Chapter 19 - The Celestial Roc
A golden wind swept across the battlefield.
The violet flames of the Nightmare Lion vanished as though they had never existed.
Every beast in the arena lowered its head.
The Divine-ranked Celestial Roc stood proudly between Kai and the assassins.
Its wings stretched over the stadium like living clouds.
Its feathers glowed with ancient runes.
Even the air around it shimmered with divine energy.
The leader of the Beast Hunters took an involuntary step backwards.
"A Divine Beast..."
"Impossible..."
---
High above the arena, Headmaster Aldric stared in disbelief.
His Mythic Sky Dragon had stopped fighting.
Instead, it respectfully lowered its head toward the Roc.
Aldric whispered,
"The Guardian of the Eastern Sky..."
"I thought it was only a legend."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts opened before Kai.
Golden letters slowly appeared.
---
Divine Beast Identified
Name: Aurelius, the Celestial Roc
Age: Unknown
Rank: Divine
Relationship: Neutral
Warning: Show respect.
---
Kai slowly bowed.
"I thank you for saving us."
The Celestial Roc looked at him.
Its brilliant golden eyes seemed capable of seeing through his soul.
Then a calm voice echoed directly inside Kai's mind.
"You carry the scent of the First Sovereign."
Kai's heart skipped a beat.
"Who... are you?"
"One who once flew beside him."
---
The Crimson Flame Fox stared at the Roc with shining eyes.
"You knew the First Beast Sovereign?"
The Roc gave a gentle nod.
"When the world was young, beasts and humans walked together."
"Then greed divided them."
"Your master now walks the same path."
The fox stood proudly beside Kai.
"We'll finish what he started."
For the first time...
The Roc smiled.
---
The leader of the Beast Hunters raised his hand.
"Enough!"
"Kill the boy!"
The six Beast Hunters charged together.
Their contracted beasts roared as one.
The Void Spider spat webs of darkness.
The Frost Serpent unleashed a storm of ice.
The Nightmare Lion leapt into the air.
The Celestial Roc spread its wings.
A single flap unleashed a hurricane.
WHOOSH!
The attacks were scattered in every direction.
The Void Spider was thrown across the arena.
The Frost Serpent crashed into a stone wall.
The Nightmare Lion slid backwards, leaving deep trenches in the ground.
The spectators watched in stunned silence.
This...
Was the power of a Divine Beast.
---
The leader clenched his fists.
"We cannot win."
He reached inside his robes and removed a black crystal covered in crimson symbols.
Headmaster Aldric's eyes widened.
"No!"
"Stop him!"
Before anyone could intervene...
The Beast Hunter crushed the crystal.
Dark energy exploded into the sky.
The ground trembled violently.
A massive crack opened beneath the arena.
Cold, ancient laughter echoed from the abyss.
The Book of Infinite Beasts flashed crimson.
---
WARNING
Forbidden Gate Opening
Source: Unknown
Threat Level: Catastrophic
---
A gigantic claw slowly emerged from the darkness below.
Its scales were black as night.
Crimson lava flowed between them.
The pressure alone forced dozens of students to collapse.
Even the Celestial Roc's expression grew serious.
"So..." it murmured.
"They have become this desperate."
---
Headmaster Aldric immediately shouted,
"Evacuate every student!"
"Instructors, buy them time!"
The academy erupted into organised chaos.
Students hurried toward the exits under the protection of their teachers.
Kai, however, remained where he stood.
The fox looked at him.
"We should leave."
Kai stared at the enormous claw rising from the abyss.
"If that creature escapes..."
"The academy won't survive."
The fox nodded.
"Then we'll fight."
Before Kai could take a step forward, the Celestial Roc blocked his path.
"No."
"Your journey has only begun."
"This battle belongs to another generation."
The Roc lowered one radiant feather before Kai.
It glowed with brilliant golden light.
"Keep this."
"When the Third Trial arrives..."
"It will guide you to me."
Kai accepted the feather with both hands.
The moment he touched it, it transformed into a golden mark on the back of his right hand.
The Roc looked toward the monstrous claw climbing out of the abyss.
Its eyes hardened.
"Headmaster Aldric."
"Protect the child."
"I shall protect the kingdom."
With a thunderous cry, the Celestial Roc soared into the sky, its golden wings illuminating the entire battlefield.
Above the academy, two ancient powers collided.
Golden light.
Crimson darkness.
The heavens themselves trembled.
Far away, inside the Divine Temple, the High Pontiff slowly rose from his throne.
"The Guardians have begun to move..."
He looked toward the distant academy with cold, calculating eyes.
"Prepare the Seven Holy Hunters."
"This time..."
"The Beast Sovereign will not escape."