Chapter 1 - Wedding Gift
14 Years Later
The morning sun bathed the green landscape in a warm glow. In a quaint rural town, nestled before an aged hut, stood Dex.
His left hand gripping an axe as he hoisted a colossal tree trunk onto his shoulder with effortless might.
This trunk, weighing over a ton, was lifted as though it were a feather—a feat unfathomable back on Earth, his former home.
With a powerful stride, Dex carried the trunk to an open space, dropping it with a crash. He set to work, slicing the trunk horizontally into several segments, then methodically chopping these into vertical, elongated pieces. The cheerful melodies of warblers and other birds filled the air, harmonizing with the rhythmic thud of his axe, all under the caress of the lukewarm sun.
"I'll need two more trunks to prepare for winter," he murmured to himself. Two months left before the summer end, and the winter in this realm was quite heavy.
Fourteen years had passed since Dex's arrival in this world. His old earthly body was gone, replaced by this new form, starting life anew as an infant in a humble town. The memory of his previous life was distant, details blurred and indistinct.
Dex raised the axe high.
CHOP!
Each swing of the axe split the wood cleanly, his movements fluid and practiced.
Pausing, he wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes squinting as he delved into the recesses of his memory.
Flashes of light, leaving after-images in their wake, danced behind his closed eyelids.
"Hah, failed again," he sighed, grabbing another trunk, putting on the bigger piece of wood.
His journey to this planet must have exacted a heavy toll. Memories of Earth were fragmented, only vague glimpses of his past life remained. The most vivid recollection was his passage through the portal: an array of shimmering lights, stars, and cosmic rays streaking past. It felt as if each mile he took consumed his preserved self little by little, perhaps even transporting him beyond his universe into this new realm with its own unique laws.
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Such a journey! Beyond the bounds of imagination, left a lingering tremor in on skin.
"I'm grateful to have made it here in one piece," he whispered, stopping and taking a deep breath.
After a brief pause, a smile crept across his face.
He tossed the axe aside, gazing out at the stunning landscape enveloping him. Despite the undercurrent of fear, excitement surged within him.
"I feel it. I will thrive in this world!"
"I may not possess my past life's experience, but my essence lingers within me. And With this super power, I will unluck my highest potential, it's only inevitable." he declared, his voice echoing through the trees.
This super power was extraordinary, unbeateble, unshakable.
How he acquired it has always remained a mystery. Perhaps he had lived another life before Earth, or maybe this power was a gift from an unknown might. Or it could simply be a genetic anomaly, unique to his existence on Earth.
"The origin of my power is irrelevant." He had it, and that was all that mattered.
"Hm?" Dex's attention snapped back to the present. Turning, he faced the forest behind, the trees rustling in the wind.
He retrieved his axe on the ground and peered intently into the trunks. An ominous feeling covered embraced his heart.
"Show yourself!" he bellowed.
The forest remained still, unresponsive.
Then, slowly, a young boy emerged from behind a tree trunk.
"Paslis?" Dex said, he knew him, he was twelve years old, two years younger than him.
"As expected of the Miracle Kid," Paslis responded, approaching Dex with a graceful stride, his hands clasped elegantly behind his back.
His silken white robe, richly patterned and dazzling, fluttered in the breeze.
"Are you playing a trick with me?" Dex asked, furrowing his brows.
"No," Paslis replied, continuing moving closer.
"I'm here to invite you on my expedition where I intend to gather Mynch flowers as a betrothal gift for my future dao partner. It's believed to bring fortune and bless our union. I believe your presence would success my triumph," he explained, his eyes carrying a tinge of admiration and uplook toward Dex.
His voice was deep and resonant, his posture exuding confidence and pride, as if coming from a bulky, beastly adult man, contrary to his slender, delicate appearance.
"Ahem." Dex suppressed a chuckle. With Paslis's thin arms, swan-like neck, and gentle demeanor, he would have been strikingly beautiful had he been a girl.
He looked into Paslis's eyes, maintaining a respectful demeanor. Realizing the latter was unaware of his amusement, he was relieved.
Paslis was from the town's wealthiest and most influential family, poised to become a cultivator when the sect's elector arrived.
Assuming a serious expression, Dex responded, "I'd be honored to join you." He mimicked Paslis and gracefully moved his arms in a cool fashion.
"Excellent, don't worry. I will pay you dearly," Paslis said. "We leave tomorrow morning. Meet me at the dark forest's back entrance."
"Understood," Dex nodded, giving a thumbs up, smiling.
Paslis turned and vanished into the forest.
Dex stared at his receding figure with a serious expression, contemplating the boy's potential. "He also has a promising future ahead," he whispered.
His gaze fall onto the uncut tree piece he had placed long ago.
He raised his axe high.
"But mine is brighter." He smiled.
CHOP!
Chapter End