Chapter 1: The Scavenger
The ruins of Elysium City stretched endlessly beneath a crimson sky. Once a bustling metropolis, it was now a wasteland where crumbling skyscrapers leaned like broken teeth, and shadows of the Starfall Cataclysm lingered in the form of mutated beasts.
Jian Yuelin crouched in the husk of a toppled building, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. His wild black hair clung to his forehead, and his clothes were patched and worn. At just 16, he looked far older, with hardened eyes that carried the weight of a world gone mad.
His target lay ahead: a rusted transport pod half-buried in rubble. These pods often contained valuable scraps or even relics from the days before the Cataclysm. Jian adjusted the straps of his scavenger's satchel and crept forward, his steps silent and deliberate.
"Stay quiet, stay alive," he muttered under his breathâa mantra he'd lived by for as long as he could remember.
As he reached the pod, he pulled out a small crowbar and pried open the hatch. A cloud of dust billowed out, making him cough. Inside, he found a set of metal cylinders and a glowing crystal. His heart leapt. The crystal was a fragment of astral energy, a rare and valuable resource that could fetch a high priceâor power cultivation techniques.
But before he could grab it, a guttural growl echoed from the shadows. Jian froze, his hand hovering over the crystal. From the darkness, a hulking creature emerged. Its body was a grotesque fusion of flesh and metal, its eyes glowing a sickly green. A Star Beast.
"Damn it," Jian hissed, snatching the crystal and shoving it into his satchel.
The beast lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Jian rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted toward the ruins, weaving through the debris as the Star Beast gave chase.
"You just couldn't leave me alone, could you?" he yelled over his shoulder.
The creature roared in response, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Jian knew he couldn't outrun it forever. He needed to fight.
Spotting an abandoned support beam leaning precariously above the narrow alley ahead, he formulated a plan. He grabbed a chunk of concrete and hurled it at the beam as he passed beneath it. The impact was just enough to loosen the structure, sending it crashing down onto the alleyway.
The beast roared again, but this time it was cut off as the beam crushed it. Dust and rubble filled the air, and Jian coughed as he staggered out of the alley.
"Barely made it," he muttered, leaning against a wall to catch his breath.
As he reached into his satchel to inspect the crystal, he felt a strange warmth emanating from it. The crystal pulsed faintly, and for a moment, Jian thought he heard a voice.
"AwakenâŚ"
He frowned, holding the crystal closer. Before he could react, the crystal dissolved into a stream of light, flowing into his chest. A searing pain shot through his body, and he collapsed to his knees.
Visions flooded his mindâstars exploding, constellations forming, and a towering spire piercing the heavens. He gasped for air as the pain subsided, leaving behind a strange sensation in his core.
"What⌠what just happened?" he whispered, clutching his chest.
In the distance, the sound of footsteps approached. Jian's instincts kicked in, and he ducked into the shadows. Moments later, a group of armored figures appeared, their weapons glinting ominously in the dim light.
"He was here," one of them said, scanning the area. "Find him. That fragment is worth a fortune."
Jian's heart raced. Whoever they were, they weren't friendly. And now, it seemed, his life had taken a turn for the strangerâand far more dangerous.