NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Bound by Blood, Guided by Stars
Chapter 6: Bound by Blood, Guided by Stars
The sun rose on their second day of true training, casting warm gold across the towering pines and glinting off dew-covered leaves. In the heart of the forest bordering the Vaelrin city outskirts, the six newcomers were locked in combat against low-ranked phantasmal creatures—monsters bearing both beauty and brutality. The wilds were unforgiving, but something had shifted in them overnight.
A glow—subtle, internal—coursed through each of them as their systems flared with newfound energy. It began with a simple phrase appearing in their vision:
> [SYSTEM UPDATE: Rank Up — G to G-]
> You have reached the threshold of internal awakening. A path begins to take form.
> Sub-Rank Structure Unlocked: G-, G, G+ / F-, F, F+ / ... and so forth.
> Progression to the next full rank requires refined skill, mana adaptation, combat proficiency, and task completion.
Each of them felt a change—Robert especially. His control over gravity had grown more precise. Steven's elemental cooking blade had developed richer flavors, while Sana felt her Soul Gaze deepen, able to read more than emotion—shadows of fear, fragments of memory.
Soon, another notice appeared:
---
> [SYSTEM MENU ACCESS UNLOCKED — CONDITIONS MET]
Main Menu Activated
Profile
Race Overview
Ability List
Quest Log
Alignment and Celestial Path
Locked Functions: Inventory, Class Menu, System Shop, Skill Tree, Titles
---
Robert opened his system interface for the first time with full clarity:
---
> Name: Dr. Robert Starfield
Race: Moon-Bound Primordial Human
Rank: F (Previously G+), Level 2
> Attributes:
Strength: 27
Speed: 30
Intelligence: 32
Wisdom: 35
Mana: 40
Durability: 26
Stellar Energy: 51 (Unique Attribute)
> Celestial Link: Dwarf Moon Neros — 2/7 Phases Observed
Active Abilities:
Gravitational Pulse – (2m localized gravity shift, 3s duration, 15s cooldown)
New Moon Slash – (Condensed gravitational energy, weapon required)
> Passive:
Lunar Observer – Perception and magical detection increased during night or under moonlight
> Alignment: Virell (Imagination), Ysera (Wisdom) – Hidden Path Detected
Elemental Path: Celestial Magic – Gravity, Illusion, Memory
> Quest Log: Active
> LOCKED FEATURES:
Inventory – Unlocks at F+ Rank OR through "First Worldborn Trial" Quest
Skill Tree – Unlocks after "Path Revelation" Event (75% Quest Sync)
System Shop – Unlocks via "Class Awakening" or Hidden Vendor Encounter
Titles – Unlocked upon completing first Major Feat or Divine Favor Event
---
That morning, freshly bathed and dressed, they reunited in the high-end inn's grand dining hall.
Breakfast was a feast: thick beast bacon glazed in sky-nectar, glowing fire-oil eggs, sliced nectarfruit, rootcakes soaked in herb butter, and glowing berry juice poured into crystal glasses that hummed faintly with stored mana.
"I could get used to this," Ivan said, swirling his crimson drink. "Noble-tier food and free lodging for just dropping off one rare wolf carcass."
Steven nodded, sniffing a piece of glowing fruit. "The flavor profile is wild. This has minor life mana—it's restoring fatigue on a cellular level."
"You really are turning into a magical food chemist," Meloy said with a laugh.
Sana sipped her tea. "I checked my menu last night. I'm aligned with Elryn—willpower and emotional force. Also Nael, god of luck and instincts. My Soul Gaze now lets me see fear signatures."
"Mine confirmed Pattern Weaving," Ivan added. "Virell's artistry and Elryn's instinct. I can stitch air into armor now."
Arlo leaned back, wings twitching. "My system's about storm manipulation and velocity alignment. Still locked out of most of it, but I can feel the threads coming loose."
---
Later, the group split up.
Robert, Sana, and Steven headed to the Adventurer's Guild, an imposing building made of dark stone, reinforced by glowing ironwood beams and runes carved in three languages. Inside, the energy was palpable—mercenaries, beastfolk, spellcasters and bounty hunters moved through the hallways like a storm of blades.
At the front desk stood a tall woman with green fire in her eyes and antlers curling from her forehead.
"You're new," she said. "Not just to the guild—new to the world."
They nodded. She handed them crystals.
