Aether walked through the dark streets, the metal rod still firmly in his hand.
The city had become unnaturally quiet.
The screams had become less frequent.
That didn't mean things were getting safer.
It meant the survivors were learning to stay silent.
Aether moved carefully, keeping his senses alert.
Every shadow could hide a beast.
Every sound could mean danger.
He opened his system.
[Origin Energy: 9]
"One more."
Aether closed the screen.
He didn't know exactly what would happen after reaching ten Origin Energy.
But he was about to find out.
A faint scratching sound suddenly came from a nearby alley.
Aether stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Something was moving.
He slowly approached the alley.
A pair of red eyes appeared from the darkness.
Then another pair.
Three creatures stepped into the moonlight.
They resembled large hyenas, but their bodies were covered in dark scales.
Their claws glinted like metal.
[Origin Analysis.]
Species: Ironclaw Hound
Rank: F
Attribute: Metal
Ability: Iron Claws
Weakness: Lower abdomen
Potential: C
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"C-rank potential?"
So even though these creatures were currently only F-rank, they possessed considerably more room for growth than the Bloodfang Rats he had fought earlier.
The three beasts charged simultaneously.
Aether immediately moved backward.
The first beast attacked from the front.
He sidestepped it.
The second came from the left.
He ducked beneath its claws and slammed the metal rod into its abdomen.
BANG!
The beast stumbled.
Before Aether could follow up, the third beast attacked from behind.
He heard the claws cutting through the air.
Aether twisted his body.
The claws scraped across his jacket.
He felt a sharp sting across his shoulder.
He jumped backward.
"Too close."
Blood slowly soaked through the fabric.
Aether glanced at the wound.
Then at the three beasts.
His expression became serious.
He couldn't afford mistakes.
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He studied their movements.
The first one always attacked directly.
The second circled before attacking.
The third waited for an opening.
Aether noticed something.
"They're hunting together."
Instead of attacking the strongest-looking beast, Aether rushed toward the one staying behind.
The beast reacted immediately.
It leaped.
Aether slid underneath it.
His metal rod struck directly into its lower abdomen.
THUD!
The beast crashed onto the ground.
[Ironclaw Hound defeated.]
[Origin Energy acquired.]
[Current Origin Energy: 10]
Aether stopped.
The remaining two beasts stared at him.
Aether stared back.
Then the system appeared.
[Cultivation requirement fulfilled.]
[Origin Awakening can now begin.]
Aether's eyes narrowed.
"Begin."
The moment he spoke—
BOOM!
A wave of energy exploded from his body.
Aether dropped to one knee.
His entire body suddenly felt as if it were being torn apart.
His muscles tightened.
His bones trembled.
His heartbeat became deafening.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
Golden particles began flowing toward him from the surrounding air.
Aether clenched his teeth.
"What... is happening?"
The system responded.
[Origin Energy is being circulated through the host's body.]
[Beginning Origin Awakening.]
[Physique compatibility detected.]
[Infinite Origin Physique responding.]
Aether's eyes widened.
His body began absorbing the Origin Energy.
The wounds across his shoulder slowly closed.
The pain gradually disappeared.
His breathing became steadier.
The golden energy continued entering his body.
For a moment, Aether felt as if he could sense everything around him.
The air.
The ground.
The faint energy flowing through the beasts.
Even the cracks in the sky.
Then—
BOOM!
The energy inside his body settled.
Silence.
Aether slowly stood.
He looked at his hands.
Nothing seemed different.
But he could feel it.
His body was stronger.
His senses were sharper.
The world itself seemed clearer.
The system appeared.
[Cultivation breakthrough successful.]
[Realm: Origin Awakening — Initial Stage]
[Origin Energy: 0]
[Physique Development: 0.01% → 0.03%]
[Infinite Origin Physique has begun adapting to Origin Energy.]
[New Function Unlocked: Origin Circulation]
Aether stared at the screen.
"So this is cultivation."
He clenched his fist.
A faint crack appeared beneath his feet.
His eyes widened.
"I didn't even use my full strength."
Aether looked toward the remaining two Ironclaw Hounds.
They growled and charged.
This time, he didn't run.
He stepped forward.
The first beast swung its claws.
Aether raised his arm.
CLANG!
The claws struck his forearm.
His skin wasn't cut.
Aether's eyes widened slightly.
"My body..."
Before the beast could attack again, Aether grabbed its leg.
He pulled.
The beast lost its balance.
Aether slammed it into the ground.
BOOM!
The second beast attacked.
Aether turned.
He moved faster than before.
His fist struck the beast's chest.
BANG!
The creature flew several meters and crashed into a wall.
Both beasts stopped moving.
Aether stood silently.
He looked at his fist.
Then at the creatures.
The difference was obvious.
Before his breakthrough, fighting an F-rank beast required careful strategy.
Now...
He could overpower them physically.
But Aether wasn't satisfied.
"This is only the beginning."
He opened his status.
Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Initial Stage
Physique: Infinite Origin Physique
Physique Development: 0.03%
Potential: ∞
Origin Energy: 2
Origin Rings: 0
Contracted Beasts: 0
Abilities: None
Aether stared at the strange symbol beside Potential.
"Infinity..."
He didn't know what it meant yet.
But the system had never displayed anything like it before.
He selected the potential information.
[Potential Analysis]
Potential: ∞
Explanation: The host's maximum growth limit cannot currently be calculated.
Classification: Unmeasurable
Aether's expression became thoughtful.
"Can't be calculated..."
He closed the screen.
There was no point obsessing over something he didn't understand.
Right now, he needed to survive.
And there was something else he wanted to test.
"Physique Analysis."
The screen changed.
[Analyzing Infinite Origin Physique...]
[Analysis incomplete.]
[Current understanding: 0.0001%]
[Warning.]
[The Infinite Origin Physique cannot currently be completely analyzed.]
[Higher Origin authority required.]
Aether's expression became serious.
"So even the system doesn't completely understand my physique."
That raised more questions than answers.
Why did he possess it?
Why was his potential infinite?
Why was his physique capable of adapting to Origin?
And what exactly was an "Origin authority"?
Aether closed the system.
He looked toward the shattered sky.
The enormous cracks were still there.
Golden light continued pouring through them.
But now he could sense something he hadn't noticed before.
The energy wasn't random.
It was moving.
Flowing across the world.
Almost like...
It was searching for something.
Aether stared at the sky for several seconds.
Then a faint sound reached his ears.
A scream.
Far away.
Aether turned his head.
Someone was in danger.
He could hear it clearly now.
His newly awakened senses were far more powerful than before.
He looked toward the sound.
Then glanced at the dark city behind him.
Aether sighed.
"Looks like tonight isn't going to end peacefully."
He began walking.
He didn't know who was screaming.
He didn't know how strong the attacker was.
And he certainly didn't know that the person he was about to encounter would eventually become one of the most important people in his life.
For now, she was simply another human being trying to survive the first night of the Origin Awakening.
And Aether was heading toward her.
The first true chapter of his journey had begun.