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Chapter 10: The Descent of Starlight
Night did not fall all at once.
It seeped into the world slowly—like ink spreading through water—dimming the last fragments of daylight until the forest sank into layered darkness.
Rain continued without pause.
Not heavy.
Not light.
Just… constant.
A steady rhythm that soaked everything—soil, bark, leaves… and bone.
---
Kael sat at the edge of his shelter, back resting against the rough trunk behind him.
His weapons were arranged within arm's reach.
Spear.
Bow.
Bone dagger.
Twin tusk knives.
Nothing left to chance.
---
He chewed slowly on smoked meat.
Each bite deliberate.
Measured.
No waste.
"…Efficiency matters more now," he muttered quietly.
His body had grown stronger.
But strength alone—
Was no longer enough.
---
Then—
He noticed it.
A faint glow.
---
At first, it was subtle.
Barely noticeable through the rain-filled sky.
But Kael didn't ignore things anymore.
---
His chewing stopped.
His gaze lifted.
---
The clouds above—
Were changing.
---
Silver threads of light began to weave through the dark mass.
Then blue.
Then violet.
---
They didn't drift like normal auroras.
They gathered.
Condensed.
---
"…That's wrong."
---
Kael stood.
Slowly.
Carefully.
---
The light intensified.
The sky—
Seemed to bend.
---
Then—
It happened.
---
A stream of light descended.
Not scattered.
Not chaotic.
---
A controlled flow.
Like a river—
Falling from the sky.
---
It didn't spread.
It focused.
---
Toward the mountains.
---
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Something is pulling it."
---
No sound.
No explosion.
No shockwave.
---
Just—
Presence.
---
Overwhelming.
Silent.
Absolute.
---
Kael didn't hesitate.
"…I'm going."
---
He moved.
---
Not recklessly.
Not blindly.
---
But with intent.
---
As he entered the forest—
The change was immediate.
---
The rain still fell.
But—
The world had quieted.
---
No insects.
No rustling.
No distant calls.
---
Even the wind felt—
Suppressed.
---
Kael activated his ability.
"…Nature Sense."
---
The world expanded.
---
Life—
Was still there.
---
But not near.
---
Everything had moved.
---
"…They're gathering…"
"…At the same place."
---
That alone—
Was enough to understand.
---
This was not normal.
---
This was an event.
---
Kael slowed his pace.
Every step deliberate.
Every movement controlled.
---
As he moved deeper—
The forest itself began to change.
---
The trees grew thicker.
Their bark darker.
Some carried faint glowing veins—like energy flowing beneath the surface.
---
The ground pulsed subtly beneath his feet.
---
Plants had changed too.
---
He stopped near a cluster of low-growing shrubs.
Their leaves shimmered faintly in the dim light.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Pulseleaf Shrub
Type: Plant (Mutated)
Rank: F
Level: 3
[Attributes]
Durability: 4
Growth: 7
Vitality: 5
Perception: 3
Spirit: 4
[Properties]
→ Stores ambient energy within leaf veins
→ Releases faint pulses at regular intervals
[Use]
→ Can be processed into low-grade energy stimulant
→ Useful for recovery during fatigue
[Status]
Active
---
"…Stores energy…"
Kael memorized it.
But didn't harvest.
Not now.
---
Further ahead—
A thin vine wrapped around a nearby tree trunk caught his attention.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Ironroot Vine
Type: Plant (Mutated)
Rank: E-
Level: 4
[Attributes]
Durability: 9
Growth: 6
Vitality: 7
Perception: 2
Spirit: 3
[Properties]
→ Reinforced fiber structure
→ Resistant to tearing and cutting
[Use]
→ High-quality binding material
→ Suitable for traps, armor, and structural reinforcement
[Weakness]
→ Fire (Moderate effectiveness)
[Status]
Dormant
---
"…Good material."
Kael cut a small section.
Stored it.
---
Then—
Movement.
---
A bird landed on a branch nearby.
Small.
But different.
---
Its feathers shimmered faintly.
