The First Hindred

Chapter 52 — The First Hundred

The forest seemed different after Aether discovered the Territory Anchor.

Every path now looked like a potential resource.

Every Origin fluctuation became something worth examining.

But Aether wasn't going to rush blindly through the B-Grade Origin Zone.

He needed a hundred Origin Points to reach the next stage.

After that, he would still need another three hundred to activate the Territory Anchor.

The numbers were large.

That was exactly why he wanted to begin now.

Aether walked through the forest with Lyra, Aria, and Nyx behind him.

"Before we start," Aether said, "we establish the rules."

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

"Rules for hunting?"

"We don't kill every beast we encounter."

Aria nodded.

"Only useful targets?"

"Useful targets, genuine threats, or beasts that attack first."

Aether looked ahead.

"We're building a territory. Turning the surrounding region into a graveyard would be stupid."

Lyra smiled.

"That's surprisingly reasonable."

"I prefer efficient."

They continued deeper into the forest.

Aether activated Origin Sense.

Several signatures appeared.

Most were weak.

A few were around Stage 2.

Then he detected something stronger.

[Target detected.]

[Species: Ironclaw Stalker]

[Rank: C]

[Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 4]

[Ability: Ironclaw Manipulation]

[Physique: Ironhide Physique]

[Potential: B]

[Threat Level: Moderate]

Aether stopped.

"That one."

A large beast emerged from behind the trees.

It resembled a heavily built feline, nearly three meters long, with dark metallic fur and four enormous claws on each front paw.

Its eyes immediately locked onto the group.

The beast growled.

Aether didn't move.

The system analyzed its hostility.

[Hostility detected.]

[Intent: Territorial aggression.]

The Ironclaw Stalker charged.

Aether stepped forward.

"Stay back."

Lyra and Aria stopped.

The beast's claws crashed toward him.

Aether drew the Executioner's Blade.

CLANG!

The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing.

The ground cracked beneath Aether's feet.

The Ironclaw Stalker was stronger than its appearance suggested.

Aether twisted the blade.

The beast's claws slid away.

He stepped inside its guard.

One slash.

The blade cut across its shoulder.

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Blood sprayed.

The beast roared and swung its other claw.

Aether ducked.

The claw passed above his head.

He drove his elbow into its ribs and followed with a blade thrust.

The Executioner's Blade pierced through its defenses.

The Ironclaw Stalker staggered backward.

Aether didn't give it time to recover.

He closed the distance and delivered one final strike.

The beast collapsed.

[Ironclaw Stalker defeated.]

[Origin Points +8.]

[Origin Points: 208/300]

Aether absorbed the remaining Origin Energy.

His physique reacted slightly.

[Foreign Origin absorbed.]

[Infinite Origin Physique: 0.39%]

No visible increase.

Aether wasn't disappointed.

He knew the next major threshold was still far away.

The Executioner's Blade, however, responded differently.

[Adaptive Resonance: 37% → 38%]

Aether examined the corpse.

"Ironhide Physique."

His eyes lingered on it.

Origin Copy was still locked.

He couldn't obtain the ability yet.

But the physique itself might still provide useful data.

He placed his palm against the corpse.

The system analyzed the remaining energy.

[Foreign physique pattern detected.]

[Assimilation possible.]

Aether allowed a small amount of energy into his body.

His muscles became slightly heavier.

Then the sensation faded.

[Origin Adaptation: 22.1% → 22.2%]

Aether nodded.

"Small gains are still gains."

They continued hunting.

The second target appeared less than an hour later.

A group of seven Mistfang Hyenas had surrounded a wounded beast near a stream.

Aether immediately recognized the situation.

The hyenas were attacking a creature that couldn't properly defend itself.

He wasn't obligated to interfere.

But the group had noticed them.

Three hyenas turned toward Aether.

Then five.

Then all seven.

The wounded beast fled toward the opposite side of the stream.

The hyenas abandoned it.

Their attention shifted completely.

Aether sighed.

"That was your mistake."

The pack charged.

Lyra stepped forward.

Lightning gathered around her arm.

"Can I take them?"

Aether nodded.

"Go."

Lyra moved.

Lightning exploded across the clearing.

The first hyena was knocked aside.

The second attempted to circle around her.

Lyra spun and struck it with a lightning-infused kick.

Aria joined the fight.

Starfall flashed through the air.

Her spear pierced the ground in front of two hyenas, forcing them backward.

Aether watched.

They were working well together.

Lyra's lightning controlled the battlefield.

