The Thing Beyond The Mountains

Chapter 60 — The Thing Beyond the Mountains

The roar faded.

But the pressure remained.

Aether stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eyes fixed on the northern mountains.

Something was coming.

Something powerful enough to make the entire forest react to its presence.

The Blackridge Commander lowered his spear.

His expression had changed.

"This wasn't supposed to happen."

Aether glanced at him.

"You know what it is?"

"No."

The commander looked toward the mountains.

"But I know what that sound means."

Aether waited.

The commander swallowed.

"The Northern Region has awakened."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Explain."

The commander didn't answer.

Instead, his eyes shifted toward the cave.

Toward Kael.

More specifically—

toward the black crystal.

His expression suddenly changed.

"So that's why."

Aether noticed the sudden greed in his eyes.

"You knew about the crystal."

The commander smiled.

"We were told to find a boy carrying a black relic."

Aether's grip tightened around the Executioner's Blade.

"Who told you?"

The commander's smile widened.

"You think I'll tell you now?"

Aether stepped forward.

The commander immediately raised his spear.

"Don't come closer."

Aether stopped.

"You have ten seconds."

The commander's expression hardened.

"For what?"

"To start talking."

The commander laughed.

"You've become arrogant after one breakthrough."

Aether didn't respond.

The commander suddenly threw something onto the ground.

BOOM!

Black smoke exploded across the battlefield.

"Move!"

Aether immediately covered his mouth and stepped backward.

The remaining Blackridge soldiers vanished into the smoke.

"Seris!"

"I see them!"

WHOOSH!

An arrow disappeared into the darkness.

THUD!

A soldier collapsed.

Another arrow followed.

WHOOSH!

Another enemy fell.

But the rest continued fleeing.

Aether could pursue them.

He could probably catch the commander.

But then—

the northern pressure increased.

[Unknown Origin fluctuation detected.]

[Distance: 8.7 kilometers.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

Eight kilometers.

Whatever was coming was moving quickly.

He looked toward the cave.

"Everyone, back."

Lyra immediately understood.

"What about the Blackridge group?"

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"They aren't the biggest problem anymore."

Aria glanced toward the mountains.

"Then what is?"

Aether's expression became serious.

"We don't know."

Gorn growled.

Aether looked at the giant ape.

"Gorn."

Gorn stepped forward.

"Stay at the cave entrance."

The giant ape nodded.

"Lyra. Aria. Keep Kael inside."

Lyra frowned.

"And you?"

Aether looked toward the north.

"I'm going to find out what's coming."

Lyra immediately shook her head.

"You're injured."

"I'm fine."

"You just fought a Stage 6 commander and broke through."

Aether smiled.

"Exactly."

Lyra stared at him.

Aether continued.

"If something is approaching this territory, I need to know what it is before it reaches the cave."

Aria stepped forward.

"Then I'll go with you."

Aether shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know what we're dealing with."

Aether looked at both of them.

"If I don't return, protect Kael."

Aria became silent.

Then she nodded.

"Understood."

Aether turned toward the forest.

Before leaving—

the system activated.

[New objective detected.]

[Objective: Investigate the Northern Origin fluctuation.]

[Reward: Unknown.]

[Failure: Unknown.]

Aether's eyes gleamed.

A mission without a known reward.

Interesting.

He disappeared into the forest.

Aether moved quickly.

The trees blurred around him.

His newly increased strength was noticeable.

His Origin Energy felt denser.

His movements were smoother.

His senses reached farther.

[Current Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 6]

[Origin Points: 0 / 650]

Aether leapt from one tree to another.

The northern pressure continued growing.

[Distance: 6.4 kilometers.]

Aether suddenly stopped.

The forest ahead was damaged.

Several trees had been crushed.

Large footprints covered the ground.

Aether crouched beside one.

It was enormous.

Much larger than Gorn's.

He placed his hand near the edge of the footprint without touching it.

The soil was still warm.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"It passed through here recently."

He stood.

Then he noticed something else.

A black substance covered part of the ground.

The system immediately reacted.

[Unknown biological substance detected.]

[Origin Energy concentration: Extremely high.]

[Direct contact not recommended.]

Aether didn't touch it.

Instead, he examined the surrounding area.

The creature wasn't simply traveling.

It was injured.

Something had wounded it.

Aether looked toward the mountains.

"What happened to you?"

A distant roar answered.

ROOOOOAR!

Aether immediately moved.

Several minutes later—

Aether reached the edge of a cliff.

Below him was a massive valley.

His eyes widened.

Something enormous stood in its center.

A beast.

Its body resembled a massive wolf, but its hide was covered with black crystalline scales.

Two enormous horns curved backward from its skull.

Dark Origin Energy flowed around its body.

Blood covered its side.

The beast raised its head.

Its eyes locked onto Aether.

The system began scanning.

[Scanning...]

[Scanning...]

[Scan incomplete.]

Aether's expression changed.

The system had never failed to determine a target's cultivation so quickly.

