Nyxia sat cross-legged on the soft grass, still trying to process everything. Miko, her tiny golden companion, floated beside her, his big, glowing eyes filled with mischief and thoughtfulness. He had been circling her for a while, deep in contemplation.
After a long long silence, Nyxia finally asked, "Miko, how do I grow stronger?"
Miko stopped mid-air, tilting his head dramatically. "Hmm…" He placed his tiny paws on his glowing cheeks, pretending to be in deep thought. Then, with a sigh, he said, "Well, I can only help you with some basics in your cultivation. My memories are sealed, and honestly, I don't know much about this world."
He floated closer, tapping his tiny fluffy body against her arm. "So, step one—understand the basics. Step two—get a strong body. But you…" He suddenly squinted at her, circling around as if inspecting a weak little chick.
"Your body is reeeeaaaally tsk tsk."
Nyxia's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?!"
Miko crossed his tiny arms and sighed again, shaking his head in disappointment. "Sigh... I mean, seriously, look at you ,how did you even survive all these years? You're like a fragile little twig. I've seen baby beasts much stronger than you."
Nyxia screams angery "Ahhhhh That's rude."
Miko ignored her. "But! I believe in Vyāpti. If it chose you, then there must be something special about you. Maybe a hidden bloodline?" His golden fluff twitched in frustration. "But why can't I see it?! It's really making me go nuts! AAAAHHHHHH!" He rolled in mid-air dramatically, flailing his tiny paws like a tantrum-throwing child.
Nyxia watched him, half amused, half concerned. "Are… are you okay?"
Miko instantly stopped his tantrum and floated upright, pretending nothing happened. "Ahem. Anyway, forget about that for now. The focus should be on your training."
Nyxia become focused and sat up straighter, with eyes gleaming with interest . "Okay, what do we do?"
Miko smirked, as he sawher gleaming eyes. "Good question! First, we have to train your physical body. If you trust me and follow my instructions for the next three days, I promise you'll become much stronger than a normal human."
Nyxia clenched her fists with a serious look. "Alright, I trust you."
Miko's glow flickered excitedly. "Great! Now, I just sensed a weak spiritual energy gathering in the north. There must be a forest nearby… and judging by the energy levels, it should have at least Tier 5 beasts!"
Nyxia stammer "TTTIER 5?!" She jumped to her feet, nearly falling over. "ARE YOU CRAZY?! I just learned how to sense energy, and you want me to fight a Tier 5 beast?! Do you want me to grow stronger or just straight-up DIE?!"
Miko rolled his eyes, looking unimpressed. "Do I look like a fool to you, use your brain, girl. I'm not telling you to go fight a Tier 5 beast. Do I look like I have a death wish for my chosen human?"
Nyxia then sigh a breath of relief and immediately placed her hands on her hips. "Then what exactly are you suggesting?!"
Miko sighed like a tired teacher explaining to a very slow student. "The big, scary beasts live deeper in the forest, okay? They don't just hang out near the edges. The outer region will have weaker creatures—still dangerous, but something you can handle. If Tier 5 is the strongest in this forest, then the periphery should have Tier 1 to Tier 2 beasts."
Nyxia relaxed slightly. "Oh. So you're saying I'll just train at the periphery?"
Miko did a little mid-air flip. "Exactly! This will help you build physical endurance, sharpen your instincts, and teach you how to use your spiritual energy in real fights. If you think you can just stand around and absorb energy to get stronger, then you're living in a dream."
Nyxia hesitated but then clenched her fists. She had made up her mind. "Alright, let's do this!"
Miko grinned. "Now that's more like it!" He floated up and poked her forehead lightly. "But just so you know—if you die in the process, I'm going to be very, VERY annoyed."
Nyxia rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks for the motivation."
With that, the two of them set off toward the mysterious forest, where Nyxia's first real challenge awaited.
The forest trial
The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving behind an eerie twilight glow. A bone-chilling wind swept through the towering trees of Duskwind Forest, carrying with it a strange silence that made one's skin crawl. The air smelled damp, rich with the scent of ancient earth and fallen leaves.
Nyxia stood at the edge of the forest, her white mystic robes fluttering slightly as a cold breeze brushed against her skin. The sensation sent a shudder down her spine—not just from the temperature, but from the unsettling stillness. The place looked deceptively serene, yet something about it whispered of hidden danger, as if unseen eyes were watching from the shadows.
Miko, the small golden creature perched on her shoulder, shifted uneasily. His normally playful glow dimmed slightly.
Miko: "Nyxia… now you have to take care of yourself ."
Nyxia's fingers instinctively curled around the pendant resting against her chest, the mysterious treasure that had granted her access to Vyāpti. Taking a deep breath, she forced her nerves to steady.
Nyxia: (determinedly) "I have to do this, Miko. I can do this. If I want to survive in this world, I need strength."
Miko let out a small huff, his big eyes filled with concern and proud for his choosen person. He want to make sure that the choice of vyapti is good or not.
