The night in the forest did not pass quietly, not in a place like Crimson Rift Frontier where danger never truly slept. The fire they had lit earlier had long since dimmed into faint embers, its warmth replaced by the cold breath of the wild.
Lee Hyun and Min Seoah did not allow themselves the comfort of deep rest; instead, they took turns watching over their surroundings, their senses stretched to the limit. Every rustle of leaves, every distant growl, every subtle shift in the air carried meaning here.
When it was Lee Hyun's turn, he sat still with his back against a tree, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of the Demon's Sword, his eyes half-closed but never unaware. The first attack came silently, a shadow moving faster than the wind itself, a beast attempting to strike from behind.
But before it could even reach him, his blade moved in a smooth arc, the crimson edge flashing once as the creature's body split cleanly in two. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation, only instinct refined through countless battles.
Later, when Min Seoah took over, the pattern repeated. A group of smaller beasts crept close, drawn by the faint scent of blood and energy, but the moment they crossed her range, frost spread across the ground, freezing their limbs in place before shattering them instantly. Their teamwork, even without words, had reached a level where neither needed to worry about the other.
By the time dawn arrived, both of them were tired, but not exhausted. Their bodies had adapted to this rhythm, this constant pressure. As the first light filtered through the dense canopy, Lee Hyun stood up, stretching slightly before glancing at the map their master had provided.
"…let's move."
Min Seoah nodded without complaint. They packed quickly, leaving no trace behind, and began heading deeper into the territory marked on the map. The direction they followed led toward the demon-controlled zones, but before reaching that, they would have to pass through an even more dangerous area.
As they advanced, the environment gradually changed. The density of mana and Qi increased, becoming richer, heavier, more concentrated. The beasts they encountered were no longer the scattered predators of the outer forest but creatures with defined territories, higher intelligence, and significantly stronger presence. Their movements became more cautious, their pace more controlled, each step measured.
After several hours of travel, the trees around them grew taller, thicker, ancient beyond imagination. The air shifted again, this time carrying a different kind of energy, not demonic, not chaotic, but natural, primal, overwhelming in its own way.
They had entered the Ancient Forest. Lee Hyun's eyes narrowed slightly as he felt it. This place was alive in a way that was hard to describe. Every tree, every root, every breath of wind carried a sense of age and authority. And then, something changed.
His vision shifted. Information appeared before his eyes, not from sight. From the system.
"…So it activates now."
Min Seoah glanced at him.
"What is it?"
He looked around slowly, his gaze scanning the surroundings, but this time, he wasn't just seeing shapes. He was reading them.
"Beast Sovereign Pact."
His voice lowered slightly.
"It's showing me… everything."
Before them, hidden among the trees, creatures revealed themselves not physically, but through information that appeared clearly in his mind.
A massive horned beast lurking beneath the roots of a giant tree, its body coiled, its breath slow but powerful.
A pack of shadow-furred wolves moving silently in the distance, their levels hovering around the mid-twenties.
A serpent wrapped around a high branch, its scales shimmering faintly with venomous energy.
Each one carried details like, name, level, type, strength and weakness. It wasn't just awareness. It was understanding.
"…We're surrounded."
He said calmly.
Min Seoah's posture tightened instantly.
"By how many?"
"Too many to count."
He replied, but his tone remained steady.
"Stay close."
They moved carefully, avoiding unnecessary confrontation, but not every encounter could be avoided. When a beast crossed their path directly, they dealt with it swiftly.
Lee Hyun's blade moved with precision, enhanced by his growing mastery, while Min Seoah's frost sealed off escape routes, freezing enemies before they could react. Their coordination had improved again, their movements complementing each other naturally.
After some time, they came across a cave hidden beneath the roots of an enormous tree, its entrance partially concealed by hanging vines and thick shadows. The air around it felt different, heavier, filled with a lingering presence that hinted at something powerful residing within.
"…let's check it. This may turn into great opportunity."
Lee Hyun said. Min Seoah nodded. They entered carefully, their senses was alert. The cave was larger than it appeared from the outside, expanding into a vast inner chamber. The ground was uneven, marked with claw scratches and scattered remains that suggested this was not an abandoned place.
