Chapter 7: Choices and Consequences

Morning light filtered through the small window of Elric's room, casting soft shadows on the floor. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. His body still ached from the fight with the Grey Mane Wolf, but the Healing Blood had done its job well. He was almost fully recovered, though the scars from the battle still throbbed faintly beneath his skin.

The events of the previous night replayed in his mind—how close he had come to death, the system's auto-spin that had granted him Healing Blood, and his narrow escape back into the city. But now that the immediate danger had passed, his thoughts drifted to something else: the soul point he had earned.

Elric sat up, his hand instinctively moving to the small interface of the Creator System. The single soul point sat there, waiting for him to use it, but he had no idea what to do with it yet. He had killed a low-level beast and gained one soul point in return, but how far could that really take him?

He knew, from the few things the system had hinted at, that soul points were the key to unlocking greater power. But one point seemed like a drop of water in an ocean of possibilities. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the economy of soul points must be vast—far beyond what he could comprehend right now.

"Soul points…" Elric muttered to himself, his mind racing.

He needed to understand more about how this system worked, but the system itself was frustratingly vague. As far as he knew, he could spend his soul point on any number of things—new items, skills, talents—but there had to be more to it than that. What if something really powerful costs hundreds, thousands, or even millions of soul points? he wondered.

That thought sent a chill down his spine. He had barely earned one point, and it had almost cost him his life. How many more beasts—or worse, how many more people—would he need to kill to accumulate enough soul points for something truly powerful?

Elric shook his head, trying to push the thought away. There had to be another way. He couldn't afford to think about it in those terms yet. For now, he had one soul point, and he needed to figure out how to use it.

He called up the system interface in his mind, letting it flicker to life before his eyes. The options hovered in the air, each one tempting him in its own way:

[Creator System Menu]

Soul Points: 1Available Creation Options:ItemsSkillsTalents

Elric stared at the choices, his mind weighing the possibilities. Should he create a new item? A weapon, perhaps? Or should he focus on skills, something that could complement his Flame Spark and Healing Blood? A talent upgrade would be ideal, but with just one soul point, he doubted he could afford anything significant in that category.

The system didn't give any indication of the cost for each option, but Elric had a feeling that powerful items or abilities were way out of his current reach. This wasn't a world where power came cheap.

As he sat there, contemplating his options, his thoughts drifted back to the world outside the academy—the world of cultivation systems, beasts, and power. Everything was tied to the cultivation levels, whether it was talents, abilities, or even weapons. The strongest cultivators could reshape landscapes, wield weapons that could cleave mountains, and call upon abilities that rivaled the gods. But all of that came with a price.

The StarFiend Cultivation System, one of the most ancient and revered systems discovered by humanity, had become the backbone of power for many warriors. It was known for its devastating attack power, but its downside was a weaker physical body. The ranks went from the Energy Consolidation Realm to the fabled Primordial Star God Realm, where cultivators gained almost godlike powers. To reach those levels, though, one needed access to resources that were nearly impossible to find—and soul points were no different.

Elric also remembered the Genesis Body Formulation, a human-made cultivation system designed to perfect the user's physique, enhancing it based on their talents and strengths. It was known to provide powerful physical traits, turning the body itself into a weapon. The further one progressed, the more their body became indestructible, rivaling the might of legendary beasts.

Thinking about it now, Elric realized that powerful abilities, items, and even higher-ranked talents likely fell in line with these cultivation systems. The further one advanced, the more resources—soul points, in his case—it would take. If the goal was to reach the Star Formation Realm or gain a Genesis Body capable of withstanding demonic forces, then the cost must grow exponentially with each step.

One soul point is nothing, Elric thought, his expression tightening. It's just the beginning.

The system's economy was harsh. If something as simple as a low-tier item or skill might cost a few soul points, then more powerful abilities or weapons could cost hundreds, thousands, or even millions. And the cultivation systems themselves? They were the pinnacle of power—reaching their heights would likely require an unimaginable amount of soul points.

I'll need to be careful about how I use this point, he realized. He couldn't afford to waste it on something minor when the stakes were so high. If he wanted to survive the tournament, to become strong enough to compete against the elites, he needed to think long-term.

But what could he do with just one point?

Elric's thoughts returned to his two abilities: Flame Spark and Healing Blood. They were both useful, but limited. Flame Spark was weak, little more than a flicker of flame, while Healing Blood was powerful in its own way, but reactive—it required him to be injured before it could help him. Together, they gave him some survivability, but they weren't enough to give him an edge in combat.

What if I could combine them?

The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. He could use Flame Spark offensively and Healing Blood defensively, creating a balance between attack and recovery. He could fight with fire, knowing that every injury would speed up his healing. But it would still be risky. He would be relying on getting hurt to heal faster, which wasn't exactly a winning strategy in the long run.

But what if I could enhance one of them?

Elric's gaze sharpened as he considered the idea. If he could use his soul point to upgrade one of his abilities, maybe he could tip the balance in his favor. But which one? Flame Spark was the obvious choice—it was his main offensive ability, after all. If he could make it stronger, it would give him more firepower in the tournament.

But upgrading Healing Blood had its own appeal. If he could increase its effectiveness, it might allow him to recover from injuries even faster, or perhaps heal more serious wounds. That could be a game-changer in the heat of battle.

Elric shook his head, frustrated by the decision. One soul point wasn't enough to make a meaningful impact—not yet. He needed more information before he could make the right choice.

But there was another possibility, one that he hadn't considered before.

What if I saved it? he thought. The system didn't seem to have any restrictions on when or how he used his soul points, and if the economy grew exponentially, it might be smarter to save up for something bigger. He didn't need to rush into a decision, not when the real test—the tournament—was still a few days away.

Elric sighed, running a hand through his hair. He was overthinking it, he knew, but he couldn't afford to make a mistake. The world outside the academy was unforgiving, and the tournament would be no different. The other students had stronger abilities, better resources, and more experience. He had a single soul point and two basic abilities.

I need to get stronger, Elric thought, his resolve hardening. I need more soul points.

But that brought him back to the same question: how? Killing beasts was one way, but that wouldn't be enough in the long run. He needed a reliable way to earn soul points if he wanted to survive in this world—if he wanted to compete against the others.

He lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind racing. There had to be a way. There had to be something he hadn't thought of yet.

But for now, all he could do was prepare. The tournament was approaching fast, and he had no time to waste.

End of Chapter 7.