“I won’t… break,” he snarled through clenched teeth, his voice trembling with the effort of holding on. His eyes locked onto the distant peak of Devil Mountain, and with a surge of defiance, he cried out, a primal roar echoing through the desolate forest.
Tang Zi watched intently, his expression unreadable. “This is it. He’s reached his limit.”
Satisfied that Kent got pushed to the brink, Tang Zi reached into his storage ring and pulled out a small glass idol, shimmering with an inner light.
He approached Kent and, without a word, shattered the idol right in front of Kent’s face.
The moment the glass splintered, a strange, golden aura burst forth from within, swirling around Kent in a vortex of energy. The magical aura wrapped around him like a protective cocoon, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Kent’s gasping breaths began to steady as the aura seeped into his skin, merging with his own energy.
Suddenly, something within Kent stirred. The golden aura was more than just protective—it was awakening something primal, something ancient that lay dormant within him. Tang Zi stepped back, watching as the magical aura began to invoke a beastly presence within Kent.
Kent’s eyes glazed over for a moment before a fierce light ignited within them. He felt a deep rumble in his chest, and then, as if in response to some silent command, a transparent figure began to materialize around his body.
The first feature to appear was the head—a massive lion’s head, with a mane of golden fur that seemed to glow with an inner fire. It was both majestic and terrifying, with eyes that blazed with a wild, untamed ferocity.
Next, golden wings sprouted from Kent’s back, each feather sharp and golden, as if forged from pure light. The wings stretched wide, casting long shadows on the ground as they flapped once, stirring the air with their immense power.
The invisible figure around Kent solidified further, as golden fur began to spread over the translucent form, covering it in a shimmering coat that seemed to pulse with life.
Kent’s body trembled as the transformation of the transparent figure completed. The lion’s head roared silently above his own, and the wings flexed in anticipation. The transparent figure is just the inner spirit of Kent which materialized under the effect of Idol’s Magical Aura.
Tang Zi observed the transformation with a mix of pride and satisfaction. “The Sacred Winged Lion,” he murmured to himself.
As Kent stretched out his arms with an angry roar at the sky, the lion’s roar finally found its voice. The ground beneath him trembled as the powerful cry echoed through the forest, shaking the very trees and scattering the creatures that lurked in the shadows.
As the golden aura that had surrounded Kent began to fade, the energy form it had brought with it slowly dissipated into the night air.
The fierce light in Kent’s eyes dimmed, replaced by a look of exhaustion as the strain of the transformation took its toll on him. His muscles felt heavy, and his mind, though still buzzing with the power he had just unleashed, began to cloud over with fatigue.
Tang Zi, watched Kent closely. Without hesitation, Tang Zi pulled a small vial from his robe—a potion designed to counteract the effects of the mountain’s oppressive energy. He handed it to Kent.
“Drink this,” Tang Zi instructed, his voice firm yet gentle.
Kent obeyed, taking the potion in one gulp. The liquid was cool and refreshing, and he could feel it working almost immediately, clearing the fog from his mind and soothing his aching body.
Before Kent could speak, Tang Zi wrapped an arm around his shoulder and began dragging him away from the vicinity of Devil Mountain. The further they moved from the mountain, the lighter Kent felt. The oppressive weight that had been pressing down on him gradually lifted, and his thoughts became clearer.
By the time they had put a significant distance between themselves and the mountain, Kent was able to stand on his own again. He looked up at Tang Zi, confusion and curiosity in his eyes.
“Master… what happened back there?” Kent asked, his voice still hoarse from the strain.
Tang Zi paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before replying. “You reached your limit, Kent. The Devil Mountain was testing your will, your spirit. When you could no longer hold on, I intervened with the glass idol’s magical aura. It was designed to invoke the true nature of your inner beast. What you experienced… what you became, was your true spirit beast revealing itself.”
Kent frowned as he processed this information. “My spirit beast? What… what is it?”
Tang Zi’s expression softened, and he nodded. “Your spirit beast is one of the 13 sacred beasts, Kent. Specifically, the 3rd sacred beast—the Winged Lion. This is no ordinary spirit; it is the spirit beast of the 3-Phased God, the origin god of the Solar Universe.”
Kent’s eyes widened in shock. “The Winged Lion… one of the sacred beasts?” He had heard stories of these beasts, revered for their immense power and their deep connection to the gods themselves. But to think that such a creature was his spirit beast… it was almost too much to comprehend.
Seeing the amazement on Kent’s face, Tang Zi nodded approvingly. “Yes, Kent. The Winged Lion is a symbol of strength and authority. It is a rare and powerful beast, capable of great feats. The fact that this is your spirit beast means you have a tremendous potential within you.”
Kent took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts.
Tang Zi could see the eagerness in Kent’s eyes, the hunger to understand and master his newfound power. But he also knew that Kent needed time to rest and recover from the ordeal.
“You’ve been through a lot today. Your body and mind need time to recover. Rest for the night, and tomorrow, we will begin the process of cultivating your transformation. There is much for you to learn, and you must be at your best to take it all in.” Tang Zi said with a small smile.
Kent nodded, though his mind was still buzzing with questions. But he bowed his head to tang Zi in respect before leaving.
Tang Zi patted Kent on the shoulder.
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