Ashes of the star forge

Ryzek Vorn’s Perspective

Ryzek had seen them long before they ever noticed him.

He had been tracking a Phase Stalker across the upper ridges when the invisible predator suddenly changed its behavior. Instead of continuing its usual solitary hunting pattern, it began to circle a specific area with unusual patience. Ryzek had climbed to a high vantage point and watched through the distorted air.

Two figures.

A human male with an internal energy signature that did not match any standard cultivation path Ryzek recognized. A half-aug woman — a fresh breakthrough to Peak Core Condensation, still settling. Both of them were clearly struggling under the planet’s pressure, yet they moved with a stubborn refusal to collapse. The Phase Stalker had already marked them as prey.

Ryzek could have left them.

Most would have.

But two additional combatants who could already survive a Phase Stalker’s attention and kill a black-plated ravager were potentially useful. His extraction support remained delayed. The interested parties watching his mineral claim had grown bolder. Temporary allies with real combat ability were worth the risk.

He had watched the chase. He had watched the fight with the ravager. He had watched the woman deliver the final lightning-charged blow. Only when the noise of that kill began drawing larger predators did he intervene. The rest had followed from there.

Useful. For now.

Present

The latest training session ended under the darkening blood-colored sky.

Ryzek stood with his arms crossed, four amber eyes assessing the two cultivators in front of him. Lian’s external Qi projections no longer scattered uselessly. His barriers held under sustained pressure. Flight, while still costly in this atmosphere, had become stable enough for combat movement. Elara’s lightning had tightened into denser, more penetrating forms, and her energy control reflected the full weight of her Peak Core Condensation realm.

“You have grasped the fundamentals,” Ryzek said. “There will be no further basic instruction. From this point, application under real threat is the only remaining teacher.”

Both Lian and Elara gave short nods. Their bodies were marked with the strain of the day’s drills, but their eyes were clear.

Before Ryzek could continue, one of the smaller Veyrani attendants who had remained mostly unseen near the rear of the shelter approached. The attendant leaned close and whispered rapidly into Ryzek’s ear. The crystalline ridges along Ryzek’s arms caught the fading light as he listened. His expression did not change, but something calculating moved behind his four eyes.

He turned back to Lian and Elara.

“Lian. Elara. A word.”

They stepped closer.

Ryzek did not waste time.

“My scouts have located a tomb,” he said. “It is old. The external seals and residual energy signatures suggest it belonged to a significant powerhouse — at minimum a high Star-level cultivator, possibly higher. We cannot yet determine the exact identity or origin. What we can determine is that the outer formations have partially degraded under the planet’s long-term pressure. Entry is possible.”

He paused, letting the information settle.

“There may be treasures inside. Cultivation resources. Weapons. Techniques. Possibly things that do not exist in the current lower universe markets. I do not have the numbers to explore it safely while still protecting my mineral claim. I am offering you a place in the entry team. Anything we recover will be split. Fair shares based on contribution and risk.”

Lian and Elara exchanged a brief glance.

“We need a moment,” Lian said.

Ryzek inclined his head and stepped away, giving them space near the canyon wall.

The two of them spoke in low voices.

“It could be a trap,” Elara said first. “He needs extra bodies to clear the dangerous parts, then he cuts us out once the value is secured.”

“Possible,” Lian agreed. “But the information matches the kind of opportunity Lirien would expect us to take while we’re here. A tomb of that level could contain things we need. Resources. Knowledge. Maybe even something that helps with the crown later.”

“And if it goes wrong?”

“Then we run,” Lian said simply. “No hesitation. No trying to be heroes. We take what we can carry in the first minutes and we leave. The planet is already trying to kill us. I won’t let a tomb finish the job.”

Elara studied his face for a moment, then nodded.

“Agreed.”

They returned to Ryzek.

“We’ll do it,” Lian said.

Ryzek’s tail flicked once in acknowledgment.

“Good. We leave at first light tomorrow. Rest while you can. Tombs on this planet are rarely kind to the unprepared.”

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle

Keep it as reminders

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