Chapter 57
The Beast
The bushes moved lightly at first, as though something small was passing between them. Yet the sound was unsettling enough to awaken the instinct of survival deep within the young boy's heart.
Sai Mo's body tensed immediately. He gripped his wooden cane, pressing it firmly into the muddy ground to steady himself, then forced his aching legs to lift him upright despite the pain coursing through them. He did not stop there; he reached for the small dagger strapped to his belt—the same dagger that had accompanied him throughout his training over the past month.
The blade began to glow faintly, a dim white light—cold, like the glimmer of a bullet about to be fired, as if it whispered within him: "Use me... defend yourself."
Worry was written all over Sai Mo's face. His eyes followed the shifting shadows, while beads of sweat rolled down his forehead despite the chill in the air.
'Is it a survivor from the village? Or an enemy from the City of the Phoenix Flame who came searching for me… and finally found me?'
A harsh thought like that ignited terror in his chest.
Sai Mo drew in a deep breath and braced his feet as best he could. He was ready to fight to the very end—ready to strike, to defend, or to die trying.
He had no intention of dying quietly… at the very least, he planned to take one enemy down with him.
That was all he thought about.
Yet what he saw in the next moment was something he had never anticipated.
The bushes suddenly shook violently, and from them emerged a massive shadow—tall, broad-shouldered, slightly hunched, as if age had weighed upon its back.
Faint sunlight filtered through the dense leaves of the forest, slowly revealing the creature's features.
It looked human… but it was not human at all.
It had pointed ears like those of a wolf, and sharp teeth that gleamed like blades, with two long fangs jutting from its wide mouth. Its eyes were yellow and fierce, shining like polished metal under the light. Its gray hair was tied back with a strip of worn cloth.
Its body was strong and muscular, but covered in scars and wounds that told stories of endless battles. Its clothes were old but sturdy—far better than Sai Mo's tattered garments.
This was… a beast.
The creature lifted its gaze and stared at the frail boy before it. There was no anger or hatred in its eyes—only a calm, cold stillness. Then, in a deep, rough voice that seemed to shake the very air, it spoke:
"Who are you? And why are you in my home?"
Sai Mo's body trembled violently. His temperature spiked as sweat drenched his skin.
This was the first time in his life he had ever seen a real beast.
He had heard many tales from his father—stories about the ancient wars between humans and beasts—but he had always believed they were extinct, nothing more than myths told to frighten children.
What he was seeing now shattered every illusion he had ever held.
He had always imagined beasts as gigantic animals walking on all fours, dull-minded creatures driven only by instinct.
But the one standing before him was nothing like that—it stood upright like a man, spoke like a man, and looked at him with the awareness of one.
Sai Mo opened his mouth to speak, but the creature's loud, rough laughter interrupted him—mocking and echoing from deep within its chest.
"Wait... don't tell me you actually think I'm going to attack and kill you like some wild monster, boy?"
Sai Mo froze in disbelief. He couldn't understand how a beast's laughter could sound so strangely… human.
"What...?" he muttered in confusion.
The beast smiled faintly and stepped forward until only five paces separated them.
In that instant, Sai Mo's hands shook, and the dagger slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground. A smirk curved across the beast's lips. But what the beast didn't expect was that the moment the dagger touched the earth, it shot forward like a burst of light straight toward his head.
The beast's eyes narrowed. He moved with startling grace, tilting his head aside to dodge the strike effortlessly.
"Ho... it seems you've got quite the talent, boy."
But Sai Mo wasn't done yet. A faint smile appeared on his face just as the beast sensed danger behind him. He turned swiftly, only to find the same dagger flying at his head again from behind.
The beast sighed quietly and tried to dodge, but he was a fraction too late. A thin red line appeared across his cheek—a tiny scratch, barely visible… yet enough to ignite fury in his eyes.
In a flash, the beast's hand shot out, grabbing the dagger with immense strength. He squeezed until the blade groaned under the pressure, then raised it high and slammed it into the ground with terrifying force.
The dagger pierced the solid earth and embedded itself deep within.
Sai Mo tried to summon it back, but it didn't move—it was stuck, immovable, as though fused into stone.
Without looking back, the beast walked away indifferently and entered the cave.
Moments later, his voice thundered from within like rolling storm clouds:
"You little fool! What have you done to my home?!"
Sai Mo flinched at the sound, his whole body trembling as he swallowed hard.
He had been living in this cave for a full month—ever since he'd found an old, broken wooden bed and some tools left behind. He had assumed the cave was an abandoned shelter, once used by a hunter or traveler long ago, so he made it his refuge while he healed and trained.
But now he realized he had made a grave mistake...
This wasn't just any cave. It was the home of a living beast.
Sai Mo turned and ran as fast as he could, his heart screaming within him:
'I have to escape before that monster comes back and tears me apart… my revenge isn't complete yet!'
But the moment he took his first step, he slammed into something solid.
He raised his head slowly—only to find the beast standing before him again, having reappeared with impossible speed, as if he had teleported.
Sai Mo's heart pounded violently. He watched the beast raise his hand high, remembering what that same hand had done to the dagger moments ago—enough strength to rip him in half with a single strike.
'If that hand falls on me... I won't survive.'
Inside, he wanted to fight or flee, but what could a weak, limping thirteen-year-old boy possibly do before such a creature?
All his strength was gone; all that remained was the quiet acceptance of death.
He looked up at the beast's face and saw a dark shadow fall across it. A bitter, tearless smile crept onto his lips—a smile of surrender.
'So this is it... I'll never get my revenge. But at least… I'll finally see Father and Brother again.'
He whispered softly:
"At last… after so long… I'm coming to you, Father… Brother."
He closed his eyes, ready for the end.
But the beast—whose sharp ears caught every word—suddenly froze. The expression on his face changed. The raised hand slowly lowered until it rested gently atop the boy's head.
Sai Mo's eyes snapped open in surprise. The beast's face now carried a faint, gentle smile—one steeped in indescribable sorrow.
He patted the boy's head softly and said in a quiet, rumbling voice:
"You can stay here, boy... It seems neither of us has a home to return to."
Then he turned and walked back into the cave, leaving the stunned boy standing behind.
Sai Mo stood there, frozen. He didn't know whether to trust the beast or run away.
But then, his father's old words echoed in his ears:
"My son... not everything is as it seems. Don't judge something just because others say so. Experience it for yourself. Give every being a chance. Don't be unjust, and don't judge by appearance or bloodline—judge only after you've seen with your own eyes."
But sorrow and anger gnawed at Sai Mo's heart.
'Father... your kindness is what got you killed. Your kindness destroyed our village! Do you want me to give the City of the Phoenix Flame a chance too? No... never!'
He clenched his teeth, his resolve hardening.
Running away would change nothing—he'd still be weak and starving.
If he stayed with the beast, there were only two possibilities:
Either the beast would betray and kill him… or perhaps, he would help him—maybe even train him, just as his heart had softened now.
And so, Sai Mo gritted his teeth and stepped forward, entering the cave once more, his hesitant footsteps leading him toward an unknown fate that awaited within.
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