Astralis Ascendant

The cavern's oppressive stillness gave way to an ominous tension as Lucian took cautious steps deeper into its depths. The air was dense, humming faintly with energy. Ahead, the pedestal bathed in ethereal light beckoned him, but the path wasn't as empty as it seemed.

Lucian's grip on his spear tightened as the soft sound of paws against stone reached his ears. From the shadows, glowing amber eyes appeared pairs of them. Their sleek bodies blended seamlessly into the dim light, and Cavern wolves began to emerge. Their low growls reverberated through the chamber, echoing off the crystal walls.

"Of course, it couldn't just be easy," Lucian muttered, setting his stance.

The pack surrounded him, their movements coordinated and predatory. The first wolf lunged, its fangs bared. Lucian sidestepped, driving the end of his spear into its ribs with a solid thud. Another wolf leaped from his left, and he swung the spear's sharp head around, catching it midair. The creature yelped as it crashed to the ground.

But they didn't stop. Two more wolves charged simultaneously. Lucian planted his feet, thrusting his spear forward to keep them at bay. One wolf darted past the weapon's tip, its claws raking across his arm. Pain flared, but he grits his teeth and twisted, slamming the spear's shaft into the wolf's skull.

Sweat dripped down his face as he dispatched the last of the pack. The final wolf circled him warily, snarling, before lunging in desperation. Lucian met it head-on, his spear piercing through its chest. Silence returned to the cavern as it collapsed with a whimper, except for his deep breathing.

Lucian approached the pedestal cautiously, his body tense from the earlier battle. Just as he thought he was safe, a deep rumble shook the cavern. From a shadowed alcove near the pedestal, a monstrous lion emerged. Its mane shimmered faintly, crackling with latent physical energy. Golden eyes locked onto Lucian with a predatory intensity, and the creature let out a deafening roar, shaking the very ground.

"Leoro," Lucian whispered, recognizing the beast from descriptions in old texts. A Mortal Stage 1 creature, it rivaled even skilled martial artists in power and ferocity.

Leoro wasted no time. It lunged with terrifying speed, its massive claws swiping at Lucian. He barely managed to roll out of the way, the ground where he stood moments ago gouged deep by the lion's strike. Lucian sprang to his feet, thrusting his spear toward the creature's flank, but Leoro twisted, dodging the attack with ease.

The lion retaliated, its paw slamming into Lucian's side. The force sent him sprawling across the cavern floor, his ribs screaming in protest. Wincing, he forced himself up, raising his spear defensively. Leoro stalked closer, its mane crackling with energy as it prepared to lunge again.

Lucian steadied his breath, focusing. The lion roared and charged, its claws slicing through the air. This time, Lucian stepped forward rather than retreating, pulling his spear inward for close combat. As Leoro swiped at him, Lucian used the spear's shaft to block the attack, the impact reverberating through his arms.

Summoning his strength, Lucian shifted his weight and flipped his body forward. With a burst of agility, he vaulted over Leoro, twisting midair. As he passed above the beast, he slashed downward with his spear. The blade sliced cleanly through Leoro's body, splitting it apart as Lucian landed behind it in a crouch.

The lion let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground in two lifeless halves. Lucian stood, his chest heaving as he surveyed the creature's massive form. Blood dripped from the tip of his spear, pooling around his feet.

Lucian's cautious footsteps echoed softly as he approached the pedestal. His gaze was locked on the objects before him: the faintly glowing orb and the golden book adorned with an image of what looks like a past version of Maywood Forest, etched in remarkable detail.

His heart raced as he reached out to the book. Its cover, though old, shimmered faintly under the cavern's ethereal light. As his fingers brushed against it, a warmth spread through him, a stark contrast to the chill of the cavern. The book opened with a creak, revealing pages completely blank.

"What...?" Lucian muttered, confusion flashing across his face.

His eyes shifted to the orb beside the book. He could feel it pulsing with energy, a silent heartbeat that called to him. Instinctively, he reached out. The moment his hand hovered near it, the orb disintegrated into golden sparks, which surged toward him. Lucian's eyes widened as the sparks enveloped his body, the energy forcing itself into his very core.

A searing pain erupted within him. It felt as though his body was being torn apart from the inside. He fell to his knees, clutching his chest as his vision blurred. The pressure was unbearable, his body wracked with pain as it struggled to contain the foreign energy.