"Place your hand. The system will bind your presence and register your name."
> [SYSTEM SYNCING TO ADVENTURER'S GUILD DATABASE]
> Note: No Class Detected. System Affinity – Bloodline Activated.
> System Note:
Class functions are currently LOCKED. Your abilities are inherited through celestial and racial bloodlines. True class assignment requires completion of Class Awakening Trial — a unique mission based on your path, alignment, and divine resonance.
---
Meanwhile, the second group explored the Wyrmforge Armory, a shop built from the ribcage of a fallen sky dragon. The owner—a molten-eyed half-giant—watched them with a curious glint.
"You're fresh blood," he grunted. "But something ancient clings to you."
"We need weapons," Arlo said. "Temporary ones. Nothing too fancy."
"You won't get legendary-tier anything until your system binds to you properly. But I can give you balance-forged iron. And if you bring me phantasmal core shards, I'll reforge it to match your energy."
---
That afternoon, they all met at the forest edge.
Each of them engaged in 1-on-1 fights with G-ranked monsters. With their increased sub-ranks, the fights were easier—but valuable.
Sana used her Soul Gaze to read a monster's combat rhythm, then intercepted it mid-lunge.
Steven enhanced his flame-touched blade with a burst of gust magic, frying and skewering an avian predator mid-air.
Robert activated both of his abilities:
> [Gravitational Pulse] — 3-second low gravity zone.
[New Moon Slash] — Gravitational wave arcs downward from his blade.
The creature shattered like starlight.
Then came another message:
> [SYSTEM MILESTONE REACHED — F RANK UNLOCKED]
> Combat Capability Expanded. Class Trial Eligibility Achieved.
> New System Features Unlocked:
Quest Log Tiers
Lifetime Mission Access
Alignment-Based Perks
Celestial Path Tracking
Race Analysis
---
That evening, as the sun set, the system made its greatest announcement yet:
> [LIFETIME QUEST UNLOCKED]
Title: Rise to Glory – Represent Earth in the Interworld Tournament
> Timeline: Five Years
Progression Breakdown:
Daily Quests – Train, practice elemental control, kill-count, meditation
Weekly Quests – Dungeon runs, social connections, team combat
Monthly Objectives – Rank increase, skill progression, magical resonance events
Yearly Trials – Interracial combat tourneys, World Relic retrievals
Lifetime Milestones – Class Awakening, Bloodline Fusion, Divine Path Inheritance
> Side Quests & Hidden Quests: Available via social bonds, divine dreams, or cosmic anomalies.
> Next Major Event: "Starlight Convergence" — Scheduled 30 days from now.
---
Three weeks passed.
The team worked like machines—day and night. Training, refining skills, accepting guild jobs, and unlocking more of their systems.
All six reached F rank, some nearing F+. The guild began treating them as legitimate adventurers. The system even hinted they were being watched—divine attention flickering like stars over each of their names.
---
The Night Before Departure
In Robert's suite, maps and gear were spread across a table. The plan: accept a quest to guard a merchant caravan heading to a city just outside the human capital. From there, they'd access the Neutral Training Grounds, where all races could train in peace—and classes could be unlocked without political interference.
Robert stared at his system one last time before bed.
---
> Name: Dr. Robert Starfield
Race: Moon-Bound Primordial Human
Rank: F, Level 2
Celestial Link: Dwarf Moon Neros (2/7 Observed Phases)
> Active Abilities:
Gravitational Pulse
New Moon Slash
> Passive:
Lunar Observer
> Alignment: Virell (Imagination), Ysera (Wisdom) – Hidden Link Detected
Elemental Path: Celestial Magic (Gravity, Illusion, Memory)
> Attributes:
Strength: 27
Speed: 30
Intelligence: 32
Wisdom: 35
Mana: 40
Durability: 26
Stellar Energy: 51
> Quest Progression:
Daily Quests: 14/21
Weekly: 3/4
Monthly: 0/1
Yearly: 0%
Lifetime: 0.2%
> Class Awakening Requirements:
Reach F+ Rank
Observe 3rd Moon Phase
Defeat a Rank E Monster
Complete Personal Trial in Capital
---
Robert closed the menu and looked out at the night sky. The stars shimmered softly. The moon was thin, a silver sickle—watching, waiting.
Tomorrow, their journey would begin.
And something far greater than a tournament stirred beneath the stars.