Kenji didn't believe in miracles. Not after his parents vanished, leaving behind an echoing silence in their small Tokyo apartment and a gnawing hole in his heart. Miracles were for the heroes of cultivation novels, those paragons who defied fate and grasped for immortality. He was just Kenji, a realist, stuck in the endless cycle of late-night shifts at the local convenience store, a life punctuated only by the escapism of those very same novels. But as he stumbled from the familiar, trash-strewn alleyway behind the store, the neon-drenched cityscape of his life twisting and blurring into something impossible, a different kind of dread settled in his stomach. It wasn't the usual anxiety of another long night; it was something deeper, colder. This wasn't a dream. It felt too… real.
The flickering neon sign of the 24/7, usually a garish but familiar sight, cast long, distorted shadows on the rain-slicked asphalt. The rhythmic drip-drip-drip from a broken awning, the constant soundtrack of his late shifts, was abruptly swallowed by an unnerving silence. It was like the city itself had gone mute. He shivered, pulling his thin jacket tighter around him. The biting December wind felt wrong, completely at odds with the humid air he'd been breathing just moments ago while stocking shelves. He'd been lost in the latest chapter of The Dragon's Ascent, picturing the protagonist meditating beneath a waterfall, drawing power from the very air itself. It was a familiar comfort, a way to forget, even for a little while, the emptiness that had been his constant companion since his parents disappeared.
Then, the familiar smell of exhaust fumes and cheap ramen, a smell so familiar it was almost comforting, vanished. In its place came the scent of damp earth, rich and dark, mixed with a sharp, almost metallic tang like the air after a thunderstorm. It was clean, bracing, unlike anything he'd ever smelled in Tokyo. It tickled his nose and sent a shiver of disorientation down his spine.
He stumbled, his breath catching in his throat. The familiar concrete jungle was gone. Gone were the towering buildings, the endless streams of traffic, the constant hum of urban life. In its place stood a vast, primeval forest. Imagine trees so tall their tops were lost in the gloom of the sky, their thick bark etched with swirling patterns that resembled flowing streams of energy. They reached towards a sky dominated by two moons: one a soft, pearly white, the other a deep, pulsing crimson. Their combined light painted the forest in shades of silver and red, creating a scene both beautiful and unsettling.
The air hummed with the chirping of unseen insects, a chorus of clicks, whistles, and trills that resonated deep in his chest. It was a wild, untamed sound, utterly different from the urban noise of Tokyo. Beneath his worn sneakers, the hard asphalt had been replaced by a thick carpet of decaying leaves and spongy moss, damp and soft underfoot.
He instinctively reached for his phone, a reflex action, a desperate grab for something familiar. The screen was black, dead. No signal, no battery life, nothing. A cold feeling spread through him, a sense of being utterly cut off. He remembered the constant whir of his broken air conditioner back in his tiny apartment, a sound he usually found irritating. Now, he longed for it, for any connection to his old life. He patted his pockets instinctively: wallet, keys… gone. Everything except the clothes he was wearing had vanished.
A knot of fear tightened in his stomach. This wasn't a dream. It was too vivid, too real. This was something else entirely. A fleeting image of his grandfather's old, worn copy of Chronicles of Eldoria flashed through his mind. The cover showed a lone figure meditating beneath a cascading waterfall. Those stories, about people who trained their bodies and minds to harness incredible power, had always fascinated him. Now, the irony was biting.
He took a tentative step forward, the moss squelching softly beneath his weight. The air was humid, almost stifling, a stark contrast to the cold December air he remembered. The sounds of the forest intensified, the chirps and rustles growing louder. He felt a strong urge to turn back, to run back to the familiar alleyway, but a strange mix of fear and morbid curiosity kept him moving forward.
Suddenly, a translucent blue screen materialized in front of him, hovering in the air like a holographic projection. The clean, digital text was jarring against the organic backdrop of the forest.
