Escape from The Origin Zone

Chapter 19 — Escape From the Origin Zone

The passage shook violently.

Aether ran through the narrow tunnel with Lyra beside him and Nyx moving at his heels.

Behind them, the underground chamber continued collapsing.

Stone crashed down.

Ancient symbols flickered across the walls before disappearing beneath layers of dust.

"Faster!"

The Guardian's voice echoed from behind them.

Aether glanced back.

The enormous creature was following them, but its movements were strangely controlled despite the collapsing tunnel.

Lyra looked at Aether.

"How long until this place collapses?"

"Not sure."

Aether glanced at the system.

[Origin Zone stability: 42%]

The number dropped again.

[38%]

Aether's expression tightened.

"Not long."

A massive boulder fell ahead.

Aether immediately grabbed Lyra's arm and pulled her backward.

BOOM!

The passage was completely blocked.

Lyra looked at the collapsed tunnel.

"Great."

Aether stepped forward.

He placed one hand against the stone.

Origin Energy spread through his palm.

His Stage 2 cultivation wasn't enough to simply destroy the entire blockage.

So he didn't try.

He studied it.

The stones weren't naturally positioned.

The ancient passage had been reinforced with Origin Energy.

Aether could sense several weak points.

"There."

He pointed toward the left side.

"Hit that section."

Lyra immediately understood.

Lightning gathered around her hand.

"Move."

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Aether stepped aside.

CRACK!

Lightning struck the weak point.

The stone wall fractured.

Aether kicked the damaged section.

The blockage collapsed inward, opening a narrow passage.

Lyra smiled.

"Nice."

Aether continued running.

"Compliments later."

Nyx suddenly stopped.

Aether turned.

"What is it?"

Nyx was staring behind them.

A faint growl escaped her throat.

Aether's expression changed.

Something was approaching.

He closed his eyes.

There were no human signatures.

No beast signatures either.

Just a strange distortion in the Origin Energy.

Then—

A black shadow moved across the ceiling.

Aether immediately raised his weapon.

The shadow disappeared.

"What was that?"

Lyra looked around.

"I don't know."

The Guardian suddenly appeared behind them.

"Keep moving."

Aether looked at it.

"You saw it."

"Yes."

"What was it?"

The Guardian's expression was grim.

"Not something you should fight."

That was enough.

Aether didn't argue.

They continued.

The tunnel began narrowing.

Cracks spread across the walls.

The air became hotter.

Then Aether saw light ahead.

"We're close."

They pushed forward.

The group burst out of the underground passage.

Aether stepped onto the forest floor.

Cold air hit his face.

Behind them—

BOOM!

The entrance collapsed completely.

Aether turned around.

The entire cliffside shook.

Dust rose into the sky.

Then everything became still.

The Origin Zone had sealed itself.

Aether looked at the system.

[Emergency Objective Complete.]

[Reward: +15 Origin Points]

[Origin Points: 150/150]

Aether stopped.

For several seconds, he simply stared at the number.

"Finally."

The system displayed another message.

[Next Breakthrough Requirement reached.]

[Current Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 2]

[Next Stage: Origin Awakening — Stage 3]

[Requirement: 150 Origin Points]

[Breakthrough Available.]

[Additional Condition Required: Stabilization.]

Aether raised an eyebrow.

"Again?"

The Guardian walked closer.

"Your first breakthrough was unusually simple."

Aether looked at it.

"Simple?"

"You had an entire Origin Zone assisting you."

Aether considered that.

"Fair point."

He looked at the system again.

[Origin Points: 150/150]

Instead of immediately breaking through, Aether closed the interface.

He wasn't going to rush.

He had learned something from the previous breakthrough.

Having enough Origin Points didn't mean he should immediately force another advancement.

He needed to understand his current strength first.

Aether looked around.

The forest was quiet.

Too quiet.

Lyra sat against a tree and finally relaxed.

"At least we're out."

Nyx curled up beside Aether.

Aether gently scratched her head.

Her golden eyes slowly closed.

The silver mark on her forehead remained visible.

Lyra looked at Nyx.

"She seems different."

Aether nodded.

"She is."

"Stronger?"

"Not exactly."

Aether thought about the information panel.

Her bloodline was still locked.

Her evolution path remained hidden.

But something had changed.

"I think she's closer to remembering what she is."

Lyra looked at him.

"Do you think she'll become dangerous?"

Aether looked down at Nyx.

"Maybe."

Nyx opened one eye.

Aether smiled.

"But not to us."

Lyra smiled faintly.

"You're very sure."

"I trust her."

Nyx closed her eye again.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful.

Then—

Aether's system suddenly activated.

[New Origin Zone detected.]

Aether's expression changed.

[Distance: 14.7 kilometers.]

[Estimated Rank: D-C]

[Origin Density: Moderate.]

[Recommended: Exploration.]

Aether looked toward the distant forest.

Lyra stood.

"Another Origin Zone?"

"Looks like it."

The Guardian shook its head.

"You should rest."

Aether looked at the enormous creature.

"Why?"

"You have just broken through."

"I'm not breaking through again."

Aether pointed toward the new location.

"I'm only going to investigate."

The Guardian stared at him.

"That is what cultivators say before walking into another disaster."

Lyra laughed.

"He's not wrong."

Aether smiled.

"Then we'll be careful."

The Guardian sighed.

"You humans never learn."

Aether started walking.

Lyra followed.

Nyx moved beside them.

The forest stretched ahead.

For the first time since leaving the ruined city, Aether felt something different.

Not fear.

Not excitement.

Curiosity.

A new Origin Zone meant new beasts.

New resources.

New abilities.

And possibly—

new answers.

But Aether didn't know that the Origin Zone ahead was already occupied.

Something had been watching the forest from the shadows.

A pair of crimson eyes opened.

A low growl followed.

The creature wasn't waiting for Aether.

It was hunting something else.

And Aether was about to walk directly into its territory.