Immortal's Paradox

The night outside was frigid, the air biting against Lei's skin as he and Mao darted into the forest beyond the overseer's quarters. Shadows danced under the faint glow of the crescent moon, casting an eerie stillness over the trees. Lei's bare feet crunched against the underbrush, but he pressed on, the pain in his soles drowned out by the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"Keep moving, mortal," Mao's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and impatient. The cat was perched on his shoulder, balancing effortlessly despite Lei's frantic pace. "Do you have any idea how many beasts prowl these woods at night?"

"Oh, forgive me," Lei hissed, ducking under a low branch. "I was too busy escaping slavery to memorize the local wildlife manual!"

Mao's tail flicked irritably. "You're lucky I tolerate your insolence. Without me, you'd already be food for the Nightfangs."

Lei didn't bother asking what Nightfangs were. He had a feeling he didn't want to know. Instead, he focused on putting as much distance as possible between himself and the overseer's compound.

The forest thickened as they ventured deeper, the trees towering like ancient sentinels. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant howl of an unseen creature.

Lei's breath came in ragged gasps, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. "I need... to rest..."

"Rest?" Mao scoffed, leaping gracefully onto a nearby rock. The cat's golden eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. "Do you think your pursuers will grant you such luxuries? Keep moving."

Lei glared at the feline. "I'm human, not a celestial beast. My legs have limits."

Mao's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Lei thought the cat might argue. But instead, the creature let out a resigned sigh. "Very well. But don't blame me if we're ambushed."

Lei slumped against the trunk of a tree, his body trembling from exhaustion. He glanced at Mao, who was now grooming itself with infuriating nonchalance.

"So," Lei began, his voice still heavy with fatigue, "care to explain what a 'celestial being' is doing in a place like this?"

Mao paused mid-lick, its ears twitching. "I could explain," it said, "but I doubt your mortal mind could comprehend the grandeur of my existence."

Lei rolled his eyes. "Try me."

The cat's tail swished thoughtfully. "Very well. I am Mao, a guardian of balance in this world. Or at least, I was. My power has been... constrained due to certain circumstances."

"Constrained?" Lei raised an eyebrow. "You mean, you're stuck as a house cat?"

Mao bristled. "I am no house cat!" it snapped. "My form is merely... temporary."

Lei couldn't help but smirk, despite the absurdity of the situation. "Right. Temporary. So, what's your grand plan? Find someone to scratch your ears until you're back to full power?"

Mao hissed, its golden eyes flashing. "Mock me again, and I'll leave you to fend for yourself."

"Relax," Lei said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

Before Mao could retort, a low growl rumbled through the forest. Lei froze, his heart skipping a beat.

"What was that?" he whispered.

Mao's ears flattened against its head. "Nightfangs," it muttered, its tone grim.

Lei's blood ran cold. The growl grew louder, followed by the crunch of twigs as something large moved through the underbrush.

"Mao..." Lei began, his voice barely audible.

"Run," the cat said, leaping onto his shoulder. "Now!"

Lei didn't need to be told twice. He bolted, his exhaustion forgotten as fear took over. Behind him, the growling turned into a deafening roar.

Glancing over his shoulder, Lei caught a glimpse of their pursuer—a hulking, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp fangs. Its matted fur was streaked with blood, and its claws tore through the earth as it charged after them.

"Faster!" Mao urged, its claws digging into Lei's shoulder.

"I'm running as fast as I can!" Lei shouted, narrowly avoiding a low-hanging branch.

The Nightfang was gaining on them, its breath hot against the back of Lei's neck. Panic surged through him, but then the Nanospirit's cold, mechanical voice cut through the chaos.

Threat detected. Activating defensive protocols.

Lei stumbled as a surge of energy coursed through his body. His vision sharpened, his movements growing more precise and fluid. The Nanospirit was enhancing him, pushing his limits beyond what he thought possible.

"Hold on!" Lei yelled, his newfound agility allowing him to vault over a fallen log. The Nightfang snarled, its claws scraping against the wood as it gave chase.

Up ahead, the forest opened into a clearing, bathed in the pale light of the moon. In the center stood a massive stone obelisk, its surface covered in glowing runes.

"What is that?" Lei asked, his voice strained.

Mao's eyes widened. "A warding stone! If we can reach it, the Nightfang won't be able to follow."

Lei pushed himself harder, his legs burning with the effort. The Nightfang was nearly upon them, its jaws snapping inches from his heels.

With a final burst of speed, Lei dove into the clearing, skidding to a halt at the base of the obelisk. The Nightfang lunged after him but stopped abruptly as if hitting an invisible wall.

The creature let out a furious roar, pacing at the edge of the clearing. Its red eyes burned with hatred, but it made no move to cross the boundary.

Lei collapsed against the obelisk, his chest heaving. "We made it..."

"For now," Mao said, its tone cautious. "The warding stone will keep it at bay, but it won't hold forever."

Lei groaned, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. "Great. Just great."

Mao leapt down from his shoulder, its golden eyes scanning the runes on the obelisk. "Still, this is an intriguing development. These stones are remnants of the old world, created by ancient cultivators to protect against dark beasts."

"Cultivators?" Lei asked, his curiosity piqued despite his exhaustion.

Mao nodded. "This world is governed by the path of cultivation—an endless pursuit of power and enlightenment. If you wish to survive, you'll need to embrace it."

Lei frowned, the weight of Mao's words sinking in. He had no idea how to cultivate or what it even entailed, but one thing was clear: this world was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

"Fine," he said, his resolve hardening. "Where do we start?"

Mao's lips curled into what could almost be called a smile. "First, we find a place to train. Then, we turn you into something more than just a mortal."

Lei glanced back at the snarling Nightfang, its claws scraping against the invisible barrier. "I'm all for that. Let's just make sure I live long enough to get there."

As the two sat beneath the glow of the warding stone, Lei couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. He didn't know what challenges lay ahead, but for the first time since his rebirth, he felt like he had a fighting chance.