Aaron's bones, blood, and flesh reformed.
His body expanded—reshaping into a fusion of drake and lion.
A mane flowed along his neck and shoulders.His hind legs ended in hooves.His frame grew larger—
He stood at 2.5 meters, towering.
For a moment—
Something felt… off.
His pupils narrowed into predatory slits as he moved, Austin flying alongside him.
Then—
He split.
Aaron continued forward—
But beside him now stood the creature.
The two-headed beast.
Massive. Still. Watching.
Its crimson eyes burned—
But lacked something.
A glint.
A presence.
The awareness that still lingered within Aaron's own gaze.
Aaron slowed.
Stopped.
The shift registered—
He was no longer within that form.
Not fully.
Austin hovered nearby, a faint smile forming.
The beast snarled.
—
A screen materialized before Aaron.
—————————————————
Name: Orion (Soul Beast)
Type: Guardian Beast
Tier: 3.0
Beast Rank: Silver
Description:
A fusion born from the Beastialification of the Veyrath bloodline and the soul-bound guardian beasts inherent to the Cernyx lineage.
Beastialification may still be activated through fusion with Orion.
If not merged, Orion exists as an independent entity—A companion residing within the Soul Space, deployable similarly to a squad unit.
—————————————————
The creature bared its fangs, both heads scanning the surroundings like predators.
Aaron stepped forward.
Slowly—
He raised a hand.
And touched one of its heads.
For a moment, it stilled.
Then—
The tension faded.
Like a storm dissolving.
The beast lowered itself, both heads pressing gently against him—nuzzling.
…
Aaron let out a quiet laugh.
Austin watched from the side, amused.
"That was the first objective," he said. "Separation."
His gaze shifted to the beast.
"Orion—go. Assist Null."
A portal unfolded at his command.
Orion stepped back from Aaron, then moved through without hesitation.
The portal collapsed behind him.
Silence lingered.
—
Austin turned.
His smile returned.
"Now… as for you."
Aaron felt it immediately.
A faint sense of dread.
"…Right," he muttered. "Time to run."
But what came next,…..
—
Snap—
Ropes coiled around his arms, stones locking into place.
More weights attached to his legs.
The pull dragged him downward—
Heavy.
Restricting.
His expression darkened.
"Sir Austin, what do you—"
His words cut off.
"—Shit."
—
Crash—
The flag descended.
Larger.
Heavier.
Faster.
Crash—
Crack—
It slammed into the ground behind him as Aaron burst into motion.
He ran.
—
Each step burned.
Fatigue clawed at his body—
But stopping wasn't an option.
Another crash shook the ground behind him.
Closer.
Closer.
…
I mean seriously dear readers—
Would you….
Be crushed repeatedly—
Or keep running?
There isn't really a choice for Aaron….
"—Hoooh…"
Aaron's voice dragged through the arena—low, strained.
"…Sir Austin," he called, breath uneven, a faint, tired smile pulling at his lips. "Can I get some water?"
Austin tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm… let me think."
A pause.
"Can you?"
Silence.
Then—
"No."
A laugh followed.
The flag descended.
Crash—
It struck him head-on.
The impact drove the air from his lungs, forcing him down against the cold floor.
"—Agh—!"
Pain flared through his body.
He sucked in a sharp breath, voice rough.
"…Damn it, Austin… could you ease up a little?"
His fingers pressed against the ground as he pushed himself up.
"That actually hurt."
"Tsk…"
Austin's voice cut in, flat.
"As if I care."
A beat.
"Tsk…keep running like I care!"
Crash—
Crack—
Unbeknownst to Aaron—
Austin had already acted.
One of his Generals moved in silence, retrieving the pouch and exchanging a single silver coin for a simple leather bottle.
…
Minutes passed.
Then—
"Stop."
Austin's voice rang out.
"Drink. Then we continue."
Aaron slowed, breath still uneven.
A General appeared beside him—silent, precise.
The leather bottle was tossed.
