunged its claws into her shoulder.
“Damn it all.”
Rania ruffled her hair irritably.
Though she had managed to sever the arm, the beast had escaped. It fled toward the cliff’s edge, vanishing into the depths of the phantom territory, a realm not belonging to humanity.
“Well, at least you got an arm. And one of its horns too.”
Kalt pointed to a horn lying on the floor.
A horn that resembled a tree branch. It was what Kalt had cut while Rania and the beast were locked in combat. Glancing at it, Kalt narrowed his eyes.
A learning beast.
Sometimes, it would sacrifice part of its own body to achieve its goals. Kalt’s instincts warned him: they needed to kill this beast as soon as possible. Rania felt a similar sentiment.
“…”
Rania silently looked at the arm she had torn off.
It was the right arm. Originally not the body of the king of beasts, but an ‘artificial’ body crafted by the betrayer.
…The flesh of the king of beasts.
Half of it had been used to create Ganikalt. What remained of the king of beasts was its left half, and just earlier, the beast had mixed the remains of beasts and humans to fill the unstable state.
But something felt off.
Memories from the tower in the North.
What Cardi had described about the king of beasts.
It was noble, seeking to understand humanity, a being like a human with whom dialogue was possible. Yet Rania felt none of that nobility from the beast she just fought. What she faced was a mere beast.
Even if it learned and employed techniques.
She felt no aura of the grandeur Cardi had spoken of.
‘Rather than the king of beasts…’
It was just a beast.
Therefore, she thought, it must be killed before it becomes a king.
*
Chomp, crack!
The beast tore into a beast.
With a single hand clutching the beast living in the phantom territory, it pressed down with its foot and tore its head off. With its maw wide open, the beast chewed through the creature’s skull, contemplating.
It tastes bland.
It felt nothing in this.
In the insatiable thirst, the beast groaned. Merely chewing and swallowing beasts to fill its belly, it hunted down even more beasts. Gathering the bones and flesh of the beasts it hunted, the beast attached them to its empty right arm.
Constructing a frame.
Piecing together flesh and bone to form an arm.
While repeating this strangely familiar action, the beast filled its lost arm with what it had hunted. As it filled itself, the beast mulled over its defeat. It had lost. It had fled in shame. Though it did not understand what ‘pride’ meant, it felt an unpleasant sensation.
Why had it lost?
It lacked that.
Like the sharp blade wielded by the knight, the sword it did not possess. The radiance it had seen in the sword. The dazzling light it longed for.
Sword.
It could only think of that one word. The moment it recalled the sword, it felt like a human. It was a being that smelled of both humans and beasts; it whispered.
“Ganikalt.”
Ganikalt van Galatrick.
That name lingered in the beast’s mind. An unknown hatred, envy, longing, and vague admiration. With all these emotions swirling in its head, the beast groaned.
The thirst remained unquenched.
Amidst a thirst that felt like it was burning, the beast recalled its last moments. It remembered itself bleeding on the pure white snow. It saw the figure of a human who pointed a sword at it, and the sword he held.
In the place where it had been reborn, the beast recognized the identity of the radiance it had longed for.
Then, what could it find in the place where it had died? It did not know. It merely desired for this unbearable thirst to be quenched and walked aimlessly. It brought all visible beasts to kneel as it moved forward.
Death lay thick in the path traversed by the beast.
At some point, the beasts bowed their heads before it. The terrified beasts watched as the beast passed through.
