"You Who Strive To Inherit All I Have, The Second Trial Has Concluded. You Are The Third To Come To This Trial. To Proceed To The Fourth And Final Trial, You Must Prove Your Will And Face The Spirit King. Take This Origin Egg And Find Your Spirit Within."
Astraoth's world appears before him; the void is gone, and a wondrous forest surrounds him. The trees and grass and greenery are a soft blue-green; the blossoming forest is dyed with a tinge of light marine. Faint orbs of golden light flicker throughout the forest and the sky above is a brilliant stream of violet. It is beautiful and otherworldly with an air of ethereal, intangible majesty.
A golden light descends from the sky as Astraoth awakens, falling gently into Astraoth's outstretched hands. As the light disappears, a small golden egg is left in Astraoth's hands. It has a smooth, reflective surface that belies hidden depths.
"This...This is a real Origin Egg. I remember these, Dad told me about them. The eggs are said to be birthed from the core of the Spirit Realm by the Spirit King himself, but they're supposed to be extremely rare. How did Dracul Mephilius get three?"
"Well, whatever the case may be, I need to be extremely careful with this. An Origin Egg will birth a Spirit Beast based on the owner's aura, will, and intent. I nurture the egg with energy and guide its growth, but if my will wavers or my intentions are impure, the beast could be an evil or violent monster...or a Broccoli Spear."
With that thought, Astraoth shudders, quickly moving on to his next course of action. "This must be the mythical Forest Of Beginnings, where the legendary Spirit King resides. Dracul Mephilius must have known the Spirit King, and she must have been quite friendly with it for such a powerful being be willing to evaluate the candidates for her successor. Regardless, if this place is the Forest Of Beginnings, then I have to head to its center in order to see the Spirit King."
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Astraoth grasps the egg tightly, beginning to gather up the forest's naturally occurring Spirit Energy while simultaneously drawing on the small stream of Demonic Energy leaking out from his seal. As Astraoth steps forward, both energies are directed into the Origin Egg, starting the nurturing process. The energies flow through the egg, with the egg siphoning off parts of the energy, and the streams returning to Astraoth's Dantian.
The Spirit Energy is concentrated into the Dantian, while Astraoth's Demonic Energy gathers into the Dantain after flowing out from the seal. The streams of energy circulate through his body and flow into the egg, completing a circuit of energy. This circuit continues as Astraoth starts his walk through the forest.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oromius hovers outside Dracul Mephilius' great pyramid. His face is clouded with worry and stress for Astraoth. Suddenly, the pyramid awakens with a burst of light, and blue energy begins to spiral around the tomb as a link is reestablished with the Spirit World. Tendrils of Spirit Energy flood into the pyramid and form a portal to the Spirit World, which Astraoth vanishes into.
"Astraoth's consciousness has disappeared into the portal. If he's been transported to the Spirit World, he must have reached the latter half of the trials already. Astraoth my son...Survive, for me and for your late parents. For the Demon race and for justice, you must survive and succeed...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And with Oromius hoping desperately for his success, Astraoth begins his journey through the Forest Of Beginnings. Inside he would find his first companion and best friend, see the true nature of spirits and find his first clue to the nature of his greatest enemy, his first clue to unraveling the mysteries of the heavens themselves.