Disoriented and not knowing what the hell had just happened, Anyael woke up, and the first thing he saw were Rhys and Elara staring at him. He immediately asked:
—heavy, desperate breathing— Where… is Retainer?
The moment he spoke, Kael shot him another one of those sharp looks.
—Retainer? What are you talking about? —Rhys asked, confused.
Seeing Kael like that and noticing Rhys and Elara's confusion, Anyael decided to stay quiet.
—No, it's nothing. Just… a nightmare, hehe… —he said, trying to act casual and lighthearted.
—Well, at least you're okay, right? —Rhys asked, worried.
—Yes, I'm perfectly fine —Anyael replied, downplaying what had just happened.
With no more incidents, they entered the portal. There, they explained the beast Anyael was going to hunt. Although beasts don't have species as such, Trascendent Guardians like to classify them. This one was a nocturnal stalker, and its Beast Will was particularly troublesome; little was known about its abilities, but in summary, it aided its camouflage. Its rank: Predator.
The 8th Department didn't expect Anyael to kill it—it was mostly a formality, as they hadn't yet determined its rank.
Hours later, the team watched a creature "made of shadows"—or at least it appeared so—feeding on another. Then Rhys said:
—Well, Anyael, that's the one you'll have to kill.
—That thing? —Anyael replied, terrified.
—Even though it looks like that, it's not very strong.
—Alright, then I'll do it —the young man said, determined, jumping out of his hiding spot, ready to strike.
Suddenly, a voice screamed: "No, Anyael, wait!" It was Kael, signaling him to stop.
A critical mistake had been made: they hadn't told Anyael about the creature's hidden pack. Being inexperienced, he didn't know he would have to lure the creature away.
Because of the commotion, the beast's siblings—dog-like creatures with six purple eyes, woven from shadows—emerged from the darkness and attacked him. A female voice shouted, "Tsunami!"
Anyael saw Marea in Kael's hands and realized that, in the excitement, he had forgotten it in the hiding spot. Then, he watched the team fight: he saw Rhys' eyes turn golden, a mark appear on Marea, and another on an enemy.
He saw how Marea's attacks never missed, and how the enemy moved slower. He saw roses and thorns rising from the ground, piercing several beasts. He saw Rhys and Elara's fists engulfed in golden flames, like a sun of pure gold.
Seeing all this, envy filled him. "Why can't I be like them? Why can't I be amazing? Why am I so weak?" An Ego surged within him…
Suddenly, a red flash appeared, and a red crown with white highlights hovered in the air. Yes—the Plague of the Ascended Monarch had finally awakened. After failing in his previous training, he achieved it in a single moment. At incredible speed, he shredded the closest beast.
One attacked him—some strange shadow spheres—but he received it and ADAPTED. That was his Binding, and he finally understood it all! The damage from the attack regenerated, and adapting to the beast's speed, he surpassed it, confronted it, and killed it, adjusting to its durability.
—I finally understand why before I felt my potential was INFINITE —Anyael said, Ego radiating through every fiber of his being.
He did the same to another beast, and then another… and in his mind, he kept repeating: "Prey obliterated, prey obliterated… now I'm a real HUN-TER."
With unmatched fury and near-instant adaptation, he took down dozens of beasts in minutes. Each time he faced a beast, his crown spun, and his body ADAPTED over and over. He adapted until there were no beasts left. Then he said:
—Neither at the highest point in the sky nor the lowest point in the abyss exists anything capable of killing me —Ego dripping from every word.
Then he collapsed, unconscious.
—Argh, this kid is something else —Kael muttered, annoyed.
—His Vainglory went straight to his head —Elara said, amused.
—Hahahahaha, I'm dying, I'm dying! —Rhys laughed so hard he nearly peed himself.
—What a shitty joke —Kael said, clearly unimpressed.
Kael then picked up Anyael's unconscious body and looked at him with pity. She looked at the others and said:
—Let's move…
Before they left, a SHREDDING pressure filled the air. An EGO so intense and AGGRESSIVE that it even scared Kael. They turned to see the mother of the beast colony they had just exterminated.
—Elara, what rank is that thing? —Rhys asked, concerned.
—I have no idea, but judging by that brutal EGO, it must be at least Ghoul… or Archangel…
—We're screwed —Kael said, completely panicked.
They hurried to do the Ego/Karma Re-flow, but before they could enter the portal, a giant spider-like leg separated them. Rhys made the hardest decision of his life at that exact moment.
He grabbed the closest person—Elara—and pulled her through the portal as it closed behind them.
Kael was in shock at what she saw, and her rage surged so high that her Cry Baby Binding reached its peak. She drew Marea and said to Retainer:
—Ready?
—Born ready —Retainer replied confidently.
Meanwhile, behind them, Anyael stood up, saying:
—Even if it costs me my life, I'll do it once more: PLAGUE OF THE ASCENDED MONARCH!