Heretical Fishing

Book 3: Epilogue

Tens of kilometers to the west, a long-forgotten power flowed across the land. It had been millennia since chi of this magnitude suffused the air, such potency not seen since the time before the gods fled. The world seemed to rejoice, both flora and fauna reacting to the shift, even if they weren't aware of the cause.

The leaves of trees swayed in a nonexistent breeze. Sleeping creatures were roused from their rest, experiencing unexplainable bouts of energy. Insects called out, making whatever noise their small bodies could. Such were the minds of the unascended.

Some, however, knew what the chi meant. Or at least, they would when they regained their power.

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Deep within a muddy bed of its own creation, a spirit beast stirred. The being had lain dormant for millennia, existing in a self-imposed stasis since the gods had departed this plane. Its mighty tail twitched, synapses within its enhanced mind firing of their own accord. It would take days, weeks, or perhaps even months before its awareness and body were restored. Until such a time, it would be a creature of base instincts, operating on the bare minimum requirements to keep it alive.

One such instinct rushed to the forefront of its consciousness, making its massive jaw hinge open.

Hunger… it thought, all of its mind needed to find the correct word.

The spirit beast lifted itself from its muddy prison, heading off in search of food. Luckily, it didn’t have to go far.