The silence after the fight in the alley was as deafening as the sound of Mateo's terrified whimpers. Elias walked back to the House of Dust, his senses heightened, his mind a whirlwind of information. The points were a revelation, a quantifiable measure of his return to form. The brutal, efficient violence of his old life was not only possible in this new one, but it was being rewarded.
As he closed the door to his room, a new notification appeared in his mind, not a small chime like before, but a resonant, powerful voice that vibrated through his very being.
Brutality recognized. System rewards unlocked. Basic Cultivation Technique: The Serpent's Heart.
A new sub-menu appeared under the "Powers" category. Elias's heart, a thing he rarely noticed, pounded in his chest. A cultivation technique. He'd only heard of such things in the whispers of the servants—tales of mystics and masters who could control the very energy of the world. Now, he was being given one.
He mentally selected it. The details flowed into his mind like a download:
The Serpent's Heart: A basic cultivation technique. It refines the body's latent energy, known as "Qi," strengthening the muscles, bones, and senses. The technique is slow and requires discipline, but it lays a foundation for more advanced powers.
The instructions were simple, almost insultingly so. Sit cross-legged. Breathe deeply. Focus on the flow of energy. Elias, a man of action and strategy, felt a wave of impatience. He was no monk, no mystic. But the thrill of a new skill, of a new weapon in his arsenal, was too powerful to ignore.
He sat on his bed, pushing aside the dusty blankets. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind, but it was impossible. The memories of his past life, the betrayal, the final hit—it all rushed back. He saw the cold smirk of his handler and the glowing blue stone that had sent him to this bizarre world.
He focused on the rage, letting it consume him. The more he thought about the betrayal, the clearer his mind became. The pain of the knife in his side, the shock of the truth, the feeling of his old life slipping away—he didn't push it away; he let it in. And as he did, he felt a subtle shift in his body. A faint warmth spread from his chest, a tingling sensation that moved through his limbs like a current.
The system chimed again, a low, satisfied tone.
First cultivation was successful. Training has begun. 10 Points Gained.
It was a small amount, but it was a start. He was on a new path, a path of power he couldn't have imagined a week ago. He wasn't just a hitman in a boy's body; he was a cultivator. He was a weapon, and now he had the manual to make himself stronger.
Elias opened his eyes. The room felt different now. The dust motes in the sunbeams weren't just dust; they were tiny points of energy, dancing in the air. He saw the faded patterns on the walls with a new clarity. His senses were sharpening. The path was set, and the journey had just begun.