Reflecting the strange light above.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Glimmer Sparrow
Type: Mutated Bird
Rank: F
Level: 3
[Attributes]
Strength: 3
Agility: 7
Wisdom: 4
Spirit: 5
[Traits]
→ Light Absorption
→ Enhanced vision in low-light conditions
[Status]
Alert
---
The bird didn't stay long.
It flew.
---
Toward the light.
---
"…Everything is going there."
---
Kael continued.
---
Step by step—
The forest grew denser.
Heavier.
---
Then—
He felt it.
---
A shift.
---
Presence.
---
Multiple.
---
He lowered himself immediately.
Moved quietly.
---
And then—
He saw it.
---
Not the tree.
---
Not yet.
---
But something else.
---
A massive shape stood in the clearing ahead.
---
A bull.
---
Larger than any normal animal.
Its body thick with muscle.
Its horns slightly curved—and faintly glowing at the edges.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Ironhorn Bull
Type: Beast (Mutated)
Rank: E+
Level: 6
[Attributes]
Strength: 14
Agility: 5
Wisdom: 4
Spirit: 6
Stamina: 15 / 15
[Traits]
→ Reinforced Horns (High impact damage)
→ Thick Hide (High defense)
[Skills]
→ Charge
→ Ground Stomp
[Status]
Passive (Alert)
---
Kael didn't move.
---
The bull wasn't grazing.
Wasn't wandering.
---
It was facing forward.
---
Waiting.
---
"…Even something like this…"
"…Isn't moving."
---
Then—
More shapes became visible.
---
Birds perched in silence.
Insects clung to bark.
Small creatures crouched low.
---
Predators.
Prey.
---
All—
Still.
---
"…This isn't natural."
---
Kael's breathing slowed.
---
He moved closer.
Carefully.
---
And then—
He saw it.
---
Not clearly.
---
Not fully.
---
But enough.
---
A tree.
---
Far ahead.
---
Massive.
---
And glowing.
---
But Kael didn't move closer.
---
Instead—
He hid.
---
Mud.
---
He covered his skin.
His scent.
His presence.
---
Vines.
Leaves.
Debris.
---
He blended.
---
Not human anymore.
---
Just—
Another part of the forest.
---
Only then—
Did he step forward.
---
And this time—
He saw it clearly.
---
The tree.
---
Towering.
Radiant.
Alive.
---
Its trunk shimmered faintly—like crystal infused with flowing light.
Energy moved within it.
Not static.
Not passive.
---
Flowing.
Rising.
Circulating.
---
Above—
The sky poured into it.
---
The falling starlight—
Was being absorbed.
---
"…So it's the source…"
---
Kael focused.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Starlight Tree
Type: Celestial Plant (Mutated)
Grade: B
Phase: Rapid Growth (Starlight Descent)
[Attributes]
Durability: ???
Growth: ???
Vitality: Extremely High
Perception: ???
Spirit: Overloaded
[Properties]
→ Absorbs celestial energy during rare phenomenon: Starlight Descent
→ Converts energy into condensed life-form fruit
[Special Condition]
→ Can only manifest during Starlight Descent
→ Extremely rare environmental event
[Output]
→ Produces Starlight Fruit (Single Cycle Only)
[Warning]
→ After fruit maturation, tree will gradually wither and collapse
[Effect of Fruit]
→ Contains extremely dense starlight energy
→ Capable of drastic evolution or transformation
[Status]
Active – Growth Phase
---
Kael's pupils shrank slightly.
---
"…Only once…"
---
"One chance."
---
His gaze hardened.
---
"…And after that…"
"…It dies."
---
That meant—
This wasn't just rare.
---
It was limited.
---
One cycle.
One opportunity.
---
And everything here—
Knew it.
---
Kael slowly shifted his focus.
---
And then—
He felt them.
---
Two presences.
---
Not just strong.
---
Dominant.
---
Watching the tree.
---
Guarding it.
---
Waiting.
---
Kael didn't turn immediately.
---
He already understood.
---
"…This isn't a place to fight."
---
"…It's a place to survive."
---
And when the fruit formed—
---
Everything here—
---
Would kill for it.
