**********
.....
.....
Jak stood out from the crowd with his slender figure and plain, average features. Despite being the youngest in his family with three elder sisters and two older brothers, he was held to the same standards as his siblings and never received special treatment. His school days were comprised of mediocrity, as no matter how hard he studied, he always placed third in the yearly exam. But, little did Jak know that his life was about to change in a way he could not have imagined.
After living a monotonous life in his small village, he developed a strong longing for adventure and the thrills that came with it. Being unable to join his peers and complete his college preparation due to health issues, he had grown increasingly isolated and had retreated into his own world, watching animes and reading light novels to escape reality. After some time, he developed a severe case of anxiety and was unable to face or even leave the house.
Having had enough of the restrictive and lonely environment, he decided to go home and recuperate. He took some time to relax and enjoy the fresh air of the countryside, and gradually his health began to improve. But his longing for adventure and excitement had only grown during his period of seclusion and he was determined to start living a life of thrill and excitement once again.
He had been looking for something to break the monotony of his daily life for some time now. After reading countless light novels, he finally settled on the idea of travelling, hoping that it would bring him some unexpected encounters.
He was interested in martial arts, but his body was not in the best of condition, so he was hesitant to push himself. But he eventually decided to give it a try, and after a few months of practice, he had learned enough to be able to protect himself and escape any unfavourable situation.
He was excited as he packed his bags and prepared for his journey; the thrill of the unknown was exhilarating. He was confident that this would be a journey of self-discovery, and that he would learn new skills and gain a new perspective on the world.
Little did he know that this journey would introduce him to a wide range of new people and experiences, and that the skills he had acquired in martial arts would be put to the test. But he was ready for the challenge, and he faced it with a newfound courage and confidence that he had never experienced before.
/////// JAK POV \\\\\\
I have always felt something deep in my heart when I see someone smile innocently and genuinely. Whenever I can, I lend a helping hand in whatever way I can, hoping to see more of those smiles.
I wanted to leave this world before I could become too old and become a burden to my family. I wasn't able to provide them the happiness they deserved, only disappointment. That's why I thought, why not make one of my dreams come true and build an orphanage where I can take in abandoned children, raise them to become strong and capable adults, and then set them free to lead their lives however they want.
I had to face the hard truth - if I wanted to get my family out of this financial hole, I was going to have to take a risk. I was never the strongest or bravest of people, but I had no other choice.
It was with a heavy heart that I set off for the border, looking for mercenary work. I knew it was a dangerous life, but if I could make enough money to provide for my family, then I had to try.
Fortunately, I never had to put my life in danger. I was mostly a messenger, delivering messages and packages between employers. I made enough money to keep the orphanage up and running for years, and to hire a nanny to look after them in my absence.
It wasn't an ideal life, but it was enough. I took every job I could to make sure my family was taken care of, and I was content with the knowledge that I had done all I could to ensure their safety.
I had decided to focus on developing a comprehensive plan for the orphanage, from education to health issues and beyond. I thought that teaching the children the basics of martial arts would prove beneficial for them in the long run, as it would give them the skills needed to protect themselves once they graduated and started living on their own.
As I contemplated the mission ahead, I thought of all the amazing women I had worked with on my previous missions. Maybe one of them would be willing to help out with the children, I thought to myself. After inquiring around, I finally found someone who was willing and eager to take on the responsibility. Now that everything was taken care of, I was ready to take leave of this world in a blaze of glory.
I was about to embark on a very dangerous mission, a mission that could quite possibly be my last. As a precaution, I asked my employer for my payment in advance, enough for fifty people to sustain themselves for fifteen years.
Then I took two-thirds of what I had been given and sent it off to an orphanage with a letter, telling the younger ones to become strong and to help out my family in their last days so that when they leave this world, they have fewer regrets. With the remaining third, I sent it off to my family with a letter of my own.
This mission was risky, and I knew it. I had to steal some important information from the enemy base and deliver it to my employer. I had to be careful, and I had to be prepared. But I was ready to take on the challenge, and whatever the outcome, I had my family and the orphanage taken care of.
