Dion stumbled into his small, cramped room, the lingering pain a dull throb across his body. He collapsed onto his simple bed, the springs groaning in protest. Every muscle ached, every bruise screamed in protest, and a suffocating wave of despair washed over him. He stared at the water-stained ceiling, his vision blurry with tears.
"Ahhh… it hurts so much. Why does this always happen to me?" he whispered to the empty room.
He reached under his pillow, his hand trembling as he pulled out a small, metallic box. It was the only thing his parents had left him, a smooth, unadorned cube with a faint, shimmering green hue. The metal felt cold, almost alive, against his skin.
"Mom… Dad… why did you abandon me?" a fresh wave of tears streamed down his cheeks.
He clutched the box to his chest, the motion sending a fresh jolt of pain through his battered hands. Unconsciously, the blood from his raw knuckles and the tears from his eyes fell onto the box's surface.
For a few agonizing seconds, nothing happened.
Then, a low, resonant hum vibrated through the metal. Dion gasped, his crying coming to an abrupt halt. The faint green shimmer on the box intensified, absorbing every drop of blood and every tear as if they were nourishment. The box began to glow with a bright, pulsating light, and a low, grinding sound filled the room.
The box trembled violently in his hands.
"What… what's happening?!" Dion yelled, startled. The box suddenly flew out of his grip, spinning in the air before clattering onto the floor. The grinding sound grew louder, and a thin line appeared along its top edge. Slowly, painfully, the lid began to lift.
Is it opening? Is this really it? A tremor of excitement, powerful enough to momentarily dull his physical pain, coursed through him. All his life, he had failed to open this box. He had dreamed of the secrets it held, of the parents who abandoned him. Perhaps, just perhaps, it held a clue to finding them.
Creak~
With a final, protesting groan, the lid popped open. Dion scrambled on the floor, his heart pounding in his chest. He peered into the box, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and terror. But before he could see what lay inside, a brilliant, blinding flash of pure white light erupted from within.
The light was a physical force, a torrent of raw energy that slammed into his forehead.
"Ahhh! What is this?! No! What are you doing?! Get out of my head!" Dion screamed, his hands flying to his forehead as if to physically stop the torrent.
The pain was a billion tiny needles piercing his brain, a burning sensation that felt like his skull was about to crack open. His nerves screamed in agony as the white light surged through his consciousness, rewriting something deep within him. He convulsed on the floor, his body arching, his mind filled with a whirlwind of incomprehensible symbols and code. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the small green box on the floor, now completely empty and inert.
---
Two hours later, Dion's eyes fluttered open. A thick haze of confusion clouded his mind, and a dull ache throbbed behind his temples.
"Ugh… my head… it's so heavy," he groaned, pushing himself up. "What in the world was that? The box… it almost killed me!"
He sat up fully, taking in his surroundings. The room was the same, the afternoon light filtering through his window, but something felt different. His body felt… lighter. As if a crushing weight he had carried his whole life had suddenly been lifted.
Engh!
A foul, bitter taste filled his mouth, and a thick gob of black, tar-like blood shot out. It landed on the floor with a sickening plop.
"What? What is this?! Why am I spitting blood?! Am I going to die?!" A wave of panic seized him. He stared at the disgusting fluid on the floor, his stomach lurching.
Then, a calm, clear voice resonated directly in his mind, as if it had been there all along.
{Master, you are now connected to the System.}
Dion's head whipped around. "Who's there?! Who's talking to me?!" he yelled, his eyes darting frantically around the room. His heart hammered against his ribs. He was alone. The terror of the unknown, of a disembodied voice in his head, was worse than any beating.
{Master, you need not be afraid. I am inside you. I am a System. With me, you can become the most powerful and extraordinary person in this world.}
"Lies! You're trying to trick me!" Dion shouted, a desperate edge to his voice.
{That is not a lie, Master. It is a fact. The System is now integrated into your being, allowing you to become stronger than you can possibly imagine. You are already living proof. Look at your body. All your wounds, all the blood, they have all vanished without a trace.}
Dion's eyes widened. He looked at his hands, expecting to see cuts and bruises. But there was nothing. No blood, no swollen knuckles. He ripped off his shirt and inspected his torso. The painful welts from Rendy's kicks were gone. His body was flawless, as if the beating had never happened.
His mind went blank with shock. He stared at his perfectly healed skin, then at the empty, inert box on the floor.
This… this is what they left me? If this System is truly so powerful, then my life is about to change forever!
{Master, the System can be controlled with your thoughts or by verbal commands. Please look at the panel floating before you. Only you can see it.}
Dion snapped out of his daze and his eyes instinctively focused on a holographic screen that shimmered into existence right in front of his face. It was a digital panel, filled with words and numbers.
