After a long time, Ophiuchus awakens once again.
He immediately notices that something has changed in his body. Those strange fluid chains are no longer present, and his entire body seems to have returned to normal.
Suddenly, he feels a rush of warm air and realizes that there's a flow of energy coursing through his meridians.
After a complete circulation, he feels extremely comfortable, but when he focuses on the energy again, it has completely disappeared.
Ophiuchus makes an effort to free himself from the cocoon of blood surrounding him. With a tear, he manages to open a large hole and leaps out.
The Blood Pond that was there has completely dried up, leaving only some broken bones behind. What's strange is that the blood cocoon that once surrounded him is now emitting a small flame, burning the bones to nothing.
Within the dried Blood Pond, there's a crimson ring.
Ophiuchus decides to pick it up and puts it on his left ring finger.
Instantly, he feels a deep connection with the ring, as if it's a part of his body. The strange energy in his body reacts uncontrollably, flowing towards the ring.
"I know you're watching me, but can you hear me too?"
A malicious smile appears on his face. "I appreciate the preparations for your chosen one, but let me tell you one thing... You'll never get out of this universe!"
In an instant, he blends with the surroundings and disappears from the pond, leaving behind only a trace of sarcasm in the air.
…
Light-years away, a hysterical roar echoed throughout space, resonating from planet to planet like an apocalyptic scream. The stars trembled as if the very cosmos were groaning in agony.
The living beings inhabiting the planets near the source of this roar were suddenly transformed into emotionless, soulless creatures. Their wills were stolen, replaced by an insatiable thirst. Overwhelming darkness engulfed their souls, turning them into ruthless killing machines.
These creatures roamed through space, seeking any living being that crossed their path. There was no mercy, compassion, or trace of humanity in their actions. Each encounter was a death sentence.
The universe witnessed an unimaginable tragedy as the planets near the origin of this terrible roar turned into stellar graveyards, stained by the blood shed by these soulless abominations. It was a cosmic nightmare that seemed to have no end, a storm of destruction that shook the very fabric of reality.
…
As the sun bid farewell to the horizon, the valley plunged into a deep and mysterious silence. Ancient trees, with their massive trunks and dark green leaves, cast elongated shadows on the moss-covered ground.
The faint light of the moon, filtered through the thick foliage, painted a scene of ethereal shadows and reflections. Unknown flowers bloomed in the darkness, releasing their fragrances into the night air, perfuming the valley with a touch of mystery.
The stream winding through the forest exuded a quiet calm, its water reflecting the stars above, which shone like rare jewels.
Ahead, the Mountain rose imposingly. Its grandeur defied comprehension, a dark silhouette against the night sky.
As you approach the mountain, a palace stands out. The white marble towers, bathed in silver moonlight, shone like distant stars in a distant firmament.
Silence enveloped the palace, as if the place itself were at rest, awaiting visitors who would never arrive.
The birds, once perched and serene, now took flight in a frenzy, as if they had sensed the arrival of something terrifying to their senses.
And then, in a matter of minutes, a large area at the foot of the mountain was transformed. All the vegetation and creatures that once inhabited it vanished as if swallowed by the night.
In their place, rudimentary buildings, constructed of rough wood and raw stone, began to emerge in succession.
The houses were simple and devoid of ornamentation, with no illumination except the faint light of the moon and stars to guide the way.
Suddenly, a silver flash illuminated the open space between the houses.
The child appeared approximately 102 cm in height, fair-skinned, with waist-length white hair, smooth and silky.
In the dim light of the night, their eyes shone like distant stars, as if they were portals to another dimension. The irises had a deep shade of violet, reminiscent of the colors of a nebula, conveying the feeling that they were the universe itself contained in their gaze.
But what truly caught the attention was the pupil.
Instead of being a simple circular shape, it was slit, like a dragon's pupil. As their eyes adjusted to the ambient light, the slits opened and closed, creating a hypnotic effect.
Absorbed in their senses, Ophiuchus detected a foul odor entering their nostrils. As they focused on their other senses, the sound of footsteps echoed in their eardrums, and it was close to their location.
Ophiuchus looked in the direction of the sound's origin and walked towards one of the houses.
As he approached, Ophiuchus witnessed the diminutive figures and his pupils constricted in response to the sight of the creatures.
An instinct to kill ignited within him: "Goblins."
