A chilling sense of dread lingered, impossible to shake.

So, the Star Beast’s request was simple: when it next attempted evolution, Luyi would merely watch.

Just watch. That was all.

Luyi didn’t mind.

After all, the Illusory Star Field was the perfect spot to slack off.

The Star Beast’s evolution would also provide her with valuable research data.

"Thank you endlessly, Lady Luluie!"

The Star Beast nuzzled close to Luyi like an overjoyed pet, its tail swaying slightly.

Time flowed. Soon, the appointed day arrived.

Illusory Star Field. Summit of the Sky’s End Peak.

The highest mountain in the Star Field. The place closest to the starry sky beneath the giant wing.

That ancient starry expanse hung low overhead.

As if, by simply reaching out, one could truly touch those colossal celestial bodies.

The Star Beast stood here—where heaven felt nearest—its expression solemn, radiating a faint aura of royalty.

Beside it, Luyi sat casually, gazing at the stars while munching snacks from a small bag.

Like she’d just come for a picnic.

She was the first human to set foot on this peak since the Ancient Star Beast had transformed into mountains, making the Star Field’s heart a forbidden zone.

Many descendants of the Ancient Star Beast grumbled about this.

"What right does a Demon Race have to tread the Sky’s End Peak?"

"Only the purest bloodline of the Ancient Star may step here. What makes that demon worthy?"

"This time, our King truly erred..."

In their clan, bloodline meant hope. Bloodline decided everything.

Even elders stronger than the Star Beast, respected members of the Council, couldn’t overturn her decision.

The colossal beasts could only gaze up from the peak’s base.

They resented her choice, yet prayed she’d succeed this time.

Centuries had passed.

Since the Ancestor Beast’s fall, no descendant as pure-blooded as the Star Beast had emerged.

Only she held the hope of evolving to match the Ancient One’s glory.

"Please ignore the voices below, Lady Luluie..."

The Star Beast spoke apologetically. Many kin doubted Luyi’s true power.

"No matter."

Luyi was indifferent. The Star Beast’s evolution intrigued her far more.

"Begin."

She gave the command.

"Yes."

The Star Beast stilled its heart. Then, it unleashed its stellar and soul energy—

Reaching toward that distant starry shore.

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—*

The starry sky answered.

With thunderous roars, planets within the winged cosmos began shifting along ancient trajectories.

Starlight cascaded onto the peak, merging with the Star Beast’s energy.

A bridge of starlight—spanning time and space—slowly formed.

The winged cosmos shifted again.

Its expanse seemed to widen. Stars shrank. New celestial bodies emerged.

The starlight bridge stretched deeper, connecting to fresh stars.

Reaching toward that older, mightier celestial body.

Then—unprecedented resistance crashed down like shackles.

"*Hnngh...*"

Pain flashed across the Star Beast’s face.

Last time, this barrier had shattered its evolution.

But now—

"*!*"

It felt the awakening of its Core’s power.

An ancient, energy-rich warmth surged through its body.

Transforming into threads of light, it raced along the star-bridge into the winged cosmos—

Illuminating a corner of that icy void.

A rule activated.

The crushing resistance dissolved under the Core’s energy.

The bridge shattered invisible chains, plunging deeper into the starry abyss!

*So the fifty-fifty chance succeeded?* Luyi mused.

For her, this evolution might spark insight.

For the Star Beast and its kin? It meant everything.

It felt the call within its blood.

She would stand closer to the Ancestor Beast.

Gazing upon that eternal, magnificent celestial body.

Ancient Star.

Like a wanderer, lost for a century, finally seeing her mother.

The Star Beast nearly wept.

"It’s working!"

"Our Queen... she’s truly done it!"

"Bloodline resonance! It’s real!"

All the colossal beasts held their breath.

Yearning to see the star only remembered in blood and dreams. Yearning for the final resting place of their souls.

To them, the winged cosmos was warm. Vast.

"*!*"

Then—that chilling dread slithered back into the Star Beast’s heart.

Unprovoked. Unexplained.

"*Why?*"

Confusion gripped it.

Though the resistance crumbled, as the bridge pierced deeper into the winged cosmos...

A coldness rose. A coldness that made its scales and feathers stand on end.

In the distant darkness, an unnatural light flickered.

Not the warm, life-giving azure of memory.

But a sickly, suffocating pale green.

The Illusory Star Field slowly stained with this eerie hue.

Every beast felt unease coil in their guts.

A nameless terror loomed.

"What’s happening...?"

The Star Beast’s breath hitched. The star-bridge reached its destination—

Entering a realm both familiar and alien.

Familiar: this star sector lived in their ancestral memories.

Alien: thick, inky green had consumed it all.

The source? A cold, colossal celestial body drifting slowly.

Green ooze carved endless trenches across its surface—vein-like, unsettling.

Hundreds of mountainous green tendrils coiled like grotesque nerves.

Silent. Alone. Dominating the empty star sector.

The only thing awaiting the star-bridge.

The only thing left in the winged cosmos.

Every beast shuddered.

"Is that... the Ancient Star?"

An elder whispered, voice trembling.

As if hearing him—or sensing the bridge—

The colossal body halted its drift.

Then... slowly... turned over.

Its front faced the bridge. Faced every living thing beneath the giant wing.

A mangled, malformed eyeball.

A living eye.

Staring down from the abyss—

The Abyssal Eye.