Metria: Reaching Transformation I in the stage of Integration, you will be able to harness Surface Transformation and Armored Transformation. At this stage, the beast origin orb you choose will merge with your body, soul, and spirit—becoming one with you. This beast origin orb contains the power of transformation itself.
In Integration, the orb plays a crucial role. The twelve beast origin orbs you select will forge and evolve your body once more. This process reshapes not only your physical form, but also your internal being, spirit, and very existence. Once it begins, it cannot be undone, plundered, or taken from you. You will no longer remain human.
These beast origin orbs are special. All of them were created and refined by Master to guarantee Transformation I through IX. But this does not mean that cultivation will be easy or swift. You must uncover the mysteries of this power yourself. After all, you are the first to cultivate it.
Vania: Will this also change my physical form? Will I become ugly from it?
Metria: That depends on the beast origin orb you choose, but according to Master's description, it will not. Your overall appearance will only change if you fully transform into a beast during Beastial Transformation. In that state, you may shift between humanoid and beastial form. You need not worry about your appearance, Vania.
Vania: That's reassuring.
Logan: Why worry about your face? Don't forget—you can't revert to your younger self without Lyrus' help. You're still stuck with those old, wrinkled features.
Vania: Shut up. Lyrus also said that we will be the face of the sect, so appearance matters. Isn't that right, Metria?
Metria: Indeed.
Vania: See?
Teo: In this world, power is the basis of a respectable leader. We should simply choose the mightiest and most powerful among the beast origin orbs.
Everyone agreed with Teo.
Thomas: I just wonder, Metria—how did Lyrus create millions of beast origin orbs in only a few months?
Metria: I cannot answer that. But during those months when Master was absent, his power changed once again—becoming incomprehensible. The production happened within the White Domain, so we cannot fathom how he managed it.
All I know comes from Vigil and Razor. The White Domain has become something akin to heaven itself, with a grand, heavenly palace at its center. When Vigil and Razor entered, they constantly felt the presence of other entities, though they could not discern what they were. Every moment there felt as if they were being watched from every angle, stripped bare before unseen eyes. Vigil also claimed that those entities carried out Master's every command.
Time itself is altered in the White Domain. Vigil once said he stayed there for months, yet only a second passed outside. For now, only Vigil is permitted entry, so we know little—especially regarding the production of these beast origin orbs.
Thomas: So Lyrus has been busy all this time.
Selso: This is my final pick.
Selso had completed his twelve beast origin orb selections.
Metria: Are you certain of this?
Selso: I am. I've thought it through for hours.
Metria: Very well. You're ready. You may begin absorbing your beast origin orbs.
A great door opened, leading out into the sect's Hall of Faith and Favor. Selso stepped through, leaving the independent realm behind.
Logan: I'm done too.
Logan had also finished his selection.
Metria: You may take your time.
Vania: By the way, Metria—is twelve beast origin orbs the limit for Integration?
Metria: Yes, for the first stage of cultivation. But once you reach Awakening, you may integrate additional, higher-ranking beast origin orbs.
Teo: Higher-ranking beast origin orbs? What do you mean?
Metria: The orbs here were forged by Master, but most were deliberately weakened so they could be integrated safely. Currently, Master has created around a thousand higher-ranking beast origin orbs. But through experimentation, vessels of even mythical rank have exploded upon attempting integration.
This is why Master produced millions of the safer kind—infant orbs, you could say. These can grow, evolve, and adapt freely. They are safe even for ordinary humans. More importantly, their growth depends on your effort and destiny, not on limits imposed by Master.
Vania: So there are stronger ones…
Metria: Indeed. But according to Vigil, some of those higher-ranking orbs have developed sentience and spirituality, becoming living entities. Such orbs can no longer be integrated—it would be too dangerous.
Teo: If they could make a mythical-ranked vessel explode, then they must be unimaginably strong.
Metria: Exactly. That is why everyone strives to grow stronger—lest we be replaced by younger, more powerful cultivators. Many of the uncontrollable orbs carry dragon bloodlines, bred within the lake. Master also mentioned that Volderon's bloodline played a role in their successful breeding.
Teo: Those long dragons.
Vania: Yes… It's been months, but the lake is now full of them.
