A Dream

The hospital room was all Han Seo-Jun had known for years. White walls, the hum of machines, and the smell of antiseptic filled his days. Once, he had dreams of seeing the world, but a tragic accident took everything—his freedom, his future, his hope. Now, he lay trapped in a broken body, staring at the ceiling, his mind the only thing still alive.

Doctors called his survival a miracle. To Seo-Jun, it felt like a curse.

Orphaned at a young age, Seo-Jun had never known the comfort of family. The accident that shattered his body had also severed his last fragile ties to the world outside. There were no parents to hold his hand, no siblings to whisper words of encouragement. Just the sterile silence of the hospital and the distant memories of a life that might have been.

But today… something was different.

The heart monitor beeped slower, erratic. His vision blurred, and warmth spread through his chest. He tried to call for help, but no sound came. As his consciousness faded, he felt relief. Finally, he thought, it's over.

But death wasn't the end.

"Ha… eo… Jun…"

"Han Seo-Jun!!"

Seo-Jun's eyes snapped open. The sterile hospital room was gone. Above him stretched a vast, starry sky. He sat up, his body light and strong—something he hadn't felt in years. He looked at his hands. No longer pale and frail, they were calloused, firm. The hands of a fighter.

"Where… am I?" he whispered, his voice unfamiliar.

Before he could think, a youth grabbed his arm. "Seo-Jun, hurry! The Blazing Sword Sect's disciple test is starting. If we're late, we'll miss our chance!"

The youth—Zhong Yi—pulled him forward, dragging him through bustling streets. Seo-Jun stumbled, his mind spinning as unfamiliar memories flooded in.

Memories that weren't his.

He saw a young man, also named Han Seo-Jun, holding a sword gleaming like silver. He saw battles with techniques that defied nature, their power awe-inspiring.

The memories were vivid but fragmented. Who was this other Han Seo-Jun? Why does his life feel so tied to mine?

As they ran, Seo-Jun glanced at Zhong Yi. His face was flushed, but his eyes shone with determination. "This is our chance, Seo-Jun," Zhong Yi said, panting. "If we pass the test, we'll never worry about food or shelter again. We'll become cultivators—real cultivators!"

Seo-Jun's heart raced. This is my second chance—a life I'd never dared to dream of. But as they neared the training square, a strange feeling settled in his chest. The memories, the new world—it was all too much, yet not enough.

Arriving at the training square, Seo-Jun and Zhong Yi saw a crowd of youths like themselves, all hoping to join the Blazing Sword Sect. Among them were kids from wealthy families, their fine clothes standing out in the sea of hopefuls. Everyone was chatting nervously, trying to calm their nerves before the test.

"Look at them," Zhong Yi muttered, gesturing to a group of well-dressed youths. "They probably had private tutors and rare resources. Must be nice."

Seo-Jun nodded but didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the man standing in the center of the square. He had an air of authority, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd like a hawk.

Suddenly, the man clapped his hands, and the square fell silent. "Quiet!"

All eyes turned to him. Seo-Jun stared in awe. He had only seen such scenes in movies, but experiencing it firsthand was entirely different. The man's presence was overwhelming, his voice carrying an authority that silenced the crowd.

Before Seo-Jun could process what was happening, a strange sound echoed in his mind.

[System Initializing…]

[Welcome, Host. The Proficiency System has been activated.]

[System Description:]

The Proficiency System is designed to assist you in mastering skills, techniques, and cultivation methods. However, the system does not grant power freely. To grow stronger, you must put in the effort, dedication, and time required to achieve true mastery.

Seo-Jun was startled but didn't have time to investigate. The man in the square spoke again, his voice booming. "Today's test will assess your mental strength. Each participant will receive a cultivation sutra. Your task is to comprehend and meditate on it. To pass, you must maintain your meditation for at least the time it takes an incense stick (30 minutes) to burn."

With a wave of his hand, the man lifted the participants and brought them to the center of the square. Each youth was given a book—a cultivation sutra. Seo-Jun took his, feeling the weight of the moment. The man's voice boomed, "Your task is to comprehend and meditate on this sutra. Focus and understanding will determine your success."

As Seo-Jun opened the book, the system's voice echoed in his mind:

[New Skill Detected: Basic Meditation Sutra (Human Level-Low tier)]

[Objective: Read the Sutra.]

[Reward: 10% Mastery.]

He took a deep breath, ready to begin. Around him, others were already meditating or struggling to focus. Although confused, Seo-Jun knew this was his chance, and he was determined to make the most of it.

Author's Note:

Hello everyone! I'm a new author, and this is my first work. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you have any suggestions—whether it's about the chapter's word count, pacing, or anything else—please let me know. Your feedback means a lot and will help me improve as I continue this journey. Thank you for reading, and I hope you'll stick around for what's to come!