[System Initialization Complete]
[World Designation: Aethel]
[Host Designated: Kenji]
Kenji stared, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. He'd read about similar "systems" in countless web novels, interfaces that guided characters on their paths to power. He'd always dismissed them as pure fantasy. Now, one was right in front of him.
More text appeared on the screen:
[Primary Objective: Establish a Qi Foundation within 24 Hours]
[Reward: Basic Cultivation Manual]
[Penalty: Qi Deviation and Potential Demonic Corruption]
"Qi Deviation… Demonic Corruption?" Kenji muttered, the terms sending a shiver down his spine. These weren't just words from a novel; they carried a weight of dread, warnings of the terrible consequences of improper cultivation. This was real.
[Status]
Name: Kenji
Age: 20
Qi: 0 (Unformed)
Body Tempering: 0 (Untrained)
Meridians: Unopened
Skills: None
System Points: 0
Then another message:
[Passive System Point Generation Initiated. Rate: 0.1 per second. System Points are generated based on Host's interaction with the world's Qi and adaptation to Aethel's environment.]
A low growl echoed through the trees, cutting through his thoughts. Two pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the shadows. Large, wolf-like shapes emerged, their silhouettes outlined by the moonlight.
[Danger Detected: Shadow Wolves (Level 1) x2]
[Recommended Action: Initiate Basic Qi Gathering to Enhance Physical Capabilities. System Points Required: 1.0]
Kenji's heart hammered against his ribs. He had no Qi, no skills, and not nearly enough System Points. The wolves began to advance, their growls growing louder, more menacing. He was trapped. He closed his eyes, desperately trying to remember the meditation techniques he'd read about in The Dragon's Ascent. He pictured the protagonist, seated beneath a cascading waterfall, drawing the very essence of the mountain into himself. He tried to mimic the image, focusing on his breath, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart.
Inhale… exhale…
He tried to imagine a flow of energy within his body, a warm current moving through unseen pathways. Nothing. He felt only the cold sweat on his skin and the pounding of his heart. The wolves were closer now, their hot, fetid breath reaching him. He could smell their musky scent, the raw, animalistic odor of predator.
[System Points: 0.3]
The numbers on the screen ticked upward agonizingly slowly. He needed 1.0 to activate the basic Qi gathering technique recommended by the system. It felt like an eternity as he waited, every second stretching into an agonizingly long moment.
[System Points: 0.6]
He could hear the wolves shifting their weight, their claws scraping against the mossy ground. They were toying with him, savoring his fear. He had to do something. He couldn't just stand there and wait to be torn apart.
He opened his eyes, desperation fueling his actions. He scanned the forest floor, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. His gaze fell on a fallen branch, thick as his forearm, half-buried in the moss. It was a long shot, but it was all he had.
He lunged for the branch, his fingers closing around its rough bark. He pulled with all his might, his muscles straining. The branch was heavier than he expected, but adrenaline gave him the strength he needed to wrench it free. He turned to face the wolves, the branch held defensively in front of him like a makeshift shield.
[System Points: 0.9]
One of the wolves, larger and more aggressive than the other, lunged. Its fangs were bared, its eyes burning with predatory hunger. Kenji braced himself for the impact, his heart pounding in his ears.
[System Points: 1.0]
Just as the wolf was about to reach him, Kenji heard the system chime.
[Basic Qi Gathering Initiated]
A surge of warmth erupted within him, a feeling of power he had never experienced before. It was as if a dormant energy within him had suddenly awakened. The world around him seemed to slow down, his senses sharpening. He could see the individual hairs on the wolf's fur, the saliva dripping from its fangs.
He swung the branch with all his newfound strength, the wood connecting with the wolf's snout with a satisfying crack. The wolf yelped in surprise and pain, its momentum throwing it off balance. Kenji didn't hesitate. He used the momentum of his swing to spin around, bringing the branch down on the other wolf's flank.
