Chapter 2: The Awakening Power

Zhao Chen—Skybreaker—stood at the edge of the valley, his pulse still racing from the earlier encounter. The masked figure had vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the faint hum of power lingering in the air. His ethereal sword flickered and then disappeared, fading like mist at dawn.

What was that? He clenched his fists, his mind whirling. The system had granted him a technique out of nowhere—Heaven's Blade—but why? And who was that masked attacker?

[Objective Updated: Explore the Beginner's Valley for resources and cultivation opportunities.]

The system's prompt broke his thoughts. There was no time to dwell on the mysteries now. In this world, standing still meant falling behind. The weak would be swallowed up by the strong in the blink of an eye.

Skybreaker glanced around the valley. In the distance, towering jade trees swayed under the breeze, their leaves glinting in the sunlight. A river wound its way through the terrain, clear as crystal, reflecting the majestic mountains that loomed in the background. The beauty of the scene clashed with the deadly intent he had just faced.

He exhaled slowly, calming his nerves. If this game world was anything like the cultivation novels he had read, he knew the first rule: to survive, he had to grow stronger.

And fast.

The valley stretched endlessly before him as Skybreaker made his way through the lush greenery. The sense of Qi—mystical energy—pulsed faintly in the air around him, flowing through the plants, the earth, and the wind. It was a power he was only beginning to understand. His earlier attempt at absorbing Qi had been rough, but it had worked.

[Current Qi Reserves: 5% - Mortal Realm, Stage 1]

He wasn't strong yet—not by a long shot—but he had started his journey.

As he ventured deeper, he noticed strange flora and fauna. Ethereal rabbits darted in and out of the bushes, their bodies slightly transparent, glowing softly with internal Qi. High in the sky, spirit birds with shimmering wings soared between the floating islands, leaving trails of light in their wake.

Suddenly, a rustling sound behind a large jade bush caught his attention. Skybreaker's instincts kicked in, and he immediately crouched low. His heart pounded, but he forced his breathing to remain steady. Could it be another player? Or perhaps another dangerous figure like the masked attacker?

Carefully, he parted the branches and peered through the leaves.

There, crouched by the river's edge, was a small creature. It looked like a fox, but its fur shimmered like silver, and faint traces of lightning danced around its paws as it lapped at the water.

Skybreaker's mind raced. This creature was no ordinary animal—it was a Spirit Beast. And if the lightning crackling around it was any indication, it was imbued with elemental Qi. If he could defeat it or tame it, he might be able to absorb its Qi or even gain a companion.

[Spirit Beast Detected: Thunderstrike Fox, Early Mortal Realm]

Skybreaker swallowed. It was at the same stage as him—Mortal Realm, Stage 1. This would be his first real battle in this world.

Steeling himself, he slowly stepped forward. His hands trembled with excitement and fear. If he succeeded, he could boost his Qi reserves and maybe even gain a valuable resource. But if he failed...

The fox's ears twitched. In an instant, its glowing eyes locked onto Skybreaker, the lightning around its paws intensifying. There was no more time for hesitation. With a burst of energy, the fox darted toward him, a blur of silver and crackling electricity.

Instinctively, Skybreaker raised his hand, calling upon the only technique he knew.

[Heaven's Blade: Activated]

A sword of pure energy formed in his grasp, radiating a soft golden light. The fox was fast, but Skybreaker felt a surge of clarity as his blade swung, guided by the power of the system.

The fox leaped at him, claws extended, electricity sparking in the air. Skybreaker slashed downward, aiming for its body, but the beast twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the strike. It landed lightly on the ground, circling him warily, its fur bristling with sparks.

Skybreaker steadied himself. His first attack had missed, but he wasn't out yet. The fox charged again, and this time, Skybreaker was ready. He sidestepped, bringing his blade across in a wide arc. The sword connected with the fox's side, and a flash of golden light exploded from the impact.

The fox yelped, electricity scattering from its body as it skidded across the ground, its silver fur singed where the blade had struck. But it wasn't down yet. With a snarl, it bared its fangs, its eyes blazing with defiance.

Skybreaker could feel his Qi reserves depleting rapidly from using the Heaven's Blade. He had to end this now, or risk being too drained to defend himself.

Drawing in a deep breath, Skybreaker focused all of his remaining Qi into his blade. The sword brightened, its glow intensifying as he prepared for one final strike. The fox, sensing the shift in power, crouched low, gathering energy for its own final attack.

They both moved at once. The fox leaped, its body a streak of silver lightning. Skybreaker lunged forward, his blade cutting through the air in a brilliant arc.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

Then, with a deafening crack, the two forces collided.

The light from the blade overwhelmed the fox's lightning, and Skybreaker's strike landed true. The fox let out one final yelp before collapsing to the ground, the electricity around it fading to nothing.

Panting, Skybreaker fell to his knees beside the fallen beast. His body was trembling from the exertion, but he had won.

[Battle Complete: Thunderstrike Fox Defeated]

[Qi Absorption: +20%]

[Current Qi Reserves: 25% - Mortal Realm, Stage 1]

A surge of energy rushed through him as he absorbed the fox's remaining Qi. It was exhilarating, like pure power coursing through his veins. But along with the rush came a realization: this world was far more dangerous than any game he had ever played.

The masked figure, the Spirit Beast—these were just the beginning. If he wanted to survive and rise in this realm, he would need to cultivate harder, fight smarter, and uncover the secrets of this world.

Skybreaker rose to his feet, gazing down at the fallen fox. "Thank you for the fight," he murmured. This wasn't a game where you just logged out. This world had real consequences, and real victories.

As he turned to continue his journey, he glanced at his status screen, his confidence growing with each step.

He wasn't Zhao Chen anymore. He was Skybreaker.

And this world would remember his name.