Jackson leaned against the cold wall outside the museum, his breathing finally starting to steady.
"…I'm alive," he muttered.
Barely.
His arm still burned where the cultivator had grazed him. His ribs ached with every breath.
But he was standing.
That was enough.
[System Notification]
Combat concluded.
Reward distribution in progress…
Jackson blinked.
"…Oh. Right."
Rewards:
Chaos Points +50
Jackson leaned against the cold wall outside the museum, his breathing finally starting to steady.
"…I'm alive," he muttered.
Barely.
His arm still burned where the cultivator had grazed him. His ribs ached with every breath.
But he was standing.
That was enough.
[System Notification]
Combat concluded.
Reward distribution in progress…
Jackson blinked.
"…Oh. Right."
Rewards:
Chaos Points +50
Experience Gained
Minor Body Reinforcement
Technique Proficiency Increased
A warm sensation spread through his body.
Not overwhelming—
But noticeable.
The soreness in his muscles eased slightly. His breathing became smoother. Even the pain in his side dulled just a bit.
"…Okay," he said quietly. "That actually helps."
Jackson leaned against the cold wall outside the museum, his breathing finally starting to steady.
"…I'm alive," he muttered.
Barely.
His arm still burned where the cultivator had grazed him. His ribs ached with every breath.
But he was standing.
That was enough.
[System Notification]
Combat concluded.
Reward distribution in progress…
Jackson blinked.
"…Oh. Right."
Rewards:
Chaos Points +50
Experience Gained
Minor Body Reinforcement
Technique Proficiency Increased
A warm sensation spread through his body.
Not overwhelming—
But noticeable.
The soreness in his muscles eased slightly. His breathing became smoother. Even the pain in his side dulled just a bit.
"…Okay," he said quietly. "That actually helps."
[System Notification]
Host has survived first life-threatening encounter.
Bonus Reward Granted.
"…Bonus?"
Item Acquired: Beginner Recovery Pill
Effect: Speeds up healing.
Warning: Doesn't fix stupidity.
"…You really need new lines."
Still, Jackson didn't hesitate.
He used it.
The effect was immediate.
A cool sensation spread through his body, washing away the lingering pain. The burning in his arm faded, and his ribs felt… normal again.
"…That's insane."
Jackson exhaled slowly and pushed himself off the wall.
"…I need to go home."
For the first time since everything started—
Jackson leaned against the cold wall outside the museum, his breathing finally starting to steady.
"…I'm alive," he muttered.
Barely.
His arm still burned where the cultivator had grazed him. His ribs ached with every breath.
But he was standing.
That was enough.
[System Notification]
Combat concluded.
Reward distribution in progress…
Jackson blinked.
"…Oh. Right."
Rewards:
Chaos Points +50
Experience Gained
Minor Body Reinforcement
Technique Proficiency Increased
A warm sensation spread through his body.
Not overwhelming—
But noticeable.
The soreness in his muscles eased slightly. His breathing became smoother. Even the pain in his side dulled just a bit.
"…Okay," he said quietly. "That actually helps."
[System Notification]
Host has survived first life-threatening encounter.
Bonus Reward Granted.
"…Bonus?"
Item Acquired: Beginner Recovery Pill
Effect: Speeds up healing.
Warning: Doesn't fix stupidity.
"…You really need new lines."
Still, Jackson didn't hesitate.
He used it.
The effect was immediate.
A cool sensation spread through his body, washing away the lingering pain. The burning in his arm faded, and his ribs felt… normal again.
"…That's insane."
Jackson exhaled slowly and pushed himself off the wall.
"…I need to go home."
For the first time since everything started—
That thought felt… distant.
Still—
Home was home.
The walk back felt longer than usual.
Quieter.
The streets were mostly empty now. The clouds from earlier had thickened, darkening the sky into a dull gray.
The wind picked up slightly.
Cold.
Jackson leaned against the cold wall outside the museum, his breathing finally starting to steady.
"…I'm alive," he muttered.
Barely.
His arm still burned where the cultivator had grazed him. His ribs ached with every breath.
But he was standing.
That was enough.
[System Notification]
Combat concluded.
Reward distribution in progress…
Jackson blinked.
"…Oh. Right."
Rewards:
Chaos Points +50
Experience Gained
Minor Body Reinforcement
Technique Proficiency Increased
A warm sensation spread through his body.
