Arin slowly rose to his feet after completing his daily cultivation.
As always, he carefully brushed the loose dirt from his cloak before stretching his arms and shoulders. The peaceful silence of the forest surrounded him, broken only by birdsong and the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind. It seemed destined to become another quiet afternoon, one no different from countless others since his return from the Black Forest.
Then the entire world fell silent.
It was not the ordinary silence of nature but something far stranger. For the briefest moment, every person on Earth instinctively paused, sensing that something unimaginably important was about to occur. Whether standing in the middle of a crowded city, sailing across the open sea, exploring a dungeon, or sleeping peacefully at home, every human simultaneously felt an invisible pressure descend upon the planet.
Arin immediately recognized what was happening.
He stopped moving altogether and raised his head toward the sky.
"This must be it," he whispered.
He had no idea what announcement was coming, but the overwhelming presence surrounding the world left little room for doubt. Whatever spoke next would be heard by every living human without exception.
A cold, impartial voice echoed across the Earth.
Its words ignored distance, language, and every natural barrier separating humanity. Every person heard the announcement in a manner they instinctively understood, as though the meaning itself had been placed directly into their minds rather than spoken aloud. Despite its emotional restraint, there was an unmistakable authority behind every syllable.
"Congratulations to Kaya Caemelbeke of the nation of Saint Martin."
The voice paused briefly before continuing.
"By becoming the first human to break through Stage One, Kaya Caemelbeke has officially reached adulthood according to the standards of the System."
For a single heartbeat, the entire planet stood frozen.
No one had expected such an announcement.
People had naturally assumed that someone somewhere would eventually become the first Stage One cultivator, but very few expected that distinction to belong to a young man from one of the world's smallest nations who many were learning for the first time even existed. Even governments monitoring countless talented candidates found themselves caught completely off guard.
The System continued speaking.
"As recognition for this outstanding achievement, Kaya Caemelbeke shall receive the opportunity to choose one weapon of Rare rarity in the form of a magical wand."
Its tone remained perfectly calm.
"In addition, the nation of Saint Martin shall be granted one additional mana vein upon its territory."
Shock rapidly spread throughout the world.
Military leaders, politicians, faction leaders, and ordinary civilians alike struggled to comprehend the implications of those rewards. A naturally occurring mana vein represented an invaluable strategic resource capable of transforming an entire region's future development. Even many major nations possessed only a limited number of such treasures.
Saint Martin had just doubled its fortune.
The announcement, however, had not yet finished.
"Now that the first human has successfully reached adulthood, the personal status of all future Stage One cultivators shall be revised."
The wording immediately drew countless questions.
Until now, everyone had simply accepted the existing status sheets as complete. Very few people had seriously considered that the System itself might continue evolving alongside humanity. The realization that their understanding remained incomplete left researchers throughout the world furiously taking notes.
The voice calmly explained the change.
"Individuals who have not yet reached Stage One shall henceforth be recognized as Mortals."
That single sentence reshaped humanity's understanding of cultivation.
What everyone had previously considered normal cultivation was, according to the System, merely preparation before true adulthood. The distinction carried enormous symbolic significance, instantly altering the way countless factions viewed the path ahead.
Another announcement quickly followed.
"Following these developments, all recognized factions shall receive authorization to create and submit their own breathing methods."
Arin's eyes widened.
Around the world, countless faction leaders reacted in exactly the same way. Up until now, humanity had relied almost entirely upon techniques obtained from the System itself. The possibility of designing entirely original breathing methods represented an unprecedented opportunity.
The System continued before anyone could recover.
"Every submitted breathing method shall undergo examination by the System to verify that it is safe for cultivation."
That reassurance immediately eased many concerns.
Experimenting with cultivation techniques had always carried enormous risks. A single mistake could permanently cripple a person's mana pathways or even result in death. Knowing that the System itself would verify new techniques before approval dramatically reduced the dangers associated with innovation.
The announcement carried one final condition.
"Every recognized nation shall publish breathing methods suitable for civilian use."
The reason soon became clear.
"These methods shall ensure that all citizens who choose not to join a faction, or who are unable to do so, possess safe means of strengthening themselves."
The announcement had one final revelation.
"A new blueprint has been delivered to every government on Earth."
No further explanation accompanied those words.
"In seven days, the Proving Grounds shall open."
Curiosity instantly replaced confusion.
No one knew what the Proving Grounds actually were. The blueprint had only just appeared inside secure government facilities, meaning not even national leaders had enough time to study its contents. Every intelligence agency immediately shifted its attention toward uncovering as much information as possible before the seven-day deadline expired.
Then the System's tone changed.
For the first time since humanity had begun hearing its voice, genuine emotion became noticeable.
It was subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
Yet everyone listening instinctively recognized the difference.
"When encountering corrupted humans or corrupted creatures..."
The brief pause felt unusually heavy.
"Report them immediately."
The atmosphere surrounding the announcement noticeably darkened.
"Any government, faction, or individual who knowingly shelters, protects, or refuses to eliminate these traitors to the human race shall themselves be branded traitors."
The final sentence carried unmistakable condemnation.
"They shall be judged accordingly."
Silence followed.
No additional explanation appeared.
No clarification was offered.
The announcement simply ended, leaving billions of people staring upward in stunned disbelief.
Across the world, discussions erupted almost immediately.
Most people barely focused upon Saint Martin's extraordinary achievement anymore. Instead, their thoughts centered upon those final words. Every rumor surrounding corrupted humans described encounters so horrifying that witnesses struggled to explain them properly afterward. Nearly everyone who had survived such meetings claimed the same thing: no description could ever truly capture how fundamentally wrong their presence felt.
The stories suddenly seemed far more believable.
Back within her private domain, Gaia slowly released a long breath.
"That went rather well."
Although the announcement had not unfolded exactly as she originally envisioned, she considered the overall result a success. Most of her objectives had been accomplished, and humanity now possessed several powerful incentives to continue developing together instead of growing increasingly isolated.
She did feel slightly guilty toward Saint Martin.
Originally, she had wanted to reward the tiny nation with something far grander than a single mana vein and one Rare-grade magical wand. Unfortunately, historical evidence had taught her that excessive generosity often created more problems than benefits. Presenting one small nation with an overwhelmingly valuable treasure would almost certainly provoke international conflict.
That was the last thing she wanted.
Any reward too valuable would inevitably become a target.
If it could be stolen, someone would eventually attempt to steal it. If it could not be stolen, nations might simply invade to seize control of it by force. Even the additional mana vein already bordered on provoking international jealousy, making the Rare-grade wand the absolute limit of what Gaia considered politically acceptable.
Fortunately, Kaya possessed one enormous advantage.
He lived on an island.
Combined with his personal strength and military background, that geographical isolation significantly reduced the number of people foolish enough to target him directly. Reaching Saint Martin would require planning, logistics, and considerable risk, making impulsive attacks far less likely than they would have been elsewhere.
Even so, Gaia had no intention of becoming complacent.
She had deliberately painted a target upon Kaya's back.
That fact did not please her.
However, it also presented an opportunity.
If corrupted humans truly existed in the numbers she suspected, many of them would eventually view humanity's first Stage One cultivator as the perfect target for proving their own superiority. Should they make such a move, Gaia intended to be watching very, very closely.
Perhaps, she thought quietly, it was finally time to discover exactly which monsters have been developing among humanity.