Ding...
Divine God System activated...
Demonic Ascension
Congratulations on activating the Divine God System and becoming a beginner-stage cultivator from a mortal stage cultivator.
Reward – Heal
Description: Level 1 Heal allows the host to cast a minor healing spell on oneself or others. Mana cost – 25 mana points per second cast.
Warning: Scars and phantom pain will remain even after wounds are healed.
What the—what is this?
Alex stood in disbelief as he stared at the translucent screen hovering before him. His heart raced as the words flickered, each one more unbelievable than the last.
Is this... a system? Alex's mind raced as he tried to recall what his mother had taught him.
Systems were the tools of angels and demons—means to cultivate themselves into divine beings. The humans had the angels to guide them toward divine ascension, and the system was put in place by God to aid in that heavenly plan. But the demon lord... He had stolen and twisted the system, using it to form an army that nearly toppled Heaven itself. After the massacre during the Divine War, God had cast out all the angels and demons, banishing them to the world of Serth.
Serth—a fractured world, now divided into four great continents:
The Human Continent, where the majority of humanity resided.
The Beast Continent, home to orcs, goblins, witches, dragons, elves, and other mystical creatures.
The Demon Continent, where the demons ruled, each one representing the sin that birthed them.
And finally, the Angel Continent, a place of exile for the angels, outcast and shunned after the war.
Alex's head throbbed with the flood of knowledge. He winced, grasping at his temples, as his body trembled from the weight of the information flowing through him. The wound on his ribs pulsed with sharp, fiery pain, but it was drowned out by the overwhelming pressure in his mind.
5 system points earned – for the killing of a lion beast.
Would the host like to upgrade any skills at this moment?
What? What is going on here? I just need a second to think... Alex thought, shaking his head as he tried to make sense of it all. I just need to sleep... I'm so cold and tired...
The screen persisted in front of him, its soft glow illuminating the dark forest around him.
Would the host like to buy a new skill or upgrade existing skills?
Alex groaned. Fine… He glanced down at his bleeding side, the claw marks from the mountain lion still fresh, the pain nearly unbearable. I might as well heal myself... or I'll bleed out before I even make a fire.
Heal, he thought to himself, but nothing happened. His frustration grew. Am I hallucinating? Is any of this even real?
He stared at the system screen again, trying to figure out how it worked. His eyes scanned the floating text.
Maybe I should scroll through this thing... He swiped his hand instinctively, and the system expanded, revealing more detailed descriptions.
Level 1 Heal
Allows the host to cast a minor healing spell on oneself or others. Mana cost – 25 mana points per cast.
Use of Ability
The host must make physical contact with the wound and verbally command "Heal" for the ability to activate. Any deviation will prevent activation.
If the host lacks sufficient mana, the skill will not activate.
Alright, so I just need to touch my side and say the word "Heal," Alex thought. He pressed his hand against his wounded ribs and took a deep breath.
"Heal."
A warm sensation spread from his hand as the gashes on his side began to close. The bleeding slowed, and the worst of the pain dulled. But when he pulled his hand back, the wound wasn't completely gone. There were still deep cuts, and blood seeped through faintly.
"Heal," Alex said again, but this time, a wave of dizziness washed over him. He gasped for breath as his vision swam.
Warning – The host has used half of his mana. Further depletion may lead to exhaustion and fatigue. Mana reaching zero will induce a coma-like state until 10% is restored, allowing the host to regain consciousness.
This... this system is terrifying. Alex felt the weight of exhaustion dragging at him, his limbs heavy. How do I even have mana? I'm not a cultivator... His mind raced as he stared at the system screen.
Wait... does the system react to my thoughts?
Hey, system—can you hear me? Can you talk back?
The silence stretched on, and Alex sighed. No answer.
Hmm… If I think about my mana, will you show me how much I have left?
In response to his thought, the screen shifted, revealing a status bar showing his mana pool. He had less than half left, and the warning still blinked in the corner of his vision.
I've got to be careful... he thought, sinking back against a nearby tree. I barely understand how this works, but I can't afford to pass out out here. His gaze drifted toward the sky, the dark clouds overhead breaking slightly, allowing a faint shimmer of moonlight to spill through the branches.
First things first... I need to make it through the night. Then I'll figure out what this system really is..