The second wolf staggered, its growl turning into a whine. Kenji knew the effect of the Qi gathering was temporary, but it had given him the opening he needed. He turned and ran, the branch still clutched in his hand.
The wolves, disoriented and injured, gave chase, but Kenji's enhanced speed, fueled by the brief surge of Qi, gave him a crucial advantage. He didn't stop running until he had put a significant distance between himself and the enraged creatures.
He finally collapsed against the base of a large tree, his lungs burning, his legs aching. He looked at his status:
[Status]
Name: Kenji
Age: 20
Qi: 0.1 (Faint)
Body Tempering: 0 (Untrained)
Meridians: Unopened
Skills: None
System Points: 0.2 (Generating at 0.1 per second)]
He had used the initial burst of Qi, but he had managed to survive. He had also finally gained a trace of Qi, a tiny spark of power within him. He had taken his first step on the path of cultivation.
A new message appeared on the screen:
[Primary Objective: Establish a Qi Foundation within 24 Hours (Completed)]
[Reward Claimed: Basic Cultivation Manual]
[New Quest Available: Explore the Whispering Woods]
[Explore the depths of the Whispering Woods and uncover its secrets.]
[Reward: Unknown]
He had survived his first night in Aethel. Now, his true journey could begin.
Kenji leaned against the rough bark of the tree, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind a dull ache in his muscles and a lingering tremor in his hands. He looked at his status again:
[Status]
Name: Kenji
Age: 20
Qi: 0.1 (Faint)
Body Tempering: 0 (Untrained)
Meridians: Unopened
Skills: None
System Points: 0.2 (Generating at 0.1 per second)]
He had used up almost all of his initial, system-granted Qi in that brief burst of enhanced strength, but a tiny spark remained – 0.1. It felt… strange. Not a physical sensation, exactly, but more like a subtle awareness of something within him, a faint warmth deep in his chest. He focused on it, trying to understand it, to control it. It was like trying to grasp smoke – elusive and intangible.
He remembered the reward for completing the primary objective: the Basic Cultivation Manual. He focused his thoughts on it, and a worn, leather-bound book materialized in his hands. The leather was soft and supple, worn smooth with age, and the pages within felt thin and delicate.
He opened the manual, expecting to find pages filled with text. Instead, he was met with a single, intricate diagram. It was a swirling pattern of lines and circles, resembling a stylized human figure with lines of energy flowing through it. It looked complex, almost overwhelming.
[Basic Cultivation Manual: First Stage – Qi Gathering]
[Focus on the diagram. Visualize the flow of Qi through the meridians depicted. Begin with the Breath of Aethel, a rhythmic breathing technique designed to draw ambient Qi into the body.]
Kenji looked at the diagram, then back at the system message. Meridians… that was another term from the novels, the pathways through which Qi flowed within the body. His were listed as "Unopened." He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He had to start somewhere.
He sat down cross-legged beneath the tree, mimicking the posture of the meditating cultivator from The Dragon's Ascent. He closed his eyes and focused on the diagram, trying to commit it to memory. He visualized the lines of energy, tracing their paths with his mind's eye.
Then, he began the Breath of Aethel. The manual described it as a slow, deep inhalation, drawing in not just air, but also the subtle energies of the surrounding environment. He inhaled deeply, imagining himself drawing in the scent of damp earth, the rustling of leaves, the faint hum of the forest. He held his breath for a moment, visualizing the energy flowing through the pathways in the diagram, then exhaled slowly, releasing any tension in his body.
He repeated the process, again and again. At first, he felt nothing. But after several minutes, a faint tingling sensation began to spread through his body, starting in his fingertips and toes. It was the same sensation he had felt during the brief burst of Qi he had used against the wolves, but much weaker.
He continued to breathe, focusing on the diagram, visualizing the flow of energy. The tingling intensified, spreading through his limbs and converging in his chest. He felt a faint warmth spreading through him, a sense of connection to the forest around him.
