The Guardian Beneath DrostVeil

Chapter 139 — The Guardian Beneath Frostveil

The peaceful atmosphere of the cultivation chamber lasted for another day before something finally changed. Aether was the first to notice it. While circulating his Origin Energy, he suddenly detected an abnormal fluctuation beneath the underground river. At first, it was so faint that he thought it might simply be a change in the river's flow, but the sensation returned several seconds later. This time it was stronger.

Something was moving beneath them.

Aether immediately opened his eyes.

His Origin Sense spread throughout the chamber, filtering through the dense Origin Energy created by the seven formations. The deeper he searched, the more clearly he could feel the disturbance. Whatever was beneath the chamber was moving upward.

"Everyone, stop cultivating," Aether said.

The others immediately opened their eyes.

Aria looked toward him. "What's wrong?"

"Something is coming."

Before anyone could ask another question, the chamber trembled. Dust fell from the ceiling, and several small cracks appeared across the stone floor. A second tremor followed, much stronger than the first.

Vaelira stood.

"I can feel it too."

Aether's Origin Energy gathered around his body. "Prepare yourselves."

The floor suddenly exploded.

A massive creature emerged from beneath the chamber, sending stone fragments flying in every direction. It possessed four enormous legs, dark crystalline scales, a long tail covered with sharp ridges, and two large horns extending backward from its head. Cold Origin Energy surrounded its body, turning the air around it into a freezing mist. The creature's enormous eyes swept across the chamber before locking onto the group.

Aether's System immediately scanned it.

[Origin Beast detected.]

[Species: Frostveil Origin Drake.]

[Current Cultivation: Origin Tempering Realm — Stage 10.]

[Origin Energy Attribute: Frost.]

[Threat Level: High.]

Aether's expression became serious.

Stage 10.

The final stage of the Origin Tempering Realm.

The drake roared and charged.

Aether immediately used Shadow Step, disappearing as the creature's claws smashed into the ground. The impact created a crater where he had been standing. He reappeared beside its head and struck with condensed Origin Energy, but the attack only cracked several crystalline scales.

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"Strong defenses."

The drake's tail swept toward him.

Ironhide appeared in front of Aether and blocked the attack. The shadow bear's body was shattered by the impact, transforming into black mist that immediately returned to Aether's shadow. Blackfang and Grimhorn attacked from opposite sides, forcing the drake to turn its attention away from Aether.

The fight quickly became chaotic.

Aria and Lyra attacked from the front while Sylvara and Evelyn targeted the beast's exposed sides. Elara moved carefully between them, contributing whenever an opening appeared. Seris remained slightly behind the main group, supporting them with Life Essence while continuing to observe the drake.

Vaelira disappeared using Void Step and reappeared above it.

"Moonlight Blade!"

A silver slash struck the drake's back and cut through several scales. The beast roared and attempted to bite her, but she disappeared again before the attack could reach her.

Aether activated Origin Sense.

Instead of looking at the creature's external defenses, he examined the flow of energy inside its body. Several dense concentrations appeared, but one caught his attention. A large amount of Origin Energy was circulating around the lower abdomen.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"There!"

Everyone looked toward him.

"The lower abdomen is weaker. Focus your attacks there."

The drake seemed to realize what they were targeting and immediately became more aggressive. It twisted its body to protect the area, forcing Aether and the others to coordinate more carefully.

Aether summoned his three shadows.

"Open an opportunity."

Blackfang attacked the left side while Grimhorn struck from the right. Ironhide charged directly toward the beast's legs. The drake focused on the shadows, allowing Aether to disappear into the darkness with Shadow Step.

He reappeared beneath the creature.

His fist struck the damaged scales.

Cracks spread across the lower abdomen.

The drake roared.

Aria immediately attacked the same location, followed by Lyra and Sylvara. Evelyn and Elara added their attacks while Vaelira severed another section of crystalline armor.

Seris took a breath and condensed her Life Essence.

The emerald energy became a narrow spear.

She launched it.

The attack pierced through the weakened scales and struck the drake's body.

The beast staggered.

Aether saw the opening.

"Again!"

Everyone attacked together.

The drake attempted to counterattack, but the three shadows kept it occupied. Ironhide was destroyed again, yet returned moments later from Aether's shadow. Blackfang and Grimhorn continued attacking without hesitation.

The drake's defenses finally broke.

Aether gathered his Origin Energy and rushed forward.

He struck the exposed weak point with everything he could safely release.

The attack exploded through the damaged area.

The Frostveil Origin Drake released one final roar before its enormous body collapsed.

Silence filled the chamber.

Aether stood still for a moment, breathing steadily as the others gathered around him.

[Stage 10 Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points +140.]

[Origin Points: 755 / 1,600.]

Aether dismissed the notification.

The battle had been difficult, exactly as it should have been. A Stage 10 beast was one full stage above him, and its physical body had been strengthened by years of exposure to Frostveil's Origin Energy. Defeating it had required the combined efforts of Aether, his three shadows, and everyone else.

Then Vaelira noticed something inside the remains.

A faint silver-blue light was shining beneath the shattered scales.

Aether examined it before removing a translucent crystal from the drake's body.

Vaelira's expression changed when she saw it.

"That's a Spatial Origin Crystal."

Aether handed it to her.

The crystal immediately reacted to her Voidmoon Physique, producing a faint spatial distortion.

"It's highly compatible with me," Vaelira said.

"Then it's yours."

She looked at him for a moment before accepting it.

"Thank you."

Aether nodded.

The ancient formations suddenly activated.

The energy released by the drake was being absorbed by the chamber, and Aether could feel his Infinite Origin Physique responding to it.

[Infinite Origin Physique — Development: 0.97% → 0.98%.]

Aether looked toward the notification.

Only two hundredths remained.

But before he could resume cultivation, Vaelira suddenly looked toward the deeper passage.

"The spatial structure changed."

Aether turned.

"Because of the drake?"

Vaelira nodded.

"It was blocking something."

Aether looked into the darkness beyond the chamber.

The drake had not simply been living beneath Frostveil.

It had been guarding something.

And now that it was dead, whatever lay beyond it was beginning to reveal itself.