Kael Veyran opened his eyes to darkness and cold stone. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was. One second, he was in his cramped apartment on Earth, scrolling through his phone; the next, he was lying on a floor that hummed with a strange, almost sentient energy. The air smelled faintly of dust, metal, and something ancient.
His eyes adjusted to the glow of a floating crystal in the center of the hall. The walls were engraved with strange runes that pulsed faintly, as if alive. And then… a translucent interface appeared before him, glowing in languages he had never seen, yet somehow understood:
[Infinite Ascension System Activated]
[Daily Task: Survive]
[Reward: Attribute Points + Random Skill]
Kael blinked. "…Okay… this is new."
A small panel displayed his stats:
Strength: 0 | Agility: 0 | Intelligence: 0
He laughed nervously. "Zero? Perfect… can only go up from here, right?"
A low growl echoed from the shadows. Kael's pulse spiked. From the darkness emerged a small elemental beast made of flickering fire. Its eyes glowed like molten lava.
[Task Updated: Kill the target to gain your first Attribute Points]
Instinct overrode fear. Kael grabbed a shard of stone from the floor. As he swung at the beast, a surge of energy coursed through him. When the fire elemental disintegrated into ash, the system notified him:
[Strength +5 | Agility +3 | Fire Manipulation: Unlocked]
Kael staggered back, awe and disbelief mixing with excitement. "Did… did I just get powers from killing a tiny fire monster?"
As he explored further, Kael found corridors lined with statues of ancient warriors. Each seemed dormant, yet alive with residual energy. Touching one triggered a pulse that flowed into him. His vision sharpened, his reflexes heightened, and a new skill unlocked: Battle Insight.
Every step he took made him realize the truth: this world was about growth, and growth was infinite.
But Kael wasn't alone. Shadows moved unnaturally along the walls. Whispers slithered through his mind. A cold voice echoed:
"Interesting… the system has chosen its player. Let's see if he survives the trials to come."
Kael's lips curled into a smirk. "Bring it on."
He pressed forward, feeling the temple's energy thrumming beneath his feet. Every corridor, every rune, every shadow promised power. And Kael knew one thing for certain: he wasn't just here to survive. He was here to rise beyond gods.
As he rounded a corner, he froze. Something moved ahead—larger than the elemental, cloaked in black, watching. Kael's heart raced, but his excitement was even stronger.
[Rival Detected: Tier 1 Cultivator | Recommended: Avoid direct conflict until Level 5]
Kael smirked. "Level 5? I'll make it Level 1,000 in no time."
The figure vanished into the shadows, but Kael could feel it—someone, something, was waiting. Watching. Testing him.
And Kael knew… this was only the beginning.