Chapter 104 — The Origin Phase

The forest had stopped moving.

No wind.

No insects.

No sound from the distant trees.

Even the remaining mana in the air seemed to have frozen.

Kael stood with the Darven Origin Blade in his hand.

Across from him—

The Verdant Serpent had completely changed.

Its body was smaller than before, but the pressure surrounding it was vastly greater.

Green-white energy no longer covered its scales.

Instead, faint silver lines moved beneath them.

They looked almost like cracks in reality itself.

Kael stared.

The System continued flashing warnings.

[Unknown energy detected.]

[Origin classification failure.]

[Target has entered Final Origin Phase.]

[Warning: Current analysis incomplete.]

Kael took a slow breath.

“So this is your original power.”

The Serpent looked at him.

“No.”

Kael's expression changed.

The creature continued.

“This is what remains of it.”

Silence.

“Most of my original power was removed when I was imprisoned.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“So the prison didn't just restrain you.”

“It divided me.”

The Serpent lowered its head.

“Body.”

“Territory.”

“Authority.”

“And Origin.”

Kael looked toward the ancient containment structure.

Everything suddenly made more sense.

The prison had separated the Beast's abilities into different systems.

The three regeneration hubs.

The territory authority.

The containment structure.

And now—

The Origin Phase.

Kael tightened his grip.

“And you're gathering the remaining pieces.”

“Yes.”

The Serpent's eyes became silver.

“Only for a moment.”

Kael glanced at the distant black tower.

The containment structure continued trembling.

[Central Containment Integrity: 74%]

The value flickered.

73%.

Kael immediately understood the danger.

“You're using the prison to recover Origin energy.”

“Not recover.”

The Serpent smiled.

“Borrow.”

The First Origin Strike

Kael didn't wait.

He charged.

The Origin Blade moved.

The Serpent moved too.

Their weapons collided.

CLANG!

Kael's arms shook.

The force wasn't overwhelming.

That surprised him.

The Serpent was no longer physically as powerful as before.

But the moment Kael tried to pull away—

The silver lines beneath its scales flashed.

A force struck him.

Kael was thrown backward.

He landed.

His eyes narrowed.

It counterattacked without moving.

The Serpent approached.

Kael fired the V-01X.

Configuration II — Mana Disruption.

The shot hit.

Nothing happened.

The Serpent continued walking.

Kael's eyes widened.

“Disruption doesn't work.”

“Not anymore.”

The Beast lifted one claw.

A faint silver distortion appeared.

Kael immediately dodged.

The distortion passed through the location where his head had been.

He looked behind himself.

There was no impact.

No explosion.

Nothing.

Then he noticed a tree.

A perfectly straight line had appeared across it.

The upper half slowly slid away.

Kael's expression became serious.

It cuts space.

Not energy.

Not matter.

Space.

The Origin Phase was fundamentally different from every ability he had faced before.

Kael raised the Origin Blade.

The family crest on the guard began glowing.

A faint silver resonance appeared along the blade.

The Serpent noticed.

“Your sword remembers.”

Kael stared at it.

“Remembers what?”

“The first path.”

Kael froze.

“The first Darven.”

The Serpent's eyes narrowed.

“He understood this power.”

Kael's bloodline reacted.

[Unknown Bloodline Resonance.]

[Origin-related memory fragment detected.]

Kael felt a sudden pressure behind his eyes.

For an instant—

He saw a workshop.

Ancient stone walls.

Hundreds of metal fragments floating in the air.

A man standing before a massive forge.

Not his father.

Not anyone Kael had ever seen.

The man placed his hand on a sword.

Five symbols appeared behind him.

Blade.

Forge.

Shadow.

Nature.

And something Kael couldn't see clearly.

Then the vision vanished.

Kael staggered.

The Serpent attacked.

He barely blocked.

BOOM!

Kael slid backward.

His vision cleared.

The Beast watched him.

“You saw it.”

Kael's breathing became steady again.

“The first Darven.”

The Serpent nodded.

“He was not a ruler.”

“Not a king.”

“Not a warrior.”

“He was a maker.”

Kael looked at the Origin Blade.

“A forger.”

“Yes.”

The Serpent's gaze sharpened.

“And he was the first human to touch Origin.”

The Silver World

The Serpent attacked.

Kael dodged.

Another spatial cut appeared.

Kael moved left.

Another.

Right.

Another.

Above.

The attacks were difficult to see.

Kael stopped relying on sight.

He closed his eyes.

Mana Control.

The world became energy.

The Serpent's movements were no longer invisible.

He could feel disturbances.

One.

Two.

Three.

Kael moved between them.

The Serpent's eyes narrowed.

“You adapted.”

Kael smiled.

“I had to.”

He raised the V-01X.

Spatial Anchor.

The weapon fired.

