Five days had passed since Harry managed to draw the first thread of Qi into his body. The following days were marked by patience and persistence. He continued training diligently, trying to strengthen both mind and body.
On the twenty-fifth day of his vacation, something finally changed.
While meditating under the solitary tree in the field, the Qi flowed with more force. His body trembled slightly, his dantian seemed to expand, and a warm sensation spread through his abdomen. Suddenly, he felt as if his whole body were lighter, firmer, more alive.
He had broken through the barrier.
— I did it... First level of Qi Cultivator...! — he murmured to himself, almost not believing it.
He stood up slowly, testing his new abilities. He ran around the house and realized he was faster. His eyes could see more clearly: the leaves swaying high in the trees, tiny insects flying, even a rabbit in the bushes dozens of meters away.
He walked to the area where he kept some old cement bags and, out of curiosity, tried to lift one of the heaviest — around a hundred kilos. With minimal effort, he lifted the weight with one hand.
— This is incredible...
His strength had increased considerably. His whole body felt renewed. He could feel the muscles vibrating with energy, as if about to explode into movement.
Back in the house, he sat on the porch, still breathless with excitement, when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Vinícius:
"Dude, I took a look. There's a bunch of disappearances going on around the region. The police think it's a serial killer. There was even a farm nearby where they found a huge bloodstain, but no body. It's bizarre."
Harry felt a chill. He put the phone in his pocket and stood still, staring at the horizon. He needed to see it with his own eyes.
As he walked through the house, he picked up his grandfather's old machete, which hung on the kitchen wall. It was a rusty relic his uncle kept as a keepsake, but Harry felt a strange comfort when holding it — as if his grandfather's past, somehow, protected him.
Just as he was about to leave, he ran into his uncle at the front door. The old man frowned when he saw the machete in his nephew's hand.
— Where are you going with that, Harry? — he asked, concerned.
— To the city. I need to check something — he replied, trying to sound firm.
The uncle remained silent for a few seconds. He looked at the machete, then into his nephew's eyes.
— Go carefully... — he said finally. — And don't get into trouble.
Harry nodded and left, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders — and the cold blade in his hand.
A few hours later, he gathered the courage and decided to head toward the nearby town. He followed the dirt road on foot, his mind still boiling.
That's when the medallion glowed. An intense and pulsating light. Harry stopped immediately, heart racing.
From within the shadows emerged a strange dog, with glowing red eyes, skin marked by dark mutations, and a sinister aura that made his hair stand on end.
Harry swallowed hard and hid behind a nearby tree. The medallion on his chest glowed brightly — a sign that the enemy was near.
The dog caught his scent and charged, fast.
On reflex, Harry raised the machete and struck the creature. It wasn't injured, but recoiled, startled.
After a low growl, the dog fled into the woods.
Harry remained there, still trembling, but without a scratch.
— That was close... I'm still too weak...
He returned home in silence, the machete still firm in his hands. He closed all the doors and windows and locked everything. He sat on the living room floor, breathing deeply until he calmed down.
— I was lucky today...
He looked at the machete with a mix of relief and regret.
— I wasn't supposed to kill that animal... If it had been a civilian, or a person... I wouldn't even know what to do.
He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away. Took a deep breath.
— Now that I'm a cultivator... maybe I can try a technique.
He sat in the most comfortable position possible. He tried the lotus position, but his legs still complained from the sedentary life. After some adjustments and grumbling, he managed something acceptable.
He closed his eyes and dived into the memory left by Long Hai, recorded in his mind along with the Qi cultivation technique.
Besides that, there was more: the Basic Elemental Techniques.
🔥 Fireball💧 Water Jet🌱 Root Bind🪨 Earth Wall⚔️ Spiritual Blade
He decided to try the flashiest: fire.
With controlled breathing and focus on the dantian, he visualized a small spark, gathering Qi in the right spot in his body. He recalled the mental instructions — condense, heat, project.
The palm of his right hand began to tingle. A faint spark appeared... and went out.
— Damn...
He tried again. A small flame appeared on the tip of his finger... and vanished quickly.
Despite the failure, his eyes shone with excitement.
— It's real... I can feel it...!
Even with difficulty, he wouldn't give up.
And now, a new world to conquer.