No.441 crouched under the shade of a wide, slanted tree. Its roots curled around a cluster of rocks, forming a small hollow just big enough for him to sit in without being seen. The canopy above shielded most of the sky.
It wasn't shelter. Not really.
But for now, it was enough.
His muscles ached. His palms were scraped, knees bruised, but he was alive. Breathing. Alone.
He leaned back against the bark and closed his eyes.
[System Interface available. Would you like to open it?]
His eyes opened again.
"…Yes."
The moment he said the word, a faint, transparent panel blinked to life in front of him. It floated midair—flat, square, just above eye level.
He stared.
[Astral System Interface - Basic Display]
Designation: No.441
Astral Tier: Unawakened
Progress to Stardust Initiate (Lesser): 0.3%
Astral Heart: Incomplete
Talent: Marginal (Upgradeable)
Comprehension: Basic (Upgradeable)
Techniques Learned: None
Auto-Cultivation Mode: Active (Passive Flow)
Available Points: 1 (Talent)
System Permissions: Beginner Tier Access
He blinked slowly, trying to make sense of the words.
"...Talent? Comprehension? Auto-cultivate? What does any of this mean?"
[Talent determines the host's natural affinity for drawing in and processing Astral Energy. A higher talent increases cultivation speed, control, and overall potential.]**
[Comprehension determines the host's ability to understand techniques and laws. This affects how fast one learns and how deep one can master complex abilities.]**
"And I can raise them?"
[Correct. Points can be allocated to improve attributes. More can be earned through combat, survival, breakthroughs, and task completion.]
No.441 rubbed his hands together. They were still trembling slightly.
"How do I cultivate, then? Like… really cultivate. I don't have a master. No techniques. No nothing."
[Would you like to access the "Foundations of Astral Cultivation" guide?]
[Recommended for hosts without formal instruction.]
He nodded. The interface changed.
A new panel unfolded beside the first one—lines of text appearing one at a time.
[Astral Cultivation – Foundational Summary]
Astral Energy exists everywhere. Breathing and circulating it strengthens the body and prepares the foundation for the Astral Heart.
The host must learn Astral Circulation Patterns to properly guide energy through their system.
Over time, this energy condenses near the center of the body, forming a physical manifestation of the Astral Heart.
Once stable, the heart can absorb Astral Shards and refine them, increasing power and pushing the user toward their next Astral Tier.
He stared at the page for a while, quietly reading.
Everything he thought was impossible… was now right in front of him. Laid out step by step.
"And I can… just do this? Without a teacher?"
[Affirmative. The system provides access to high-tier cultivation methods.]
[Would you like to download a cultivation technique?]
[Tier: Heaven-grade | Name: "Starcore Breathing Method"]
[Special Trait: Adaptive resonance — adjusts to host's condition.]
[Warning: Technique is highly efficient. Host talent may limit full use.]
"Yes. I'll take it. All of it."
The panel blinked again.
["Starcore Breathing Method" downloaded. Integration begun.]
[Auto-cultivation now using Starcore resonance patterns.]
A warmth spread through his chest—stronger than before. His breathing shifted. Without trying, his lungs began syncing to a new rhythm. Each inhale was smoother. Each exhale steadier.
Astral Energy was gathering again.
It was faint. Small. But steady.
"I'm really doing this…" he said softly. "I'm cultivating."
No.441 stared at the floating interface.
It all felt like something from a story—told in hushed tones between slaves late at night, hoping the guards wouldn't hear. But this wasn't a story.
It was happening. To him.
"…What are you, really?" he asked, voice low. "Where did you come from?"
[This system is a support construct built to interface with cultivators at the soul level. It is unique in origin, unique in function.]
"That doesn't tell me anything." He squinted at the panel. "Do all cultivators have something like this?"
[Negative. This system is singular. No others exist.]
"So then… why me?"
[No record of prior compatibility found. Selection parameters: unknown.]
No.441 leaned back against the tree. "You're telling me… you just appeared?"
[System activation was triggered by the host's proximity to a residual astral echo.]