The blue anchor appeared.

The Serpent moved.

The anchor broke.

Kael expected it.

He wasn't trying to trap the creature.

He was measuring the spatial distortion.

Again.

Anchor.

Break.

Again.

Anchor.

Break.

Kael watched.

Every time the Serpent cut space, the disturbance appeared from the same type of point.

The creature wasn't generating the cuts randomly.

It had a fixed origin.

Kael's eyes sharpened.

The attack starts from the Origin energy around its body.

Not the claw.

Not the mouth.

Not the scales.

Its entire body was the source.

That meant—

The closer he got—

the more dangerous it became.

Kael immediately changed tactics.

He backed away.

The Serpent followed.

Kael fired long-range shots.

The V-01X.

The GL-02.

The remaining precision rounds.

The Serpent deflected them.

But each deflection consumed Origin energy.

Kael watched the System.

[Verdant Origin Energy: 100% → 97%]

His eyes narrowed.

The System wasn't measuring the same thing as the Origin Node.

The Origin Node had been four percent.

But the Serpent had recovered temporary Origin energy from the prison.

Now it was spending it.

Kael smiled.

So this form has a time limit.

The Serpent noticed his expression.

“You understand.”

“Your Origin Phase isn't permanent.”

“No.”

“How long?”

The Serpent didn't answer.

Kael fired.

The Serpent dodged.

“Then I'll find out.”

The Battle of Attrition

For several minutes, Kael refused to approach.

He attacked from different distances.

One shot.

Move.

Two shots.

Retreat.

Spatial Anchor.

Move.

Mana Disruption.

Retreat.

The Serpent kept advancing.

It wasn't injured.

But its Origin energy kept falling.

97%.

94%.

91%.

Kael's own mana was dropping too.

[Mana: 8%]

His armor was barely functioning.

[Vanguard Armor Integrity: 17%]

But he continued.

The Serpent suddenly vanished.

Kael immediately moved.

A spatial cut passed through the location where he had been.

Another.

Another.

Kael jumped.

The Serpent appeared above him.

Kael crossed the Origin Blade with the attack.

BOOM!

He was forced toward the ground.

His knees hit the earth.

The Serpent's claw remained against his blade.

“Your body is failing.”

Kael gritted his teeth.

“I know.”

“You cannot maintain this pace.”

“I know.”

“You will die.”

Kael looked up.

“I know.”

The Serpent suddenly pushed harder.

Kael's sword nearly slipped.

Then Kael smiled.

“But you keep forgetting something.”

He released the blade.

The Serpent stumbled forward.

Kael stepped sideways.

Metal Control activated.

The Origin Blade moved independently.

It struck the Serpent's side.

CLANG!

The Serpent recoiled.

Kael pulled the sword back.

“You're fighting me like a swordsman.”

The Serpent's eyes narrowed.

“I've seen your habits.”

“But my sword doesn't have habits.”

The Origin Blade floated beside Kael.

“It only has control.”

Kael extended his hand.

The blade moved.

Left.

Right.

Above.

Below.

Then—

All at once.

The Serpent blocked one.

Two.

Three.

The fourth struck its shoulder.

CRACK!

A silver line appeared across its scales.

Kael's eyes sharpened.

The Origin Blade was interacting differently with Origin energy.

It wasn't simply cutting it.

It was resonating with it.

The System flashed.

[Origin Resonance detected.]

[Compatibility increasing.]

[3% → 5%]

Kael stared.

His bloodline was adapting.

Not enough to gain full control.

But enough to understand the principle.

He smiled.

“So that's what you meant.”

The Serpent's expression became serious.

“Do not misunderstand.”

“What?”

“You are not controlling Origin.”

Kael's smile faded.

“Then what am I doing?”

The Serpent looked at the sword.

“You are being recognized by it.”

The First Memory

The Origin Blade suddenly pulsed.

Kael's vision blurred.

Another memory appeared.

A forge.

An ancient civilization.

People carrying strange metallic artifacts.

A vast structure stretching beneath the earth.

And a massive prison.

At its center—

Three enormous silhouettes.

Shadow.

Verdant.

Bone.

Then a fourth chamber.

Black.

Kael heard voices.

“The three locks are complete.”

“The fourth remains sealed.”

“And the Darven bloodline will maintain the system.”

The scene changed.

The first Darven stood before an ancient metal structure.

Someone else stood behind him.

A figure covered in black.

Kael couldn't see its face.

The figure placed a hand on the first Darven's shoulder.

Then whispered:

“Never let them reach the Origin.”

The vision ended.

Kael's eyes opened.

He staggered.

The Serpent was staring at him.

“You saw the warning.”

Kael looked up.

“Who was that?”

“I don't know.”

“The one who spoke.”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

The Serpent's expression remained calm.

