The fallen beast lay sprawled in a pool of black ichor, its massive chest rising no more. But its body shimmered faintly—runes across its fur glowing in flickering pulses before fading into stillness.
Kai crouched near the body, ignoring the sting in his ribs. His fingers brushed over one of the rune-scars. Now that the fight was over, he could finally examine it.
"Corrin," he called, "These aren't just any seal runes. These are from the Archaic Binding script—the same type used in ancient beast prisons."
Corrin wiped blood from his mouth, limping over with a wince. "You saying this big guy was locked up here?"
Kai nodded. "Not locked. Buried. Like a guardian… or a warning."
Just then, the gorilla's chest pulsed.
A soft, resonant glow emerged from the center of its sternum.
Both of them stepped back cautiously as the light intensified, becoming a smooth orb of greenish-white energy. It hovered for a moment, then slowly descended toward Kai—drawn like a magnet.