Not overwhelming—
But noticeable.
The soreness in his muscles eased slightly. His breathing became smoother. Even the pain in his side dulled just a bit.
"…Okay," he said quietly. "That actually helps."
[System Notification]
Host has survived first life-threatening encounter.
Bonus Reward Granted.
"…Bonus?"
Item Acquired: Beginner Recovery Pill
Effect: Speeds up healing.
Warning: Doesn't fix stupidity.
"…You really need new lines."
Still, Jackson didn't hesitate.
He used it.
The effect was immediate.
A cool sensation spread through his body, washing away the lingering pain. The burning in his arm faded, and his ribs felt… normal again.
"…That's insane."
Jackson exhaled slowly and pushed himself off the wall.
"…I need to go home."
For the first time since everything started—
That thought felt… distant.
Still—
Home was home.
The walk back felt longer than usual.
Quieter.
The streets were mostly empty now. The clouds from earlier had thickened, darkening the sky into a dull gray.
The wind picked up slightly.
Cold.
Jackson adjusted the strap on his bag, his mind replaying everything.
The fight.
The cultivator.
The furnace.
"…Qi Realm…"
He clenched his fist.
"…I'm nowhere near that."
[System Notification]
Correct.
"…I wasn't asking."
The closer he got to his house—
Something felt wrong.
Not just quiet.
Distorted.
Jackson slowed.
His steps grew quieter as he approached the front yard.
The air… rippled.
Like heat waves rising off asphalt—but colder.
Unnatural.
"…What is that…?"
Then—
CRACK.
Space itself split open above his house.
A jagged tear ripped through the air, stretching wide like a wound. Darkness spilled from within, swirling and unstable.
Jackson's eyes widened.
"…No way…"
Figures stepped out.
Three of them.
All human.
All wrong.
They wore dark, fitted clothing marked with faint, shifting symbols. Their presence alone made the air feel heavy—like standing too close to something dangerous.
And between them—
"—MOM!"
Jackson's voice broke as he saw her.
His mother struggled, held tightly by one of the men. Another had his father pinned down, forcing him forward.
"Jackson?!" she cried. "Run—!"
"Quiet."
One of the men struck her across the back—not enough to injure, but enough to silence.
Jackson's grip tightened around his sword.
His entire body trembled.
[System Notification]
Multiple enemies detected.
Energy Level: Above Host capability.
Recommendation: Do not engage.
"…Let them go."
His voice came out low.
Unsteady—
But real.
One of the men turned.
His gaze locked onto Jackson.
"…Interesting," he said. "There's another one."
Another stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
"…No. Not just another."
His gaze sharpened.
"…He has it."
Silence fell.
The third man smiled faintly.
"…The Chaos Furnace."
Jackson's heart pounded.
They know.
"Looks like our search just got easier," the man said.
Jackson stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
"…Let. Them. Go."
The air around them shifted.
Pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Jackson's knees nearly buckled.
[System Notification]
Warning: Overwhelming force detected.
"…Move…" Jackson forced out.
"…I can still—"
He activated it.
Step Shift.
He blurred forward—
And stopped.
A hand caught him mid-motion.
Effortlessly.
"…Too slow," the man said calmly.
Jackson's eyes widened.
He hadn't even seen him move.
Then—
Impact.
Jackson was slammed into the ground.
Hard.
The air left his lungs instantly.
"—Ghk!"
His sword clattered across the ground beside him.
"…Pathetic," another said. "And this is the one chosen?"
Jackson tried to move—
But his body wouldn't respond.
"…Jackson!" his mother cried out.
He forced his head up.
"…Run…" he choked. "…just go…"
But they couldn't.
One of the men stepped closer, looking down at him.
"You're not ready," he said. "Not even close."
He crouched slightly.
"But you will be."
Jackson's vision blurred.
"…What…?"
The man stood and turned.
"Take them."
"No—!" Jackson shouted, forcing himself up.
Too late.
The tear in space pulsed.
The men dragged his parents toward it.
"Jackson!" his father shouted.
"Don't follow us—!"
"Stop—!" Jackson screamed.
He reached out—
But his body gave out.
And just like that—
They were gone.
The void sealed behind them.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Jackson lay there, shaking.
"…No…"
His fingers dug into the ground.
"…No… no, no…"
The Call pulsed.
Violent.
Loud.
