Mingma lay on his dormitory bed, staring at the ceiling. His body ached from the intense trials, his mind heavy with questions about his place in the academy. The trials had made it clear—he was leagues behind the top contenders. The cursed tattoo on his arm pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of his fragile grasp on survival.
He closed his eyes, exhaustion dragging him toward sleep, but instead of slipping into unconsciousness, a strange sensation rippled through his body. Suddenly, his vision turned dark, and he found himself standing in a boundless void.
"Host detected. Synchronizing with dimensional frequency... Initializing system."
The voice was cold and mechanical, unlike anything Mingma had ever heard. Before he could react, a glowing blue screen materialized in front of him.
The System: The Path of Ascendancy
The system introduces itself as The Path of Ascendancy, an ancient, intelligent artifact designed to guide its host toward unrivaled power. However, it comes with its own rules and challenges.
Features of the System
Status Window:
Displays the host's current attributes and progression.
Name: Mingma Rathore
Level: 1
Bloodline: Rathore (Fire/Gold)
Cursed Seal Synchronization: 5%
Attributes:Strength: 12Agility: 10Intelligence: 18Mana Control: 15Vitality: 8Special Skills:[Fire Manipulation][Gold Reinforcement][Cursed Eye Activation (Locked)]
Skill Tree:
A branching system of abilities that can be unlocked using Skill Points (SP) earned through leveling up or completing missions.
Fire Branch
:Ember Shot → Flame Wave → Inferno Strike → Phoenix Ascension
Gold Branch:Mana Shield → Reinforced Blade → Adamantine Body → Golden Dominion
Hybrid Branch:Duality Strike → Elemental Synergy → Radiant Inferno → Sun God's Wrath
Resource Management:
Tracks mana usage, stamina levels, and curse synchronization. The system offers insights on how to manage resources more efficiently during battles or training.
Hidden Quests:
Occasionally reveals cryptic challenges tied to Mingma's bloodline, curse, and past.
As Mingma examined the glowing interface, the system presented him with his first mission:
Mission: Make an Impact
Objective: Defeat a student ranked in the top 50 within the next 30 days.
Reward: Skill Unlock - [Flame Dash], +5 Attribute Points.
Mingma smirked. The system had just given him the means to close the gap between himself and his peers. While others relied on their bloodlines or family names, he would rely on something far greater: a structured path to power that rewarded effort, strategy, and intellect.
He clenched his fist, the cursed tattoo glowing faintly as if resonating with his newfound resolve. "Let's see how far I can go now."