The Weapon Beneath The Shrine

Chapter 32 — The Weapon Beneath the Shrine

The earth beneath the shrine cracked open.

A deep rumble rolled through the forest as black stone pushed upward from beneath the ruined floor.

The twelve hunters immediately stopped.

Even the woman in red lowered the bloodline-suppression crystal.

Something was coming.

Aether remained still, his attention fixed on the shrine.

Whatever was beneath it had reacted to the crystal, and he wanted to know why.

The Origin System appeared before his eyes.

[Unknown Origin reaction detected.]

[Source: Beneath Bloodline Shrine.]

[Foreign Origin object has triggered defensive response.]

Aether's gaze shifted toward the woman in red.

“So that's what you were hiding.”

“You don't understand what you're interfering with,” she replied.

“Then explain it.”

A faint smile appeared on her face.

“You aren't in a position to demand answers.”

Aether glanced at the hunters surrounding the shrine.

“I'm not asking twice.”

Before she could respond, the ground exploded.

BOOM!

A pillar of black stone erupted from beneath the shrine.

The shockwave threw several hunters backward.

The woman in red immediately retreated.

Dust filled the battlefield.

When it cleared, a gigantic black altar had risen from underground.

Ancient silver markings covered its surface, glowing faintly beneath layers of dust.

At the center was a stone pedestal.

And embedded inside it was a sword.

Aether stared.

The blade was almost completely black, with thin silver lines running along its surface like veins.

Its guard was simple, shaped like two curved wings.

There was no extravagant aura surrounding it.

No overwhelming pressure.

Yet Aether could immediately sense that the weapon was different.

The Origin System reacted.

[Unknown weapon detected.]

[Material: Unknown.]

[Origin composition: Unknown.]

[Grade: Unranked.]

[Condition: Sealed.]

[Compatibility analysis beginning...]

A pause followed.

Then:

[Compatibility: 97.8%.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

97.8%.

That was extraordinarily high.

Nyx suddenly growled.

The silver mark on her forehead began glowing.

The sword responded.

A faint silver pulse traveled through the altar.

Aether felt the same strange sensation he had experienced when the ancient beings reacted to his Origin Mark.

The weapon recognized something.

Or someone.

The woman in red stared at the sword.

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“Impossible…”

One of the hunters beside her whispered,

“The Origin Blade.”

Aether heard him.

“Origin Blade?”

The hunter immediately went silent.

The woman slowly turned toward him.

“You shouldn't have said that.”

Aether smiled faintly.

“Too late.”

The woman raised the suppression crystal.

“Destroy the altar!”

The hunters immediately moved.

Aether's expression hardened.

Not because he had suddenly decided to protect the Crimson Fang Wolf.

Not because the altar belonged to him.

But because the weapon had appeared in response to the Origin reaction, and whatever secrets were contained within it could directly affect his own path.

He wasn't going to let them destroy it.

Aether stepped forward.

“Don't damage the altar.”

Lyra glanced at him.

“Planning to take that sword?”

“If it accepts me.”

Aether looked at the weapon.

“We'll find out.”

The first hunter charged.

Aether met him head-on.

CLANG!

Their weapons collided.

Aether twisted his wrist, redirected the man's blade, and struck him across the chest.

The hunter stumbled backward.

Another attacked from the side.

Aether ducked beneath the strike and drove his elbow into the man's ribs.

He didn't waste time finishing either of them.

His objective was the altar.

A Stage 6 cultivator suddenly appeared in his path.

“You're not touching it.”

The man's Origin Energy surged.

Aether studied him calmly.

“You're Stage 6.”

“And you're Stage 3.”

The hunter raised his weapon.

“You're overestimating yourself.”

Aether's grip tightened.

“No.”

His Origin Energy spread through his body.

“I'm measuring you.”

The hunter attacked.

The first strike was fast.

Aether avoided it.

The second was faster.

Aether blocked.

The impact pushed him backward several meters.

Stage 6 was still stronger in raw Origin Energy.

Aether knew that.

So he stopped trying to overpower him.

He watched.

The man's right shoulder moved slightly before every heavy attack.

His left foot shifted backward before defensive techniques.

Aether memorized the pattern.

The hunter attacked again.

Aether stepped aside.

The blade passed beside him.

Aether struck the man's shoulder.

The hunter stumbled.

Aether followed with a kick that sent him crashing into the outer edge of the altar.

The man struggled to stand.

Aether didn't pursue.

“Stay down.”

The hunter glared at him.

But his killing intent had disappeared.

Aether turned away.