System Panel
Name: Dion Wardana
Race: Human
Balance: $10,000,000,000,000 (Your balance is connected to all banks. You can make payments with your fingerprint. You can top up using the '+' button or by receiving rewards from the GIFT BOX)
Cultivation: (Uncultivated)
Cultivation Techniques: (Techniques related to the body, soul, and cultivation)
Skills: (Can be added by purchasing skills from the System Shop or by learning them)
Cultivation Points: (Used to instantly increase cultivation. You can earn them by defeating living beings. Points gained depend on the difficulty of the opponent)
Magic Points: (Used to purchase items from the System Shop, expand Inventory, or be exchanged for Cultivation Points at a 10:1 ratio, meaning 10 Magic Points can be exchanged for 1 Cultivation Point. You can earn Magic Points by spending money on things without bargaining)
Gift Box: [1 Gift Box] (Gift Boxes are the System's way of rewarding your achievements. The one you have now is a welcome gift from the System)
Inventory: 10 cubic meters
Version: 0.1
---
Dion stared at the numbers, his jaw slack. A trillion dollars?! The thought was so absurd it was almost comical. His mind spun, trying to comprehend the sheer scale of the wealth he now possessed. This wasn't just a life-changing event; it was a destiny-changing one.
{Master, would you like to open your welcome Gift Box?}
"Hmm... yes," Dion replied, his voice a little breathless with excitement.
{Congratulations, Master. You have received a balance of $10,000,000 USD, the Golden Dragon Body Technique, and the Heavenly Soul Technique.}
Dion's eyes widened. A ten-million-dollar bonus on top of his initial balance?! And what were these "techniques"?
{The $10,000,000 USD has already been added to your balance. As for the Golden Dragon Body Technique and the Heavenly Soul Technique, would you like to integrate them into your body? Yes/No}
Dion didn't hesitate. "Yes."
{Integrating the Golden Dragon Body and Heavenly Soul techniques into your body. This process will cause intense pain. Please endure it to remain conscious.}
A familiar, searing pain erupted in his mind, but this time, it was a hundred times more intense than before. It felt as if his very cells were being torn apart and stitched back together with threads of fire. His bones groaned, his muscles contracted, and his consciousness felt like a fragile boat on a stormy sea. He gritted his teeth, a bloodcurdling scream trapped in his throat.
No... I can't faint! If I pass out, the integration might fail! I have to hold on!
{...10%... 20%... 30%...}
His vision swam, his senses overloaded by the agony. The voices of his bullies, the memories of his pain, the faces of those who laughed at him—they all swirled in his mind, fueling his resolve. He held onto his hatred for Rendy, using it as a pillar to stay conscious. This pain, this suffering, was a testament to his new beginning.
{Congratulations, Master. The Golden Dragon Body and Heavenly Soul techniques have been successfully integrated into your body.}
The pain faded as quickly as it had come, leaving him gasping for breath. He lay on the bed, his body slick with sweat. He felt weak, but in a profound way, he also felt stronger than ever before. He felt a deep, primal energy coursing through his veins, a power that hadn't been there before.
Then, a black, foul-smelling liquid began to ooze from his pores, covering his skin in a sticky, tar-like film. Along with it came an influx of information, a tidal wave of knowledge about the two techniques that had just been integrated.
He now understood. The Golden Dragon Body Technique was a supreme cultivation art that could absorb any type of energy, strengthening his body to a level three to five times greater than that of a normal cultivator. It was the key to unlocking physical power. The Heavenly Soul Technique was its spiritual counterpart, a supreme art for training one's soul, mental fortitude, and consciousness.
"System… can I ask you something?" Dion's voice was hoarse.
{Of course, Master. You can ask me anything.}
"What exactly is cultivation?"
{Cultivation is the process of strengthening the body and soul by absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. The goal of cultivation is to pursue immortality. In the world of cultivators, the strong are kings, and the weak are mere slaves. With the power of a cultivator, Master, you can manifest magical abilities that defy human logic.}
The System then displayed a long list of cultivation ranks in his mind's eye:
Human Realm (9 stages)
Qi Gathering Realm (9 stages)
Qi Perfection Realm (9 stages)
Foundation Establishment Realm (Early, Middle, High)
Golden Core Realm (Early, Middle, High)
Earth Realm (Early, Middle, High)
Heaven Realm (Early, Middle, High)
Martial King Realm (Early, Middle, High)
Martial Emperor Realm (Early, Middle, High)
{...and there are even higher realms above the Martial Emperor Realm, but for now, I will only inform you of these nine.}
"Hmm... so it's like martial arts?" Dion asked.
{Yes, Master. But cultivation is far stronger and more comprehensive. Martial arts only refine the body, while cultivation absorbs external energy.}
"Okay, I'm going to take a shower. My body smells terrible," Dion said, finally feeling the repulsive odor of the black fluid on his skin.
{Hehe. That is the filth, toxins, bacteria, and germs being purged from your body, Master. You are now cleaner and healthier than any ordinary human.}
"Oh... so that's what it is," Dion muttered, feeling a smile spread across his face for the first time in a long time. The past was gone. His wounds were gone. And his destiny was his to seize. He turned and walked into the bathroom, ready to wash away his old self and step into his new life.