'Open Weapon store, please.' Rick commanded. The weapon store brightened and there appeared an item shop.
The item shop had different columns with different labels. But what caught Rick's eyes were the Firearms. He asked Jessie to open the firearms section and what he saw was slots filled with 3D pictures of guns. It also had different sections that were labeled: Rifles, SMGs, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Machine Guns, Handguns.
Everything was self explanatory since he was a former marine and arms dealer. He was really thankful that he wasn't that ignorant. As he contemplated, the timer for the Body Repair seemed to rapidly run out. He did not even notice it as he kept browsing the Shop.
It took a very long time for him to find out that something seems to be missing in the Shop... and that was food. The shop had everything from Weapons, Clothes, Buildings to Technologies, but it did not have the most important one, which is food and water. The only explanation he got was:
'If the system provides everything, then how can you reach the apex of life? Rick Sanchez, you shouldn't get the wrong idea. The system is here to assist you, not to provide for you.' Jessie said mercilessly. It seems that the system had every response for his questions. Jessie was just telling him what the system programmed for it.
'Body Repair is Complete. Initiating Soul and Body Fusion... Soul and Body Fusion will be completed in 10.9.8...5..3.2.1. Soul and Body fusion complete. Sir, you can now control the body perfectly.' Just as the countdown finished, Rick's nose was suddenly assaulted with a terrible smell.
It was the familiar scent of death that he smelt the moment he possessed this body for the first time. When he finally opened his eyes, he could see a bright clear blue sky. He subconsciously stood up and was shocked by what he saw next.
Corpses. There were thousands, no, ten thousands of dead, rotting bodies around him. The land was flat with a size nearly 10 times that of a football field. Rick did not need to guess what happened, he already knew it was caused by war. Because it wasn't just humans who laid across the lands, there were also horses, and many beast that Rick only saw on television before.
The land had many insects and crows flying around and above them. There were many maggots and beetles enjoying their lives. It was the first time that Rick saw a scene like this. Then...
Bwak.. uakk.. He vomited! Who wouldn't?! This was the most brutal, disgusting and terrifying thing he witnessed his whole life. But oddly enough, he noticed that he was calm. His mind worked normally, and even processed what he was seeing perfectly.
'The system is bound to your soul, so, anything related to negative psychological effects will be removed by the system. This includes soul and mental attacks. You won't tire out of mental and soul energy.'
"Cough! That sure is a convenient ability." This time, he really spoke from his mouth, his voice, but he did not even notice it. This time, he observed his surroundings more closely.
He noticed the weapons, and it could only be described as primitive. There were swords, spears, war hammers and staffs. But although they were primitive, the designs were not. They were colorful and had exquisite designs even forming patters such as dragon heads, tigers and others. Some were golden, green and red colored. It was something you can only see in a fantasy movie.
Rick walked and pulled out a spear that was stuck on the ground. When he pulled it out, he discovered that it was very heavy, he doubted whether his body really returned to it peak, but Jessie reassured him.
He looked down and guessed that the corpse beside his feet must be the wielder. The corpse still had his hand stretched as if he was still holding the spear before he died. The corpse had a beautiful helmet and armor that covered everything on his body, except his joints. It still enabled him to move around freely. Rick guessed that he must have been a general or something with a similar position.
He stuck the spear to the ground and screamed in his heart, 'What the hell is this world?!' . Although he was calm, his heartbeat was still a little faster as he imagined the future. It was then that he recalled what Jessie told him. There was still the memory of his predecessor. Since he knew nothing of this world, the memory would be really helpful.
'Jessie, please transfer the memories of my predecessor to me. Thank you.' Rick sat legged on the ground.
'Please wait. Initiating transfer of memories. Transfer will be complete in.. 60 seconds. The countdown begins now.'
As the number kept reducing, foreign memories invaded Rick's head. He expected it to be painful but thankfully, it was not. It was just like remembering something you forgot a second ago. What came first was the information about this world.
...
This was the Tian Continent, it is a mystical place where strength is the rules. It is a dog eat dog world where you have to have strength in order to make a name for yourself or even just survive. Of course, in order to gain strength, you have to cultivate.
Tian Continent was named after a powerhouse discovered that it was just one of the hundreds, no, it could be thousands of other continents in this world. Since then, many powerhouse ventured the sea in order to reach other continents, to gain stronger power. Many of them were from the old generation, those who knew that they couldn't live any longer. Trying to find a way to prolong their life.
