Dawn stood still, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath. The light from his transformation had long since faded, but its effects lingered, pulsating through him with every beat of his heart. His limbs felt alive, stronger than they ever had before. The sense of power that hummed beneath his skin was palpable, as if every molecule of his being had been imbued with the forces of the cosmos.
The vast forest stretched before him, its towering trees and thick foliage obscuring his path, but Dawn could feel the pull of something far ahead. He closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself. His senses, heightened beyond measure, tingled with the essence of the world around him. The wind whispered secrets through the leaves, the earth beneath his feet hummed with life, and the very air seemed alive with energy. His Vast Sky Pattern, now fully integrated with his body, thrummed in resonance with the world.
He felt invincible. But as the transformation settled within him, a deeper question began to unfurl in his mind: What had just happened? He had touched something ancient, something vast, and in that moment, it had changed him. But why? And more importantly, what did it mean for the journey ahead?
Shaking off the haze of uncertainty, Dawn refocused. His mission remained the same. The celestial tree—the source of the fruit he had come to find—was within reach. It was not just an objective; it was the key to something much greater. He had come to this forest seeking power, but now, he could sense it—the tree was calling to him, its energies drawing him closer, beckoning him to uncover its secrets.
---
Dawn's senses sharpened as he continued forward, his pace quickening with every step. The forest, once a confusing maze, now felt more like an open road—each direction leading him closer to his goal. The dense trees, their leaves thick and green, parted as though guided by an unseen hand. The air itself seemed to shift, bending to his will.
With each step, Dawn could feel the ground beneath him reacting. His connection to the earth, the sky, and the stars felt as if they were flowing through him, steady and unwavering. His body had transformed, not just in strength but in purpose. He wasn't just moving through the forest anymore. He was becoming part of it, as if the path itself had been woven just for him.
His thoughts drifted briefly to his fellow initiates—Gary, Luna, and the others. They had their own paths to follow, each tied to their unique affinities. But Dawn's was different. He had never felt truly aligned with the way things had been before. The transformation had solidified it; he was on a path that no one else could walk.
Yet there was no time for contemplation. He had come here for a reason, and the celestial tree—looming somewhere ahead—was his destination.
---
The air around him grew denser, charged with an unfamiliar energy. Dawn's feet moved faster, instinct guiding him as if the earth itself were urging him onward. The forest seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heart, the trees parting to reveal his path. The further he went, the more the energy of the forest wrapped around him, tightening like a cloak.
Ahead, a glimmer of light broke through the canopy above. At first, it was faint, barely a shimmer against the endless green. But as Dawn's senses honed in, the light grew stronger, sharper. His heart quickened in response. He had been searching for the celestial tree for what felt like an eternity, but now, he could feel it—its presence, its pull.
It wasn't just light—it was energy. Raw, untamed, and ancient.
The tree was near. It had to be.
Dawn pushed forward, his thoughts narrowing. He had to reach it. There was no turning back now. The forest, the creatures, even the earth beneath his feet—all of it seemed to be holding its breath, awaiting the next step.
---
As Dawn approached, a strange sensation washed over him. The ground beneath his feet seemed to vibrate with energy. The trees, now impossibly tall, loomed over him like ancient sentinels. There was a quiet hum in the air, an unspoken presence that made his skin tingle.
He could see it now, barely through the thickening trees. A faint glow. A shimmering light that stood out in the dark forest like a star fallen from the heavens. The celestial tree.
It was as magnificent as he had imagined—towering, radiant, and glowing with an ethereal light. Its branches stretched high into the sky, its leaves shimmering in hues of silver and gold. But as he looked at it, Dawn felt a strange hesitation. The tree was too perfect, too divine. It felt as though it had been placed here for a reason—a reason only he could understand.
For a moment, he hesitated, unsure if he was truly ready for what was about to come. The fruit, the power it would bring, it was all so close. Yet something inside him warned him that this would not be as simple as picking a fruit from a tree.
---
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the ground shifted beneath him. A low rumble shook the earth, followed by a guttural growl that echoed through the forest. Dawn's senses flared instantly. A presence, dark and ancient, stirred in the shadows.
Before him, a massive shape materialized from the depths of the trees—its form fluid, shifting like smoke, yet its eyes burned with an unearthly fire. The beast was enormous, its shadow stretching over Dawn like a dark cloud. Its body was a mixture of solid and ethereal, as though it was made of the very essence of the forest—alive, ancient, and dangerous.
The creature snarled, its eyes locking with Dawn's. It was an Eclipse Guardian. The celestial tree's protector.
Dawn felt the air around him crackle with energy as the beast's presence bore down on him. Its form was both part of the forest and something beyond it, a creature of shadow and light. Its muscles coiled with power, ready to strike. He recognised the beast from the records he read in the Grand Archives.
As such, he didn't flinch. The Vast Sky Pattern within him pulsed, an echo of the transformation that had reshaped him. The power within him was immense, but so was the creature's.
This was the challenge he had expected.
---
The celestial tree stood only a few paces away, its radiant fruit gleaming in the distance. Dawn's body hummed with the energy of the stars, the sun, and the moon. He was powerful now, stronger than he had ever been—but this creature, this guardian, was not to be underestimated.
Dawn took a step forward, his hand instinctively reaching for the celestial fruit at his side. He could feel the warmth of its presence, a constant reminder of the power that lay just beyond his reach. The beast growled again, but Dawn's mind was clear. His body was no longer just his own—it was part of the vast expanse of the sky, a conduit of celestial energy.
He was no longer the same person who had entered this forest. The transformation had changed him, and now, he would prove it.
The guardian lunged.
The beast's claws slashed through the air, a blur of shadow and fury. Dawn leapt back, his body reacting instinctively, but the air around him felt thick, charged with energy. He could feel the celestial forces within him swirl, ready to be unleashed. But the creature was fast, too fast. It was no mere beast—it was a force of nature, born of the earth itself, woven into the fabric of this place.
Dawn's pulse quickened, and the celestial energies within him surged.
This was the moment.
The guardian struck again, its claws aimed straight for his heart. Dawn's body tensed, and the world around him seemed to slow. He had one chance.
And then—
The world erupted into chaos.
---