Kailen stood in awe, staring at the glowing blue window before him. The words he read with his bright blue eyes were almost dreamlike: "Ability to Travel Between Worlds." The phrase echoed in his mind like a soft song whispered by the wind. A strange feeling tugged at him, as if this was the key to an unknown world that he yearned to explore.
He felt the air around him grow heavier, as if the entire world had paused— as if the silent trees, the solid ground, and the distant horizon were watching his reaction. His heartbeat quickened, and a hidden current of energy flowed through his veins, sparking every cell in his body. Slowly, he reached his hand toward the window, as if trying to touch the floating words before him to confirm that they were real. Was this reality, or was it a dream? He parted his lips slightly, but the words were stifled by his astonishment, leaving only heavy, uneven breaths.
"World travel?" he whispered, as if tasting the words slowly. He was still amazed, but something within him began to grow—a powerful feeling that he had the potential to explore what lay beyond boundaries. How could a young boy from a small village, only sixteen years old, possess something of such power? It had once seemed an unreachable dream, but now it was closer than ever.
He stood motionless for a few moments, his eyes locked on the window in front of him, as if time had stopped. Then, unexpectedly, a soft laugh escaped his lips. At first, it was barely a faint smile, but it quickly turned into a chuckle, and then a loud laugh that shook his slender frame. His laughter grew louder and louder, turning into a hysterical outburst that echoed among the silent trees around him. He couldn't stop laughing, as if all the emotions of awe, excitement, and disbelief had rushed out at once.
As he laughed, he imagined the distant worlds he would visit, the strange creatures he would meet, and the adventures that awaited him in realms untouched by humankind. Wild thoughts flooded his mind, clashing and overlapping as if his imagination were exploding with new dreams. In that moment, he radiated with a sense of freedom, liberated from the constraints of the world he knew.
After a long while, he finally calmed down, his laughter gradually subsiding until it ceased, and silence once again filled the air. He took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the blue window, as if trying to grasp what had just happened. After a moment of silence, he said with a calm, confident voice, "System, you've granted me five abilities, yet I don't feel any change in my body or my state."
The familiar soft female voice responded in his mind: "[Would you like to activate the abilities now? It will involve pain in both your body and soul.]"
Kailen smiled, his face showing confidence mixed with challenge. "Yes, do it. There's no fun in gaining everything too easily." He was determined to go through with it, despite the risks.
"[As you wish, host. However, it's advisable to find a safe place first. Activating the abilities may leave you vulnerable to danger.]"
Kailen paused, considering this. A safe place? That meant there would be pain… perhaps severe pain. Realizing he didn't want to worry his family or the villagers with this transformation, he decided not to return to the village.
Without hesitation, he turned and walked deeper into the forest, searching for a secluded and safe spot away from prying eyes. After some time, he spotted a small cave carved into the side of a hill, shrouded in thick shadows cast by the surrounding trees. He slowly approached the entrance, examining every corner, checking the ground and walls to ensure it was free of any potential danger. Standing at the entrance, he took a deep breath and then stepped inside, attuning himself to the energy of the place.
The cave was quiet, the scent of moisture filling the air, and the surrounding rocks seemed to bear witness to thousands of years of silence. Once he was certain of the cave's safety, he settled in its center in a meditative posture, closed his eyes, and whispered, "I'm ready now, system."
Suddenly, he felt a torrent of energy piercing through his body, as if a hidden force was reshaping him from within. The pain started as a mild prickling but quickly intensified into sharp stabs of increasing severity. Every nerve in his body ignited as if an invisible fire coursed through his veins, causing his body to tremble. His eyes flew open, now gleaming with a strange blue light.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The pain was not only physical; it extended deep into his soul, tearing and reshaping it. He felt as if his soul was being pulled apart piece by piece, then reassembled to hold this new power. The pain was overwhelming, as if mountains were pressing down on him from every side, and the air around him grew heavier until he could barely breathe. He felt the ground beneath his feet shudder and the rocks around him tremble, as if they, too, were reacting to the flow of his energy.
Can I endure this? he wondered, but his resolve didn't falter. He held steady, knowing that this pain was the only path to true strength.