“I have been imprisoned longer than your civilization has existed.”

Kael froze.

The Serpent continued.

“I remember very little of the world before the prison.”

“Then how do you know my bloodline?”

“Because your ancestors came here.”

Kael's expression changed.

“How many?”

The Serpent looked at the Origin Blade.

“More than one.”

Kael's hand tightened.

“So my family already came here.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To maintain the prison.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“And they failed.”

The Serpent paused.

“No.”

It looked toward the black tower.

“They succeeded.”

“Then why was my family massacred?”

The Serpent remained silent.

Kael stared.

The answer was hidden somewhere inside the prison.

But this wasn't the time.

The Serpent attacked.

Kael raised his sword.

“Fine.”

Their weapons collided again.

Breaking the Origin Phase

The Serpent's Origin energy had fallen to:

71%.

Kael noticed.

The transformation was powerful.

But temporary.

He didn't need to overpower it.

He needed to survive until it ended.

The Serpent realized what Kael was doing.

“You intend to wait.”

“Yes.”

“You'll lose.”

“Maybe.”

Kael fired.

The Serpent cut the projectile apart.

“But I only need to be right once.”

The Beast charged.

Kael retreated.

A spatial cut.

He dodged.

Another.

He ducked.

Another.

He jumped.

The Origin Blade attacked independently.

CLANG!

The Serpent blocked.

Kael moved.

The V-01X fired.

BOOM!

The shot disrupted the creature's balance.

Kael moved closer.

Origin Blade.

SLASH!

A crack appeared.

The Serpent countered.

Kael died.

Five seconds later.

He reformed.

The Serpent attacked.

Kael already knew the pattern.

He dodged.

Blade.

Shot.

Retreat.

The battle repeated.

Death.

Reformation.

Analysis.

Adaptation.

Death.

Reformation.

Again.

Again.

The Origin energy continued falling.

71%.

64%.

58%.

The Serpent became faster.

Kael became more efficient.

The battlefield became a map of deaths.

Every place where Kael had fallen had become part of his mental model.

Eventually—

The Serpent hesitated.

Kael noticed.

Its Origin energy was below half.

49%.

The Beast's movements became slightly less precise.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Enough for Kael.

He attacked.

The Origin Blade struck the neck.

CRACK!

The Serpent recoiled.

Kael fired.

The V-01X penetrated the existing fracture.

BOOM!

The Beast's head snapped sideways.

Its Origin energy fell.

45%.

Kael attacked again.

Another death.

Another reformation.

Another attack.

The Beast's Origin energy fell.

39%.

It roared.

The sound shook the forest.

“You should have been dead long ago!”

Kael stood.

“You're right.”

He lifted the sword.

“But I'm not.”

The Serpent charged.

Kael met it.

The Origin Blade connected.

A massive burst of energy erupted.

Both were thrown backward.

Kael landed.

The Serpent landed several meters away.

Its body trembled.

[Verdant Origin Energy: 31%]

Kael smiled.

“Nearly there.”

The Serpent's eyes became cold.

Then—

It stopped attacking.

Kael immediately became cautious.

“What are you doing?”

The Serpent looked down.

At the ancient containment structure.

Its eyes widened.

Kael followed its gaze.

The structure was glowing black.

Not green.

Black.

The same color as the central tower.

The Serpent's expression changed.

“No.”

Kael looked at the System.

[Foreign Authority detected.]

[Central Prison attempting emergency stabilization.]

[Verdant Serpent identified as compatible energy source.]

Kael's eyes widened.

“The prison is trying to use you.”

“Yes.”

“For stabilization.”

“Yes.”

The Serpent's body began glowing.

Kael immediately understood.

If the prison forced the Serpent's Origin energy into the containment structure—

the Beast could become stronger again.

And worse—

the central prison would gain access to Origin energy.

Kael raised the Origin Blade.

“Then I'll stop it.”

The Serpent looked at him.

“You cannot.”

“Watch me.”

Kael charged toward the containment structure.

The Serpent moved in front of him.

Kael stopped.

The Beast stared.

“You will have to defeat me first.”

Kael narrowed his eyes.

“I know.”

The Serpent's Origin energy continued dropping.

31%.

29%.

27%.

But the containment structure continued pulling.

A black connection formed between the Serpent and the prison.

Kael's expression became serious.

He had two problems now.

The Serpent.

And the prison.

He looked at the ancient metallic framework.

Then at his Origin Blade.

Then at the black connection.

An idea formed.

Dangerous.

Extremely dangerous.

But possible.

Kael raised his hand.

Metal Control activated.

The ancient metal beneath the containment structure began moving.

The Serpent noticed.

“What are you doing?”

Kael's eyes sharpened.

“Something I should have done earlier.”

He wasn't attacking the structure.

He was changing its direction.

One metal ring.

