Chapter 162 — The Warning

Twenty to thirty minutes later, Victor and Lyra finally reached the top of the cliff.

Victor stepped onto the familiar stone and stopped.

He simply looked around.

He was back in Region G.

The sight was strangely familiar. The cavern stretched out around him, the distant lights of the underground forest barely visible from this height.

It was hard to believe how much had happened since the last time he had stood here.

Back then, a Ravager Beast Soldier had nearly killed him.

He had been forced over the edge of this very cliff.

Victor shook his head.

"Feels like it's been forever."

He took another step forward.

Thump.

Victor stopped.

His eyebrows rose.

He slowly reached forward with one hand.

His palm touched something.

There was nothing there.

Yet his hand couldn't move any farther.

Victor pushed harder.

Nothing.

It was like standing against a perfectly smooth glass wall that he couldn't see.

"What is this?"

Victor stared at the empty space in front of him.

He couldn't see anything, but there was definitely something there.

A few seconds later, Lyra walked up behind him.

She casually stepped past him.

Straight through the barrier.

Victor froze.

He slowly turned his head.

Lyra was already standing on the other side.

She looked back at him.

Victor stared at her.

Then he looked at the empty space between them.

Then back at Lyra.

"…Why can you pass through?"

Lyra shrugged.

"I don't know."

Victor tried again.

Nothing.

He spent the next several minutes testing the barrier, but no matter what he did, he couldn't get through it.

Victor's expression gradually tightened.

If he couldn't cross this barrier, he couldn't return to the Alchemy Tower.

If he couldn't return to the Alchemy Tower, he couldn't remove his slave bracelet.

And if he couldn't remove his slave bracelet…

He couldn't enter the deeper forest.

He would be stuck here.

Victor's breathing became heavier.

"No."

He shook his head.

"There's got to be a way around this."

He stared at the invisible wall.

"There's no way I'm stuck here."

His hands slowly clenched.

"I just haven't figured it out yet."

Lyra stood a short distance away, quietly watching him.

Victor continued staring at the barrier.

Then—

Chirp.

Victor frowned.

A bird?

He glanced around.

They were standing at the top of the cavern, far away from the forest below.

There shouldn't be any birds here.

Chirp.

The sound came again.

Closer.

Victor slowly turned around.

"What the…?"

He barely had time to react.

BAM!

Something slammed into his chest.

Victor was knocked backward.

His feet left the ground as he slid across the stone.

He stopped just before the edge of the cliff.

Victor froze.

His eyes slowly moved downward.

"…That was close."

He quickly turned around.

Something was sitting on his chest.

A tiny black bird.

A small red flame flickered from its tail as it happily rubbed its head against him.

Victor stared.

Then his eyes widened.

"Nala?"

A huge smile appeared on his face.

Victor reached down and gently patted her head.

"I missed you too, Nala."

Nala chirped several times.

Victor laughed.

She continued nuzzling against him for a few seconds before finally calming down.

Victor slowly stood and placed her on the ground.

Nala immediately chirped in protest.

Before Victor could react, she flew onto his shoulder and pressed her head against his cheek.

Victor shook his head.

"Apparently that wasn't an option."

Lyra had been watching the entire thing.

For a brief moment, her expression had been tense.

When the tiny creature slammed into Victor, she had immediately felt its cultivation.

Beast Soldier.

She had instinctively prepared herself.

Then she saw the bird rubbing against Victor's face.

Then another sound echoed through the cavern.

Victor looked upward.

Something was approaching from the darkness above.

Large black wings slowly emerged from the shadows.

A human figure descended with them.

Victor recognized her immediately.

Rakasha.

The Guardian Spirit slowly landed beside them.

Her gaze moved toward Lyra.

Then she glanced at Victor.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

Victor immediately bowed.

"Hello, Senior."

"Hello, Victor."

Rakasha's eyes moved toward Nala.

"Nala heard that you were going to leave the Sanctuary soon."

Nala chirped.

Rakasha smiled.

"She finished her evolution about twenty-four hours ago."

Nala chirped again.

"Then she protested like a little tyrant for several hours until I finally agreed to bring her here."

Nala chirped loudly.

Victor couldn't help but laugh.

"Sounds like she's saying you're lying."

Nala chirped again.

Victor looked at Rakasha.

"Thank you for bringing her here."

Rakasha paused.

"There's no need to thank me."

She looked at Nala.

"It's what my daughter wanted."

Then her gaze shifted toward the invisible barrier.

Her expression changed.

"There was another reason I came."

Victor's smile faded.

Rakasha looked at him.

