Noah stood at the center of the cave, where several tunnels branched off in different directions, the dim light casting shadows that made every path look the same. He clutched the handful of shells and pearls he and the kids had gathered, gncing left, then right, front, and back, the repetitive motion making his head spin.

  “Okay, this is ridiculous,” he muttered, pcing a hand on his hip and looking down at the small pgue doctor plush tied to his belt. “Hey, 001, are you there? Little buddy, a bit of guidance wouldn’t hurt right about now.”

  The tiny system didn’t respond. Noah frowned, poking the plush gently. “Great, now even you’re ignoring me?” He sighed. The system had been oddly quiet today, but he hadn’t paid it much attention earlier, too preoccupied with the morning’s events.

  Now, standing alone and lost, he felt a pang of irritation. Why am I even here in the middle of this maze instead of with the kids waiting for Kieren?

  The thought brought him back to 20 minutes ago.

  The kids had been excited, pying and scouring for shells and pearls until their hands couldn’t hold anymore. Laughing and chatting, they’d finally decided to head back, their arms full of treasures.

  As they made their way through the winding tunnels, a sudden system notification popped up in Noah’s mind, interrupting their cheerful chatter.

  【System Alert: Transfer of spiritual power from the original soul to the host body has been initiated.】

  【The system has been forcibly switched to autopilot mode.】

  【Urgent Mission Detected!】

  【Task: An Unstable Factor has been identified. Immediate action is required. Eliminate the source of instability.

  Time Limit: 30 minutes.】

  Noah blinked, his pulse quickening. "What the—? 001? Hey, 001, are you there?" His voice was edged with urgency, but the system remained eerily silent.

  He frowned, gncing down at the system, then back at the glowing notification hovering persistently in his mind. Something was definitely wrong. The urgency in the task description wasn’t like the usual missions.

  Noah squinted at the text, his brow furrowed in concentration as he examined the details carefully.

  “An unstable factor…?” Noah muttered under his breath, his mind racing. “What does that even mean? And why now?”

  He tapped his fingers against the belt holding 001. "Hey, 001. What’s going on? Why aren’t you answering? You better not be glitching on me right now."

  Silence.

  Noah’s jaw tightened. The system was uncharacteristically quiet, something he’d never experienced before. With no guidance and no time to waste, he sighed in frustration.

  "Fine," he muttered to himself, his voice dripping with exasperation. "I guess I’m on my own for now."

  Unbeknownst to him, the cheerful sounds of the kids' voices and footsteps were getting farther and farther away, leaving him standing alone in the dimly lit tunnel.

  By the time he noticed the eerie silence, it was too te.

  “Ezra? Liam?” he called out, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. “Not now.”

  Now, back in the present, Noah groaned, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. “Of course, I had to get myself lost. Next time, I’m ignoring the system and sticking with the kids.”

  As if mocking him, his words reverberated through the tunnels, sounding almost smug as they bounced back.

  He let out a long sigh, pnting his hands on his hips. “Alright, great. Guess I’ll just pick a direction and hope for the best. What could possibly go wrong?”

  As it turns out, a whole lot can go wrong.

  The moment he took a step forward, intending to just go straight, something in his peripheral vision caught his attention. It was an eye.

  Noah froze in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat. No... not just an eye. He squinted, his body stiffening as he realized he was looking directly into the enormous, unblinking gaze of something very much alive.

  An extremely big eye.

  He didn’t dare move, didn’t even breathe, as the rest of the figure came into focus in the dim light. On the other side of the cave, partially hidden in the shadows to his right, was an enormous snakehead, its scales glinting faintly like polished stone.

  The creature's head was tilted slightly, its massive pupil fixed on him.

  Noah swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he whispered, barely audible.

  The snake’s tongue flicked out, tasting the air in his direction, the faint hiss reverberating through the cavern like a warning bell.

  He didn’t dare move; every muscle in his body locked in pce. His breath came shallow, and his heart hammered against his ribs as he remained rooted to the spot.

