Inertia: Beneath The Starlit Veil Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Read chapter 64 of Inertia: Beneath The Starlit Veil by Ken Kaizen on NovelPedia.

Chapter 64 Cyrus POV Staring at the remains of the creature I had just defeated, I watched as the branches of the once-humanoid figure crumbled and seeped back into the ground. I couldn't help but feel uneasy about these creatures. "What do you mean by rumors, Dad?" I asked as I sheathed my blade and picked up my bag. "According to ancient texts, there are entities said to be spirits born from the cosmic vines of the Eldertree. Apparently, they only awaken when the Eldertree senses danger," my father explained as he handed me the cores of the creatures he had defeated. "Does that mean we're the danger?" "We very well could be—unless there's something or someone else out here that warrants this response. But I'm curious as to why it only sent out these weak guardians if it was reacting to our presence. I wonder where the big guy is," he muttered as he continued pressing forward through the astral rainforest. I didn't bother following up with the question. If I needed to know, he would have told me. Instead, I hurried to catch up, placing the core he had handed me into my bag. Traveling through the astral rainforest of Syltharion territory was far more challenging than navigating the outskirts of the physical realm. Not only were the weather conditions more intense—amplified by cosmic energy—but maintaining constant vigilance was an even greater struggle. Everything caught my eye, mesmerizing me with the sheer beauty of this place. As I trekked through the region, I wondered if the physical realm had ever looked like this. What would the world be like if machines and technological advancement hadn't taken over? Being on the run these past few years had given me a deeper appreciation for nature—both its beauty and its horrors. "Hey, Cyrus, where are your reserves at?" My dad suddenly halted, turning back to check on me. I had honestly lost track, distracted by analyzing everything new I saw. "Uh, I have roughly about a third left," I answered, stumbling over my words as I snapped out of my daze. But I quickly realized he already knew what my reserves were at. "Alright, let's take a rest here and give you some time to absorb these cores. Remember, we're losing cosmic energy at three times the normal rate compared to our usual astral forms, so we need to be diligent about monitoring it." "Yeah, you're right," I said, taking out the two star spawn cores and beginning the absorption process. "But you did well gauging that creature's strength and not using too much of your energy in the fight. That level of discernment is going to be critical as we continue traveling through the astral realm," my father added while rummaging through his bag. "How much farther until we reach the Plaza of the Grove?" I asked as I finished absorbing the last core. "We have about five more miles, give or take. At our current pace, we should reach the plaza by the time the third moon rises," he stated matter-of-factly. His response threw me off. I had been so focused on my surroundings that I hadn't even considered looking up. When I did, I realized I had been completely unaware of what the sky above actually held. It appeared as if a translucent barrier protected the astral realm, separating it from what we called space. Planets, stars, and celestial objects were visible with perfect clarity—almost as if I were staring through the world's largest telescope. "Come on, let's get moving, Cy. I sense another pack of weak astral behemoths up ahead—about a dozen of them. If we play our cards right, we can sell a few of their cores for equipment and supplies." Gathering my things, I nodded and took off. "Whoever kills the least has to pay for dinner." _________ Theron POV Several days had passed since I last spoke with Adam, and something felt off. Trusting my instincts, I quickly flew down to the town where he resided. Before stepping out of my aircraft, I grabbed my mask, pulled my hood over my head, and made my way toward the town entrance. As I approached, I