Alex sat on the edge of his bed, eyes wide with excitement as he examined the Beginner's Pack before him. This was it—the beginning of his journey to power in this world. His hand hovered over the contents in anticipation.
"Alright, system, what do we have here?" Alex grinned, eager to discover whatever surprises awaited.
[Inside the Beginner's Pack, you'll find a random cultivation manual to help shape your path, 5000 Desire Credits for spending in the store, an Affinity Awakening Stone, and a Talent Awakening Crystal. Quite a set, if I do say so myself.]
"A cultivation manual, credits, and stones that can unlock affinities and talents? Seems like a jackpot," Alex said, rubbing his hands together.
[Indeed, Host. The cultivation manual is tailored to suit your affinity, which we'll determine shortly. The Desire Credits are your currency for the store, and the Affinity Awakening Stone will reveal your elemental affinity.]
"So I can awaken multiple elements with this stone?" Alex's eyes gleamed at the prospect of accumulating power.
[Not exactly, Host. Normally, an individual can awaken only one element, but your system allows you the potential to use additional elements in the future, once your mortal body's shackles are broken. Right now, even if you purchased more stones, your body couldn't handle the strain.]
"Shackles of a mortal body? That sounds… intense. How do I break them?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.
[You're not ready for that yet, and knowing too much now would only slow you down. Focus on your current abilities.]
"Alright, fine. Let's start with the Affinity Stone," Alex muttered, gripping the small crystal. With a focused breath, he activated it, and a warm energy pulsed through him.
The energy grew brighter, casting a shimmering light in the room. Suddenly, the entire space shifted, and Alex was engulfed by a strange, dark light that seemed to twist and stretch, like a vortex that bent time and space.
[You… Host, you've awakened the Space-Time Affinity. Not only did you bypass the basic elements, but you also skipped over rarer affinities. Space-Time is a combination, one step above both the Space element, known by humans, and the Time element, rumored among the Beast Race. You are the first human to awaken this combined affinity.]
[Indeed. Space-time is considered a high-level affinity, far beyond the basic elements of fire, water, wind, and earth, and even rarer than lightning, ice, darkness, and light. This makes you the first human known to have both space and time as a combined affinity.]
Alex's mouth dropped open. "Space-Time? I'm the first human with this affinity?"
His heart hammered with excitement, a sense of purpose settling over him.
[Indeed. This is no ordinary affinity, and I hope you're prepared for what comes with it. Space-time is considered a high-level affinity, far beyond the basic elements of fire, water, wind, and earth, and even rarer than lightning, ice, darkness, and light. This makes you the first human known to have both space and time as a combined affinity. Now, open your cultivation manual, and let's see what path matches this affinity.]
Alex felt a thrill as he activated the cultivation manual, watching it unfold before him like a hologram. The title shone in bright, swirling letters: Origin Creation Manual.
"Origin Creation… what does that even mean?" Alex muttered, scrolling through the details.
[From your memories, cultivation manuals range in rank from I to SSS. However, this one's grade is unknown due to my current system level. It's rare, and its potential is something you'll have to discover.]
Alex glared at the system. "How am I supposed to train with something that has a mysterious 'origin'? What even is an Origin Affinity?"
[Ah, Host, such limited understanding. Sighs You'll learn what it means when you're ready. For now, just accept that you've acquired a one-of-a-kind cultivation path. I'll leave the meaning for you to discover on your own.]
Frustrated but determined, Alex shook his head. "Fine. Let's move on. What about the Talent Crystal?"
[The Talent Awakening Crystal unlocks a talent you were born with, which is extremely rare. One in a million awakened individuals manage to unlock theirs.]
Alex pressed the crystal to his forehead, feeling a sharp, tingling sensation rush through his body. His vision swirled before him, colors and shapes blending together until a word echoed in his mind: Sub-Dimension.
"What… what is it?" Alex asked, practically bouncing on the bed.
[Congratulations, Host. Your awakened talent allows you to create a personal sub-dimension within your soul. Talents also follow a grading scale from I to SSS; yours is an S-ranked talent but with growth potential. As a rare growth type, it can improve over time—though its current conditions for growth are unknown.]
"That's insane!" Alex's mind raced with the possibilities of a dimension within himself. "System, show me my updated stats."
Status Screen
Overall Cultivation: I
Name: Alexander Argoth
Race: Human/???
Title: - (To Be Discovered)
Class: - (Currently Locked)
Talent: Sub-Dimension (Rank: S, Growth-Type)
Affinity: Space-Time (Grade: Unknown)
Cultivation Manual: Origin Creation Manual
Stats:
Mana: I
Strength: I
Agility: I
Intelligence: I
Stamina: I
Alex felt a surge of pride. His stats might be low, but the foundation he was building was unlike anything he could have imagined. "So, system, how do I level up? How do I go from these pitiful stats to something… respectable?"
[Your first task is to raise your stats to H rank. That'll mean working through the first chapter of your Origin Creation Manual. The manual is broken into chapters, with the first chapter being split into twelve stages, corresponding to ranks from I to SSS. To begin, you'll need to absorb mana into three main points in your body: the upper dantian (mind), the central dantian (soul), and the lower dantian (body).]
"Sounds… manageable," Alex said, nodding.
[It's no easy feat. Each core must be condensed at these points, and you'll need your Space-Time affinity to link them. Once connected, fill them with mana, and you'll reach the next stage.]
The weight of the task hit Alex like a wave. "Condensing three cores while maintaining a connection with Space-Time sounds nearly impossible."
[Giving up already, Host? Weakness never did suit you. Get to work or give up on your goals altogether.]
Gritting his teeth, Alex settled into a meditative position. "Fine, I'll give it a shot."
He reached out, feeling the flow of mana around him. To his surprise, it responded to him easily, like a wave drawn toward the shore. Almost as if he could command it, the mana streamed toward his body, filling him with a strange warmth. He focused on directing it to his dantians.
The mana formed into concentrated points, one after another, in his head, chest, and lower abdomen. He could feel them pulling, each demanding to be stabilized.
"Alright… three cores. Now the linking," he muttered, activating his Space-Time affinity to bind the points. At once, a torrent of mana surged through him, expanding wildly.
The system's voice cut through the chaos in alarm. [Host, if you don't control this influx, you'll burst like a balloon! Direct the mana to the cores—now!]
Gasping, Alex fought to pull the mana toward his cores, the pressure within him unbearable. He poured his focus into each core, gradually filling them as he clenched his teeth against the pain. Just as he completed the process, his vision dimmed, and he collapsed into darkness.
When Alex awoke, the first thing he felt was a dull ache radiating through his body. As he sat up, the system's voice resonated in his mind, softer than usual.
[Congratulations, Host. That was a commendable effort.]
Alex blinked, surprised at the unexpected compliment. "I… did it?"
[Yes, though you passed out at the end. Your stats are now at grade H. The first step on a long journey, but not a bad start.]
A weary smile tugged at Alex's lips. He was exhausted, yet a fierce pride filled his heart. For the first time, he truly felt the promise of power, a chance to change his destiny.
"System, this is only the beginning. I'll keep going—no matter what it takes."