The Home Front

*Multiple POVs*

***

(Middle Kingdom Civilian POV)

["What once used to be an exercise technique has now turned into a true martial art, stimulating 'Qi' within our bodies. Effects differ from person to person, for a reason currently unknown, from some unable to cultivate at all to others speeding through and making a 'breakthrough' from the average human to a 'cultivator' in a matter of a week or so. Since the beginning when we first learned about cultivating we've drastically cut down the time in which it takes for people to 'breakthrough' the first hurdle.

There are two distinct sides in this matter which have gained the most popularity: Those who wish for everyone to be able to cultivate and those who wish to only regulate cultivating to select individuals.

These two interest groups and their ideologies are quite obvious, but our channel has had the pleasure of interviewing leaders from both sides to hear out their arguments."

Immediately the TV cut to a scene with an onsite reporter and another young man sitting together at a wooden table. The scenery around them was a traditional courtyard of more ancient times. The man wore what seemed like a robe which only those in ancient ages were pictured to have worn and had his hair tied up in a similar style to one as well. From his presentation it could be seen how he wanted the world to view him.

"Sir, could you please state your name?" The reporter asked the man.

"Of course, my name is Chen Jian and I am the leader of the cultivation interest group, known simply as The Elixir."

"Oh? Why did you decide on this particular name?"

"Well, simply because of the elixir of immortality which the first emperor of our nation's history tried to concoct. This dates the cultivation of our people back dozens of centuries back and manuals of the period have been preserved telling of their cultivation experiences."

"What is the purpose of this group?"

"This group? It is simply created because we believe that everyone should have the ability to cultivate. No matter who they are they deserve the right to cultivate if they have the ability to. Depictions in many novels have seen your average man go from rock bottom to the very top of the world. This is a kind of second chance for us common people to succeed in life."

"What are your views of the other group who only believe in hand picking a few to become cultivators?"

"Well, I believe they are limiting the paths in which people are allowed to pick. Their elitist mentality is something I quite disagree with as they are taking these opportunities away from everyone. But there are no grudges between us, we only have differing thoughts, that's all."

..

Asking a few more questions the reporter finished their interview and soon another cut was made and a different reporter appeared sitting at a black colored table with a middle aged man across. The background consisted of modern aesthetics and a large window which showed a view of the city. The man wore a simple black suit with a red tie around the collar.

"Sir, could you please tell us your name?"

"My name is Yan Huan, CEO of the Yan corporation and leader of The Titans."

"Do you have a reason as to why you chose that name?"

"But of course, as our group believes in only nurturing a select few, naturally they will be the titans of our country. If they get all the resources then of course they must do the very best we can produce. After all it isn't the amount of cultivators we have that determine our fate, but the strongest!"

"Ah? I guess that answers the next question. Well, what do you think of the cultivation group?"

"Them? Their horde strategy of having everyone possible cultivate won't be able to sustain itself. They simply don't have enough resources to let anyone who wishes to cultivate. I don't hate them, I merely don't agree with them."

..

After a few more meaningless questions the channel cut back to the original reporter.]

"Daddy?" Tugging on my shirt a small child looked up at me from my lap.

"Yes son?"

"Are you going to be a cultivator too?"

"Well.. I don't know, it seems dangerous."

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Can I be a cultivator?"

"Maybe in the future. That is if they can finally reach an agreement between both sides. Honestly I can't understand why they can't have a bit of both. Couldn't they just let everyone cultivate as they want, yet also nurture a few future heroes specifically? Resources could just just have a price attached to them, not that it seems like we even know what sort of resources are required for cultivating anyway."

Looking down I saw my child's eye's become filled with confusion. He only tilled his head at me for a few moments before turning back to the TV.

"Oh? Ok."

["Crime rates have increased a total of 15% percent ever since Cultivation was made prominent. This is a new record which hasn't been reached in dozens of years! Ever since cultivation was discovered robbers have become more daring, this goes especially for those who have broken though. With enhanced strength these robbers believe they are invincible.