Thomas: So that's why he extracted blood from Volderon—to enhance the draconic carps. A fusion of Leviathan and Forge Dragon bloodlines. Volderon's bloodline alone is supreme, but with Lyrus' methods, their growth will be unstoppable. They could truly become a force to be feared. It seems Lyrus is preparing for all-out war in the new lands.
Metria: Indeed.
---
White Domain, inside a vast laboratory.
All seven dragons were submerged in towering laboratory cylinders filled with medicinal solution. Each one lay unconscious within their glass prisons.
Lyrus stood before them, analyzing their bloodlines while simultaneously running simulations of their potential growth and evolution.
Lyrus: This one has become an elemental lifeform. Even though it has the shape of a long blue dragon, its powers are no longer truly draconic. Everything about it belongs to the water element. It can transform into ice, steam, or even fog. Hmph… I'll need to refine and reforge its body.
He shifted his gaze to the others.
Lyrus: As for the rest, it would be a waste of talent if they continue along the path of dragons. This project seems to be a failure… But still, these seven have become sentient—that alone is a worthy result.
At that moment, Alseiga and Reous entered the laboratory.
Alseiga: "Master, you called for me."
Lyrus: "So I was right. You truly have talent. I only gave you my notes a week ago, and you've already reached half a step toward conceptualization."
Alseiga: "Thank you for your praise, Master. It is all thanks to your guidance."
Lyrus: "You are now permitted to go out into the world, along with the others—except for Cassandra, who is still on the verge of evolution."
Alseiga: "Thank you, Master."
Lyrus: "Use the connection to Sauron. I grant you authority to create a gate leading outside. Send a message to him as well: the dragons in the lake are failures. All of them must be eradicated, and their origin orbs delivered back to the White Domain. The breeder dragons as well."
Alseiga: "Yes, Master."
Lyrus: "As for you, Reous—along with Zion, Zoren, and Elcid—you will meet with Titus and assist him with the Avalon Religion."
Reous: "By your will, Master."
Lyrus: "The others will continue to support the sect and their brothers and sisters in their tasks. Now go."
They bowed and left.
---
At the edge of the Tevera Continent, near the Black Sea.
Lanfer and Leonor stood upon the massive branch of an ancient tree, their eyes fixed on the Dehedra.
The colossal beast lingered at the shoreline, devouring the remains of a gargantuan serpent, tearing into its flesh with dreadful hunger.
Leonor: "At last. After a week of waiting, the serpent finally appeared."
They had lingered here for days without catching sight of the Dehedra. But the abundance of rotting, freshly killed beast carcasses scattered across the area had made them certain this was where the creature returned to feast.
Lanfer: "I'll establish a connection with Melevia and report to Master."
---
Back in Avalon.
The lake where the young dragons once dwelled was now silent. Their bodies had been cleared away, devoured by Sauron, Devora, Silvio, and Desmir.
Their origin orbs had already been sent back to the White Domain, together with the captured breeder dragons.
Having feasted on the flesh of these pure-blooded young dragons with terrifying latent powers, the four devourers—Sauron, Devora, Silvio, and Desmir—had each entered states of deep evolution.
Scattered in secluded places around the lake, they now lay dormant. Their auras swelled like violent storms, surging higher and higher with every passing moment.
Alseiga: It seems the failed dragon legion has become nourishment for the evolution of our elder brothers.
He muttered from a small cottage near the lake. A moment later, Vigil arrived.
Vigil: "It has only been a week, and you've already reached conceptualization."
Alseiga had taken on a fully human form. His silvery hair was tipped in black, his face striking and handsome. Though he still bore five eyes, the one upon his forehead remained closed, as did two of the four he once used. Only two gleamed open now.
Alseiga: "It was thanks to Sister's guidance. I embody the concept of—"
Vigil: "Stop. Master forbade us from revealing our concepts to anyone. They must remain secret. Your concept should never be made known to others."
Alseiga: "But Titus's concept is known to everyone."
Vigil: "That is only a subsidiary—Dream Revelation, Faith, and Favor. Those are but extensions of his true concept, crafted by Master for the foundation of Avalon Church, and to establish the Transformation ability he granted to others. Never reveal your true concept. It is your trump card."
Alseiga: "Yes, Elder Sister. What about Master?"
Vigil: "We are bound to Master. He already knows what concept each of us embodies. There's no need to speak of it. By keeping it hidden, our enemies will never anticipate or counter our power."