"…A large beast's territory."
Min Seoah whispered. They moved deeper. At the far end of the cave, they found something unexpected. A collection of items lay scattered, not naturally formed, but gathered.
Crystals infused with pure energy, rare herbs glowing faintly in the dark, fragments of beast cores that still carried power. It was clear that whatever lived here had collected these over time.
Min Seoah's eyes lit up slightly as she moved toward a cluster of frost-aligned crystals, their energy resonating faintly with her own.
"These… are perfect for me."
Meanwhile, Lee Hyun's attention was drawn elsewhere. A notification appeared.
[Hidden Discovery Detected]
[Divine Beast Presence Confirmed]
His eyes sharpened instantly.
"…There's something here."
He began searching carefully, following the faint pull he felt through the system. It led him to a spot near the back of the cave, partially hidden beneath layers of stone and debris. He cleared it away slowly, and then, he found it.
A large and smooth egg. Radiating a faint golden-red glow that pulsed like a heartbeat. The moment he saw it, he knew. This was no ordinary beast. The system responded immediately.
[Divine Beast Egg Detected]
[Species: Primordial Eclipse Phoenix]
[Status: Dormant]
[Potential: Divine Grade]
[Note: Upon successful pact, recognition will be granted as kin]
Lee Hyun's breath slowed slightly.
"…A phoenix…"
But not a normal one. The energy it emitted was deeper, darker, yet still pure, as if it existed between light and shadow. Even in its dormant state, it carried authority.
Min Seoah stepped closer, her eyes wide.
"…That's…"
"A divine beast."
He finished. He didn't hesitate. Carefully, he took out the egg and placed it securely before him. The system guided him silently as he prepared to form a pact. He drew a small cut across his palm and let a drop of blood fall onto the surface.
The reaction was immediate. The egg glowed, pulsed. But then, something went wrong. The cut deepened unexpectedly, more blood flowing than intended. The energy surged wildly, reacting stronger than before.
"Wait—"
Min Seoah stepped forward quickly, grabbing his hand.
"What are you doing?!"
In her haste, she pulled the blade away, and cut herself. Her blood spilled and mixed, then fell onto the egg. For a brief moment, everything froze. Then, the egg erupted with light.
A powerful pulse spread outward, filling the entire cave. The energy intensified, becoming chaotic, unstable, yet strangely… connected. The system reacted instantly.
[Error Detected]
[Pact Formation Altered]
[Dual Blood Integration Confirmed]
[Relationship Established]
Lee Hyun's eyes widened slightly.
"…No way."
The final notification appeared.
[Congratulations to Host]
[Divine Beast recognizes Host as Father]
[Secondary Recognition: Female Companion acknowledged as Mother]
[System Note: Congratulations on having a child without any effort]
"…What the hell?!"
Lee Hyun stepped back slightly, staring at the egg.
"I messed up…"
Min Seoah froze.
"…What did you just say?"
He looked at her.
"…It thinks we're its parents."
Silence followed, then,
"…WHAT?!"
Her face flushed instantly, her expression breaking completely.
"Our child?!"
"That's what the system says!"
"You idiot!"
"You cut yourself too!"
"I was trying to stop you!"
They both stopped. Breathing slightly heavier. The tension hung in the air. Min Seoah looked at the egg, then away, then back again, clearly conflicted.
"…This is ridiculous."
She muttered. Lee Hyun sighed.
"…I'll handle it."
She didn't respond immediately. Because part of her… Didn't want to completely deny it. After a moment, they made a decision.
"…We leave."
He said. She nodded.
"…Before something comes back."
They stepped out of the cave, the egg safely stored in his inventory, but the atmosphere between them had changed. Not broken, not distant, but… different.
As they moved forward again, Lee Hyun opened the system briefly, and saw it.
[Hatching Time: 96 Hours]
He exhaled slowly.
"…This is going to be troublesome."
Beside him, Min Seoah remained quiet. But her gaze easn't as distant anymore.
---
To be continued..