Chapter 1: Gift from the Cosmos
On the terrace of an unassuming residence, a contemplative teenager was sitting on a bench. This is Shawn Lawrence, a teenager with midnight black hair and matching eyes, found solace in the vast expanse of stars above. He pondered over the possibilities of his impending month-long vacation after completing mid-term exams. His mind danced between visiting his grandmother, relaxing on the beach, or embarking on a hiking adventure.
Amid his musings, a comforting voice interrupted his thoughts, resonating through the tranquillity of the night. "Shawn! Dinner's ready, dear. Hurry up," called his mother, Jeanne.
"I'm coming, Mom," replied Shawn, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the celestial spectacle. As he made his way indoors, a peculiar star caught his attention – brighter and seemingly approaching. Panic set in as he witnessed its growing luminosity.
As Shawn raced toward the terrace door, his retreat was abruptly halted by a searing ray of light.
"Ahh. My body is burning. I am going to die!"
Excruciating pain engulfed him, akin to being submerged in scalding water. The agony intensified, pushing him to the brink of unconsciousness until a lucid voice echoed in his mind,
[Checking Host's adaptability.
Adaptability:1%...5%...10%...20%...70%
Suitable Host acquired.
Now, integrating the 'Immortal Cultivation System' with the Host's body. Integration: 1%...2%...3%...
Estimate time till fully integrated: 8 hours 14 minutes 59 seconds]
Time crawled as Shawn endured this otherworldly transformation accompanied by the searing, hellish pain, succumbing to unconsciousness as the pain waned. Moments later, Jeanne, a woman in her 40s with blonde hair and sapphire eyes – Shawn's mother, discovered him unconscious.
"Shawn! What happened?" she exclaimed, summoning Maxwell, who looked like a middle-aged replica of Shawn.
Concern etched on their faces, they carried their son to his room, perplexed by the inexplicable occurrence. In Shawn's room, Jeanne voiced her worry, prompting Maxwell to reassure her. "We'll get him medical help, Jeanne. Hopefully, he'll be alright."
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Sometime later, after the arrival of the doctor
The arrival of a doctor shed no light on the situation. Perplexed, the physician could only advise rest and observation. "Stress might be the cause. Let him rest, and if it recurs, don't hesitate to call me," he suggested before departing. Max and Jeanne accompanied him to the door and bade farewell after thanking him. They were worried about their child and decided to let him rest for the time being.
"Jeanne, I think we should cancel any vacation plans this month. God knows what would happen if he suddenly collapsed in the middle of a trip." worried, Max shared with his wife. Jeanne agreed and like this, the young teenager's plans for the holidays were ruined.
Left to ponder the mysterious ailment, Max and Jeanne contemplated the unknown, worried about their child as the Immortal Cultivation System neared completion, setting the stage for Shawn's extraordinary journey.
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A/N: Good day, readers. This is my first Webnovel, so there are bound to be mistakes and some areas might feel lacking. I hope you guys will inform me about any oversights as well as help me increase the quality of my work. I am open to any advice, ideas or suggestions.