Chapter 2: Into the Unknown
Evelyn felt as if her body was being stretched and compressed at the same time, like being squeezed through a keyhole made of light. Colors swirled violently around her—a kaleidoscope of blues, greens, and purples. Time lost meaning. Her heartbeat seemed to echo in the infinite space around her. Just when she thought she might be torn apart, the chaos abruptly stopped.
She stumbled forward and collapsed onto solid ground, gasping for air. Evelyn blinked, her vision adjusting to her new surroundings. Instead of her sterile lab, she found herself in the middle of a vast forest. Towering trees with silver leaves shimmered under an emerald sky, and strange, bioluminescent plants pulsed rhythmically as if alive.
"This… isn't Earth," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the strange quiet.
She dusted herself off and looked around. Her lab coat was still with her, though it felt oddly out of place in this ancient, mystical forest. Just as she began to gather her thoughts, a window of light appeared before her—a glowing, semi-transparent screen floating in mid-air.
[Welcome, Traveler. You have entered the Cultivation System Dimension.]
[Beginner level detected. Starting synchronization…]
Evelyn stared at the screen in disbelief. "What the hell? A… system? Like in those web novels?"
A series of notifications popped up.
[Synchronization 10%…]
[Synchronization 50%…]
[Synchronization Complete.]
[Welcome to your Path of Cultivation. Initial attributes unlocked.]
The screen changed, listing strange stats:
• Name: Evelyn Carter
• Realm: Mortal (Initial)
• Qi Affinity: Unknown
• Tech Affinity: High
• Skills: None
A chill ran down her spine. She wasn't in a parallel version of Earth or some advanced civilization. This was a cultivation world—a place where strength determined everything, where people harnessed the power of Qi to defy the limits of reality.
Before she could process it further, the system chimed again:
[Tutorial Quest: Survive the First Day.]
Objective: Find shelter before nightfall.
Reward: Basic cultivation manual.
"Survive the first day? That's ominous," Evelyn muttered, her heart pounding. She looked around, trying to grasp how serious the situation was. The forest, though beautiful, felt eerie—like it was hiding something dangerous.
Suddenly, a rustle came from the underbrush. Evelyn froze, her muscles tensing. Out of the shadows slithered a snake the size of a python, but with glowing green scales and two tiny horns sprouting from its head.
[Warning! Horned Serpent – Rank 1 Beast.]
Danger level: High for a beginner.]
Evelyn cursed under her breath. "Fantastic. Not even ten minutes in, and I'm already in trouble."
The serpent hissed, its glowing eyes locking onto her. She could feel an aura radiating from it—some kind of pressure weighing down on her chest. She backed away slowly, knowing instinctively that running would trigger it to attack.
"Think, Evelyn. What would Liam do?" she whispered to herself, gripping a nearby branch. She had no weapons, no skills—only her wits.
The system chimed again:
[New Skill Unlocked: Improvised Combat (Rank 1).]
Description: You learn to make use of your environment in combat situations. Increases effectiveness of unarmed and improvised attacks by 10%.**
"Okay, that's… something."
The serpent lunged, fangs bared. Evelyn dodged to the side, adrenaline kicking in. Without thinking, she swung the branch with all her might, hitting the serpent's side. It hissed in pain but recovered quickly, circling her like prey.
"I need to find shelter. Fast," Evelyn thought, scanning her surroundings. She spotted a rocky outcrop not far away—possibly a cave or at least somewhere she could hide.
With the serpent readying for another strike, she took her chance. Evelyn sprinted toward the outcrop, branches and leaves whipping at her face. The serpent gave chase, slithering with terrifying speed.
Just as it was about to close in, Evelyn dove into a narrow crevice between two rocks. The serpent crashed against the stones, unable to squeeze through. It hissed furiously, but after a few moments, it slithered away, disappearing back into the forest.
Panting, Evelyn leaned against the cool rock wall.
[Quest Complete: Survive the First Day.]
Reward Received: Basic Cultivation Manual.]
Another glowing screen appeared, presenting a simple book icon. Evelyn tapped it, and the system automatically downloaded the information into her mind.
"Basic cultivation manual…" she murmured, absorbing the knowledge. The manual described how to draw Qi from the environment, circulating it through her body to strengthen herself.
Evelyn let out a shaky laugh. "I'm really in a cultivation world. What did I get myself into?"
She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. This world was dangerous, but she had already taken the first step. If she wanted to survive—and maybe find a way back home—she had no choice but to grow stronger.
But one thing was clear: there was no turning back now.
And somewhere, in the depths of this unfamiliar world, Evelyn knew Jamie could be out there.