Cherreads

Chapter 5 - ### Chapter 5: First Step Into Crimson

As the next day dawned, an unexpected realization struck Eron the moment he awoke.

A foul odor clung to him—he had not bathed for days. Sweat, blood from burst vessels, and the grime of relentless training had accumulated on his skin like a heavy shroud. The smell was sharp and offensive, impossible to ignore.

He rose and walked to the bathing area the house now possessed: a simple stone basin fed by the bamboo spout. Water poured over him—cool, steady, cleansing. He scrubbed every inch, letting the stream wash away the accumulated filth of the past weeks.

When he stepped out and dried himself, he caught his reflection in the polished bronze mirror that had appeared After the world transformed .

He paused.

His body looked visibly powerful—arms corded with lean, sharply defined muscle, abs etched beneath smooth, flawless skin that seemed to glow faintly in the morning light. Shoulders broader, chest fuller, every line of him carrying quiet, undeniable strength. He looked beautiful—not soft or delicate, but forged. Clean. Alive.

After bathing, he dressed in the simple cotton tunic and pants the house provided—dark, plain, fitting close to his new form—and began his routine.

First: 100 handstand push-ups.

He kicked up against the wall. Lowered. Pushed. 

One hundred—in thirty seconds. Effortless. His strength had surged far beyond yesterday. The motion felt smooth, almost graceful.

He continued—normal push-ups, squats, lunges—pushing until his muscles burned and his breath came sharp. He did not stop until his body reached the absolute limit, then pushed a little further. 

After that he sit for meditation,

But, he ate the large banana before meditating—remembering its effect on qi sensation. The fruit was thick, sweet, heavy on his tongue. Warmth spread through his core at once.

He crossed his legs. Closed his eyes. Began.

Five hours passed.

He could now feel the lock in his lungs—not just sense it, but see it clearly in his mind: a tight, dark ring constricting his airways. Qi gathered thicker, stronger, pressing against the seal with purpose. It amused him beyond words. The qi itself seemed eager, almost alive, as though it wanted to break free as badly as he did.

When he opened his eyes, sunlight poured through the screens. 2 p.m. The sun burned brighter today—almost blinding.

He checked the screen, And saw task appeared.

**Task: Unlock the seal on lungs** 

**Time limit: 4 days** 

**Progress: almost 1 day passed**

He began to noticed changes in his body, Meditation had changed him further. Exhaustion faded faster. Wounds closed quicker. Hunger barely touched him now.

*It's the qi,* he thought. *It's healing me from the inside.*

Yet confusion lingered.

His cultivation still read **Star 0**. Hidden ability remained **Locked**. What did it mean?

He put aside his thoughts and realised,

He was not sleepy. Not hungry. Nothing to do.

So he trained more.

Push-ups. Squats. Horse stance. He pushed harder—until sweat poured and muscles burned.

Then a single thought cut through:

*Strength means nothing if someone kills me.* 

*I don't know any fighting style.*

The screen appeared instantly.

**Additional Task:** 

**Perform 100,000 horse stance punches** 

**Time limit: 3 days** 

**Reward: Hidden**

Eron stared.

*One hundred thousand?*

The number was absurd.

Yet excitement stirred in his chest—not fear. A wild, hungry thrill.

He did not know the stance.

Then—suddenly—the knowledge flowed into his mind: feet shoulder-width, knees bent deep, back straight, fists chambered, punch forward while twisting hips, retract, repeat. Simple. Brutal.

He tried.

Fell.

Tried again.

Fell again.

By 1 a.m. he had managed only 500 with proper form. Starting with 20 per hour shaking, breathing hard. But his speed increased. His balance sharpened.

He did not sleep.

Instead, He meditated gathering qi. At night it felt thicker, denser. For the first time, qi attacked the seal—not just touching, but striking. He tried to control it. Failed. But the qi refused to stop—it hammered the lock like a living thing.

Eventually exhaustion claimed him.

He fell asleep on the mat.

Woke at 6 a.m.—earliest he had ever risen.

Bathed again. Trained again—usual routine, pushing limits. Now he could do 400 handstand push-ups at once, 1000 squats without pause.

Then meditation.

He noticed: after exercise, meditation healed him faster. Strength returned quicker.

