Suddenly, a system ring chimed inside his mind, cold and mechanical.
[Do you want to use Rank 1: Beast Taming Card?]
He froze, dumbfounded.
'What…?'
Kael's mind went blank for a moment.
The object didn't look like any beast he'd seen—it looked more like an egg.
He turned to Yue.
"Can this be an egg?"
She nodded thoughtfully, eyes narrowing.
"Maybe. But whose creature would leave an egg here? It doesn't look like a Crimson Devourer egg, either."
Her voice dropped. "And if it is an egg, it's probably long dead by now."
Kael nodded, the logic clear.
Yet the system notification still lingered in his mind—offering him the chance to use the Beast Taming Card.
The beast inside—if it was one—would be Rank 1.
Weak. Barely alive.
Kael's gaze lingered on the dark deity statue, its twisted form a silent testament to ancient power.
'If this thing had survived until now—here, in this forsaken place—it was no ordinary creature.'
A chill ran down his spine.
After a long pause, Kael made his decision.
He would use the Beast Taming Card.
[Do you want to use Rank 1: Beast Taming Card?]
Kael's mind answered without hesitation.
'Yes.'
A system notification echoed in his head.
[Congratulations]
[You have obtained: Rank 1 Beast Egg , of [#####].]
He let out a slow sigh.
'I knew it was special… Even the system doesn't fully know what this is.'
Kael stood up and took one last lingering glance over the cursed place.
Questions swirled in his mind—what had happened to that Rank 8 spell? How had Yue been trapped here? What was hidden inside that pool of blood? And what exactly was inside that egg?
Mysteries upon mysteries.
Suddenly, an insane thought struck him.
'What if that Rank 8 spell… was that egg?'
His heart pounded fiercely.
But he shook his head, trying to push the thought away.
'Spells can't be sentient. Right? Right...?'
Carefully, he slipped the strange egg into his pocket.
One final, reluctant glance at the cursed place.
Then, without hesitation, he exited.
Yue followed silently behind him.
***
Outside, Kael landed hard on his butt, exhaustion crushing him.
His eyes were bloodshot, heavy with fatigue.
Even Yue's gaze softened with concern.
He struggled to rise, muttering under his breath,
"That battle… was truly tough."
During the fight, adrenaline had masked the weariness—now it hit him all at once.
He scanned the empty area around them.
No one. No help.
The rift in space behind them shimmered unpredictably.
Kael moved slowly, every step a battle against the weight dragging him down—dragging his leg felt like the hardest task in the world.
But he persisted, fueled by sheer willpower.
Yue searched the surroundings, calling his name again and again, desperate to keep him conscious.
After a long, agonizing struggle, Kael spotted a narrow cave—a small hole carved into the mountain's wall.
He didn't think twice. With trembling limbs, he crawled inside.
Finally, his legs gave out beneath him.
'Shit. I'm not moving'
"Hey! Don't fall unconscious! Don't!" Yue screamed, but it was too late.
Kael's body went limp.
He was gone.
***
Selene had been searching for nearly six hours now, panting as she called out,
"Kael!"
No answer.
A beast suddenly emerged, snarling aggressively.
Irritated, she muttered, "Don't disturb me, you idiots."
With a flick of her wrist, she cast a Rank 2 spell, vaporizing the creature instantly.
Then, without pause, she pressed on—moving from tree to tree, searching here and there.
Doubt crept into her mind.
'Did the Devil lie to me?'
She shook her head firmly.
No, that was impossible.
The Devil's words were too certain, and he knew Kael's name as well.
She pressed onward—searching, searching—relentless.
Every shadow, every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind was a possibility.
Her heart pounded, but she refused to surrender to despair.
No matter what, she would find him.
***
Kael lay in darkness, heavy and unresponsive.
Suddenly, Yue appeared out of nowhere, shaking him urgently, shouting his name.
Startled, Kael's eyes snapped open—just in time to see a Rank 1 Frostmane lunging at him, attacking while he slept.
"Fucker," Kael growled, instincts kicking in.
With fluid grace, he unleashed a swift combo—Moon Blade followed by Dreamweaver.
Two moves.
The Frostmane was down.
No long, exhausting fight this time.
Kael smirked slightly. "Progress."
Yue let out a relieved sigh.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "So you can travel through dreams, huh?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. If not, how else could I have guided you to that place?"
Kael's gaze sharpened as he suddenly asked,
"Why me? Out of all people..."
Yue looked momentarily confused, then explained, "Honestly, I've been trying to enter anyone's dreams—anyone's mind—but there's always that sealed wall stopping me."
She hesitated, then added, "But with you... it was different. You were like… out of this world. I could enter your dreams."
That gave her hope.
Kael nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place.
'Must be related to my transmigration,' he thought.
"How long have I been out?" Kael asked, voice rough and barely steady.
"Eight hours," she said.
Kael's face went pale.
"Oh no..."
Without hesitation, he stumbled out of the cave, shouting, "Selene!"
Yue looked confused. "Selene?"
She followed after him.
After what felt like an eternity, Kael finally found her—or maybe she found him.
It didn't matter.
Selene leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Kael shifted the mask hidden under his coat smoothly, trying to stay casual.
He tried to play it cool.
Keeping his voice steady as he hugged her back, but then he felt warm, wet spots soaking through his coat — tears tracing down her back.
For a moment, his thoughts tangled, stuttering like a broken record:
Is she crying for me? Because of me?
A complicated knot twisted in his chest.
####
End of Volume 1: Mount Veilspire
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