Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 96: Level 45

Jayden stared at Penelope. Not in anger. Not in awe. Just... confusion. A tangled storm of thoughts he couldn’t untie.

"Why?" he asked softly, eyes still locked on hers.

Penelope didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. She chuckled light, almost airy, as if he’d just asked something adorably naive.

"Because I know you’re not normal, Jayden."

Her voice was steady, low, like silk stretched over steel.

"I haven’t seen anyone your age with the kind of strength you showed back there. Even your aura... it’s off. Wild."

Her gaze returned to the road, city lights flickering in her eyes like stardust.

"I’ve known since the first day we met."

She paused, then added:

"But I needed to see. Just how strong you were."

Jayden’s brows knit, his mouth a flat line.

"And?" he asked, cautious but curious.

She turned slightly, just enough to meet his gaze. There was something there.. admiration, maybe even something deeper, before she faced forward again.

"And... I think you’re incredible, Jayden." She said it like a confession. "You might not have an elemental ability like your mother, but your physical stat.. It’s terrifying. And your control over telekinesis is extremely refined."

Jayden gave a dry, crooked smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Thanks... I guess. But please... can you keep the telekinesis part a secret?"

His voice dipped lower, more serious.

"I think I have more than one ability, and I’m pretty sure the EVA wouldn’t like that. Not until I understand what’s going on inside me. I can’t take any chances."

He looked at her fully now, his expression open, vulnerable. Which was rare for him.

"I promise I’ll tell you more when the time is right."

Penelope didn’t answer immediately. The hum of the car filled the silence. Wind whispered around them. The city flew by beneath their floating path like a dream.

Finally, she nodded. "Okay, Jayden. I won’t tell anyone."

She glanced at him. Her smile was soft. Trusting. "And you don’t need to explain anything. I trust you. Maybe it sounds strange.. but I do. Your mother would’ve wanted me to."

Jayden’s chest lightened, like a burden had been unhooked and tossed out the window. He knew Penelope would be involved in his life from that day... heck she’d already been involved his life for a long time now.

He knew he had to earn her trust and also learn to trust her. But he didn’t think the first part would be so easy. He exhaled a small laugh, relief curling into his words.

"Thank you, Miss Isley."

Penelope raised a brow. "Still calling me that, huh? Even after our little ’bonding’ tonight?"

Her lips twisted into a teasing pout. But behind the mischief... sadness glimmered. Just for a second.

Jayden scratched the back of his head. "Um... well..."

"Hahaha! I’m just messing with you." Penelope burst into laughter, the tension popping like a balloon.

Then, her voice took a sharp turn.. excited, deliberate. "But you know.. there was another reason I tested your strength tonight."

Jayden’s brow quirked.

She turned her full gaze on him this time, her grin widening. "I want you to be Cassandra’s bodyguard."

Jayden blinked. He blinked again. He leaned forward slightly, looking stunned. He didn’t expect that at all.

Penelope gave a long, dramatic sigh. "Come on, Jayden. I thought you’d be more excited than this."

Jayden chuckled nervously. "Sorry. I thought you were joking." He leaned back, arms crossed. "Wait.. aren’t you joking?"

"Nope." She popped the p and smiled like she’d just handed him the winning lottery ticket. "I want you to be her personal bodyguard. Just until she hits level 25. You’d accompany her during outings. Keep her safe."

Jayden stared at her like she’d grown a second head. "Wait.. what?!" he said. "You actually want me to be her bodyguard?"

Penolope nodded.

"But... why me?" he asked slowly.

Penelope rested her hands on the wheel, her tone growing more serious. "Because Cassandra’s stubborn. Dangerously stubborn. She’s chased off every other bodyguard I hired. Either by staging her own kidnapping... or beating them half to death."

Jayden choked back a laugh. "Sounds about right."

"Exactly. But.. she likes you." Her smile turned cheeky. "Plus, this way you two can have some good bonding time together. And don’t worry, she doesn’t go out too often."

Jayden exhaled slowly. His fingers tapped his thigh.

"I get it. I just... don’t think I’m the right fit. I mean, you said it yourself.. I’m just as strong as her. How am I supposed to guard someone just as powerful as me?"

Penelope’s laughter danced through the cabin like wind chimes. "Cassandra is strong, yes. But you and i both know even she can’t take on eight powerful men on her own."

Jayden frowned. "You said my aura was like... level 17 or something, right?"

She waved her hand. "That was back when we first met. When you came to my place on Tuesday... I felt it. You’d gotten stronger. And after tonight.. It’s undeniable. When you were fighting those men, i confirmed it."

