บท 1: The End Of The Beginning
The Era of Cultivators.
That was what humanity called the current era.
It was more than a title — it was a revolution.
In this era, humanity's understanding of power and potential had shattered and reformed into something new.
Supernatural abilities only found in books and movies became a reality.
Those who were Chosen by The System and passed the Trial Awakened as Cultivators. With their newfound abilities, Cultivators seized positions of power, overthrew governments and societies, and created new ways of life that left the ordinary populace in their dust.
It had all begun sixteen years ago when the information about the Chosen, Trial, Classes, Cultivators, and everything related to The System spread worldwide.
Yet, few knew that The System first appeared in the world even before then — a few centuries ago.
The first sign of what was to come appeared in the life of a young boy named Shui Han centuries ago. At the age of ten, he fell victim to a strange 'disease' that the doctors of his time could neither identify the root cause of nor heal. The disease caused him to experience bursts of extreme fatigue and sleepiness. With each passing year, he slept more often and slept for even days without waking up. The doctors could only watch helplessly as Shui Han slept for days, before waking with no explanation.
Years passed, and his condition worsened. On one particular day — on Shui Han's eighteenth birthday — he fell asleep and did not wake up for fifteen days.
When he awoke, his first words were retelling what he had experienced. Yet, what he retold were words only a lunatic would utter. He spoke of seeing cities built on top of clouds, stars being plucked from the sky, and mountains being split into two by humans.
The doctors and even his parents were convinced he had gone insane.
But not everyone dismissed his ramblings as madness. Government officials, who had been monitoring his unusual case, worried his disease was contagious, took a keen interest in his ramblings. Although the doctors could not comprehend Shui Han's transformation, a few officials believed his visions were worth investigating.
So, under the guise of helping to 'restore Shui Han's sanity', he was taken away from his parents. He did not resist either, realizing what he said sounded ridiculous.
It was then within an underground facility, away from the prying eyes of the world, Shui Han found himself surrounded by government scientists, researchers, doctors, officials, and shadowed figures who watched him through tinted glass.
"Why did you call for us to be here?" One of the government officials asked the trembling old man.
The old man smiled.
"Be patient. You'll have your answer soon."
Frightened would have been an understatement of what Shui Han felt being stared at by so many high-ranking people.
As obvious as it was, this was his first time being in the presence of important people.
While on the way to the underground facility, he had already been briefed on what to say and do. Thus, after taking a deep breath, he began his explanation.
The more he spoke, the deeper their derision for him and the government official who brought him here became.
The man in a navy suit cast a disdainful smirk at the old government official.
"Don't tell me you believe this kid's lunacy?"
"He's always believed in fantasy." A scientist muttered.
"He's even more of a lunatic than the brat." Someone was heard muttering.
It was obvious they did not believe him. Shui Han could not… and would not blame them either. Even so, without pausing even once, he continued his explanation.
As he finished his retelling of what he experienced in the Trial, no one spoke, until the official who brought him here, cleared his throat.
"I understand you don't believe his words. I can't blame you. But we have proof." He turned his face back to the trembling young man and encouraged him. "Go on. Show them what you showed me."
Shui Han hesitated, tremblingly, under the disdainful expressions, he reached his hand out.
Like he had learned and done in the Trial, he concentrated his mind. Slowly, he felt the warmth building within him, then commanded it to spread to his fingertip.
Soon, a soft light erupted at the tip of his fingertip. But the next second his face paled, and the light dimmed before vanishing.
Even so, every single person had seen the shocking, unbelievable scene.
One of the researchers gasped.
"Is… that real!? Did he actually…?"
Breathless and weak, Shui Han looked up at the researcher, who spoke and faintly smiled.
On the other hand, the official, who supported his ridiculous words, smiled crazily, "Still think it's lunacy?"
Hearing his words, everyone nervously swallowed and glanced at each other. The figurative cogs in their heads turned with each second.
"This... to think what he said wasn't the ramblings of an idiot..."
The revelation of what Shui Han had said and what they saw frightened, yet excited them.
They wanted the power he obtained. Even if they could not pluck the stars and split mountains, just being able to live longer was more than enough for them.
That day marked the birth of an insatiable greed that would grow within each of them.
But a new issue propped up soon after — they were not Chosen by The System like Shui Han. Even if they knew of The System's existence… it was useless.
Envy and jealousy led many to recklessly fund secret experiments.
With only the knowledge provided by Shui Han, it was hard, but they had a lead — before his Trial began, he exhibited bouts of exhaustion and inexplicable sleep. This detail, however minor, became their lifeline — their foundation.
Using their status and power, they began a discreetly coordinated search. Soon, reports came flooding in — children, young adults, adults, and even the elderly exhibiting unusual fatigue, and inexplicable periods of sleep that doctors could not cure. The number of people exhibiting the signs compared to the eight billion people on Earth were pitifully few.
At first, they tried gentler methods — offers of research scholarships and medical treatment that only the government possessed. But when they did not receive the benefits they were hoping for — becoming Cultivators themselves — they resorted to darker tactics, kidnapping children without families. To keep everything under the radar, due to greed and the fear of the consequences of the populace learning, they created cover stories and even fabricated cases that would quickly disappear in their labyrinthine bureaucracies.
However, even though their understanding of the Trial, Classes, Abilities, and, to a smaller degree, The System increased, their goal of becoming Cultivators was never achieved.
That was… until sixteen years and three hundred and sixty-four days ago, when 'Test Subject' was found and analyzed.
He was the key the high-ranking members of society were waiting for, but sadly, they had long been consumed and forgotten in the river of time.
Instead, others profited from their research.
***
In the beginning, there was darkness — an eternal void that stretched endlessly.
Silent and cold was the darkness.
But then, a faint light ignited. It was faint and irregular, like him.
And although he did not know why, he clung to that light as if it was his only anchor.
He did not know who he was, nor understood how he had come to this place. There were no memories that could explain the strange phenomena surrounding him — no guidance, no voices, only silence, darkness, him, and that flickering light.
But the longer he stared at that light, the more he felt a primal urge sprouting to life within him, like a whisper in his mind that refused to let him drift away.
'Awaken.' An emotionless and genderless voice urged. 'There is more to you than this. More for you to see, and more for you to do. You are not meant to end like this. Pain and suffering are mere transient illusions. You are above them… You!... Can be above them! You are needed.'
Accompanying the voice, fragmented images, and faint memories appeared in his mind — scales glimmering under starlight, colossal waves crashing upon distant shores, and a shell as vast as the endless darkness carrying entire Universes upon it.
'What is this?' The memories were fragmented. He felt sure he had never seen nor heard of such a creature. And yet, it stirred something deep within him.
He tried to understand the memories, but only for them to slip away.
Was it real?
Was it the whisper of a dying young man, desperate to live… even amidst pain and suffering?
He could not tell…
The voice continued, 'Remember… September 30th.'
'That date… Why does it sound so familiar? Yet, at the same time, I feel a growing sense of disappointment… why?'
It was a date that made no sense to him.
Before he could ponder on it further, he felt a new sensation — a dull ache growing sharper, hotter, almost as if something was being drained from him.
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