The serpent.

Nate leaned back beneath the shade of a towering tree, letting out a slow, calming breath. Just for a moment, he closed his eyes.

When he opened them again—the forest was gone.

He now stood in a colossal hall, flanked by towering statues of beasts. Each creature had a human figure standing behind it, clad in ancient armor like loyal guardians. The air buzzed with power—old and heavy—pressing down on him like a weight of time itself.

“Where… am I?” Nate muttered, his voice echoing off the silent stone.

“You stand in the Hall of Succession,” a deep voice answered, vibrating through the chamber. “Where all who once wielded the Beast Change power are honored.”

Startled, Nate’s eyes locked onto the lion statue, its eyes now glowing with fierce judgment.

“You mean this… beast-changing thing I’ve been using?” he asked cautiously.

“Correct,” answered another voice—from a crow statue, its eyes flickering to life like twin black flames.

“You’ve inherited a power humanity never truly understood,” added a third, this time from a coiled serpent whose scales faintly shimmered in the torchlight.

From between the statues, a hooded figure emerged—human in shape, but cloaked in shadow. “This world is on the brink of ruin,” it declared. “You must rise. Break your limits. Become more… or fall with the rest of it.”

Nate stepped back, his heartbeat pounding in his chest. “Who… who are you?”

Before the figure could respond, the ground shook violently.

Nate’s eyes snapped open.

He was back. The sunlight filtered through the trees above him, but his breath came shallow—his heart still racing. The vision had felt far too real.

“What the hell was that…?” he whispered.

A sudden explosion echoed in the distance. Without hesitation, he leapt to his feet and ran toward the sound.

From a hilltop, Athena observed Owen carving through enemies like a seasoned warrior. His blade swept cleanly through monster after monster, leaving a trail of collapsed beasts in his wake.

“You’ve definitely gotten stronger,” Athena admitted as Owen sheathed his sword casually.

“But my magic still sucks,” he said with a smirk. “You, on the other hand—loads of mana, no control.”

“Fair point,” she muttered, arms crossed.

Suddenly, Owen froze. His hand clenched around his sword.

“Show yourself!” he barked, eyes scanning the trees.

Damn. He saw me.

Nate stepped out from the underbrush, hands raised in surrender. “Uh… hi?”

“Who are you?” Owen asked sharply, his blade already pointed at Nate.

“I… I just came to check things out after that explosion.”

“Are you mocking me?” Owen snapped. A gust of air exploded as he unleashed a wind slash.

Nate twisted aside, barely dodging the attack. “Whoa, whoa! Chill! I’m not here to fight!”

Athena narrowed her eyes. There was something off about this stranger. No visible aura. No threatening energy. Yet he dodged a holy knight’s attack like it was child’s play.

“Owen, stop,” she commanded.

“Why?”

“Look at him closely. Something’s not right.”

“…Who are you?” she asked.

“Nate Williams, ma’am,” he said calmly, though tension lined his voice.

“And why are you here?”

“I heard the explosion. Thought someone might be in danger. Saw you two fighting monsters… figured I’d watch.”

Owen wasn’t buying it. In a flash, he appeared in front of Nate, his blade aiming straight for the stranger’s neck.

In one motion, Nate raised a single finger.

Clang!

The sword stopped mid-swing.

What...?

Owen staggered back, disbelief written all over his face. His blade trembled slightly.

“You… blocked it? With just your finger?”

Nate lowered his hand. Blood trickled from the tip—but before their eyes, the wound sealed instantly.

“Instant healing?!” Athena gasped.

“You can do that?” she asked.

“I… I don’t know,” Nate replied, stunned. “I’ve never bled before. And I’ve never healed like that either.”

Nate stared at his hand, shaken. That wasn’t him. It was the system—or something even deeper.

“Look, I really didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” he said, bowing his head. “I thought someone needed help.”

Athena placed a hand gently on his shoulder. “It’s okay. We overreacted.”

Owen exhaled, lowering his sword. “Sorry for attacking you,” he muttered.

“It’s fine,” Nate said with an awkward chuckle. “Let’s just forget it.”

“I’m Owen,” the knight added, “and this is Lady Athena, princess of the capital of—” He hesitated.

“Wait, princess?” Nate’s posture changed instantly. He dropped to one knee. “Forgive my rudeness, my lady.”

Athena giggled. “You know, in our culture, that’s how you propose.”

Nate sprang to his feet, sweating bullets. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to propose!”

She laughed harder. “Relax. I’m teasing.”

Owen did not look amused.

“So…” Nate said slyly, “Sir Owen… her knight?”

“Of course not! I’m a holy knight! One of the strongest!”

“Ohhh,” Nate said, grinning. “I see…”

But the moment of levity ended as the earth rumbled beneath them.

From the shadows behind, a massive winged serpent slithered upward, its golden eyes blazing. Its huge form loomed above them, its forked tongue hissing in the air.

Nate stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.

“Looks like it wants a fight.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***