The first night inside the cave was the longest night of Arin's life.
He sat near the fading body of the panther, eyes flickering toward the cave entrance in case more beasts lurked outside. His hand trembled as he applied the [Herbal Healing Paste] to his wounds, flinching when the sting of crushed root and bitter essence burned across his skin. It wasn't a perfect solution his injuries needed time but he could breathe, think, and most importantly, stand.
The cave, though silent now, felt alive.
There was an ancient pressure in the air. Not heavy, but thick. Every breath was filled with something invisible yet undeniably powerful. And Arin felt it not with his body, but with his soul.
> "You are in a Nexus Zone," the AI explained when he asked.
"This area connects faintly to a higher realm. The Soul Orb that awakened your System came through one of the cracks formed during the Shattering."
"The Shattering?" Arin repeated.
> "When Earth's protective layer was destroyed during the Time War, spatial ruptures occurred. Many realms—including higher planes—leaked fragments of energy, monsters… and relics."
"Like the orb?"
> "Yes. You're lucky. Most who touch a Soul Orb either die from overload or go mad. But you…"
Arin didn't reply. He wasn't sure if it was luck… or something else.
He stared down at his now clean hands. No shaking. No dizziness. The healing paste, combined with the System's passive vitality boost, had stabilized him. For the first time in years, he felt something he had almost forgotten:
Control.
Arin leaned back against the stone wall and took a deep breath.
"Open Status."
The window appeared instantly, glowing faintly in the dark:
Status Window (Updated):
[Name]: Arin
[Age]: 20
[Race]: Human
[Level]: 1
[EXP]: 12 / 100
[Kill Points (KP)]: 1
[Cultivation Level]: Body Tempering Stage (3)
[Qi Core]: Blocked (75%)
[Strength]: 14
[Agility]: 13
[Endurance]: 11
[Intelligence]: 16
[Willpower]: 19
[Available System Functions]:
Status ✅
Inventory ✅
AI Assistant ✅
Shop 🔒
Quest Log 🔒
??? 🔒
"Blocked core…" Arin muttered. "So that's why my cultivation has always been slow."
> "Correct," the AI replied.
"Your meridians are partially clogged. This was caused during birth or in early childhood. A natural spiritual injury. Without outside help, your body was rejecting Qi flow."
"No wonder pills never worked."
> "You used low-tier pills. They helped only temporarily. What you need is Qi flow cleansing and a core refinement technique tailored to your damaged meridians."
Arin frowned. "And where do I find something like that?"
> "Eventually… in the System Shop. But you must first unlock it."
"And to unlock it?" he asked.
> "Kill Points and Level Progress. As you grow stronger, I unlock more features."
He stood up slowly and walked to the corpse of the beast he had killed.
The panther's body was still warm. A reminder of how close he had come to death. He searched it carefully, trying to salvage something of value.
He found sharp claws, a patch of durable black fur, and several beast teeth.
> "You may store these in your Inventory," the AI added helpfully.
"Store items."
The materials vanished in flashes of light, tucked away into whatever storage space the System used. It felt strange, but also… natural.
Like this power belonged to him.
Morning light pierced through the cracks in the rock above. It had rained sometime during the night, and the smell of wet earth and leaves drifted in.
Arin stood at the cave's edge.
Far above, the cliff where he fell seemed impossibly distant. Going back that way wasn't possible not in his condition, and not without tools. He'd have to go around. Find another way to civilization.
And stay alive.
"Where are we?" he asked.
> "Southern Ridge, east of Moonveil Mountains. A dangerous, unclaimed zone since the old world ended. You are ten days from the nearest known village by foot."
Arin sighed. "Ten days…"
> "If you avoid beast territories. Seven, if you're willing to fight."
He tightened his grip on the dagger. "Guess I better get stronger."
Day One: Survival Begins
The forest was denser than he remembered. Twisted trees, vines thick as arms, and strange mushrooms that glowed faintly under shaded leaves.
Arin moved carefully, not just to avoid danger, but to observe.
The System gave small notices as he walked:
> "New Skill Unlocked: Basic Wilderness Tracking (Lv. 1)"
"You are being watched. Hostile intent detected nearby."
"Small mana fluctuations sensed 12 meters north-east."
He stopped immediately at the last message.
"AI, explain."
> "A low-level beast is asleep or unaware. Mana signature is weak. You may choose to engage."
"What kind of beast?"
> "Scanning… Target: Ember Rabbit. Rank: E. Threat Level: Very Low. Reward: 2 EXP, 1 KP."
Arin's stomach growled. He hadn't eaten since the day before the fall.
"Let's do it."
It was faster than he expected.
A blur of red fur and flaming legs burst from the bushes. Arin barely had time to react, rolling aside and slashing. The dagger caught its side, burning his hand slightly from the heat.
The rabbit shrieked and vanished into the brush.
Arin stood still.
Then it charged again straight from behind.
He had expected that.
He spun and drove the dagger down, catching the beast mid-leap. The blade struck deep, and the rabbit collapsed with a twitch.
> "Beast killed. +2 EXP. +1 KP. Ember meat and Ember core added to inventory."
He breathed out.
> "You now have 2 Kill Points."
Back at camp his temporary shelter near the cave entrance he skinned the rabbit awkwardly and used flint from the rocks nearby to start a fire. The meat cooked slowly, dripping golden oil, its spicy smell sharp and smoky.
He ate in silence.
Each bite was hot not just temperature, but mana-infused. His body welcomed it, healing faster than before. His core tingled slightly. Something was changing inside him.
He was evolving.
Not just physically.
But mentally.
Emotionally.
Reflection
That night, as stars glittered in the open sky and distant howls echoed across the forest, Arin stared up into the heavens.
He remembered Lira.
Her laughter. Her words. Her kiss.
And her betrayal.
A knife in the back would've been kinder.
He closed his eyes and clenched his fists.
> "Do not let pain define you," the AI said quietly.
"Let it shape you."
Arin didn't reply.
He didn't need to.
He already knew what he wanted.
To grow stronger.
To find out why his body was different.
To reach the realms above—the ones whispered about in legends.
And when the time came…
To ask Lira one simple question:
Why?