Chapter 2: A World Where Strength Reigns
Kael's first breath in this new world was intoxicating.
The air was different—thicker, richer, vibrating with something unseen yet undeniable. It surged into his lungs like liquid fire, filling his body with a sensation that was both foreign and exhilarating. He had breathed before, lived before, but never like this. This… this was something new. Something more.
His eyes fluttered open.
Above him, the sky stretched vast and endless, but unlike the dull blue of his previous world, this one was alive. Wisps of golden clouds drifted lazily across the heavens, pulsating with an ethereal glow, like rivers of divine energy flowing through the firmament. The very atmosphere shimmered, tinged with raw power.
Kael's gaze slowly lowered, taking in his surroundings. He lay atop a bed of soft, moss-like grass, its color shifting subtly under the sunlight—from deep emerald to a brilliant jade. The towering trees around him weren't just trees; their bark was engraved with intricate patterns that pulsed faintly, like veins carrying an unseen lifeblood. Their leaves glowed softly, feeding off the energy that saturated the world itself.
A low hum filled the air—not from any source he could see, but from the world itself, as though it was breathing alongside him.
This place was alive.
Kael exhaled slowly, his mind fully awakening. The last thing he remembered was the divine being's laughter, the sensation of his very soul being reshaped, and then—this. His new beginning.
A slow smirk stretched across his lips.
So, this is the world of cultivation.
His body felt… different. Stronger. Lighter. He clenched his fists, flexing his fingers, and a sharp thrill shot up his spine. Every fiber of his being felt perfectly attuned, like a blade honed to its sharpest edge.
Kael sat up and—
BOOM.
A sudden pulse surged through his mind, his entire being thrumming with something immense. His vision blurred, his breath hitched, and then—
Knowledge.
It flooded him in an instant, pouring into his mind like an unstoppable tide. Information, concepts, techniques—an understanding so absolute it should have taken lifetimes to acquire, yet it came as naturally as breathing.
His Unreasonable Comprehension had already begun its work.
He understood.
The energy in the air—the Qi—was the foundation of all existence in this world. It was the force that cultivators harnessed, refined, and transformed into power. It flowed through all living things, could be absorbed, manipulated, and weaponized.
The trees, the air, the very ground beneath him—everything was saturated with this energy. Even now, he could see the currents of Qi swirling around him, dancing unseen to the naked eye but utterly clear to him.
And more than that… he could feel his own Qi.
Kael's gaze lowered to his hands, flexing them once more. Deep within him, he sensed a core of energy, untapped yet brimming with potential. It wasn't merely lying dormant; it was waiting. Waiting for his command.
A slow, hungry grin formed on his lips.
Let's see how far I can push this.
He closed his eyes, focusing inward. With his Unparalleled Cultivation Talent, he instinctively knew how to absorb and refine Qi. There was no hesitation, no need to fumble through trial and error. His very being knew what to do.
He reached out—not with his hands, but with his will.
Immediately, the Qi around him responded.
It was like a dam breaking. The energy surged toward him, flowing into his body in waves. It did not resist, nor did it act wild or chaotic. It bent to his will as if it had always belonged to him.
And then—
BOOM!
His body ignited.
Raw power surged through his meridians, flooding every inch of his being with intoxicating vitality. His muscles burned, his bones vibrated, and his mind expanded. He felt the energy filling him, merging with him, becoming his own.
And it was perfect.
There was no strain, no impurities, no danger of backlash. His foundation was flawless, each drop of Qi settling into place as though it had always been part of him.
A normal cultivator would take weeks, months—perhaps even years—to refine their first traces of Qi properly. But for Kael, it was instantaneous.
His first realm breakthrough was already complete.
Kael opened his eyes, exhaling a slow, measured breath. The world around him had shifted. The colors were sharper, the sounds clearer. Every movement of the wind, every rustle of the leaves, every shift in the flow of Qi—it was as if he had stepped into an entirely new plane of awareness.
He clenched his fist, feeling the raw power thrumming beneath his skin.
This world was a land where the strong ruled and the weak were trampled. But unlike his past life, he would not be shackled by obligation, nor would he bow to another's will.
This time, he would take what he wanted.
And this world would kneel before him.
But before he could revel further in his newfound power—
A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the trees.
Kael's head snapped toward the sound, his senses flaring. From the shadows of the forest, a pair of glowing crimson eyes locked onto him.
Then another.
And another.
A pack of beasts emerged from the foliage—massive, wolf-like creatures with dark obsidian fur, each one the size of a full-grown lion. Their bodies radiated a faint, menacing Qi, their razor-sharp fangs glistening with anticipation.
Spirit Beasts. Low-level predators, but still deadly to an ordinary human.
Kael, however, was anything but ordinary.
A slow smirk curved his lips.
His Unrivaled Combat Mastery surged to life, filling his mind with battle instincts honed beyond mortal comprehension. He knew how to fight them—exactly where to strike, how to move, how to dismantle them with ruthless efficiency.
The wolves circled him, their instincts screaming that he was prey.
But they were wrong.
Kael slowly cracked his knuckles, the rush of battle igniting something primal within him.
The wolves lunged.
And Kael moved.
Faster than lightning.
More lethal than a blade.