Chapter 2 – A Spark in the Dark

The wind had died. The rain softened into mist. But inside Auther, something had ignited — a slow-burning fire climbing his spine.

He stood up from the rooftop, soaked and shaking, staring down at the streets of Ashveil below. Neon signs flickered. Lanterns burned dim through the fog. Somewhere in the distance, a beast roared in the wild zone beyond the walls.

But it all felt far away.

His mind was on the screen in front of him.

[Name: Auther Finn]

[Rank: F1]

[Ability: Skill Creation (Unique)]

[Skills: None]

[Skill Points: 100]

He examined it carefully. The System offered no advice. No tutorial. Just raw, silent data. That was how it worked here. Cold. Informational. Impartial.

People grew stronger not through fighting — but through absorbing mana. From the air if you were patient. From monster cores if you were daring. Or from the crystals buried deep in dungeons.

But you couldn't do it without a cultivation skill — an energy activation technique. It taught your body how to circulate and absorb mana. Every serious fighter had one.

That was what he needed first.

Auther opened the internal Skill Creation menu. The system responded instantly — like it had been waiting.

[Skill Creation Menu Opened.]

Design your skill. Cost will scale based on complexity, rank, and potential.]

No presets. No suggestions.

Just limitless possibility.

He could create an energy absorption technique. His own cultivation path. Something clean. Something personal. Something better.

His eyes sharpened.

If everyone else learned from someone stronger… he'd become the one people would learn from.

But not yet.

He needed time. Space. Somewhere quiet to focus and build the first blueprint of his power.

He dismissed the screen and pulled his hood up as he climbed down the fire escape.

Tonight, he was still just a shadow in the slums.

But soon?

He would be the spark that lit a fire across the stars.