Silence hung heavy in the aftermath of the battle.
The massive corpse of the tiger lay motionless, a reminder of the sheer force Ardyn had unleashed. Slowly, the candidates climbed down from the trees, still shaken, their faces pale with awe and lingering fear.
Ardyn turned to face them, wiping his blade clean before sheathing it.
"That," he said, his voice steady, "is the strength of a Stellar Forger."
He gestured for them to gather close.
"You've seen it now with your own eyes. Beyond ordinary cultivation, those who break into the Stellar Realm walk a different path."
Eryon, Kael, and Ryn listened intently, hanging onto every word.
"The Stellar Realm is divided into stages," Ardyn continued. "The first step is the Forger—we mold the power of the stars into our very essence. I stand at the peak of this stage."
The group exchanged glances, stunned.
Kael whispered, "If that's just the first stage... what are the others like?"
"Each step beyond," Ardyn said, "unlocks greater control over the laws of the world. But reaching even the peak of the Forger level is a dream that few will ever achieve."
The group fell into a reflective silence.
Later that morning, as they resumed their march, Eryon, Kael, and Ryn walked together, still talking about the fight.
"Did you see how he moved?" Kael said excitedly. "Like the stars themselves were guiding him!"
"And that pressure..." Ryn muttered. "It felt like my bones were going to snap just from standing nearby."
Eryon remained quiet, but his eyes burned with determination.
He had seen the summit—or at least the first step toward it.
And he would climb.
Hours passed as they journeyed forward, their minds lingering on the battle, the future, and their dreams.
Finally, as the sun began to dip low, the dense forest gave way to open plains.
In the distance, rising from the horizon like a fortress of hope and ambition, they saw it.
The Capital City.
Massive stone walls glinted under the golden light, and towering spires reached toward the heavens.
A hush fell over the candidates.
For many, it was their first glimpse of a larger world.