Chapter: 86. The Beast of Star Eclipses
“This is…” The falling Wind Child stared blankly at the black flames that appeared before her, a primal fear instinctively coursing through her body.
Until a dark figure swooped down from the sky, catching her slender form.
“…. Are you okay?”
The newcomer was Tenyu.
When Garuda reverted to its original form with the magical energy provided by Nayin, it realized that Kanade was not within the domain. Thus, it opened the exit of the domain, allowing Tenyu to leave early.
Because of this, Tenyu noticed the magic fluctuations after Chimera absorbed Sound and rushed to the scene with all her might.
After catching Wind Child, Tenyu looked around and saw the Azure Dragon at the tail of Chimera, yet Kanade’s figure was still nowhere to be found.
An ominous premonition surged in her heart.
But before that, there was something even more concerning.
“What exactly is this power—”
Tenyu activated her shadow wings and distanced herself from the towering column of black flames.
That foreboding black flame ignited the sky and reflected in Tenyu’s purplish-red eyes.
If we consider the moment primates first mastered and utilized fire as the dawn of human civilization, then the “black flame” that contrasts with that red glow symbolizes the antithesis of human civilization to date.
It represents a complete abandonment of the pursuit of “wisdom” and “humanity,” fully immersing in “instinct” and “beast nature.”
Replacing “development” with “evolution.”
Replacing “civilization” with “physical form.”
Replacing “community” with “individuals.”
This is the source of power Kanade possesses as the male protagonist of “Star Draw 2.”
A life process that is entirely contrary to human civilization but is destined to emerge—
This theory was first proposed in the 1980s by the Russian sociologist and biologist Alexander Kozlov. Kozlov was an extreme anti-environmentalist scholar who publicly declared that “environmental protection is meaningless.” In his classic research report “The Ultimate Fate of Life and Planets,” Kozlov stated:
“If a planet nurtures life, eventually a higher species that dominates the planet will arise. For instance, humans. As this higher species survives and expands, the planet itself will inevitably be gradually devoured, eventually becoming a lifeless planet.”
“Even if Earth does not evolve a sentient life form like humans, other individual species will emerge to take their place. This individual will complete the processes of Darwinian evolution in its unique way and become the dominant species. Perhaps a type of plant, like the ‘World Tree’ with roots spreading across the globe. This plant would nourish itself by continuously depleting the planet’s vitality, ultimately transforming Earth into a dead star.”
“Of course, this dominator could also be in the form of some animal—”
He referred to this creature as—
“The Beast of Star Eclipses.”
With the roar of beasts ringing out once more.
A pitch-black figure stirred the tumultuous sea, the water’s surface ballooning like an inflated balloon under the shock, swelling violently before bursting apart in an explosion of splashes.
The dark silhouette emerged from the black flames and pierced through the inflated sea surface, suddenly launching into the sky, dragging a brilliant black light trail behind it, resembling a black meteor rising in reverse, directly aimed at the Chimera floating in mid-air.
The first to react, Sound instinctively lifted its massive claws in the direction of the incoming meteor.
The power of Azure Thunder unfolded once more.
Azure lightning intertwined, transforming into layers of overlapping hexagonal shields, blocking the path of the black meteor.
Yet this representation of life—the heavenly thunder—before the “Beast of Star Eclipses”—
【Rewriting itself】
Crack.
The sharp sound of shattering seemed to signify the use of some limited instances at this moment.
The black flames swelled and enveloped the black meteor.
Under the tempering of the black flames, its physical body underwent a “perfect evolution.”
Billions of years of evolution from nothing to something was completed in less than half a second.
And its form of life and symbolic meaning changed at this moment.
It transformed into—
【The Absolute Nemesis of Sound and Chimera】
Enveloped in black flames, Kanade suddenly opened his eyes, the golden light flowing in the center of his black sclera, and the right hand he had lost in battle had regrown under the refinement of the black flames, even his battered body returned to its pristine state.
With a savage and arrogant beastly intent in his eyes, Kanade reached out with his right hand toward the azure barrier before him.
The moment his fingertip touched the thunderous power symbolizing divine supremacy, the barrier burst like a bubble, sending a massive shockwave crashing through the air, causing Tenyu below and Sound above to sway.
Yet Kanade seemed completely unaffected, maintaining an eerie trajectory as he passed through the bubble, rushing toward Chimera’s colossal form at a speed that could generate a sonic boom.
At that moment, the usually agile Chimera froze in place, like a frog caught by a snake.
Every cell in its body screamed, sending neural signals of “run away,” but it stood as still as a statue, unable to move.
A smile curled at the corner of Kanade’s mouth, revealing his sharp fangs as he clenched his right hand into a claw and swung his arm towards the Chimera before him—
“Whoosh—”
In an instant, the swift and sharp sound of tearing air broke forth, and the tough scales covering Chimera’s skin, along with its mountainous form, were sliced open. A powerful shockwave erupted behind its shattered body, sweeping away the surrounding dark clouds.
“No… No… it’s not possible…” Sound, disbelieving as it was torn apart under the onslaught, looked on in disbelief as its perfect form, fused with Chimera, was casually ripped apart in front of the other.
Moreover, the flesh of Chimera that fell through the air showed no signs of its extraordinary healing and regeneration capabilities.
At this moment, Chimera’s powers failed to manifest any effect.
The wounds and cross-sections of these flesh pieces seemed tainted with a special substance that crazily hindered Chimera’s regeneration.
Not only that, but Sound even felt itself rapidly losing control over these flesh pieces.
Clearly, Chimera had the ability to control its individual body parts at will.
“Damn!!!” Frantic, Sound instinctively attempted to control the remaining flesh of Chimera to attack the figure before it.
But the instant its eyes met the other’s.
It froze completely.
The fighting spirit in its mind rapidly dissipated, replaced by a primal fear from the source of life.
Sound, which had taken an unknown amount of time to evolve and gain sentience, at this moment, seemed to receive a warning from ancient genes.
Whether instinct or soul, both now warned Sound—
The being before it was not something it could contend with.
Run.
Escape from the existence before it at all costs.
Otherwise—
In Sound’s trembling vision, Kanade, enveloped in black flames, displayed a face akin to a beast, showing a smile that seemed to revel in the hunt.
In that moment, Sound finally understood.
This being before it was the ultimate predator at the top of the food chain.
An “archenemy” that it could not contend with.
