Kairos staggered through the trees, every step a reminder of the brutal battle he had just survived. His body ached from the encounter with the Guardian Beast, and his reserves of spiritual energy were nearly depleted. Still, the faint glow of the Fallen Star ahead filled him with a renewed sense of purpose. He had come too far to stop now.
The Eclipse System's screen flickered to life before him, and a notification chimed.
[New Quest: Claim the Power of the Fallen Star]
Objective: Reach the Fallen Star and absorb its essence before your rivals.
Time Limit: 6 hours
Reward: Star Essence (Rare Item)
Penalty for Failure: Death
"Of course there's a time limit," Kairos muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He had barely survived the Guardian Beast, and now there was a race against the clock. But it wasn't just time he was racing against—there were others, and they would stop at nothing to seize the power of the Fallen Star.
As he limped toward the valley, he heard the unmistakable sound of voices. His heart sank. He wasn't alone anymore.
Xia Muren stood atop a ridge, her silver eyes narrowing as she gazed at the pillar of light rising from the valley below. The Silent Moon Sect was renowned for its elegance and mastery of ice techniques, and Xia Muren was its brightest star. Beautiful, deadly, and calculating, she was not one to let opportunity slip through her fingers.
Behind her, a dozen elite disciples from her sect waited in silence, their gazes fixed on the glowing star. One of them stepped forward. "Lady Xia, should we move in now?"
Xia Muren's expression didn't change. She had sensed something unusual in the valley. There was a presence, faint but growing stronger. Someone else was already there. Her lips curled into a cold smile. "No," she said. "We'll wait for the right moment. Let our competitors weaken themselves first."
Farther away, Zhao Ren led a group of Thundercloud Sect disciples through the forest. His aura crackled with the energy of thunder, a testament to his talent. He had long been regarded as a prodigy, destined for greatness, and the Fallen Star was just another stepping stone on his path to domination.
He smirked as he thought about the fame and fortune awaiting him. "Let them come," he muttered. "No one can stand in my way."
Meanwhile, Kairos finally reached the valley's edge, the light of the Fallen Star nearly blinding him. The ground around it was charred and blackened, the intense power of the star radiating into the night air. He could feel it in his bones—the energy was overwhelming, almost too much for someone at his cultivation level. But he had no choice. This was his only chance.
He approached slowly, his hand outstretched, but before he could get any closer, a burst of energy slammed into the ground in front of him. Kairos leapt back, barely avoiding the attack.
"You're not the only one after the star, boy."
The voice was sharp and filled with arrogance. Kairos turned to see a figure stepping out from the shadows—a young man dressed in the regal robes of the Thundercloud Sect, his dark eyes gleaming with malice. Behind him, several other disciples fanned out, each brimming with spiritual power.
"Zhao Ren," Kairos whispered, recognizing him instantly. The prodigy of the Thundercloud Sect. Of all the people to run into, it had to be him.
Zhao Ren sneered. "A weakling like you has no business here." He raised his hand, crackling with the power of thunder. "Step aside and I might let you live."
Kairos clenched his fists, feeling the familiar wave of frustration wash over him. He had always been looked down upon, always dismissed as a nobody. But he wasn't the same anymore. Not since the Eclipse System had activated.
"I won't back down," Kairos said, his voice firm despite the odds. "Not today."
Zhao Ren's smirk faltered, replaced by mild surprise. "You? Challenge me?" He chuckled, his aura flaring. "You must have a death wish."
Before the tension could erupt into violence, a cold wind swept through the valley, sending chills down Kairos' spine. From the ridge above, Xia Muren descended gracefully, her silver hair flowing like the wind itself. Her presence immediately shifted the atmosphere, and even Zhao Ren's smug expression darkened as she approached.
"Well, well, this is quite the gathering," Xia Muren said softly, her voice as cold as the ice techniques she wielded. She glanced at Kairos, her expression unreadable. "You're the boy who barely survived the Guardian Beast, aren't you?"
Kairos met her gaze, his heart racing. He had heard of Xia Muren's beauty and power, but seeing her in person was something else entirely. She was like a goddess descended from the heavens, untouchable and terrifying.
Zhao Ren crossed his arms, his aura still crackling with impatience. "Are you here to claim the Fallen Star too, Xia Muren? Or just to watch me take it?"
Xia Muren smiled faintly, ignoring his jab. "I wonder... do you really think it's going to be that easy?"
System Notification: Danger Detected
Multiple High-Level Enemies Present
Recommended Action: Strategic Retreat or Power Boost
Kairos cursed under his breath. He was stuck between two of the most powerful cultivators in the region, and both were after the same prize. But the system's words rang in his ears: power boost.
A new option flickered on his screen.
[System Notification: Skill Upgrade Available]
Upgrade Shadow Flame Palm to Eclipse Inferno Palm?
Cost: 1 Skill Point
Effect: Enhance the palm technique, fusing both light and dark energy, creating an explosion of searing flames that can overpower enemies of a higher cultivation level.
Kairos didn't hesitate. "Upgrade!"
A surge of power flowed through his body, and his hands began to glow with a new, intense energy—one that pulsed with the combined strength of light and shadow. He could feel the weight of this power, dangerous and raw, but it was exactly what he needed.
Zhao Ren stepped forward, his impatience wearing thin. "Enough stalling." He raised his hand, the sky above them rumbling with thunder. "Let's see if you can survive this."
Before Kairos could react, a bolt of lightning shot toward him, faster than anything he could have anticipated.
But the Eclipse System acted faster.
[Eclipse Inferno Palm]!
Kairos' palm shot out, releasing a torrent of black and white flames that collided with the lightning bolt. The two forces clashed in midair, sending shockwaves through the valley. Kairos gritted his teeth as the energy surged through him, but his newly upgraded technique held strong, pushing back against Zhao Ren's attack.
The look of shock on Zhao Ren's face was worth every ounce of pain. "What…?!" he snarled, disbelief etched into his features.
Xia Muren's eyes gleamed with curiosity, and for the first time, a genuine smile tugged at her lips. "Interesting…"
Kairos' vision blurred from the exertion, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. He wasn't done yet. The Fallen Star still pulsed with energy behind him, and if he didn't claim it soon, it wouldn't matter how many skills he unlocked—he'd be dead.
But as the smoke cleared from their clash, something else stirred in the valley. A dark shadow slithered out from beneath the ground, ancient and powerful. Its presence sent a chill down Kairos' spine.
Xia Muren narrowed her eyes. "What… is that?"
Zhao Ren stepped back, his usual arrogance fading. "That's not part of the plan…"
A dark entity, hidden deep beneath the valley, had awakened. And it wasn't interested in letting any of them leave alive.