The tiger's breath was hot.
Not just warm—but alive.
Auren Veyl stood still, his fingers lightly brushing against the thick fur along the creature's neck. It was dense, wild, and carried a scent that didn't belong to this world anymore—a scent of ancient forests, blood-soaked mountains, and a time when humans were nothing more than prey.
The beast exhaled slowly.
Its golden eyes scanned the room.
And for the first time since the chaos began…
The entire museum fell silent.
"W-What… is that thing?"
A man near the shattered display cases stumbled backward, tripping over a fallen relic. His voice trembled—not out of confusion, but pure instinctive fear.
Because this wasn't just a summoned creature.
This… was something that existed.
Auren tilted his head slightly.
"Strange," he murmured, almost amused. "You people rushed in here thinking relics are just tools."
His gaze moved across the room.
Broken glass. Blood smeared across ancient stone. Torn artifacts that had survived centuries—only to be reduced to scraps within minutes.
"Do you even understand what these things are?"
No one answered.
Because no one dared to.
Across from him, the woman—Lyra Kestrel—tightened her grip.
Her jaw clenched.
Behind her, five jackal-headed warriors stood ready, their weapons gleaming under the dim emergency lights. They growled lowly, restless, sensing the presence of something far beyond them.
"This… isn't normal summoning," she said slowly.
Auren smiled faintly.
"Of course it isn't."
The Difference Between Borrowing Power… and Commanding It
Most people who had entered this new world saw relics as weapons.
Objects.
Tools to dominate others.
But Auren knew better.
Because he had spent years understanding the patterns of a world that no longer existed.
And now—
That knowledge had become absolute authority.
"Those jackals of yours," Auren said, casually glancing at Lyra's summoned creatures, "they're just copies. Hollow imitations tied to your mana."
Lyra's expression darkened.
"And your beast is different?" she snapped.
Auren didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He tapped the tiger's head lightly.
"Show them."
The tiger moved.
Not fast.
Not violently.
But with a presence that crushed everything around it.
Step.
The ground cracked slightly under its weight.
And then—
It roared.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!
The sound wasn't just noise.
It was pressure.
Invisible force slammed into every person in the hall, shaking their bones, freezing their blood, making their instincts scream at them to kneel.
Some did.
Others collapsed entirely.
Even the jackal warriors staggered.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"This… this is—"
"Authority," Auren finished calmly.
A Battle That Was Already Decided
"Attack!" Lyra shouted desperately.
She didn't wait.
Didn't hesitate.
Because deep down—she already knew.
If she didn't act now… she would never get another chance.
The five jackal warriors lunged forward.
Weapons raised.
Speed explosive.
Their movements cut through the air like sharpened blades—
—but before they could even close half the distance—
The tiger moved.
It vanished.
No one saw how.
No one understood when.
But suddenly—
It was already there.
CRACK!!
The first jackal was torn apart mid-air.
Not cut.
Not struck.
Erased.
Its body shattered like fragile glass, dissolving into particles before even hitting the ground.
The second tried to swing its halberd—
—but a claw met it first.
Metal bent.
Bone snapped.
The creature was crushed into the floor.
The third and fourth attacked together.
Perfect coordination.
Flawless timing.
The tiger didn't dodge.
It simply stepped forward.
BOOM!!
The impact alone shattered both of them.
The fifth—
The one with the shield—
hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
That was enough.
The tiger's jaws closed around its neck.
And with a single, effortless motion—
CRUNCH.
Silence.
Five summons.
Gone.
In less than three seconds.
Fear Becomes Reality
Lyra stumbled backward.
Her legs gave out.
She fell.
Not because she was injured.
But because her mind refused to process what she had just seen.
"This… this is impossible…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Her pride—gone.
Her confidence—shattered.
Beside her, the old man—Eldrin Voss—tightened his grip on his staff.
Flames flickered weakly in his palm.
But even he…
Hesitated.
Auren walked forward slowly.
Each step echoed in the silent hall.
"You see the difference now?"
No one answered.
No one could.
"You control power," Auren continued, his voice calm, almost gentle.
"But I…"
He stopped in front of them.
"…understand it."
The Truth Hidden Beneath Chaos
Auren's gaze shifted.
Not to them.
But to something beyond.
Something deeper.
"The map you're fighting over…"
He glanced at the distant display where a torn parchment lay half-hidden under debris.
"…it's useful. I'll give you that."
Information.
Locations.
Future opportunities.
For most players—it would be priceless.
But for Auren—
It was unnecessary.
"Because the real treasure…"
He turned.
And began walking away from them.
"…was never in plain sight."
The Hidden Layer
The others watched.
Confused.
Terrified.
But unable to stop him.
Auren walked toward the far end of the hall.
Toward a section that had been completely ignored.
No flashy relics.
No glowing artifacts.
Just…
Broken stone.
Dust.
And a shallow pool of muddy water from a cracked pipe.
He crouched down.
His fingers touched the surface.
Cold.
Dirty.
Worthless—at least, that's what anyone else would think.
But then—
He smiled.
"Found you."
The Awakening of a Forgotten Relic
Auren reached into the mud.
His hand disappeared beneath the surface.
Seconds passed.
The room held its breath.
And then—
He pulled something out.
A small object.
Dark.
Covered in filth.
Almost unrecognizable.
A broken fragment of stone.
"That's it…?" someone whispered.
Auren didn't respond.
Instead—
He wiped the mud away slowly.
Carefully.
Revealing faint carvings beneath.
Ancient symbols.
Worn by time.
But still alive.
The air changed.
[Hidden Relic Detected]
[Condition: Dormant]
[Compatibility: Unknown]
Auren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Unknown, huh…"
That was new.
Even for him.
Interesting.
Power Doesn't Come Without a Price
Behind him, Eldrin finally stepped forward.
"Wait."
His voice was calm—but tense.
"That relic… it doesn't feel right."
Auren glanced back.
"Oh? You can feel it too?"
Eldrin nodded slowly.
"There's something… wrong with it."
Auren chuckled.
"Of course there is."
He stood up.
Holding the relic in his hand.
"Do you really think something valuable would just sit here peacefully?"
The moment he said that—
The relic pulsed.
Thump.
Once.
Thump.
Twice.
Like a heartbeat.
And then—
[Warning]
[Unknown Authority attempting synchronization]
[Do you wish to accept?]
The entire room froze.
Lyra's eyes widened.
Eldrin's grip tightened.
Even the tiger…
Growled softly.
Auren stared at the message.
His expression unreadable.
Then—
He smiled.
"Now this…"
He whispered.
"…is where things get interesting."
Cliffhanger
His finger moved.
Slowly.
Toward the floating message.
Behind him—
The air began to distort.
Reality itself… trembled.
Because whatever this relic was—
It wasn't just powerful.
It was something…
That didn't belong in this world at all.
And Auren was about to claim it.
End of Chapter 4