Awakening

They say it's darkest just before dawn, but I'd say my life was proof that "dark" can stick around as long as it pleases. You see, I'm Alex, the disappointment of House Azrath, one of the few noble families with a reputation for powerful cultivators. Except me, that is—I was still at the Foundation Tier, the absolute bottom of the cultivation ladder. And to make things worse, I'd just been humiliated in front of half the estate.

Thanks to my brother, Eldran.

My "big brother" had set up a sparring match that morning, pitting me against Carris, one of his personal guards. A "test," he called it, and I was the main attraction, more or less thrown into the ring for everyone to laugh at. And it didn't take long—Carris barely broke a sweat before I was on the ground, gasping for breath with the crowd sneering down at me.

"You'd be better off scrubbing floors," Eldran had said, smirking as he looked down at me. "At least that way you'd be useful."

Afterward, I did what I always did when things went wrong: I slipped away to the forest. I couldn't bear to stay in the estate, not after that public humiliation. Not with my family seeing me at the bottom again.

As I made my way deeper into the woods, the anger and frustration simmered, leaving only a feeling of complete defeat. I'd tried everything—training, pushing myself, forcing every bit of energy I could muster into my cultivation. And yet, here I was, stuck in Foundation Tier. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't move forward. It was like trying to break through a wall with my bare hands.

'Maybe I am wasting my time,' I thought, the thought bitter but honest. I'd spent so many years trying to prove myself, but what if it was all for nothing?

Then, as if in answer, a strange feeling pulsed in the back of my mind, like a gentle hum. I froze, glancing around. There was no one else here, just the silent trees and the darkness closing in. But that hum grew stronger, like a heartbeat that wasn't my own.

[System Activation: Absolute Creator initializing…]

The words appeared in front of me, floating in the air like some ghostly script. I blinked, half expecting them to disappear, but they didn't.

"System activation?" I muttered, wondering if I'd finally lost it. It wasn't like anyone could hear me out here, but still, talking to a floating message felt… surreal. I glanced around, hoping this was some sort of prank, but the words remained, unblinking.

[Welcome, user. Absolute Creator System successfully activated.]

The phrase hung in my vision, strange and official. A "system" that just… activated? Either I was dreaming, or this forest had stranger mysteries than I'd realized. But then again, the words felt too real to dismiss as imagination.

[System initializing… linking to user's current cultivation status: Foundation Tier, Level 1.]

Foundation Tier, Level 1. The same reminder I got from my family every day, only this time, it was from some strange presence in my mind. I wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or relieved. But I couldn't deny that the system's presence felt… steady. Almost like a hidden strength.

"Alright, system, what's your game?" I muttered, half expecting an answer.

[Absolute Creator System Overview: This system provides cultivation progression through tasks, quests, and experience accumulation. Additionally, the system grants access to rare skills, techniques, and items from realms beyond this world, unlocking greater abilities at each level.]

My pulse quickened. Cultivation progression? Rare skills? The system was offering me everything I'd been fighting for. But there was no telling if this was real, or if it was just some hallucination my tired mind had conjured up. Still, what did I have to lose by trying?

I took a steadying breath, watching the words carefully. "So, system… if you're real, then what's the first step?"

The response came almost instantly.

[Quest received: Meditate in silence for one hour. Quest reward: 5 Origin Points and basic sensory enhancement.]

I blinked, reading it again to make sure I hadn't missed something. Meditation? That was it? After all the struggle, the effort, the pain I'd been through, this "system" was offering me a reward for just sitting still?

But before I could question it, another line appeared.

[Origin Points can be used to increase cultivation levels or acquire new skills.]

Origin Points. My family had spent years drilling into me how important it was to accumulate strength, how every cultivator needed resources to improve. And here was this system, offering me something that could help me climb out of Foundation Tier. Even if it was a scam, I had nothing to lose.

"Alright, system," I said, setting my shoulders. "I'll try your meditation."

---

I found a quiet spot in the forest, a small clearing where the trees parted just enough to let the moonlight through. I sat down, crossing my legs and focusing on the cool, calm air around me.

An hour of silence? No problem. I closed my eyes, feeling my breathing slow. Inhale, exhale. Nothing fancy, nothing strenuous. Just… stillness.

But as the minutes passed, I began to feel something unusual—a faint, tingling sensation that spread through my body. It was subtle at first, like the lightest touch of energy brushing against my skin. But gradually, it grew stronger, humming beneath the surface. My senses felt sharper, my focus deeper, as if I could hear every leaf, every rustle, every whisper of wind.

The system's presence pulsed gently in my mind, guiding my focus without words. I didn't know how, but it felt like it was helping me, feeding me a quiet strength I'd never known before. By the time I opened my eyes, the world around me felt clearer, sharper, almost like I was seeing it for the first time.

And then, a message appeared in my vision.

[Quest complete. Reward: 5 Origin Points and basic sensory enhancement.]

A faint warmth spread through me, settling into my core. It wasn't a huge change, but it was there—a small surge of energy that made me feel, for the first time, like I'd actually gained something. I hadn't done much, just an hour of silence, but even that had left me stronger. And I couldn't help but wonder… if this was only the beginning, what else was possible?

[Current status: Foundation Tier, Level 1. Accumulate 30 Origin Points to level up to Foundation Tier, Level 2.]

I read the message carefully, my mind racing with questions. This system had come out of nowhere, offering me power when I'd been ready to give up. It had shown me a glimpse of strength, enough to make me want more. But I couldn't ignore the feeling that it was too good to be true.

"Alright, system," I murmured, rising to my feet. "I'll use your power. But don't think I'm doing this blindly. I'm keeping my eyes open."

With that, I turned back toward the estate, a small spark of hope flickering in my mind.