Chapter 12: The First Man to Survive

Hyun-woo fell through the vast, endless sky of Eden’s Vault, the wind roaring in his ears like a storm. His messy black hair whipped wildly, and the cold air stung his bare chest.

Far below, the massive outer shield shimmered like a giant dome of pure white crystal. Swirling tips of bright blue magic danced along its surface. This shield was the Vault’s ultimate defense—designed to instantly destroy any man who touched it.

This is really going to hurt, Hyun-woo thought, twisting his body mid-air to brace himself.

Ebonara was so far behind him that it would likely take her a minute or two just to catch up.

The strange, impossible landscapes of the Vault rushed up fast: golden desert sands, snowy mountain peaks, deep green forests, stormy oceans, fiery volcanoes, misty swamps, and glowing crystal plains—all seven zones blurring together into one colorful streak.

And before he knew it, he slammed into the shield’s edge.

ZAP!

A brutal surge of raw electric current exploded through his entire body. It felt like thousands of burning needles stabbing him everywhere at once—then each needle exploding inside his skin. Every single nerve screamed in agony.

High above, Ebonara’s desperate scream echoed faintly: "NOOOOOOOO!"

Hyun-woo’s skin felt like it was on fire. His vision flashed pure white. For one terrifying heartbeat, his whole body glowed and seemed to burst outward in a storm of light and sparks—like he was about to be erased forever.

But then… everything stopped.

{System: Foreign energy detected. Analyzing… Adapting… Immunity granted.}

The explosion fizzled away into nothing. The pain vanished completely. Hyun-woo blinked in shock, still falling—but now safely inside the shield, completely unharmed.

His "Sex Beast" system had reacted instantly. It studied the shield’s deadly attack and rewrote his body to embrace it.

He crashed onto warm, soft desert sand, tumbling and rolling until he skidded to a stop.

"Whoa… that was way too close," he gasped, sitting up slowly. His heart still raced, but he was fine. The massive shield high above hummed angrily, as if confused and frustrated that its prey had survived.

But the barrier wasn’t finished. It pulsed brighter, angry blue magic swirling faster. A new attack came—an invisible wave of disintegrating force, like thousands of tiny blades trying to slice him apart atom by atom.

"AAAAGGGHH!" Hyun-woo cried out for the first time, curling up as sharp, burning pain tore through him.

{System: Secondary attack analyzed. Primal Adaptation activated. Full immunity to Eden’s Vault barrier acquired.}

Just like that, the pain disappeared.

Hyun-woo stood up slowly, breathing hard. He checked his shirtless body—no burns, no cuts, nothing. It was like the attacks had never happened.

He looked up. Ebonara was still diving toward him, getting closer. Farther above, Adrazelle floated calmly, watching with a mix of confusion and a tiny hint of wariness on her beautiful face.

Hyun-woo clicked his tongue in annoyance. One day I’m definitely going to slap that bitch. But not today. Right now, all he wanted was to lie down and sleep. The quick system upgrades had left him feeling completely drained.

He brushed the warm sand off his arms and chest. Thanks to his infinite-level power, he was now the first man in history since its creation to pass through the deadly shield unharmed—and now he was immune to it.

High above, Ebonara shot down like a black comet, her massive scorpion form slicing through the air. She landed right in front of him with a thunderous BOOM that shook the ground and sent sand flying everywhere.

In a flash of dark energy, she shifted back to her humanoid shape—tight black crop top, leather pants, and her long scorpion tail swaying behind her.

Her eight gem-like eyes blazed pure crimson with rage. She stared straight up at Adrazelle, who floated calmly far in the sky.

"You threw him?!" Ebonara roared, her voice echoing across the desert like thunder. Her tail arched high and dangerous, green venom dripping in thick drops that hissed and melted holes in the sand. "Mother or not—you could have killed him!"

Adrazelle’s expression had already shifted. The playful curiosity was gone. Now her beautiful, unveiled face looked perfectly calm and serene as she floated high above, gazing down like a gentle queen watching her children.

But Ebonara didn’t care one bit. Fury boiled inside her like a raging fire. This was her darling—her cutie pie—the one who had ended her endless, painful hunger and made her feel truly whole for the first time in centuries. She would protect him with her life. No exceptions.

She crouched low in the warm sand, muscles tensing, black claws digging into the ground. Her eight eyes glowed with murderous crimson light. Her tail arched high, ready to strike. "I’ll make you regret—!"

Just then, Hyun-woo wobbled on his feet. The two quick system adaptations—blocking the shield’s attacks—had drained him far more than he expected. His vision blurred, the world spun, and his knees buckled.

"Ebo… wait…" he mumbled weakly, voice soft and tired.

Before Ebonara could leap into the sky, Hyun-woo collapsed face-first into the soft sand with a quiet thud, completely unconscious.

Ebonara froze mid-crouch. All her rage vanished in an instant, replaced by pure panic. "Darling!" she cried, rushing to his side in a blur. She scooped him up gently into her strong arms, cradling him against her chest like something precious. Her long scorpion tail curled protectively around them both, forming a living shield.

Moments later, three more figures swooped down from the sky—the Gorgon sisters: Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. They landed lightly, surrounding Ebonara and the unconscious Hyun-woo in a tight, protective circle. Their snake hair hissed softly, tails ready.