Aria controlled movement.

Neither interfered with the other.

A third hyena attempted to attack Lyra from behind.

Aether flicked his blade.

A thin Origin slash cut through the ground between them.

The hyena immediately retreated.

"Don't depend on me," Aether said.

Lyra glanced at him.

"I wasn't."

She turned back.

Lightning erupted again.

Within several minutes, the pack was defeated.

[Mistfang Hyena group defeated.]

[Origin Points acquired: +14]

[Origin Points: 222/300]

Lyra looked at the defeated beasts.

"Fourteen?"

Aether nodded.

"Group rewards are smaller individually."

He checked his status.

Stage 4.

222/300.

Still seventy-eight points away.

The number looked much more manageable now.

They hunted for the rest of the afternoon.

Aether deliberately avoided stronger groups when their territory or behavior didn't concern him.

Some beasts were simply left alone.

Others attacked.

Those didn't receive the same mercy.

By sunset, Aether's Origin Points had reached 247/300.

Twenty-five points gained.

Not enough.

But progress.

They returned to the cave before nightfall.

Aether placed several beast cores into storage.

Some would be used for cultivation.

Others could become materials for formations.

Nothing would be wasted.

Lyra sat near the cave entrance while Aria practiced with Starfall.

Aether opened the territory interface.

[Territory Development: 37%]

[Origin Points required for Anchor Activation: 300]

He stared at it.

"One problem at a time."

First, Stage 5.

Then the anchor.

Then the defensive boundary.

Then the territory.

He closed the interface.

Suddenly—

Nyx growled.

Aether immediately stood.

Her golden eyes were fixed on the forest.

The formation had detected something.

[Foreign presence detected.]

[Distance: 79 meters.]

Aether didn't draw his weapon.

Yet.

"How many?"

[One.]

Lyra stood.

Aria raised Starfall.

A figure emerged from between the trees.

A young woman.

She appeared to be around Aether's age, wearing a dark green cloak and carrying a short bow.

Her clothes were worn.

Several scratches covered her arms.

She stopped when she noticed the formation.

Then she slowly lowered her bow.

"I'm not here to fight."

Aether remained cautious.

"Then why are you here?"

The woman looked toward the cave.

"I felt the Origin Spring."

Aether's expression changed slightly.

She knew about the resource.

That meant she had either detected it naturally or had information about the underground structure.

Neither possibility was convenient.

"Who are you?"

The woman hesitated.

"My name is Seris."

The system activated.

[Origin Analysis.]

[Species: Human]

[Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 3]

[Ability: Windstep]

[Physique: Galeheart Physique]

[Potential: B+]

[Threat Level: Low]

[Hostility: Low]

Aether relaxed slightly.

"Why were you following us?"

"I wasn't."

She pointed toward the forest behind her.

"I was being followed by something else."

Aether's expression changed.

"Something else?"

Seris nodded.

"I've been moving south for two days."

"What was following you?"

"I don't know."

She swallowed.

"But every time I stopped, I could feel it."

Aether's Hostility Detection found no immediate killing intent from her.

But that didn't mean he trusted her.

"Where is it now?"

Seris looked behind herself.

"I lost it."

Aether expanded his Origin Sense.

Nothing.

He extended it farther.

Still nothing.

Then—

a faint fluctuation appeared.

Not behind Seris.

Above them.

Aether looked upward.

Nothing was visible.

But the formation had registered something.

[External observation detected.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

The same sensation.

The Watcher.

Seris suddenly looked frightened.

"You felt it too?"

Aether looked at her.

"You've seen those eyes?"

She nodded slowly.

"Once."

That answer changed things.

Aether didn't know whether Seris was telling the truth.

But she wasn't the only person who had encountered the phenomenon.

The Watcher wasn't simply observing him.

It had been watching others.

Aether looked toward the northern sky.

Then the system displayed a message.

[Unknown observation source detected.]

[Observation intensity increased.]

[Current target count: 4.]

Aether's expression became serious.

Four.

Not one.

Not two.

Four people—or beings—were being watched.

And one of them was standing directly in front of him.

Seris looked at Aether.

"Do you know what it is?"

Aether slowly shook his head.

"Not yet."

Then a faint silver eye appeared for less than a second between the clouds.

Seris froze.

Nyx growled.

Lyra's lightning sparked.

Aria raised Starfall.

The eye vanished.

Aether's gaze remained fixed on the sky.

Whatever the Watcher wanted, its attention was spreading.

And that meant the mystery of the north was no longer only his.