The whole city was frozen still, people’s chins were lifted to see the magnificent mythical beast that perched on the top of the palace. Its presence was enough to make a lot of people faint due to the intense aura it released. Only people with the ability to use Mana could withstand its magnificent presence. On the other hand, Rasmus stared right into the golden eyes of the Garuda that seemed to stare right into his soul.

Rasmus released the Overlord’s power, his draconic eyes stared back into Garuda’s soul. However, he was surprised that the Garuda didn’t tremble by the presence of the Overlord, unlike the ones that he had encountered before. Rullein also released her power, the black smoke began to appear around her.

Although the Garuda didn’t seem to get affected by the Overlord’s power and Rullein’s power, it slowly shifted its position. It stared at those two and immediately screeched as it released a strong energy that burned the sky. The energy was so intense that everyone in the city fainted from clashing with it.

"We are not a threat," Aris spoke with a calm voice as she stared at the Garuda that seemed to be preparing for the worst. "Your concern is unnecessary," she pointed out.

The Garuda looked down at Aris and believed what she said because the Garuda knew who Aris was from the aura she emitted. The Garuda flapped its wings and floated right above the palace until its size rapidly shrunk. The moment the Garuda landed in front of Aris, its height was a bit taller than her.

"It has been centuries since the last time an Aristoria grace its presence to this forsaken land," The Garuda said as it folded its wings. "The keeper of the world will once again raise to take its place," the Garuda slowly lowered its head to Aris, feeling the undeniable power that ran through Aris’s body.

Aris felt something bitter in her mouth when she was reminded of her predetermined path. She had been ignoring it and trying to live freely, but she knew that she couldn’t escape it.

"Do you have a name?" Aris asked.

"Name? They called me Garuma. I have long forgotten the name that I was born with. It has been too long," Garuma answered and shook its head.

"And you’re the one who protects this family? Because the Ashenvale family has your blood running through their veins?" Aris asked, knowing that she had to gather as much information as needed in Rasmus’ stead.

"Yes," Garuma nodded, but then it glanced at Rasmus, "That man... thing... being... who is he? It has the blood of an Aristoria, a dragon, a human, and something ancient..." Garuma asked, its eyes narrowed when it stared at Rasmus’ heterochromatic draconic eyes.

"He’s the child of the previous Aristoria, a half breed and he possesses something primeval that runs in his blood," Aris answered and looked at Rasmus, looking at his reaction to whether she did something wrong or not to reveal his identity. When Rasmus nodded his head, she knew that she had done the right thing.

"Primeval..." Garuma muttered and that word slowly reached deep into its consciousness that the world was in imminent danger. "And that? What is she?" Garuma asked and glanced at Rullein.

"She’s the remnants of the True Dragons, long after the extinction of True Dragons. She’s raised by the previous Aristoria as well," Aris answered and looked at Rullein, who was already thinking of devouring a spirit like Garuma due to its pure Mana and energy that was perfect for her nutrients.

Garuma looked at the three of them and noticed they were connected to each other. Something big was about to happen and Garuma could sense it, thinking if it would be for better or worse. Garuma then turned around and saw Malik and his children and wives. They immediately went down to their knees and lowered their heads since Garuma was like a God to them. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"I’m expecting that your presence is due to them?" Malik asked as he lifted his head to look at Garuma.

"Yes, I noticed that my descendants were in danger and in distress. I came to check who dared to cause my descendants to feel that way," Garuma looked at the youngest son of Malik, noticing the distress was coming from him. "Now that I understand the situation, it seems something must have happened."

"And, what’s going to happen now?" Malik asked and glanced at Rasmus, knowing he was the cause of this whole situation.

"Nothing will happen," Garuma answered.

Malik and Valari were in disbelief when Garuma, a being that had been protecting the family for centuries would let this matter go. Valari realized that even a being like Garuma didn’t dare to do anything to Rasmus. It was at that moment the Ashenvale family realized how untouchable Rasmus Blackheart was.

"I noticed that it took you a while to come here when things were already over," Aris pointed out with her brows furrowed. "You’re not staying here to protect them, and you sent others to protect them in your stead. Meaning, you’re living somewhere far away from here," she assumed.

"Yes, spirit like me, we can’t live in the same space as humans. As you can see, my presence alone is enough to cause chaos here," Garuma looked at the guards that collapsed and all the people in the city were unconscious.

Rasmus furrowed his brows, finding it weird that Garuma could be this powerful. Garuma was a Great Spirit like Yur, but Yur wasn’t this powerful and nothing like Garuma in terms of power. Something felt off about Garuma, and it wasn’t just him who noticed it, Aris also noticed that as well.

"How did you grow this powerful?" Aris asked.

"We grow powerful due to our bond and through offerings," Garuma answered. "Humans are unique beings unlike anything else. They have the ability to empower other beings and they’re capable of inheriting other beings powers," Garuma explained and pointed its hand at Rasmus as an example. "History has proven how special humans are, and even from the moment they set their foot on this world, they seem to have no limitations."

Aris and Rullein turned their heads to look at Rasmus, and they still couldn’t find an answer as to why he was capable of possessing three different powers within his body. Not only Rasmus but there were individuals that had proven how powerful they were. There was another discovery that half breed between humans and spirits existed. Garuma’s explanation made Aris, Rullein, and Rasmus realize that humans’ potential was limitless.

"Bond and offering?" Aris furrowed her brows as she crossed her arms.

"Life energy, we are consuming human life in a different way. They offer their vitality to us and we offer them our power, and that creates an unbreakable bond that will keep us connected to them, including their offspring since they share the same blood," Garuma explained. "The more offspring they have, the stronger we become. That means if the offspring died before they could reproduce, we would grow weaker. That’s why we protect the humans who have created bond with us."

"How did you find out that you can do something like that?" Rasmus asked.

"We learned that from an Orthias, she taught us how to become stronger," Garuma answered and glanced at Malik and his family.

"She?" Aris arched her brows.

"Yes, Lady Sanya taught us," Garuma turned to look at Aris. "She taught us centuries ago."

Rasmus, Aris, and Rullein immediately looked at each other, realizing that Sanya had done a lot of things behind the scenes. It was when they wondered if this was her way to anticipate a future where history would repeat itself, a calamity that brought extinction to True Dragons.