Penelope looked at him, her voice dipped into something almost reverent. "Jayden, your current aura output has the same strength as someone who’s at least... level 45."

Jayden’s eyes widened. "W-what?!" he exclaimed. His heart thudded louder. "But how? I mean.. i didn’t even realize I was that strong."

Penelope chuckled, her tone philosophical. "That’s the beauty of power, Jayden. You grow into it without realizing... and suddenly, you forget your own strength."

Jayden’s mind reeled. All this time, he had just been killing beasts and levelling up with the system. He didn’t bother to know what level he was on normal terms. He thought he’d be on mid-tier at best. Level 15, maybe 20. But forty-five... that was too incredible.

He swallowed hard.

"You shouldn’t worry about it." Penelope continued. "People like us don’t have limited growth in power like the others. It’s called talent. Our strength just keeps growing. And the best thing to do is embrace it. Own it."

Jayden sighed deeply. "I know. I’m just... worried. About the EVA. If they find out there’s a kid out there at level 45..."

"You’ll be the center of every radar." Penelope finished softly.

Jayden nodded. "Exactly. And i can’t have that. Not yet." he muttered, clenching his fist.

She smiled warmly. "Then don’t take the assessment yet. Wait until you’re strong enough to not care. And when the tournament season comes and they demand a level check... come to me. I’ll make sure it’s handled discreetly."

Jayden looked at her, gratitude welling up in his chest. "Thank you. Thank you so much for this. Seriously. I don’t even know how to repay you."

Penelope laughed gently. "I don’t need repayment, Jayden. Just grow stronger. Make your mother proud."

He nodded.

Then, with a glint in her eye, she continued.

"Sooo... how about that bodyguard offer now?"

Jayden sighed, caught like a wolf pup in a velvet snare. He had been cornered. She was just saying she didn’t want repayment... but the timing was so perfect. It definitely felt like she was asking for it.

And as much as he wanted to say yes, he couldn’t. He had to say no.

It wasn’t like he didn’t want to hang out with Cassandra, or be her bodyguard. He was just really busy. He was already strong, but that only meant he would soon become a target for the other powerhouses. He knew the only thing he could now, was to get stronger. He didn’t want to rely on Penelope, or Kate... or the mysterious man watching over him.

"I..." he started, scratching his neck. "Thing is—"

"I’ll pay you," Penelope cut in smoothly.

Jayden blinked. "Huh?"

"I’ll pay you, Jayden." she repeated, a sly smile stretching across her lips. "Not in credits, but in crystals. Beast crystals."

That made his heart skip.

"Beast crystals?" he asked to confirm if he was hearing correctly.

"Mhm." She looked so smug about it.

"Something tells me you’d prefer that to credits."

Jayden tried to act cool—but he almost squealed. Prefer? No, he didn’t just prefer beast crystals. It was all he wanted.

"I... yes, i do." he muttered.

"Thought so." Penelope leaned back, clearly pleased. "So how about this? I’ll give you ten beast crystals. Any type you want. For every week of service."

Jayden felt a war break out in his chest. It was such a good deal. With her resources, he could easily get specific beasts crystals.

Instead of going around looking for ten or twenty of the same type of beast.

But still... something held him back.

"Can I think about it?" he asked.

Penelope nodded without hesitation. "Of course. When you’re ready to say yes, you know where to find me."

They sat in silence for a while. The city shimmered below them like a sea of diamonds.

Then, casually, Jayden turned to her, trying to bring up another topic. "Um... if you don’t mind me asking... how old are you?"

Penelope paused for a while. Then, a slow smile crept across her face.

"Why do you ask?"

Jayden gave a nervous laugh. "I was just... curious."

"Mhm." She raised a brow. "You sure it’s not because you wanted to know if I’m too old for you?"

Jayden’s cheeks flushed. "No! I mean.. well, I’m just curious. That’s all."

Penelope giggled, low and sultry. "Relax, Jayden. Age is just a number. And I won’t stab you for asking." She winked.

Jayden chuckled awkwardly. "I’ll keep that in mind." he muttered with a smile. He wanted to ask her some more questions about herself, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to be the next person to crawl home with a spear made of fire in his thigh.

Penelope noticed the twitch in his fingers. The curiosity in his eyes. "Go on," she teased. "Ask me what you really want to ask. I won’t bite."

Jayden smiled nervously, he’d already decided not to ask anything about her for the time being. But since, she requested, he decided to ask her something else. He took a breath, then asked the question that had been scratching at his mind for some time.

"I was wondering... have you ever heard of something... or someone... called the Beastlord?"