The next morning, my body protested before I even opened my eyes. Every muscle screamed, every joint reminded me of its fragility. Even climbing out of the couch felt like a victory. But there was no time to dwell on weakness. Survival demanded movement. Progress demanded effort.
I started with breathing exercises, the spark between my eyebrows faint but stubborn. Inhale… exhale… In through the nose, out through the mouth. The rhythm had become second nature, though controlling it under fatigue was another matter.
Push-ups came next. Five. My arms trembled, my lungs burned, but I counted each one aloud, a mantra to remind myself that my body was slowly, painfully gaining strength.
"Phase 2 – Basic Qi Circulation Training Initiated."
The VR headset waited on the table, its surface scratched and worn. I slipped it over my eyes. The familiar whirring hummed in my ears, the sterile white room materializing as my vision adjusted. But today, the walls weren't just empty—they shimmered faintly, hints of elemental energy rippling across the surfaces. A small blue spark for water, a faint orange flicker for fire, a patch of brown for earth. All waiting.
I focused, trying to feel something tangible. Water first. Cool, flowing, elusive. My mind reached out to the spark in the corner of the room, guiding it through my virtual meridians. A faint tingle spread through my arms.
Water Affinity: 1%
Not much, but it responded. That tiny spark ignited something—a possibility. I repeated the motion, guiding the water through a slow circle along my arms and torso. The sensation grew slightly stronger with each repetition.
Next, fire. I visualized warmth in my core, a small flame flickering in my chest. The water resisted instinctively, like two opposing forces aware of each other. My body shivered, the energy fluctuating. I forced my focus, letting the fire coexist without clashing with the water.
Fire Affinity: 0.5%
A faint success. Tiny, unstable, but it was progress. My Full 5-Element Body was a paradox: power beyond imagination, but only if the elements moved in harmony. Any misstep, and I risked backlash.
Warning: Imbalance Detected. Qi flow unstable.
I stopped, breathing heavily. My meridians ached, a dull, persistent throb reminding me that failure had consequences. Even in VR, the system translated mistakes into real sensations. Pain. Weakness. Fatigue.
I spent the next hour alternating between water and fire, carefully coaxing each element to flow in tandem. Earth, wind, and lightning remained dormant for now. I didn't dare risk awakening all five simultaneously—not until I could synchronize even two.
By the time I logged out, my body was trembling from exhaustion. My palms were sore, my arms felt like lead, and my back ached. But the spark remained. I had moved. I had coaxed the elements to respond. That was enough.
"Phase 2 Complete – Qi Circulation: 2%"
Back in the apartment, I sat on the edge of the couch, letting the adrenaline fade. My real-world body was weak, but it was also improving. Every day I pushed it further, every day I built the foundation for the body I'd need to survive the VR challenges.
The forums whispered of the Arena—matches where cultivators tested strength, skill, and cunning. Even Bronze League matches could provide rewards that far exceeded herb gathering: Spirit Stones, rare techniques, reputation. But the risk was real. Injuries from VR battles translated to actual pain, actual damage. A single misstep could leave me incapacitated.
I reviewed the Herb Gathering map again. Frostroot, Moonpetal Bloom, Nightshade Fern. Each herb had value, each one a chance to earn Spirit Stones. The system calculated optimal routes, hazard zones, and time estimates.
"Efficiency: 87% – Predicted Spirit Stones Earned: 35"
Not a fortune, but it was survival. I prepared my kit, ensuring my energy would last for the virtual journey. Every step, every pick, every careful movement was deliberate.
Hours later, I returned from the forest zone, my virtual bag heavier, my stats blinking with new experience:
Water Affinity: 3%
Fire Affinity: 1.5%
Techniques Learned: None yet, but basic control achieved.
Spirit Stones: 35
I used half to buy a basic Meridian Healing Tonic—a precaution more than a necessity. My F-grade spiritual root made even minor circulation exercises risky.
As night fell, I sat by the window, watching the rain blur the neon lights. My hands trembled less than they had yesterday. My body was still weak, but I could feel it improving. Slowly, agonizingly, inch by inch.
I closed my eyes. My mind drifted to the Arena. Matches. Combat. Opponents stronger than I could ever hope to be—unless I learned to use strategy, ingenuity, and the chaotic potential of my Full 5-Element Body.
"Desperate… but alive. Weak… but growing."
Tomorrow, I would push further. Water, fire, earth. Mist, spark, pulse. One step closer to survival. One step closer to mastery.
The journey had begun.
And for the first time in my life, I felt a small, dangerous spark of hope.