Alseiga: "I understand. Thank you again for your advice, Sister."
Suddenly, Melevia rushed into the cottage.
Vigil: "Crimson General Melevia, what's the urgency?"
Melevia: "Greetings, Miss Vigil. A message from our queen—she has located the Dehedra."
Vigil: "That is good news. Are you still linked to your queen?"
Melevia: "Yes."
Vigil: "Then open your consciousness. Do not resist my power."
Melevia: "Yes." She closed her eyes.
Vigil: "Link."
---
On the other side of the connection—
Lanfer: "Vigil."
Vigil: "It's been months, Sister."
Lanfer: "Indeed. I already miss home."
Vigil: "You can rest after this mission. Now—what's the situation?"
Lanfer: "The Dehedra is at the seaside near the Black Sea. It's resting after devouring countless aquatic beasts."
Vigil: "And its strength?"
Lanfer: "From my observation, we don't need a large force to bring it down. You and Ishvel will suffice, with Sedestro, Xukhar, and Horus as reinforcement."
Vigil: "I'll report to Master first."
She withdrew her hand from Melevia's head.
Vigil: "Maintain your link with your queen. When I return, I'll open a gate to her side through your connection."
Melevia: "Yes, Miss Vigil."
Vigil vanished instantly, reappearing in the White Domain. There she found Lyrus, busy storing the dragon origin orbs from the fallen brood. The breeder dragons floated unconscious inside laboratory cylinders nearby.
Lyrus: "What is it?"
Vigil: "It is time, Master."
She reported Lanfer's analysis of the Dehedra.
Lyrus: "Good. Summon Sedestro, Xukhar, Horus, Ishvel, Zakhar, and Magnus. Proceed at once and capture the Dehedra."
Vigil: "Yes, Master."
And with that, Vigil vanished.
---
Horus, within his independent realm inside the black orb, had gathered and evolved thousands of Zoltaur into humanoid Demonic Royal Demons.
All of them now rested within crimson-red, transparent flesh-like wombs, while Horus himself sat in deep meditation, furthering his powers and abilities.
Horus: "What is it, Vigil?"
Vigil: "Master has tasked us with capturing the Dehedra. Oh… congratulations, Brother. You've succeeded in conceptualizing as well. Without this visit, I never would have known."
Horus: "Thank you, Sister. It was only a stroke of luck."
Vigil: Tsk. "Don't be so humble. No one reaches conceptualization by mere luck. You've evolved… become more intelligent. A cunning bastard."
Horus: "Haha."
Vigil's gaze swept across the realm, noticing the countless demonic species bred within—the forces Horus had carefully cultivated.
Vigil: "Not bad."
But as she thought of her own legions, numbering in the millions, she felt the weight of exhaustion pressing against her.
Horus: "Yes, compared to you and our other brothers, I don't have problems managing the size of my legions. These were all evolved from Zoltaur. I once read in a book that a single essence carried millions—billions—of sperm. Using that means of production allows mass creation. It's far easier than raising and nurturing legions of such vast numbers as yours."
Vigil: "I've already devised solutions for that. And once we capture the Dehedra, the Black Sea will become our hunting grounds. Come—we must go to Sedestro."
With that, Vigil and Horus vanished, reappearing in the hellish independent realm of Sedestro.
Vigil: "What in the world is happening here?"
All around them, millions of black demons clashed in brutal combat, devouring the bodies of their fallen brethren, growing stronger with each kill.
Sedestro: "Fight! Fight! Only the strong may survive! Only the talented will remain alive! Only the powerful shall join my legions!"
Horus: "Sedestro…"
Sedestro: "Vigil, Horus? Why are you here?"
Without a word, Vigil stepped forward and slammed her fist into his head.
Sedestro: "Ouch! What was that for?"
Vigil: "What do you think you're doing? Forcing all these younglings to fight to the death?"
Sedestro: "Well, I miscalculated… and this was the number produced. But don't worry—even if they die, they'll resurrect. Look—the souls of the fallen are absorbed into the Black Tree. Then, new black fruits emerge, fall, and hatch into demons once more. Through this process, I've also reproduced the Black Trees, creating a forest that not only feeds them but resurrects them endlessly. And look at those demons—do they look like they're suffering?"
Vigil paused, observing the gruesome cycle before her. The realm was a nightmare made flesh, yet the demons within showed no despair—not even in death. They knew they would return.
