---
After defeating the Wraith of the swamp, the fog began to tremble.
The ground we were standing on…
was breathing.
The system pinged:
> [Subterranean Signal Detected | Hidden Shapeshifter Lair Below]
"Do you wish to descend into the Flesh Labyrinth?"
Without replying, I went down.
Kaari didn't stop me.
There was something cold in her eyes.
---
Underground Begins – "Flesh Labyrinth"
This wasn't a normal cave.
The walls were made of flesh, a heartbeat echoed through them.
It felt like we were entering a living organism.
We reached a place where the walls had faces — all shapeshifters, frozen in agony.
> Kaari: "Every shapeshifter who forgot their original form… stayed here."
---
In front of a broken mirror, another system ping appeared:
> [Blood Sanctuary Gate Requires: Shifter DNA Signature]
I cut my finger and gave it — but the gate rejected it.
System Alert: "Lineage Not Verified"
Kaari looked surprised, "You're… not a pure-blood?"
I was stunned. I always thought I was just some reincarnated fluke.
But the system was saying something else.
---
First Real Twist – The Origin Conflict
Then Kaari placed her hand on the mirror… and the gate opened.
> "I'm a pureblood… and you're an error."
I thought she was joking — but the system confirmed:
> [Revelation Detected: Subject Kaari = Alpha Lineage – Generation 2 Shapeshifter]
[You = Generation 0. Synthetic Rebirth]
Something lit up inside me.
The system unlocked another voice — an ancient memory echo:
---
[MEMORY LOG – TYPE Zeta Protocol]
Subject Z-00 was never born. He was assembled from void-class residue and soul fragments from over 300 failed vessels.
"His existence is a patchwork — unstable, untraceable, unpredictable."
---
Underground Battle Begins – Kaari's Trial
Kaari said:
> "You must be tested. If you don't have that 'Instinct,' you won't leave this place."
System Prompt:
> [Trial: Shapeblood Echo – Survive Kaari's True Form for 3 minutes without shifting]
---
Kaari's form shattered.
Her entire body turned into crimson-black tendrils.
Her eyes — pitch black void.
She wasn't Kaari anymore — she was a Primal Blood Eater.
She threw me against the wall —
I was bleeding from my ears.
System triggered emergency and gave me a skill:
> [New Passive Acquired – Pain Echo (Lv.1): Damage received increases Willpower by +0.5 temporarily]
---
I used my pain, and realized:
This wasn't a fight — it was an awakening.
I stood tall, rising each time I fell.
Kaari finally stopped, and said:
> "You've passed the test. You have the capacity to learn from pain.
You're imperfect, but more alive than the original."
System confirmed:
> [Trial Passed: Blood Eater's Respect Gained]
[Unlocking Hidden Skill – Adaptive Regeneration (Lv.1)]
---
End Scene – Revelation and The Rise of a New Threat
Kaari handed me a sealed scroll:
> "This is the name of the shapeshifter responsible for your existence. He's still alive."
The scroll read:
NAME: E'ZAKRIEL
Title: Flesh Architect
Class: Shapeshifter Prime (Awakened God Rank)
Location: Abyss of Screaming Skies
System screamed:
> [Main Objective Updated: Confront the Flesh Architect]
---
To Be Continued…