Medusa and Stheno were still furious—their eyes blazed, fists clenched. The only one calm was Euryale. She still didn’t understand everything, but she would fight anyone who threatened her sisters, no questions asked.

Then Adrazelle descended slowly and gracefully, her black robes flowing like liquid shadow. Her face now showed quiet wariness mixed with deep curiosity. The test was over… but so many new questions had just begun.

Will these four guardians really fight me—their own mother—over a human boy who entered their lives only yesterday? she wondered silently. And I am curious just how powerful that boy truly is.

Adrazelle hovered in the air for a long, quiet moment. The warm desert wind swirled gently around them.

Tension was rising. Whoever made the first move would decide what fate would befall poor Hyun-woo. The five powerful beings below radiated intense pressure—enough to make the sand tremble slightly. One wrong word, and blood would spill across the dunes.

But Adrazelle raised one pale hand gently, palm out, like a mother telling excited children to calm down. Her crimson lips parted in a soft, genuine sigh.

"Enough," she said, her voice warm and soothing, like a cool breeze cutting through hot tension.

Her deep obsidian eyes softened as she looked at Hyun-woo sleeping peacefully in Ebonara’s arms. "I… apologize. Truly. My test was too harsh, but it was necessary. This boy is no ordinary human—he has proven that beyond doubt. Take him home, Ebonara. Let him rest and recover. We will talk more when he wakes."

Ebonara’s eight crimson eyes narrowed sharply. Deep down, anger still burned hot—she was seething. But seeing Hyun-woo safe and breathing steadily… she slowly let some of it go. She nodded stiffly, tail tightening protectively around his limp body.

"You went too far, Mother," she growled, voice low and rough. Then, almost too quiet to hear, she added, "I’m sorry, Mother."

The words were tiny, full of complicated feelings—love, respect, and lingering hurt. Somehow, in the heavy silence, everyone heard them clearly.

Medusa and Stheno exchanged quick, relieved glances. Their tense shoulders relaxed a little, tails lowering. Euryale also let out a soft breath.

"We’ll guard the way back," Medusa said firmly, her voice steady and protective. "No more surprises. Promise."

Adrazelle smiled gently—a real, warm smile that made the air feel lighter. "Go in peace, my daughters."

The tension finally broke. The desert wind blew softly again, carrying away the last sparks of danger.

Ebonara held Hyun-woo closer, already turning toward home. The Gorgon sisters stayed in their protective circle, ready to escort them safely through the shifting sands.

The crisis was over—for now. But everyone knew tomorrow’s council with Mother would be full of even bigger questions… and maybe a few more surprises.

Adrazelle inclined her head gracefully, her long midnight-black hair flowing like smooth silk in the warm desert breeze. "The council can wait. I will wait. The meeting is postponed until tomorrow. This boy has faced enough today—he has truly earned his rest and my respect."

With those gentle words, she rose slowly into the bright sky. Her dark silk robes swirled around her like living shadows, and in a quiet shimmer, she vanished completely. All the other guardians who were still in the council room vanished as well.

Ebonara didn’t wait a single second. She shifted instantly into her massive black scorpion form. Carefully, so carefully, she lifted the unconscious Hyun-woo with her front claws and placed him securely on her broad, warm back, right between the tall ridges where he wouldn’t slip.

The three Gorgon sisters—Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale—moved in close. They formed a tight, protective circle around her as she began scuttling across the golden desert sands toward her cavern home. Their long serpent tails dragged lightly behind, leaving winding trails in the dust. No one said a word.

Back inside Ebonara’s cozy cavern, soft warm light glowed from the crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling. It felt safe and peaceful.

Ebonara shifted back to her humanoid form. She scooped Hyun-woo into her arms and carried him to the wide, luxurious bed draped in thick black furs and smooth silk sheets. She laid him down as gently as possible, tucking a soft fur blanket around his shirtless body.

The Gorgon sisters stood at the cavern entrance, watching quietly. Their snake hair rustled with concern.

"He’ll be fine," Ebonara said, her voice softer now, full of love. Then it turned a little sharp again. "We’ll talk later about everything. For now, go—tell Mother we’ll be at the meeting tomorrow."

Medusa nodded slowly, stepping forward. She placed a gentle hand on Ebonara’s shoulder. "Don’t worry," she said with a small smile. "I’m not going to steal him from you."

Ebonara blinked, confused. "Wait—what do you mean by—?"

Before she could finish, Euryale spoke up calmly. "Ebonara, we’ll talk later. I want to know everything that happened, too."

Stheno just smirked, raised one hand, and flipped a playful middle finger at Ebonara before the three sisters vanished into swirling shadows.

"Bitch," Ebonara muttered under her breath, half-annoyed, half-amused. Deep down, she was secretly happy that those stone-cold pussies could still writhe like that.

She shook her head with a tiny smile, then sat on the edge of the bed beside Hyun-woo. Gently, she brushed his messy black hair away from his forehead, tracing his soft, pretty face with her fingers.

"My brave cutie pie," she whispered, her eight gem-like eyes shimmering with affection and pride. Tiny glowing hearts danced in them. "Sleep well."

The cavern fell quiet, warm and safe. Outside, the shifting sands whispered softly, but inside, there was only peace—and the steady breathing of the boy who had changed everything.

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