I was determined to complete the mission. I had to act as a beggar or a wartime victim, thin and feeble, to infiltrate the enemy base and retrieve the necessary information. Everything was going according to plan until I got betrayed and my information was sold to the enemy. Now I had to complete my mission, no matter what the cost, to reach the border with the information. I knew there was no turning back and I was on my own.
My heart was beating fast as I approached the enemy base. I had to remain calm and focused on the mission. I searched the base, looking for the information I needed, and soon enough I found it. With quick and agile movements, I got the information and started to make my way out of the base.
My blood was boiling as I reached the exit, knowing that someone had betrayed me. I had to stay focused, I had to make it out of there with the information without being discovered. I ran and ran, until I was far away from the base, and soon enough I reached the border with the information I was looking for. I was relieved, I had made it out alive and with the information.
My heart was pounding as I made my way closer to the enemy base, my mission to cross the border and make it back to my own side. The base was 20 km away from the border, situated in a small forest area. I had a plan in my mind for the route I would take, but the further I advanced, the more I realized how difficult it would be.
My feet were heavy as I approached the river, the last barrier before I reached the border. The flowing stream of the river directly met the border, and I could see people waiting to take me across. I had to make it there as fast as I could, but I also needed to find a way to distract the enemy so I could pass unnoticed.
I took a deep breath, my mind racing with ideas. I knew time was running out and I had to make a decision fast. With one last look around, I quickened my pace, determined to make it to the other side.
.....
.....
**********
********* ..... ..... I felt my heart pounding as I stepped onto the path that followed the river’s course. I'd heard stories of the dangers that lurked in these depths, and I was taking a huge risk even setting foot on the path. I cursed my lack of swimming prowess – if only I'd taken my lessons more seriously, I'd have more confidence in the river's depths. As I trudged along, I hoped that the men who had promised to come to my aid were well equipped – I knew I'd be in big trouble if they were not. "Ring........!" My heart raced as the communication comma suddenly rang. I thought, not now, please not now. I could feel the trepidation rising in my chest as I cautiously answered the call. "Yes, J10 here," I spoke softly, a sense of dread washing over me. "Huff..huff.. its bad, enemy...huff...got our position and they have snipers with them, run... get to meeting point ..huff..huff." My stomach dropped, a pit of fear welling up inside me. I knew it was true - I had felt it bef
********* ..... ..... ////// JAK POV \\\\\ I stirred from my deep slumber, groggily trying to place myself in my surroundings. Strange noises had interrupted my peaceful sleep, and now I found myself in a dark and unfamiliar place. "Where am I?" I mumbled, my voice echoing through the empty space. "It doesn't look like hell or heaven. And why can't I see myself?" As I tried to clear my thoughts, a pounding headache reminded me of how I had died – drowning in the river. Panic threatened to engulf me, but I pushed it aside, determined to find a way out of this eerie silence. "Hello?" I called out tentatively, hoping for a response. "Can someone tell me how to get out of here?" Suddenly, a voice rang out from the darkness, causing me to jump in surprise. "Hey, you can still joke in this kind of situation." Relieved to hear someone else's voice, I replied, "Whoever you are, please show yourself. I can't see a thing, and it's freaking me out." "Of course, kiddo," the voice said, a
********* ..... ..... As I delved deeper into my training with the Goddess, my thirst for knowledge grew stronger. I had learned about the basics of cultivation and now, I was ready to dive into the tiers. These were the levels of power that beings in this world were divided into, based on their physical and soul strength. The first tier was for the normal mortals, whose lifespan was limited to a mere hundred years. Within this tier, there were three stages - Low, Mid, and High. The Low-stage was for those who lived an ordinary life, while the Mid-stage was for martial artists, athletes, and elites of society. As for the High-stage, it was for the elite of the elites, those martial artists who had mastered their techniques to the highest point. Their punches could stir up the air, create gusts of wind, or even shatter boulders into dust. Moving on to the second tier, these were for the mid-mortals who had a lifespan of up to 200 years. Similar to the first tier, it was divided int
