It had been a few minutes since Xie Yan found the cave. Right now, he had decided that he should start gathering the Achievement Points by cultivating.
However, the System insisted on memorizing the Book of Language Comprehension first. Although he didn't want to waste the time. Since he will still need to learn the language in the end, he agreed.
"So you're saying that you are only helping me memorize it?"
[That is correct! The System will help imprint all the words into your memory. However, it will still depend on your own comprehension!]
"That is… Can't you just help me comprehend it too?"
Although he knew he was being demanding, all the novels that he had read had always been like that. A simple click that would allow him to comprehend the essence of the book instantaneously was simply too awesome to let go.
[Host, the Gifted System is not a tool. I am simply assisting you in gaining opportunities and showing you a path that will bloom your talent to its deserving potential. But in the end, it all still depends on you]
"…I understand" Xie Yan sighed silently.
"All right, let's not waste any time, I still need to find a way to gather Points after this"
Right after saying that, he began the memorizing process. A sudden surge of energy flowed into Xie Yan's mind. The words from the Book of Language Comprehension then flashed before him, as if being etched into his memory. It was a pleasant sensation.
Xie Yan calmly searched for a corner to sit down. But as soon as he took a step, an explosion of agony rocked his head. It was like a red-hot spike had been driven through his temple, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away.
"Gugh!! Is this… the side effect?!!?"
He groaned, his head churning with nausea as the pain intensified. It was a throbbing, all-encompassing ache that made every breath feel like a struggle. His hands trembled as he gripped his head, feeling like his skull was being crushed from the inside out.
All around him, a cacophony of voices in unknown languages filled his ears, each one blending together into an unrecognizable mumble. Yet Xie Yan felt some kind of familiarity with it. A déjà vu, if you want to call it.
A mechanical voice suddenly cut through the noise, offering him a way out.
[Host, it is fine to lose consciousness. Although it will lengthen the process by 5x to memorize it all, it is still recommended. The current approximate is about 6 hours!]
It was an enticing offer, enough for his body to beg to relax and allow himself to succumb to the pain. But his rationale refused to abide by the desire.
Xie Yan cursed under his breath at the thought of being unconscious for more than a day. A complete waste of time he argued.
Xie Yan was afraid, afraid that if he allowed himself to lose consciousness, it would set a dangerous precedent. A day might not seem like a long time. But if he let himself take a day off, it would be all too easy to do it again and again.
He couldn't allow himself to take a break or give in to the pain, no matter how tempting it might be. He had to stay strong. He had to push himself to the limit and endure the pain. He had a goal to achieve, and every moment of delay would only make it harder to reach. He couldn't afford to waste even a single day.
What if a disaster happened to his friends while he allowed himself to slack around? Anything could happen in a day's time, every moment he wasted could mean the difference between life and death. He couldn't let himself fall into the trap of complacency and give himself any excuse to slack off. He had to be disciplined, focused, and determined to achieve his goals.
'Did I not vow to myself to return to Earth?! Was it all bullshit from my side!? If I can't even hold for a mere few hours of torture, what's the point of coming from the dead?! What's the point of having a second chance?! I might as well stay DEAD!!!'
Xie Yan gritted his teeth and forced his grip on his head, digging his nails deeper into his skin until blood began to flow from the side of his head. His eyes flashed with fierce determination. Despite the pain and agony, there was a crystal-clear clarity gleaming in his gaze. The blood streaming down only served to strengthen his resolve.
"I WILL ENDURE!"
Sadly, Xie Yan's determination was not enough to silence the symphony of dissonance.
And as though to laugh at his resolve and focus. The voices only grew louder and louder to overwhelm all his senses. And before long, there was only a single deafening sound that filled his mind. An echo that he could feel in his bones, taste on his tongue, and see before his eyes.
The world around him blurred, and his body shuddered with each wave of agony. He tried to scream, to fight against the onslaught, but his voice was lost in the chaos. He fell to his knees, the pain too much to bear, his grip on his head loosening as he struggled to stay conscious.
But then, as his body crumpled to the ground, a primal madness glimmered within Xie Yan's eyes. The intense pain had pushed him to the brink of sanity, struggling to maintain his grip on reality. But through the chaos and torment, his unwavering determination remained, driving him to endure the impossible. The veins in his neck bulged as he let out a guttural scream, fighting to hold onto his sense of self amidst the paralyzing torment.
And on that moment.
The first mistake since he arrived in this world was made.