Day 3
Being a baby was, without question, the most frustrating experience of Runar's two lives.
His thoughts moved like molasses through his underdeveloped brain. Simple concepts that should have taken milliseconds to process now required agonizing seconds. It was like trying to run modern software on a computer from the 1990s—technically possible, but painfully, excruciatingly slow.
He couldn't even turn his head properly without his neck muscles giving out.
This is what I get for thinking reincarnation would be convenient, Runar thought, the internal monologue taking nearly a full minute to formulate. Note to self: infant bodies are terrible. Avoid if possible in future lives.
The system interface floated in his vision, mercifully not requiring much mental processing to read:
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION][NEWBIE GIFT PACKAGE AVAILABLE][ACCEPT? Y/N]
He'd noticed it the first day but had been too overwhelmed to process it. Now, with his mother sleeping peacefully beside his crib and his father somewhere else in the house, Runar focused his limited cognitive resources on the floating text.
Yes. Obviously yes.
[NEWBIE GIFT PACKAGE ACCEPTED]
[PROCESSING...]
[REWARDS GRANTED:]
[1. CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES (3)]
Stellar Ascension Method (Qi Cultivation - Heaven Grade)
Cosmic Forge Body Scripture (Body Cultivation - Heaven Grade)
Eternal Soul Codex (Soul Cultivation - Heaven Grade)
[2. PHYSIQUE ACQUIRED]
Universal Refinement Physique (Divine Grade) Description: Capable of absorbing and refining any form of energy. Automatically converts foreign energy into pure cultivation base. Efficiency increases with cultivation realm. Compatible with all cultivation paths.
[3. MARTIAL SOUL AWAKENED]
Void Severance Katana Soul (Supreme Grade - Growth Type) Description: Unique weapon soul that grows with host. Current form: Dormant. Capable of cutting through space, intent, laws, and eventually rules. Only seven weapon souls of Supreme Grade recorded in Telstra's history.
[4. INFINITE QI REALM ENTRIES: 20]
[5. WORLD-HOPPING GATE ACTIVATIONS: 20]
[6. BONUS ITEMS:]
Foundation Establishing Pills x100, Meridian Cleansing Elixir x50, Soul Nourishing Incense x30, Boxes of Beginner's Rune Compendium (Divine Grade Knowledge Jade), System Interface Upgrade Token x1, Random Physique Trait Enhancement x3.
[ALL ITEMS STORED IN SYSTEM INVENTORY]
[NOTE: Due to host's infant state, most items cannot be used immediately. System will notify when host reaches appropriate age/development stage.]
Runar stared at the list, his baby brain struggling to process the sheer absurdity of what he'd just received.
Okay. So truck-kun felt guilty enough to give me a god-tier starter package. Guess i wont beat him up too much in the future.
Even with his limited knowledge of this world, the grades alone told him everything. Heaven Grade techniques. Divine Grade physique. Supreme Grade martial soul. These weren't just good—they were probably the kind of things cultivators went to war over.
And he had three uses of enhancement items he hadn't even identified yet.
I need to be very, very careful about this, Runar thought slowly. If anyone finds out what I have...
The thought trailed off as exhaustion pulled at him. Thinking was hard. Being a baby was hard. Everything was hard.
He let sleep take him, the system interface fading into comfortable darkness.
Day 7
"—confirmed reports of another incursion in the Outer Reaches," the holographic news anchor was saying, her professional voice filling the living room. "The Celestial Defense Fleet engaged three Kravix raiding parties near the mining colonies of Sector 47. Casualties were minimal, but several transport vessels were captured before reinforcements arrived."
Runar lay in his father's arms, Jake having picked him up when he'd started fussing. His father sat in a comfortable chair facing a projection screen that showed the news broadcast in crisp detail—far more advanced than any TV from Earth.
"The Kravix are getting bolder," Jake murmured, his voice troubled. "That's the third raid this month."
"Should we be worried?" Runar's mother—Lirien, he'd learned—called from the kitchen. The smell of cooking meat and unfamiliar spices wafted through the house.
"We're safe enough on Telstra," Jake replied, gently rocking Runar. "The aliens still haven't found the homeworld's location, thank the Supremes. But the outer colonies..." He trailed off, shaking his head.
The news broadcast shifted, showing footage of what Runar assumed were the Kravix. They looked insectoid—chitinous armor, multiple limbs, mandibles that could probably tear through steel. The footage showed them fighting against human cultivators, and even through the screen, Runar could see the difference in power.
