ÇIN!
The moment Alex heard the sound, he froze. A tidal wave of joy and hope surged through him, restoring his faith in the future. It wasn't the voice of a famed poet reciting ancient verses, nor the live broadcast of a top-tier performer in the cultivation world. What stirred him so deeply… was simply a robotic DİNG.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Thank you! A thousand times, thank you! Finally—I can hear it! I can actually hear it!" Alex screamed in his mind. "But wait… if I can hear now… where the hell were you when I couldn't?!"
As he struggled to comprehend the weight of what was happening, the next message caught him completely off guard.
"DING! Emotional instability detected in host. You may now ask any question through the system panel. Maxiona Systems is always kind and reliable to our users :)"
Breathing deeply to calm himself, Alex steadied his voice. "Just call me Alex—no need for formalities. Now please, could you kindly explain what you are and how I can hear you?"
"Of course, Host. As you wish. While I do not possess a personal name, I am the latest model of the Maxiona System Database Happiness Unit. The reason for my sudden appearance… is destiny! Your universe was randomly selected during the Millennium Cosmic Lottery, which takes place every thousand years. Then, four systems were distributed to four randomly chosen individuals. I am System 003, and I am bound to serve you… until death… or infinity."
Alex didn't know whether to laugh or scream. Just moments ago, he couldn't hear a single sound, and now this? It was all too surreal. "Alright... then what exactly can you do?"
The System responded promptly, as if expecting the question:
"Host has full access through the User Panel."
Without hesitation, Alex muttered the words in the same robotic tone, "User Panel."
USER PANEL
Name: Alex Aliostar
Age: 13
PHYSICAL (Strength, Agility, Endurance...):
10 (10 = average human limit)
MENTAL (Mind Power, Willpower...): 10 (10 = average human limit)
ESSENCE: 0 (0 = average human range)
CULTIVATION: -
TECHNIQUES: Ball Crusher
MAGIC: -
SENSE AFFINITY: Sound (80%), Shadow (65%)
BLOODLINE: God of Sound's lineage, Descendant of the Shadow Mage
BODY: -
ATTRIBUTE POINTS: 5 SKILL POINTS: 0
Alex let out a long sigh as he stared at the floating translucent screen. "What the hell is going on… Bloodline? What's with this 'Body' and everything else?"
His confusion turned to pure curiosity when he noticed the strange technique listed: Ball Crusher. He hesitantly reached out and tapped it.
TECHNIQUE: Ball Crusher
Description: Damn, kid! You were only six when you nailed that perfect low-blow on your dad during sparring. The universe took notice and decided this path suited you. As a result, the system has tailored this technique specifically for you.
Effect: All groin-targeted attacks deal 5% additional damage.
After reading that, Alex couldn't help but wonder if the universe itself had testicles. If it did… well, maybe becoming a "Ball Crusher" wasn't such a bad career path after all.
"So… what can I do with the attribute points?" he asked aloud.
The system immediately responded:
"DING! Host may allocate points via the panel interface. But first the host needs to step into a cultivation system!"
Alex, still half in disbelief, asked the next question instinctively. "Hey System 003, tell me—what should I do with them?"
At that moment, Alex realized something painful. His dream of becoming a musician… might be dead. But could he really afford to waste this chance?
He made up his mind. "I guess… it's time to give up on being a musician."
"DING! System confused. Why would Host abandon the Path of Sound with an 80% affinity?"
That broke him. Furious, he screamed in a robotic mimicry, "BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE EARS!"
"DING! System is struggling to comprehend. Records indicate dozens of cultivation methods passed down from your ancestors that do not require hearing."
"Wha—what the hell do you mean?! This whole ear thing—since the beginning?! How?! Why?! I've never heard a single word about this! If my dad knew, he would've—HEY SYSTEM, STOP SCREWING WITH ME! ARE YOU SERIOUSLY TELLING ME THAT EVEN A DEAF GUY LIKE ME CAN WALK THE PATH OF SOUND?!"
"DING! Displaying list of hearing-independent cultivation techniques:"
Heavenly Dragon's Roar – User unleashes a deafening roar with voice strengthened through hardened vocal cords. This technique doesn't seek elegance or clarity—it embodies chaos.
Ancient Waveform Body – User exposes themselves to increasingly dense soundwaves, reshaping their physical body into one immune to interference. A single punch can split continents; echoes shatter stars...
...
Tyrant of the Dominant Sound – Speak. Don't listen. Just play. You play sound—joy, sorrow, fury, grief—you steal them all, reshaping existence with your voice alone.**
As tears streamed down Alex's cheeks, a grin broke out across his face. He couldn't hold it in. He laughed—loud, ragged, joyful sobs.
That night, servants passing through the halls paused at the sound of someone crying. They sighed, assuming Alex was having a nightmare. But they didn't know—the journey of the so-called Deaf Musician was just beginning.
In Alex's heart, new dreams were beginning to form—dreams born not from the sound he heard, but from the power of sound itself.
"Maybe… this really is my beginning," he thought. "To walk the ancient path of sound—not just as a dream, but as my destiny."
He no longer dreamed of just being a musician.
Now, he longed to master the true power of sound.