The air still smelled of charred flesh and soot, remnants of our battle with Titanus Ignivermis. My body ached, my breathing labored, yet my eyes were fixed on the massive, lifeless form of the creature. It should have vanished like every other monster we defeated in this dungeon—its body dissipating into shards of mana—but there it lay, motionless yet unyielding, defying the laws of this dungeon's strange world.
"Why hasn't it disappeared?" Tsuki's voice broke the heavy silence. Her gaze flitted between the fallen beast and the rest of us, her expression a mixture of curiosity and unease.
None of us had an answer. Even Wogg, who usually had a theory for everything, was silent for once. An awkward quiet settled over the room as we all exchanged confused glances.
It was Wogg who finally broke the silence. "Hey, over here," he said, crouching near a wooden box tucked in a corner. The box was old, its surface warped and cracked, yet it seemed to radiate an odd energy.
When Wogg opened it, we all gathered around, peering at its contents. Inside was a glowing stone, pulsating with a faint, calming light, and a small, intricately designed cube with shimmering symbols etched into its surface.
"What are these?" I asked, reaching out instinctively.
The moment I touched the glowing stone, my system chimed in, its familiar voice filling my mind.
"Mana Stone detected. Mana Stones store magical energy. These are commonly used by mainland humans for spellcasting and powering magical artifacts."
"A Mana Stone," I murmured, placing it into my storage. "Guess this will come in handy."
But my attention was drawn to the cube. Its polished surface gleamed in the dim light, almost inviting me to hold it. The moment my fingers brushed against it, my vision blurred, and a wave of foreign memories crashed into me like a tidal wave.
---
When my vision cleared, I found myself in a dimly lit, abandoned castle. The air was heavy, filled with the scent of damp stone and decay. Before me was a small creature—its appearance blurry, like a half-forgotten dream. It was a young behemoth, no larger than a horse, with soft cries escaping its throat. It seemed wounded, its body trembling as it lay curled on the cold floor.
A pang of sadness hit me, an emotion I couldn't quite place. I tried stepping closer, compelled to comfort the creature, but the young behemoth hissed, its golden eyes glaring at me with fear and mistrust.
Then, a voice echoed through the castle, soft yet firm. A voice I recognized from the earlier memory cube. It was the man with the Annunaki hat.
"Don't worry, little guy. I won't hurt you like those bastards." His voice was soothing, carrying a promise of safety.
The behemoth stopped hissing, its eyes shifting toward the man. There was hesitation in its gaze, but also a flicker of hope.
"What do you think? Want to be my friend?" the man asked, extending a hand.
The young behemoth hesitated, but after a long moment, it stretched out a paw, touching the man's hand.
The scene shifted.
---
Now I was in a warm, familiar room. It was the same place I had seen in my first memory cube—a cozy bedroom, filled with an air of love and tranquility.
The Annunaki man was there, holding a woman close to him. She cradled a newborn child in her arms, her face glowing with happiness, though blurred beyond recognition.
The behemoth was there too. It had grown larger, towering over the couple, its eyes filled with curiosity as it gazed at the tiny child.
The man smiled, looking up at the behemoth. "Behemir, this is our child. We've worked hard to bring her into this world. She's the fruit of our love."
The behemoth's eyes glowed with amazement, its gaze softening as it took in the sight of the infant.
"From now on, you're her guardian," the man continued, his tone firm but affectionate. "You'll protect her from any danger. Will you do it?"
The behemoth nodded eagerly, a deep rumble of joy escaping its throat.
---
The memory shifted again, but this time it was something brighter, something happier.
I was in a vast green meadow, bathed in golden sunlight. The little girl, now a toddler, giggled as she ran through the grass, her laughter echoing in the open air. Behemir, now fully grown, chased after her with surprising gentleness for a creature his size.
The girl stumbled and fell, letting out a playful squeal. Behemir immediately stopped, lowering his head to nuzzle her with his massive snout. She clung to him, laughing as she pulled herself up using his fur.
"Behemir! Faster!" she cried, climbing onto his back. The behemoth obeyed, taking off in a gentle sprint, the girl's laughter ringing out like music.
The man and the woman watched from a distance, their hands entwined. Even with their faces blurred, I could feel the love they radiated as they watched their daughter and her guardian.
It was a peaceful moment, one that seemed like it could last forever.
---
But peace never lasts.
The meadow dissolved, replaced by chaos.
I was now in a desolate landscape. Explosions rocked the ground, and the air was thick with smoke and ash. Behemir was running for his life, the little girl clinging to his back, her terrified cries cutting through the cacophony. Beside him ran the woman, her blurred figure stumbling as they fled.
Behind them, shadowy figures pursued, their forms indistinct but radiating malice.
The woman tripped, falling hard onto the ground. Behemir skidded to a stop, turning back to her with a desperate roar.
"No!" she shouted, her voice strained. "You have to go! Protect her!"
Behemir refused, his massive form trembling as he stepped toward her.
"Behemir!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "She's your responsibility! Save her, no matter what!"
Behemir let out a heart-wrenching roar but obeyed, turning and bolting away with the girl on his back.
As they fled, the shadowy figure reached the woman. Its form was indistinct, a mass of darkness with glowing red eyes. Without hesitation, it drove a hand through her chest.
As they go by, the girl saw the whole horror. She screams again and again. But there's nothing she can do about it.
While they were running the dark, shadowy figure loomed before them, its form writhing like smoke given shape. Crimson eyes burned within the darkness, and its voice was cold, dripping with malice.
"So, this is all that's left," the shadowy figure said, his tone mocking as his gaze swept over the girl and the behemoth. "A guardian beast and a powerless little girl. How pathetic."
The girl trembled but stepped forward, her tiny fists clenched at her sides. Her voice, though shaking, carried defiance. "You… monster!" she spat, her words laced with fury. "You destroyed everything! You killed my parents!"
The figure chuckled darkly, his laughter echoing across the desolation. "Killed? Oh no, little one. Finished is the word you're looking for."
The girl's body stiffened, and her breathing grew ragged. Anger burned in her eyes as she glared at the shadowy figure, tears streaming down her face.
"You'll pay for this!" she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her grief and rage. "I'll destroy you!"
As she shouted, something began to change. Her eyes, which had been a soft brown, now gleamed a vivid, blood-red. A faint glow emanated from her, the air around her charged with an unnatural energy.