Chapter 2: Finding Sanctuary
Flux, now back in his sleek white fox form, darted through the dense underbrush, fleeing the titanic clash between the two monstrous beasts. His once-pristine fur was ruffled and streaked with dirt, a result of his desperate sprint. His normally bright, sapphire-blue eyes shimmered with a flicker of fear. Every snapped twig and rustling leaf made his pointed ears twitch—tense, alert, hyper-aware.
"Whew… thank goodness they didn't notice me," he panted, breath coming in short, ragged gasps. "No cultivation means I'm practically invisible… That was way too close!"
He slowed his pace, cautiously scanning his surroundings. Towering trees loomed overhead like ancient sentinels, their thick trunks wrapped in spiraling vines. Moss-draped branches formed a dense canopy, filtering sunlight into shifting patches of gold and green. The forest felt alive—wild and untamed, buzzing faintly with hidden energy.
"I need to find a safe place to start cultivating," he thought, fur bristling with urgency. "At the very least, I need something to defend myself."
With light-footed agility, he navigated the woods, his keen nose catching the scent of damp earth, decaying leaves, and the faint sweetness of wild berries carried on the wind. Twigs cracked beneath his paws as he slipped between tangled bushes, guided more by instinct than direction.
Eventually, something caught his eye: a small cave nestled beneath the gnarled roots of an enormous, moss-covered tree. Its entrance was nearly invisible, half-concealed by overgrown underbrush and thick vines—an ideal hiding spot.
Flux crouched low and peered into the dark opening. "I really hope this place is empty," he whispered, ears perked and tail held still.
After several tense moments of observation, he cautiously slipped inside. The temperature dropped instantly. The cave was larger than it appeared from the outside—deep and hollow, with smooth, damp stone walls that glistened faintly in the dim light filtering through cracks in the roots above. The ground was padded with soft moss and loose soil. The scent of mushrooms and cool earth hung in the air like a soothing balm. In one corner, a small mound of dried leaves hinted at a former, likely harmless, occupant.
"It's small… but it'll do," he murmured, breathing a little easier.
Padding back outside, he began concealing the entrance. He gathered branches, fallen leaves, and whatever else the forest offered, layering them carefully until the cave blended almost perfectly into its surroundings. It took time and effort, but when he was finished, the shelter was well hidden from casual view.
Satisfied, Flux returned inside and shifted back into his humanoid form.
Now appearing as a small child—no older than seven—his long, unruly white hair framed a delicate, youthful face. His sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with a strange, tranquil clarity that defied his apparent age. Pale skin, smooth as porcelain, covered his slender frame, and behind him swayed a thick, snowy tail tipped in a slightly darker hue.
He sat cross-legged on the mossy floor, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.
Focusing inward, he reached out to the natural spiritual energy lingering in the air. Threads of qi responded, drifting toward him like moths to a flame. Slowly, patiently, he drew them into his body. His breathing deepened, becoming slow and rhythmic. Though his physical form was newly born, inherited instincts and ancient memory fragments guided his cultivation with practiced precision.
Unlike ordinary methods, his technique didn't follow rigid meridian paths. Instead, he weaved the energy through his core using a spiraling rhythm—subtle, natural, elegant. The threads of qi danced, coiling around his dantian like strands of starlight, slowly igniting his inner potential.
Time passed. The cave was quiet, save for the occasional drop of moisture tapping the stone.
At last, his eyes fluttered open, and a small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
"Finally… the first level of Qi Refinement," he whispered, pride warming his voice.
"Thank goodness for my innate potential—and the fact that my body's pure, without any impurities. That would've taken way longer otherwise."
He stretched lightly, feeling the faint hum of qi flowing inside him.
"Luckily, I inherited the creature's memories," he mused. "With that, I can build my own cultivation method—one that fits me best. It's… familiar. Like breathing."
But then, he froze.
"…Wait. What was my creature's name?"
He frowned, trying to dig deeper.
That's when it happened.
A sudden flash—like lightning striking the center of his mind.
His surroundings dissolved. In an instant, he was no longer in the forest cave.
He stood in a vast celestial void, endless and star-filled. Before him hovered a radiant being of unimaginable scale, formed entirely of flowing stardust and shifting light. Its presence was divine, oppressive, and infinite—yet somehow… familiar.
Its voice echoed, not through sound, but through thought—like ancient truth resonating inside his soul.
"You are me… and yet not me."
"A fragment of potential… sent to bloom."
"Find your own path. What I have given is yours, but what you become will be your own."
Then—a flood of visions:
A great cosmic war raging through realms beyond mortal comprehension.
Planets crumbling under a flick of the being's hand.
A sword forged from stars, whispering truths older than the heavens.
A spiraling path of cultivation laws inscribed across time itself.
A lone figure atop the peak of the heavens… gazing down, and choosing to vanish.
Then—blackness.
Flux gasped, eyes wide.
A jolt of searing pain lanced through his skull like a blade of lightning. He clutched his head with both hands and collapsed forward.
"Ah—!" he groaned, curling into himself. "It hurts… my head—!"
Sweat poured from his brow. The pain was sharp, agonizing. A throb pulsed deep behind his eyes, spreading through his temples like molten fire.
Memories—fractured, scattered, jumbled—flickered just beyond reach.
"I saw… something. Him? Me? Stars, battles, techniques… A sword made of light… but it's all mixed up."
He grit his teeth, forcing himself to breathe.
His brow furrowed as he tried to focus through the pounding in his head. "I can still remember… insights about techniques… and some fragments about the Immortal Realm…"
A dull ache bloomed again behind his eyes—worse than before, like his very soul resisted the recall.
"But other than that… nothing. I can't even remember what his face looked like."
He slumped back, head resting against the mossy wall, and sighed shakily.
"…Something's wrong with me. Something went wrong."
His voice trembled for a moment, too quiet for even the forest to hear.
His stomach growled suddenly, an awkward sound that cut through the tension with comedic timing.
"Right… I haven't eaten a single thing since I was created."
He rubbed his belly and let out a soft groan. "Finding fruit is probably safer than hunting anything right now."
Cautiously, Flux exited the cave and began exploring the nearby area. He moved with the silent precision of a born predator, scanning the ground and bushes for berries, roots, or any edible plants. His small form blended easily with the shadows, slipping through the underbrush like a ghost.
Eventually, he gathered a modest collection—mostly berries and tubers—and returned to the cave.
Sitting down with a soft thump, he popped a few berries into his mouth. Tart and slightly sweet. Not bad, all things considered.
"That damn creature… Couldn't even give me a life-saving treasure, huh? So stingy…" he muttered through a pout, cheeks puffed in frustration.
He sulked for a moment, his childlike features adorably scrunched in irritation. But the seriousness soon returned to his gaze. His fox-like eyes narrowed with growing determination.
"I need to cultivate as fast as possible… I need strength to protect myself."
He resumed his meditation, this time with sharper focus—driven not only by instinct or curiosity, but by necessity. The will to survive.
Outside, the ancient forest stirred with life. Wind rustled through the leaves. Distant howls echoed faintly through the trees. But inside the cave, beneath root and stone, a quiet resolve was taking root.