The Infinite Genesis System

Chapter 7: T.I.G.S: The Monster That Chose Me

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"Some monsters announce themselves with roars.

The oldest ones arrive in silence.

By the time you feel their gaze...

They have already found you."

_Chronicles of the World Scar: Chapter 7_

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Ashvale had fallen silent.

Even the trees that had once danced with the wind now stood utterly still. Crimson mist blanketed the heavens, casting a gloomy veil over the village as though daylight itself had begun to fade.

No one moved. Not a single soul.

Villagers... Veteran Vessels... Headmaster Marcus... Cedric... Daren...

Even Kalexi.

Every eye remained fixed upon the impossible scar that split the sky. A suffocating pressure descended upon Ashvale. It wasn't merely the eye, it was the presence behind it. Everyone felt its gaze pressing down upon them like the weight of an endless ocean.

Then, slowly, the colossal eye closed and disappeared, as though it had never existed.

Yet its weight lingered. It felt as though the heavens themselves had looked upon Elyndra... searching for something only they could understand.

Silence swallowed Ashvale whole. Even the Rift Fiends had stopped moving. The air had grown unbearably heavy, and Kalexi struggled to breathe.

"...Dad..." his voice barely escaped his lips. "...What... was that?"

Daren didn't answer because he couldn't. His eyes never left the torn heavens. For the first time in Kalexi's life, his father looked completely helpless.

Suddenly, a thunderous screech tore across the heavens. It didn't come from the World Scar, it came from within Ashvale itself.

A gigantic crimson hawk pierced through the sky, its wings stretching nearly thirty meters from tip to tip. Standing atop its broad back was a breathtaking woman draped in flowing scarlet robes. Though age had touched her face, her beauty remained timeless. Her silver hair danced wildly in the wind, one hand gripping a crystal spear while the other pointed toward the heavens.

"All Vessels!" Her voice rolled across Ashvale like thunder. "Defensive formation!"

Like stars answering their constellation, dozens of Genesis surged into the sky. Dragons radiating chilling power, Griffins, Storm Eagles, Armored Wyverns, and massive floating serpents—one after another, they took their positions without hesitation.

Below, hope erupted among the citizens.

"It's Elder Miya!"

"The Guardian of Ashvale!"

"We're saved!"

Kalexi stared upward, unable to hide the awe in his eyes. "...That's the Guardian..."

"She's taking the lead against the Rift Fiends trying to force their way through," Daren finally found his voice. "Yes, son. That's Elder Miya... the younger sister of the Head of House Ashborn."

The crimson hawk beat its enormous wings, each flap stirring powerful currents through the sky. Yet strangely, not a single rooftop was damaged; not a single tree bent. Its power obeyed its master with perfect precision.

The majestic Genesis lifted its head toward the World Scar.

SCRIIIIIEEEEEEE!!

Its piercing cry echoed across the heavens. Every flying Genesis responded instantly, their formations shifting with flawless synchronization.

Kalexi watched with unblinking eyes. "They're moving together... like they're all one."

Daren nodded. "That's because of their experience. Those are the ones who have already conquered the Third World humanity claimed centuries ago... Champion Rank Vessels. And the Watch of Ashvale."

Far above them, golden light blossomed across the sky as one Vessel after another poured their Essence into the expanding radiance. Slowly, a shimmering barrier spread over Ashvale, stretching farther and farther until the entire village rested beneath a dome of golden light.

Cheers erupted from below.

"We're protected!"

"We're safe!"

Children laughed once more, and parents embraced their sons and daughters with tears of relief. For one fleeting moment, hope returned to Ashvale.

Up ahead, something moved.

A single black claw slowly emerged from the World Scar, descending toward Ashvale. The claw wasn't attached to anything—or perhaps it was, and its owner simply remained hidden beyond the endless darkness of the World Scar.

Silence swallowed the village as every eye followed its descent.

The claw alone was enormous, large enough to cast a shadow over entire streets, pouring an indescribable pressure into the air. Even the Vessels hovering in the sky stiffened. Several Genesis let out uneasy cries, their formations wavering for the first time.

