"Boom!"
An unknown energy, even more powerful than previously, suddenly emerged from somewhere within his consciousness and began to flood into his head and body at the same time, causing a riot.
This massive awakening energy clashed frantically within James's limbs and body. As the awakening energy was out of control, James gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and frowned in pain.
His entire body suddenly turned red, swelling as if it might burst like a balloon popped out.
He had never experienced such pain before in his entire two lives, and he wanted to scream so badly but didn't want to wake up his little sister.
That was why he just ground his teeth and clenched his palms until his nails pierced through his skin and blood started to drip over.
All he could do was insist on stabilizing the awakening energy inside him.
James was puzzled, unsure why such a transformation had occurred.
After a while, stimulated by the awakening energy, James began to feel changes within his consciousness.
He was taken aback to see that the second wave of awakening energy was rapidly absorbing the first and even drawing in the surrounding world's energy, forming an energy vortex centered above his head.
As this process continued, his body gradually stabilized, and he felt the warm sensation as his body began to repair itself to its best state automatically.
A few minutes later, together with a mechanical voice that resounded in his head, which James had never heard before, a translucent display of data appeared before him.
[Ding! It's been detected that the host is awakening his talent, thus awakening the system.]
[Ding! Starting to merge the host's talent with the system.]
[Ding! The merger is successful.]
[Ding! Starting the system.]
Startled by the peculiar sound inside his mind, James opened his eyes and saw the data displayed in front of him.
"What is this? A system?" James murmured and thought to himself,
'Did I get a system? Am I finally going to have a powerful cheat?'
But after thinking for a while, James was irritated. Why hadn't the hazy figure in his memory just told him that the day he was going to turn 18 years old was one day right after he woke up? Instead of telling him ambiguously that he thought it would take quite a while and make him anxious.
If he had known it beforehand, he would've chosen to stay in a cave for a day before venturing outside.
But, at least it's better than he thought it would be, and what's done is done, there was nothing he could do anyway.
After complaining in his mind and cursing whoever that was, James decided to see what his cheat "system" was all about and how he could become stronger after awakening it.
[Personal Information], [Shop], [Inventory].
After looking at a few options on the system menu, James decided to look at his own personal information first.
[Personal Information]
[Name: James]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Attribute: - ]
[Cultivation level: Martial Apprentice Stage (100%)]
[Martial Skills: - ]
[Beast Master Level: - ]
[Pets: - ]
[Magician rank: - ]
[Skills: - ]
[System point: - ]
Feeling disappointed as he looked at his good-for-nothing personal information, James decided to delve further as he looked at the shops.
[Shop]
[Alchemy], [Blacksmith], [Cultivation Technique], [Martial Skills], [Skill Books], [Puppet]
After looking through his personal information and shops, James was baffled. Didn't the hazy figure warn him that the outside world is dangerous and that he shouldn't leave the cave until he turned 18 years old? Isn't it the same with him saying that,
'When you turn 18 years old and awaken the system, you will at least be able to venture outside the world and protect yourself.'
However, all he was given was the option of checking his personal information or shopping.
What kind of talent was this, the one with a shop? Do you want me to become a merchant? Hell no.
While becoming wealthy was pretty good, he desired to become stronger so that he could have the power to protect his little sister and himself.
While still complaining in his heart, an unfamiliar male voice resounded within his head, and suddenly a little fluffy roundball creature appeared in front of him.
"Hello, host. I am the AI of the system, ready to assist you with anything related to the system."
"What the fuck!!"
James was startled and stood up. Because suddenly, in front of his face, there was a little fluffy roundball creature with a pair of small horns and limbs, floating in the air, talking to him.
James curiously looked at the harmless small creature as big as 50 cm in front of him.
Thinking that its body should be squishy, he reached out trying to pinch its body, but his hand went through its body.
"Hey AI, who are you? What is this 'system' all about?" James asked the little creature curiously.
James thought that this AI should be the same as artificial intelligence in his past life.
But it looked so real that he thought it was some creature, but he couldn't touch it.
"You can say that I am an intelligent lifeform bred from the system, all you need to know about the system is that it could help you become stronger." The little creature replied with a smile.
"Stronger your head, all you have to do is let me know my personal status and shop. How can I become stronger?"
'...'
"Well, there are three ways to become stronger, either by cultivating as a martial artist, becoming a Beast Master, or becoming a magician. Which one would you like to choose, host?"
"Huh, choose? Choosing an option is only for children, an adult like me wants them all!" James looked at the little creature as if he were looking at an idiot.
'...'
The little creature was speechless, as he was silent for a few seconds before James broke the silence.
"By the way, tell me the difference between becoming stronger through a martial artist, a beast master, or a magician, and how can I use the system to become stronger quickly?" James asked, since he was also curious about these things.
Soon.
After the little creature explained the distinctions and how to exploit the system to become stronger quickly, James understood.
First, to become stronger as a martial artist using the system is rather simple, as long as you have system points, you can upgrade your realm.
(But there will undoubtedly be some limitations and restrictions.)
Furthermore, you can purchase a martial skill through the system and have it directly imprinted on you without the hassle of learning it yourself.
Second, to become stronger as a beast master utilizing the system is pretty much the same, as long as you have enough system points, you can directly upgrade the beast level to its limit aptitude and upgrade the aptitude of the beast through evolution guided by the system.
Moreover, as a beast master himself, James would gain some of the beast's strength from the feedback, allowing you to use its abilities. As well as you can tame multiple beasts as you grow stronger.
Third, to become stronger as a magician using the system is basically the same as becoming stronger as a martial artist, as long as you are rich enough, you can directly raise your rank.
Additionally, you can also purchase a skill book through the system and have it directly imprinted on you without the hassle of learning it yourself.
'Basically, all of them are about the system points.' James thought to himself, and after learning how to become stronger using the system, he firmly decided to choose all of the options because he was a successful businessman in his previous life and he also recognizes the potential of leveraging the system's functions to amass wealth. So, he actually didn't care that much about the system points.
He was thinking about how awesome it would be if he could use martial arts skills and magic while fighting alongside a beast as a beast master.
That would be pretty cool, as he is already so handsome and many girls would definitely flock to him...
Ahem...
He meant he could become strong enough to protect himself and his lovely little princess.
"Hey AI, I decided to choose to become stronger as a martial artist, beast master, and magician." James said after imagining his 'future self'.
"Are you sure?? If you choose all of them, the system will surely adjust the difficulty to..." The little creature said halfway before getting interrupted by James.
"Just shut up and don't talk so much nonsense before I kick your ass with my foot, you little fluffy. By the way, from now on, I will call you Little Fluffy, just so you know." James spoke to Little Fluffy angrily.
"...." Little Fluffy felt wronged, he just wanted to remind the host but got scolded instead.
Anyway, he didn't care anymore about the host and just adjusted the system as the host had chosen.
"Okay host, I've made the adjustments in the system according to your choice." Little Fluffy said it a few seconds later, after being scolded by James.
James checked his "system" again to see if there was any additional function or any adjustment that could make him OP.