Chapter 162 – The Beast in the Crimson Ravine

Chapter 162: Chapter 162 – The Beast in the Crimson Ravine

By the third morning in the Eastern Origin Wilds, the expedition had collected enough materials to fill several storage rings. The researchers were delighted with their discoveries, but Azrael and Seraphina had a different priority. Their bloodlines had absorbed the evolution crystals successfully, yet neither had crossed the final threshold.

Orion’s latest examination had revealed something interesting. Both twins’ evolution progress had slowed despite the increase in their energy reserves. They had enough raw power to attempt the transformation, but their bloodlines still lacked a final catalyst.

That catalyst might be found deeper in the mountains.

The expedition departed after breakfast, following a narrow trail that wound between towering rock formations. As they moved farther from the crystal forest, the temperature rose, and the air acquired a metallic smell. Red mineral deposits covered the cliffs, staining the streams that flowed between them.

One of the researchers checked his instrument and frowned. "The energy concentration ahead is extremely high. It’s gathering in one location rather than spreading naturally through the region."

Azrael glanced toward the cliffs. "Something is absorbing it."

"Possibly," Orion replied. "Keep your weapons ready."

They entered a ravine shortly before midday. Its walls were streaked with crimson crystals, and the ground was littered with fragments that glimmered whenever sunlight reached them. Azrael’s Resonance Sight revealed streams of energy converging toward a cavern at the far end.

Seraphina felt it too. The surrounding vegetation was sparse, and the few plants that survived had grown away from the cavern entrance.

"Whatever lives inside isn’t friendly to the local life," she said.

They had barely reached the center of the ravine when a tremendous roar shook the cliffs.

A large creature emerged from the cavern, dragging its claws across the stone. It resembled a black-scaled bear, but its shoulders were covered in jagged crimson crystals, and a pair of curved horns rose above its head. Dense energy rolled off its body, making the smaller creatures hiding among the rocks flee in panic.

Azrael’s System identified it.

Crimson Ravager

Race: Abyssal Beast

Level: 38

Rank: Elite Commander

Threat Assessment: Severe

One of the instructors immediately ordered the researchers to retreat. The other instructors formed a defensive line, but Azrael stepped forward before they could engage.

"Let me handle it first."

Orion studied the beast’s level and then nodded. "Don’t take unnecessary risks. We’ll intervene if needed."

The Crimson Ravager charged.

Azrael met it halfway, Astraeus flashing from its sheath. His opening strike cut across the creature’s shoulder, but the blade only scratched the thick scales surrounding its crystal growths. The beast swung a massive claw at him, forcing him to block with both hands. The impact sent him skidding across the ravine floor.

He recovered quickly and narrowed his eyes.

"Those crystals are reinforcing its body."

Seraphina raised her staff. "I’ll expose them."

Golden vines burst from cracks in the ground and wrapped around the Ravager’s legs. The creature roared and tore through the vines, but the brief restraint gave Seraphina enough time to launch several Genesis Spears. The spears struck the crystal growths along its shoulders, cracking their outer layers.

Azrael immediately moved in.

He released Oblivion through Astraeus, directing the dark energy toward the exposed crystals rather than the beast’s entire body. His sword struck once, and a large crimson shard disintegrated. The protective energy around the Ravager’s shoulder weakened.

The beast staggered, then slammed both forelegs into the ground.

A shockwave swept through the ravine.

The instructors raised barriers to protect the expedition members, while Azrael jumped over the spreading fracture. Seraphina spread her six golden wings and rose above the attack, her staff already gathering energy.

"Genesis Bloom!"

A golden flower appeared over the Ravager’s head. Its petals opened, releasing a rain of concentrated energy bolts. The creature tried to shield itself with its armored shoulders, but the bolts struck the damaged crystals, breaking several more.

Azrael seized the opening.

He crossed the remaining distance in a burst of speed and slashed diagonally through the beast’s chest armor. The attack penetrated its defenses, leaving a deep wound that interrupted the energy gathering inside its body.

The Crimson Ravager stumbled backward.

It was wounded, but far from defeated.

Its remaining crystals began glowing intensely, drawing energy from every red mineral in the ravine. The ground trembled as the beast’s power climbed, and a dense crimson aura spread around it.

Orion’s expression changed.

"It’s entering an overdrive state. Azrael, finish it before that energy stabilizes!"

Azrael tightened his grip on Astraeus. His own energy gathered around the blade, black and perfectly controlled. He could feel the Ravager’s defensive field fluctuating as the creature attempted to force more power through its damaged crystals.

He didn’t need to overpower the entire field.

He only needed an opening.

"Seraphina, its left side!"

She understood immediately. Golden vines erupted beneath the Ravager’s left foreleg while a Genesis barrier appeared on its right, forcing the creature to shift its weight. Its stance broke for a fraction of a second.

Azrael moved.

Oblivion Judgment!

A black arc crossed the ravine and struck the exposed crystal cluster on the Ravager’s chest. The remaining shards vanished, and the corrupted energy sustaining its overdrive collapsed. Before the beast could recover, Astraeus pierced its core.

The Crimson Ravager let out a final roar and fell.

For several seconds, the ravine was silent. Then the System announced the victory.

Elite Commander Defeated

Experience Acquired.

Evolution Progress Increased.

Azrael: 85% → 87%

Seraphina: 86% → 88%

Seraphina landed beside her brother and looked at the defeated beast.

"Two percent from one fight. Not bad."

Azrael withdrew Astraeus from the corpse. "You helped break its defenses."

"And you finished it. We’re a good team."

Orion approached with the researchers, who immediately began examining the remains. The Crimson Ravager’s core was far larger than the ones they had collected from ordinary monsters, and its surface contained the same crimson markings as the crystals embedded in the ravine walls.

One researcher scanned it twice before looking up in disbelief.

"This is what we’ve been looking for. The core has absorbed concentrated Origin energy for years, possibly decades. Its structure is stable despite the Abyssal influence."

Azrael examined the core as it was carefully removed.

His System responded almost immediately.

Rare Evolution Resource Detected

Crimson Origin Heart

Quality: Superior

Aetherion Compatibility: High

Genesis Bloom Compatibility: High

Potential Use: Advanced Bloodline Evolution

Seraphina leaned closer to read the notification.

"Both of us can use it?"

"Apparently," Azrael replied.

Orion looked thoughtful. "The two of you have already refined your primary evolution resources. This core may provide the additional catalyst your bloodlines need, but we shouldn’t divide it or absorb it without testing its properties first."

Azrael nodded. "We’ll let the researchers examine it."

They spent the next hour collecting the remaining useful materials from the ravine. Several crimson crystals could be harvested safely, and the researchers found traces of energy flowing from the deeper cavern into the surrounding rock. Orion ordered the group to map the deposits before anyone approached the cavern itself.

As the afternoon wore on, the twins returned to camp with the Crimson Origin Heart secured in a reinforced container.

Their evolution progress had reached eighty-seven and eighty-eight percent, and they had finally obtained a resource that might push them closer to the next stage. The Transcendent Origin Realm was still ahead, but the distance between their current strength and the required breakthrough had narrowed considerably.

For now, they would wait for the researchers to finish analyzing the core. If it could safely support both bloodlines, the twins might finally have the catalyst they needed to complete their evolution preparation.