"I don't even know what that means…"
[Residual astral echoes occur where dense Astral Energy interacts with unique spiritual conditions. The host's state matched the necessary resonance to bind.]
"…So I was desperate enough to wake you up." He rubbed his face. "Great."
[The host's despair was a qualifying factor.]
He let out a quiet breath. The silence between them stretched.
"Auto-cultivation," he said next. "What is it?"
[Auto-cultivation is a passive energy-guided process. While enabled, the system absorbs Astral Shards from the environment at a low, consistent rate, without conscious effort.]
"Even when I'm asleep?"
[Correct. Efficiency increases with improved talent, technique compatibility, and environmental density.]
"And when I'm cultivating manually?"
[Stackable. Manual cultivation while Auto-cultivation is active yields bonus progression.]
No.441 sat forward, arms resting on his knees.
He couldn't believe it. For years he'd been told he had no future. That the stars would never answer someone like him. And now here he was—talking to one.
A quiet moment passed.
Then he stood.
"Let's try it," he said. "The breathing method. I want to feel it properly."
[Initiating 'Starcore Breathing Method.' Begin circulation.]
He sat down, legs crossed, back straight. He followed the pattern the system sent into his mind—slow breaths, paced muscle control, shifting his posture bit by bit. It was strange at first. But after a few minutes, something clicked.
The air around him shifted.
Astral Shards flowed toward him like a river bursting through a dam.
His eyes widened. He could feel them washing through his body—cool, electric, weightless.
It felt incredible.
But then something went wrong.
Most of the energy... vanished.
He could feel it entering—but then it slipped away. Burned off. Lost.
[Absorption Efficiency: 2%. Estimated loss: 98%.]
He opened his eyes. "...What?"
[Host talent limits Astral retention. Current level: Marginal.]
No.441 clenched his fists.
So much power, right in front of him—and it was just leaking out.
"Can I fix it?" he asked. "The talent thing."
[One Talent Point available. Apply now?]
"…Yes."
[Talent upgraded: Marginal → Low.]
He closed his eyes again, and this time, when the Astral Shards flowed in, less of them burned away.
Still not much.
But better.
A beginning.
No.441 exhaled slowly.
The Starcore Breathing Method settled deeper into his chest now. He could feel it—just a little more control. The Astral Shards flowing into him weren't slipping through as fast. His skin tingled faintly. His bones didn't feel like they were grinding anymore when he moved.
The system's panel floated beside him, steady and quiet.
"Hey," he said, "how do I get more points? Talent, comprehension… whatever."
[Points can be earned through:]
Combat (defeating beasts or enemies)
Survival of high-threat situations
Major breakthroughs in cultivation
Comprehension of techniques or natural laws
Completion of system quests
[Bonus points may be awarded for creativity, perseverance, or significant acts under extreme duress.]
He gave a slow nod. "So nothing easy."
[Growth is not given. It is earned.]
He shifted his breathing again. This time, he didn't just follow the rhythm. He focused. Aligned his posture. Listened to the pull of the Astral Shards in the air.
They came faster. Cleaner.
The warmth in his chest grew. A gentle surge passed through his limbs—not enough to change anything big, but enough to notice. The interface shifted.
[Astral Tier Progress: 0.3% → 3.4%]
His eyes widened slightly.
He didn't smile. Not yet. But for the first time… there was a feeling in his chest that wasn't just pain or fear.
Direction.
A path forward. However far it stretched, however bloody it would get—he had started walking it.
He looked up at the sky through the trees.
"...Is this... freedom?"
[Warning: Nearby beast presence detected. Rank 1. Weak. Closing distance.]
No.441's body tensed.
His eyes scanned the surrounding for anything he could use. Nothing.
"Can I get a weapon?"
[Initiating Trial Quest.]
[Quest: Defeat the incoming monster without system assistance.]
[Condition: No system-guided strikes or alerts.]
[Reward: Astral Soul Weapon – bound to user's Astral Heart.]
No.441 stood, body still sore, but breathing steady.
He clenched his fists.
"Alright," he muttered.