The wind howled through the dense forest as the full moon bathed the land in an eerie, silver light. Amidst the shadows, a young boy, no older than 15, lay unconscious at the base of an ancient tree, a gash on his forehead and his clothes tattered. He had no memories, no family, and no name.
For as long as he could remember, he had been alone in the world. No one had ever claimed him, and the only thing he had known was the brutal fight for survival. The forest had been his home, and the creatures within it, both mystical and monstrous, his only company.
Suddenly, a strange sensation pierced the air—a voice, soft yet commanding, echoed in the boy's mind.
"Welcome, Host. You are chosen."
The boy's body jerked awake, his eyes snapping open, glowing with an intense blue light for a brief moment. His head throbbed with pain, but the words from the voice brought clarity. 'Host?' he thought, confused.
Before he could fully comprehend, a glowing, holographic interface appeared before him, flickering with unfamiliar symbols. His heart raced. This was unlike anything he had seen or heard before.
"The system is activated. Host: Mu Bai."
His name? Mu Bai. It resonated within him as though it was always his, as though it had always been his identity.
Mu Bai's hands instinctively reached for the interface, and the symbols rearranged themselves into words that he could understand.
"The system is now online. Mission: Cultivation Ascension. Progress: 0%."
Confusion swirled within his mind, but with a strange sense of determination, he swiped through the interface. It was detailed, filled with options and mysterious words—powers, stats, even a "Skills" section.
But what caught his attention the most was the final message at the bottom of the screen.
"Choose your path: Warrior, Scholar, Beast Tamer, or Healer."
Mu Bai's mind raced. Was this some kind of test? Could this be a chance at a new life?
He had no recollection of who he was before this moment, but one thing was clear—he wasn't about to let fate control him. He would decide his path. He would take control.
The System:
Mu Bai thought for a moment, considering each choice carefully. Warrior seemed the obvious option—powerful, direct, and honorable. But he wasn't sure if it was the right fit for him, given the lack of knowledge about his abilities.
Scholar—that was a tempting option. Knowledge could bring him power, and he had always been curious about the world. But would that be enough?
Beast Tamer felt like a challenge. He didn't know the first thing about beasts, but the idea of commanding creatures, perhaps even monsters, felt intriguing.
Healer—he could help people, but Mu Bai felt an instinctual desire for something more than just mending wounds.
He stared at the choices for a long moment before making his decision.
With a deep breath, he selected Warrior.
The system seemed to respond to his choice. "Warrior Path Selected. Beginning Cultivation... Path of the Fire Soul activated."
The moment he chose, a surge of warmth rushed through his body. The pain in his forehead disappeared, replaced by a rush of energy. He felt stronger, faster, and more aware. It was as if a power was awakening deep within him.
"Cultivation: Fire Soul—First Stage: Awakening. Strength +10, Agility +5, Vitality +5."
The system's voice was now more familiar, like an old friend speaking to him. Mu Bai flexed his hands, feeling the raw energy flowing through him. It was exhilarating, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he had purpose.
A New Beginning
Mu Bai stood up, gazing around the forest. His path was set. He didn't know what the future would hold or what challenges he would face. But he was no longer the nameless orphan. He was Mu Bai, and he would rise to the top, no matter what it took.
He smiled to himself, feeling the weight of destiny pressing down upon him. The Phoenix's blessing wasn't far off.
Little did Mu Bai know, this was only the beginning of his journey—one that would take him from a humble orphan in a forest to a powerful figure that would shape the fate of countless worlds.
But first, he had to survive.
The adventure had begun.