The next morning, Ronan awoke to the sound of birds and distant student chatter. Sunlight spilled across his room, but he felt… different. Lighter. Energized.
The memory of the system activation from last night wasn't a dream. It still lingered in his mind—and in his chest. A faint warmth pulsed inside him like a hidden ember.
As he sat up, a new screen blinked into view.
> *Blast Core Tutorial: Step 1 – Identify the Core.*
> Task: Locate the internal "blast node" through meditation.
> Reward: +1 Core Stability, Unlock Basic Blast Push.
Ronan blinked. "Meditation?"
He never really believed in that sort of thing. But with a system speaking in glowing text, he wasn't going to argue.
---
He found a quiet courtyard near the dorms and sat under a tree. The campus buzzed around him—students rushing to lectures, drones humming overhead—but he focused inward.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Minutes passed. The system stayed silent.
Then—something clicked.
A small surge deep inside, like a heartbeat separate from his own. He focused on it. It pulsed once. Twice. Then flared.
> *Core Node Identified.*
> Blast Push unlocked.
Suddenly, a shockwave burst from his chest, harmless but forceful, knocking over a pile of dry leaves nearby.
A student passing by turned and stared. Ronan waved awkwardly. "Wind?"
---
Later that day, in a training hall for new recruits, Ronan tested the skill.
He focused on his core and directed it to his hand. A soft "boom" sound cracked from his palm, pushing a training dummy backward several feet.
> *Blast Push – Level 1*
> Energy Output: 3%
> Recharge: 5 seconds
It wasn't flashy yet. But it was real.
And it was growing.
---
As he walked back toward his dorm, a message popped up again.
> *System Advice: Calm Mind = Stronger Blast.*
> Suggestion: Avoid chaos. Live simple. Strength comes through peace.
Peace equals power?
He smiled. Maybe this system wasn't about fighting nonstop.
Maybe he could live quietly, enjoy his time here—and still become the strongest.
---