  The snake and Noah were locked in a silent standoff that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. The creature’s massive body remained coiled in the shadows.

  His mind raced. Do I run? Do I stay? Do I just... faint and hope it loses interest?

  The snake didn’t budge, but its presence alone seemed to fill the cavern, a looming force that made him feel impossibly small.

  One thing was clear: whatever unstable factor the system had detected, he’d found it. Or rather, it had found him.

  It happened in an instant.

  Noah was the first to move, shooting out like an arrow released from a taut bow. His feet barely touched the ground as he propelled himself forward, the adrenaline sharpening his instincts to a razor’s edge. Behind him, the snake reacted, its massive body uncoiling in a violent surge, scales scraping against the stone with a deafening rasp.

  The narrow tunnel became a blur of shadows and jagged rocks. Noah darted to the side, his shoulder narrowly brushing the rough cavern wall as the snake’s head smmed into the spot he’d been just a heartbeat before.

  His breath came in short gasps, the pounding of his heart matching the frantic rhythm of his steps. He leaped over a cluster of stagmites, twisting his body mid-air to avoid the tail that shed out, sending shards of rock flying in all directions.

  A narrow crevice loomed ahead, and Noah didn’t hesitate. He dove headfirst, tucking his arms and legs close to his body to squeeze through the tight space. The snake’s hissing roar filled the air, its enormous head attempting to follow but snagging on the edges of the crevice, buying him precious seconds.

  Noah hit the ground on the other side, rolling to absorb the impact before springing back to his feet. His eyes scanned the dim tunnel ahead, searching desperately for an escape route.

  The snake wasn’t far behind. With a thunderous crack, it forced its way through the crevice, dislodging chunks of rock that rained down around him.

  Noah sprinted, every muscle in his body screaming in protest as he vaulted over debris and skidded around sharp corners.

  But how could a mere female outrun a predator like that?

  The snake's guttural hiss echoed behind him, growing louder, closer. Its sheer speed was monstrous, its movements terrifyingly fluid despite its massive size. Each thunderous impact of its body against the cavern walls sent vibrations through the ground.

  Noah’s foot caught on a loose rock, and he stumbled, almost falling before throwing himself forward into a desperate roll. He hit the ground hard, the sharp edges of the tunnel scraping his palms, but he didn’t stop.

  He didn’t stop, but the snake behind him faltered, its rhythm breaking as it took in the sight of the little female getting injured.

  The hiss faded to a low rumble. Noah, still sprinting, risked a gnce over his shoulder. Unfortunately for him, his grass-woven shoes chose that exact moment to betray him. The worn fibers frayed, and his footing slipped. Noah staggered, his momentum pitching him forward in an ungraceful tumble.

  Though his past life had given him a high tolerance for pain, this new body was fragile, like a newborn mb. His hands and feet were already raw with scrapes, stinging with each step. If he hit the ground now, he knew it wouldn’t just be a small cut.

  He closed his eyes tightly and braced himself for a sharp bite of stone against flesh—but it didn’t come.

  Instead, something cold and firm coiled around his waist, halting his body's forward momentum. His chest heaved as he opened his eyes, gasping for air so hard it made his lungs burn. The sharp sting of overexertion spread through his ribs as he blinked, trying to focus.

  The massive snake had caught him, its glimmering, scaled body wrapped firmly around his waist. His vest was a little short, and the chill from the dark teal scales seeped into his skin, contrasting with the feverish heat coursing through his exhausted body.

  Its head hovered mere inches from his face, its unblinking teal eyes with slit pupils glowing with an eerie light. The whites of its eyes were bck, accentuating its sentient and predatory gaze. Noah’s breath hitched as he observed its features. From what he could recall, this type of snake seemed to resemble a cobra, complete with a fred hood. Yet, its appearance was far more striking and menacing.

