The forest seemed to breathe around them as Lin Xuan and Yu Lan pushed deeper into the western grove. The air was thick with moisture, and the rustling of unseen creatures whispered through the dense foliage. Shafts of pale sunlight filtered through the crimson leaves, casting eerie patterns on the ground.
Lin Xuan's eyes scanned the area, every sense on edge. The silver spindle nestled against his wrist pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of the power he now held. He whispered a command in his mind.
"Analyze."
Threads of glowing light shimmered into existence, snaking through the trees and vanishing into the undergrowth. Some threads glowed brightly, guiding him forward. Others flickered with warning — paths that led to danger or dead ends.
"There," he said, pointing toward a narrow path winding between two ancient trees. "The Spirit Grass is that way."
Yu Lan nodded, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her dagger. "Let's be careful. Spirit beasts might be guarding it."
They moved quietly, their footsteps barely disturbing the forest floor. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves made Lin Xuan's heart beat faster. He couldn't afford to let his guard down.
After several tense minutes, they emerged into a small clearing. A patch of Spirit Grass — slender, silver-green stalks tipped with pale blue flowers — grew at the base of a moss-covered boulder. The air around it shimmered faintly, a sign of the grass's potent spiritual energy.
Lin Xuan's eyes gleamed with determination. "We found it."
Yu Lan grinned. "Let's gather as much as we can before anyone else shows up."
They moved quickly, carefully harvesting the Spirit Grass and placing it into their satchels. The plants were fragile, and Lin Xuan took care not to damage the roots. Each stalk they gathered was worth a small fortune in contribution points, and they couldn't afford to waste a single one.
As Lin Xuan reached for another stalk, a low growl rumbled from the shadows.
His blood ran cold.
Slowly, he turned his head. At the edge of the clearing, a pair of glowing yellow eyes stared back at him. A massive wolf-like creature stepped into the light, its fur bristling with crackling arcs of electricity. Its fangs glistened, and its muscles tensed beneath its sleek hide.
A Thunderfang Wolf.
Yu Lan's face paled. "We're in trouble."
Lin Xuan's mind raced. Thunderfang Wolves were notoriously aggressive spirit beasts, and their speed and lightning attacks made them deadly opponents. The wolf's growl deepened, and arcs of electricity flickered along its body, illuminating the clearing with a harsh blue light.
"Don't move," Lin Xuan whispered. "It hasn't attacked yet."
But before they could react, the wolf lunged forward, its jaws open wide, electricity crackling around its fangs.
Time to choose a thread.
"Analyze!" Lin Xuan's mind screamed.
The world slowed as threads of fate appeared before his eyes. In one thread, the wolf's fangs clamped down on his arm. In another, Yu Lan was struck by a bolt of lightning. But there was a thread — thin and gleaming — where they both survived.
He grabbed Yu Lan's wrist. "Duck!"
They dropped to the ground as the wolf soared over their heads, missing them by inches. The air crackled with static, the smell of ozone burning Lin Xuan's nose. The wolf landed, spinning around with a snarl, its eyes blazing with fury.
"We can't outrun it!" Yu Lan shouted.
Lin Xuan's grip on his practice sword tightened. "Then we'll have to fight."
The wolf lunged again, lightning streaking from its body. Lin Xuan moved on instinct, the threads guiding his every step. He sidestepped the attack, his sword swinging down to slice across the wolf's flank. The blade barely nicked the creature's hide, but it howled in pain and anger.
The wolf's eyes flared, and a bolt of electricity shot toward him. Lin Xuan's body reacted before his mind could process it, his feet shifting just enough to let the bolt sear past him, scorching the ground where he'd stood.
He couldn't keep dodging forever.
"Yu Lan!" he shouted. "Distract it!"
Without hesitation, Yu Lan darted to the side, waving her arms and shouting. The wolf's attention flickered toward her, its ears flattening against its head.
Lin Xuan saw his chance.
The threads converged, showing him the opening — a single moment where the wolf's defenses would drop.
He charged, his practice sword glowing faintly as he poured all his strength into the strike. The blade connected with the wolf's neck, sliding through its flesh. The creature's eyes widened in shock. It let out a strangled howl, then collapsed to the ground, the light fading from its eyes.
Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by the ragged sound of their breathing.
Lin Xuan's arms shook, his heart pounding. He stared down at the fallen beast, barely believing what he had done. Yu Lan stumbled over, her face flushed with relief.
"We... we did it," she gasped.
Lin Xuan nodded, his eyes never leaving the wolf's body. "Yeah. We did."
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
"Thread successfully woven. Experience gained."
He felt a warmth spread through his body, a surge of energy that left him feeling stronger, sharper. The path ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time, he felt like he was truly walking his own destiny.
Yu Lan clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. Let's finish collecting the Spirit Grass and get out of here before more wolves show up."
Lin Xuan smiled faintly. "Good idea."
As they gathered the last of the Spirit Grass, the forest seemed a little less dark, the shadows a little less menacing. The threads of fate shimmered around him, each one a promise of what could be.
And for the first time, he was ready to face them.