Chapter 2: The First Mutation

The transition from the ornate chamber to the world of God's Path was seamless yet disorienting. One moment, Ling Yi was enveloped in the soft glow of the chamber's light; the next, he found himself standing in the middle of a vast, open plain. The sky above was a vibrant shade of blue, with clouds that seemed to dance and swirl in patterns unlike anything he had ever seen. The air was crisp and clean, filled with the scent of fresh grass and wildflowers.

Ling Yi took a moment to gather his bearings. The plain stretched out in all directions, dotted with patches of trees and rolling hills. In the distance, he could see the outline of what appeared to be a forest, dense and foreboding. It was an idyllic scene, but Ling Yi knew better than to let his guard down. This was God's Path, a place where danger lurked around every corner, and the stakes were life and death.

As he looked around, Ling Yi noticed a small, glowing panel hovering in front of him. It was translucent, with a faint blue hue, and it displayed a series of text and icons. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what it was—a status window, the kind that all players of God's Path used to track their abilities, stats, and inventory.

With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, Ling Yi focused on the panel. The text sharpened into clarity:

Name: Ling Yi

Level: 1

Health: 100/100

Energy: 100/100

Strength: 5

Agility: 5

Intelligence: 5

Luck: 1

Abilities:

Super Mutation System (Level 1)

Ling Yi's eyes widened as he read the last line. The Super Mutation System—his unique ability. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to see it listed there, a reminder of the immense power he now wielded. But with that power came uncertainty. How exactly did it work? How could he use it effectively?

As if in response to his thoughts, a new panel appeared beside the status window, this one detailing the specifics of the Super Mutation System:

Super Mutation System (Level 1)

Description: Allows the user to mutate items, abilities, and entities, altering their properties in unpredictable ways. The outcomes of mutations can range from minor enhancements to significant transformations, depending on the user's intent and focus.

Limitations: The system can only mutate one object or ability at a time. The user must clearly visualize the desired mutation for the best results. The system's effectiveness increases with the user's level and experience.

Current Mutation Capacity: 1 per day

Ling Yi let out a slow breath as he absorbed the information. One mutation per day, and he had to clearly visualize what he wanted. The possibilities were endless, but so were the risks. A poorly thought-out mutation could backfire or produce unintended consequences. He would have to be careful, strategic.

Ling Yi clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the orb in his hand. The figure had said this was his key to unlocking the system's potential, but what exactly did that mean? He needed to test the system, to see what it could do. But first, he needed something to mutate.

His eyes scanned the area, searching for anything that might be useful. As if on cue, a soft rustling sound caught his attention. Ling Yi turned to see a small, rabbit-like creature emerging from a patch of tall grass. It had large, expressive eyes and a fluffy tail, and it seemed completely unafraid of him as it hopped closer.

Ling Yi hesitated. The creature was harmless, even cute, but he knew he had to start somewhere. He crouched down, extending his hand slowly. The rabbit-creature sniffed at his fingers, then nudged his palm with its nose.

"Sorry about this," Ling Yi muttered, feeling a pang of guilt as he focused on the creature.

He activated the Super Mutation System. The air around the creature shimmered, and a faint glow enveloped it. Ling Yi concentrated, visualizing a simple enhancement—something that wouldn't harm the creature, but would allow him to see the system's effects.

He envisioned the rabbit becoming faster, more agile, and possibly gaining some minor ability, like enhanced senses or camouflage. The glow around the creature intensified, then pulsed once before fading away.

Ling Yi held his breath as he watched the rabbit. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the creature began to change. Its fur, once a soft brown, shifted to a darker shade, almost blending in with the shadows cast by the grass. Its ears grew longer, and its eyes took on a sharper, more focused look.

Mutation Successful! A new panel appeared in front of Ling Yi, displaying the results of his first mutation:

Mutated Creature: Shadow Rabbit

Speed: +10%

Agility: +15%

Ability: Shadow Blend (The Shadow Rabbit can blend into its surroundings, becoming nearly invisible in low light conditions.)

Ling Yi's eyes widened in surprise. The mutation had worked! The rabbit had become faster, more agile, and now possessed a special ability. It was a small change, but it was proof that the Super Mutation System was real—and that it could be incredibly powerful in the right hands.

