The following days passed quietly, or so it seemed. Brooklyn moved at its usual rhythm—cars honking, children shouting on the streets, and newspapers filled with talk of war. But to Ethan Ward, the air felt different.
He could sense something faint—like whispers carried by the wind. Ever since his breakthrough, the world seemed more alive. Every breath he took drew in invisible threads of energy that tingled across his skin. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make him feel the change.
Inside the bakery, Mr. Carter was wiping the counter while humming an old jazz tune. Ethan shaped dough, his movements precise and controlled, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The system's last update still echoed in his mind.
[Objective: Strengthen the Mortal Shell before the emergence of the Super Soldier Project.]
[Time Remaining: 2 years, 11 months.]
He needed to understand how to strengthen his body beyond what simple Qi circulation could offer. And he needed to do it without drawing attention.
By night, the bakery's rooftop became his cultivation chamber once again. The faint light of the moon cast a pale glow over the city, and Ethan sat cross-legged, the cold wind brushing his face.
[Body Tempering Technique activated.]
His Qi flowed through his muscles and bones, burning impurities from within. Pain wracked his body, sharp and relentless, as though his flesh was being torn apart and reforged again. He bit his lip to keep from crying out.
When the flow finally subsided, steam rose from his skin. He looked at his arms and saw faint black residue—impurities forced out by cultivation. His body felt lighter, his senses sharper.
[Body Tempering Progress: 8%.]
He sighed softly. "At this rate, I'll need months to finish even one stage."
He leaned back against the brick wall and stared at the night sky. The stars were dim, hidden by the city's haze. Somewhere out there, gods existed—Odin, Asgard, and beings beyond comprehension. But none of that mattered yet. He was still human, bound by mortal limits.
Below, he heard faint footsteps. He glanced down and saw Evelyn walking home from her evening errands, a small lantern lighting her way.
She paused in front of the bakery, looked up toward the rooftop, and smiled slightly. For a moment, Ethan thought she could see him through the shadows. Then she continued down the street, the light swaying in rhythm with her steps.
He exhaled slowly. Her presence was comforting in a way he didn't fully understand.
The system chimed softly.
[Subject Evelyn Carter: Spiritual Sensitivity increasing.]
[Correlation: Exposure to Qi field detected.]
Ethan frowned. "So even a small exposure can awaken sensitivity?"
He thought back to the moment she approached him after his breakthrough. Could she unconsciously absorb fragments of Qi he emitted? If so, she might become a key to stabilizing the energy of this world.
Before he could think further, a sound broke the quiet—a sharp whistle cutting through the night. Ethan's instincts flared, and he turned just in time to see a figure dart across the opposite rooftop.
The same golden glimmer he had seen before flickered briefly in the dark.
"Someone's been watching me," he murmured.
He leapt silently from the rooftop to the next, landing without a sound. The air shifted; whoever was there moved fast, but not fast enough. Ethan's body moved on reflex, guided by Qi-enhanced focus.
He reached the edge of the building and saw the shadow vanish into a narrow alley. When he landed, the space was empty—only the faint scent of sandalwood lingered.
Then a voice echoed behind him.
"You shouldn't play with forces you don't understand."
Ethan turned. A man stood at the far end of the alley, wrapped in a dark coat and scarf. His eyes glowed faintly gold, calm and ancient.
Ethan felt his Qi stir violently. Whoever this was, his presence bent the air itself.
"And who are you?" Ethan asked carefully.
The stranger smiled faintly. "A guardian. Someone who ensures that balance is maintained."
"Balance?"
"Yes. The last time Qi touched this realm, it nearly destroyed it. I'm here to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Then you're too late. I'm already cultivating."
"I can see that," the man replied calmly. "And that's what worries me."
Before Ethan could move, the man raised a hand. The air between them shimmered with faint ripples—space itself twisting under unseen power. Ethan instinctively gathered Qi into his body, bracing for impact.
A flash of light, and then—silence.
When he opened his eyes, the man was gone. Only a small talisman lay where he had stood, glowing faintly with golden runes.
[New Item Acquired: Talisman of the Guardian.]
[Note: Unknown energy detected. Cannot be analyzed.]
Ethan picked it up carefully. The surface pulsed with warmth that resonated faintly with his Qi.
He clenched his fist. "If guardians exist, then there must also be something worth guarding."
He looked back toward the direction of the bakery, where Evelyn's lantern light had already disappeared.
"This world is deeper than I thought."
The system remained silent, but the faint hum of energy around him told him that something ancient had awakened the moment he began cultivating.
Whatever it was, he knew it wouldn't leave him alone.
He slipped the talisman into his pocket, his mind already racing with possibilities.
If Qi had once existed in this world—and someone had destroyed it—then maybe his reincarnation wasn't a coincidence at all.
Maybe he was sent here to bring it back.
To be continued.