Solace lay sprawled across a tree branch so vast it barely resembled anything natural. The tree's trunk was thicker than most houses, its bark shimmering like polished obsidian. Its branches stretched for miles, with leaves that glowed faintly in the light of the seven suns hanging above, casting an almost otherworldly hue across the landscape. He lay there, completely relaxed, his shoulder-length hair a cascade of silver and white strands that swayed gently in the breeze. His skin, a warm shade of brown, contrasted against the unnatural blackness of his eyes—eyes that had no pupils and reflected nothing but an endless void. To anyone who might have seen him, he looked like a specter, as if he didn't truly belong to this world, or any world at all.
This was Solace, and though his appearance was striking, it was far from the most interesting thing about him. Solace was a transmigrator, or at least, he had been meant to be. He had died unexpectedly, and that death had brought him to this strange, new reality.
In his past life, he had been a homeless sixteen-year-old, a boy with no family and no home. He survived by finding scraps of food and shelter wherever he could, navigating life with the kind of resilience that comes only from necessity. It wasn't glamorous, but Solace had made do. Every day was a battle, but it was his fight. On the night of his sixteenth birthday, however, that fight ended. He had gone to sleep in his usual spot—a narrow alley between two forgotten buildings—and never woke up.
But death was not the end.
When Solace opened his eyes again, he found himself in a completely different place—facing a silhouette of a being whose form was indistinct, yet pulsed with an almost tangible energy. The being offered him an opportunity, one straight out of the most cliché of stories: a chance at rebirth. He could choose his race, select two cheats—anything he wanted, really. He could design his new life however he wished.
He had chosen eagerly, as anyone would. His past life had been devoid of luxuries, so the chance to start anew with unlimited potential was impossible to resist. The being had granted his request and, after a brief moment, sent him into this new world—Earth, though it was nothing like the one he remembered.
This was a new Earth, one that had been irrevocably altered. The familiar countries and continents of old had vanished. Instead, the entire planet had merged into one enormous landmass, hundreds of times larger than the old Earth. The world was a place of cultivation, filled with mythical races—beings straight out of fantasy novels and ancient myths. Magic, or more specifically, mana, flowed freely through this land, and cultivators had risen to power, channeling that mana to grow beyond the limitations of their mortal bodies.
For the past few months, Solace had been adjusting to this strange reality, observing the changes and learning the rules of this new world. He had kept to himself, studying the natural surroundings and avoiding unnecessary attention. Now, though, as he lay on the massive tree branch, he knew that today was significant.
Today, he would turn 16 once again.
According to the mysterious being that had sent him here, everyone in this world awakened to their cultivation abilities at the age of 16. It was the standard. Solace was no different, though he had no idea what to expect. He had learned enough to know that his awakening would be different from others—after all, he had been granted powers and abilities beyond the ordinary.
The seven suns began to set, their light dimming as the moons rose in the sky. The air grew cooler as nightfall descended. Time passed unnoticed, and just as Solace had started to lose himself in his thoughts, a sound rang in his ears, sharp and mechanical.
[Ding! System is now Active. Hello, Solace.]
The voice was as artificial as the chime itself, but Solace knew what it meant. His heart quickened in anticipation.
"Finally," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position, resting his back against the massive tree trunk. The gentle hum of the air around him seemed to fade as he focused on the voice. "So, how do I awaken?"
[Host, normally you would need special tools to learn your affinities and other abilities. However, don't worry—I will handle that for you. It may be painful, so I advise you to endure it.]
Solace nodded, bracing himself for whatever was coming. He had been through worse in his previous life—what was a little pain compared to the struggles he'd already faced? He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, preparing himself mentally for the awakening that was about to begin.
Without warning, an intense pressure settled on his body, radiating from every pore. His mind screamed as the sensation intensified, a searing pain spreading through every fiber of his being. His body convulsed with the force of the energy coursing through him, and he gritted his teeth to hold back the cry that threatened to escape.
"ARGHHHHH!" The scream tore from his throat as his body was overwhelmed by the force of the awakening. Mana surged through him, flooding his senses and tearing apart the barriers between his mortal form and the infinite potential that awaited him.
The pain was excruciating. But amidst the agony, Solace felt something else—something that made the pain bearable. Power. It was like an ancient force awakening deep within him, one that had been dormant for far too long. His very blood seemed to thrum with the energy of the world, the essence of cultivation itself, and he knew in that moment that this would be the beginning of something extraordinary.
His body continued to change, his senses heightened beyond comprehension. As the pain subsided, he could feel his mind expanding, his soul growing in tandem with the awakening of his new power. He was no longer just a boy—he was something more. A cultivator. A being on the path to greatness.
And as the night stretched on, with the moons high above and the world below, Solace couldn't help but wonder what challenges lay ahead in this strange new world. But one thing was for sure: he was ready for whatever came next.