Chapter 206: Soul Echoes and System Resets
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The sky above was deep violet, speckled with stars that shimmered behind crawling clouds. The moon—a pale silver orb—hung fat and full, casting its light across the forest with gentle clarity.
"I need to get stronger," he whispered. "Not just physically. Not just my aura. My soul. If I can strengthen my soul... maybe I can reach them. Even across continents."
The breeze stirred again. He sat in silence, letting the thought root itself deeper.
"Everything changed so fast," he murmured. "One day I was just surviving... Now I’m building an empire."
Kai didn’t know if it would last. He didn’t know if Akayoroi would say yes. He didn’t know if Luna was okay. Or if Miryam had grown larger. Or if the mountain was even still safe.
But what he did know... was that he couldn’t stop now. Not here. Not when he’d already taken the first steps to building a legacy.
He closed his eyes, letting the weight of everything settle just beneath his skin. The starlight pulsed gently against his lids. The wind sang.
A cool breeze rustled through the canopy above, shaking loose dew from high leaves. Tiny droplets landed on his arms and chest as he slowly sat upright on the thick ironroot branch.
His mind had been strangely calm for the last hour—but something beneath that calmness pulsed. It wasn’t the usual battle fatigue or soul strain from devouring star cores.
No. This was... different.