---
Rain continued to fall.
Unbroken.
Unending.
A constant presence that blurred sound, softened movement, and masked intent.
---
Kael did not move from his position.
Hidden.
Still.
Watching.
---
The massive tree stood at the center of the clearing—its glow no longer subtle, no longer distant.
Now—
It dominated everything.
---
Streams of starlight continued to descend from the sky, flowing directly into its trunk.
Each pulse—
Brighter than the last.
---
And with every moment—
The pressure in the air increased.
---
Kael slowed his breathing further.
"…Too many…"
---
His Nature Sense expanded again.
This time—
He didn't focus on the tree.
---
He focused on everything around it.
---
Life signals.
Dense.
Layered.
Overlapping.
---
Some weak.
Some—
Terrifying.
---
Slowly, carefully—
He shifted his position.
Crawling sideways along the damp forest floor, using roots and shadows as cover.
---
His goal wasn't to get closer.
---
It was to understand.
---
And what he saw—
Confirmed it.
---
This wasn't just a gathering.
---
It was a convergence.
---
Every creature here—
Had come for the same reason.
---
The tree.
---
And whatever it would produce.
---
A faint movement caught his attention.
To the left.
---
A group of small birds descended from the canopy, landing near the outer edge of the clearing.
---
They didn't chirp.
Didn't move much.
---
Just watched.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Skythread Finch
Type: Mutated Bird
Rank: F+
Level: 4
[Attributes]
Strength: 3
Agility: 9
Wisdom: 5
Spirit: 6
[Traits]
→ Aerial Awareness (Enhanced perception from above)
→ Energy Sensitivity
[Status]
Focused
---
"…Even they came…"
---
Kael's gaze shifted again.
---
Near the roots of a tree—
Something slithered.
---
Long.
Slow.
Silent.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Veinstrike Snake
Type: Mutated Beast
Rank: E
Level: 5
[Attributes]
Strength: 6
Agility: 11
Wisdom: 4
Spirit: 6
[Skills]
→ Venom Bite
→ Rapid Strike
[Traits]
→ Heat Detection
→ Ambush Predator
[Status]
Coiled (Waiting)
---
"…Hidden killers too…"
---
Everything here—
Was waiting for the same moment.
---
Then—
A shift.
---
The air—
Changed.
---
Kael felt it immediately.
---
The tree—
Was accelerating.
---
The flow of starlight intensified.
---
Faster.
Denser.
---
The glow expanded outward, casting long, shifting shadows across the clearing.
---
And then—
They revealed themselves.
---
Not by movement.
---
But by presence.
---
The first—
Stood near the base of the tree.
---
A massive wolf.
---
Larger than anything Kael had seen before.
Its body stood nearly three meters tall, its fur layered in pale white and faint icy blue.
Each breath it exhaled formed visible mist.
The ground beneath it—
Frosted.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Frostfang Wolf
Type: Beast (Mutated)
Rank: D
Level: 9
[Attributes]
Strength: 18
Agility: 16
Stamina: 17
Wisdom: 8
Spirit: 10
[Skills]
→ Frost Claw
→ Ice Fang
→ Frost Burst
[Traits]
→ Cold Aura (Slows nearby enemies)
→ Reinforced Body
[Status]
Dominant (Guarding)
---
Kael didn't react outwardly.
But inside—
He understood.
---
"…That's death."
---
His gaze shifted slowly.
---
Across the clearing.
---
There—
Another presence.
---
Smaller.
But not weaker.
---
A fox.
---
Its fur burned in shades of red, orange, and gold—like living flame.
Embers drifted faintly from its tail.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Emberflame Fox
Type: Beast (Mutated)
Rank: D
Level: 9
[Attributes]
Strength: 12
Agility: 18
Stamina: 11
Wisdom: 14
Spirit: 12
[Skills]
→ Fireball
→ Flame Tail
→ Flame Illusion
[Traits]
→ Heat Aura
→ High Intelligence
[Status]
Observing (Territorial)
---
Kael's breathing slowed further.
