The roar shook the trees around Ethan, sending birds scattering into the sky like dark arrows fleeing danger. He froze for a split second, his mind already calculating the odds. The sound was deeper than the wolves', more primal, echoing with a power that suggested something far larger and infused with that strange energy Nexus had called Qi. Leaves rustled violently as the beast approached, its heavy footsteps cracking branches underfoot. Ethan could feel the ground tremble slightly, a vibration that traveled up his legs and into his spine. This wasn't just an animal; it was a force of nature in this unfamiliar world.
"Nexus, full scan," Ethan whispered internally, his eyes darting for cover. He backed toward a cluster of thick vines dangling from an ancient tree, his makeshift rock weapon still clutched tightly in his hand. The air grew thicker, carrying a musky scent mixed with something metallic, like blood and storm clouds.
*Scanning complete,* Nexus responded in his mind, its voice calm and analytical, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding. *Entity identified: Forest Guardian Bear. Qi-infused variant. Size: Approximately 3 meters tall, 800 kilograms. Strength amplified by low-level cultivation—equivalent to early Qi Gathering stage based on local energy patterns. Weaknesses: Joints in hind legs, eyes, and a potential Qi core in the chest. Aggression level: High, territorial. It senses your intrusion. Recommendation: Do not engage directly. Use environment for diversion. Probability of survival in direct combat: 23%. With strategy: 58%.*
Ethan's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. Probabilities were just numbers; he had bent worse odds in boardrooms and labs back home. He scanned the clearing ahead—the village smoke was tantalizingly close, maybe a kilometer away, but this beast blocked the path. The bear burst through the underbrush, its fur a mottled green-brown that blended with the forest, eyes glowing with faint azure light. Massive paws ended in claws like curved daggers, and its breath came in hot puffs that stirred the grass.
No time for hesitation. Ethan darted left, toward a narrow ravine he spotted earlier. The bear charged, its roar deafening, but Ethan was already moving with precision. He calculated the beast's speed—about 40 kilometers per hour in short bursts—and timed his dodge. As it swiped, he rolled under a low-hanging branch, the claws whistling overhead and shredding bark into splinters. Pain shot through his shoulder from the impact, but he ignored it. Pain was data, nothing more.
"Nexus, simulate trap options," he commanded mentally while scrambling up the ravine wall, using roots as handholds. The bear followed, slower in the tight space, its bulk a disadvantage here.
*Simulation running... Option one: Collapse the ravine edge. Loose soil detected—probability of burial: 45%. Option two: Lure to unstable tree. Impact could topple it. Probability: 62%. Executing visual overlay.*
In Ethan's mind, a faint holographic map appeared, courtesy of Nexus's evolving interface. It highlighted weak points in red, paths in green. He chose option two, veering toward a leaning tree that looked ready to fall with the right push. The bear was closing in, its hot breath on his heels. Ethan grabbed a vine, swinging across a small gap, then kicked a boulder loose as he landed. It tumbled down, forcing the beast to leap aside.
The distraction bought seconds. Ethan reached the tree and circled it, baiting the bear. It reared up on hind legs, towering over him, and slammed down with both paws. The impact shook the ground—and the tree. Cracks spiderwebbed through the trunk. Ethan dodged again, this time slashing at the bear's exposed flank with his rock. Blood welled, dark and shimmering with Qi, but it only enraged the creature further.
*Qi fluctuation detected—beast preparing energy burst,* Nexus warned. *Evade immediately.*
Ethan dove as a wave of blue energy rippled from the bear's maw, scorching the earth where he had stood. The smell of burned grass filled the air. He countered by yanking on exposed roots, destabilizing the tree more. The bear lunged once final time, its weight crashing into the trunk. With a thunderous crack, the tree toppled, branches whipping like lashes. Ethan rolled clear just as it pinned the beast beneath its massive weight.
The bear thrashed, roaring in fury, but it was trapped. Ethan didn't waste the opportunity. He approached cautiously, rock raised. "Nexus, locate the core."
*Core pulsing in chest cavity. Strike here for termination.*
With cold efficiency, Ethan drove the rock into the indicated spot. The bear shuddered, its glow fading, and went still. Warm blood coated his hands, but he felt no remorse—only satisfaction at the efficiency of the kill. This world was brutal; he would be more so.
