Rearing Demons
Chapter 135: Black Stars and White Stars

Chapter 135: Black Stars and White Stars

The volcano was finally drawing near. After what felt like days of rushing through the forest, Sularin had made remarkable progress. Fortunately, the journey was mostly unimpeded, although along the way, Yur had encountered a few more Glythari that had helped him advance his tasks.

"More stars?" Yur murmured as he drew closer, frowning at the sight of numerous stars slowly emerging in the sky above the volcano. He counted over a dozen, each one intensifying his apprehension.

"Sularin, move carefully," he commanded. Although he wasn’t entirely sure if these were Seekers or something else, the likelihood was that they were manifestations of power, each singular star being extremely potent, and the chances of encountering weaker ones were slim.

Sularin lowered its head and began to slow down, while Yur laid flat on its broad back, keeping a low profile beneath the shade of the surrounding trees, which fortunately kept them hidden.

"A Black Star?" he whispered. As he approached, he heard voices in the distance.

"Which Seeker got a black star?" one voice asked.

"Not me," replied another.

"Is it someone new?" came a third query.

Instantly, a brief discussion erupted among the unseen voices, and upon hearing them, Yur immediately fell silent.

"Sularin, go hide somewhere for now," he ordered, unwilling to risk losing his only mount or having it become a hindrance. With that, he forced Sularin to move away.

"Two Black Stars?!" Suddenly, a collective cry of shock filled the air. Yur’s head jerked upward as he noticed a large black star beginning to form, similar to his own, yet different in its subtle nuances. Narrowing his eyes, he sensed that while it shared similarities with his star, it felt distinct.

Crouching low, he began to hop along the tree trunks, doing his best to conceal his presence.

"Zul, scan the area," he commanded.

[Scanning...]

[Complete!]

[Multiple Rank 5, 6, and 7 beings detected!]

At this information, Yur frowned deeply. A Rank Five opponent was already a challenge, but the presence of Rank Six and Seven beings made the situation far more precarious. He pressed further,

"Zul, what can you tell me about the Black Stars?" Although he still had little clue, Zul’s database—having information on his own star—provided some insights:

[There are many types of Seeker stars, but the Black Seeker stars are fallen stars, ones rejected by the world and forced to fall!]

This description closely resembled his own star, though his had never officially been confirmed as such. Yet he did not fully understand what that truly meant.

[Of the True and False Seekers, Black Star Seekers are powerful but rejected. They are not bound by the laws of the world, yet they also lack its support.]

Rubbing his chin, Yur mulled over the benefits of operating outside the world’s control, only to be puzzled by the mention of lacking support. "What does that mean, Zul?" he queried.

[Seekers grow stronger with their Seeker Stars, gradually climbing and becoming one with Glythoria. Glythoria also confers power through essence and other benefits.]

"So, Black Star Seekers don’t receive any of that?" Yur deduced. He understood the implication: his star had granted him abilities, like absorbing and even stealing the powers of other stars, but now that another Black Star user was nearby, he was determined to discover if this person was a friend or foe.

He scanned the area; though he could make out figures in the distance, floating in the air, he chose not to approach them, instead hiding his presence and observing silently.

In front of him, the volcano loomed large, its peak lost in clouds while the immense base spread wide, with numerous caves scattered about. These were clearly gathering points for the Seekers.

"Of the two Black Stars, one is new. I’ve never seen or heard of it before. But the second..." The voices around him fell silent, and Yur noted that their faces had taken on a pale hue.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Rank 9 being approaching!]

"What?!" Yur held his breath. This was the first time he would encounter someone beyond Rank Seven.

While a Rank Seven was rare enough, a being of Rank Nine was unprecedented in his experience.

Controlling his breathing, he quickly melted into the trees to hide.

"Are you the new Black Star?" a voice suddenly called from behind him. Startled, Yur jerked his head around to see an extremely handsome man staring down at him.

The stranger appeared very human; long golden hair, bright blue eyes, and pearly white teeth. Every feature seemed normal, almost disarming.

"Don’t worry, I am also a Black Star." The man nonchalantly rolled up his sleeves to reveal a black tattoo; although different from Yur’s, it emanated the same potent energy as the Black Star shining in the sky.

Realizing his cover had been blown, Yur rose to face the man. "I am the other Black Star," he stated simply.

There was little else he could say, this man knew and was clearly much more powerful. He was the Rank Nine being.

"That’s great," the handsome blonde smiled, extending his hand. "My name is Karsi. And you?"

"Yur," he replied curtly.

