Golden numerals bloomed across Kaelen’s vision, shattering his lazy stupor.
The chime within his spiritual sea was soft, like the strike of a distant temple bell across still water. A soothing pulse of warmth spread outward from his dantian, loosening the stiffness in his shoulders and warming his cold toes.
[The Fallow Slate: Stage 5] [Track 3 (Alchemy): 720h Milestone Reached] [Track 4 (Comprehension): 720h Milestone Reached] [Lunar Fallow Surge: 10x Multiplier Unlocked] [Track 3 (Alchemy): 7,210x Multiplier Active] [Track 4 (Comprehension): 7,210x Multiplier Active]
Seven thousand two hundred and ten times the standard human rate.
Kaelen calmly pulled a dried reed bookmark from his lapel. He placed it neatly between the pages of Book Nineteen, closed the paper covers, and tucked the volume into his inner breast pocket.
Right on time.
Ten feet away, the blood-frenzied lead serpent hovered over the shattered bulwark. Black venom dripped from its translucent needle fangs, sizzling against the iron deck plates inches from Sera Thorne’s boots.
Sera pressed her back against the mainmast, clutching her cracked ribs. She gritted her teeth, reaching for her fallen spear with trembling fingers.
