CH4: Celestial Game Hunt
706 Words
Chapter 4: The Whispering Stats
Yuuto woke to the sound of birds and sunlight breaking through the curtains. For a moment, he believed it had all been a dream—the app, the feather, the woman with eyes like stars. But as he turned toward his nightstand, his phone vibrated with a familiar golden glow.
[Daily Login Bonus: +10 EXP]
[Celestial Hunt Progress: 1%]
His heart kicked into motion. It was real.
He sat up, the events of yesterday replaying in his mind. The feather was now stored safely in a shimmering tab labeled “Inventory.” When he tapped it, an image of the relic pulsed with faint energy.
[Item: Fallen Celestial Feather] [Affiliation: Unknown] [Energy: Dormant]
He noticed a new alert flashing.
[Skill Level Up: Status Unlock Lv. 2] [Effect: You can now see basic information about others around you.]
Yuuto’s breath caught. The room around him suddenly shimmered as glowing threads of information appeared—his desk: [Object: Wooden, Unstable]. His dying plant: [Status: Withering. Needs water.]
Then, as he turned toward the window, something new caught his attention.
[Proximity Alert: Celestial Aura Detected. Distance: 200m]
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. That woman—could she be near?
Throwing on a jacket, he bolted out the door, phone in hand. The sun was bright, and the world had never felt more alive. He followed the faint trail of golden light on his map, weaving through alleys and streets until he reached an old bookstore nestled between two modern towers. A bell chimed softly as he stepped inside.
The scent of parchment and time filled his lungs. Books crowded the shelves like ancient guardians, and behind the counter sat a girl with thick glasses and messy black hair. She looked up with an arched brow.
“You’re not a usual customer.”
Yuuto blinked. Words hovered over her.
[Name: Haruka Shino] [Level: ???] [Hidden Trait: Celestial Fragment Holder]
“What?” he muttered aloud.
She tilted her head. “Did you say something?”
“Uh, no... I’m just—looking for something.”
“I figured,” she said, pushing up her glasses. “People don’t wander in here unless they’re looking for answers.”
There was something unusual about her. Her presence felt like static—calm but charged. Yuuto’s instincts tingled.
“I’m... new to town,” he lied.
Haruka stood and walked to a back shelf. “Then you should start with this.” She handed him a dusty book: *Whispers of the Forgotten Gods.*
As he held it, his phone buzzed.
[Quest Accepted: Discover the Secrets of the Forgotten Gods] [Reward: +100 EXP | New Skill Unlocked]
“You okay?” she asked, watching him closely.
“Yeah. Just... déjà vu.”
Haruka smiled faintly. “If you need help, come back after sunset. The real bookstore opens then.”
Yuuto left the shop more confused than ever. What did she mean by *the real bookstore*? And how did she know?
His phone vibrated again.
[Proximity Alert: Celestial Signature Detected. Approaching fast.]
He turned. The street behind him was empty—until a burst of light exploded above, and Lyra descended like a comet.
“You took my feather,” she said, her voice as calm as the grave.
Yuuto held up his hands. “I didn’t know it was yours. I thought it was part of the app.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re a user too?”
He hesitated. “I think so.”
She floated to the ground, her white boots hitting the pavement softly. “That feather wasn’t just a quest item. It was a seal.”
“A seal?”
“Yes. On something ancient. Something dangerous.”
Suddenly, the sky darkened. The clouds above twisted unnaturally.
Lyra turned, sensing it too. “It’s begun.”
Yuuto’s phone flashed.
[World Event: Awakening of the Fallen One - In Progress] [Location: Shrine District]
He looked at Lyra. “You need my help, don’t you?”
She nodded slowly. “We’re bound now, whether we like it or not.”
Yuuto felt a surge of energy flow through him. For the first time in years, his heart burned with purpose.
“Then let’s hunt.”
- Writer
