Calm before the storm

Sitting on his warm bed, Elias could hear the distant sounds of birds settling for the night as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon. The soft, fading light filled the small room, casting long shadows on the walls. The air was cool, drifting in through the open window and gently rustling the curtains.

Yet Elias didn't pay any attention to it. He remained still, his eyes fixed on the numbers in his aperture that represented his lifespan.

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[Rank: 1]

- [Lifespan: 110 years, 7 months, 22 days]

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[MANIFESTATIONS]

- [Rank 1 Manifestation slot]: [Free]

- [Additional rank 1 Manifestation slot price: 50 years]

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- [Rank up cost: 100 years]

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The room was dim, the last traces of daylight fading through the narrow window. He hardly blinked as he calculated his progress, his face devoid of emotion.

'If I had to put a number on it, I gain about a day's worth of lifespan every week,' he thought, his expression unchanged. 'I reached this stage quickly compared to a typical game run,'

Elias shifted slightly, his gaze drifting to the ranking costs displayed before him. 'After ascending to rank 2, I'll still have about ten years of lifespan left,' he calculated. 'That should be enough for now.'

After awakening his rune, Elias purposely avoided merging with any manifestation. However, it wasn't for the exact same reasons as others.

Most cultivators needed to choose their manifestation carefully because of their limited slot. However, Elias didn't have this issue. He could have as many manifestations as he wanted and didn't even have to worry about compatibility or the interference between different laws other cultivators faced.

Other cultivators had to be cautious, as each manifestation aligned with a specific law—like fire or water—that could weaken or even conflict with another manifestation governed by an opposing law. That was why most cultivators would only focus on the manifestation of a single or two laws at most, but Elias was free from such constraints.

Yet, Elias still decided not to merge with a manifestation despite not having those limitations.

"Hopefully, I will survive this one. I don't want to die just yet." Elias said, his voice calm and emotionless.

The Rune of the End granted Elias a lot of benefits, including an exceptionally strong physique incomparable to the average cultivator, the ability to collect lifespan through the destruction of manifestations or ranked materials, immunity to all mental debuffs, and the potential to wield an unlimited number of manifestations.

Yet, despite all those benefits, the game was still considered hardcore for a reason. Gathering the necessary lifespan to rank up wasn't necessarily the hardest part; the real challenge lay in what would happen the instant he ascended.

Elias had played the game so many times. He knew exactly what awaited him the second he pressed on "RANK UP."

"Let's wait until Yui comes back home," Elias thought, lying on his bed.

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.

.

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In the grand hall of the White Smoke Clan's manor, a man with gray hair and a stern expression sat across from a young boy. The room was filled with luxurious furniture and ornaments that showcased the clan's wealth and power. The man wore a white robe embroidered with a cloud symbol, his presence commanding and confident.

"As the Patriarch of the clan but also as a father, I am proud of you, Zhelowen," the man said, his voice firm yet warm.

Zhelowen, the boy sitting before him, gave a slight nod, his expression serious. "Thank you, Father," he replied.

His father's eyes gleamed with pride. "You've done exceptionally well," the patriarch continued. "Reaching Rank 2 in just five months—your talent is truly remarkable!"

Zhelowen nodded again with a genuine smile. He knew the expectations placed on him as the pride of the family.

"Father, as you already know, the difference between ranks for potential but also in general becomes more significant as they increase. The gap between Rank 1 and Rank 2 is noticeable but manageable. However, the jump from Rank 4 to Rank 5 is massive—like comparing a hill to a mountain. I have a rank 5 blue potential, so reaching rank 2 in 5 months is barely enough to uphold the family's honor. I still have a long way to go before I can catch up with you," he said, his tone thoughtful.

His father chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Don't worry about that. With your talent, you'll surpass me in no time. Just keep working hard. One day, you will perhaps even reach rank 6!" taking a gulp of tea, he continued,

"Moreover, you are barely seven years old, yet you are incomparable to other children, even in terms of maturity. I am truly proud of you. Your mother and brothers would have been proud of you, too," the patriarch said with a somewhat nostalgic expression.

Upon hearing this, Zhelowen had a solemn face."Thank you, father."

After a long moment of silence, the patriarch spoke again."Now, tell me, what do you want for your second manifestation? Whatever it is, I'll make sure you get it. I will also arrange something to ascend your first manifestation."

Zhelowen hesitated, lowering his gaze. "I'm not sure yet," he admitted.

His father nodded understandingly. "That's alright, son. Take your time and think about it. There's no need to rush. But you must be careful to take a manifestation that belongs to the same law as your first. Otherwise, they will conflict with each other."

Zhelowen looked up at his father's words. "I will, Father," he said.

Just as the patriarch was about to continue, a servant suddenly burst into the room, his face pale with haste. "Patriarch! Patriarch! It's urgent!" the servant called out, struggling to catch his breath.

The patriarch's expression shifted instantly, his smile vanishing as uneasiness took over. "What is it?" he asked, his voice sharp and commanding.

The servant took a moment to gather himself before delivering the news. "Scouts in the southern mountains have spotted an unusually large number of beasts gathering! They're slowly moving in our direction."

The patriarch's frown deepened as he leaned forward. "How many beasts are we talking about?" he asked, his tone tense.

The servant hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "...We don't know their exact number, but it's estimated to be at least a thousand!"

"A thousand..." the patriarch repeated, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "And they're coming from the south. What kind of beasts? Are you certain they're headed this way?"

The servant's voice trembled slightly as he responded, "From what we know, the majority are Rank 1 Gray Wolves, Rank 2 Greater Gray Wolves, and possibly some Rank 3 Alpha Gray Wolves from the southern mountains. We can't be entirely sure of their exact numbers, but they appear to be slowly converging in our direction."

The patriarch's expression grew more serious. "The south... Could this be an attack from our southern rivals, the Gray Wolf Clan? They do specialize in controlling wolves... But how could they manage to control such a large number?" His voice was filled with doubt.

The patriarch's gaze shifted to a large map hanging on the wall, its surface marked with the detailed terrain of the surrounding area. The map depicted their town nestled in a valley, surrounded by imposing mountains on all sides. To the south, the rugged peaks gave way to a marked territory—home of the Gray Wolf Clan. Their stronghold was strategically positioned at the base of the southern mountains, with winding paths leading directly through the heart of their domain.

The servant added, confusedly, "Patriarch, there's also something strange. The beasts are gathering and moving slowly, but it seems like they'll pass through the main city of the Gray Wolf Clan first at this rate."

The patriarch's brow furrowed deeper as he considered this. "You are right... if the Gray Wolf Clan truly sent this horde, why would they risk it going through their own land? Something doesn't add up here. But we must prepare for the worst," he said, his voice firm as he ensured Zhelowen was paying attention.

Turning sharply to the servant, the patriarch gave his orders with a calm but commanding tone. "Send a message to the head of the scouts. Tell him to gather all possible information on this beast horde and report back to me immediately with priority. Summon all the elders for an emergency meeting."

He paused for a moment, his gaze hardening. "Sound the war bell and recall everyone on commission. We need to prepare for whatever may come."

Before the servant could leave, another one rushed in, his face filled with panic. "Patriarch! Urgent news!" the new servant shouted, his voice strained.

The patriarch's eyes narrowed his expression growing cold. "What is it now?" he asked.

The servant took a moment to catch his breath before delivering the news. "It's not just the south. Beasts of all kinds are gathering from all directions—north, east, west, and south. They're slowly converging, forming a circle around us, and all signs point to them heading toward our city! It's an endless wave of beasts!"