The night sky above Starfall City had become a battlefield.
Void energy covered entire districts.
Blue defensive formations trembled under relentless pressure.
Cultivators fled.
Experts gathered.
And at the center of everything—
Kael stood surrounded by Hollow Hunters.
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The four Hunters moved simultaneously.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Only death.
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BOOM!
The street exploded.
Black blades tore through the air, erasing everything they touched.
Buildings collapsed.
Stone vanished.
Even spiritual energy was consumed by the darkness surrounding their attacks.
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Kael activated Origin Flash instantly.
Golden light streaked across the battlefield.
He narrowly avoided a strike that erased half a city block.
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Too strong.
Too fast.
Too coordinated.
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The Hollow Hunters weren't fighting like cultivators.
They were hunting.
Every movement had purpose.
Every attack forced Kael toward another attack.
A perfect execution formation.
⸻
"Target movement predicted."
"Escape route sealed."
"Termination sequence active."
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The Hunters spoke emotionlessly.
Like machines.
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Kael's instincts screamed.
⸻
BOOM!
A blade pierced through where his head had been moments earlier.
Another appeared from below.
A third descended from above.
⸻
No openings.
No weaknesses.
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For the first time since entering Starfall City—
Kael was completely overwhelmed.
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Far above—
Lyra battled another Hunter.
Blue energy illuminated the heavens.
Entire sections of the sky cracked beneath their clash.
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The city watched in horror.
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Meanwhile—
Kael was pushed backward again.
And again.
And again.
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Blood dripped from a cut along his shoulder.
Another wound appeared across his side.
⸻
The Hunters weren't rushing.
They were dismantling him.
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One Hunter suddenly appeared directly before him.
Too close.
Too fast.
⸻
The black blade descended.
⸻
Kael raised his arm instinctively.
⸻
BOOM!
⸻
The impact threw him through three buildings.
Stone exploded everywhere.
Dust filled the streets.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Then—
The Origin Core pulsed.
Violently.
⸻
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
⸻
The inheritance within him finally reacted.
⸻
Golden symbols appeared throughout his mind.
Ancient words.
Ancient power.
Ancient understanding.
⸻
The First Legacy awakened.
⸻
Kael slowly stood from the rubble.
Blood covered his clothing.
His breathing had become heavier.
⸻
Yet his eyes—
Were glowing.
⸻
Golden patterns spread within his irises.
⸻
The Hollow Hunters paused.
⸻
For the first time—
They hesitated.
⸻
One spoke quietly.
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"…Origin Art."
⸻
Another tightened his grip on his blade.
⸻
"Impossible."
⸻
Kael felt the knowledge flowing through him.
Not complete.
Not mastered.
But enough.
⸻
A voice echoed from the inheritance.
⸻
Origin Art — First Release.
Origin Step.
⸻
Kael moved.
⸻
The world changed.
⸻
Everything became clearer.
Sharper.
Simpler.
⸻
For a brief moment—
The flow of existence itself appeared before him.
⸻
And Kael stepped forward.
⸻
BOOM!
⸻
Golden light erupted.
⸻
The nearest Hollow Hunter's eyes widened.
⸻
Kael appeared directly before him.
Not fast.
Not teleporting.
⸻
Simply there.
⸻
As if space itself had allowed him passage.
⸻
Kael's fist moved.
⸻
Origin Pulse.
⸻
BOOOOOM!
⸻
The Hunter was blasted across the city.
Three defensive formations shattered from the impact.
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Shock spread through the battlefield.
⸻
Everyone saw it.
⸻
The Hunter—
Had been injured.
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Actually injured.
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The remaining Hunters immediately attacked.
⸻
Kael activated Origin Step again.
⸻
The world blurred.
⸻
He walked between attacks that should have been impossible to avoid.
⸻
Black blades passed harmlessly beside him.
Void techniques missed completely.
⸻
For the first time—
The Hunters lost control of the battle.
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Far above—
Lyra's eyes widened.
⸻
"He awakened it…"
⸻
The elders watching from nearby towers stared in disbelief.
⸻
One whispered,
⸻
"That movement…"
⸻
Another completed the sentence.
⸻
"…belongs to the ancient Origin Bearers."
⸻
The battlefield had changed.
⸻
Kael could feel it.
⸻
The Origin Art wasn't merely power.
⸻
It was understanding.
⸻
A way of interacting with existence itself.
⸻
And even though he had barely begun learning it—
The difference was enormous.
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Suddenly—
The strongest Hollow Hunter stepped forward.
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Unlike the others—
His aura was different.
Deeper.
Older.
⸻
His hood slowly fell backward.
⸻
A pale face emerged.
Marked by countless black runes.
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Violet eyes locked onto Kael.
⸻
Finally—
The Hunter smiled.
⸻
"A worthy target."
⸻
Darkness exploded outward.
⸻
The entire city shook.
⸻
Kael immediately understood.
⸻
This one—
Was the leader.
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And far stronger than the others.
⸻
The true battle was only beginning.
⸻
Host: Kael Veyron
Realm:
Origin Awakening Stage 2
Abilities:
• Origin Sense
• Origin Flash
• Origin Pulse
• Origin Perception
• Origin Resonance
• Origin Step (Origin Art — First Release)
Equipment:
• Ring of the First Pulse
• Azure Star Token
Status:
• First Legacy Active
• Engaged with Hollow Hunter Leader
• Origin Art Mastery: Initial Awakening