For the first time—
It wasn't distant.
It was furious.
Jackson slowly pushed himself up.
His body screamed in protest.
But he stood.
His eyes locked onto something.
Another tear.
Smaller.
Unstable.
Right in front of him.
"…You left that behind," he whispered.
[System Notification]
Spatial Rift Detected.
Destination: Unknown.
Jackson picked up his sword.
His hands steadied.
Not calm.
Not afraid.
Focused.
"…Qi Realm…"
He clenched his jaw.
"…Void walkers…"
"…I don't care who you are."
The air around the rift distorted again.
"…I'm coming."
He stepped forward.
Without hesitation.
And disappeared into the void.
Something felt wrong.
Not just quiet.
Distorted.
Jackson slowed.
His steps grew quieter as he approached the front yard.
The air… rippled.
Like heat waves rising off asphalt—but colder.
Unnatural.
"…What is that…?"
Then—
CRACK.
Space itself split open above his house.
A jagged tear ripped through the air, stretching wide like a wound. Darkness spilled from within, swirling and unstable.
Jackson's eyes widened.
"…No way…"
Figures stepped out.
Three of them.
All human.
All wrong.
They wore dark, fitted clothing marked with faint, shifting symbols. Their presence alone made the air feel heavy—like standing too close to something dangerous.
And between them—
"—MOM!"
Jackson's voice broke as he saw her.
His mother struggled, held tightly by one of the men. Another had his father pinned down, forcing him forward.
"Jackson?!" she cried. "Run—!"
"Quiet."
One of the men struck her across the back—not enough to injure, but enough to silence.
Jackson's grip tightened around his sword.
His entire body trembled.
[System Notification]
Multiple enemies detected.
Energy Level: Above Host capability.
Recommendation: Do not engage.
"…Let them go."
His voice came out low.
Unsteady—
But real.
One of the men turned.
His gaze locked onto Jackson.
"…Interesting," he said. "There's another one."
Another stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
"…No. Not just another."
His gaze sharpened.
"…He has it."
Silence fell.
The third man smiled faintly.
"…The Chaos Furnace."
Jackson's heart pounded.
They know.
"Looks like our search just got easier," the man said.
Jackson stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
"…Let. Them. Go."
The air around them shifted.
Pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Jackson's knees nearly buckled.
[System Notification]
Warning: Overwhelming force detected.
"…Move…" Jackson forced out.
"…I can still—"
He activated it.
Step Shift.
He blurred forward—
And stopped.
A hand caught him mid-motion.
Effortlessly.
"…Too slow," the man said calmly.
Jackson's eyes widened.
He hadn't even seen him move.
Then—
Impact.
Jackson was slammed into the ground.
Hard.
The air left his lungs instantly.
"—Ghk!"
His sword clattered across the ground beside him.
"…Pathetic," another said. "And this is the one chosen?"
Jackson tried to move—
But his body wouldn't respond.
"…Jackson!" his mother cried out.
He forced his head up.
"…Run…" he choked. "…just go…"
But they couldn't.
One of the men stepped closer, looking down at him.
"You're not ready," he said. "Not even close."
He crouched slightly.
"But you will be."
Jackson's vision blurred.
"…What…?"
The man stood and turned.
"Take them."
"No—!" Jackson shouted, forcing himself up.
Too late.
The tear in space pulsed.
The men dragged his parents toward it.
"Jackson!" his father shouted.
"Don't follow us—!"
"Stop—!" Jackson screamed.
He reached out—
But his body gave out.
And just like that—
They were gone.
The void sealed behind them.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Jackson lay there, shaking.
"…No…"
His fingers dug into the ground.
"…No… no, no…"
The Call pulsed.
Violent.
Loud.
For the first time—
It wasn't distant.
It was furious.
Jackson slowly pushed himself up.
His body screamed in protest.
But he stood.
His eyes locked onto something.
Another tear.
Smaller.
Unstable.
Right in front of him.
"…You left that behind," he whispered.
[System Notification]
Spatial Rift Detected.
Destination: Unknown.
Jackson picked up his sword.
His hands steadied.
Not calm.
Not afraid.
Focused.
"…Qi Realm…"
He clenched his jaw.
"…Void walkers…"
"…I don't care who you are."
The air around the rift distorted again.
"…I'm coming."
He stepped forward.
Without hesitation.
And disappeared into the void.