Elder Miya narrowed her eyes. "..What is that...? She had defended The Asterion Dominion especially Ashvale for decades, yet never had she seen anything like this.

The claw continued descending slowly, deliberately, as though it had all the time in the world. Its black, smoky aura drifted behind it, staining the sky like living ink while the entire village watched with bated breath.

Kalexi couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Hold the barrier!" Elder Miya's command shattered the silence.

Every Vessel maintaining the barrier immediately poured more Essence into it, making the golden dome brighten until it looked unbreakable.

Then the claw touched it. Not with force or violence, but simply a lazy scrape.

CRRRRRRKKKK...

The sound echoed throughout Ashvale. It wasn't loud, yet every living soul felt it deep within their bones.

Kalexi clenched his teeth as goosebumps crawled across his skin and his legs trembled uncontrollably. "What... has entered Elyndra?" Judging by the pale faces around him, everyone was asking the same question.

Another scrape.

CRACK....

Tiny fractures spread across the barrier.

CRRRRAAAACK...

The cracks multiplied, spilling golden light as the barrier trembled violently. Still, it refused to break.

Then the claw dragged itself across the barrier one final time.

CRAAAAAAAACK!!

The heavens shattered. The golden dome exploded into countless fragments that rained across Ashvale like broken stars.

Kalexi's entire body shook. It felt as though reality itself had cracked apart.

"...Impossible..." For the first time, fear appeared on Elder Miya's face.

She raised her crystal spear, her voice trembling for only an instant before her resolve returned. "We must protect the villagers!"

The crimson hawk answered with a piercing screech. Powerful winds gathered around its beak, compressing again and again until the raging gale condensed into a tiny sphere no larger than a fingertip. The surrounding air screamed beneath the pressure.

Elder Miya extended one finger, letting the compressed sphere float gently to its tip. For a heartbeat, everything became silent—even the wind.

STZZZZZT!!

The attack shot forward, slicing through the air with terrifying precision and leaving a razor-thin trail across the sky before colliding with the descending claw.

KABOOOOOOM!!

The explosion shook the heavens as a violent shockwave swept across Ashvale.

FWOOOOM!!

Kalexi staggered as powerful winds crashed into him, whipping clothes wildly, bursting windows open, and bending trees until they nearly snapped. Yet Elder Miya remained perfectly still, the winds surrounding her forming an invisible barrier that shielded both her and her Genesis from the blast.

Her silver hair danced behind her while her crimson robes fluttered like living flames as she stared into the smoke.

The compressed gale continued grinding against the claw, causing the black aura surrounding it to hiss violently. For a moment, the attack pushed it back, and hope flickered.

Then the shadow deepened. The black aura surged like an endless tide, swallowing the compressed wind whole until it disappeared completely.

The claw stopped retreating and resumed its descent, slowly, relentlessly.

Elder Miya's expression darkened. Her strongest attack had accomplished almost nothing. She lowered herself onto the crimson hawk's back, her fingers burying themselves gently within its feathers.

"Go."

SCRIIIIEEEEEE!!

The hawk answered immediately, spreading its enormous wings wide before shooting upward like a crimson comet. The wind screamed around them as Elder Miya leaned forward and tapped her partner lightly.

Without a single command, the hawk understood. Its body trembled with power as massive currents gathered around its beak once more. This time, she didn't compress them. The swirling storm expanded instead, growing larger and larger until it rivaled the size of a carriage wheel, lightning-like currents dancing through the gale.

The entire sky groaned beneath its pressure.

Beneath her, Ashvale lay exposed—the village she had sworn to protect. Because of its proximity to the World Scar, the Asterion Dominion had entrusted its safety to her. She would not allow that claw to descend, not while she still breathed.

"EVACUATE THE CIVILIANS! I'LL HOLD IT BACK!" Her voice thundered across the battlefield.

The remaining members of the Watch immediately obeyed. Without the barrier, Ashvale needed every defender it had, and one by one, the Vessels broke formation to dive toward the village below.

Somewhere nearby, a chilling scream echoed through the streets. Kalexi instinctively reached for Daren beside him.

"Dad!"

