All four stretched their hands toward the bodies. The connection formed immediately, it was an invisible thread linking Beast Master to beast soul.

Light rushed over their bodies in different colors.

Reinhard's body glowed blue-black, the color from Odin, Joseph's frame lit with grey light, Lancelot's influence appeared. Marie shone golden, Seraphim's radiance impossible to miss, and Amiya blazed crimson-black, her Reaper spirit's light.

Their expressions shifted simultaneously.

Reinhard trembled as a surge of emotion crashed into him in waves. He felt desperation rushing through him, fear clawing at his consciousness, and a desire to escape so powerful it made his muscles twitch involuntarily. And beneath it all, a want to end everything, to make the suffering stop.

He gritted his teeth as forty souls rushed into him at once, and raging through him. It was far easier than the time he was just a Tier E Beast Master, and it wasn't fully drowning himself. Yet each soul carried its own burden of feeling and memory.

The combined weight threatened to overwhelm him completely.

Then came an even greater emotion, a despair so heavy that it felt like he was deep underwater trying to swim up.

Then the images began appearing.

He saw himself moving through the forest, branches and roots creating barriers. Then, he was captured by roots wrapping around his limbs, pulling bodies down, and piercing through his flesh.

The images displayed different perspectives, cycling rapidly.

A Werefang's view as roots punctured its back. A Bear-Terror's perspective as tendons were severed. A Forest Roots Phantasm Beast, which was ironically captured by the very thing it resembled.

A Kabas struggles uselessly beneath its mushroom shell while a Kungala's pale wooden body is absorbed back into the forest itself.

Reinhard groaned, his body swaying. He steadied himself through sheer force of will, feeling the souls rushing through him. His soul count climbed rapidly towards 830, 840, 850, and it was still rising.

The number hit 860 and stabilized.

Reinhard sighed before glancing sideways to see that the others had recovered as well, though clearly affected.

Marie rubbed her temples but still wore her warm smile while Joseph's expression held slight excitement, the thrill of growth outweighing the discomfort. Amiya looked shaken but determined, her hands only trembling slightly.

Brunhilde smiled. "Alright, let's go find Janus and the Luminous Knights. We can talk about the trial later, okay Joseph?"

Joseph nodded with a grin, but his eyes shone with eagerness. The others smiled in agreement.

They began walking through Naraku, asking townspeople if they'd seen Janus. The responses came quickly as they said they confirmed they did and that he, heading that direction, toward the Inn, was talking with his father.

Hands pointed, giving directions that led them deeper into the residential area.

They found him near a cluster of intact buildings. Janus stood facing Mayor Nigen, his orange eyes showing confusion and concern.

His hands gestured as he spoke. "Dad, I don't understand. I just got here, why would you-"

Nigen sighed heavily, the sound carrying weariness. "It's because it's unsafe now, Janus. I'm not sure what will happen, but I fear if you stay, you'll be caught up in a tragedy… I don't want that."

Janus frowned. "But what about you? Don't tell me you expect me to go away while you just stay?"

"I have to look out for the Naraku people," Nigen said simply.

"Then I have to-"

"Janus." Nigen shook his head firmly, cutting off the protest, and then his expression softened. "Didn't you dream of traveling the world and painting everything you saw?"

Janus froze as his entire body went still.

Nigen smiled. "You shouldn't suppress or lock away your dreams for us. Leave tomorrow, Janus, and continue working on your dream. You don't need to worry about me." He reached out, patting Janus's shoulder with obvious affection. "I don't plan on dying soon, or else your mother would be mad I left you alone."

Nigen walked away, his boots creating soft sounds against packed earth.

Janus remained frozen in place before he trembled slightly and clenched his fist. "What do I do..." he muttered, voice barely audible.

Joseph walked over, his own hand coming to rest on Janus's shoulder. "Well, for now, you can follow us to investigate the Luminous Knights. At the very least, it'll keep your mind off anything that's bothering you."

Janus blinked in surprise, his orange eyes focusing on Joseph. He bit his lip before nodding slowly, and then his brows furrowed as the words registered fully. "Wait…Why are we investigating the Luminous Knights?"

"We'll tell you on the way," Amiya said, already moving. "Come on."

They made their way through Naraku's streets toward the library. The building stood two stories tall, constructed from stone and wood with tall windows that let in natural light. Shelves visible through the glass suggested extensive collections.

Amiya pushed open the door before they entered and felt it was a bit cool inside. Rows of shelves created natural corridors, filled with books, scrolls, and documents. They saw a woman sitting at the front desk, peering down at the book in her hands.

Amiya's lips twitch before leading them toward the back, moving with obvious familiarity.

Two figures stood among the shelves, books open in their hands.

The woman wore a white robe decorated with intricate patterns. Black armor covered her arms, shoulders, and boots while her white hair was pulled back, revealing a face focused on whatever text she studied.

The man had black hair visible beneath a black helm topped with spikes pointing upward. Black armor mixed with white cloth draped his frame, and a black cape hung from his shoulders.

Both wore the Luminous Knights' symbol prominently. A swirling circle with a star in the middle, four half-moons at top and bottom, swords on the right and left sides.

"The woman is Veryn," Amiya whispered. "The man is Casseo."

Everyone nodded before they approached, and then Amiya cleared her throat softly. "Veryn, Casseo."

Both Luminous Knights looked up simultaneously.

Veryn smiled faintly at Amiya, recognition clear in her expression, while Casseo nodded once, his face remaining blank but not unfriendly.

"Ah, Amiya. I see you brought others. Did something happen?" Veryn asked in slight surprise.

Amiya launched into an explanation of the attack, the destroyed buildings, and the cluster of Phantasm Beasts.

She described everything quickly but thoroughly and then asked. "Why didn't you come out to help?"

Veryn blinked in surprise as concern appeared on her face. "We're sorry for not helping. We just didn't hear any noise."

Amiya's eyes widened.

Brunhilde slowly nodded. "Only the townspeople in the eastern area were alarmed. The other parts of town were unaware, it seems. That would explain why the librarian at the front was still here, and why only some of the townspeople were moving the debris away."

Amiya sighed. "I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing."

"It's a good thing." Veryn said firmly. "Because it means the danger was suppressed before it got out of hand."

Amiya nodded slowly. "That's true." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Have you ever seen this type of beast before?"

She described the mutated Werefang in detail. The combination of features, the black spikes, the antlers, and the way it had regenerated. Most importantly, she explained how they had identified multiple souls trapped within one body.

The Luminous Knights' expressions shifted as surprise appeared on their face before recognition mixed with dismay. They exchanged glances, some unspoken communication passing between them.

Veryn grimaced while Casseo's blank expression displayed some concern.

"Those creatures." Casseo began softly. "They are called Chimeras."

Everyone blinked in surprise before they all leaned in with varying expressions.

For them to know what it is, and have such a reaction… Did they really appear on the other continents as well!? Reinhard thought.

"So they have appeared in the Aya continent?" Reinhard asked urgently.

Both Luminous Knights nodded before Casseo continued. "We saw them back on the Continent of Aya and have been following their movement. But we could never find the source on the continent of Aya."

Veryn sighed as a troubled look appeared. "But to think they would come to the town..."

"We aren't sure what they are… Maybe they are a result of a curse." Casseo said as he crossed his arms. "Or a very bad mutation that wishes to not be erased."

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