The temple felt alive.
Not in the normal sense.
Not like a beast breathing beneath stone or some hidden creature shifting in darkness.
No It felt ancient.
Like the structure itself remembered blood.
The chains dragged again.
KRRRRRKKK…
The sound echoed through the forest floor and bounced off the stone pillars surrounding the entrance.
Riven's eyes narrowed.
Lightning crackled faintly across his skin.
Beside him, Daxen slowly removed his hands from his pockets.
The playful look on his face was gone.
Both of them felt it now.
That pressure.
That hunger.
Then—
Silence.
"…You hear that?" Daxen muttered quietly.
Riven frowned.
"…No."
"That's the problem."
BOOOOOOM.
The front of the temple exploded outward.
Stone flew through the air.
Dust swallowed the area.
And something massive stepped out.
A chimera.
Its body was enormous, towering over the trees themselves. Parts of it resembled different creatures merged together unnaturally—a lion-like frame, dragon scales across its chest and neck, massive black horns curling backward, and three different tails smashing through the ground behind it.
Its eyes—
Glowing gold.
Wild.
Starving.
The creature opened its mouth and roared.
The sound shook the entire domain.
Birds scattered instantly.
Monsters throughout the forest began fleeing in every direction.
Even predators ran.
Riven's expression changed immediately.
"…Nah."
Daxen stared upward.
"…That thing's insane."
The chimera's chains tightened suddenly.
Dozens of giant black chains wrapped around its limbs and torso, anchoring it to the temple.
The creature lunged forward—
Only for the chains to yank it backward violently.
BOOOOM.
The ground cracked beneath it.
But then—
CRACK.
One chain snapped.
Riven's eyes widened slightly.
"…We should leave."
Daxen nodded instantly.
"Yep."
Another chain broke.
Then another.
The chimera growled lowly.
Its gaze locked directly onto them.
Food.
Fresh.
Interesting.
And it had been hungry…
For a very long time.
Riven looked at Daxen.
Daxen looked at Riven.
Then both shouted at the same time.
"RUN."
BOOOOM.
They exploded backward with near light-speed movement.
Trees bent from the pressure as they shot through the forest.
Behind them—
The chimera roared again.
The remaining chains snapped apart.
KRRRRAAAAAK.
The beast dashed forward.
The earth shattered beneath every step.
Entire sections of the forest collapsed behind it.
Riven glanced behind him mid-run.
"…WHY IS IT SO FAST?!"
Daxen jumped over a falling tree.
"STOP TALKING AND MOVE!"
The chimera opened its mouth—
A beam of golden energy erupted outward.
BOOOOOOM.
Half the forest behind them vanished.
Riven cursed loudly.
Lightning burst from beneath his feet as he accelerated harder.
Daxen's body ignited with flames.
The two of them shot across the domain like meteors.
Behind them…The chimera smiled.
It was enjoying the chase.
Elsewhere — Mystic & Camry
Camry crouched beside a frozen monster corpse and pulled out its core carefully.
A faint blue glow reflected against her eyes.
"…That should make fifteen."
Mystic yawned beside her.
"…Cool."
Camry looked at him flatly.
"You're unbelievably lazy."
Mystic scratched his cheek.
"I'm efficient."
"You barely moved."
"I moved enough."
Camry sighed.
"…Let's go back now. There's no more fun."
Mystic nodded immediately.
"…Yeah finally."
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Camry smacked his shoulder.
"At least pretend to be happy for real."
Before Mystic could answer—
The roar echoed again.
The ground trembled beneath them.
Trees shook violently.
Mystic's expression changed instantly.
No laziness.
No boredom.
Just focus.
"…Let's go to the entry point."
Camry nodded seriously.
"…Yeah."
Both of them disappeared into the forest.
Meanwhile — Zayfer & Borin
Borin was carrying the corpse of a monster over one shoulder.
Zayfer walked ahead quietly.
As usual.
Then the roar hit.
Borin froze.
"…What the hell was that?"