[Qi Gathering Initiated]
He continued the breathing exercise, the warmth in his chest growing stronger. He felt a subtle pulsing rhythm there, a faint thrumming of energy.
[Qi Gathering Progress: 10%]
[Qi Gathering Progress: 25%]
[Qi Gathering Progress: 50%]
The system messages appeared intermittently, tracking his progress. He felt a sense of accomplishment with each increase, a sign that he was actually making progress.
[Qi Gathering Progress: 75%]
Suddenly, the pulsing in his chest intensified, becoming a powerful surge of energy that coursed through his entire body. He felt a jolt of power, a feeling of exhilaration.
[Qi Gathering Completed]
[Qi Increased: +0.4]
[System Points Gained: 0.2 (Cultivation Bonus)]
[System Points: 0.4]
Kenji opened his eyes, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He felt… different. He looked at his status:
[Status]
Name: Kenji
Age: 20
Qi: 0.5 (Faint)]
Body Tempering: 0 (Untrained)
Meridians: Unopened
Skills: Keen Senses (Level 1)
He had more than doubled his Qi. It was still faint, a barely perceptible warmth deep within him, but it was a tangible difference. He focused on the sensation, trying to understand its nature. It felt… alive, a tiny spark of energy that resonated with the world around him. He could almost feel the subtle vibrations of the forest, the flow of energy through the trees, the hum of unseen life.
He stood up, stretching his stiff muscles. The aches from the previous night were still present, but they felt… less significant, as if the small amount of Qi he had gathered was already beginning to heal his body. He felt a newfound lightness in his steps, a subtle increase in his agility. He was no longer just a regular human; he was something more, something… nascent.
He looked around the small clearing. The sun was now fully risen, casting long shadows through the trees. The forest, which had seemed so menacing in the darkness, now appeared almost serene, bathed in the soft morning light. The air was still humid, but it felt fresher now, cleaner. The scent of damp earth was still present, but it was now mixed with the sweet fragrance of unfamiliar blossoms.
He decided to explore the immediate area. He needed to find a source of water, something more substantial than the dew clinging to the leaves. He also needed to find a safer place to rest, somewhere more defensible than the open clearing.
He activated his Keen Senses, focusing his attention outward. The forest suddenly came alive with detail. He could hear the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, the chirping of birds high in the canopy, the scurrying of small creatures in the undergrowth. He could smell the damp earth, the sweet blossoms, the musky scent of the wolves from the previous night, now faint but still discernible. He could even feel the subtle vibrations of the earth beneath his feet, the flow of energy through the roots of the trees.
Following the sound of running water, he ventured deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller and thicker here, their branches intertwined overhead, creating a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight, casting the forest floor in perpetual twilight. The air was still and humid, heavy with the scent of decaying leaves and damp moss.
As he walked, he noticed small, glowing symbols etched into the bark of some of the trees. They were similar to the patterns he had seen in the cultivation manual, swirling lines and circles that seemed to pulse with a faint light. He stopped to examine one more closely. It depicted a stylized tree with roots that stretched deep into the earth and branches that reached towards the sky.
He touched the symbol cautiously, and a new message appeared on the system screen:
[Detected: Qi Gathering Node]
[These symbols mark natural convergence points for Qi. Meditating near these nodes can significantly accelerate Qi gathering.]
Kenji's eyes lit up. Another way to increase his cultivation speed? He looked around, noticing several more of the symbols etched into the surrounding trees. This area seemed to be rich in spiritual energy.
He decided to try meditating near one of the nodes. He sat down cross-legged beneath a large tree, his back resting against the symbol etched into its bark. He closed his eyes and began the Breath of Aethel, focusing on the flow of Qi through his body.
Almost immediately, he felt a difference. The tingling sensation intensified, and the warmth in his chest grew stronger. He could feel the energy flowing from the tree into his body, merging with his own nascent Qi.
[Qi Gathering Rate Increased Significantly]
The system messages appeared more frequently now, tracking his rapid progress.
