The Stage Nine Beast

Chapter 112 — The Stage Nine Beast

The mountain became increasingly silent as Aether climbed.

There were no ordinary beasts here.

Even Stage 7 creatures avoided this territory.

Aether understood why.

The Stage 9 presence ahead was dominating the entire region.

He continued forward.

Eventually, he reached a massive stone plateau.

A giant beast stood at its center.

It resembled a black lion, but its body was covered in layers of dark armor.

Two horns curved backward from its head.

Its eyes immediately locked onto Aether.

The pressure alone caused the surrounding rocks to crack.

Aether didn't retreat.

He studied the beast.

Stage 9.

Potential A.

Earth and Shadow Origin attributes.

Aether smiled.

“Now that's more like it.”

The beast roared.

The entire mountain shook.

Aether's expression became serious.

“Blackfang.”

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The shadow wolf emerged.

“Ironhide.”

The shadow bear appeared.

The Stage 9 beast charged.

Aether moved simultaneously.

BOOM!

The first collision sent Blackfang flying.

Its body shattered.

Ironhide blocked the second attack.

The shadow bear's body cracked.

Aether struck the beast's side.

The attack barely affected it.

Aether immediately retreated.

“So this is the difference.”

Stage 8 and Stage 9 were separated by an enormous gap.

But Aether didn't panic.

He watched.

Every attack.

Every movement.

Every fluctuation in its Origin Energy.

The beast raised one claw.

Aether moved.

The claw struck the ground.

BOOM!

A massive shockwave spread outward.

Blackfang dispersed.

Ironhide was thrown into the mountain wall.

Aether used Shadow Step repeatedly.

He avoided the next several attacks.

Then he noticed it.

Every time the beast released its strongest attacks, its Origin Energy gathered around its right shoulder.

Aether smiled.

“There.”

He didn't attack immediately.

Instead, he waited.

The beast charged again.

Aether dodged.

Blackfang attacked its rear.

The beast turned.

Ironhide struck its legs.

The beast stumbled.

Aether appeared near its right shoulder.

His fist struck the exact location.

BOOM!

A crack appeared across the armor.

The beast roared.

Its aura exploded.

Aether was thrown backward.

Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He wiped it away.

“Not bad.”

The beast charged again.

This time, Aether didn't fight alone.

“Blackfang.”

The wolf attacked the damaged shoulder.

“Ironhide.”

The bear attacked the legs.

Aether targeted the chest.

Three attacks landed together.

The beast staggered.

Aether's Origin Energy surged.

He stepped forward.

“Break.”

BOOM!

The damaged armor shattered.

The Stage 9 beast roared in pain.

Aether continued attacking.

He didn't give it time to recover.

Blackfang tore through its exposed side.

Ironhide crushed one of its legs.

Aether's final strike pierced its chest.

The beast collapsed.

[Stage 9 Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points +180.]

[Origin Points: 470 / 1,200.]

Aether stood silently.

He had defeated a Stage 9 creature.

But he hadn't done it through overwhelming strength.

He had done it through observation, coordination, and exploiting its weakness.

That was exactly the kind of battle he wanted.

The System detected its Origin imprint.

[High-quality Origin imprint detected.]

[Compatibility with Origin Shadow Authority: 96%.]

Aether's eyes brightened.

“Ninety-six percent.”

This was the highest compatibility he had seen.

He extracted the imprint.

But once again, the System stopped the process.

[Additional Origin Shadow manifestation unavailable.]

Aether looked at the notification.

“Not yet.”

He wasn't disappointed.

Instead, he looked toward the corpse.

“One day.”

Then he turned away.

His next target would be even stronger.