Chapter 8 - The Ancient Behemoth's Gaze
Silence.
The battlefield froze.
Thousands of beasts remained motionless, their heads lowered toward the colossal Ancient Behemoth.
Its body resembled a mountain of black stone covered in glowing golden runes.
Its massive horns pierced the clouds.
Its eyes...
Were fixed on Kai Dragonbane.
Kai felt as if the entire world had disappeared.
The pressure from the creature was overwhelming.
Even breathing became difficult.
Beside him, the little silver fox trembled.
Not from fear...
But excitement.
Its golden eyes began to glow faintly.
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared before Kai without being summoned.
The pages flipped violently.
Scarlet warning symbols covered every page.
---
WARNING
Primordial Beast Detected
Name: Earthshaker Behemoth
Rank: Primordial
Current Threat Level: Beyond Measurement
Recommended Action: Do Not Engage
---
Kai swallowed.
"Primordial..."
The academy had taught that Divine beasts existed only in myths.
Yet the Book ranked this monster even higher.
---
On the city walls, panic spread.
Several younger instructors collapsed under the immense pressure.
Only the strongest Beast Masters remained standing.
Headmaster Aldric summoned his Mythic Sky Dragon.
The silver dragon unfurled wings nearly fifty metres wide, crackling with lightning.
Aldric raised his sword.
"Protect the students!"
The dragon roared.
Lightning illuminated the battlefield.
For a moment...
The Ancient Behemoth simply watched.
Then...
It slowly lowered its enormous head.
The gesture resembled a respectful bow.
Not toward the Headmaster.
Not toward the city.
Toward Kai's tiny fox.
No one noticed.
Except Kai.
And the mysterious old man standing atop the academy clock tower.
The old man narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"The guardian still remembers."
---
The fox took one hesitant step forward.
"Kyu..."
Kai immediately knelt beside it.
"No."
"Not yet."
The fox looked into Kai's eyes.
It understood.
With a small nod, it stepped back.
The golden glow within its pupils faded.
At the same instant, the Ancient Behemoth lifted its head once more.
It let out a deep, ancient rumble that echoed across the valley.
Every beast in the tide responded.
But instead of charging...
They slowly turned around.
One by one...
Thousands of beasts retreated into the forest.
The battlefield remained silent.
The impossible had happened.
A Beast Tide had ended...
Without a single battle.
---
No one understood.
Students looked at one another in disbelief.
An instructor whispered,
"What... just happened?"
Another shook his head.
"I've served for thirty years."
"I've never seen beasts retreat on their own."
Headmaster Aldric's expression remained grave.
"Do not celebrate."
"This was no victory."
"It was a warning."
---
By nightfall, the city had reopened its gates.
Citizens called it a miracle.
The academy declared a temporary holiday while investigators searched the forest.
Kai quietly returned to his dormitory.
As soon as the door closed, the Book appeared.
Golden words slowly formed.
---
Emergency Mission Completed
Survival: Successful
Civilians Protected: 7
Mission Rank: S
Rewards Granted
- Hidden Bloodline Fragment ×1
- Authority Level Increased
- New Function Unlocked
Ancient Beast Language (Beginner)
---
Kai stared at the final reward.
"Ancient Beast Language?"
Before he could ask another question...
The bloodline fragment floated from the Book.
It resembled a tiny golden crystal.
The fox instinctively touched it with its nose.
The crystal dissolved into countless particles of light.
The fox cried out.
Its body was surrounded by a gentle golden aura.
The Book analysed the change.
---
Bloodline Awakening Increased
Previous: 1%
Current: 3%
New Passive Ability Unlocked
Ancient Instinct
The beast can sense danger, hidden treasures, and powerful bloodlines within a short distance.
---
The fox looked at Kai and happily wagged its tail.
Suddenly...
Its ears twitched.
It stared toward the academy window.
Someone was outside.
Kai quietly extinguished the lamp.
Footsteps echoed across the roof.
Then...
A calm elderly voice came from the darkness.
"You've hidden your secret well, young Beast Tamer."
A long pause followed.
"But tell me..."
"Where did you obtain the inheritance of the First Beast Sovereign?"
Kai's heart skipped a beat.
Someone finally knew.