Powerful Presences

Puma now sat in a regal posture, reminiscent of a loyal dog awaiting its master's command. Yet, the intelligence radiating from his calm, measured demeanor made it clear he was no ordinary creature. His sheer size—three times that of Kai in his current form—was overwhelming. The massive paw he now raised toward Kai's chest was nearly as large as Kai himself, a stark reminder of the power Puma possessed.

Despite the intimidating size difference, Puma moved with precision and care, his paw brushing against Kai's chest gently, almost reverently, as if afraid of causing harm.

"Are you sure about this?" Isla asked, her voice tinged with desperation. Her eyes, wide with worry, flickered between Puma and Kai. "What if we found another way? A way that wouldn't require you to sacrifice yourself like this!"

Her plea hung in the air, unanswered. Puma remained silent, his focus unbroken. Even after all this time, he had yet to say a single word to Isla, his supposed old friend. The silence between them felt heavy, almost unnatural.

Was it the curse placed on him after Varkul's death? Isla wondered. She couldn't be sure, but Kai believed it must be related, especially since Puma relied on him to serve as their spokesperson even now.

"Isla," Kai said, his tone steady despite the turmoil in his chest. "As soon as the process starts, you need to prepare a spell to teleport us out of here. If they find us… and the miracle you're hoping for doesn't happen… then we need to leave this place immediately. If they discover that a successor of Varkul has awakened in the first realm, they will stop at nothing to kill me."

The words weren't entirely his own—he was repeating what Puma had conveyed telepathically—but they carried a grim truth that Isla couldn't ignore.

She gave a reluctant nod, her worry etched across her face. She knew nothing she said could change Puma's decision. His mind had been made up long ago; he was ready to sacrifice himself for a greater purpose.

"I will now begin," Puma said telepathically, his voice steady and resolute as it reached Kai's mind.

There was an unshakable weight to those words, a finality that made Kai's stomach churn. Puma was about to give up everything, transferring his soul to ensure Kai's survival and growth.

Within seconds, a blinding light erupted from Kai's chest, pulsating with unimaginable intensity. This was Puma's energy—condensed and immense—flowing into Kai's body at a rate that felt almost impossible for someone of his current strength to handle.

Kai's vision blurred as his body convulsed under the torrent of power. He could feel the energy rushing through him, overwhelming his senses and threatening to tear him apart. His mind struggled to stay focused, his thoughts a haze of pain and determination. He couldn't lose consciousness now—he wouldn't.

"You're doing well," Puma's calm voice echoed in his mind. "Stay awake. Just a little longer. If you endure, you'll emerge stronger than ever."

Kai gritted his teeth, his claws digging into the ground as he fought to remain conscious. This was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. The energy coursing through his body was immeasurable, yet he could only retain a fraction of it. Most of it slipped through him like sand through his fingers, a maddening sensation that made him feel both invincible and helpless at once.

"Kai!"

Isla's voice pierced through the chaos, her words frantic and sharp. "T-They're coming! If nothing happens soon, I'll have no choice but to teleport us away!"

Kai barely registered her words, but Puma did.

"She's right," Puma said, his voice urgent now. "The transfer is only halfway done. If she teleports us now, my soul will be lost forever. You must hold on for just a little longer."

Isla's panic was justified. The Corrupted Tree, once shrouded in protective darkness, could no longer hide the immense energy radiating from the soul transfer. The "death" of a Catalyst was not a subtle event. Every powerful being in the vicinity had felt the shift, and they were closing in fast.

She could already sense one presence inside the tree. It was close—too close. Close enough to strike at any moment.

Then it happened. From the top of the Corrupted Tree, a figure descended at a speed that defied comprehension, a blur of motion that seemed to bend the air around it.

The figure landed gracefully, a man with jet-black hair and a power that radiated like an oppressive storm. His colorful robe shimmered faintly, the intricate patterns on it a telltale sign of his authority. Isla's heart sank as recognition dawned.

The representative of the first realm.

"There really is a fairy here…" the man said, his voice calm but laced with curiosity as his piercing gaze locked onto Isla. "How strange."

His attention shifted to Kai and Puma, the bright light of the transfer illuminating the entire space.

"I will deal with you later," he added coldly, dismissing Isla as though she were insignificant.

The man descended slowly, his movements deliberate as he closed the distance to the ground.

Isla remained motionless, her mind racing. She had to stay calm, even as the situation spiraled out of control. There was another presence still lurking in the tree—a presence that even this representative didn't seem to notice. It was her only glimmer of hope.

"Now…" the man muttered, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. "Why is one of the Catalysts created by the God of Monsters giving away its soul to a mere newborn Nocturne Dragon?"

As his gaze settled on Kai, his expression darkened, and his calm demeanor shifted to one of cold calculation.

"Hm. So, you're the anomaly," he said, nodding as if confirming something to himself. "I see why Lord Wyatt is so concerned about you. You must be exterminated before you can grow any further."

Isla felt a chill run down her spine. She knew what was coming.

The representative raised his hand, and the mana around him shifted violently. A sphere of concentrated blue energy materialized, crackling with power as it floated above his palm. Isla's hope faltered.

She prepared to activate her teleportation spell, her heart pounding. She didn't want to interrupt the soul transfer, but she couldn't risk Kai's life.

Then, as the man hurled the deadly sphere toward Kai and Puma, something impossible happened.

The sphere veered off course, deflected as though it had struck an invisible barrier.

"I can't let you do that, Shing," a voice echoed through the tree, soft and soothing yet filled with authority.

Isla's breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice.

The owner of the voice stepped forward, her figure emerging from the shadows with an ethereal grace.

"Myre," Shing spat the name with pure disdain, his calm composure breaking for the first time.