An Unusual Day
Inside a small room on the outskirts of Long Ying City, Liang Chen was lying on an old couch. The sunlight filtering through the worn curtains failed to disturb his slumber. Life after the army had become monotonous, as his days were confined within the walls of this small house, trying to avoid the outside world by any means possible.
"Today is your birthday, Liang Chen... will you just sit there like that?" his mother said, placing a small plate of cake on the table. Her voice was warm, yet tinged with a note of concern.
He didn't raise his head, only letting out a long sigh and saying, "Why do I need a birthday? It's just another day, Mom."
She smiled a sad smile and said, "Maybe, but you deserve to celebrate, even if just a little."
Despite her words, his mind was far away. The military experience had left him with nothing but psychological exhaustion and memories he didn't want to recall. For him, life now meant nothing more than temporary rest, away from any responsibilities or ambitions.
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As the sun began to set, Liang Chen felt something strange. There was an unusual warmth in his chest, as if his heart was pulsing with new energy. He tried to ignore it, but it grew stronger, causing him to suddenly sit up and place his hand on his chest.
"What is this feeling?" he muttered to himself, trying to calm his breath.
Suddenly, a strange blue light appeared in front of him, in the shape of a floating screen. The letters were written in a language he had never seen before, but they were strangely understandable.
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[Miniature Universe System]
* Current Status: Dormant.
*First Task: Collect the first 10 units of spiritual energy.
*Guidance: You can absorb spiritual energy from creatures affected by the new energy in the world.
*Warning: Do not reveal your abilities publicly.
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He couldn't believe his eyes. He tried to touch the screen, but it was immaterial, just a glowing image in front of him. The next text appeared clearly:
[Seed of the Universe Information]
."The Seed of the Universe" is a rare essence born once every trillion years.
.The chosen user is the only one capable of developing this seed.
.First task: Understand the fundamentals of the system.
Before he could think or ask any questions, he felt a new wave of energy filling his body. He saw a small orb of light forming in front of him, slowly rotating and emitting a soft glow.
"Is this... the Seed of the Universe?" he whispered in awe, his eyes following the orb with a mixture of admiration and fear.
His mind suddenly returned to his days in the military, where he learned the importance of staying calm and cautious in the face of the unknown. He knew that such a power could be both a blessing and a curse. At that moment, he decided not to tell anyone what he had seen.
"If this power is real, I can't let anyone know about it. The world is not a safe place for the weak or the different."
He looked at the screen again, which now presented him with two options:
[System]
*Option 1: Activate the educational task to understand the system.
*Option 2: Temporarily close the system and continue normal life.
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After a moment of thinking, he chose the first option. He wanted to learn more about this power.
A new screen appeared, containing simple instructions:
*The Seed of the Universe requires spiritual energy to develop.
*You can collect spiritual energy from the environment or living creatures affected by the recent transformations.
*Your first task: Collect the first 10 units of spiritual energy.
He read the instructions carefully, then whispered to himself, "Spiritual energy? Does this mean the world is changing?"
At that moment, he remembered rumors he had heard in the market days ago about strange changes happening to animals and plants. People were talking about aggressive birds and plants growing unnaturally.
"If these rumors are true, then this might be related to this new system... and my power."
-Late at night, while trying to understand the instructions, he heard a sound coming from the backyard. He cautiously approached the window and looked outside. He saw a black cat sitting there, staring at him with its glowing blue eyes.
"Is this cat... affected by spiritual energy?" he wondered, feeling a wave of both anxiety and curiosity.
He stepped cautiously toward the cat, trying not to scare it. As he got closer, he felt a faint warmth spreading toward his chest. He slowly raised his hand, and without realizing how, a soft blue energy began to flow from the cat toward his palm.
The cat showed no resistance but kept staring at him until the process ended. He felt as if his body had absorbed something new, something full of life.
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[System]
*First unit of spiritual energy collected.
*Units collected: 1/10.
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He returned inside, holding the cat in his arms. He gently placed it on the floor, where it lay down peacefully. He sat on the couch, staring at the screen in confusion.
"If this is just the beginning, what awaits me in the future?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to process what had happened. He had just started a new journey, one that might change his life, and perhaps the entire world. But deep down, he knew one thing for sure:
"Secrecy will be my first weapon... until I fully understand what I possess."
End of Chapter One