Chapter 9 - The Weight of Power

A cold wind swept through the shrine as Akari took her first step outside. The night was unnaturally silent. No chirping insects, no rustling leaves—just an empty, suffocating stillness.

Her wolves followed closely, their new violet eyes gleaming in the darkness. Their presence reassured her, but something about them unsettled her as well.

Had they truly changed?

She clenched her fists. No use worrying about it now. She needed to move.

The system menu flickered into existence before her.

> Status Updated.

Name: Akari Hoshizuki

Cultivation Path: Forsaken (Stage 1 - Shadow Vein Awakening)

Abilities Unlocked: Shadow Manifestation (Passive), Forsaken Summoning (Active).

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Forsaken Summoning?

She focused on the skill, and its description appeared.

> Forsaken Summoning (Active)

Allows the summoning of creatures you have defeated. Summoned beings are bound to the Forsaken Path and will change accordingly.

A slow, creeping realization settled in.

This wasn’t just beast summoning.

Whatever she summoned… would no longer be the same.

Akari exhaled. No time to hesitate.

She scanned her surroundings. The shrine sat atop a small hill, overlooking a dense forest below. In the distance, faint lantern lights flickered—a village.

A chance to gather information.

She started down the hill, keeping her wolves close. With each step, her senses felt sharper than before. The wind carried whispers, the earth beneath her feet seemed to pulse.

Was this another effect of the Forsaken Cultivation?

The thought made her uneasy.

As she approached the treeline, movement in the shadows caught her eye.

Something was watching her.

She froze, every muscle tensing. Her wolves growled, their bodies lowering into a defensive stance.

Then, a voice—low, rasping.

“Forsaken One… you should not be here.”

A figure emerged from the darkness. Cloaked in tattered robes, its face obscured by a hood. The air around it shimmered, warping like heat waves.

Not human.

Akari gripped her blade.

“Who are you?” she demanded.

The figure tilted its head. “A warning.”

Without another word, it vanished.

Akari’s heart pounded.

Not an enemy—but not an ally either.

She glanced at her wolves. Their hackles were still raised.

Whoever—or whatever—that was, it knew about the Forsaken Path.

And if it knew… others might too.

Akari turned toward the distant village.

This world was more dangerous than she had realized.

But she had already taken her first step.

There was no turning back now.

She would survive. No matter what it took.