"I needed to warn you about a few things."

Victor straightened.

Her voice became more serious.

"There are a few things you need to understand."

She paused.

"I already know you have Liam's sword."

Victor's expression changed.

For an instant, panic flashed across his face.

He had taken the sword from Liam's grave.

Victor carefully watched Rakasha.

But there was no anger in her expression.

"Samal entrusted you with that sword."

Victor remained silent.

Rakasha looked toward the barrier.

"You need to understand that it is very important."

She pointed toward the invisible wall.

"That barrier prevents anyone above the Body Tempering Realm—or the Tempered Beast Realm—from passing through."

Victor's eyes shifted toward it.

Everything suddenly made sense.

That was why he couldn't cross.

Rakasha continued.

"It's meant to keep Samal's Sanctuary safe."

Her eyes moved toward Liam's sword.

"Liam's sword is a key."

She paused.

"It will allow you to pass through the barrier."

Victor looked down at the black sword.

The answer had been in his hands the entire time.

He had spent several minutes worrying about how to cross the barrier.

Now the problem was solved.

Rakasha's expression remained serious.

"There are people on the other side of that barrier who would do anything to obtain that sword."

Victor looked up.

"They want to find a way into the Sanctuary and destroy it."

"Who are these people?"

Rakasha was silent for a moment.

Then she answered.

"There is a hidden organization that worships the Beast God."

She paused.

"Or, as some call him, the Evil God."

Victor's expression changed.

Riker.

The vision came back to him.

Liam lying helplessly on the ground.

Riker standing over him.

The old man's final words.

The Beast God.

Victor's eyes narrowed.

He looked at Rakasha.

"That's the same organization that killed Liam, right?"

Rakasha nodded.

"Yes."

Her voice was quiet.

She paused.

"They would do anything to see humanity enslaved to the Beast God."

Victor's expression became grave.

"I understand."

Rakasha nodded.

"Good."

She looked directly at him.

"There is something else."

Victor waited.

"You must make sure that no one ever discovers that you are the Black Phoenix Heir."

Victor frowned.

"Why?"

Rakasha didn't answer.

"If they ever found out, they would do anything to kill you."

Victor remained silent.

He didn't understand.

Why would anyone want him dead simply because of his Black Phoenix inheritance?

But he trusted Rakasha.

That was enough.

Victor nodded.

"Yes, Senior."

He looked down at the sword.

"I'll do everything I can to keep both things a secret."

Rakasha nodded.

"Good. I'm glad you understand."

She paused.

"When you enter the Tower, you must understand something else."

Victor looked at her.

"The organization could be anywhere."

Her eyes met his.

"Anyone."

Silence followed.

"You must trust no one blindly."

Rakasha's voice remained calm.

"Otherwise, you could end up with a dagger sticking out of your back before you even realize what happened."

Victor nodded slowly.

His expression became serious.

Rakasha continued.

"But there should still be those who follow Samal's guidance."

She paused.

"You must use your own discernment."

Victor remained silent.

"If you trust the wrong person," Rakasha continued, "it could be the end of everything Samal tried to protect."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Rakasha simply looked at him.

Victor bowed his head.

"Thank you, Senior."

He glanced at Nala.

"I'll make sure to keep Nala safe as well."

Rakasha looked at the little Firebird.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Good."

She turned back toward Victor.

"Be safe on your journey."

Her expression softened.

"Samal believes that you are fated to change things for the better."

She paused.

"I hope he is right."

Rakasha turned around.

Her enormous black wings spread behind her.

Before taking flight, she gave Nala one last loving look.

Then she launched herself into the air.

The sound of her wings echoed through the cavern as she disappeared into the darkness.

Victor watched her go.

For several seconds, he remained silent.

Then he turned toward the barrier.

Lyra stood beside him.

Victor gave her a small, reassuring smile.

Then he reached for Liam's sword.

The black blade appeared in his hand.

Victor raised it toward the invisible barrier.

The air rippled.

A faint distortion spread outward.

Then—

A circular opening appeared directly in front of them.

Victor stared at it.

He stepped forward.

Victor crossed through the barrier with Nala resting on his shoulder.

Once he reached the other side, he stopped.

He slowly turned around.

Behind him was the Sanctuary.

The place where he had spent the last several months.

The place that had become his home.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

There was nothing left for him to do.

His path was forward.

Victor turned around.

He took his first step into Region G.

The Alchemy Tower was waiting.

And this time, he wasn't returning as the same boy who had once entered this forest.

Victor kept walking.

There was still a long road ahead.

End of Volume One: The Sanctuary of Strength and Survival