Then another.

Then another.

The black connection shifted.

The prison's energy began flowing away from the Serpent.

The Serpent stared.

“You're reversing the containment flow.”

Kael gritted his teeth.

“Yes.”

“It will overload the structure.”

“I know.”

“It could destabilize the entire prison.”

Kael paused.

The black tower in the distance trembled.

The System flashed.

[Central Containment Integrity: 74% → 69%]

Kael's expression hardened.

He couldn't push it too far.

But he needed only a few seconds.

The Serpent attacked.

Kael raised the Origin Blade.

BOOM!

The impact forced him backward.

The metallic framework slipped.

Kael pulled again.

The Serpent attacked.

Kael died.

Five seconds later.

Kael reformed.

He was already holding the correct metal ring.

He pulled.

The connection shifted.

The black energy moved.

The Serpent's Origin energy stopped being drained.

The Beast stared.

Kael fell to one knee.

His mana was almost gone.

[Mana: 1%]

The Serpent remained still.

Then—

The Origin energy surrounding it vanished.

31%.

25%.

17%.

9%.

3%.

The final silver light disappeared from its body.

The creature returned to its original form.

Massive.

Green.

Black.

Exhausted.

The System appeared.

[Origin Phase ended.]

[Verdant Origin Node: 4%]

[External Origin Energy: 0%]

[Territory Authority: 0%]

[Verdant Serpent: Severely Weakened.]

Kael stared.

The Beast slowly lowered its head.

“You have done it.”

Kael breathed heavily.

“Not yet.”

The Serpent looked at him.

Kael raised the Origin Blade.

“One more fight.”

The Serpent smiled.

“Yes.”

It lowered its body.

“And this time…”

The creature's eyes softened.

“…I will not use the prison.”

Kael tightened his grip.

“Neither will I.”

The Final Exchange

There was no territory.

No Origin Phase.

No external authority.

No regeneration network.

No spatial manipulation.

Only the Beast.

And the human.

Kael stepped forward.

The Serpent moved.

The first attack came from the left.

Kael blocked.

CLANG!

The second came from above.

He moved.

The third—

Kael ducked.

He countered.

Origin Blade.

SLASH!

The Serpent staggered.

Kael attacked again.

The Beast blocked.

Another exchange.

Another.

Another.

Neither had overwhelming power anymore.

It became a pure battle of technique.

Kael's swordsmanship.

The Serpent's thousands of years of combat instinct.

Kael moved.

The Beast moved.

Kael feinted.

The Serpent didn't react.

The Beast feinted.

Kael refused to move.

Then—

Kael remembered the first battle.

The weak point beneath the jaw.

He stepped inside the Serpent's guard.

The Beast realized.

Too late.

The Origin Blade stopped a fraction before impact.

Kael didn't strike.

Instead, he used Metal Control.

The blade changed direction.

The Serpent twisted.

Kael followed.

One final movement.

The blade touched the damaged Origin Node.

Not enough to destroy it.

Enough to suppress it.

The System flashed.

[Origin Node suppression successful.]

The Serpent froze.

Its body slowly relaxed.

The battle was over.

Kael lowered his sword.

The Verdant Serpent remained standing.

Then—

It bowed its head.

“You have defeated me.”

Kael stared.

The System appeared.

[Legendary Beast Defeated.]

[Target: Verdant Serpent.]

[Combat victory conditions fulfilled.]

[Beast state: Alive.]

[Prison component: Preserved.]

[Verdant Beast Path Compatibility: 9% → 14%]

Kael exhaled.

The timer continued.

[Legendary Immortality Remaining: 34:11:28]

But another notification appeared.

[Warning.]

[Central Containment instability remains.]

Kael looked toward the black tower.

The Verdant Serpent raised its head.

“It is not finished.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“What happened?”

The Serpent looked toward the distant darkness.

“The prison sensed my defeat.”

Kael froze.

“And?”

“It has begun searching for another source.”

Kael immediately understood.

There was only one remaining Legendary Beast.

The one waiting in the Bone Domain.

The Bone Sovereign.

The Serpent looked at Kael.

“The final lock remains.”

Kael tightened his grip around the Origin Blade.

“Then I know where I'm going.”

Far across the pocket world—

a massive blue flame ignited in the darkness.

Then another.

And another.

Thousands of blue lights appeared across a dead wasteland.

The Bone Domain had awakened.

A deep voice echoed across the world.

“A lock has fallen.”

The sound of a gigantic staff striking stone followed.

BOOM.

“Then let the final guardian rise.”

Kael stared into the distance.

The Verdant Serpent lowered its head.

“The Bone Sovereign is waiting.”

And beneath the central tower—

something whispered:

“Two locks remain.”

The forest went silent.

Kael turned toward the Bone Domain.

The next battle had already begun.