Chapter 6 - Asher
Asher's POV
I woke up earlier than usual, which was strange because I was the kind of person who, in my previous life, believed alarms were optional and mornings were a scam. But today, I sat up instantly, completely awake.
"Alright," I muttered to myself, stretching, "time to figure out my life. Again."
A lot has happened in the past two days.
I awakened a Tier 8 talent.
Got slapped in the face by the System.
Nearly broke the Awakening Stone.
Began a Path Trait.
And realized I now live in the lowest-tier city in the country.
Quite an eventful 48 hours.
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.
"What a mess… a cool mess, but still a mess."
Time to plan.
Sorting Out My Life (Again)
"Step one: Reach Rank 1 quickly."
Why? Because hitting Rank 1 unlocks the System Trial, the fastest way to obtain a customized cultivation manual. Basically the difference between a mass-produced flip phone and a personalized iPhone forged by gods.
I absolutely wanted the iPhone.
"Step two: Enter a top academy."
Greenwood's local academies were… fine. The same way instant noodles were "fine" if you added cheese and prayed. But I wanted the best. The big academies in Tier 1 cities—places where geniuses flocked and monsters were trained instead of feared.
"Step three: Become stupidly strong and live a cool life."
Simple goals. Grand goals. Goals worthy of a man who once died from truck-kun.
Speaking of which…
Remembering How I Got Here
I leaned back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Three years ago, I was on my way home at 11:47 p.m., holding a bag of chips and two newly released video games. I'd just been paid and was preparing for the sacred ritual of an all-night gaming session.
And then—which is honestly cliché at this point—
Truck-kun appeared.
I didn't even get a cool dramatic soundtrack. Just BAM, and suddenly I was floating in a blank space wondering why reincarnation felt like buffering.
I woke up in Aurora in the body of Asher Valen, a quiet kid, an introvert, someone who had no friends, no social life, and was allergic to making eye contact.
"Man," I said with a sigh, "at least my new body isn't short."
Also, I have parents now. A family.
Something I never had before.
Even if I had no memories of the original Asher's childhood, the feeling of coming home to people waiting for me… it was comforting. Warm.
It made this life feel real.
Three years passed quickly.
I learned to be "Asher" properly.
I even managed to make a friend—Darek.
Good guy. Loud. Supportive. A bit dumb. But the good kind of dumb.
The comforting dumb.
Understanding My Situation
I stood and stretched, thinking of the bigger world.
I lived in the Aetherion Dominion, one of the strongest nations on Aurora. Cities here were graded by strength:
Tier 1: super cities with Rank 6–8 monsters disguised as humans
Tier 2: fortified, powerful core hubs
Tier 3: training grounds, frontier towns, resource-poor areas
And Greenwood—my city—was firmly Tier 3.
"We're basically the tutorial village," I muttered.
Weak cultivators. Low mana density. Limited resources.
But hey, cheap rent probably.
Still, if I wanted to advance quickly, I needed to leave someday. Preferably after not dying again.
4. Making a Real Plan
I grabbed a notebook I used in my old world for gaming strategies. Time to repurpose.
I scribbled:
➤ Rank 1 within 2 weeks
➤ Maximize Path Trait
➤ Apply to a Tier 1 Academy
➤ Become insanely strong
➤ Get money, fame, and snacks
➤ Avoid truck-kun at all costs
A solid plan.
My handwriting was terrible, but the ambition? Flawless.
Calling the System (Politely)
I sat cross-legged on the terrace, feeling the morning breeze.
'System. Status screen, please.'
A golden window materialized instantly.
[Status Window]
Name: Asher Valen
Age: 16
Rank: 0
Talent: Ultimate Comprehension (Primordial Grade) — Locked Tier 8
Affinities:
• Space (Ancient)
• Thunder (Ancient)
• Sword (Ancient)
Path Traits:
• Sword Path — Foundation Stage
– Sword Mastery Lv.1
– Sword Energy: Locked
Cultivation Technique: Breath of Iron (Progress 7%)
I nodded.
"Looking good. Handsome talent. Handsome stats."
The System didn't respond, probably judging me silently.
I stood, grabbed my wooden sword, and inhaled slowly.
The Sword Path flickered alive inside me—subtle, warm, like a second heartbeat.
My muscles relaxed.
My grip softened.
My stance is grounded.
Slash.
The air rippled lightly.
Thrust.
A faint arc of pressure formed.
Cut.
My arms moved in perfect sync with my breath.
The world wasn't slowing down.
I was simply moving cleaner.
More intentional.
More precise.
[Sword Mastery: 16% → 19%]
"Nice," I grinned. "Still got it."
Thunder mana pricked faintly around my skin.
Space mana trembled at the edge of perception.
Sword intent wove itself silently into each movement.
I couldn't control them fully yet, but the potential was there.
Potential that thrilled me.
After half an hour of swings, I returned to the terrace and started cultivating.
I opened the manual again.
Breath flowed in and out.
Mana seeped inside—cold, sharp, refreshing.
At first, the circulation burned, like molten fire threading through my veins, but it quickly settled. The manual wasn't elegant, but it worked. Better than nothing.
[Breath of Iron: 7% → 9% → 11%]
Sweat slid down my face.
My arms grew sore.
My chest felt tight but steady.
And then—
[Path Resonance Detected]
Training Efficiency +12%
Sword Path and Breath of Iron synced perfectly, accelerating my progress.
"Ahh yes," I whispered dramatically, "my cheat code."
My body felt lighter.
My focus is sharper.
My energy is smoother.
This was… fun.
Just as I finished my final circulation, someone banged loudly on the terrace gate.
"Asher! Open the damn door! I know you're up!"
Darek.
My guy sounded like he was being chased by debt collectors.
I opened the gate, and he barged in, breathless.
"You—you won't believe what happened!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess… you burned your eyebrows again?"
"That was ONE TIME!" he snapped. "And I told you the flame jumped at me!"
I grinned. "Sure it did."
He huffed. "Fine. Whatever. Anyway—my dad wants to meet you."
"…Why?"
"Bro! You awakened Tier 8! Even my dad freaked out! He nearly choked on his tea!"
I laughed. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine. Tea isn't."
Then Darek narrowed his eyes.
"Also, what are you doing training at 7 in the morning? Who are you and what have you done with Asher?"
"Self-improvement arc," I said proudly.
"Ah yes," he nodded solemnly. "Puberty."
I smacked him lightly with the wooden sword.
He yelped.
We laughed.
Moments like this made life feel normal again.
Humans.
Like I wasn't racing against cosmic deadlines or handling ancient affinities.
Just two idiots talking on a rooftop.
After Darek left—promising to bring snacks tomorrow—I returned to my notebook.
I added one more line:
➤ Enjoy this second life properly
Because in my first life, I had no parents, no real friendships, no goals beyond gaming and surviving.
This time… I wanted more.
Strength.
Freedom.
People who mattered.
A path worth walking.
And maybe, just maybe…
A reason for the System to have chosen me.
End of Chapter 6 — "Asher"