Legend says the energy within the Origin Crystal shares its origin with the divine power of creation.
No matter what kind of existence—humans, demonic beasts, or even weapons and buildings that were originally lifeless—as long as it is recognized as a “Guardian” by the crystal itself, its existence undergoes a qualitative transformation.
“Are you… the Hero… of humanity?”
The morning breeze stirred the leaves. Amidst the dappled light of the forest, accompanied by the crisp sound of twigs snapping underfoot, an ethereal and melodious voice—indistinguishable in gender—posed a question in return.
Ron, Lifa, and Isis turned in unison toward the source of the fourth voice.
“Teacher, that is…”
Lifa held Ron’s hand.
“Yes, the guardian demonic beast of the Origin Crystal, the ruler of this forest.”
Ron pulled Lifa closer to himself, his gaze fixed on the figure emerging from the trees.
“Powerful…”
The massive form of the guardian beast approached from afar, speaking human language. Its androgynous and stiff voice had some errors in words and sentences, and the pauses were quite unnatural.
“Noble character…”
The beast slowly approached Ron’s group, its speech speed as slow as a child learning to talk.
“Mr. Ron, Lifa, stay behind me and don’t move.”
Isis had no intention of responding to the beast; instead, she kept glancing sideways to check on Ron and Lifa.
“Mm, it was originally a Sword-Hunting White Tiger or a similar subspecies…”
Ron gradually saw the true form of the guardian beast, and after a few careful observations, he murmured to Isis and Lifa.
“Heh—”
The guardian beast stopped about twenty paces away, raising its neck high and looking down at the three. It had pure white fur and sturdy limbs.
Even the shoulder height below its head was equal to the combined height of three or four people. Despite the distance, the authority and pressure it exuded were not to be underestimated.
“Hero?”
The guardian beast repeated again, word by word. Its eyes—and the object of its gaze—were only Isis.
“I think you’re a fake. Not strong, and in terms of character… just a shameless thief coveting treasure.”
Its gaping maw revealed two sharp saber teeth. It turned out that the guardian beast’s initial two praises were merely the prelude to mocking Isis now.
Lifa couldn’t allow her idol to be mocked by a demonic beast.
“Sister Isis, let Lifa fight alongside you.”
She wanted to step forward, leaving Isis’s protection to fight together, but Ron grabbed her wrist.
“Lifa, don’t make trouble.”
Ron shook his head seriously, his gaze fixed upward on the guardian beast’s head.
“Cross-tier combat is a last resort. With Lifa’s current experience and strength, you’ll only make Isis have to worry about you as well.”
“The Origin Crystal should be under that horn.”
Ron looked at Isis, who remained silent and ready for battle, and reminded her. This guardian beast had just broken through to the seventh rank under the power of the Origin Crystal.
Besides the special magical fluctuations emanating from its body, a transparent amber horn had grown on its forehead where the Origin Crystal was originally embedded.
“Mm.”
Isis nodded and stepped forward.
“Hero, I have no interest in those two weaklings behind you.”
The beast had not initiated an attack; now it raised a front paw and pointed at Ron and Lifa behind Isis.
“I can sense your situation. Give up your thoughts on the Origin Crystal.”
“I can let you leave.”
The guardian beast’s words gradually became fluent, its tail constantly swishing.
“It’s afraid of Sister Isis!”
Lifa said with certainty.
“No, something’s fishy.”
Ron said so, but couldn’t pinpoint the exact oddity.
“Compared to a demonic beast, I think you’re more like a nagging old woman.”
Isis’s response was to raise the Hero’s Sword high.
“Heh heh—then let’s fight.”
The guardian beast stepped forward with its two paws, and a pure mana ring expanded outward around its arched waist.
“Die.”
The opponent was ready, so Isis naturally began preparing for battle as well.
After casting a reassuring glance at Lifa and Ron, Isis uttered one word and chose to attack first, as she was at a relative disadvantage. Passive defense was not safe. Isis thought that only by suppressing with attack could she ensure the safety of those she wanted to protect.
Beneath her white hair, Isis’s crimson eyes drooped. She knew that her current body was something Casalima was determined to obtain.
Perhaps normally the Demon King would use all means to torment and corrode her, but when it came to life and death, Casalima would instead be the most active force intervening.
“You’re quite patient, Demon King.”
Having sought the Demon King’s power and received no response, Isis muttered to herself, showing a mocking smile both to Casalima and to the guardian beast.
Confirming the Hero’s decision to fight, the White Tiger, which ruled all demonic beasts in the Magic Beast Forest, let out a war cry without backing down.
“Slash.”
Isis’s figure disappeared from the spot, and before the roar had ended, she had leaped into the air, heading straight for the horn on the White Tiger’s forehead. As if that was the external form of the Origin Crystal; cutting it off would reveal the true Origin Crystal.
clang!!!
“One of the strongest among humans, and yet this is all you have…”
The mana at its waist flickered illusorily. The White Tiger’s reaction speed was equally astonishing; in other words, Isis’s full-powered burst at present was still within its ability to parry.
clang clang clang!!!
The first clang was the sound of the White Tiger catching the blow with its horn and deflecting the Hero’s Sword. After that, with the alternating attacks of two sharp saber teeth, it was the echo of Isis parrying back and forth.
“Lifa, most of the demonic beasts you encountered before were just brute force and speed.”
Ron wasn’t just watching passively. Besides explaining the situation to Lifa, he had already picked up Isis’s Soul Dagger again.
“Actually, high-tier demonic beasts are not lacking in wisdom. Many sixth-tier and seventh-tier beasts understand human language, and eighth-tier beasts even have the ability to transform into humanoid forms.”
“And like the mana ring on this beast, high-tier demonic beasts often have unique abilities and talents. Many have effects comparable to high-level magic and skills.”
Compared to before, Ron had experience using the Soul Dagger once. But this also made him understand the weight of the pain he would have to endure.
The explanation to Lifa was not only teaching her but also a psychological preparation to distract himself.
“I see. When this guy called Sister Isis the Hero earlier, I didn’t know demonic beasts could talk.”
Lifa nodded. Noticing the Soul Dagger in her teacher’s hand, she immediately grabbed Ron’s arm.
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