Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss

[Host, that was cold…]

Seojun ignored it. Without saying more, he walked closer to the glass, standing with his back straight and eyes locked on the beast.

"Start observing," he said. "Time is ticking."

The mutant lion turned its head slowly, golden eyes watching the group.

There were large cages and fences around, each area holding different kinds of beasts, but right now, they were led to a high platform built with railings.

Sui climbed up the stairs first, "This way. You can see clearly from here."

Elshienne reached the top and looked down.

Below them, in a big open space covered with sand and a few broken bones, was the creature they were supposed to observe.

Yoora was the first to break the silence. "He sees himself too highly!"

Elshienne kept quiet, watching carefully, but her eyes turned when she heard something strange.

Nathan spoke. "This is too much," he said in a serious tone. "Why would he bring us here without warning?"

Everyone turned to look at him. Nathan never complained. He barely talked in class. But now, his voice was low and sharp. He looked angry.

Even Yoora went quiet, surprised.

Hannah held her notebook close. Her hand shook, but she was still writing, stealing glances at the beast. She looked scared, but she didn't back down.

Minseok leaned forward over the railing, eyes narrowed.

"I've seen something like this before," he said, more to himself. "Maybe in a book or… no, a dungeon?"

He looked like he was trying hard to remember.

Elshienne stepped a bit closer to Nathan and whispered, "What's wrong?"

Nathan didn't look at her, still frowning. "I'm annoyed," he answered simply.

Elshienne looked at Nathan and whispered again, "Let's just focus. We can talk about it later."

Nathan didn't say anything right away. He took a deep breath and nodded, though he still looked annoyed. Both of them started writing in their notebooks, quietly observing the creature below.

The strange lion-like beast was still sitting, its eyes slowly scanning around the enclosure. Its three tails flicked from side to side, and every now and then, it let out a low growl—but it didn't move much.

A minute passed before Nayoung broke the silence.

"Is it just me," she said, scratching her head and looking around at the others, "or is this beast... too calm?"

Minseok nodded slowly. "That's not just you. It's weird. For something that looks that dangerous, it should be more aggressive."

Yoora frowned, arms crossed. "Or maybe it's just waiting. Beasts don't sit still like that for no reason. That thing feels smart."

Even Hannah, who had been quiet, whispered, "It didn't roar… not even once."

Just then, Seojun's voice came from behind them, calm but firm.

"Time's over. Now tell me what you observed," he said.

Nayoung straightened up, her hand already raised. "Okay, Professor!" she said cheerfully. "First, it didn't move much, but its ears kept turning toward us, which means it has strong senses. Its breathing was slow and even—so it wasn't scared or tired. I think it's a calm type, but maybe not friendly. Also, its fur is darker thanthe others. Maybe it lives in places with low light? Like caves or thick forests?"

Seojun gave a small nod.

Hannah looked nervous, but she held her notebook tight and spoke clearly. "I watched its breathing. It didn't match the way normal beasts breathe when resting. It was too steady, like it was copying something. I think… it's pretending to act like a normal animal, but it's smarter than it looks. Maybe it learned how to fake calm around people. That means when handling this kind of beast, we shouldn't trust what we see. If we let our guard down just because it looks relaxed, we might fall into its trap. It might be the kind that waits for others to make the first mistake."

Yoora crossed her arms, still looking serious. "I noticed the creature's back right leg looked a little stiff when it stood up slightly. Maybe it has an old injury there or it's weaker on that side. Also, the way it kept its body low even when sitting… maybe it's protecting its stomach. That could be a weak spot. If someone has to fight or tame it, maybe attacking from the back-right side would give a better chance."

Minseok nodded slowly. "It's familiar… I still can't remember the name, but I saw something like it before in a beast report. Three-tailed lion with heat-resistant fur. Probably a Fire-type beast. I noticed the ground near it was dry and cracked. Maybe its natural habitat is volcanic or hot regions. If it's here, then the warehouse is controlling its environment."

Elshienne looked at her notes and then at the beast. "I think this one is the leader of the pack," she said.

Nathan nodded, agreeing with Elshienne. "I agree, It's not nervous or pacing like the others. It's confident, like it knows it's in charge."

Yoora shook her head and crossed her arms. "I don't think that's true. Just because it's calm doesn't mean it's the leader. Maybe there are others hiding in the back, watching us. The leader might not always be obvious."

Hannah spoke up softly, but her voice was clear. "I agree with Yoora. Just because it's calm doesn't mean it's the leader. It's not growling or moving around like a leader would. It's just watching us, staying still."

Elshienne frowned but didn't back down. "But look at how it's acting. It's not scared or nervous like the others. It's showing confidence. Leaders are calm, but they also act like they control the area."

Nathan shrugged, but he still agreed with Elshienne. "It's true, leaders stay calm and don't waste energy. This one is just waiting, like it knows it's in control."

Yoora was still unconvinced. "I still don't think it's the leader. Just because it's calm doesn't mean it's the one in charge."

As they continued, Nayoung suddenly clapped her hands, interrupting them. "Yay! This is fun! Keep going, you're all so smart!" she cheered, bouncing up and down excitedly. "But hey, I think we're all missing something!"

The others turned to her, surprised by her bubbly energy.

Minseok, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly spoke up, raising his hand. "Wait, wait!" He got their attention and then paused for a moment. "I remember now. This creature... I know what it is."

Everyone turned toward him, curious.

"This creature is called a Solitaris Leo, or more simply, the Solitary Lion. It's a unique variation that evolved to live alone, unlike other beasts of its kind."

He paused for a moment, "What makes it different is that, unlike typical beasts that form packs for protection and hunting, the Solitaris Leo has developed all its abilities to work solo."

Nayoung clapped, "Wow! Amazing Minseok how did you know all of that? In short, This guy is the leader of its own life."

Elshienne looked back at the Solitaris Leo, then glanced around at the other creatures in their enclosures. She frowned slightly and spoke, "Why is it inside with them? Shouldn't it have its own habitat?"

Seojun, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "This one likes to wander. It doesn't stay in its enclosure unless it has to. It's been trained to stay inside the boundaries, but it's not the type to be confined. It's more comfortable moving around and exploring."

He paused for a moment, then added, "It's not like other beasts that need a specific habitat. This one is adaptable and can live in different environments. But, of course, we have to make sure it doesn't escape."

Seojun turned his gaze to Minseok, who had been the first to identify the beast correctly. "You did well, Minseok. You saw it for what it really is."

Minseok nodded humbly, giving a small smile. "Thanks, Professor Jihoon."