Chapter 4: The First Hunt of the Monster Genius
The Star Dou Forest was unusually quiet today.
Not peaceful—quiet in a way that even the wind seemed hesitant to pass through certain areas. Spirit beasts that normally roamed freely had either hidden deeper into the forest or instinctively avoided a specific location.
That location… was Neon.
---
Neon slowly opened his eyes, the faint glow of four invisible spiritual resonances still circling around him like a silent storm.
His breathing was steady, but the space around him felt heavier.
"...So this is what a million-year spirit ring feels like," Neon muttered.
He stood up and clenched his fist. The ground beneath him cracked slightly—not from force, but from passive pressure leaking out of his body.
His Ebony and Ivory pistols floated beside him, shifting between gun and ethereal divine armament form like they were alive. His Dragon and Phoenix spirits, though not fully summoned, stirred faintly in his soul like sleeping gods acknowledging reality.
Then—
[Ding.]
[System Notice: Spirit Ring Stabilization Complete.]
[All 4 Spirit Rings have synchronized with host's inner universe.]
[Host combat efficiency increased by 47% baseline.]
Neon scratched his head.
"Yeah… I think I broke the early-game balance."
---
Far away, Kirck's voice echoed through the forest.
"NEON! STOP TALKING TO YOURSELF AND HELP ME FIND MY FIRST SPIRIT BEAST!"
Neon sighed and walked toward the sound.
When he arrived, he saw Kirck standing proudly while their two clan protectors knelt beside a heavily injured 1,200-year-old spirit beast.
Kirck was grinning ear to ear.
"I'm getting my first ring! A gun-type spirit beast would be perfect!"
One of the protectors coughed awkwardly. "Young Master… we recommend you finish it quickly. It is still dangerous."
Kirck raised his hand.
"I got it."
He aimed his twin gun spirit.
Bang!
A clean shot pierced the beast's core. It fell instantly.
Neon nodded slightly. "Not bad."
Kirck smirked. "Of course. I am your rival."
Neon looked at him sideways. "You're literally weaker than my shadow right now."
"Emotionally I'm stronger."
"That's not a stat."
"It should be."
---
Before they could continue arguing, the sky suddenly flickered.
A pressure descended.
The forest… reacted.
Deep inside the Star Dou Forest, the ground trembled.
A colossal presence opened its eyes once more.
And far beneath a lake, another ancient being stirred in response.
---
Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm—
The God Kings were no longer sitting calmly.
The Asura God narrowed his eyes.
"…He just stabilized four million-year spirit rings at the same time."
The Goddess of Life leaned forward. "That child's body is not normal. It's rewriting its own rules as he grows."
The God of Destruction clicked his tongue. "This isn't cultivation. It's evolution on a conceptual level."
The God of Good frowned. "If this continues, he will outgrow the Divine Realm before reaching adulthood."
Silence fell.
Then—
The Asura God spoke.
"…We should observe more closely."
But deep inside, none of them were sure if they were observers anymore.
Or just witnesses.
---
Back in the forest.
Neon suddenly stopped walking.
Kirck noticed. "What is it?"
Neon tilted his head slightly.
"…We're being watched."
The protectors immediately tensed.
"Impossible! This area is under clan control—"
BOOM.
A pressure exploded outward.
The surrounding trees bent instantly.
Birds vanished.
The ground cracked like glass.
Kirck staggered back. "W-What the—?!"
Neon remained standing.
His eyes slowly changed.
A faint dragon scale pattern appeared in his left eye.
A phoenix flame flickered in his right.
Then it disappeared again.
"…Something big woke up," Neon said calmly.
From deep within the forest—
A roar answered.
---
The Spirit Beast King had acknowledged them.
And for the first time since reincarnation…
Neon smiled.
"Good."
"I was getting bored."
---