[Qi Gathering Progress: 10%]
[Qi Gathering Progress: 25%]
[Qi Gathering Progress: 50%]
Kenji continued to cultivate, lost in the rhythm of the Breath of Aethel. The warmth in his chest intensified, spreading through his limbs, a tangible current of energy now flowing through him. He could feel the subtle vibrations of the earth beneath him, the flow of energy through the roots of the massive tree he leaned against, now merging with his own nascent Qi. The air around him seemed to shimmer, as if the very atmosphere was alive with energy.
[Qi Gathering Progress: 80%]
[Qi Gathering Progress: 95%]
The system messages flashed before his eyes, marking his steady progress. He felt a sense of growing anticipation, a feeling of nearing a breakthrough.
Suddenly, the pulsing in his chest intensified dramatically, becoming a powerful surge that coursed through his entire being. He gasped, his body trembling with the influx of energy. It felt like a dam had burst within him, releasing a torrent of power.
[Qi Gathering Completed]
[Qi Increased: +0.5]
[Meridians Partially Opened (Initial Stage)]
[Body Tempering +0.1]
[System Points Gained: 0.3 (Cultivation Bonus)]
[System Points: 0.7]
Kenji opened his eyes, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He felt… transformed. The faint warmth he had felt before had become a constant, gentle hum within him, a source of inner strength. He could feel a faint tingling sensation in his limbs, as if tiny pathways were opening within his body. He looked at his status:
[Status]
Name: Kenji
Age: 20
Qi: 1.0 (Initial Stage)
Body Tempering: 0.1 (Barely Trained)
Meridians: Partially Opened (Initial Stage)
Skills: Keen Senses (Level 1)
He had finally established his Qi foundation. He had reached the initial stage of Qi, his meridians were partially opened, and even his Body Tempering had slightly improved. He felt a surge of accomplishment, a sense of finally making progress in this strange new world.
He stood up, stretching his muscles. The aches from the previous night were almost completely gone. He felt lighter, more agile, more… alive. He could feel the flow of Qi within him, circulating through his body, strengthening him from the inside out.
He decided to explore the area around the Qi Gathering Node. He activated his Keen Senses, focusing his attention outward. The forest came alive with detail. He could hear the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, the scurrying of small creatures. He could smell the damp earth, the sweet blossoms, and a new scent he hadn't noticed before: the faint, earthy aroma of mushrooms.
He followed the scent, venturing deeper into the forest. He soon came across a patch of mushrooms growing at the base of a large, decaying log. They were small and brown, with delicate white gills. He cautiously approached them, his senses on high alert.
As he got closer, a new message appeared on the system screen:
[Detected: Earth Root Mushrooms]
[Earth Root Mushrooms are a common ingredient in Qi tonics and can provide a small boost to Qi when consumed. Caution: Some varieties of mushrooms in Aethel are poisonous. Do not consume any mushrooms unless they have been identified by the system.]
Kenji carefully plucked a few of the Earth Root Mushrooms, making sure not to damage their delicate caps. He held them in his hand, examining them closely. They felt cool and damp to the touch, and they had a pleasant, earthy smell.
He decided to eat one. He took a small bite, chewing slowly. The mushroom had a mild, earthy flavor with a slightly nutty aftertaste.
[Consumed: Earth Root Mushroom]
[Qi Increased: +0.1]
[System Points Gained: 0.1 (Discovery Bonus)]
He checked his status again.
[Status]
Name: Kenji
Age: 20
Qi: 1.1 (Faint)]
Body Tempering: 0.1 (Barely Trained)
Meridians: Partially Opened (Initial Stage)
Skills: Keen Senses (Level 1)
He had gained a small boost to his Qi from the mushroom. It was a slow process, but he was steadily growing stronger. He gathered a few more mushrooms, storing them in his jacket pocket. He then continued his exploration of the area, eager to discover more of the secrets of Aethel.