"This... this is Qi," Lucian gasped, the realization striking him amidst the agony. He had read about this energy in the forgotten books from the abandoned village in Maywood, but experiencing it firsthand was far more overwhelming.

Just as he thought he would lose consciousness, the golden book flew from the pedestal, landing beside him. Its blank pages began to fill with glowing text, the first line burning itself into his mind:

"You who have found my remnants of the past, it seems you share a power akin to my own. The Qi energy that enters your body will kill you unless... you control it."

The words sent a chill down Lucian's spine. Turning his head, he noticed for the first time the skeletal remains scattered across the cavern. They lay slumped against the walls, a grim testament to the fate of those who came before him.

"No… I won't end up like them," Lucian whispered, his resolve hardening.

He turned back to the book, his trembling hands flipping the page. More text appeared, offering a lifeline:

"To survive, you must establish your foundation. Begin Qi Gathering and refine the energy coursing through you. Only then will a path open to you."

Lucian's mind raced. Qi Gathering was Stage 2 of the Mortal Realm, a process he wasn't prepared for. His body and soul, still in Stage 1, were unaccustomed to the violent energy now surging within him. However, his years of survival in the Maywood Forest had hardened his body, giving him an edge over those who had failed.

Sitting cross-legged, Lucian closed his eyes and began to focus. He took slow, deep breaths, his mind reaching for the chaotic energy tearing through him. It felt wild and unrestrained like a tempest threatening to destroy him. He remembered the lessons from the books he had studied: Qi could not be forced. It had to be guided.

Lucian winced as pain shot through him, but he persisted. He visualized the Qi flowing through his veins, directing it away from his fragile organs and toward his bones. It was excruciating, but as he guided the energy, he felt it begin to settle. The pain dulled slightly, replaced by a strange warmth spreading through his limbs.

Time passed minutes, hours, he couldn't tell. Sweat drenched his body, but finally, the turmoil within him began to subside. Lucian opened his eyes, the faint glow of the cavern reflecting in his gaze. For the first time, he could feel the Qi within him, a steady presence that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.

The book reacted immediately, its pages filling with new text:

"Congratulations. You have survived and claimed my legacy. Only those who possess the will to endure may read these pages. As a reward, I shall teach you a technique: Diverse Reinforcement."

Lucian's brow furrowed as he read on. The technique was described in meticulous detail, involving the precise manipulation of Qi to enhance his weapon. The instructions came with a warning: failure to control the energy could result in catastrophic injury.

Summoning his remaining strength, Lucian began practicing. It took him nearly an hour, but he finally managed to coat his spear in a faint, golden glow of Qi. The weight of the weapon felt lighter, its edge sharper. He swung it experimentally, marveling at the newfound power coursing through him.

As if in response to his success, the book launched itself into the air, glowing brighter than ever. Images of spear stances and techniques filled its pages, each one more intricate than the last. Lucian studied them intently, committing them to memory.

He noticed a small bag among the skeletal remains. Examining it, he realized it was a spatial bag, a rare artifact capable of holding far more than its exterior suggested. With a surge of Qi, he marked it as his own and placed the book inside.

Suddenly, a bright light filled the cavern. Before he could react, Lucian found himself standing near the waterfall where he had first encountered the carvings. The forest seemed eerily quiet, but Lucian could feel the Coracck's presence nearby.

[Far from Earth, in a realm shrouded in endless twilight, a figure stirred. Draped in flowing robes that shimmered like liquid starlight, the being's eyes snapped open. A slow, predatory smile spread across their face as they felt the faint ripple of energy.]

"Finally," the being whispered, their voice smooth and filled with an unsettling amusement. "But will they live long enough to make use of it?"

The figure smirked, leaning back as if watching events unfold from a great distance.

The ground trembled as the massive serpent emerged from the shadows. Its golden eye burned with bloodlust, the injury Lucian had inflicted earlier only fueling its rage. The Coracck's aura thickened, pressing down on him with suffocating intensity.

Lucian tightened his grip on his spear, his newly honed Qi flowing into the weapon. The serpent coiled, its gaze locking onto him with deadly intent.

"This time," Lucian muttered, his stance firm, "I'm ready."