Ophiuchus, moving stealthily towards the diminutive figures now identified as goblins, felt adrenaline pulsing through their body. His instinct, triggered by the sight of the goblins, made them feel more alive than ever.
As it moved, Ophiuchus took advantage of its adaptability. Every step they took was an opportunity for the body to adjust. His mind calculated, considering the information about the creatures.
Ophiuchus watched them with a mixture of disdain, his agile mind calculating their every move.
The goblins were getting closer, and the putrid smell emanating from them grew stronger.
He prepares for confrontation; his sharp nails extend and his stance becomes predatory.
The goblins, surprised by Ophiuchus's sudden appearance, emitted shrill cries of anger and provocation. They outnumbered him and attacked ferociously, wielding small spears and rusty blades.
Ophiuchus, with his superhuman agility, dodged the initial attacks.
Your body moved with grace as they used their intelligence to anticipate the goblin's movements. Their instinct was at its peak, strengthened by the combat.
However, the goblins were not easy enemies. They managed to inflict injuries on Ophiuchus in various ways. Some of them struck his chest and back with their spears, leaving deep cuts and punctures that began to bleed. Others threw stones and fired arrows, hitting him in various parts of his body.
As the injuries began to accumulate, their body started to heal almost instantly. The cuts closed, and their resistance increased, making them increasingly immune to the goblins' attacks.
The battle unfolded in a frenzy of movements, with Ophiuchus defending and counterattacking.
With each passing moment, they became more invulnerable, more lethal. With each attack, they adapted, developing resistance to the goblins' weapons and tactics. The cuts and wounds, though painful, healed in a matter of seconds.
The goblins, realizing the difficulty of defeating this enemy, increased their ferocity. They tried to surround him and attack from all sides, but Ophiuchus moved with greater agility, dodging their blows.
A sharp spear finally found its target, piercing Ophiuchus's shoulder. He let out a roar of pain but didn't falter. With incredible speed, he grabbed the spear, breaking it with a gesture of his hands.
The goblins retreated, momentarily surprised.
Ophiuchus seized the opportunity to counterattack. With sharp claws and burning eyes, he attacked the goblins with fury. His consciousness calculated every move, finding the weaknesses of the enemies. One by one, the goblins fell before him.
However, the battle left visible marks on Ophiuchus. His body was covered in cuts and scratches, and he was visibly exhausted. Even with his adaptability and regeneration, he was not immune to pain and exertion.
Finally, when the dust of battle settled, Ophiuchus stood surrounded by the bodies of defeated goblins. He breathed deeply, feeling the pain of his wounds slowly receding as his regeneration did its work.
No longer hearing any sounds, he observed his surroundings.
When his eyes landed on the palace, his body shivered. "I... returned?"
However, something strange began to happen as he observed the palace. The bodies of the goblins began to rapidly desiccate as if time itself were acting on them in an accelerated manner. As the bodies dried up, the fatigue in his body gradually disappeared.
When he finally began to walk, the bodies of the goblins had completely vanished, becoming dust that scattered in the wind.
Ophiuchus looked around, curious about what had occurred. "Although I'm not fit to cultivate, the technique is still useful to me."
The night enveloped the palace in deep silence, and the shadows seemed to dance around the buildings. Ophiuchus stood there, under the cloak of night, gazing at the palace's corridors with a heavy heart.
Every step he took echoed in the silent corridors, bringing back memories of when his mother was alive. Nostalgia was like a dagger piercing his soul, reminding him of the happy moments and laughter that echoed through those corridors.
The walls of the palace seemed to hold ancient secrets and stories, whispering memories of a distant past. Ophiuchus could almost hear his mother's laughter echoing in the air as if she were there with him at that moment.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to capture that fleeting feeling of closeness, but all that remained was emptiness and loneliness.
As he continued to walk through the corridors, Ophiuchus felt a strange sensation in his arms. It was as if something was trying to emerge from within him, a presence that he couldn't fully comprehend. Slowly, he looked at his forearms and saw a pair of white cuffs adorned with golden details that were now enveloping them.
An object appeared in front of him, and next to it, a panel was displayed.
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Village Name: Blackmare Village (Legendary)
Level: Primary (0/5000)
Village Area: To be developed
Village Territory: 3 square kilometers
Special Village Statistics:
• Territory Culture Production +30%
• Territory Culture Growth Time -30%
• Subsidiary Village Limit: 4
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Looking up at the sky, he noticed hundreds of shooting stars.
His lips twisted. "What the hell is going on?"