Chapter 41 - The First Apostle's Truth
Kai burst through the storm like a blazing comet.
Crimson flames from the Crimson Flame Fox intertwined with Ignis's golden fire, creating the Eclipse Blaze.
Beside him, Selene raced across platforms of moonlight created by Luna's divine power.
Their target was clear.
The central golden ring behind Lucius.
The one hiding the Moon Crystal.
---
Lucius watched them approach.
His expression remained calm.
"So, you've found it."
With a wave of his hand, the remaining eleven golden rings shot forward.
Each transformed into a different divine weapon.
Swords rained from the heavens.
Chains lashed through the air.
Golden spears pierced the clouds.
Kai and Selene moved as one.
Kai shattered the incoming chains with his spear.
Selene sliced apart the glowing swords with graceful precision.
Behind them, the Crimson Flame Fox and Ignis unleashed a torrent of Eclipse Blaze, melting away the corrupted energy surrounding the battlefield.
---
"You've improved," Lucius admitted.
"But not enough."
He clenched his fist.
The central ring expanded into a radiant shield around him.
The Moon Crystal floated within its heart, pulsing with silver and black light.
"No attack from your current level can break this barrier."
---
Kai stopped a short distance away.
He looked directly into Lucius's eyes.
"Why are you doing this?"
"You don't look like someone who enjoys hurting beasts."
For the first time...
Lucius hesitated.
The battlefield grew strangely quiet.
Finally, he answered.
"Thousands of years ago..."
"I was a child."
"My village trusted an ancient beast."
"When corruption consumed it..."
"It destroyed everything."
"My parents."
"My friends."
"My home."
He closed his eyes.
"I survived because the founders of the Divine Temple saved me."
"They taught me one lesson."
'Power without control brings ruin.'
"So I chose control."
"No matter the cost."
---
Kai listened without interrupting.
"I understand your fear."
Lucius looked surprised.
"But fear isn't the same as truth."
"I've met the Bone Dragon."
"I've met Ignis."
"And now Fenrir."
"They weren't born monsters."
"They became victims."
Silence filled the mountains.
Even some Temple soldiers lowered their heads.
---
Far below, Fenrir let out a weak howl.
The corruption continued tearing at its soul.
Luna whispered,
"Kai..."
"There's no more time."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts glowed brilliantly.
Its pages turned to a new chapter.
Sovereign Art
Chain of Trust
A true Sovereign is never strongest alone.
The bonds between companions create miracles.
---
Golden threads of light spread from Kai.
One connected to the Crimson Flame Fox.
Another to Ignis.
A silver thread reached Selene.
Then another stretched to Luna.
Even the freed Frostfang Sabretooth and the Lunar Frost Wolf became linked.
Their strengths did not simply combine.
They resonated.
The air itself hummed with ancient power.
---
Lucius's eyes widened.
"So this..."
"...is the power the Temple feared."
---
Kai raised his spear.
"This isn't my power."
"It's ours."
The companions moved together.
The Lunar Frost Wolf froze the air around Lucius's barrier.
The Crimson Flame Fox unleashed crimson fire.
Ignis added Eclipse Blaze.
Luna's moonlight purified the corruption surrounding the Moon Crystal.
Finally...
Kai and Selene struck together.
"Solar-Lunar Sovereign Strike!"
Their weapons hit the barrier at the exact same instant.
A crack appeared.
Then another.
Lucius stared at the spreading fractures.
"No..."
The barrier shattered into thousands of golden fragments.
The Moon Crystal floated free.
Kai caught it.
The corruption coating its surface began dissolving beneath the light of the Book of Infinite Beasts.
Far below...
Fenrir's chains exploded.
The great wolf threw back its head and released a mighty howl.
Its crimson eye turned completely silver.
The corruption vanished.
The Moon Wolf King had been freed.
---
A wave of pure moonlight swept across the mountains.
Every corrupted beast regained its senses.
The dark runes carved into the valley crumbled into dust.
Temple soldiers watched in stunned silence.
No bloodbath had occurred.
No revenge had been taken.
Only liberation.
---
Lucius slowly lowered his hand.
His eleven remaining rings faded.
He looked at Kai for a long moment.
Then he gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"Perhaps..."
"...I was wrong about one thing."
He turned away.
"This battle is over."
Before anyone could stop him, a circle of golden light appeared beneath his feet.
He disappeared.
Only his quiet words remained on the wind.
"The High Pontiff will not be as merciful."
---
The mountains fell silent.
Fenrir approached Kai.
The colossal Moon Wolf lowered its head until its nose gently touched Kai's forehead.
"Thank you... Beast Sovereign."
The Book of Infinite Beasts opened one final time.
---
Main Quest Complete
The Moon Wolf King Saved
Rewards:
- Bloodline Awakening: 15% → 22%
- New Title: Guardian of Astravia
- Fenrir's Blessing
- Moon Crystal Purified
Hidden Reward Unlocked
The respect of the First Apostle.
---
As everyone celebrated, Kai noticed something strange.
Inside the purified Moon Crystal...
A tiny star of blue light continued to pulse.
The Book identified it immediately.
Hidden Key Discovered
Star Fragment I of VII
Purpose: Unknown
Before Kai could ask another question, Ignis's expression became unusually serious.
"I recognise that symbol."
Kai looked at him.
"What is it?"
Ignis stared into the glowing fragment.
"It isn't a relic..."
"It's a key."
"A key to the prison..."
"...of the creature that even the First Beast Sovereign could not defeat."
The smiles faded from everyone's faces.
Far beyond the continents, in the darkness between worlds, seven ancient locks trembled.
One...
Had just begun to open.