Chapter 4: The First Breakthrough
The embers from the rabbit's fire still glowed softly when Arin woke the next morning. Sleep had been light, broken by distant howls and the crackle of damp wood burning low. His muscles ached, but not as badly as the day before. The Ember Rabbit's meat had indeed carried mana. Not a lot, but just enough to warm his limbs and ease the tightness in his chest.
He sat up, stretched slowly, and opened the status window.
> [Status Window - Updated]
Name: Arin
Age: 20
Race: Human
Level: 1
EXP: 14 / 100
Kill Points (KP): 2
Cultivation Level: Body Tempering Stage (3)
Qi Core: Blocked (75%)
Strength: 14
Agility: 13
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 16
Willpower: 19
"Still a long way to go," he muttered.
> "Your EXP has increased. Physical battle experience and mana absorption from the Ember Rabbit accelerated progress. However, a breakthrough requires more than numbers."
"I know," Arin said, standing. "I need to fight more. Survive more."
He stared into the forest.
Dark and green. Still and quiet.
He decided not to stray far that morning. The forest seemed peaceful, but the AI had warned him the Southern Ridge was an unclaimed zone anything could happen.
Walking with careful steps, he activated his new skill instinctively:
> "[Basic Wilderness Tracking (Lv. 1)] activated. Searching for recent signs..."
A few small pawprints appeared faintly glowing beneath some leaves. He followed them for ten minutes until a notification appeared:
> "Target: Ember Rabbit detected. Distance: 8 meters. Unknown variant. Proceed with caution."
"Variant?"
> "Slight mutation. Fire affinity higher than standard."
He crept forward.
In a clearing ahead, a rabbit sat quietly its fur darker, almost crimson, and steam rose faintly from its paws. This was no ordinary Ember Rabbit. It was eating something a glowing fruit.
"AI, what's that it's eating?"
> "Mana-Burst Berry. Rare. Accelerates beast evolution. Extremely unstable if consumed raw by humans."
"Can I kill it before it mutates?"
> "Possible. But you must act quickly."
Arin didn't hesitate.
He launched forward, dagger aimed for the rabbit's side. But the creature reacted faster than the one before its evolved muscles launching it upward in a burst of flame. A stream of embers shot toward Arin, grazing his shoulder.
He grit his teeth, rolled, and slashed upward again. This time, he caught its hind leg. Blood splattered the leaves, sizzling as it hit the ground.
The rabbit screeched and leapt again.
Arin feinted left, then spun right, using a rock for elevation. As the rabbit lunged, Arin brought his dagger down straight through its chest.
> "Beast killed. +4 EXP. +4 KP. Mutated Ember Core acquired. Mana-Burst Berry (half-consumed) acquired."
He collapsed beside the creature, breathing hard.
His shoulder burned. But the rush of victory overwhelmed the pain.
> "You now have 6 Kill Points."
> "EXP: 18 / 100."
He smiled faintly.
Still Level 1. But progress was progress.
That night, Arin returned to his campsite. He treated his burn with more paste and carefully stored the mutant core and half-eaten berry in his inventory.
"What can I do with Kill Points right now? The shop's locked."
> "Kill Points can be used outside the shop in limited ways. Would you like to see options?"
"Show me."
> KP Usage Options Available]:
-Temporary Stat Boost (1 KP per point for 6 hours)
-Emergency Heal (3 KP to restore 40% health instantly)
-Breakthrough Aid (5 KP for minor assistance in cultivation bottleneck)
Arin's eyes stopped on the last option.
"Breakthrough Aid... I'm close, aren't I?"
> "You are. Your body has absorbed enough heat-mana to stimulate your core. The residual pressure in your blocked meridians is preventing further flow."
"If I use it now... what happens?"
> "Your body will attempt to flush out the blockage using internal force. Pain will be significant. But if successful, you will reach Body Tempering Stage 4."
He stared into the fire.
Pain wasn't new.
He had survived betrayal, a cliff fall, beast fights, and starvation.
He could survive this.
"Use 5 KP. Initiate breakthrough aid."
> "Confirming... 5 KP consumed. Beginning internal circulation stimulation."
Pain exploded across his chest.
Not the surface deeper. His bones ached. His blood felt like it was boiling. Every meridian in his body lit up like fire trails. He gasped, falling to the ground, teeth clenched.
> "Qi is surging. Do not resist. Let it flow."
He felt something tearing inside.
Not damage release.
Like thick walls collapsing. And behind them, a river.
Qi poured into his core. His limbs vibrated. His skin prickled. The pressure inside his body reversed, washing away the lingering spiritual scar tissue.
Then silence.
Only his heartbeat remained.
> "Breakthrough complete."
> "Cultivation Level increased: Body Tempering Stage 4."
> "Minor passive stat gains acquired."
Arin lay on the grass, chest rising and falling slowly.
Alive.
Stronger.
> [Status Window - Updated]
Name: Arin
Level: 1
EXP: 18 / 100
KP: 1
Cultivation Level: Body Tempering Stage (4)
Qi Core: Blocked (45%)
Strength: 15
Agility: 14
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 16
Willpower: 20
He smiled faintly.
The core was still blocked but only 45% now. A significant drop. He could feel the energy inside him swirl more freely, like a slow stream instead of a clogged pipe.
> "You have taken your first real step toward becoming a cultivator."
"Yeah," he whispered. "Just the beginning."
In the distance, dark clouds gathered.
Arin stared at the sky. The forest had grown quieter. Beasts were hiding. Birds had vanished.
Something was coming.
A shift in the air. Pressure like a mountain.
> "A Rank-D beast has entered the Southern Ridge. Probability of encounter: 67%. Recommend immediate relocation."
Arin stood, pocketed his last piece of meat, and packed his things.
Time to move.
Time to hunt. Or be hunted.