The Kravix used technology—energy weapons, powered armor, plasma shields. The human defenders used cultivation—flying through space on swords, throwing fireballs the size of cars, creating barriers of pure qi.
"In related news," the anchor continued, "the Stellar Council has announced increased recruitment for the Defense Fleet. Cultivators at Stellar Ignition realm and above are encouraged to apply. The Council reminds citizens that service in the Fleet comes with substantial merit points and access to restricted cultivation resources."
So this world is under constant threat from alien raiders, Runar thought, his processing speed slightly better than it had been a few days ago. And they're actively recruiting defenders. Which means the threat is serious enough to need constant reinforcements.
The broadcast shifted again, this time to local news.
"Here in Velsinor City, the Continental Academy has announced its entrance examination dates for the next academic year. Applicants must be at least fifteen years of age and have reached Meteor Forging realm minimum. This year's examination will include..."
Academy. Fifteen years old. Meteor Forging realm minimum.
Runar filed that information away. If this world had cultivation academies, that's where he'd learn the foundations he needed. And if Meteor Forging was the minimum requirement...
His baby brain couldn't quite work through the math, but he knew it meant cultivation took time. Years, possibly. He'd need to start as soon as physically possible.
"Oh, and the Supreme Council meeting next week," the anchor added almost as an afterthought. "The Eight will be discussing the proposed expansion of the Eastern Defense Perimeter. Cultivators across Telstra are encouraged to—"
Jake changed the projection with a wave of his hand, switching to what looked like a cultivation technique demonstration. "Enough doom and gloom. Let's watch something more educational, little Runar."
The Eight. The Supreme Council. So those are the top powerhouses of this world.
Over the next hour, as his father watched the demonstration—something about proper qi circulation for Satellite Orbit cultivators—Runar absorbed more information. The instructor mentioned cultivation realms, techniques, meridians, and something called "intent" that sounded important.
It was frustrating, being able to hear and understand but not being able to ask questions or take notes. His programmer's mind wanted to organize everything into neat categories, create flowcharts, establish hierarchies of information.
Instead, all he could do was listen and remember as best his infant brain would allow.
Day 12
"Your father's worried about money again," Lirien said softly, cradling Runar against her shoulder as she paced their modest living room. "The Archive cut his hours. Something about budget constraints."
Runar made a small noise—the closest thing to acknowledgment his body would allow.
"It's fine, though. The shop's been doing better lately. I sold three batches of Foundation Establishing Pills this week alone." She laughed quietly. "Everyone wants their children to reach Stardust Awakening before they turn ten. As if starting early guarantees success."
Foundation Establishing Pills. The system gave me a hundred of those.
Runar felt a pang of something—guilt? His parents were worrying about money while he had cultivation resources literally sitting in a system inventory. Resources that, if he could somehow distribute them without raising suspicion, could change their lives.
But I can't. Not yet. Not until I'm old enough to explain, and even then...
How did you tell your parents you were a reincarnated person from another world with a cheat system?
One problem at a time. First: survive infancy. Second: start cultivating. Third: figure out how to help family without exposing secrets. Fourth: eventually beat up truck-kun.
His mother's pacing had a rhythm to it, soothing despite his tumultuous thoughts. Through the window, Runar could see the sky—and it was wrong. Not wrong in a bad way, but distinctly alien.
Two suns hung in the sky, one golden and warm, the other slightly smaller and tinged with blue. The light they cast created strange double shadows. And in the daytime sky, barely visible but definitely there, Runar could make out the faint outline of at least two moons.
Telstra. Two suns, four moons, a thousand times larger than Earth, according to geology report on the news.
The scale of it was difficult to grasp even with his adult mind. Back on Earth, the planet had been his entire universe. Here, Telstra was just one world among many, and apparently not even the strongest one if there were "outer colonies" and "defense fleets."
"You're very quiet today," Lirien said, looking down at him with those gentle jade-green eyes. "Usually you're fussing by now. Are you feeling alright?"
Runar made another small noise, managing to move one tiny hand enough to grasp at her finger.
She smiled, and Runar felt something unexpected—warmth. Genuine affection. These weren't just NPCs in some reincarnation story. They were real people with real concerns, who loved him despite him being a stranger wearing their son's body.
I'll make it worth it, he promised silently. I'll use these gifts to become strong enough to protect you both. To make your lives better.
It was a programmer's promise—a commitment to solve the problem, optimize the solution, debug the errors until everything ran smoothly.
Day 15
The system pinged.