Chapter 18: Divine Ability — Life and Death
For what felt like an eternity, Shin floated in darkness. His body was heavy, his consciousness drifting like a broken boat on a raging sea.
Then—light.
His eyes opened slowly, the white ceiling above him unfamiliar. The faint smell of disinfectant filled his nose.
> "A… hospital?"
He turned his head weakly. Bandages wrapped around his body, and tubes connected him to strange Qi-powered medical devices.
Just then, the door opened. A nurse peeked in, her eyes widening.
> "He's awake!"
She hurried out. Moments later, heavy footsteps approached.
A tall man, about twenty-seven years old, stepped into the room. His military uniform gleamed, his aura sharp like a blade.
He gave Shin a calm look.
> "Hello. How are you feeling now?"
Shin swallowed. His throat was dry, but he forced out a reply.
> "Better… now."
The man nodded slightly.
> "Good. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Di Fan, General Rank Officer of the Cultivation Association. We found you at the site of a massive explosion two days ago. You were on the brink of death."
Shin froze.
> "Two… days ago?"
Memories rushed back—the goblins, the desperate fight, the bloodline awakening, the terrifying wave of destruction. His heart raced.
But he knew—he could not reveal the truth. If the Cultivation Association learned of his bloodline, they would never let him go.
Shin lowered his eyes, pretending to think.
> "I… I was training in the jungle when suddenly, there was an explosion. I don't know what happened after that. But… before the explosion, I saw something…"
Di Fan's eyes narrowed.
> "What did you see?"
Shin hesitated, then replied carefully:
> "A… goblin-like monster. I've read about them in some novels before. That's what it looked like."
Di Fan frowned deeply.
> "A goblin… are you certain?"
Shin nodded.
> "Yes. Without a doubt."
The officer's expression turned grave. He muttered to himself:
> "So… it's true. Monsters have appeared on Earth…"
His gaze hardened.
> "Rest here first. I'll report this directly to the Chairman of the Association."
Without another word, Di Fan turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
---
The Hidden Truth
Silence returned to the hospital room.
Shin lay back, his heart pounding.
> "If goblins are here… then the system was right. The world is changing. And this is only the beginning."
His eyes shifted to the translucent screen floating quietly in the air.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
> "System… claim reward."
Ding!
「 Congratulations for completing the First Mission 」
「 Reward Granted: Divine Ability — Life and Death 」
Shin's eyes widened.
Divine Ability: Life and Death
Description: The power to control the dual forces of existence. Life energy can heal wounds, restore vitality, and even mend broken bodies. Death energy is the essence of decay and destruction—it can be infused into weapons, erode defenses, and slay enemies with terrifying efficiency.
Shin's heart trembled as the knowledge flowed into him. His hands shook slightly.
> "A… Divine Ability… something like this…"
He clenched his fists.
> "With this… I won't be helpless anymore."
But deep down, he knew—the awakening of his bloodline and now this Divine Ability would not remain hidden forever.
And when the world learned of it… chaos would follow.
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✨ End of Chapter 18 ✨