Zaylan stood before the spatial tear, a shimmering wound in the fabric of reality, its inky blackness swirling with an otherworldly energy that seemed to tug at the very air.
The raw mana gushed from it, a silent, unseen torrent that nonetheless vibrated through the leaves on nearby trees, making them tremble, and raising the hairs on Zaylan's arms.
His earlier dread, a cold knot in his stomach, a visceral memory of Dylan's abrupt end, was now overshadowed by a burning desire, a desperate hunger to absorb this power.
The two-week deadline for the corrupted beings loomed large in his mind, a constant, chilling reminder.
He had to reach Mana Saturation (100%) for Stage 1. There was no other option if he wanted to survive, if he wanted to make this second life mean something beyond a mere echo of a borrowed past.
He extended his hand, palm open, towards the tear, a silent challenge to the very force that had brought him here.
The cold emanating from it intensified, a strange, sterile chill that was unlike any cold he'd ever felt.
It seeped into his skin, raising goosebumps, making his teeth want to chatter, but he pushed past the discomfort, focusing on the influx of energy.
He closed his eyes, picturing his body not as a fragile shell, but as an empty vessel, a void ready to be filled.
He willed the mana, drew it in, feeling its chaotic energy buffet against his nascent cultivation, a violent, invisible storm threatening to consume him.
This is it, he thought, his mind racing even as his body screamed in protest. This is what cultivation is all about.
He remembered countless webnovels where protagonists sat cross-legged, absorbing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth. His situation was far more visceral, more terrifying.
He wasn't meditating in a serene forest; he was standing before a tear in reality, drawing in raw, untamed mana that felt like liquid fire and ice. Is this the same as 'absorbing spiritual qi' or 'gathering cosmic energy'? It must be. It's just... more intense.
He recalled descriptions of Foundation Building in those novels, the crucial first step where a cultivator's internal reserves were solidified, preparing them for more complex techniques and greater power.
This Mana Saturation must be his version of that foundational stage.
The sensation was overwhelming. The subtle hum of mana he usually felt in the air was a gentle breeze compared to this roaring hurricane.
Mana flooded his senses, a raw, untamed force that threatened to tear him apart from the inside out.
He felt it surge into his nostrils, tasting like ozone and ancient dust, a metallic tang that made his mouth water. It prickled his skin, a million tiny needles dancing across his flesh, each one a spark of excruciating sensation.
His ears rang with a high-pitched whine, like the shriek of a thousand cicadas, and even behind his closed eyelids, he saw flashes of ethereal, swirling colors – emerald green, sapphire blue, an angry crimson – painting the inside of his skull. It was beautiful and terrifying all at once, a symphony of agony and potential.
His Physical Refinement (Passive) ability immediately went into overdrive, a silent, internal process that was now desperately trying to cope with the immense influx of energy.
The faint warmth in his core intensified, becoming a burning furnace as it began to process the torrent of mana.
He felt his muscles twitch and clench involuntarily, fibers tearing and reknitting with impossible speed, each contraction a spasm of agonizing renewal.
His bones ached, a deep, resonant pain that spoke of fundamental change, of new densities being forged within the very marrow.
It felt as if every cell in his body was simultaneously being broken down and rebuilt, stripped to its essence and reforged stronger, denser, more resilient.
A low, guttural groan escaped his lips, a raw, involuntary sound of pain and desperate effort.
This pain… it's like my body is being forced to expand, to accommodate something vast, Zaylan thought, gritting his teeth.
They talked about 'meridians' and 'energy pathways' in the novels. Is that what's happening? Is mana carving out new channels within me? The process was brutal, but he clung to the idea that this agony was a necessary step, a baptism by fire. He had no techniques, no cultivation manual to guide him.
He was relying purely on instinct, on the passive efficiency of his Physical Refinement, and a desperate will to survive.
Meanwhile, across the globe, in grand, fortified conference rooms, the world's leaders were in emergency session.
In the Bradonn's Empire capital, within the heavily secured Command Center, Chancellor Evelyn Reed of the Imperial Council slammed her hand down on the holographic table, her face a mask of grim determination.
"Admiral Thorne, Minister Rhys, are our preliminary reports on this 'System' accurate? Is everyone truly seeing these interfaces? And this 'Mana Saturation' parameter for 'Awakeners'—what does it do?"
Admiral Thorne, his face etched with exhaustion, responded, "Chancellor, preliminary data suggests universal access for all mana-sensitives. The 'System' itself is a reality-altering interface. As for Mana Saturation, our scientific division, led by Dr. Aris Thorne, believes it's a measure of how much mana an individual's body has integrated. It seems to be the key to advancing their 'Cultivation' stages, or in most cases, unlocking deeper levels of their specific abilities."
Minister Rhys, ever the pragmatist, interjected, "And the implications, Chancellor, are catastrophic. Social order is already fracturing. There are reports of riots in the Northern Federation over perceived 'unfair' ability allocations. The Equatorial Alliance is imposing martial law to control burgeoning cults worshipping the 'Radiant Figure' and promoting uncontrolled mana exposure."
"And the 'corrupted beings'?" Chancellor Reed asked, her voice dangerously quiet.
"Two weeks. What are our contingency plans for extra-dimensional threats?"
Dr. Aris Thorne, projected onto the table via hologram from his heavily fortified lab, his usually composed demeanor frayed, spoke gravely. "Chancellor, we are analyzing the mana signatures from the largest spatial drifts. They are fluctuating wildly. Whatever these 'corrupted beings' are, they are a biological and energetic anomaly unlike anything we've ever faced. Our current weaponry… it might be insufficient. We need to understand how these Awakeners can contribute. We need to find the strongest ones, and fast."
Back in the forest, Zaylan was oblivious to the political turmoil. His world had shrunk to the searing pain and the flickering progress bar.
[Mana Saturation: 30%]
The percentage inched up, a testament to his sheer will. His lungs burned, his vision swam, but he felt an undeniable power building within him.
He was no longer just absorbing mana; he was actively refining it, forging it into something that belonged to him.
The pain was still immense, but a strange sense of clarity, a heightened awareness of his own body and the mana around him, was slowly emerging. He was becoming a cultivator, not just by name, but by the fire of his transformation.
This was only Stage 0, but he could feel the potential, the limitless future that lay beyond. He was clinging to consciousness through sheer force of will, ready for whatever came next. The two weeks were ticking down, and he had to be ready.