The process seemed to stretch on endlessly, with each passing moment doubling the intensity of the pain, but he clung to his willpower, resisting the urge to scream. When the ordeal finally ended, his body was drained, but his eyes closed with the feeling that something within him had changed forever.
When he opened his eyes at last, he felt as if he had awakened to a new world. The colors around him seemed more vibrant, the smallest details sharper, and the surrounding sounds woven into the fabric of nature. There were subtle tones in the wind's whispers and a silent language shared among the trees. Even the rustling leaves seemed to carry forgotten stories of the earth and nature.
He looked up at the cave ceiling, noticing the details of the rocks in a way he'd never seen before. Every grain in the stone seemed to hold traces of time, and fine erosion lines told stories of countless years past. He heard water droplets falling deeper within the cave, with a calm rhythm that felt like the heartbeat of nature itself.
Exiting the cave, he found the sky tinged with the colors of dusk. Sunlight touched the trees with a gentle glow, and the breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and damp earth. He felt a new power coursing through him, sensing a deep connection with the nature around him.
With great curiosity, he began testing his newfound abilities. Closing his eyes, he raised his hand into the air. At first, he felt a faint breeze forming around his fingers; then the wind began to swirl around him as if responding to his call. Opening his eyes with a smile, he felt as if he had reconnected with nature.
Slowly, he bent down and placed his hand on the ground. Instantly, he felt the earth's pulses resonate through his palm, as if the earth were whispering to him. The grass around him swayed, and he sensed energy flowing through the roots of trees underground, forming a living network that connected him to everything around him.
He moved toward a nearby river, knelt by the water, and closed his eyes, focusing. Suddenly, the water responded, rising in a small arc above the river, glinting in the sunlight. He maintained his focus, and when he opened his eyes, he realized he had complete control over the water, as if it were a part of him.
Finally, he looked up at the sky, where clouds drifted by slowly. He extended his hand, feeling that his power was no longer limited to the earth but reached up to the sky as well. He sensed a deep connection with the elements, as if he were now their master.
With a small laugh, he said to himself, "How did I end up here, controlling the four elements? Such a thing was merely a dream for all mages… and now, it's mine."
But within his heart remained a sense of curiosity and fear, a reminder of his unique ability: the power to travel between worlds.
He wondered, "How do I activate this ability? Does it have limits?" As if the system could read his thoughts, a blue window appeared before him, answering his questions.
"[The ability to travel between worlds lies within your consciousness. You can use it whenever you wish, but currently, you only have enough energy for a single trip to a random world. You will need to recharge it after that.]"
A strange thrill crept into his heart, a blend of excitement and fear. Another world… endless doors lay open before me, but I know I must be cautious. Entering a new world unprepared could be dangerous. Kailen decided to postpone using this ability until he had leveled up to avoid potential risks.
The system interrupted with a calm voice: "[Host, the travel will be through your consciousness only, not your physical body. Thus, you can do it safely.]"
He froze, his eyes widening in surprise. Only consciousness? That means I can explore without real danger? He took a deep breath and thought for a moment. Once I fully regain my spiritual energy, I'll return to the village and begin my journey between worlds…
He approached a nearby tree, leaning his back against it and assuming the traditional posture practitioners used to meditate and restore their energy. He sat cross-legged, with his feet resting comfortably on the ground and his hands on his knees. Closing his eyes, he focused on his breath, feeling each inhalation filling his lungs and each exhalation, as if drawing energy from the surrounding universe.
At this moment, he had to clear his mind of all distractions. He began filtering his thoughts, focusing on his goal of restoring his lost Qi energy. The forest around him radiated with energy, and as he sensed it, he felt it flowing into him. He focused on his dantian, the core energy point in his body, visualizing it blooming like a flower in spring, gradually filling with Qi.
Time passed, and nature enveloped him in peace. He felt a gradual improvement, each breath restoring his lost energy. When his dantian was filled with Qi, and his body had regained its vitality and strength, he decided it was time to leave.
As he opened his eyes, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. He stood up, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This was only the beginning, and the road before him lay open to the unknown.