The Beast Beneath Verdantia

Chapter 84 — The Beast Beneath Verdantia

Aether was preparing to leave when the entire city trembled.

BOOM!

Dust fell from the ceiling.

The elder looked alarmed.

"Not again."

Aether activated Origin Sense.

Something enormous was moving beneath the city.

Fast.

"Everyone move."

A massive crack appeared across the floor.

Then—

ROAR!

A giant creature burst through.

It resembled a monstrous lizard covered in emerald scales.

Four horns protruded from its head.

Its eyes glowed crimson.

The system silently analyzed it for Aether.

[Origin Beast detected.]

[Potential: A.]

[Origin Awakening — Stage 7.]

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[Hostile intent: Extreme.]

Aether tightened his grip.

The beast swung its tail.

BOOM!

Aether blocked.

The impact sent him sliding backward.

Lyra attacked from the side.

Her blade struck its scales.

The beast barely reacted.

"Hard!"

Aria jumped onto a stone pillar.

"Then hit the weak points!"

Seris activated Life Sense.

"I can see its Origin Core!"

She pointed.

"Under the left shoulder!"

Aether nodded.

"Good."

The beast charged.

Aether used Shadow Step.

He disappeared.

The creature slammed into the wall.

Aether appeared beside its left shoulder.

His weapon pierced through the scales.

The beast roared.

Lyra attacked the exposed wound.

Aria followed.

Evelyn's blade struck from above.

The combined assault cracked the creature's defense.

The beast tried to retreat underground.

Aether wouldn't allow it.

He grabbed its horn.

Origin Energy surged through his body.

The creature struggled.

Aether's eyes hardened.

"You're not escaping."

He drove his weapon into its Origin Core.

The beast froze.

Then collapsed.

The city became silent.

Aether released the body.

Only then did he check his internal System.

[Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points gained: 60.]

[Origin Points: 530 / 650.]

Aether looked at the body.

Something was embedded inside its chest.

A small green fragment.

He removed it carefully.

[Foreign Origin Fragment detected.]

[Compatibility: 93%.]

Aether frowned.

Another fragment connected to the key network.

He didn't assimilate it yet.

The elder approached.

"We thought that beast was sealed."

"Apparently the seal failed."

The elder looked at the fragment.

"That creature was protecting something."

Aether looked beneath it.

There was a stone door.

He moved the corpse aside.

The door had six symbols.

But one symbol was different.

Aether recognized it.

The spiral.

"The Origin Heart."

Evelyn stepped beside him.

"You think there's a connection?"

"Definitely."

The elder's expression became grim.

"Then we need to open that door."

Aether shook his head.

"Not yet."

Everyone looked at him.

"We don't know what's behind it."

Aether looked toward the six symbols.

"And we're missing two keys."

He turned away.

"We find the remaining keys first."

For once, even Evelyn agreed.

"That is the safer choice."

Aether smiled.

"Good. Then let's move."