  The glossy dark green scales covering its body gleamed ominously in the dim light, while its light teal underbelly shimmered with a metallic hue. A single teal line ran down the length of its back, branching into arrow-like patterns near its tail, which seemed to point toward its intimidating diamond-shaped head. Between its eyebrows sat a striking purple gem.

  Noah’s mind raced. Forty feet long, maybe more, he calcuted, his eyes tracing its length. Its girth was formidable, easily wide enough to devour a human whole.

  The cobra gently coiled its powerful tail around the injured and exhausted female, its movements unexpectedly delicate. The cold, smooth scales pressed against Noah’s waist, cradling him with an odd sense of care that was at odds with its predatory appearance from earlier.

  Noah blinked, his mind caught between confusion and wariness. His body sagged slightly into the cobra’s embrace, the exhaustion finally catching up to him. The cobra, seemingly aware of his fragile state, adjusted its grip, ensuring not to aggravate his injuries.

  The massive serpent began to slither with purpose, its movements deliberately smooth.

  Noah knew that his body was at its limits. It hadn’t been long since he’d transmigrated, and his unfamiliarity with its limitations had led to misjudgments. He hadn’t adjusted his strength properly and had overexerted himself. His previous life had taught him to push through, to endure pain and exhaustion without hesitation, but this new body, so tender and unaccustomed to such strain, had its own weaknesses.

  Now, his overexertion had caught up with him in the worst way.

  After some time, the cobra arrived at a rge cavern. It stopped at the edge, where water filled the space below, still and dark. In the center stood a single stone pilr, rising from the water like an isnd.

  Small, glowing blue lights hovered above the surface, casting a dim glow that made the water shimmer.

  Without hesitation, the cobra leapt into the water. Its body cut through the surface silently, keeping its tail—and Noah—raised above the waterline.

  It swam across to the central pilr, then coiled around the stone and climbed up the thick base.

  Once it reached the top, it gently set Noah down onto the moss-covered surface. But Noah’s legs gave out the moment they touched the ground, and he sank down where he was pced, unable to hold himself upright.

  He looked up, locking eyes with the serpent—those glowing, slit-pupiled eyes holding his gaze with eerie calm. For a moment, he was mesmerized, so much so that he didn't realize for a moment that the massive serpent was beginning to shift right before his eyes.

  Its coils unwound and shrank, its scales melting away like mist as its shape morphed, bones snapping and reshaping. In the space of a heartbeat, the predator became a man.

  A stunning one.

  In the natural world, males are often more beautiful. Females are often choosier, so males have to compete physically to be selected.

  Especially in the beast world, where females were rare and males were many. Through several evaluations, the males have become more and more attractive; even picking up someone randomly from the crowd was as beautiful as the top idol in modern times

  But this one was on another level entirely.

  His beauty was cold, like the first breath of winter—crisp, cutting, impossible to ignore. Deep teal hair fell in yered strands around his face, the longer pieces brushing just past his high cheekbones. His eyes, the same icy teal as before, retained their reptilian crity, sharp and penetrating. They didn’t just look at Noah—they assessed him, as if peering into his bones.

  His features were chiseled, almost inhumanly symmetrical. A straight nose, sculpted lips, and a jawline honed to fine edges gave him a noble, aloof air. There was a certain elegance in his stillness, like a bde resting quietly in its sheath. He could sense the strength there, coiled beneath the surface, waiting.

  He stood tall, nearly matching Kieren in height, his body a perfect bance of strength and grace. Lean muscle defined his frame, each line purposeful. His abdomen was taut with a clean six-pack, tapering down into a narrow waist and pronounced mermaid.

  Noah’s gaze followed the line down—then froze.

  His breath caught. His brain skipped a beat. Then another.

  Wait. What the... is that—? No. No way. That’s two. Two?!

  His eyes widened so much it felt like they’d fall out of his skull. He spped a hand over his mouth to muffle the startled sound that almost escaped.

  There are two of them?! What kind of evolutionary nightmare—or fantasy—am I looking at right now?!

