---
"Haa... haa... aaa... mmm... sss... so cccc.... cold." Ethan shivered as he eased himself into the icy bath.
[Quest Started!]
[Duration: 5 Hours]
'I know! You vermin!' he thought, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface.
[What did you just call me, boy?]
'I was talking to little Ethan,' he shot back mentally.
[Such shamelessness! Tch!]
'Not as you!' Ethan retorted, feeling the chill cut through him like a blade.
As he settled into the freezing water, the cold was nearly unbearable, sending tremors through his body. A normal human would have collapsed by now; the temperature felt like it had dropped well below freezing. Seriously! He had asked for cold, but what on earth was Harley thinking?
'I'mma kill Harley once I'm done with this. I'm going to spank her so hard... wait. What am I thinking?'
[Yeah! That's the spirit!]
With a frustrated huff, Ethan closed his eyes, summoning his willpower to endure the sharp sting of the icy water.
He found himself vibrating with every shudder, each moment an exercise in mental fortitude. He had to endure this for five long hours. To make matters worse, it was nearing winter, and the bathroom window was slightly ajar, allowing a draft of cold air to seep through. The combined chill was overwhelming.
As he focused on adapting to the icy torture, something unexpectedly warm brushed against him. It felt like a hand—soft and soothing—spreading warmth across his body. For a brief moment, the oppressive cold seemed to dissipate. The hand continued its journey, resting on his chest and igniting a fire in his heart.
Feeling lightheaded, he laid his head back against the edge of the tub, only to find it resting against something soft and familiar.
"H... Harley? What are you doing here, and why the hell are you naked?!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice cracking in shock.
"Sshh! I came to cultivate with you. As your elder sister and keeper, I must take care of you, and that is final!" Harley replied with an oddly serious expression.
"Bu... but I'm naked! Something can happen!"
"You're finally of age, right? So there's no need to feel guilty if something happens. Besides, it's me you're dealing with." Harley responded nonchalantly, a teasing glint in her eye.
Ethan was left speechless. When had she become so bold and confident? They had always treated each other like siblings, but now that line felt perilously thin. He couldn't help but notice Harley's beauty; everything about her was on full display. The soft curves of her body, her flawless skin, and the slight blush on her cheeks made his heart race. Instinctively, he gulped, his face burning red with embarrassment.
Little Ethan was also responding, standing at attention as if ready to defend his honor. "Why is this happening?" he thought in a panic.
[Lucky bastard! Hmph!]
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[System Will Go Into Sleep Mode, But Quest Will Continue!]
[Good Luck, Host!]
Ethan felt the familiar surge of the system's energy recede, the warmth from Harley's hand quickly replaced by the coldness of the water as she joined him in the tub, her own face tinged with red.
"Aaah!... Mmm... Ethan... www... what kind of cc... cultivation... technique is thisss? Aaa... the water is so coldddd."
Ethan felt as if he would explode from the way Harley moaned; nothing inappropriate was happening, but her sounds were a blow to his already fragile state of mind.
---
In a shadowy realm, a figure watched over them, an air of calmness enveloping the space.
"Master, I'm sorry. I couldn't protect him."
"It's nothing. It was part of fate that it happened. He also gained something from it. You will see very soon."
"Mm."
"By the way, how is my place?"
"As perfect as always. Would you like to move there?"
"Hmmm... not now. I want him to grow more. He must be prepared for the trials before we move there."
"As wise as always, Master. I will continue guiding him. But what about..."
"My stepson? Of course, he also needs protection and guidance. Excuse me for burdening you with him as well."
"Oh no! It's my pleasure and obligation to serve my Master."
"Mm. Thanks."
---
Back in the bathroom, Ethan broke the silence. "Thanks for the company. Even though it was dangerous."
"No problem. That's what siblings are for. By the way, I'm not getting in a cold bath with you again," Harley replied as if she hadn't heard him at all.
"No one asked you! It was my cultivation technique!" he shot back, trying to mask his embarrassment.
