The cold, metallic voice of the system echoed across the void:
> "Evolution complete."
A loud crack split the air.
From the round, stone-like egg nestled in the corner of the cave, spiritual energy began to seep from a crack—subtle at first, then spreading through the stone like wildfire. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, glowing faintly. With a sudden surge. The rock shattered.
A pair of glowing golden eyes snapped open.
---
"Across the cavern, just as their clash was about to begin, Senior Brother Li and the demonic fox froze—both sensing a sudden, violent surge of spiritual energy. Their eyes widened as they turned toward the source."
Emerging from the shattered stone was Lizarius... but no longer a mere lizard.
Its body stood about one feet tall, cloaked in pearl-white scales, glinting with power. Two golden horns curved from its skull, and bat-like wings stretched from its back. Each claw shimmered like solid gold, and seven razor-sharp golden scales gather down the tip of its tail like a blade.
It looked less like a beast, and more like a dragon from a forgotten myth.
---
Sweat dripped from Senior Brother Li's brow.
> "What kind of beast is that...? A mutation? No… it came from a spirit stone. Could it be—an ancient species?"
Then he sensed it—Third Level Foundation Establishment.
> "Damn. I'm only at Second Level. Trying to fight that… would be suicide."
The fox demon narrowed his eyes, calculating.
> "A demonic beast at the third level... If I can convince it to ally with me, I might still survive."
---
The beast—Lizarius—flexed his golden claws, spiritual lightning crackling across his body. His stomach growled.
>"So hungry"
He turned his head.
There, still meditating, sat Junior Sister Yue Ruo, surrounded by a soft glow of circulating qi.
Lizarius's glowing gaze locked on her.
> "A human."
Lightning sparked again. In a flash, Lizarius vanished.
---
"Yue Ruo, watch out!" Senior Brother Li shouted in panic.
Too late.
She opened her eyes—just as Lizarius materialized beside her, his jaws clamping down on her neck. His fangs pierced flesh like paper.
Her eyes widened—then came the lightning.
A deafening crack lit up the cave, engulfing her in blinding white. When the light faded, her robes were nothing but ash, her skin charred, her body crumpled on the floor—lifeless.
Lizarius didn't hesitate. He tore into her neck and began devouring.
---
Both the fox and Senior Brother stood frozen, stunned.
> "It killed a Second Level Foundation Establishment cultivator in one strike..."
"What kind of monster is this...?"
Senior Brother Li took a shaky step back.
> "No... I have to leave. If I stay here, I'm going to die!"
But as Lizarius raised his blood-drenched head, golden eyes glowing with hunger, lightning flared again.
> "Trying to run away?"
Senior Brother Li tried to move.
He couldn't.
His limbs were frozen.
Not with fear—but paralyzed.