But unfortunately, all those who set out never returned. Even then, there were thousands of cultivators trying to cross the ocean every year, but because they were unable to return, the people contemplated that they either died or successfully found another continent. The former seemed to be the case.
This land, that used to be very prosperous and full of energy was slowly deteriorating. The spiritual energy was slowly thinning out. Everyone knew that there will come a day when it will finally run out, and their cultivation will stagnate, never to reach the next stage.
10 years ago, the spiritual energy in the air was still abundant, it almost seemed to be infinite. But nine years ago, lightnings sudden suddenly struck the highest mountain peak in the continent. It lasted for a day, before the lightning slowly disappeared.
It was then that people finally started to noticed thinning of spiritual energy. Cultivation was getting harder and harder.
In order to cultivate, you must absorb enough spiritual energy in order to push for the next stage.
Many people went into immediate seclusion, trying to breakthrough and hurrying to search for a way to reach the next realm. Since then, war was easily started, and everyday, thousands of people die. They believed that the fewer people, the longer the spiritual energy will last.
Greed started to bloom from almost everybody's heart. Hidden sects and clans started to emerge starting conflict everywhere they go. Killing everyone in their way. For the mortals, who hadn't even cultivated, it was like living in hell.
When the sects and clans started killing indiscriminately, the empire couldn't tolerate it any longer and went to a full blown war. The marquis led and ten thousand strong army and faced of against the enemy. Everyone with a cultivation above the third stage of Qi Condensation was forced to join the army.
It's what led to this devastating scene.
...
The next was the memories of his predecessor. His name was Shi Rong, a youth with great aspiration. He started cultivation at 10, finally, after 7 years he reached the 5th stage of Qi Condensation. He had no talent. Even with the thinning of spiritual energy, those in the Qi Condensation stage were hardly even affected. It was because you won't be able to absorb a large amount of spiritual energy. But if the spiritual energy keeps it current speed in vanishing, then it wouldn't be long before Qi Condensation Stage Cultivators wont be able to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm anymore.
His talent was average. As an orphan, he never had the privilege given to those of the royalty. The only pill he had taken was the monthly 10 Qi Gathering Pill distributed to all of the students in the Academy.
He was part of the tiny percentage of students who were raised by the academy, not exactly, it was the emperor. In exchange, the would have to be loyal and obey any orders from the academy and the royalty. They were basically slaves, pawns and guinea pigs with no control of their own lives.
Then the war started, with no choice, he had to join and be a cannon fodder. Shi Rong, knowing that he was gonna die, felt his blood boiling. He raised his spear, and bloodthirsty air emerged from the depths of his heart. That was when the slaughter began.
A man with no regard for his life was like a ticking time bomb, it was especially in a a battlefield. He drilled a line with every single wave of his spear, a life would be taken. It did not take long before the enemies started to notice him.
The enemies swramed over him. Blood and wounds covered his body. A pierced stomach, a slashed left eye and the visible leg bones was very terrifying to look at. Left with no choice, Shi Rong ran his fingers in his pocket and immediately tossed a pill to his mouth.
His eyes turned bloodshot, his skin started to redded and anybody close to him could feel heat coming off from his body. His muscles started to stretch as he grew into a muscular man filled with bloodlust and killing intent.
His consciousness started to fade away replaced by a the desire to destroy everything. Such was the nature of taking the Bedevilment Pill, also known as death pill. Death to the enemy and death to yourself.
Seeing what Shi Rong was doing, his comrades also started to do the same. That was the beginning of slaughter.
Still, although it sounded grand, it actually only caught the eye of a few people from the higher ups. This was just the battle of cannon fodders, and it it's effect wasn't really that relevant.
The more people who dies, the better the situation will become.
Finally, the memories ended when a sword pierced his chest and cut his aorta. It was an instantaneous death, even when he was bedeviled.
...
Rick slowly opened his eyes, although he was calm, his breathing was faster and his back was oozing with sweat.
"Damn! What a crazy world! To actually do something like that because of spiritual energy, lunatics!" He said strongly. What he saw was something, he could not describe. He could only think of the word... Lunatics!
'Congratulations, you have received a package from the system. Sir, do you want to open it?' It was then that Jessie interrupted his thoughts.
'Yes, please.'