The morning breeze felt strangely warm; golden rays of sun came through the mist and softly shone upon the ancient mountains.
Aarav stood silently at the edge of a cliff, his black hair dancing with the wind. Beneath him, endless green valleys stretched to the horizon, where the rivers shone like liquid light.
He still could not believe this was real.
One moment ago, he had been inside a forgotten ruin surrounded by silence and machines; now, he stood in a world full of life and energy. The difference was so great that every breath felt heavier, richer — filled with mana, aura, and qi.
It was the same energy he had only read about in legends.
He shut his eyes. His senses could feel the current of energy running through the land — through the trees, the mountains, the wind. His mind whispered, This is the Ancient Era…
And then, his System Interface glimmered faintly before him.
[Comprehension: First Form of the Heavenly Divine Demon Technique Complete.]
Technique: Breath of the Heavenly Demon.
[Effect: Inhale heaven and exhale chaos. Strength, speed, perception increase exponentially.]
Comprehension Rate: 1000x active.
Aarav slowly sat down on the grass, placing his hand over his chest.
He could still feel the faint trace of energy swirling inside him, black and golden, opposite yet in harmony.
The system guided his breathing when he focused.
Take a deep breath.
Slowly, he drew a breath, and at that moment, the air seemed to grow heavier. His lungs filled with warmth. The grass around him bent slightly toward him, as if the world itself was being pulled closer.
Exhale.
A faint golden mist escaped his lips. The ground beneath him cracked gently.
He opened his eyes in shock. "That was… me?"
His body didn't just feel stronger; it was stronger. Every cell vibrated with power.
Not the strength, in fact; what really fascinated him was the understanding behind it.
With every breath, he could feel how the world worked: how energy moved through nature, how the sky carried rhythm, and how the ground hummed with silent life.
"So this is what comprehension means." he whispered. "To see what others cannot."
His system chimed softly:
Intercessions by saints are requests for the saints to pray to God on their behalf for help with one problem or another religious requirement.
New perception unlocked: Flow of Energy.
Aarav looked around — and gasped.
Before his eyes, the world changed. Everything from trees to insects glowed faintly with threads of light, joining and moving like living rivers. He could see how mana was flowing around him.
He smiled faintly. "Beautiful."
Long had he watched, soaking in the stillness of that ancient world, but peace never truly lasted.
A loud roar had shattered the silence.
The birds took flight from the treetops, and the ground shuddered faintly. Aarav sprang up in an instant, his heart racing. Louder, closer, the roar came again.
Out of the depths of the forest, a monster emerged. He saw something he had never seen-a great animal with a tiger body, a bull's horns, and scales that were like bright molten iron. Its eyes shone red.
[System Scan Active.]
[Species: Flame-Horned Behemoth]
[Rank: Low Tier – Spirit Beast]
[Danger Level: Moderate.
Aarav swallowed hard.
He had just arrived in this world and already met a creature out of nightmare.
The beast roared again, shaking the trees. Its gaze locked onto him — and it charged.
Aarav's instincts screamed at him to run, but something inside stopped him. A strange calm filled his mind. This technique he had just learned whispered through his body.
Inhale heaven, exhale chaos.
He took a deep breath. The air trembled. His aura flared faintly golden and black. His body felt light — faster, sharper.
The beast lunged. Aarav sidestepped, his movements smooth and natural, as though he had been practicing for years. He punched out instinctively.
His fist connected with the jaw of the creature — and a shockwave exploded in the air. The monster was flung back several meters, slamming into a tree.
Aarav froze. "I… I actually hit it?
His heart was racing in disbelief. He had never trained to fight; yet, his body moved perfectly — balanced and fluid. The Heavenly Divine Demon Technique wasn't just a martial art. It was instinct.
It roared once more, this time with great anger. Its mouth spewed fire onto the ground. Aarav jumped aside as the heat licked his skin. His system's voice echoed calmly:
[Danger Level: Stable. System support active.]
He clenched his fists again. Remembering that feeling, the flow of energy that came with it, he felt the air, thickened, alive, course into his lungs and then pushed it out, expelling that energy.
Golden-black light flickered faintly around his arm. He plunged forward.
"Breath of the Heavenly Demon!"
His voice carried power. His fist connected with the beast's chest, and the world seemed to explode into a burst of light and dust.
When the smoke cleared, the beast lay on the ground, unconscious, not dead, but clearly defeated, its heavy breathing a sure indication that its flames were gone.
Aarav stood over it, his chest rising and falling rapidly; his hands were trembling, not out of fear but with excitement.
"That… was real," he said softly. "I fought… and won."
He stared at his hands — ordinary in appearance but now glowing faintly with energy. A smile crept onto his face.
"Heavenly Demon Technique… this is incredible."
His System Interface showed up again.
[Battle Complete.]
[Experience absorbed: 100%]
[Understanding +0.5%.]
[System Reward: Physical Reinforcement (Minor).
He felt the warmth spread through his muscles-like invisible threads weaving strength into his body.
Long after, he quietly stood next to the defeated animal. He was not a cruel man; he did not kill the animal. He simply watched it breathe and thought about what kind of world this was-a world where energy shaped life itself.
He finally spoke in a soft tone, "So this is how people in the ancient era lived… with danger and wonder mixed together."
The system hummed and returned with:
[Mission Updated.]
[Objective: To explore the Ancient World and understand the second form of the Heavenly Divine Demon Technique.]
[Hint: Power attracts power. Be prepared.]
Aarav chuckled low. "Be prepared, huh? You sound too calm for what I just went through.
He picked up a smooth stone and tossed it into the air. The energy around it shimmered faintly. Even the smallest things here were full of life. As the sun started to set, he climbed onto a nearby rock and sat there, watching the horizon. The sky colored in shades of orange and violet; mana threads danced like stars. For the first time in his life, Aarav didn't feel trapped by time or the limitations of the modern world. Here, in this place, he could grow. "The first form… mastered," he whispered. "But if there are eight forms, how powerful must the last one be?" The wind blew gently, carrying the faint sound of distant drums — or perhaps thunder. Somewhere far down in the valley, lights flickered. Civilization. A soft smile appeared on his face. "Time to meet the people of this age, I believe. As he stood and began walking toward the valley, the Infinite Comprehension System glowed faintly in his vision.
[Comprehension Speed: Active.] [Next Path: Discovery of the Ancient Sects.]
A world of possibilities shimmered before him. Aarav Verma, hitherto an ordinary scholar of the dying age, had started walking the path that would rewrite the meaning of existence itself. Though he himself didn't know it, his arrival had already stirred the balance of the ancient world.