********* ..... ..... " " Conversion or Speech, ' ' Thoughts, [ ] System Talking. ..... ..... The air in the hospital's I.C.U. ward was heavy with anticipation and worry as a well-built man in his thirties paced back and forth in the hallway, his eyes filled with anxiety. His wife was inside, undergoing a delicate procedure to bring their child into the world. As he waited, he couldn't help but imagine the worst-case scenario, his mind racing with every possible complication. But after what seemed like an eternity, the lights in the I.C.U. ward dimmed, signaling that the procedure was over. Heart racing, he sprinted to the door of the I.C.U. ward, eager to see his wife and child. As he entered the room, his eyes fell upon his wife, her face contorted with exhaustion, but the sound of a newborn's cries filled the room. The relief he felt was palpable as he approached the doctor who had just finished checking on his wife and child. "Doctor, how are they? Is everything okay?" h
********* ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] System talking. ..... ..... It's been two excruciatingly boring weeks of the same routine, day in and day out. Feeding, sleeping, and shitting like a mindless robot. I yearn for something more, something exciting to shake up the monotony of my existence. And then, my System grants my wish. As I delve deeper into the information it provides, I realize just how messed up this world truly is. It may look like a modern world at first glance, but there's a hidden layer to it that's just waiting to be uncovered. A layer of martial artists, magicians, cultivators, and all sorts of fantastical beings that have emerged over the past few decades. To cope with these sudden changes, the governments of different countries have banded together to form the World Council. It's been a few years since its inception, and they've been working tirelessly to gather information about the disturbances happening all around us. What they've un
********** ...... ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] System talking. ..... ..... A month later, I am sitting on a chair beside the table, and in front of me, on the table, lies the thing I got from Tier 1 gift pack. It was a surprise for me when I saw what was inside the gift, and thank the goddess, I love it. Do you want to know what it is? It's a piece of tech that can transform into any form, like a computer, mobile, smartwatch, camera, and even smart glasses, etc. I named it 'Megatron'. It's high-level technology, and in the future, I can even make it soul-bound to me once I am strong enough, as it runs on my energy. "Hmmm... I need a lot of resources in the initial tier to cultivate, and I also need a legal way so my parents can live a carefree life until they get old," Nowadays, I was thinking of setting up a business where I can sell pills, potions, weapons, etc., but first, I need a large fund to buy a decent building, and it can be settled if I use
********** ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] System talking. ...... ...... The cultivation technique that I am practicing is very unique. It works on both the body and the soul, creating a Yin-Yang equilibrium. When cultivating, not only does the body's cultivation increase, but also the soul's, which contributes to the spirit and condenses it into the core in the navel area of the body. In the later stages, the body will develop a small world within the core for physical representation, and in the same way, the soul realm will develop in the consciousness space. Both realms are connected, with one working for the physical and the other for the soul state. This means that when the physical world develops, it can form a separate living world where you can bring anyone you want by giving them permission as energy or a unique symbol. However, you can only bring soul-related creatures or beings to the soul realm once it stabilizes. At a certain level of the tier,
******** ..... ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] Aashi talking. ..... ..... ////// ( Erick Pov ) \\\\\ "A few days ago, I won the lottery!" I exclaimed as my parents entered the room. I had asked Aashi to buy twenty lottery tickets, with only two having rewards and the rest being blanks. It was enough for us to buy a property in a mid-class society. "Son, where did you get these from, and where did you get the money to buy them?" my father asked, trying to look angry. However, I could tell he was a bad actor. I had already thought of an excuse. "Dad, there were twenty of these in a bundle, and I found them in a nearby park when I went to play yesterday. Today, I saw the news and matched the lottery numbers. Luckily, two of them matched, and we got two jackpots. These two should be enough for us to live on for ten years," I said, giving a very convincing story. Seeing their faces, I knew they had bought it. "Dear, what should we do? These lotteries a