---
"…Two apex predators…"
---
"…Same level…"
---
"…Same goal."
---
They didn't attack each other.
Didn't move.
Didn't challenge.
---
Not yet.
---
Because the fruit—
Hadn't formed.
---
Everything here—
Was waiting.
---
Even the strongest—
Would not waste energy early.
---
Kael shifted slightly.
---
His muscles were tense.
---
But controlled.
---
Then—
He noticed something else.
---
Movement near the outer edge.
---
Low.
Heavy.
---
The Ironhorn Bull from before—
Had moved closer.
---
Not charging.
Not aggressive.
---
But positioned.
---
Facing the tree.
---
"…Even it wants it…"
---
The realization settled deeper.
---
This wasn't just a rare resource.
---
This was evolution.
---
A chance to leap forward.
---
And no creature here—
Would give that up.
---
Kael slowly retreated.
---
Not fully leaving.
---
But widening his observation range.
---
He needed space.
---
Needed perspective.
---
From the outer forest—
He began to move.
---
Not toward the tree.
---
But around it.
---
Hunting.
---
Preparing.
---
Because he already knew—
---
When the fruit formed—
---
This place—
Would become a battlefield.
---
And only those ready—
Would survive.
---
The first target—
A lone ant.
---
Separated from its group.
---
Kael moved silently.
---
One step.
Two.
---
Then—
Strike.
---
The bone dagger pierced cleanly through its body.
---
No struggle.
No noise.
---
He pulled it free immediately.
---
"Life Transfer."
---
Energy flowed into him.
---
Small.
But useful.
---
[+2.0 EXP Gained]
---
"…Too slow."
---
He moved again.
---
This time—
A rat.
---
Level higher than before.
Stronger.
---
It reacted.
Too late.
---
Arrow—
Release.
---
Thud.
---
Clean kill.
---
[+3.0 EXP Gained]
---
Kael didn't waste time.
---
Every movement—
Efficient.
---
Every action—
Calculated.
---
He didn't fight groups.
Didn't take risks.
---
He hunted the weak.
---
Separated.
---
Isolated.
---
Hours passed.
---
Rain soaked him completely.
Mud clung to his body.
Blood mixed into the ground.
---
But Kael didn't stop.
---
His breathing remained steady.
---
His movements—
Sharper.
---
Faster.
---
More controlled.
---
Then—
A stronger target.
---
A lizard.
---
Hidden among wet rocks.
---
"Appraisal."
---
[Target Information]
Name: Venom Spitter Lizard
Type: Mutated Beast
Rank: E
Level: 5
[Attributes]
Strength: 6
Agility: 10
Wisdom: 6
Spirit: 6
[Skills]
→ Venom Shot
→ Camouflage
[Status]
Hunting
---
Kael didn't rush.
---
He circled.
---
Waited.
---
Provoked.
---
The lizard reacted.
---
Spit—
Venom shot forward.
---
Kael dodged sideways.
---
Closed distance instantly.
---
Spear—
Thrust.
---
Direct hit.
---
The lizard struggled.
---
He twisted the spear.
---
Ended it.
---
[+4.5 EXP Gained]
---
Kael exhaled slowly.
---
"…Better."
---
He placed his hand on it.
---
"Life Transfer."
---
Energy surged.
---
Stronger than before.
---
His fatigue lessened.
---
His focus sharpened.
---
"…This works."
---
He continued.
---
Not rushing.
Not stopping.
---
Because far behind him—
---
The tree continued to grow.
---
The light intensified.
---
The pressure increased.
---
And the moment—
Was getting closer.
---
Kael paused briefly.
---
Turning his head—
Just enough to see the glow through the trees.
---
"…Soon."
---
His grip tightened around his weapon.
---
"…When it happens…"
---
"…Everything will move."
---
And when that moment came—
---
There would be no hiding.
---
No waiting.
---
Only survival.
---
Only strength.
---
Only one chance.
---
Kael turned away from the distant glow.
---
And continued hunting.
---
Because when the starlight finally bore fruit—
---
He intended—
---
To be ready.
---