Those who fought back against them mostly had bad ends as many of these rogue 'cultivators' quickly incapacitate them with their newfound strength. Police are working hard to find new solutions to these robberies as they usually hit quickly and hard.

In the meantime we have a story in which one of these robbers picked the wrong store. An arrogant robber walked into a store barehanded to steal from the owner. Unluckily for him the owner happened to be a man who trained in martial arts since young, even with the his newfound abilities the robber was no match for the owner."]

***

(Middle Kingdom Cultivator POV)

Walking around the streets I spotted a crowd in the distance. Walking up I squeezed my way up past a few people to see the situation.

In front of me was a man standing over another, a smug smile plastered on his face. His pose was one of arrogance and disdain for the man below him. A large number of people were recording the situation, yet none seemed to want to intervene. In all likelihood the man was probably a cultivator like me, but it seems like the power had already gone to his head.

He looked like one of the robbers I had seen recently on TV and realized that I moved in. I became a cultivator for the simple reason of protecting this neighborhood and its people as they had all done to me when I was young.

Coincidentally I happened to know the man on the ground who seemed to be begging for his life. Immediately walking in I confronted him.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing picking on people like that! You think you can do whatever you want now that you're technically a cultivator?!"

Hearing my indignant roar, the man's face which was smiling moment's ago contorted as he slowly turned toward me.

"You! Hehe, I'll show you. I'll show you the difference between me, a future immortal and you!"

Raising his arm he was extremely predictable with that swing he was winding up. As he swung down I raised my hand and quickly parried his attack. His eyes showed shock at the fact that I could do anything to him and in turn using the opening I launched an upper cut at him.

My fist landed squarely below his jaw causing him to stumble a few steps back before falling down. Honestly this man was a complete novice at fighting, anyone with fighting experience of any kind should be able to take him down, cultivator or not.

Taking a final look at the man it looked like that single punch had knocked him out. He made no movement to get up so I went over to help the man I knew.

"Whooo!"

"Good Job!!"

Ignoring the cheers for me I continued checking him over, he held onto his stomach the entire time. Looking over his exterior I didn't find any wounds, but that didn't mean he was fine. After getting no response from him from multiple questions I had to act.

After picking him up I specifically asked one of the nearby people to call the police on the man I knocked out before heading to a hospital. I had to put responsibility on a single person, after all if I asked everyone there was a chance no one would believe one of the others would do so.

***

(Confederation of Ferling Citizen POV)

Walking through the streets I felt the tension in the air. The news of cultivation has riled up revolutionaries and nationalists. For the past 6 months ever since this method of strength has circulated from The Middle Kingdom to my home nation, the 7th one to sign the declaration of our confederation, Alcan, the thoughts of reforming our old country and declaring our independence kept popping up.

It doesn't seem like it's only affecting our 'country' either, 'countries' such as the 5th Florin, and 12th Laputa seemed to have similar conspiracies as well. While these thoughts are circulating the confederation it seems the confederation's power as a whole is starting to fall apart. As there had never been a central government each original country has been for the most part left to their own devices and land. As such there hasn't been much assimilation between the nations.

The night breeze I felt as I walked in the open streets gave me shivers. Thoughts about my nation starting a rebellion was insane and made no sense. There haven't been more than 5 countries in the world for dozens of years. Everything seemed fine before this cultivation thing appeared, now it seems like it's what everyone is talking about.

Has it appeared to have turned everyone insane or something? What are our nations supposed to do without the backing of the confederation? When everyone worked together all of our shortcomings seemed to vanish, but if we go back to being alone isn't that the same as cutting off all of our backers and starting anew?

Walking up some stairs and opening an apartment door a woman on a couch greeted me.

"Hey, welcome back! Rough day?"

"Yeah, I've been thinking about those revolution conspiracies. I've been contemplating on whether or not we should just get out of here or not."

"What? What about our parents though or friends? To be honest I really don't want to leave! We've finally settled here. How could we just leave?"

"It was just a thought, you don't have to worry so much! If anything were to happen I would consult you first."