The Shadow Rabbit looked up at Ling Yi, its eyes gleaming with a newfound intelligence. It seemed to regard him with a mixture of curiosity and recognition, as if it understood that he was responsible for its transformation.

Ling Yi reached out, and the rabbit didn't shy away. Instead, it hopped closer, nuzzling his hand in a gesture of trust. A small smile tugged at Ling Yi's lips. He had taken a risk, and it had paid off. This was only the beginning—he could feel it. There was so much more to learn, so much more to discover.

But as he looked down at the mutated creature, a thought crossed his mind: What if he had pushed the mutation further? What if he had tried to enhance it even more? Would the rabbit have gained even more impressive abilities, or would it have turned into something dangerous, something uncontrollable?

The thought was both thrilling and frightening. The Super Mutation System was a double-edged sword—a tool that could be used for both creation and destruction. Ling Yi knew he had to tread carefully. One wrong move, one reckless decision, could have dire consequences.

As he pondered this, the world around him seemed to shift. The sky darkened, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere settled over the plain. Ling Yi felt a chill run down his spine as he turned to see a figure approaching from the distance.

It was another player, but something about them was different—something that set off alarm bells in Ling Yi's mind. The figure was tall and imposing, clad in dark, tattered robes that seemed to absorb the light around them. Their face was hidden beneath a hood, and as they drew closer, Ling Yi could see that their eyes glowed with an eerie red light.

A status window appeared before him, displaying the figure's information:

Name: Unknown

Level: 5

Health: ???

Energy: ???

Strength: ???

Agility: ???

Intelligence: ???

Ling Yi's heart raced as he read the details—or rather, the lack of details. Whoever this player was, they were far stronger than him, their stats hidden behind a veil of question marks. He could only guess at their true power, and that uncertainty filled him with dread.

The figure stopped a few paces away, their glowing eyes fixed on Ling Yi. There was a palpable sense of menace in the air, and Ling Yi instinctively took a step back.

"New player, huh?" The figure's voice was low and gravelly, filled with a cold amusement. "You must be fresh off the selection. Tell me, what's your system?"

Ling Yi hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Should he reveal the truth, or try to bluff his way out of this encounter? But before he could decide, the figure spoke again.

"Doesn't matter," they said, waving a hand dismissively. "You're not going to last long anyway. Most new players don't. God's Path is unforgiving, especially to those who think they can make it on their own."

The figure's words sent a shiver down Ling Yi's spine. There was something unsettling about the way they spoke, as if they were relishing the thought of his demise. Ling Yi knew he was outmatched, but he also knew that showing fear would only make things worse.

He straightened his back, meeting the figure's gaze with as much confidence as he could muster. "Maybe so," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "But I'm not going down without a fight."

The figure chuckled, a sound that was more sinister than humorous. "Brave words, newbie. But bravery won't save you here." They took a step closer, and Ling Yi could feel the temperature drop. "Still, I'll give you a piece of advice, since you're about to die anyway. Watch your back. Not all players are as... forgiving as I am."

Before Ling Yi could react, the figure vanished in a swirl of dark energy, leaving behind only a lingering sense of unease.

Ling Yi let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His heart was still racing, but the immediate danger had passed. He knew he had been lucky—if that player had wanted to, they could have ended him right then and there. But why hadn't they? And what had they meant by "forgiving"?

Questions swirled in Ling Yi's mind, but there were no answers to be found. He looked down at the Shadow Rabbit, which was still by his side, seemingly unfazed by the encounter. Its presence was a small comfort, a reminder that he wasn't entirely alone in this world.

But the encounter had shaken him. It was a stark reminder that God's Path was not just a game—it was a battleground, a place where only the strongest, smartest, and most ruthless could survive. If he wanted to make it, if he wanted to achieve his goals, he would have to be all of those things and more.

Ling Yi took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. The path he had chosen was fraught with danger, but it was also filled with opportunity. He would have to navigate it carefully, using every tool at his disposal—including the Super Mutation System.

With a renewed sense of determination, Ling Yi turned his gaze towards the distant forest. It was time to move forward, to continue his journey on God's Path. He had taken his first steps, but the real challenges were still to come.

And he would face them head-on, no matter what.