One hour later—body recovered, but qi no longer struck the seal. Like hitting a wall.

*Bottleneck.*

Only 2 days left for 100,000 punches. 3 days for the lung seal.

Hunger returned—faint, but there.

He ate the remaining apple.

Refreshment flooded him—body constitution increased again. He felt more powerful. Stronger.

10 a.m.

Still no qi striking the seal.

*Maybe the banana will help.*

But he had none left.

Only choice: complete the additional task.

By 10 p.m.—taking breaks for meditation, recovery, and doing task—he had reached only 11,000.

Failure crept in.

Then a thought: *What if I meditate while doing horse stance punches?*

He tried.

Failed.

Tried again.

Failed.

Tried again.

Succeeded.

Now he combined them—horse stance punches while guiding qi through his body.

Speed increased. Dramatically.

By 4 p.m. the next day—45,000.

By 5:55 a.m.—99,000.

Only 5 minutes left. 1,000 remaining.

To others: impossible.

To Eron: just another push.

He did not stop.

He collapsed—unconscious.

Woke hours later—body screaming in pain. Muscles torn, nerves burning, blood seeping from burst vessels. Red all over.

Then he remembered the task.

100,000.

Completed.

Screen appeared.

He clicked **Task**.

Two gift icons—not one.

First—for horse stance: 10 Spirit Fruit Bananas, 10 Spirit Fruit Apples, 1 Spirit Fruit Pineapple.

main reward: **Earth Breaking Fist Technique** 

But it had changed.

**{Demon Pillar Break}**

Eron read the description in his mind.

Gather qi into the fist. At ultimate level—split the sky. 

He was at beginner level.

Still powerful.

*Why did it change?*

Then he understood.

Combining meditation with the punches—pushing beyond the task's rules—had upgraded the reward.

His stomach growled. Two days without food.

He ate 3 apples.

Hunger settled. Body refreshed.

Second— He got 2 choices one Elemental technique, Other Spirit pill, he hesitated for a long time since both are best, One was like his dream he can control element, Second Spirit pill which will help him breakthrough 2nd seal in meditation,

He chose second one After much hesitation.

Now Eron notices,

He smelled terrible—sweat, blood, days of training.

Then He Bathed again.

Today was his 5th day locked in the house.

He slept the whole day—deep, dreamless.

Woke next morning—But something was different this time, He did not bathe first.

He Meditated.

He was curious about the seal.

Before, qi only touched his lungs. Now he could sense the flow—how it moved, how it gathered. He tried to manipulate it.

Failed.

Tried Again, Again and Again Still Failed.

Then He decided to trained, instead—normal routine, but heavier. 1000 push-ups. 100 one-hand push-ups each arm. 1000 horse stance punches while meditating.

Mid-punch, he remembered **Demon Pillar Break**.

Tried it.

Qi gathered in his fist—slow, unsteady.

Failed.

He tried again and again for serval hour,

Still Failed.

He Sat on the ground.

No new task Appeared for the first time.

He waited for whole day then,

He trained harder—mastering the technique.

While waiting for task.

Fifteen days passed.

He checked the system.

**Name: Eron** 

**Hybrid: God and Human** 

**Age: 18** 

**Cultivation: Star 0** 

**Technique: Demon Pillar Break (Mastered – Beginner Level), Meditation** 

**Unique Ability: No Restrictions** 

**Hidden Ability: Locked** 

**Level: 3**

*Level?* 

First time seeing it. Confused—but he set it aside.

Then Saw

**Storage:** 2 Bananas, 1 Pineapple.

**Hidden Traits:**

He was curious what it was

He Clicked it,

A diagram appeared—sitting figure, meridians glowing. 

First seal (lungs) unlocked. 

Second seal (stomach) lightly glowing.

It looked like his body,

And it's Showing Its Seals.

Time: May 10, 2026. 10 a.m. 

Total Twenty days passed. Still locked in the house.

No one to talk to. 

Only training. Polishing skills. Day after day.

He sat in a chair—cloth draped over his face to block the light.

Then brightness pierced through.

He removed the cloth.

The system glowed—stronger than before.

**Trial Period Over.**

**Welcome, Supreme Ruler.**

**New function unlocked: Daily Draw** 

**8 items available— 6 fruits, 2 hidden Items with question marks.** 

**1% chance for special items. 0.1% for hidden.**

He drew.

