Day 2 - 28 Days Until Tournament4:00 AM
Kael woke to every muscle in his body screaming in protest. The fifty push-ups, thirty sit-ups, twenty squats, and one kilometer of stumbling yesterday had pushed the original Kael's pathetic body beyond its limits. Even with the recovery potion, he felt like he'd been beaten with hammers.
[Daily Quest Reset][Yesterday's Reward: 10 System Points, +1 Constitution][Current Stats: Constitution 3→4][HP increased: 45→60]
The increase was marginal but real. More importantly:
[Current System Points: 15]
He had options now. Minimal ones, but options.
As he forced himself out of bed, new text appeared:
[System Tutorial Initiated][Due to Host's unique circumstances, extended tutorial provided][Tutorial Duration: 7 Days - All rewards doubled]
A translucent blue figure materialized in front of him—humanoid but featureless, like a mannequin made of light.
"Greetings, Host. I am the System Tutorial Guide. You may call me Guide."
Kael nearly fell out of bed. "You can manifest physically?"
"Only during tutorial period and only visible to Host," Guide replied, its voice neutral and genderless. "I exist to explain System functions. First, let's review your unique System type."
[Assassination Cultivation System][Primary Focus: Becoming stronger through death—but not your own][Core Mechanics:]
Death Echo: Gain experience and insights from kills Shadow Cultivation: Unique cultivation path mixing death and shadow elements Assassination Techniques: Convert killing methods into cultivation techniques Karma Balance: Good and evil actions affect System rewards
"Your System is rare," Guide continued, beginning to pace—which was unsettling since it had no actual feet, just suggested limbs. "Most Systems focus on pure cultivation, crafting, or beast taming. Yours weaponizes death itself."
"I'm familiar with the concept," Kael said dryly.
"Your past life experiences have been... noted," Guide said diplomatically. "Now, let's discuss features. First, the Status screen—think 'Status' to view."
[Status]Name: Kael ThornwoodAge: 15Cultivation: Mortal (Meridians 73% Blocked)Bloodline: Shadow Phoenix (95% Sealed)HP: 60/60Qi: 0/0Stamina: 15/30
Attributes:
Strength: 3 (Below average human) Agility: 4 (Child level) Constitution: 4 (Sickly) Intelligence: 18 (Genius level) Wisdom: 16 (Exceptional) Luck: 7 (Hidden - Slightly above average) Charisma: 6 (Unremarkable)
Skills:
Assassin's Memory (Passive): Perfect recall of targets and threats Death Sense (Locked): Requires Qi Refinement Shadow Affinity (Locked): Requires Bloodline Awakening
"Pathetic physical stats," Kael noted.
"Correct. However, your Intelligence and Wisdom transferred from your previous life. These affect learning speed, technique comprehension, and resistance to mental attacks." Guide gestured, bringing up another screen. "Next, the Shop system."
[System Shop - Tutorial Special]Daily Items (Refreshes in 20 hours):
Mortal Grade Healing Pill: ~~10~~ 5 SP Rusty Iron Sword: ~~15~~ 7 SP Basic Body Refinement Manual: ~~100~~ 50 SP (Tutorial Discount!) Qi Gathering Formation (1-day): ~~50~~ 25 SP Mystery Box (Bronze): ~~25~~ 12 SP
Permanent Items (Always Available):
Nutrition Pill: 1 SP (Replaces one meal) Small Healing Potion: 5 SP Qi Sensing Incense: 10 SP (Helps mortal feel qi)
"During tutorial, all prices are halved," Guide explained. "Additionally, first purchase of each category grants bonus rewards."
Kael immediately bought a Nutrition Pill for 1 SP, partly for sustenance but mostly to test the system.
[First Purchase Bonus: Consumables][Received: Nutrition Pill x10, Small Healing Potion x3]
Fourteen items for the price of one. Kael ate a Nutrition Pill immediately, feeling his empty stomach settle and energy return.
"Next, the Gacha system," Guide waved its hand, bringing up a new interface that looked suspiciously like a slot machine. "You can spend System Points for random rewards."
