Chapter 5 — Gathering Storm
Smoke drifted through the street like a funeral veil.
The second creature's body lay twisted against the crushed car, its dark blood seeping into broken asphalt. Soldiers stared at Kai as if unsure whether to thank him… or fear him.
He ignored them.
His gaze was fixed on the sky.
The crack had widened again.
Not dramatically.
But enough that the silver light spilling from it felt heavier—denser. The pressure in the air had increased. Even ordinary people could feel it now. Some clutched their chests. Others collapsed, overwhelmed by the invisible force.
This was only the beginning.
Kai crouched beside the fallen creature. With controlled breathing, he guided Qi into his palm. The energy within the corpse responded, condensing slowly into a brighter crystal than before.
When it fell into his hand, he felt the difference immediately.
Stronger.
More stable.
He hesitated only a moment before absorbing it.
The crystal dissolved into strands of pure Qi, flooding his meridians. Pain followed instantly—sharp and burning. His muscles tightened. Bones creaked under sudden pressure.
He gritted his teeth and stabilized his breathing technique.
Guide it.
Refine it.
Do not let it explode.
The energy spiraled inward, tempering flesh and marrow. Something inside him shifted—like a lock turning.
His aura surged outward briefly before settling.
Body Tempering… Fifth Minor Stage.
He exhaled slowly.
Too fast.
His growth was accelerating beyond what felt natural. Even without knowing cultivation theory deeply, he understood this speed was abnormal.
A distant explosion interrupted his thoughts.
Far across the city skyline, a building collapsed inward as something massive emerged from its ruins. A creature larger than the previous two—its roar shaking windows blocks away.
The soldiers around him panicked.
"Fall back!" one shouted.
Helicopters pivoted mid-air, opening fire.
The bullets did nothing.
The creature lifted its head—and then it did something new.
It inhaled.
Spiritual Qi from the surroundings spiraled toward it violently.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
It was learning.
Adapting faster.
A pulse erupted from the creature's body, shattering the helicopters' stability. One spiraled downward trailing smoke.
This wasn't random mutation anymore.
This was evolution.
And then—
The sky responded.
The crack shimmered violently.
For a fraction of a second, the silver light intensified—and something darker moved behind it.
Not a shadow.
A silhouette.
Tall.
Watching.
Kai felt it clearly this time.
That presence wasn't focused on the city.
It was focused on him.
His blood ran cold.
A whisper brushed against his mind—not words, but intent.
Assessment.
Value.
Threat.
The pressure vanished as suddenly as it came.
The crack stabilized.
But Kai understood.
Something beyond Earth now knew his existence.
The larger creature began moving toward the city center.
Toward civilians.
Toward chaos.
Kai clenched his fists.
If he ran, he might survive longer.
If he fought, he might die.
But if no one fought—
The city would fall in a single night.
Spiritual Qi surged around him, more responsive than before.
For the first time, he felt it clearly.
The world itself was waking.
And it was unstable.
If Earth rose too slowly, it would be devoured.
If it rose too fast, it might tear itself apart.
Kai stepped forward.
The asphalt cracked beneath his feet.
The storm was gathering.
And this time—
He would run toward it.
Chapter 5 End