Zayfer slowly looked toward the distance.
His hand moved toward his sword instinctively.
"…Something dangerous."
Another tremor spread through the ground.
Borin grinned slightly.
"…Seems we'll have a final fight."
Zayfer sighed.
"…You enjoy everything too much."
They changed direction immediately.
Heading toward the entry point.
Serenity
Serenity walked calmly through the forest.
Not rushed.
Not panicked.
Inside her consciousness—
The spirit of the transcendent human remained silent.
Watching her.
Studying her.
"…That creature is powerful," the old man finally said.
Serenity kept walking.
"…Stronger than the others?"
"Far stronger."
She nodded slightly.
"…Good."
The old man blinked.
"…Good?"
Serenity smiled faintly.
"…It would be boring otherwise."
The old spirit stared quietly for a moment.
Then laughed softly.
"…You truly are dangerous."
Luciferus—
Luciferus walked casually through the forest with Kara resting on his shoulder.
The small Qilin looked around curiously while black flames flickered lightly around its paws.
Luciferus stretched lazily.
"…This place really got noisy all of a sudden."
Kara let out a small growl.
Then—
The roar echoed again.
Luciferus stopped walking.
For the first time since entering the domain—
His smile faded slightly.
"…Oh."
His crimson eyes sharpened.
"…Now that's interesting."
Black light flickered around him briefly.
Then disappeared.
He started walking toward the entry point.
Slowly.
Casually.
Like he already knew nothing there could actually threaten him.
At The Entry Point —
Mystic and Camry arrived first.
The massive gate stood silently behind them.
Still active.
Still open.
Camry looked around.
"…No one's here yet?"
Mystic leaned against a tree.
"…Give them a minute."
A few seconds later—
Branches shook nearby.
Zayfer stepped out first.
Borin followed behind him.
Borin wiped dirt from his shoulder and looked around.
"…Did y'all hear that roar?"
Mystic nodded.
"…Yeah."
Then—
A voice came from behind them.
Calm.
Smooth.
"It seems it's a chimera."
Everyone turned.
Serenity walked toward them slowly.
Tall silver-white hair moved gently behind her.
One crimson eye.
One blue eye.
Calm as ever.
"…And from the looks of it," she continued, "it's broken free and is headed here."
Camry blinked.
"…How are you this calm?"
Serenity shrugged lightly.
"…Should I panic?"
Before anyone answered—
Bushes rustled nearby.
Luciferus stepped out casually with his hands in his pockets.
Kara rested comfortably on his shoulder.
The small Qilin looked around proudly.
Borin pointed immediately.
"…Why do you have a mini legendary beast on your shoulder?"
Luciferus grinned.
"…Long story."
Kara growled proudly at Borin.
Borin blinked.
"…I think it threatened me."
Luciferus ignored him and looked at Serenity.
"…So? Did you get anything good Sis?"
Serenity thought about the transcendent human spirit inside her consciousness.
Then answered calmly.
"…It can be considered somewhat good."
"…Or beneficial."
Inside her consciousness—
The old man nearly choked.
"…Beneficial?!"
Serenity ignored him completely.
Then Luciferus suddenly turned his head north.
The playful look disappeared from his face.
"…Something's coming."
Silence fell instantly.
Then—
The trees in the distance exploded apart.
Riven and Daxen burst through the forest at insane speed.
Both looked completely serious.
Riven pointed behind him while sliding across the ground.
"…MOVE."
Daxen landed beside him breathing heavily.
"…NOW."
BOOOOOOOOM.
The forest behind them split apart.
Golden eyes appeared in the darkness between the trees.
Then the chimera stepped forward.
And everyone felt it.
That pressure.
That hunger.
That monstrous aura.
Borin slowly smiled.
"…Oh."
Mystic stared silently.
Camry tightened her grip.
Zayfer drew his sword.
Serenity's eyes narrowed slightly.
Luciferus smiled.
"…Now this…"
Black light flickered around his body.
"…looks fun."