The beast growled.

The sound shook the valley.

Aether tightened his grip around the Executioner's Blade.

Then the system displayed another notification.

[Unique Origin Beast detected.]

[Potential: S]

[Bloodline: Unknown]

[Physique: Unknown]

[Current condition: Severely injured.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

S-rank potential.

The highest potential classification he had encountered in a beast so far.

And it was severely injured.

The beast suddenly released a wave of pressure.

BOOM!

Aether was forced backward.

His feet slid across the ground.

He stabilized himself.

"So that's your strength."

The beast lowered its head.

It was preparing to attack.

Aether drew his blade.

But then—

something caught his attention.

A black crystal fragment was embedded in the beast's chest.

Aether stared.

The same energy.

The same resonance.

The same rhythm as Kael's crystal.

His expression changed.

"So you're connected to the relic."

The beast roared.

Aether didn't attack.

Instead, he slowly lowered his blade.

The beast's eyes remained fixed on him.

"I'm not here to kill you."

The beast growled.

"I know you're injured."

The pressure around the beast increased.

Aether took one step forward.

The beast raised its claw.

Aether stopped.

He didn't force his way closer.

He simply watched.

"You have something inside you."

The beast growled again.

"Something that's hurting you."

Aether pointed toward the crystal.

"That."

The beast's eyes flickered.

Aether noticed.

It understood him.

The system activated.

[Unknown Origin Relic fragment detected.]

[Resonance established.]

[Foreign Origin Energy detected.]

[Hostile influence detected within target.]

Aether's eyes sharpened.

"You're being controlled."

The beast suddenly screamed.

ROOOOOAR!

Dark energy erupted from its body.

Aether raised his sword.

But the beast didn't attack him.

It collapsed onto one knee.

Its body trembled violently.

The crystal embedded in its chest glowed brighter.

Aether's expression hardened.

Someone had done this.

Someone had placed the crystal fragment inside the beast.

And judging by its connection—

the Blackridge Group wasn't the true source of the problem.

They were merely looking for something.

Perhaps they didn't even understand what they had found.

Aether stepped closer.

The beast raised its claw again.

Aether didn't stop.

"I don't know who did this to you."

Another step.

"But I'll remove it."

The beast's claw stopped inches from him.

Aether and the beast stared at each other.

For several seconds—

neither moved.

Then Aether slowly reached toward the crystal.

The moment his fingers touched it—

the Origin System exploded with notifications.

[Unknown Origin Relic detected.]

[Resonance established.]

[Host's Infinite Origin Physique responding.]

[Assimilation pathway detected.]

Aether's eyes widened.

Then another warning appeared.

[Warning.]

[Removing the relic may trigger a regional Origin disturbance.]

Aether looked toward the northern mountains.

"So that's the problem."

The beast growled weakly.

Aether looked back at it.

If he removed the crystal—

the beast might survive.

But the Northern Seal could react.

If he left it—

the beast would continue suffering.

Aether didn't hesitate.

He tightened his grip.

"I'm not leaving you like this."

He pulled.

CRACK!

The crystal shifted slightly.

The entire valley trembled.

BOOOOOOM!

Aether's expression changed.

The beast screamed.

The mountains in the distance shook.

The system immediately activated.

[Regional Origin disturbance detected.]

[Northern Seal resonance increasing.]

Aether looked toward the mountains.

The black crystal fragment pulsed violently.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

a third time.

The pressure spreading from the north became overwhelming.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

The system displayed a new warning.

[Critical Warning.]

[Northern Seal Integrity: 89%.]

[Integrity decrease detected: 1%.]

Aether stared at the notification.

"Only one percent..."

He looked at the crystal fragment.

Then at the injured beast.

Then toward the distant mountains.

The situation was much more complicated than he had expected.

The beast wasn't simply an injured creature.

The relic wasn't simply a mysterious crystal.

And the Northern Seal wasn't merely an ancient structure.

They were connected.

Aether slowly released his grip.

The crystal remained embedded in the beast.

For now.

Then—

the system suddenly displayed another notification.

[Unknown presence detected.]

Aether's eyes sharpened.

[Distance: 2.1 kilometers.]

His expression became serious.

Something was approaching.

Fast.

The beast raised its head.

It sensed it too.

Aether turned toward the northern mountains.

A deep roar echoed through the valley.

ROOOOOOOOOAR!

The sound was far louder than before.

The ground shook.

The beast lowered its body defensively.

Aether raised the Executioner's Blade.

Whatever was coming—

it wasn't Blackridge.

And judging by the pressure alone...

it was far stronger than anything he had encountered today.

Aether smiled faintly.

"So that's the real guest."

The forest went silent.

Then—

two enormous crimson eyes appeared between the distant mountains.

Aether's smile disappeared.

The system attempted another scan.

[Scanning...]

[Scanning...]

[Scan failed.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

For the first time—

even the Origin System couldn't determine what was approaching.

And that meant only one thing.

The northern mystery had finally begun to reveal itself.