Chapter 14 - A Sovereign's Choice
The silver light surrounding the shrine grew brighter.
The Book of Infinite Beasts floated before Kai, its pages turning rapidly.
Then, for the first time...
A voice emerged from within the Book.
"Compassion before power."
"The first law of a Beast Sovereign."
Kai placed his hand on the Mirror Guardian's cracked mana core.
"I choose to save him."
The glowing reward floating above the shrine dissolved into streams of silver energy.
Instead of flowing into the Crimson Flame Fox...
The energy entered the ancient guardian.
CRACK...
The fractures across its crystal core slowly disappeared.
Blue light returned to its eyes.
The giant construct, which had guarded the shrine for over three thousand years, slowly rose to its feet.
It looked down at Kai.
Then, to everyone's astonishment...
It knelt once again.
This time, not as a guardian completing a trial.
But as a warrior offering its respect.
---
Lucien stared in disbelief.
"You... gave up an ancient treasure?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
Kai calmly replied,
"A treasure can make me stronger."
"But character decides what I become."
Several students lowered their heads.
For the first time, they questioned whether Lucien or Kai truly deserved to lead.
Lucien's face darkened with rage.
"Enough!"
"Storm Eagle!"
The giant bird screeched as lightning exploded around its wings.
"Thunder Spear!"
A bolt of concentrated lightning shot toward Kai.
Before Kai could move—
BOOM!
The Mirror Guardian stepped in front of him.
The lightning struck its stone body, scattering sparks across the chamber.
Not a single crack appeared.
The guardian slowly turned its head toward Lucien.
Its voice echoed like rolling thunder.
"He who bears the heart of a Sovereign..."
"...shall not be harmed within this shrine."
The floor beneath Lucien's feet suddenly lit up.
Ancient runes spread in every direction.
The entire shrine recognised Kai as its rightful successor.
---
The walls began to shake violently.
Large stone pillars emerged from the ground, separating Kai from Lucien and the other students.
The shrine itself had chosen a side.
Lucien slammed his fist against one of the stone barriers.
"No!"
"You can't hide forever!"
Kai looked at him calmly.
"I wasn't hiding."
"I was growing."
Those words echoed through the silent chamber.
---
The Mirror Guardian extended one massive hand.
Resting upon its palm was a silver crystal no larger than a coin.
It placed the crystal before Kai.
The Book immediately identified it.
---
Ancient Mirror Core
Rank: Legendary
Description: A fragment of the Mirror Shrine's origin.
Effects:
- Greatly increases perception.
- Allows temporary detection of hidden formations.
- Grants compatibility with ancient ruins.
Special Note:
Only those acknowledged by the shrine may use this item.
---
Kai carefully accepted the crystal.
The moment he touched it, it dissolved into silver light and entered the Book of Infinite Beasts.
New words appeared.
Authority Level: Intermediate
New Ability Unlocked
Beast Resonance
For a short time, Kai and his contracted beast may perfectly synchronise their movements, increasing speed, awareness, and combat efficiency.
Kai smiled.
"This will change everything."
---
Suddenly, the shrine began collapsing.
The Mirror Guardian looked toward the ceiling.
"My purpose... is complete."
"The shrine has fulfilled its final trial."
Stone fragments rained down.
Ancient mirrors shattered one after another.
The guardian looked at Kai one last time.
"Go, Beast Sovereign."
"The Endless Realms await you."
Kai bowed deeply.
"Thank you... for believing in me."
The guardian smiled—a faint expression that had not appeared on its stone face for over three millennia.
Then it raised its sword.
With a single swing, it created a passage leading safely outside the collapsing shrine.
Kai and the Crimson Flame Fox sprinted through it.
Behind them, Lucien and the others struggled to escape as the ancient sanctuary crumbled.
---
Outside, the hidden entrance sealed itself forever.
The mountain became silent.
The Mirror Shrine had vanished from the world.
Only Kai knew that its legacy had not been destroyed.
It now lived on within the Book of Infinite Beasts.
As the academy's rescue instructors rushed toward the collapsing mountain, a hooded figure watched from a distant cliff.
A crimson emblem was embroidered on his cloak.
He smiled coldly.
"So..."
"The Ninth Beast Sovereign has passed the First Trial."
He turned and disappeared into the mist.
Far away, inside the Divine Temple, an ancient bell rang for the first time in a thousand years.
A voice echoed through the sacred hall.
"The Hunt has begun."