The wheel spun.

Almost stopped at 0.1%. 

Then landed on 1 apple.

He ate it.

He Felt Refreshed. Stronger.

He was ready To leave,

He cleaned the house—slowly, carefully. Every corner. Every mat.

He stood at the door.

Remembered his parents—Lira's smile, Harlan's quiet nod.

Tears slipped down his cheeks.

He whispered goodbye.

Then he stepped forward.

Opened the door.

Sunlight poured in—bright, blinding, beautiful.

To be continued…

Ahh forgot to mention his polluted body is cleared now since he broke the seal

STATUS

Eron (18 years old)

Physical Appearance: Black hair (shoulder-length, messy waves), dark brown eyes, now strikingly powerful and beautiful—arms corded with lean, sharply defined muscle, abs etched beneath smooth, flawless skin that glows faintly with vitality. Shoulders broad, chest full, every line of him radiating quiet, undeniable strength. Height: 6'1"(tall, lean but forged build—he stands straight and commanding, no trace of his old hunch or uncertainty).Mental/Emotional State: Transformed. Old cowardice has shattered—he used to hide and fear everything, but now challenges feel like fun. Pain, struggle, pushing limits excite him. He smiles through blood and exhaustion, enjoys the burn, feels like he's finally found what he was meant for. Grief for his missing family remains (quiet, heavy ache—tears when saying goodbye), but determination burns hotter than ever. Regrets past weakness and has fully let it go. Mind is razor-sharp, logical, awakening—bending rules, seeing patterns, embracing the unknown without hesitation. No longer fears collapse or failure; willpower feels unbreakable.Current Condition: Physically at peak current strength after weeks of relentless training, fruit consumption, and qi cultivation.Blood fully restored (normal levels).Hunger completely under control (increases with strength but easily managed by fruits).Body constitution improved by at least 5–6% total (multiple apples + training effects; feels far tougher—strong vitality dominant, exhaustion fades almost instantly, recovery extremely fast).Pollution fully resolved (no longer present; removed through qi flow, seal breakthroughs, and system rewards—body feels pure, clean, and unburdened).Strong vitality fully active (relaxed, energized, conscious of surroundings in a heightened way).Can sense and gather qi (growing stronger—attacking seals, flowing through meridians, manipulation attempts improving).Infinite stamina sensation after system recovery (can train endlessly without collapse).Possessions:2 Spirit Fruit Bananas (reduce hunger, improve qi sensation) — stored in unlimited storage.1 Spirit Fruit Pineapple (unknown properties) — stored in unlimited storage.Two bamboo sticks (basic defense, left in the house).Family silver pendant → Missing (likely merged with him or absorbed).Supreme Ruler book → Missing (disappeared after golden space vision).Power/Status: Has his own hidden system (golden screen).Hybrid (Human and God)Age – 18Body – Star 0 (strong vitality; pollution removed; qi present and active—faint but growing; aligns with cultivation progression).Cultivation – Star 0Technique:Meditation (can sense/gather/manipulate qi, attack seals, recover faster after exercise).Demon Pillar Break (Mastered – Beginner Level; gather qi into fist; ultimate potential to split the sky).Unique Ability – No RestrictionsHidden Ability – LockedLevel – 3 (meaning still unknown).Storage (Unlimited) — Currently holds: 2 Bananas + 1 Pineapple.Hidden Traits: Diagram shows first seal (lungs) unlocked, second seal (stomach) lightly glowing.Trial Period: Over (30 days completed).New Function Unlocked: Daily Draw (8 items, 1% chance for special, 0.1% for hidden; drew 1 apple last time).Tasks Completed (summary): Multiple daily trials (push-ups, handstand push-ups, meditation, 100,000 horse stance punches, lung seal progress). Rewards upgraded via creative training (e.g., Demon Pillar Break from combining meditation + punches).Location: Just stepped outside his transformed traditional house—first time in 30 days. Standing in bright sunlight, ready to venture into the new world.Goal: Find his missing parents (Lira & Harlan) at any cost. Now layered with survival (strength, qi, food), mastering his hidden system (Hybrid, Star 0, No Restrictions), and exploring the changed world. He is no longer afraid—challenges excite him, and he is prepared to stand above all.

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