Nox stared at the giant gate, admiration flickering in his eyes. The two double golden doors were bathed in a vibrant white glow and seemed to beckon Nox to step inside.
Nox allowed his gaze to drift towards the Golden Ape that was looming beside the gate. Out of instinct, he activated *Analyze* and *Beast Sense*.
But no information came up.
Was his *Analyze* level still too low, or was this Beast just too powerful for his current skill level?
"Welcome back!" The towering beast, which stood over 4 meters tall, bowed as soon as Terra approached the gate, its tone filled with respect, its eyes flashing with reverence.
The current scene would have looked strange to some people. The Golden Ape had a more furious outer appearance and gave off the aura of a battle-hardened warrior who had fought many battles. On the other hand, Terra had a delicate, beautiful appearance; some might not take her seriously. She didn't give off the aura of a seasoned fighter.
However, after witnessing the authority this beauty exercised that day in the grand hall, Nox didn't doubt the goddess one bit. Though she looked delicate and harmless, as if she couldn't even harm a fly, deep down he believed she was as powerful and ruthless as any other beast inside those gates.
Terra simply nodded at the Golden Ape, who acted as a watchman, and the latter opened the gate, letting them in.
"Is he the new vassal?" the ape wondered as it looked at Nox disappearing through the bars of the golden gate. "It's been a long time since another human came here. It must be him," the ape thought, then went back to his duty.
"Terra," Nox suddenly called out as soon as they entered the gate. He parted his lips, wanting to say something.
"What is it?" Terra smiled as she glanced at Nox's face, but her gaze shifted forward when she noticed that the poor mortal's cheeks were beginning to flush.
"Say... I used my *Analyze* skill on the beast outside, but it was useless. Is there a reason for this?" Nox inquired, the blush on his face gradually fading.
Terra let out a soft chuckle that was very pleasant to hear, like the melodic chime of a bell. "Ah, you must be referring to Argos, the Guardian of the Gate." Terra's smile widened slightly as she continued, "Your skills are powerful for your current level, but there are some entities that exist outside the limits of what mortal senses and abilities can grasp."
Nox's brows furrowed in thought, but he stayed silent, absorbing her words.
Terra continued, her tone gentle yet filled with wisdom. "Argos is one such being. His strength and nature are tied to forces that transcend mere mortal comprehension. The reason you couldn't analyze him is that your skills haven't evolved to a point where you can perceive such beings yet."
"A word of advice," Terra added just when Nox thought she was finished. "Don't use your skills on any beast here because it won't work."
Nox nodded his head in understanding.
"It seems I still need to continuously use these skills to increase their level," Nox made a mental note, then his black eyes shone with confusion as he looked at Terra. He said in a soft voice, "Guardian? Is that his job?"
"Yes, Argos is our first line of defense against intruders," Terra explained, her tone growing more serious. "He's been here for eons; in fact, he is almost as old as me. His power is vast, and he's fought in countless battles. Even the arrogant gods of the other pantheons show him some respect."
Nox noticed that Terra's voice was laced with disdain towards the end, but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he caught something from Terra's dialogue.
"He's been here for eons, and he's almost as old as you?" Nox repeated, a slight shiver running down his spine. "Say, Miss Goddess, how old are you again?"
Could it be that she was an old hag who took the appearance of a beautiful young lady? Nox wondered. This thought wasn't far-fetched, but he didn't say it out loud.
"Hmph!" A fake annoyed look appeared on Terra's face as she pouted, "How rude! Didn't your mother tell you that it isn't appropriate to ask a lady her age?"
"I... She did," Nox responded, recalling the time when his mother had tried lecturing him about women, but he had never paid attention to most of the things she was saying.
In this dog-eat-dog world, he'd be damned if women were his major priority.
"Well." Terra glanced ahead. Although they had passed through the gate, there was still a considerable distance before they could enter the Sanctuary of Beasts, which was the sole capital and city in the pantheon of Mythical Beasts. Then she said in a much more serious tone, "It's better you don't know my real age...Let's just say, it's far older than you'd ever guess.
Also, this is my real appearance, not the old hag you probably think I am."
Nox was at a loss for words. "How did you know?"
Could she read his mind?
"Tsk, it's written all over your face." Terra sneered, though even that was very appealing to watch. How could someone look this effortlessly beautiful? Nox was in a daze as he watched that ethereal face. Soon, Terra's blue eyes sparkled as she added to clarify some things.
"We gods don't age," she claimed, a hint of pride in her voice. "However, we can choose whatever appearance we wish to have. I, unlike my sisters, prefer to look ... trust me, compared to the others, I'm still very young."
Nox nodded slightly, adjusting himself to the gravity that was vastly different from the one back on Eos. Seeing his struggle, Terra waved her hand, and Nox was suddenly alleviated from the crushing gravity.
The beasts here were very powerful; they wouldn't have any problems with the gravity, but the same couldn't be said for Nox, who was just a mere mortal.
"Thank you," he smiled at her.
"You're welcome, and oh... we're here."
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