The next three days passed peacefully.
Ethan focused entirely on developnt.
The sprites continued their activities throughout the Origin Sphere.
The Earth Sprite spent most of its ti organizing resources.
The Water Sprite coordinated groups of workers.
The Air Sprite frequently explored the skies.
The Fire Sprite continued causing problems whenever it beca bored.
The Water Sprite spent a surprising amount of ti correcting those problems.
Everything felt increasingly natural.
The Origin Sphere no longer resembled an empty newborn world.
Resources existed.
Organization existed.
Purpose existed.
The civilization was still tiny, but it was growing.
That alone was encouraging.
Still, Ethan couldn't stop thinking about Planet 042.
The wolves.
The iron deposit.
The strange behavior surrounding resources.
The questions refused to leave his mind.
Eventually, he made a decision.
It was ti to return.
The following morning, Ethan visited the Origin Association.
After completing the necessary procedures, he entered the familiar stabilization pod.
Light filled his vision.
Monts later, the forest of Planet 042 appeared around him.
The portal behind him shimred briefly.
Ninety-eight sprites erged one after another.
The expedition had begun.
This ti, Ethan had a clear objective.
Information.
Not combat.
Not conquest.
Information.
The group quickly made its way toward the iron deposit discovered during the previous expedition.
The journey was much smoother than before.
The sprites were stronger than they had been during their first visit.
Not dramatically stronger.
Just more experienced.
More coordinated.
More confident.
Several small creatures crossed their path.
None posed any threat.
By midday, the rocky area containing the iron deposit ca into view.
Everything appeared unchanged.
The ore remained where it had always been.
What surprised Ethan was the complete absence of wolves.
Not a single one could be seen.
The entire area was silent.
Ethan frowned.
That didn't feel right.
The wolves had been everywhere during the previous expedition.
Now they had vanished.
The Air Sprite imdiately took to the sky.
Its small figure disappeared above the forest canopy.
Several minutes later it returned.
The sprite circled above Ethan before flying toward a specific direction.
Then it repeated the action.
Ethan imdiately understood.
It had found sothing.
The expedition followed.
As they moved deeper into the forest, signs began appearing everywhere.
Tracks.
Broken vegetation.
Scratches on trees.
The evidence was impossible to miss.
Large numbers of wolves had traveled through the area.
All moving in the sa direction.
The further they traveled, the quieter the forest beca.
Even the small rabbit-like creatures beca increasingly rare.
An unusual tension filled the air.
Then the Air Sprite suddenly stopped.
It hovered above the trees and pointed ahead.
Ethan raised a hand.
The expedition imdiately halted.
Everyone beca silent.
Slowly, Ethan moved forward.
The sprites followed.
After several monts, the forest opened slightly.
A clearing appeared beyond the trees.
And then Ethan saw it.
His eyes widened.
A massive stone pillar rose from the earth.
The structure looked entirely natural.
Yet a faint silver glow flowed across its surface.
The pillar radiated an unusual presence.
It wasn't bright.
It wasn't blinding.
But it was impossible to ignore.
At the sa mont, a notification appeared.
[ Resource Detected ]
The ssage vanished almost imdiately.
Ethan's heartbeat accelerated.
Another resource.
And judging by the reaction of the wolves, this one was far more important than iron.
Hundreds of wolves surrounded the pillar.
So rested near its base.
Others remained completely still.
Many simply watched the structure.
The atmosphere felt strangely solemn.
Almost reverent.
Then movent caught Ethan's attention.
A smaller wolf slowly approached the pillar.
The entire pack beca quiet.
The young wolf touched the glowing stone.
Silver light spread across its body.
A faint pulse traveled through its fur before gradually fading.
The surrounding wolves imdiately lowered their heads.
So stepped backward.
Others refused to et the younger wolf's gaze.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
The reaction was unmistakable.
Sothing had changed.
The wolf looked the sa.
Yet the pack clearly viewed it differently.
As though it had gained status.
Or authority.
Or perhaps sothing else entirely.
No further notifications appeared.
The Origin System offered no explanation.
Once again, Ethan found himself frustrated by how little information it provided.
Still, one conclusion seed obvious.
Resources influenced living creatures.
The Earth Beast Horn had affected the Earth Sprite.
The iron deposit had attracted wolves.
Now this mysterious pillar appeared to hold even greater value.
The question was why.
The Fire Sprite stared toward the clearing with obvious excitent.
The Water Sprite imdiately pulled it back.
The Earth Sprite remained focused on the pillar.
The Air Sprite hovered silently overhead.
No one moved.
Charging into hundreds of wolves would be suicide.
Even the Fire Sprite seed to understand that.
Ethan continued observing from a distance.
For now, information was more valuable than battle.
The resource wasn't going anywhere.
Neither were the wolves.
And for the first ti since arriving on Planet 042, Ethan felt that he was finally beginning to uncover the true secret of the world.
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