Their eyes intertwined. Kai's body shook as he immediately leaped backward, trying to create a distance.

This tiger is a bad deal. This was the first thought that appeared in his mind when he gazed at the lion's eyes.

"A human?" The lion suddenly spoke like a human.

"Eh?!" That question jolted his mind. Due to the inability to summon his sword, he could only raise his defensive stance, preparing himself for any type of attack before asking, "Who are you? Why can you speak a human language? Are you a protector? Why are you not scientifically correct?"

"It's been two hundred thousand years since I last lived. Unfortunately, I had enormous power that went through the blood of my children, sucking my own consciousness and splitting them into their own bodies when I died. Still, I never expected to see a human having my blood in your vein."

Kai's body shook and immediately shook his head. "I didn't have this blood naturally. To save my life, my teacher injected this blood to bring me back from the death door."

"So, you mean you killed my brethren and used their blood?" The lion slowly raised on his feet before roaring loudly, sending a shock wave toward Kai.

Kai raised his hand, stopping the shock wave from going to his eyes. His eyes were still locked on the lion, afraid to take it away because it might be the end of him.

"Are you aware of what happened outside?"

"Outside? Now you mention it, I can't really see what happened outside anymore. This only happened for the last fifteen years…Are you…"

"Yes. A few years later was when my teacher injected the blood into my body." Kai nodded with a serious expression. "I don't know if I am your enemy or not, but haven't you realized the world's situation? I am sure you have noticed it, right? Especially since you are an intelligent being."

The lion narrowed its eyes, glaring at Kai for a few minutes before sitting again. "So, what are you doing here?"

"I am here to control the blood…In other words, the power comes from the blood. Maybe we can say it's your power? I am not very sure because I don't have knowledge about this." Kai paused for a moment. "I also don't know whether I am your enemy or not, but if we can talk, that's better."

The lion closed its eyes before opening them again. "You can consider me as a protector of the Earth. When I lived my life to the fullest, I protected the Earth from getting sullied. I have integrated this two hundred thousand years' worth of knowledge into one single entity, which is me, thus allowing me to talk in your language."

"I…" Kai suddenly remembered something that he might have to pique the interest of the opposite party. "Can you hear the Earth's cry?"

"You…How do you know that question?" The lion narrowed its eyes. He started observing him with interest this time instead of staring without any expectation.

"I have a pair of special ears."

"I see. So, you are the key."

"The key?" Kai was taken aback when he learned another term for his existence.

"You don't even know who you are?" The lion snorted as if mocking him.

"I just knew this not long ago." Kai shook his head, not thinking about the insult.

"Hmm…That is interesting." The lion smiled. "Since I have died and don't have any attachment to this planet anymore, do you want to know about your existence? I have witnessed every single era during the past two hundred thousand years."

"I wish to know, but I can't really trust you."

"You are frank, huh. Never mind, I was living like you and ruled the whole continent in the past. Anyway, I will be talking about this. Whether you think I am lying or not, it's your choice." The lion snorted. "Well, from where should I start…"

Kai didn't talk back this time, waiting for him to explain since he was quite interested as well. No matter if it was a lie or not, he should be able to grasp what happened in the past.

After a while, the lion gathered its thoughts and started explaining. "I will talk about what I mean about the key first. What do you think of the purpose of your ears? Or do you think it serves no purpose?"

"It's for me to listen to my surroundings? It's just like normal ears but with more enhanced features?"

"That's why humans are still primitive to this day. You haven't understood anything."

"What do you mean?" Kai furrowed his eyebrows, never expecting that the lion called humans primitive. Humans should be the most futuristic beings compared to any other animals that had lived on Earth.

"Since you are a fool, I will just tell you with your simple word so even a fool like you can understand. Your ears have a purpose. It's a bridge that connects humans with all other beings. Unfortunately, not many could withstand that burden and died right after they were born. Those who didn't die became the key. This is the reason why I talk about this with you. Maybe, it's a kind of fate as well. Anyway, I will explain everything from the beginning, so you, the key, can choose whether to open the Pandora box or not.

"Why did I say bridge? It's simple. You need to understand what we are saying among us, deciphering one at a time during your life. You, as the bridge, will choose…What will you become in the future? A broken bridge? An unfinished bridge? Or any other types of bridge. If you want to be a complete bridge, you should start deciphering our language.

"We can understand your words, but you can't understand our words. This is why I called humans primitive beings. I do admit humans are kind of smart, but they are too arrogant. They never pay attention to any other beings other than their own kin.

"If you learn our language, you will know there is always a meaning why we exist. Anyway, that's my first piece of advice for you. Try to decipher our language like how you humans created your own language. You are not the first key, so I believe someone out there has deciphered some languages.

"Still, I didn't recommend you to publicize that you had understood our language. There may be someone who is observing the key, thinking whether they should remove the key or not.

"After all, the moment the bridge was completed, he would be the strongest person on this planet, capable of ruling every single being in this place. The protectors, including me, needed to maintain that balance, not letting one species rule completely over another. When we see either this or the bridge will soon be completed, we will call the calamity to descend to Earth, resetting everything."

When Kai heard this, he had numerous questions, but only one could come out of his mouth. "Why did you advise me to learn the language then?"

"I said it earlier. I have died and have no attachment to my duty, so I want to see what kind of fate my suggestion will lead the world."

"You are telling me to die?" Kai widened his eyes.

"Do I need to remind you, human? I am not your friend nor your parent. In fact, you are the killer of my descendant. Do you think I will suggest the future where you can say happily ever after? Either way, there is no key that won't be used."

He indirectly told Kai that he had no option other than going through all these problems. Whether he could emerge as a winner or not, it would be on his ability.

"And if humans are moving like how I predicted them to be…They will soon meet another calamity." The lion smiled.

"!!!" Kai instantly understood what he meant. "The protectors won't do it unless a race rules every single being on this planet. In that case, if the humans keep going in this direction, there is a chance that they are able to kill all other beings…In that case, the protectors will once again reset it! Don't say about going to another planet, it will be either we can survive through that or not!"

Kai gasped and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You seem to be smarter than my expectation." The lion looked at Kai. "Well, if the key is not smart, you will only be thrown away. That's that. Your fate has been decided from the start."

"Even so, my end goal is not decided." Kai stopped him with a stern voice.

"Ho?! I like your way of thinking. Then, I will tell you this one clue. You should know there are many civilizations erased mysteriously, right? They thought like you and went toward their own destruction. When the key appeared and became useless, the protectors controlled the key once more. That was why those people must have learned something about the protectors and our languages. You hold the biggest key to this planet right now. If you seek knowledge about it, you better go to those people and understand the languages. It's when the protectors will take you seriously."

"I will be targeted then?"

"Not really. You won't immediately become targeted. I should say this first. Every single race on this planet holds one altar. I, the representative of the Lion Race, once had an altar. If I sacrificed myself on that altar, I would release a massive catastrophe."

"But humans don't have an altar!" Kai narrowed his eyes.

"No, you are wrong. Humans indeed had it, but they lost it. I didn't know when too, since I had died when it happened. Do you think I know everything?" The lion snorted, looking at how Kai fell silent. He chose to add another intriguing question. "What do you think the catastrophe is?"

"That is…"