The neon lights of Sub-City 4 flickered in the dark, casting long, uneven shadows across the worn streets as Elric made his way back to his small, barely livable apartment. The weight of the credits from the black market deal rested lightly in his pocket, but the real weight pressing on his mind was something far more substantial—the Creator System.
He stepped through the creaking door of his apartment, shutting it behind him with a heavy thud. The small, dingy room was sparsely furnished—a cot against one wall, a chipped wooden table, and a chair that looked like it had seen better days a decade ago. A single, dim light bulb flickered overhead, casting a soft yellow glow across the room. Despite the bleakness of the space, it was quiet, and for Elric, that was enough. It was the only place where he could think clearly, away from the prying eyes of the city.
He tossed the credits onto the table and collapsed into the chair, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. The wound from the Grey Stalker was healing, but it still throbbed with every movement. He reached up to press his hand against the bandage, feeling the faint warmth of his Healing Blood at work. Slowly but surely, it was knitting the torn flesh back together.
It wasn't enough. Nothing was ever enough.
Elric sat in silence for a few moments, letting the events of the past few days swirl through his mind. The awakening ceremony, the wilderness, the Grey Stalker—it had all been a whirlwind, a series of trials that had pushed him to the brink of survival. And yet, here he was, still standing. Still alive.
But survival wasn't the goal. Power was.
His thoughts drifted to the system, that mysterious force lurking within him, offering him a path to something greater. He had earned one soul point from the battle with the Grey Stalker, but it was a drop in the ocean compared to what he needed. And the system itself—he barely understood it. He had only scratched the surface of what it could do.
With a deep breath, Elric summoned the system menu once more, the translucent screen materializing in his mind's eye.
[Creator System Menu] Soul Points: 1
Talents:
Flame Spark (F-Rank)Healing Blood (F-Rank)
The same familiar sight, but now that single soul point sat at the bottom, beckoning him to use it. He had been waiting for this moment, but the question remained—what should he do with it? One soul point wasn't much, but it was enough to make a difference if used wisely. He couldn't afford to waste it.
He focused on the Flame Spark talent, the weak flame-based ability that had barely kept him alive during his encounter with the Grey Stalker. It had served its purpose, but in the grand scheme of things, it was next to useless. If he was going to face stronger enemies—and he would—he needed more than a flicker of fire.
Could he upgrade it? Could he create something entirely new? The possibilities tugged at his thoughts, but there was one thing that weighed heavily on him—the growing realization that his current talents were far too weak to bring him the power he desired.
His eyes narrowed as he considered his options. The system allowed him to create new abilities, but what if he could enhance his existing ones? What if he could turn that feeble spark into something more destructive, something that could rival the higher-ranked talents of others? He didn't want to be stuck at the bottom forever, scraping by with F-rank talents while others soared above him.
The thought lingered, a tantalizing whisper of power just beyond his reach. But as he focused on the system, a new option flickered into view—a notification that made his pulse quicken.
[Upgrade Available] Flame Spark (F-Rank)
Cost: 1 Soul Point
Effect: Upgrade to E-Rank
New Talent: Spark of Burning Blood (E-Rank)
Elric's heart skipped a beat. An upgrade. The system was offering him a way out of mediocrity, a chance to rise above the limitations of his F-rank talent. Spark of Burning Blood. The name alone sent a thrill through him, and the description that followed only heightened his excitement.
Spark of Burning Blood (E-Rank)
A fusion of fire and life force, allowing the user to fuel their flames with their own blood. The more blood is burned, the stronger the flames become, with the potential to exponentially increase power during battle. However, excessive use will lead to exhaustion or even death.
The risk was clear—using his blood to fuel his flames was dangerous, but the potential it offered was too great to ignore. Power at the cost of pain. It was a trade Elric was more than willing to make.
Without hesitation, he selected the upgrade, and a surge of energy rushed through his body. The system's interface flickered for a moment, and then the familiar message appeared.
[Upgrade Complete]
Flame Spark (F-Rank) has evolved into Spark of Burning Blood (E-Rank).
Elric gritted his teeth as the change took hold, his body briefly seizing with pain as the new talent merged with his very being. His veins burned, and for a moment, it felt as if his blood was boiling inside him, but the sensation passed as quickly as it had come, leaving him panting for breath.
He could feel it—something different, something more. The Spark of Burning Blood thrummed inside him, a dangerous power just waiting to be unleashed. He could already imagine it, flames fueled by his own life force, growing stronger with every drop of blood burned. It was a weapon of last resort, a way to turn the tide of battle when all hope seemed lost.
Slowly, Elric stood from his chair, his legs still shaky from the experience. He moved to the small mirror hanging on the wall, catching a glimpse of his reflection. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead, but his eyes—those vibrant green eyes—glowed with a fierce determination.
He clenched his fists, feeling the new power surging just beneath the surface. It wasn't much yet—he was still just a Rank 1, a fledgling in the world of cultivation—but it was a start. And in this brutal world, a start was all he needed.
With his immediate goal achieved, Elric allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction, but it didn't last long. There was still so much more to do, so many more steps to take on the path to true power.
His thoughts drifted back to the Grey Stalker. That beast had been Rank 1, low on the totem pole compared to the monsters lurking in the deeper wilderness. If that fight had pushed him to his limits, what would happen when he faced something stronger? Something beyond Rank 1?
And then there was the black market. The man he had dealt with earlier had offered more work—dangerous work, no doubt—but Elric knew he would need to take it. The wilderness was where the real soul points were, and the black market was his only connection to that world. He couldn't afford to turn down any opportunity, no matter how dangerous.
Elric sat back down, rubbing his temples as he felt the weight of everything pressing down on him. He was just one person, one weak cultivator in a world filled with predators, both human and otherwise. But he had something they didn't—he had the system, a tool that could turn even the weakest talent into something formidable.
As the hours slipped away and the night deepened, Elric's mind churned with plans and possibilities. He needed more soul points. He needed to keep pushing forward, keep growing stronger. The Spark of Burning Blood was just the beginning. There were other talents out there, other abilities he could create, and he intended to explore every option the system offered.
His eyes drifted back to the system menu, and for the first time in what felt like years, Elric allowed himself a small smile. The path ahead was long, and it was fraught with danger, but he had a weapon now—one that no one else could see.
The system flickered in his mind, reminding him that this was just the beginning. The soul points, the upgrades, the talents—they were all tools, pieces of a larger puzzle that he was just starting to understand. And with each step he took, with each enemy he defeated, he would carve out his place in this brutal world.
Because in the end, it wasn't just about survival. It was about control.
And Elric intended to take control of everything.
End of Chapter Eight.