"I'm here, son. I'm here," Daren grabbed his arm, raising his voice above the panic surrounding them. "We're heading for the eastern shelters!"

"But the academy..."

"Kalexi!" Daren cut him off sharply, his grip tightening around his wrist. "Listen to me. Elder Miya and the Champion-Rank Vessels will defend the village. The Rift Fiends are not our responsibility." His eyes met Kalexi's. "Our responsibility... is surviving. Learn when to run. It'll help you live long enough to fight another day."

Kalexi lowered his gaze before nodding quietly.

Daren's voice softened. "Leave this to them. Right now... our job is to protect ourselves."

Another scream echoed through the streets, and Daren looked toward the terrified crowd. "I know you want to help, son. So do I. But... we don't have a Genesis."

The words struck harder than any slap. Kalexi fell silent, his eyes drifting across the streets filled with chaos. He hated it—not because Daren was wrong, but because he was right. They were powerless. All they could do was run and entrust everything to the Vessels.

A silver blur shot across the sky!

BOOM!

Cedric's Silvermane Sovereign Lion crashed through the side of a building, tackling another Rift Fiend before it could reach the fleeing civilians. Stone exploded outward as dust swallowed half the street. The Watch had already formed a defensive wall between the monsters and the townspeople, every Vessel and Genesis fighting to buy the civilians another second.

Farther ahead, Luna stood before hundreds of frightened villagers while eight Vessels surrounded her like an iron shield. The injured sat on the ground, exhausted—some bleeding, some holding broken limbs, others simply staring blankly.

Luna smiled gently and glanced toward the tiny fairy perched upon her shoulder. The fairy nodded and fluttered into the air as emerald light blossomed from its body. The glow expanded outward like ripples across a lake before washing over every injured civilian.

Gasps filled the street as broken bones slowly knitted together, cuts sealed shut, bleeding stopped, and bruises faded. The exhausted color returned to countless pale faces, and relief swept through the crowd. Many stared at Luna with tear-filled eyes while others clasped their hands together in gratitude. The Vessels guarding the area exchanged quiet smiles as another burden was lifted.

Kalexi watched from afar, a bitter smile touching his lips. "...At least... everyone's safe."

His gaze drifted back toward the World Scar, and he frowned. The colossal black claw... was gone. He could have sworn Elder Miya had been holding it back only moments ago, but now there was nothing.

"...Did it retreat back into the World Scar?" he whispered.

No answer came. After several tense seconds, he slowly released the breath he'd been holding. "...At least... that's one problem gone."

Before he could finish.

RIIIIIIIIIP!!

The sound of reality being torn apart echoed directly in front of him. Kalexi's eyes widened as space split open. A jagged tear appeared barely a few meters away, dark-purple mist spilling from within.

Then a massive claw burst through, seizing both sides of the rift and violently ripping it wider.

"A BRIDGE!!" Daren roared.

The next instant, a Rift Fiend stepped through. This one was different. It stood nearly seven feet tall, its powerful body covered in jagged crimson crystals that protruded like living armor. Six crimson eyes burned with frightening intelligence while obsidian-black claws gleamed beneath the crimson light.

The moment it emerged, the surrounding air grew heavy. A stronger Rift Fiend had crossed over.

The Rift Fiend slowly turned its head—not toward Daren, but toward Kalexi.

Their eyes met. The creature's six crimson eyes narrowed, and for a single heartbeat, Kalexi could've sworn it smiled.

"...Why..." he whispered. "...why is it looking at me?"

The monster took one step, then another, ignoring everyone else—ignoring the screaming villagers, ignoring the Vessels fighting nearby. Its terrifying gaze never left Kalexi, and the oppressive aura pouring from its body froze everyone nearby in place.

Far behind them, near the academy gates, the old man in gray narrowed his eyes.

"So... one of them crossed over" He stopped. For the first time, his calm expression changed and his eyes sharpened. "...it might have sensed it, I have to intervene before it kills him."

At that moment, the old man vanished as though he had never existed.

Back on the shattered street, the Rift Fiend released a deep growl.

Then it lunged, straight toward Kalexi.