[Gacha Rates]
Bronze Tier (10 SP): 60% Common, 35% Uncommon, 5% Rare Silver Tier (100 SP): 40% Uncommon, 50% Rare, 10% Epic Gold Tier (1000 SP): 30% Rare, 60% Epic, 10% Legendary Platinum Tier (10,000 SP): 100% Legendary minimum Diamond Tier (100,000 SP): 100% Mythic minimum
"First pull is free during tutorial," Guide added.
Without hesitation, Kael selected the free pull. The interface spun, lights flashed, and a bronze chest materialized.
[Bronze Gacha Result: Rare!][Obtained: Phantom Step Technique Manual][A movement technique that allows user to leave afterimages. Requires Qi Refinement Stage 1]
"Useful, but I need to cultivate first," Kael muttered.
"Indeed. Which brings us to Quests." Guide brought up another screen. "You have Daily, Main, Hidden, and Chain quests."
[Current Quests]Daily: Complete training regimen (0/100 push-ups, etc.)Main: Reach Qi Refinement Stage 3 (28 days remaining)Hidden: Multiple available - discover through actionsChain: "Mother's Shadow" - Investigate Aria Thornwood's death (Stage 1/??)
"Hidden quests are revealed through specific actions or discoveries," Guide explained. "For example..."
Kael walked to his study, which he hadn't properly explored yet. Dust covered everything, but his assassin's eye caught something—a slightly discolored section of floor beneath the desk. He pressed it.
Click.
A hidden compartment opened, revealing a small journal.
[Hidden Quest Discovered: "The Original's Last Words"][The previous Kael left something behind][Reward: 50 SP, Memory Fragment]
The journal contained only one entry, written three days ago in shaking handwriting:
"If someone else reads this, then I succeeded in dying. I'm too weak for this world, too pathetic to fight back. But maybe... maybe my death can mean something. Under the meditation mat, third stone from the left. Mother hid it there before she died. I was too scared to look.
Whoever you are, please... make them pay."
Kael felt an unexpected pang of sympathy for the original. He'd been weak, yes, but aware enough to know something was wrong.
In the meditation room, Kael found the stone. Beneath it was a spatial ring—a storage device that created a pocket dimension. This one was small, low-grade, but still worth a fortune.
[Hidden Quest Complete][Reward: 50 SP, Memory Fragment Unlocked]
The memory hit him like a flash:
Five-year-old Kael watching his mother place something in the floor. "Remember, little shadow," she whispered, "if anything happens to me, this is yours. But only when you're strong enough to use it."
Kael dropped a drop of blood on the ring—the standard binding method. Inside the spatial ring he found:
50 Low-grade Spirit Stones (Currency for cultivators) A jade slip labeled "Shadow Phoenix Breathing Technique"A letter sealed with waxA vial of pitch-black liquid
[System Analysis][Shadow Phoenix Breathing Technique: Bloodline-specific cultivation method][Warning: Attempting without bloodline awakened will cause death][Letter: Magically sealed - requires Foundation Establishment to open][Unknown Substance: Phoenix Blood Essence (Diluted)][Can forcefully awaken 5% of sealed bloodline but may cause backlash]
"Interesting," Guide commented. "Your mother left you tools, but ones that require strength to use. A test and gift combined."
"What about the essence?" Kael asked.
"Dangerous. Using it now would be like pouring lava into glass pipes. You'd gain power briefly, then explode. Recommended cultivation: at least Qi Refinement Stage 3."
So even his mother's gifts required him to grow stronger first. But the spirit stones...
"Guide, what can spirit stones do for someone who can't cultivate yet?"
"They can power formations, be traded for resources, or..." Guide paused dramatically, "be consumed by the System for points. One low-grade spirit stone equals 10 System Points."
Kael immediately converted five stones.
[Current System Points: 114]
Enough for a Silver Gacha pull with some left over. But first, he checked the shop again.
The Basic Body Refinement Manual caught his eye. Body refinement was different from qi cultivation—it strengthened the physical form through external pressure and special techniques. Even mortals could practice it to a degree.
[Purchase: Basic Body Refinement Manual - 50 SP][First Purchase Bonus: Technique Manuals][Received: Basic Body Refinement Manual, Mortal Fist Technique, Introduction to Weapons]
The knowledge flowed directly into his mind—not mastery, but understanding. The Body Refinement Manual described a process of using specific exercises and breathing patterns to strengthen muscles, bones, and organs. It had nine levels, and even reaching level one would double his physical attributes.
