Chapter 11: The Blue-Silver Empress

The forest was quiet, the air thick with the scent of dew-covered leaves. The Blue-Silver Grass swayed gently, whispering secrets only they could understand. Krishna walked slowly, his gaze scanning the vast expanse of shimmering blue foliage beneath the soft glow of the moonlight.

He could feel her presence. She was watching him.

"You don't need to hide," Krishna spoke softly, his voice carrying an undeniable warmth.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a faint glow emerged from the grass. Slowly, a figure stepped forward—a beautiful woman with long, flowing blue hair and luminous silver eyes. She seemed ethereal, her presence blending seamlessly with the surroundings.

"Who are you?" she asked cautiously, her voice gentle yet guarded.

Krishna smiled. "I am Krishna. I have been searching for you, Ayin."

Her eyes widened slightly. "You know my name?"

"Yes," Krishna nodded. "You are the Blue-Silver Emperor, a 100,000-year-old soul beast, the guardian of this forest."

Ayin's expression hardened. "If you know who I am, then you must also know what I am. Humans hunt us—soul beasts like me are nothing more than tools for your cultivation."

Krishna sighed. "You're not wrong. But I am not like other humans."

Ayin crossed her arms. "They all say that. And yet, every time one of us trusts a human, we end up slaughtered and turned into soul rings."

Krishna shook his head. "If I wanted to harm you, I would have done so already. But that is not my intention. I came here to offer you something different—a future beyond what you ever imagined."

Ayin's eyes flickered with curiosity. "And what future is that?"

"I know the fate that awaits you if you continue down this path," Krishna said, his gaze steady. "If you meet Tang Hao, you will sacrifice yourself for him, leaving behind only your spirit. But I can give you something greater. You don't have to die. You don't have to fade away. I can help you become a goddess."

Ayin blinked in shock. "A... goddess?"

"Yes," Krishna affirmed. "But there is one condition."

She narrowed her eyes. "Let me guess—you want me to become yours?"

Krishna chuckled. "You say that as if it's a bad thing."

Ayin hesitated, glancing around the forest that had been her home for so long. The thought of leaving it behind made her heart ache, but deep down, she knew he was right. If she followed the path fate had set for her, she would die.

"And if I refuse?" she asked cautiously.

"Then I will leave, and you will be free to make your own choice," Krishna said simply. "But once fate sets things in motion, it will be difficult to change the outcome."

Ayin stared at him, searching his face for deceit. She found none. His eyes were calm, his expression unwavering.

"Why?" she asked finally. "Why do you care about me? Why go this far for a soul beast?"

Krishna smiled. "Because I see something in you—something extraordinary. You are not just any soul beast. You have the potential to reach heights that no other of your kind has ever touched. I want to help you reach that potential, not as a beast, but as a divine being."

Ayin exhaled slowly. His words stirred something deep within her. Could she truly become more than what she was? Could she escape the cruel fate that awaited her?

"...Alright," she said at last. "I will go with you."

Krishna's smile widened. "Then let us begin."

For the next six months, Krishna and Ayin traveled together, exploring the human world. At first, Ayin was wary, uncomfortable among humans who saw her only as a beautiful woman, unaware of her true nature. But as time passed, she began to understand them better—their joys, their sorrows, their struggles.

Krishna trained her personally, teaching her to cultivate divine energy. Under his guidance, her soul power grew rapidly, surpassing the limits of her former self. She no longer felt like just a soul beast—she was transforming, becoming something greater.

One evening, as they sat by a quiet river, watching the stars reflect on the water's surface, Ayin turned to Krishna.

"You were right," she admitted softly. "The human world is... different from what I expected."

Krishna glanced at her. "Not all humans are bad. Some are, yes. But there are also those who would fight and die for the ones they love. Just like soul beasts."