Panting, he examined the corpse. A faint crystal shimmered in the wound—a beast core, Nexus informed him, rich in Qi. He pocketed it, along with a claw for a weapon. Energy hummed through him, a strange warmth from the fight. *Adrenaline surge, mixed with ambient Qi absorption,* Nexus noted. *Your body is adapting. Recommend rest and meditation to formalize cultivation.*
Ethan nodded inwardly. First, the village. He trudged onward, the smoke guiding him. As the trees thinned, wooden huts came into view, clustered around a central well. Fields of strange glowing crops surrounded it, and people in simple robes moved about—farmers, he guessed, with a few guards wielding spears that faintly pulsed with energy.
He approached warily, hiding his bloodied appearance behind a calm facade. A group of villagers spotted him first—an old man with a weathered face, a young woman carrying a basket, and two burly men who looked like hunters. They tensed, hands going to tools that could double as weapons.
"Stranger," the old man called, his voice cautious but not hostile. "You come from the forest? That's beast territory. You injured?"
Ethan assessed them quickly. No high Qi levels—peasants, likely. Easy to manipulate. He forced a weary smile, injecting just enough vulnerability to seem non-threatening. "Yes, elder. I was... lost. Attacked by wolves, then a bear. Barely escaped."
The young woman gasped, her eyes wide. "A Forest Guardian? No one survives those without cultivation!"
Cultivation—there it was, the key term. Ethan filed it away. "Luck, mostly. And a bit of quick thinking. I'm new to these lands. My name is... Lin. Shadow Lin." He chose the alias on the spot, simple and untraceable.
The old man nodded slowly, suspicion lingering but softened by Ethan's disheveled state. "I'm Village Elder Wei. Come, we'll tend your wounds. But tell us, where do you hail from? Your accent is odd, and your robes... foreign."
Ethan followed them into the village, his mind weaving a story. He couldn't reveal his origins—too risky. "From a distant mountain clan. Bandits destroyed my home. I wandered for days." It was a classic tale, vague enough to avoid scrutiny.
As they led him to a modest hut, villagers gathered, whispering. Elder Wei offered herbal tea that smelled of earth and spice. Ethan sipped, analyzing it with Nexus's help—*Non-toxic, minor healing properties.* The woman, introduced as Mei Ling (no relation to his future ally, just coincidence for now), bandaged his shoulder with practiced hands.
While she worked, Ethan probed for information. "This forest... it's dangerous. Are there sects nearby? Places for cultivation?"
Elder Wei's eyes lit up with a mix of awe and fear. "Ah, you know of cultivation? Yes, the Azure Leaf Sect controls this region. They recruit talented youths every season. But it's harsh—only the strong survive. We pay tribute in spirit grains to them."
Spirit grains? Nexus chimed in: *Crops infused with Qi. Basic resource for cultivators.*
Ethan leaned in, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "I've always dreamed of joining a sect. But I need to start somewhere. Teach me the basics, elder? In return, I can help with... whatever you need." He spotted a broken cart nearby—simple fix with leverage knowledge.
The elder hesitated, but Ethan's earnest gaze—calculated to perfection—won him over. "Very well. Sit. Cultivation begins with sensing Qi. Close your eyes, breathe deep. Feel the energy in the air, the earth, within you."
Ethan complied, cross-legged on the dirt floor. At first, nothing. Then, guided by Nexus's overlays—*Visualizing Qi flows: Inhale through meridians, cycle to dantian*—a warmth stirred in his core. Tiny threads of energy trickled in, like data streams downloading. It was exhilarating, a fusion of biology and power he never imagined.
Hours passed as Elder Wei explained realms: Qi Gathering to build foundation, then higher stages with tribulations. The world was vast—the Mortal Continent alone spanned empires, with sects warring for resources. Beasts, demons, treasures in ruins. Ethan absorbed it all, his mind mapping hierarchies, weaknesses.
By evening, he had gathered his first strand of Qi, a faint glow in his dantian. Nexus optimized it: *Efficiency increased by 15%. Projecting progression: Reach Qi Gathering Level 1 in days with core absorption.*
Grateful villagers fed him—stew with spirit grains that boosted his energy. But Ethan wasn't idle. He fixed the cart using physics principles, earning favor. Whispered to a hunter about better traps, planting seeds of loyalty. Manipulation was his art; these people were pieces on his board.
As night fell, stars unfamiliar twinkled above. Ethan lay in a borrowed hut, planning. The Azure Leaf Sect—his next target. Rise there, gather power.
But a shout shattered the peace. "Bandits! They're attacking the outskirts!"