The reverberations of the Radiant Figure's pronouncement lingered in the very air, a ghostly echo that vibrated against Zaylan's skin.
The initial shock on the docks had given way to a flurry of bewildered shouts, desperate questions, and the rising din of a million personal system interfaces popping into existence.
Zaylan, however, felt a strange calm settle over him, an almost clinical detachment. The world was panicking, but for him, the pieces were beginning to fall into place.
His mind, accustomed to the logical processing of information from his past life, sought order in the chaos.
His gaze flickered back to the translucent screen, his private window into this newly revealed reality.
[AWAKENER PROFILE]
Name: Zaylan (Unregistered)
Race: Human
Mana Affinity: [???]
Abilities: [Physical Refinement (Passive)]
Cultivation: Stage 0 (Beginner)
The two question marks for Mana Affinity still bothered him, but Physical Refinement (Passive) filled him with a quiet satisfaction. This confirmed it. His unique, continuous growth wasn't a fluke; it was his designated ability.
While others would be scrambling to discover their powers, perhaps struggling to manifest them, his was already active, working in the background, constantly refining his body.
He felt a faint, almost imperceptible warmth spread from his core, permeating every cell. It was the mana, no doubt, flowing through him, being absorbed and utilized by his unique talent.
This was why he could lift those heavy crates, why his fatigue faded faster than it should, why he was constantly getting stronger.
He thought back to his old life, to the countless webnovels he'd devoured. Cultivation.
It was always the path to true power, a journey of self-improvement and mana mastery. And his system listed it as Cultivation: Stage 0 (Beginner).
This was his path. While others might awaken with elemental control, mental prowess, or even minor healing abilities, Zaylan intuitively understood that his talent was cultivation itself.
He wasn't just using mana; he was absorbing it, integrating it, and using it to grow fundamentally stronger.
The feeling was subtle, a constant internal hum, a subtle tightening of muscles, a sharpening of senses, but it was there, always. He was the only one on this planet, it seemed, whose path was direct cultivation.
He tried to interact with the "Cultivation: Stage 0" line, a faint hope stirring within him. Can I access more information? How do I advance? He focused his intent on the words, just as he had with his ability. The screen shimmered, then expanded slightly, revealing a tantalizing snippet:
[CULTIVATION PATH]
Stage 0: Beginner
Description: The initial stage of mana integration. Body gradually adapts to mana presence, enhancing base physical attributes. Develops an innate connection to ambient mana.
Next Stage: Stage 1 (Foundation Building) - Requires Mana Saturation (100%)
Mana Saturation (100%). Zaylan frowned. He felt the mana in the air, a constant presence.
Was he not absorbing it enough? Or was it a matter of density? He had been getting stronger simply by existing, by working.
Did he need to do something specific to accelerate this process? He focused inward, trying to sense the mana within him, to quantify this "saturation." It felt like a vast, limitless ocean, but he was only drinking from it with a teacup. He needed a larger vessel.
Around him, the initial shock on the docks was rapidly being replaced by frantic experimentation. People were waving their hands, muttering to themselves, trying to access their own systems.
"Show me my profile!" a young dockworker, Elara, yelled, flapping her hands comically. Her face contorted in frustration. "Why isn't it working for me? It flashed once, and now it's gone!"
Borin, still looking terrified, tried to explain, "You gotta think it, Elara. Focus. Like, really concentrate on it." His own system flickered into view, displaying a list of vague, half-formed abilities like [Minor Temperature Resistance] and [Enhanced Balance]. "See? Mine's up! But what the hell are these? How do I use 'em?"
Gareth, ever the cynic, simply stood there, his profile stubbornly refusing to appear again. "Maybe it's a fluke, Borin. A one-time thing. A psychological mass hysteria. My system just said 'Mana Affinity: Weak.' Weak? What does that even mean?!" He kicked a loose pebble, his frustration palpable. "This is just going to cause more chaos, you mark my words. People fighting over who has the 'best' powers."
The news channels, having recovered from their initial stunned silence, were now a cacophony of speculation. "Experts believe this 'World System' is a universal interface, accessible to all mana-sensitives!" a new anchor declared, a manic grin plastered on his face. "This fundamentally changes everything! Humanity has just leveled up!" Others were more cautious, debating the ethical implications, the potential for social upheaval, and the terrifying prospect of "corrupted beings."
Zaylan ignored the noise, focusing on his own internal sensation. The mana was everywhere. Could he actively draw it in? He closed his eyes, picturing the invisible energy swirling around him, trying to breathe it in, to pull it into his core.
It was a faint, almost imperceptible sensation, but he felt a subtle pull, a whisper of increased warmth within. It was slow. Too slow.
He needed a way to accelerate his mana saturation, to push himself beyond Stage 0. The thought of 'corrupted beings' emerging in two weeks was a chilling motivator.
He remembered a snippet from Dylan's memories, something about the spatial tears themselves, how they leaked vast amounts of mana.
The one that had brought him here, the one in the forest. It had healed him. He had run from it then, driven by primal fear.
But now… now it seemed like a source, a potential accelerator for his cultivation. A dangerous, forbidden thought began to form.
A place where mana was concentrated, where he could push his Physical Refinement and reach Stage 1, perhaps even beyond. It was a gamble, a dangerous one, but with an entire world about to face an unknown threat, Zaylan knew he couldn't afford to be a mere beginner.
He had two weeks. The path was laid out, shrouded in questions, but the first step was clear: cultivate.