Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The Journey Begins
Chapter 1
The darkness enveloped me, a cloak of eternal night that consumed all sense of time. Whether a single second or a millennium had passed, I could not discern. I had died, or so I believed, in a plane crash, and in that instant, I found myself transported to this bizarre and unearthly realm.
"Is this Heaven or Hell?" I muttered to myself. "Either way, it sucks." My body was numb, or perhaps I had no body at all. My mind was adrift in the infinite void, a ship without a compass lost in the vastness of space. Despair began to take hold, and I feared that this would be my eternal existence.
But then, a light appeared. A distant star, a glimmer of hope in the endless darkness, and I clung to it like a lifeline. Days passed, or perhaps it was only moments, but the change was undeniable. The light grew larger, a beacon of salvation.
And then, with a suddenness that startled me, the light expanded rapidly, until it was a ball of radiance the size of a school bus, floating before me. Though all around was darkness, the light did not pain my eyes, for I do not know if I even possessed such organs.
"You are being sent to another world," a voice spoke in my mind, "so choose an ability. Do you want a sword skill, cultivation skill, healing skill, or defense skill," The voice was cold and emotionless, as if it had spoken those same words countless times before.
"Another world?" I asked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Stop asking questions," the voice replied, with a hint of annoyance. "You may choose an ability to take with you to the world you are being sent to. I only have a few hundred thousand more of you beasts to speak with before I can take my break, so hurry up."
I knew then what I must do. I had imagined this moment countless times, and I had read manga about such situations. I knew exactly what I would choose as my ability. As I spoke the fateful words, "Give me the cultivation ability," I felt a sense of cosmic dread wash over me. The very fabric of reality seemed to warp and twist, as though the very laws of nature were being torn asunder. My body felt as though it were being torn apart, and I was hurtled through the abyssal void at unimaginable speeds. But as suddenly as it began, the maddening sensation ceased, and I lay motionless and insensate upon an unknown plain.
But then, a spark of sensation flickered to life within me, like a faint flicker of flame in the darkness. Slowly, the outline of a body formed in my mind, beginning with my feet and creeping upward towards my face. A gentle breeze caressed my skin, and the tickle of grass beneath me became apparent. With eager curiosity, I pried open my eyes to behold the world into which I had been cast. A brilliant azure sky stretched above me, dotted with white clouds, while verdant trees rustled in the corner of my vision. The morning sun broke through the canopy of trees, bathing the forest in a warm golden light, like a mother's embrace. I awoke to the sound of birdsong and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze, like a lullaby. My eyes slowly adjusted to the light, taking in the sights and smells of the wildwood. The air was crisp and fresh, and the scent of pine and moss was strong and earthy, like a bouquet of freshly cut herbs.
I sat up, rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes, and taking in my surroundings. I was in the heart of a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees that reached up to the sky, like sentinels. The forest floor was covered with a thick layer of moss, leaves, and wildflowers, creating a natural carpet. The trees were ancient and gnarled, their bark rough and weathered, each one telling a tale of its own, like a book waiting to be read. I stood up, taking small steps at first, but quickly picking up pace. The forest was dense, and the underbrush was thick with ferns and bushes, their leaves a vibrant green. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds singing and small animals scurrying through the underbrush, like tiny dancers in a ballet. I had been so consumed by the unearthly beauty of my new surroundings that I had completely forgotten the presence of my cultivation ability. However, as soon as the thought crossed my mind, a deluge of information flooded into my brain.
[God] skill {Cultivation} unlocked
Meditate to gain power and reach higher levels of evolution
When meditating a barrier is formed blocking out any creature from sensing the mana within, however you can still be seen, heard, and touched.
When mediating, you will not be afflicted with hunger or thirst
As the revelation washed over me, I felt a sudden pain in my head, but quickly regained my composure. A smile of immense satisfaction spread across my face as I fully grasped the implications of this newfound power.
"This skill is overpowered," I bellowed, raising my fist to the sky in exaltation, and leaping with frenzied joy. Without hesitation, I set out on my journey, my determination to find a suitable cave in which to meditate burning like a fiery inferno within me. And yet, I knew that in my current state, I would be a mere plaything for the monstrous entities that lurked in this world. As I traversed through the dense forest, my eyes caught sight of a small indentation in a nearby hill. The hill was covered in lush green grass and adorned with wildflowers, and the indentation seemed to be a small opening, almost like a hidden door. Intrigued, I made my way towards the opening, and soon found myself standing at the entrance of a cave. The entrance was not much taller than me, and only a few feet wide, but the darkness inside beckoned me to explore. I took a deep breath and ventured inside.
As I walked down the small corridor, oval in shape and slightly taller and wider than the entrance, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The walls of the cave were rough, and I could feel the cool, damp air on my skin. The corridor stretched for about thirty feet before making a sharp left turn, leading only a few feet before reaching a dead end. The end of the corridor was illuminated by a small crack in the ceiling, letting in a beam of light that seemed to dance on the ground. With a sense of determination, I walked outside and gathered some branches, using them to block the cave opening, ensuring that I would not be attacked while cultivating. As I carefully placed the branches in front of the entrance, I took one last look at the forest outside. The sun was setting, and the sky was painted in beautiful shades of orange and pink. Returning to the cave, I felt my way towards the end of the corridor, and sat down, crossing my legs and closing my eyes. I had frequently meditated before being sent to this world, so this was nothing new to me. However, the anticipation of something happening distracted me for only a short time before I entered into a deep state of meditation. As I focused on my breath, I felt a sudden surge of power begin flowing through my veins. The feeling was initially uncomfortable, but soon turned to a feeling of comfort and awe. My body began to tingle, and the power grew stronger. I could feel my muscles contracting and expanding, and my heart beating faster. Time passed, and I am unsure of how long I was meditating for, but I was snapped out of my cultivation by the familiar pain of information flowing into my head.
Evolution into [Priest] successful
As a result, physical abilities, magical abilities, and mana capacity increased drastically.
I felt indomitable. The energy coursing through my veins was a rush of unparalleled intensity. A smile bloomed on my face as I embraced my newfound strength. I had always yearned for something like this, and now, here I was, living my dream. Eager to see what I was capable of, I ran outside, bursting through the branches I placed earlier and encountered a nearby tree. The forest was dotted with massive trees similar to that of redwoods in my old world, but I was determined to leave my mark. With a roar of excitement, I clenched my fist and swung. The moment my knuckles collided with the hundred-year-old bark, there was a deafening explosion, and I watched as the wood splintered and the dirt behind the tree flew. I was awestruck. My fist slammed with ferocious might, carving a cavernous void through the heart of the tree, its raw power kicking up a towering mound of earth.
"This is amazing," I exclaimed, but my elation was quickly replaced by a burning desire to explore this mysterious world. I felt invincible with my newfound power and couldn't wait to see what lay ahead. But before I ventured any further, I wanted to test my control of magic. With a focused mind, I conjured a ball of fire in my palm, and to my delight, it manifested with ease. And so, I set off on a quest to find civilization in this strange new land.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone