Protection Area X Death

Kingdom of Ganyou, Biscayne Forest Park, Special Species Protection Area.

A camouflage Jeep drove along the winding mountain road, taking turn after turn before arriving at a flat stretch of land on a hillside.

"Ah, this feels familiar."

After the vehicle came to a stop, Kevin jumped out.

Just over ten meters away stood a simple campsite.

A spiky-haired man was intently studying something inside the camp. Hearing the vehicle, he slightly raised his head.

When he saw Kevin getting out, the man waved. "Oh! You're here."

Kevin waved back, then turned to the man in the car. "Thanks, Begel."

Begel, who had been driving, gave a slight nod.

He looked like a man of few words.

Then, through the car window, he nodded toward Jin in the distance before starting the Jeep and driving away.

His job had been to bring Kevin here from outside the protected area.

After all, this was a national park containing several protected areas. This Special Species Protection Area in particular was difficult to enter without the proper qualifications.

Anyone caught trespassing would be treated as a "poacher."

Jin walked over and looked Kevin up and down. Unable to resist, he patted Kevin on the shoulder, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Your growth over the past half year has exceeded my expectations."

Kevin had transmigrated into this world in February 1994. It was now October 3.

Without realizing it, he had been here for so long. He had spent most of that time training and studying, and his days had been quite fulfilling.

"That was thanks to you too. Biscuit is an excellent teacher," Kevin replied with a smile.

He really ought to thank Jin. If Jin had not invited Biscuit at his request, she would never have taken notice of him, much less come to guide his training.

"Haha, I'm not actually that familiar with her. We've only met a few times at formal events. But she's quite famous in the Association," Jin said with a laugh.

Then a surge of excitement suddenly appeared on Jin's face, like a child eager to show off. "Come on, come on. I'll show you something good."

With that, he led Kevin away from the campsite and followed the path they had once taken into the Dense Forest.

Both of them were Nen users, so the forest's complicated terrain did not hinder their speed much.

Before long, they passed through the Dense Forest and arrived beside the cave they had visited before.

"A familiar place."

But this time, when they reached the cave entrance, none of the Two-headed wolves came to greet Jin as usual.

The two slowly entered the cave.

The Two-headed wolves were gathered together. The Wolf cubs from before had grown considerably, and one of them had even developed a horny protrusion on its head. The cubs whimpered softly.

Another She-wolf lay nearby, quietly watching something.

Only after they approached did Kevin see that, at the center of the pack, the large Male Wolf from before was lying on the ground, barely alive.

The Sharp horn on its left head gave off a faint glow, like the soft radiance cast by the moon.

"Is it sick?" Kevin asked. Judging from how close to death it looked, this was clearly no minor issue.

But Jin shook his head and sat down on the spot.

As Rare Beasts capable of sensing good, evil, and emotion, these Two-headed wolves were fastidious. The cave was dry and quiet, with barely any odor.

Jin gently stroked the Male Wolf lying on the ground, and it let out a faint whimper.

"It's dying. Its life has reached its end."

Hearing that, Kevin crouched beside it and observed it carefully.

To be honest, from what he could see, the Male Wolf looked extremely healthy on the outside.

Its fur was glossy, and its body was sturdy. It did not look at all like an old wolf on the verge of death.

Recently, Kevin had been eagerly studying all kinds of plants, animals, and minerals. That knowledge would often come in handy in the future.

"They aren't ordinary wolves. In modern times, people call them Two-headed wolves, simply naming them after their appearance.

"In ancient times, these Two-headed wolves were respectfully called Haram, meaning messengers of good and evil.

"Interestingly, traces and Murals related to Two-headed wolves can be found in Ruins across all these continents.

"In ancient times, Two-headed wolves were widely distributed across every continent and worshipped by nearly all ancient kingdoms. Isn't that interesting?"

Jin's face was full of enthusiasm as he shared this.

Kevin nodded. It was indeed interesting, though he also found it somewhat ironic. After all, these wolves had been hunted to near extinction in modern times.

"These Two-headed wolves do not gradually die from frailty and old age like ordinary creatures.

"Even at the final moment of their lives, they retain the vitality of youth and strength. What drives them toward death may be a deeper form of willpower within them."

As Jin spoke, he looked at Kevin. "Or perhaps you could call it a soul?"

While stroking the wolf, Jin continued speaking to himself. "In this Forest Park, there is a set of Ruins that once served as the Sacrificial Site of an ancient kingdom.

"They regarded Two-headed wolves as sacred beasts. From the Murals and carvings, it can be seen that in that kingdom, Two-headed wolves were also messengers who guided souls onto the proper path.

"If someone had been kind and honorable in life, only then would they be taken to the afterlife by a Two-headed wolf after death."

Looking at the Two-headed wolf now, Kevin thought, No wonder ancient people formed such beliefs. At the moment of death, only its pointed horn still emitted a dreamlike glow, as though its soul were traveling along that horn toward the Destination of Rebirth.

"From the many Ruins I've excavated and protected, we can learn that when humanity first landed on this land long, long ago, Two-headed wolves came here alongside our ancestors.

"That is why the same image appears in ancient Ruins across every continent." Jin had inexplicably switched into Popular Science Mode.

Kevin was quite interested in this as well, so he listened quietly.

"Wait. What do you mean by 'landed'?" Kevin sharply noticed something strange.

At first glance, it sounded as though people from ancient kingdoms had come to this land to reproduce and thrive.

But Jin had used the word "humanity." From the sound of it, they had come from somewhere even farther away, from a more ancient Homeland.

The "landing" he referred to probably did not mean the world presently known to humanity.

"It means exactly what it sounds like. Our ancestors came here, to this world known on the surface, where they multiplied and thrived and developed technology." As Jin spoke, he made an encompassing gesture with his arms.

Kevin looked at him and slowly said, "You mean that beyond the sea, in places yet unexplored, lies the true Place of Birth of humanity's ancestors?"

Hearing Kevin's words, Jin broke into a brilliant smile. His gaze turned toward the cave entrance, as though he were looking somewhere far more distant.

"That's right. That is the true Place of Birth."