  Noah was torn between awe, horror, and the overwhelming urge to either pass out or run. Unfortunately, his exhausted body vetoed both.

  This world is crazy, he thought numbly. Absolutely, positively insane.

  Kai, on the other hand, was entirely unbothered by the btant gawking. If anything, he seemed pleased—smug, even. With the barest tilt of his hips and a subtle shift in posture, he all but presented himself like a prize on dispy.

  It wasn’t even subtle. His entire presence radiated arrogance, like his very aura decred, I’m better than you. Do you see it? Want another look? Go ahead.

  Noah had never wanted to sp someone and look away—and also keep looking—so badly in his entire life.

  Noah stared at the beastman for a moment, thinking, As long as I’m not embarrassed, then the other person should be, right?

  But no—clearly, his thin skin was no match for the beastman's shamelessness. The more Noah tried to act unaffected, the more it felt like he was the only one suffering. It was like trying to win a staring contest with the sun.

  The beastman tilted his head slightly, watching the once-bold female look away with a faint blush. The female’s mismatched eyes were half-lidded, shes trembling ever so slightly—and for some reason, that subtle dispy made the beastman's heart itch.

  Without warning, he moved, fingers cool and firm as he grasped Noah’s delicate chin, turning his face to meet his gaze.

  Noah’s eyes widened just a fraction in surprise, the blush deepening.

  Seeing that bashful expression, the male’s lips curved into the barest hint of a smirk. His voice was low, teasing. “Not looking anymore?”

  Hearing that shameless provocation, Noah’s embarrassment fred into irritation.

  “Y-You—you shameless beastman! How dare you fsh your—your thing at me?! You absolute shameless bastard!” he sputtered, voice cracking with fury, ears burning hotter than ever.

  But just as the words left his mouth, he suddenly remembered how he got here—the chase, the fall, the cold scales catching him midair. His face went from red to crimson, but this time it wasn’t shame—it was righteous, full-bodied anger.

  “You kidnapper! Abductor!” Noah fumed, puffing up his cheeks like an indignant squirrel. “You just slithered in, grabbed me, and—ugh!—I didn’t ask for this! What the hell is wrong with you?! How dare you snatch me without my permission! Do you even know who my partner is? You—you—mmph!”

  His rant was cut off by a sudden shift in pressure.

  Though Kai’s expression remained cold and unreadable, a sharp wave of pain pulsed violently through his beast core—so sudden, so intense, it momentarily blurred the edges of his vision. His control slipped for the briefest second.

  The fingers curled around Noah’s chin tightened instinctively.

  A faint red mark bloomed on Noah’s soft skin.

  Realizing it, Kai clicked his tongue. "Tsk, so delicate."

  Noah felt the shameless male's grip shift, pinching his chin in warning, and gave a disdainful click of the tongue, like he was the unreasonable one. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, the bastard actually muttered something about him being delicate.

  Noah's temper fred instantly.

  Just as he was about to unleash a fresh wave of fury, the male’s body suddenly leaned forward—and colpsed against him.

  “Y-You—what are you doing?!” Noah stammered, startled and furious. His hands instinctively moved to shove the other away, assuming he was trying to take advantage of his position.

  But then he froze.

  The male’s eyes were tightly shut, his face eerily calm—expressionless, like he’d been carved from stone. And yet, because Noah had physical contact with him, he could feel it—the subtle, barely-there tremors that rippled through his body.

  He stared, and maybe it was just his imagination, but beneath that still mask, he swore he saw something else—a strained kind of forbearance, like a sealed jar about to burst under pressure. The contradiction made his chest tighten. Why would a perfectly healthy pervert suddenly act like he was colpsing?

  Something was wrong.

  The sensation reminded him of holding a cracked gss sphere—brilliant and fragile—filled with too much energy and no way to contain it. One wrong move and it would shatter.

  Noah's fingers clenched.

  He didn’t want to, but... this was the moment. He activated his 【Third Eye】.