"Blah blah blah. See you later!" With that, Harley gracefully exited the room, her figure disappearing behind the door.
Ethan stared after her, bewildered. She was indeed beautiful, but the whole situation was far too intense. If it hadn't been for his insane willpower—more rooted in fear than confidence—something serious might have happened. He quickly disposed of his damp clothes into the laundry basket and slipped into his pajamas, relief washing over him. It had been a long day.
He threw himself onto his bed, the soft embrace of the mattress inviting him into sleep. Just as he began to drift off, the devilish system made its unwelcome reappearance.
[System Rebooting---1%]
[System Rebooting---100%]
[Quest Completed!]
"Why the fuck did you go off?" Ethan grumbled, irritation creeping into his voice.
[Don't ask me that! Just concentrate on what is happening.]
[System Interface Unlocked]
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: Ethan Smith
Race: Mixed Human
Strength: 05
Speed: 05
Stamina: 06
Perception: 00
Intelligence: 20
Affinity Energy: 35
Level: 1 [00/10]
Stat Points: 00
Current Form: Mixed Human
* Affinity(s)
* Spirit Beast(s)
* Skills
* Quests
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What the hell is this?" Ethan murmured, bewildered.
[Everything you have in the system for now.]
"Okay... so what do they do?"
[The purpose of the system is to make you strong. Stronger than anyone in this world and beyond.]
"For what purpose?"
[Host is not eligible to know for now.]
"Okay... and what is this Mixed Human thingy?"
[That is your race for now. Everyone in this world is of the same race unless they can awaken their racial bloodline, which gives them a defined and refined race.]
[With the system, you will be able to awaken your bloodline. This is the Ancestral-line System, specifically designed for awakening ancestral bloodlines.]
"Which is?"
[You will know in due time.]
[Alert! Energy Stone Found!]
[Do You Want To Store It In The System Space?]
"What is the system space?"
[Host is not eligible to know!]
"Do you mean the Awakening Stone?"
[Yes! It will be helpful in the future.]
"Do you want to store it?"
"Yes..."
Ethan watched in wide-eyed amazement as the Awakening Stone crumbled to dust in his hands and vanished with a soft pop. He had received it from Miss Carmen, the one he was meant to awaken with, but he hadn't used it for some reason. Fortunately, Miss Carmen had insisted he keep it.
"What about the Affinity, Spirit Beast, and the rest?" he inquired.
[Just look at it, and the information will appear.]
Ethan focused on the options, watching as information materialized before him.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
* Affinity(s):
^ Psychic (Telekinesis Variant): A variant of Psychic that deals with the movement of objects with the mind. It involves controlling gravity to move heavy or light things through sheer mental power. Higher levels of this affinity can even move mountains and more.
* Spirit Beast(s):
^ Psyche-Eye Serpent Emperor (Awakening)
Time Limit: Unknown
* Skills:
^ Basic: Martial Arts (LOW)
^ Unique: None
^ Weapon: None
* Quests:
^ Daily (not set)
^ Bonus (not set)
^ Missions (not set)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Woah! That's so cool! By the way, who are you?" he asked, curiosity bubbling up.
[You are not worthy to know.]
"Meh. Your name?"
[Zark.]
"I'm Ethan."
[I know, dummy.]
"Blah blah blah. Oh! Before I forget, what are Intelligence, Affinity Energy, Perception..."
[Huh?! Seriously? With all the Intelligence you have? I think the system made a mistake.]
"What do you mean?"
[Sigh! Intelligence refers to your level of knowledge and wisdom. Perception is your ability to perceive your surroundings; it's like predicting events with certainty. You will need practice and experience to understand it better. Affinity Energy is the energy you acquire after awakening, as well as the ones you gain in the future. Your high energy stems from the serpent being a Gold Rank Beast, according to this world's classification.]
The level is your standing as a mage. The system uses levels to gauge yours. That's all you need to know.]