There was no reason to kill someone who was no longer an immediate threat.

Then the woman in red finally acted.

She threw the black crystal toward the altar.

The crystal struck the stone pedestal.

Dark energy spread across the ancient markings.

The sword immediately trembled.

[Warning.]

[Bloodline suppression effect detected.]

[Unknown weapon seal destabilizing.]

Aether's expression changed.

He moved instantly.

His Origin Energy erupted beneath his feet.

He reached the altar and placed his hand against the black crystal.

The moment his palm touched it, his Infinite Origin Physique reacted.

[Foreign Origin Energy detected.]

[Analyzing...]

[Absorption possible.]

Aether allowed the energy to enter his body.

The black energy flowed through him.

His physique immediately began breaking it apart.

[Origin Adaptation: 18.3% → 18.7%.]

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 0.25% → 0.28%.]

Aether absorbed another wave.

[Foreign Origin Energy Absorption: 14%.]

The crystal cracked.

The woman in red's expression changed.

“What are you doing?”

Aether looked toward her.

“Taking back what you brought here.”

He crushed the crystal.

The dark energy vanished.

The altar immediately stabilized.

Ancient markings across its surface illuminated one after another.

Then the sword rose from its pedestal.

It floated directly in front of Aether.

Nobody moved.

Even the ancient wolf remained silent.

Aether reached toward the hilt.

The instant his hand touched it—

BOOM!

A massive surge of Origin Energy entered his body.

Aether's vision went dark.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Then images appeared.

A vast battlefield beneath a black sky.

Countless beings fighting.

An ancient city collapsing.

A sword standing alone amid the destruction.

The same sword appearing in the hands of countless warriors.

Each one eventually falling.

Then the vision changed.

The sword stood before a lone figure carrying the Origin Mark.

The figure reached toward it.

The vision shattered.

Aether opened his eyes.

The sword was in his hand.

The Origin System appeared.

[Origin Weapon compatibility confirmed.]

[Temporary synchronization established.]

[Weapon Name: Unknown.]

[True Name: Sealed.]

[Current State: Dormant.]

[First Seal: Unlocked.]

[Second Seal: Locked.]

[Third Seal: Locked.]

[Growth Potential: Unknown.]

Aether looked down at the black blade.

It felt almost weightless.

He swung it once.

The air split with a sharp whistle.

The system continued.

[Weapon Functions Detected.]

[Origin Conduction.]

[Adaptive Resonance.]

[Additional functions unavailable.]

Aether's eyes narrowed with interest.

This wasn't simply a stronger sword.

It could grow.

It could adapt.

And, most importantly, its compatibility with him was almost perfect.

The metal rod he had carried since the beginning had served its purpose.

It was never meant to remain his weapon forever.

Aether looked at the blade.

“You'll need a name.”

The sword gave a faint silver pulse.

Aether paused.

Something about it suggested that its true name was still sealed.

He wouldn't force one onto it.

Not yet.

Behind him, the woman in red spoke.

“You don't understand what you've taken.”

Aether turned.

“No.”

His grip tightened around the sword.

“But I'll find out.”

The woman stared at him.

“All units. Withdraw.”

The remaining hunters hesitated.

Their mission had clearly changed.

They began retreating.

Aether watched them leave.

He didn't chase.

They were no longer attacking him, and wasting energy on fleeing enemies served no purpose.

His attention returned to the sword.

The Origin System opened again.

[Host Status]

Name: Aether Draven

Species: Human

Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 3

Origin Points: 175/200

Origin Adaptation: 18.7%

Infinite Origin Physique: 0.28%

Potential: ∞

Weapon: Unknown Origin Blade

Synchronization: 1%

Aether dismissed the status window.

Across the shrine, the Crimson Fang Wolf remained within the bloodline trial.

She had continued fighting for herself and her pups.

Aether hadn't needed to become her guardian.

Her path remained her own.

His path was his.

And this sword had just become part of it.

Lyra approached and looked at the weapon.

“So…”

She smiled.

“No more metal rod?”

Aether glanced at the sword.

A faint smile appeared.

“Not anymore.”

The shrine suddenly pulsed.

[Bloodline Shrine Awakening: 58% → 64%.]

The ground trembled.

Aether's smile disappeared.

The Origin System immediately displayed another warning.

[Unknown existence detected.]

[Reaction triggered by Origin Weapon.]

Aether looked toward the forest.

Far beneath the earth, something had sensed the weapon's awakening.

A distant roar echoed through the darkness.

The sword in Aether's hand responded with a faint silver glow.

Whatever was coming next—

it knew the weapon had awakened.