The moment the soil covered the silver seed, the world went silent. It wasn't the silence of peace, but the heavy, suffocating silence that precedes a storm. Han remained on his knees, his palms pressed against the cool, dark earth of Jal-Pura. He could feel it—a rhythmic thrumming, like a second heartbeat, vibrating deep beneath the surface.
[System Notification: Genetic Bond Established.]
[Status: Germination in progress... 1%... 5%...]
Suddenly, a faint, ethereal glow began to seep through the cracks in the dirt. It wasn't green like a normal sprout; it was a shimmering, metallic silver. As the glow intensified, the surrounding crops—the ordinary potatoes and jute—began to lean toward the silver light as if bowing to a king.
"What have I unleashed?" Han whispered, his eyes wide.
Outside the fence, the atmosphere changed. The stray dogs that usually barked at the moon fell silent and sat perfectly still, staring toward Han's field. The wind stopped. Even the insects seemed to hold their breath.
[System Warning: High-Energy Signature Detected. Local authorities and spiritual entities may be alerted.]
Han felt a sudden surge of heat in his chest. His system interface turned a deep, warning crimson. He realized that this wasn't just a plant; it was a beacon. In this world where power was hidden in the shadows, he had just lit a fire in the middle of a dark forest.
Back in the village, in a dimly lit office, Bimal Singh was staring at a glass of water on his desk. The water was rippling in perfect circles, even though there was no wind. He scowled, a sense of dread washing over him. "Something is happening at that farm," he muttered to his assistant. "Get the men. Now!"
By the time Bimal's men reached the perimeter of Han's land, they stopped dead in their tracks. A wall of thick, silver mist had surrounded the entire farm. It looked beautiful, but it felt deadly.
One of the goons tried to step into the mist, but as his foot touched the silver fog, he felt a jolt of electricity that threw him back ten feet.
Inside the mist, Han was standing over the sprout. It had already grown six inches tall, its leaves shaped like jagged diamonds, reflecting a sky that wasn't there.
"System," Han commanded, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement. "Is this edible?"
[System Response: Host is advised to wait. The Silver Sprout is currently absorbing the surrounding 'Malice.' Once the purification is complete, the first fruit will grant the Host the 'Eye of the Earth.']
Han looked toward the mist where Bimal Singh's men were shouting in fear. He smiled, a cold, sharp glint in his eyes. He wasn't the victim anymore. He was the protector of something divine.
"Let them come," Han said, as the silver sprout released a soft, melodic chime that echoed across the valley. "The harvest has only just begun."
Big news! We are climbing the Power Rankings thanks to you! Please keep dropping your Power Stones and hit that Like button to support Han's journey. If we break into the Top 150, I'll drop a massive surprise in the next chapter! Let's grow this farm together!