  In the dim cave, a crimson glow pulsed to life from the sigil etched into the center of his forehead. It was an eerie, vivid light—almost alive—and impossible to hide. This was exactly why he’d never used it on a person until now. The glow made it obvious. Too obvious. He didn’t want anyone to know he had this skill.

  But the beastman in arms had his eyes closed. This was his chance to test out his skill on a beastman.

  As the glow intensified, a ? icon appeared near the male’s head, expanding outward in a slow ripple. Then, just like a game interface, a full character profile materialized in Noah’s vision.

  【 ? Kai】

  Race: BeastmanSpecies: Cobra Gender: MaleAge: 17 (Adult)Height: 196 cmBond Status: UnbondedBeast warrior: Level 4 (Mid Level 6)Status: Unstable – Core Overload Detected ?

  ? Warning: Spiritual core at 99.9% capacity – Risk of rupture imminent.

  Further information requires higher intimacy level

  【NOTES】

  Core stabilization is possible through spiritual merging or external suppression

  Noah let the unconscious beastman slip from his arms, lowering him to the mossy ground with little grace. He rubbed his palms on his thighs, trying to forget how heavy the cobra had been—or how cool. His attention snapped back to the glowing system panel hovering in front of him.

  The first thing that came to mind was ...damn, this pervert is actually younger than me.

  His gaze drifted to the rest of the profile—Level 4 (Mid Level 6) Beast Warrior.

  In this world, beastmen didn’t use mana or qi. Instead, they cultivated spiritual power through their beast cores—dense, powerful orbs nestled in their dantian. Their rank depended on the core’s color, starting from transparent at Level 1, and all the way to deep bck at Level 10.

  The stronger the core, the bigger the beast form, and the more powerful the warrior.

  At least, that was what the original novel said.

  And according to the original owner’s memories, beastmen usually judged one another’s ranks based on the number of stripes—beast marks—that appeared on their skin. These marks appeared randomly across the body—on arms, backs, even legs—and increased as the core advanced.

  Thinking of this, Noah’s gaze flickered toward the unconscious beastman sprawled before him. He hesitated for a moment, then started scanning the male’s exposed skin, searching for any visible beast marks.

  His eyes swept downward—and froze.

  His gaze snagged embarrassingly on two... limp little snakes resting between the beastman’s legs.

  Noah’s face instantly ignited. He snapped his head away so fast he almost gave himself whipsh, frantically fanning his burning cheeks with both hands.

  —Little snakes, my ass! There’s nothing "little" about them!

  Without meaning to, his eyes drifted back, only for him to viciously scold himself: Stop! No! What are you even doing?!

  The snake is the pervert here, not you!

  His chest puffed out in silent fury at himself. Still, some stubborn part of him mumbled a justification: Anyway... it's just curiosity. Right? Totally normal! Who wouldn't stare at something so... weird? It’s like comparing sizes in the dormitory showers... totally normal! Totally harmless!

  Bolstered by this shaky logic, Noah grew a little bolder.

  With a small "hmph" of righteous indignation, he grabbed the unconscious cobra and rolled him roughly onto his back.

  He wasn’t gentle about it either. Why should he be? Who told this bastard to kidnap him, chase him down, fsh him, and cause him injuries?

  Serves him right.

  Noah dusted off his hands with finality, gring at the fallen snake like he could will the indignity back onto him.

  Across the beastman’s bare back, six distinct teal stripes stretched across his skin—long, sleek, almost like painted war markings. Except... Noah narrowed his eyes. Two of the stripes were noticeably lighter than the others, almost faded.

  He thought back to what he knew about beast cores and beast marks. The number and brightness of the stripes usually reflected a beastman’s strength. Lighter stripes could only mean one thing—instability.

  It must be because of his core, Noah thought. That overload... it’s already dragging his level down.

  Technically, Kai should have been a true Mid Level 6, but with his core in that overloaded state, he had already slipped two sub-levels without even fighting. If his core ruptured completely...

  Now to the real question.

  To save, or not to save.