Vigil: "How… how did you uncover this secret of the independent realm?"
Sedestro: "When I accidentally killed millions of them trying to reduce their numbers. Hehe…"
This time, it was Horus who struck him across the head.
Sedestro: "Argh! I know, I know, I made a mistake. But listen—this independent realm is like a miniature world. It contains a built-in ecosystem suited to those who refine the orb given by Master. The energy here transforms into resources beneficial for both us and our legions. Spill enough blood, and it nourishes the land, activating the resurrection mechanism. That's how these trees were born. And the more blood spilled, the more they spread and grow. I also scattered seeds, berries, and fruits I gathered from outside. They evolved into black trees with fruits to feed the demons. I even threw in some lizards and beasts—they grew into monstrous abominations, serving as meat for my legion. Now, this place is survival of the fittest. But most importantly… my independent realm is completely self-sustaining."
Vigil: "This is… an incredible discovery."
Both Vigil and Horus exchanged glances, suddenly reflecting on their own independent realms given by Lyrus.
Sedestro: "What, did you come here just to check up on me? How thoughtful of you, Brother and Sister."
Horus: "No. Master ordered us to capture the Dehedra. We came to fetch you."
Sedestro: "Ah…"
Horus: "Let's go."
The three vanished and reappeared inside Ishvel's independent realm.
Sedestro: "What the fuck is this…?"
They found themselves standing in a lush, endless green forest beneath a bright blue sky. Clouds drifted overhead, the land teeming with countless animals and beasts. It was no mere realm—it was a complete world.
And within it, they sensed the auras of millions belonging to Ishvel's races.
Sedestro: "So Ishvel also overproduced… but unlike me, he turned his independent realm into a paradise. This is more self-sustaining than mine. Hmph. I'll need to introduce more plants and species to my own."
Horus & Vigil: "…This…"
They were stunned.
Vigil: "Are we the only ones who never explored the true wonders of the orbs Master gave us?"
Horus: "Seems I was too dumb to realize. Damn it, this is frustrating."
Not long after, Ishvel appeared, carrying a pair of boars—male and female. He tossed them into the orb, and they were instantly absorbed. Moments later, the ground burst open and thousands of boars emerged, scattering across the forest.
The three watched in utter shock.
Ishvel: "Hehe. You didn't know, did you? This is the power of the independent realm Master bestowed upon us."
Vigil: "How did you uncover this? Master only told me to feed my legions by clearing beast hordes across Tevera and capturing new races in pairs. He never mentioned this effect of the independent realm."
Ishvel: "Maybe he wanted you to figure it out yourselves, rather than ask him for everything. Remember—it's our task to raise our own legions. Of course, he must have considered how to provide us with resources. This orb is a world. Drop your essence in, and it produces legions. Drop living beings, and it breeds resources to sustain them. But it only works with living creatures, like these boars. As for trees, just drop in seeds. Drop in a trunk, and it spawns monster trees."
Vigil: "Why didn't you tell us?"
Ishvel: "I thought you already knew."
Vigil: "I was too busy to explore my own realm… Master was busy as well. No wonder he gave me that look when I complained about the burden of feeding my legions. He must've thought I was being foolish…"
But Vigil did not know—even Lyrus himself was unaware of this effect. He had entrusted them with the orbs, leaving them to uncover their own methods of survival, while he busied himself within the White Domain.
Horus: "We need to let the others know. Visit them before we deal with the Dehedra."
Sedestro: "Agreed. Everyone must be under the same strain."
Vigil: "Then it's decided—we'll see the others first. Goodness…"
Ishvel: "The Dehedra… is that why you came here? Is it time?"
Horus: "It is. Lanfer and the others are monitoring it even now. They're waiting for us to arrive and begin the capture."
Vigil: "Let's head to Xukhar next."
Sedestro: "No need. Xukhar and I use the same methods."
Horus: "Hmm… I see. You've conceptualized too, Ishvel. Congratulations."
Ishvel: "And you as well. Congratulations, Brother."
Sedestro: "Wait… you really have. I didn't even notice—distracted as I was by this paradise of yours. Shall we fight?"
Vigil: "Not now. We can't afford injuries. Reserve your strength—we'll need it to capture the Dehedra."
She already knew Ishvel's concept long beforehand.