Tell me I'm too crazy

Rice's scream echoed through the city, ricocheting off the walls and startling birds and spirits alike. "TEN YEARS?!" His voice carried over the plaza, causing conversations to pause as heads turned toward the commotion. He slumped back into his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh hellll no, there is no way," he muttered, waving his hands dramatically as though he could clear away the sheer absurdity of what he had just heard.

Ryden and Darius stood nearby, their jaws slack as they processed the revelation.

Ryden blinked a few times before glancing toward Lucy, who was busy nibbling on a piece of roasted bread. "Wait," he said, pointing at her. "We picked you up when we first left Pillaris. Lucy, how old are you now?"

Lucy tilted her head, her expression curious. "What does 'old' mean?"

Ryden sighed, rubbing his temple. "Damn, I forgot. I just invented the calendar here. But that means you're at least past your teens…" He squinted at her, scrutinizing her petite frame. "Damn, why are you still so short?"

The response was immediate. Lucy's tiny fist shot out, landing a solid gut punch squarely into Ryden's stomach. He doubled over with a groan, clutching his abdomen.

Darius smirked, folding his arms. "Deserved."

Nearby, Lyssara, the Snake Clan leader, leaned casually against Darius, her sharp, almost predatory eyes gleaming with mischief. Her lithe figure was clad in sleek armor adorned with iridescent snake motifs, and her hair was tied back in a flowing braid that shimmered like polished onyx in the firelight. She raised an eyebrow at Darius, her voice smooth and teasing. "And how old do you think I am?"

Darius turned to her, his expression perfectly innocent as he studied her for a moment. "Hmm… twice as old as me?"

Lyssara froze, her jaw dropping. She slowly sat down, stunned into silence, while another clan leader—a burly man from the Goat Clan—patted her sympathetically on the back, stifling a chuckle. Darius, oblivious to the damage he had just inflicted, turned his attention to a nearby group of blacksmiths.

At a forge near the plaza, the blacksmiths of Pillaris displayed their finest bronze tools and weapons, their pride evident in every polished surface. Darius joined them, his eyes lighting up as he examined their work.

"These are solid," he said, holding up a bronze spear tip. "But you know, there's something even stronger we could be working with. Iron."

The blacksmiths exchanged curious glances, leaning in as Darius spoke. "Iron is harder and more versatile than bronze. With it, we could forge tools and weapons that are sharper, stronger, and longer-lasting."

"How would we find this iron?" one of the smiths asked, his brow furrowing.

"It's in the rocks," Darius said, his tone alive with excitement. "It takes more work to extract and refine, I've already taught some of the zodiac clans you can ask them, but once we master it, we can shift into a whole new age of innovation."

As if responding to his words, the booklet in Ryden's bag began to glow faintly. He pulled it out, the golden light illuminating his face as the pages flipped on their own. A new entry appeared, etched in gleaming letters:

Checking Requirements:

Population: Above 10000 — Met.

Technology Level: Beginner Iron Metalworking — Met.

Cultural Level: Writing, Hieroglyphics, and Intertribal Knowledge Sharing — Met.

Agricultural Level: Large-Scale Farming and Trade — Met.

Congratulations!

You have successfully reached the Iron Age.

Additional Benefits:+40% Efficiency in crafting tools, weapons, and armor.+25% Boost to agricultural yields through advanced iron plows and tools.Knowledge-Sharing Enabled: Accelerates technological and cultural advancements among allied clans and tribes.New Technology Unlocked: Iron Smelting, Forging Techniques, and Structural Reinforcement.Global Reputation Increased: Your advancements are now known far and wide, earning respect and envy in equal measure.

As an additional reward, you have been gifted a single blank page of the Akashic Record!

Ryden, Rice, and Darius stared at the glowing booklet, their faces pale as the weight of its contents sank in. Beads of sweat began to trickle down their brows as they read the shimmering text over and over, each line seeming heavier than the last.

"I…" Darius began, his voice hollow with regret. "I should not have said that. I should not have said that." He buried his face in his hands, exhaling a long sigh as Rice muttered something inaudible under his breath.

Before any of them could react further, the sky above Pillaris was illuminated by a fiery streak. A brilliant red comet cut through the heavens, its blazing trail leaving behind a shuddering glow that cast long shadows over the feast.

Arika, standing a few steps away, froze mid-motion. Her sharp gaze followed the comet, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Is that…" she murmured quietly, almost to herself.

Ryden turned to her, cutting her off sharply. "It's exactly what you think it is. Get the troops ready."

But Arika didn't move. Instead, she pointed silently to the sky, her hand trembling ever so slightly.

Ryden followed her gaze, his stomach twisting as he looked up. His voice caught in his throat, his pulse quickening as dread settled over him like a suffocating shroud.

The comet was not alone.

Hundreds of red comets streaked across the sky, their fiery trails crisscrossing in chaotic patterns. They filled the heavens, moving left, right, up, and down in a deadly, almost mesmerizing display of light. But the awe quickly turned to terror as the first of the comets began to descend, their glowing forms growing larger as they plummeted toward the earth.

The horizon burned with their approach, their descent like the wrath of the gods made manifest. Shouts erupted from the city and the clans as people pointed skyward, their voices a cacophony of fear and confusion.

The booklet in Ryden's hands shuddered violently, glowing brighter as the pages flipped themselves. Lines of text etched in golden light appeared, accompanied by a soft hum that grew louder with each passing second.

Congratulations!

The mana accumulation of GAIA has reached Emerging Levels.

GAIA has unlocked magic!

You are now capable of pivoting the iron age into a new age: The Age of Magic.

The golden glow dimmed, but only for a moment. Then, a sharp warning flashed across the page in crimson letters:

Warning!

The density of monsters on GAIA has reached Advanced Levels.

The formation of Dungeons have now been introduced into GAIA

GAIA is at risk of pivoting into the Age of Monsters.

As the warning faded, a new section appeared in the booklet, one Ryden, Rice, and Darius had never seen before. It glowed ominously, a pulsating red symbol marking it as critical.

Emergency Quest: Defend GAIA

Objective: Defeat the incoming monster incursion.

Progress: 0/100,000 Monsters Eliminated.

Failure Consequences:

GAIA progresses into the Age of Monsters.Destruction of Pillaris.Destruction of the Zodiac.Limited interaction with spirits.

Rewards for Success:

GAIA progresses into the Age of Magic.