Chapter 4 - The Forsaken Province

The wind howled through the twisted trees, carrying the scent of blood and damp earth. Akari tightened the torn fabric around her wounded shoulder, hissing as the rough material rubbed against raw flesh.

The wolves' corpses had already dissolved into black mist, leaving behind only her two new summons—both standing silently by her side, their crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

She exhaled, steadying herself.

I survived.

That should’ve been enough to comfort her, but a heavier thought pressed into her mind.

What now?

She glanced around at the unfamiliar terrain. The ground was uneven, cracked, and covered in patches of dark grass. In the distance, enormous floating mountains loomed, their peaks hidden in thick clouds. The sky above was still that unnatural shade of violet, streaked with golden rivers of energy flowing through the heavens like veins of a living entity.

This place… it didn’t feel like a game anymore.

She needed answers.

A chime sounded in her ears, and a screen flickered into existence before her.

> New Milestone Reached!

Survive the First Night: Completed.

Reward: Minor Qi Awakening.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Akari’s breath caught as warmth surged through her body. It wasn’t painful—but it was overwhelming, like a fire had been lit deep inside her chest.

Her fingers twitched as invisible energy pulsed beneath her skin.

Her Qi had awakened.

She clenched her fist, feeling the unfamiliar power coursing through her veins. This is the foundation of cultivation. If she was going to survive, she needed to understand how to use it.

A second screen appeared.

> Quest Unlocked: The Path of Cultivation

Objective: Find a Cultivation Manual.

Hint: The Forsaken Province is home to ancient ruins. Knowledge awaits those who seek it.

Her gaze flickered toward the distant mountains.

Ancient ruins…

That’s where I start.

She adjusted her grip on the makeshift bandage and whistled softly. Her two summoned wolves stirred, their bodies shifting slightly in acknowledgment.

"Let’s go," she murmured.

She had no idea how long she’d be trapped in this world.

But if this was a game, then she’d play to win.

---

Some Time Later…

The Forsaken Province was empty.

Or at least, it seemed that way.

Akari had been walking for what felt like hours, the eerie silence of the land pressing against her ears. No villages, no signs of people—just endless stretches of dead trees, cracked earth, and jagged rock formations.

She should have been exhausted. Her body should have been failing after the fight, after the blood loss.

But she felt… fine.

Maybe it was the Qi. Maybe it was the subtle energy keeping her alive.

She didn’t question it.

A shadow moved in the distance.

Akari stopped, instinctively crouching low as her wolves tensed beside her.

Through the gloom, she saw them—humans.

Three figures stood near what looked like an abandoned shrine, their dark robes fluttering in the cold wind. They were armed. Swords glinted at their waists, and faint auras of Qi radiated from their bodies.

Cultivators.

Akari’s heartbeat quickened.

Finally.

She needed information.

She needed to know how this world worked.

But there was one problem.

Their faces were covered in bone-like masks, their robes tattered but marked with strange crimson symbols. The way they moved—the slow, deliberate way they circled the shrine—made her gut twist with unease.

> Unknown Cultivators detected.

Danger Level: ???

The system wasn’t giving her their strength levels. That was not a good sign.

Akari gritted her teeth. Do I approach or hide?

Before she could decide, one of the masked figures turned his head sharply.

His glowing blue eyes locked onto hers.

A moment of silence.

Then—

He moved.

Faster than she expected, faster than should have been possible. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of her.

Akari barely reacted in time.

She twisted backward as a cold, skeletal hand lashed out, missing her throat by inches.

Shit.

Her wolves snarled, their bodies tensing as they prepared to attack.

The masked cultivator tilted his head, as if studying her. Then, in a voice as hollow as the wind, he whispered:

“You do not belong here.”

And the world erupted into chaos.