"Yur, nice to meet you." Karsi’s smile broadened as his eyes scanned the distant group that had spotted them but dared not approach. "So many different prey today, right?" He glanced at Yur with mild amusement. "Oh, you seem to be a new True Seeker. Your strength..." Karsi paused to take a quick scan of Yur, his expression turning slightly surprised. "It’s very weak."

"I only became a Seeker a few days ago," Yur admitted.

"Well, then you have a lot to learn," Karsi said, shaking his head. "First, we Black Stars stick together."

"Are there others?" Yur wondered aloud, though he suspected there might be more, but he wasn’t sure how many.

"There aren’t many of us, but each one is incredibly powerful," Karsi explained. "I am probably the weakest among us," he added with a bitter sigh.

The weakest? Yur looked at him with surprise. He had always suspected that the established ranks were not the limit, whether it was Mal or Demon Lord Krinli or the enigmatic Eilaphor, their power was beyond anything he could imagine.

Lost in thought, Karsi suddenly extended a small, ornate badge toward him. Yur regarded it with doubt.

"This is the Badge of the Black Stars," Karsi said, pushing it toward him. "Since there are so few of us and everyone wants us dead, we must work together when we meet. If we don’t, we will be annihilated by the pesky White Stars."

"White Stars?" Yur echoed in wonder.

"Unlike the Black Stars, the White Star Seekers are the beloved of Glythoria," Karsi explained with a note of annoyance. "They not only receive the full benefits of both Black Stars and regular stars, but they do so without the restrictions."

Yur was taken aback. So, a White Star is not only supported by Glythoria, it can traverse beyond it too!? Deep down, Yur felt that his own star, though hunted by many, was powerful indeed. Likely very powerful, but now his eyes were suddenly opened.

"Anyways, you will learn all of this over time," Karsi said as he stepped into the air. "Come, let’s go find our own place."

As Karsi floated upward, Yur quickly unfurled his wings and followed closely. Whether he liked it or not, he had little choice; the others would have killed him in an instant, and even though Karsi might be an enemy, the risk was worth taking.

"What is going on here?" Yur asked as he observed the group. Their hostile gazes were locked on him and Karsi. Zul, can you determine if someone is a False or True Seeker?

[No False Seekers Detected!]

Although Yur did not fully understand the difference between the two, he was convinced that a True Seeker was inherently more powerful. After all, why else would a False Seeker covet another’s power?

"You came here without knowing that?" Karsi remarked, studying him curiously.

"Honestly, I’m new to Glythoria too, so I don’t have all the answers yet," Yur explained.

"I see," Karsi nodded. "Now, do you know what a True Seeker is?"

"Umm..." Yur hesitated, unsure. Even if he had some understanding, he was eager to hear Karsi’s explanation.

Karsi rubbed his head thoughtfully. "I’m not sure which being elected you as a True Seeker, but they should have given you a rundown." With a resigned sigh, Karsi continued as the two made their way toward a large cave a short distance away. "A True Seeker is someone who is seeking a throne, or rather, seeking to crown their star. Each star has a being connected to it and a purpose. Your goal is to uncover that purpose and claim the throne for your star."

"Throne? As in the throne of Glythoria?" Yur asked, recalling that Eilaphor had mentioned something similar, though not in exact terms.

"Yes and no," Karsi replied, gesturing to his own star. "The White Stars are actively vying for the throne of Glythoria, and each star is aligned with a specific world’s destiny."

"Glythoria is an ancient world. It has borne many names: The Realm Written in Silence, The Silent World, The Birthing World... and finally, The Tomb of Stars!"

Yur listened, astonished by the many titles. He had always assumed Glythoria was tied to rituals and the overwhelming power of colossal beings, but to learn of its storied origins was unexpected.

"Everyone is searching for a world that their star can rule, a kind of throne," Karsi continued. "As for us Black Stars, the throne we seek is not uniform; it is unique to each of us."

"That makes sense," Yur nodded, though his mind raced with questions. "Wait, if all the White Stars are vying for the throne of Glythoria—"

"The White Stars are not allies," Karsi interrupted with a smirk. "That is the only reason we Black Stars survive. The White Star Seekers are immensely powerful, but they are so consumed with their own ambitions for Glythoria’s throne that they ignore us."

"Then what of this place?" Yur asked, still curious about their surroundings.

"This volcano here houses an Obelisk Brand," Karsi said, pointing to his arm. "For True Seekers, an Obelisk Brand is a locus that can exponentially strengthen their star."

Yur nodded, although the differences among Obelisk Brands were not entirely clear to him. He chose not to press further, fearing he might annoy Karsi.

Deep inside, he seethed with frustration at having to rely on others for protection.

He needed to get stronger. The anger simmering inside him was dangerously close to boiling over, but he forced himself to remain composed. Self-control was essential, any lapse could be fatal.