"Now for the most important function," Guide said seriously. "The Death Echo system."
[Death Echo: Assassination Cultivation Core Feature]
Killing grants Death Points based on target's strengthDeath Points can be converted to cultivation or attributesRighteous Kills (protecting innocent, eliminating evil) grant bonus KarmaUnrighteous Kills (innocents, allies) grant negative KarmaAt certain thresholds, unlock Assassination Techniques
"You're encouraging me to kill," Kael noted.
"The System adapts to the Host's nature. You have 341 kills worth of experience. The System simply provides a framework to use that experience constructively." Guide's tone held no judgment. "However, note the Karma system. Your previous life ended with positive Karma, barely. Maintain that balance or face consequences."
"What kind of consequences?"
"System functions may lock, backlash from techniques, or in extreme cases, System abandonment."
So even the System had moral requirements. Interesting.
"Tutorial time remaining: 6 days, 20 hours. During this time, I will answer questions and provide guidance. Use it wisely."
Kael stood, feeling slightly stronger just from the nutrition pill and new knowledge. He had a plan forming:
Use Body Refinement to strengthen his physical form Complete daily quests for consistent attribute gains Save for specific shop items that could break through his meridian blockage Investigate the clan while appearing helplessly weak Find someone who deserves death (shouldn't be hard in a cultivation world)
"Guide, one more question. Can others see System notifications or effects?"
"No. All System elements are invisible to others unless specifically manifested. For example, items purchased from shop appear to come from reasonable sources. Skills learned seem like natural talent. Only you know the truth."
Perfect.
A knock at the courtyard gate interrupted them—Guide immediately vanished.
Bei Chen entered, looking worried. "Young Master, there's trouble. Second Young Master Darius has announced a 'training session' for all direct disciples. Attendance is mandatory."
Translation: Darius was going to publicly humiliate him to establish dominance.
But Kael smiled. The original would have cowered. Marcus Chen saw opportunity.
"Help me dress, Bei Chen. Something that won't show blood stains."
"Young Master?"
"Trust me." Kael accessed his status, eating another nutrition pill for energy. "And bring bandages. This is going to be educational."
As they prepared to leave, Kael used his remaining 64 System Points for one more shop purchase:
[Qi Sensing Incense x6 - 60 SP][First Purchase Bonus: Cultivation Aids][Received: Qi Sensing Incense x12, Spirit Gathering Pill x3, Meridian Soothing Balm x1]
He lit one stick immediately. The smoke filled his nostrils, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he felt something—a tingling in the air, like static electricity before a storm.
Qi. The energy that powered this world.
He couldn't use it yet, but he could feel it.
"Young Master," Bei Chen said nervously as they walked toward the training grounds, "Second Young Master won't hold back. He might actually try to kill you."
"He might try," Kael agreed. "But I've been killed by better people than Darius Thornewood."
"Young Master?"
"Nothing. Just remember, Bei Chen—sometimes losing is its own victory, if you lose the right way."
The training grounds were already crowded. Darius stood in the center, his silver-white hair gleaming in the morning sun, his muscles visible through his training robes. He spotted Kael and smiled—the expression of a cat that had cornered a mouse.
"Brother!" Darius called out mockingly. "So glad you could join us. I thought we should help you prepare for your impossible challenge. Some light sparring, perhaps?"
The crowd laughed. They all knew what this was.
But Kael stepped forward, his weak body trembling but his eyes steady.
"Of course, Second Brother. After all," he smiled, and for just a moment, Ghost looked out through Kael's eyes, "I have so much to learn from you."
Guide's voice whispered in his mind, though only he could hear:
[Hidden Quest Discovered: "The Bully's Lesson"][Survive Darius's assault and land one hit][Reward: 100 SP, Darius's combat data, ??? Surprise Reward][Bonus Objective: Make him bleed][Bonus Reward: Gold Gacha Ticket]
One hit. Against someone six stages above him in cultivation.
Marcus Chen had done more with less.
The tutorial had truly begun.