Aaron caught it.
The figure vanished just as quickly.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
He uncorked it—
And drank.
Cool water slid down his throat.
Refreshing.
Clean.
For a moment, the strain faded.
…
A small luxury.
—
But alas—
luxury never lasted.
Crash—
The flag came down again.
The flag struck—
And sent Aaron flying.
He slammed into the plain wall section.
Impact—
Air ripped from his lungs.
"—Cough—Cough—!"
"…Sir Austin," he forced out between breaths, voice rough, "I thought you'd let me drink the… water?"
Austin chuckled.
"I did."
A pause.
"But never let your guard down."
Laughter followed—light, almost amused.
"Poor Aaron. Run."
Another beat.
"And drink while you can. Cherish it."
His smile sharpened.
"From here on… it only gets harder."
—
Aaron's eyes widened—
And he moved.
Running.
Drinking.
Trying to do both as the flag descended again—
And again—
Relentless.
The water sloshed with each step, some spilling as he forced it down between breaths.
No pause.
No safety.
Only pressure.
—
Eventually—
The bottle emptied.
Aaron tossed it aside.
A silent signal.
—
"Stop."
The flag halted.
Austin pointed.
"Now. Punch the wall."
The plain section.
Different textures embedded across its surface.
Aaron narrowed his eyes slightly.
Suspicion.
Still—
He stepped forward.
And struck.
—
Pain shot through his hand.
Sharp.
Immediate.
His arm recoiled on instinct.
That wasn't random.
The surface—
—
His instincts screamed.
He moved—
Just as—
Crash—
The flag slammed into where he had stood.
—
Aaron exhaled sharply, body tensing.
Austin only smiled.
And winked.
"Nicely done."
A pause.
"Now keep going…"
His voice dipped.
"…or else."
—
Punches and flag strikes alternated in a relentless rhythm.
Boom—Crash—Boom—Crash—
The sound echoed endlessly through the arena, folding into itself until it became almost constant.
Aaron kept moving.
Still running.Still striking.Still enduring.
Fatigue crept in slowly—quiet at first, then heavier, like chains wrapping around his limbs.
Unnoticed by him—
Something deeper was happening.
His body wasn't just adapting.
It was changing.
Structurally.
At a fundamental level.
—
Austin's voice finally cut through the noise.
"Alright… that's enough for today."
The flag lowered.
Silence followed, almost unnatural after the chaos.
"You did well."
A pause.
"You can eat. Sleep. Rest. Do whatever you want."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"But most importantly—check your Forge room. Null's squad delivered materials today."
He turned away slightly.
"You're dismissed."
A final glance over his shoulder.
"And Aaron…"
A faint, satisfied tone entered his voice.
"Tomorrow. Dawn. Don't be late."
Hunger had settled in by now.
It was nearing noon—and more importantly, Aaron had no intention of being seen.
Not like this.
He grabbed his pouch, left quickly, and made his way to the cafeteria.
Ate.
Fast.
Quiet.
Then returned without delay.
—
His consciousness sank back into the Soul Space.
—
Null's Chamber greeted him first.
Daggers lined the walls in precise order.
Potion stands shimmered faintly with contained energy.
Everything felt organized. Controlled. Prepared.
—
Then Aaron turned.
And paused.
The second door—once blank stone—had changed.
Cracks ran through its surface.
And from within—
A double gate like door had formed.
Majestic.
Golden.
A symbol of four wings engraved across its surface, a halo above them.
Aaron exhaled lightly.
He stepped closer
The doors responded.
It slid open smoothly.
—
Inside—
A throne stood.
Smaller than expected.
Golden.
Silent.
Around it, racks lined the walls.
Filled with flags.
Dozens.
And beyond them—
A third door.
White marble.
Blank.
Unreadable.
Unopened.
Aaron smirked faintly.
Still more to discover.
Still more hidden.
—
His thoughts settled.
Slowly
Where was the Grand Soul Forge…?