The morning came slow.
Zero stirred, blinked, and sat up against the old wooden wall. His limbs still ached from training, but the fatigue was manageable. He checked the system as he stretched his arms out.
[Challenge Timer: 29 Days Remaining]
[Passive Cultivation Claimed: +4.2% Astral Progress]
[Astral Heart Advancement: 23% to next tier]
His gaze steadied.
He didn't have time to waste.
The streets were busier now. Morning crowds filtered through the town's main square—merchants setting up carts, guards doing rounds, adventurers laughing loud over shared breakfasts.
Zero moved through them unnoticed.
His steps brought him back to the Guild hall. Same faded sign above the door. Same creaky floorboards.
The same receptionist from before raised her head, eyes flicking to him. She didn't smile, but her expression shifted—just slightly. A nod of respect. Quiet acknowledgement.
"You made it back," she said.
"Looking for another job."
She didn't question it. Just slid a few mission slips his way. "These are the current E and D-rank commissions available. Nothing too fancy."
Zero's eyes skimmed them.
Before he could pick, a voice cut in from behind him.
"Oi, newbie."
A tall man with a silver badge leaned back against the wall, smirking. "You really taking jobs already? Thought Bronze was for beginners. Or are we handing out pity missions now?"
Zero said nothing. Just looked at him once, then turned back.
The man snorted. "Tch. Suit yourself."
A quiet chuckle came from deeper in the room. An older cultivator sat alone at a corner table, sipping tea. His eyes were on Zero—not mocking, not kind. Just curious.
For a moment, they locked eyes.
Then the old man's gaze drifted to Zero's forearms.
The chain tattoos.
He didn't speak. Just gave a slow nod, almost like approval. Then returned to his tea.
Zero exhaled.
He picked a mission slip.
Targeted Subjugation – Ironhide Pack Sighted near eastern farms. Estimated Threat: E+
Reward: 8 silver. Bonus for complete pack removal.
"I'll take this."
The receptionist stamped it. "Good luck."
The path to the farms was open, clear of forest. Just wide plains, old wooden fencing, and rolling wind.
Zero walked with steady steps, Oathlink dormant but close. His hands stayed near his sleeves, fingers tapping against the cold metal hidden there.
A few hours passed before he reached the outskirts.
The farmer pointed him toward a hill, nervous. "Big one showed up a few days ago. Scared my workers off. We haven't touched the north field since."
Zero nodded once.
Then left.
The Ironhide boars weren't hiding.
Three of them stood together near a crumbling shed, tusks gnarled, fur matted with iron-colored streaks. Their backs shimmered faintly—natural armor plates hardened over time.
[E+ Threat – Ironhide Boar (x3)]
[Astral Core Value: Moderate]
[Behavior: Aggressive]
Zero didn't hesitate.
The chains slid free.
The first boar noticed him and charged.
He stepped forward, chain snapping low—wrapped around its front leg. He pulled hard. The beast tripped mid-charge, crashing sideways.
The second came from behind.
He dropped low, pivoted, chain curved behind him like a whip—smashing into the boar's shoulder with force. It squealed, staggered.
Third one approached slower, more cautious.
Zero didn't wait. He spun the chain in a wide arc, then split the tip. One thread looped the wounded boar. The other struck the cautious one dead-on.
Two more twists. Two more hits.
Minutes later, all three lay still.
[Combat Complete – Energy Use: 9%]
[Fatigue: Minimal]
[No Injuries Detected]
He exhaled through his nose.
Felt… stable.
Then something shifted.
A shimmer inside his chest. Quiet. Subtle.
[Astral Heart Pulse Detected.]
[Astral Shard Density nearing threshold.]
[Tier Advancement: 31%]
He stared at the bodies of the beasts.
Then collected their cores—three jagged, iron-hued crystals.
That night, he didn't sleep.
The simulation room greeted him as always—dim, quiet, and familiar. But this time, it felt different.
[Training Module 2.0 Activated]
[Sentient Instructor Initialized]
A new figure waited inside. Not a child. A man—not old, not young—with a firm stance and quiet eyes.
"You're the system's chosen?" the figure asked.
Zero gave a slight nod.
The trainer tilted his head. "Then I'm your wall. Let's see if you can climb it."
They fought.
And Zero lost.
Hard.
He was faster than before. Sharper. But the trainer adapted. Every swing of the chain met a block. Every tactic was countered.
Zero ended the session with sore muscles, short breath, and a smirk on his face.
"Alright," he muttered, wiping his mouth. "Now I know what to aim for."
The next day, Zero walked the streets again.
He bumped into someone near the market—a man carrying tools, chatting with another vendor. Zero instinctively dropped to one knee, head bowed.
"Sorry—"
The man blinked, startled. "Whoa, hey. Haha, didn't see ya there. You alright?"
Zero looked up slowly.
The man offered a hand, pulling him to his feet. No anger. No force.
Just… human.
He blinked once.
And nodded.