The Ascension of the Titan

The purplish grass whispered beneath him as Thanos sat in a serene lotus position, his colossal figure a stark contrast against the exotic flora. His breath was slow and rhythmic, each exhale a deliberate release, each inhale a humble acceptance. A soft sun showered him in warmth, its rays washing over his hardened, ridged skin, and painting it with a hint of gold.

"Good," the voice of Elder Wu wafted through the air, his tone resounding with the rustling leaves and singing birds. The old man stood not too far away, his long fingers gracefully tending to his silver beard. "The first step to reach the first stage is to lose oneself. Lose yourself, and the heavens will find you."

Eyes closed, Thanos listened, his mind accepting the words while his body resonated with the world around him.

"The second step," the elder continued, his voice flowing like a lulling river, "is purely based on worth. If the heavens deem you worthy of being a cultivator, they will grant you the key to begin your cultivation."

In the back of his consciousness, the resident voice broke through, skeptically pondering, "I don't want to be the party pooper, but... we aren't natives of this place, are we? Won't that heaven thing screw us up because of that?"

To this, Thanos, the titan from another world, inwardly responded, "We would have already died as soon as we arrived in this place then." His response was met with a simple agreement, "Yep." Silence once again consumed the internal dialogue.

Amid this tranquil setting, Elder Wu continued his lesson. "That key is the core that every living being develops once they take a step into cultivation. Depending on your worthiness towards the heavens, you will receive a corresponding core."

Thanos listened intently, even as a peculiar sensation began to envelope his body. It was as if his very being was being harmonized with the world around him. The more he opened his heart and mind to this connection, the more potent it became.

He felt a wave of purity sweeping through his veins, eradicating a kind of darkness he wasn't even aware existed within him. It was as if an inner river was cleansing every speck of impurity, revealing a purer version of himself. His mind felt sharper, thoughts clear as crystal, and his body... his body seemed to be teeming with a newfound vitality, a raw and primal strength that even his Titan form had not possessed. This strange energy ran rampant within him, invigorating his senses, heightening his alertness, sharpening his focus. His very soul felt cleansed, touched by a divine force, and the farther he traversed down this path of enlightenment, the stronger he felt. A robust, resilient strength.

As Elder Wu continued to speak, Thanos felt his body respond in ways he'd never imagined. A reddish aura began to twist and swirl around him, cocooning him in a radiant mantle. It was a manifestation of raw energy, wild yet contained, threatening yet calming. His breaths came out deeper, steadier, as if they were in sync with the heartbeat of the world.

Then, a profound understanding dawned upon him. An understanding of unity, of harmony, of being one with the universe. The world around him pulsed in sync with his heartbeat, the wind carrying his breath, the sun reflecting his aura. Opening his eyes, they blazed with a piercing crimson light, painting everything in their gaze with a bloody hue.

His senses, now greatly amplified, took in the world in unprecedented detail. He could see the shimmering dew clinging to the blades of grass miles away, hear the soft rustling of leaves from trees at the edge of his sight. He could smell the rich earth beneath him and the intoxicating fragrance of blooming flowers in the distance. He could taste the crisp air, the sweet nectar of the morning. He felt a connection with the world around him like never before.

"Red core, not bad." Elder Wu's voice interrupted his observations, a satisfied smile pulling at his wrinkled lips. He bore witness to a spectacle not often seen, the birth of a new cultivator, a titan no less. An alien in this world, yet harmonizing with it as if he had always belonged.

Thanos shifted his gaze to the old man, his new vision revealing the profound depths of power hidden within the frail shell. He could sense a formidable presence swirling around the elder, an entity powerful and ancient. The cultivator had indeed begun his journey.

His life as a titan, as a warrior, and now as a cultivator, were all entwined. Thanos felt the weight of these identities, not as burdens, but as foundations for the future. He was no longer just Thanos the Titan. He had become Thanos the cultivator.