Miko reminded her: "I can help you sense energy and find treasures, but I don't know the techniques humans practice here… and I definitely can't teleport you out if things go wrong." He wants to check if she hesitate and want to give up.
But contrary to his thoughts, Nyxia nodded without any hesitation. This was her battle to fight. With that final thought, she stepped forward, disappearing into the dense wilderness.
Day 1: The Awakening of Survival Instincts
As soon as Nyxia entered the forest, the temperature seemed to drop further. A strange mist clung to the ground, swirling gently around the tree roots like ghostly fingers. The trees stood tall and ancient, their bark rugged with deep scars—marks of past battles, both between beasts and warriors who had dared to enter.
The deeper she ventured, the stronger the unease grew. The rustling of leaves, the distant calls of unknown creatures, and the occasional snapping of twigs made her hyper-aware of every movement around her. But the real terror came when everything fell silent.
A sudden gust of cold wind brushed against her neck, making her shudder. It was the kind of chill that carried an unspoken warning—something was nearby.
Miko tensed on her shoulder, his soft glow barely visible now.He knows this is not only for her physical fitness but to develop strong will and mind. Suddenly he sensed something.
Miko: (whispering) "Nyxia… don't move."
She froze, her breathing shallow. Then she saw it—a shadow shifting among the trees. A Shadowfang Leopard.
Its fur rippled like liquid at night, blending perfectly with the darkness. Only its glowing amber eyes were visible, locked onto her with predatory intent. It was a Tier 1 beast, swift and deadly.
Nyxia's pulse pounded. She wasn't ready for this.
The beast crouched, muscles coiling, ready to pounce.
Then—
A branch snapped somewhere in the distance. The leopard's ears flicked, and in an instant, it vanished into the shadows, melting away like mist.
Nyxia exhaled shakily, realizing she had been holding her breath. Her heart was racing, but she was alive.
Nyxia: (softly) "I need to get stronger."
Miko sighed, his tiny body relaxing slightly.
Miko: "That was too close… We need to find a safe spot before nightfall."
Safe? In this forest? She doubted such a thing existed.
Day 2: Pushing Limits
By the second day, Nyxia was exhausted. Her body ached from constant movement—running, climbing, dodging. The forest was relentless, a battlefield where only the strong survived.
But she was learning.
She had started using her energy in small bursts, reinforcing her muscles to move faster, heightening her senses to detect danger a split second earlier. It wasn't much, but it made a difference.
That morning, she encountered a Steelhide Boar, a Tier 1 beast known for its brute strength. Unlike the leopard, it did not rely on stealth—only raw power.
The ground trembled as it charged.
Nyxia barely managed to leap aside in time, rolling across the dirt. The beast skidded to a halt, snorting aggressively before preparing for another attack.
Miko's voice rang in her ear.
Miko: "Nyxia, you need to dodge at the last second! Its movements are predictable—wait for the right moment!"
Nyxia clenched her fists, adrenaline flooding her veins. The boar charged again.
This time, she stayed still until the very last heartbeat.
Then—she moved.
The beast roared past her, missing by mere inches. As she turned, instinct took over. Gathering the faint energy she had learned to control, she struck. A glowing hit landed against the beast's side, sending it stumbling.
Not enough to kill—but enough to win.
Panting, Nyxia stepped back as the boar, dazed, turned and retreated into the wilderness.
She had fought back.
Miko's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Miko: "Nyxia! You're finally using energy properly!"
Nyxia exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips. She was improving.
Day 3: A Formidable Opponent
On the third day, she met the Shadowfang Leopard again.
But this time, she wasn't helpless prey.
The leopard circled her, amber eyes gleaming in the dim light. Its movements were fluid, dangerous, calculated.
Nyxia held her ground.
The beast lunged.
She dodged—barely. Its claws grazed her arm, tearing fabric but missing flesh. She spun, countering with an energy-infused strike. The leopard twisted mid-air, avoiding the blow with unnatural agility.
A deadly dance began.
The fight dragged on, each move sharper, faster. Nyxia was pushing herself past her limits, relying on instincts she didn't even know she had.
And then—suddenly—the leopard stopped.
It stood a few feet away, watching her. Its tail flicked once, then it let out a low, rumbling growl—not of anger, but of acknowledgment.
Then, without another attack, it turned and vanished into the mist.
Nyxia collapsed against a tree, sweat dripping down her forehead.
She had survived.She suddenly feel a whirl of energy rapidly arise inside her. She immediately sat cross legged on the ground.
A gentle warmth filled her body as her energy stabilized. She could feel it—she had reached the Peak of Tier 1.
Miko landed on her shoulder, grinning.
Miko: "You did it, Nyxia! But if you want to break into Tier 2… you'll need something special. A special herb that can refine your energy."
Nyxia's tired eyes shone with determination.
Nyxia: "Then we find it. No matter what it takes."
Miko happily" Ok, let's do it . When you enter into tier 2 you have to looked for a cultivation techniques that best suits you."