Chapter 2: Echoes of a Forgotten Art
The early morning light slipped through the cracked window of Kai's small room in the orphanage. While the others still slept, Kai was already moving—silent, precise, every motion flowing like water but striking like stone.
His fingers traced invisible patterns in the air, weaving a method of training he had crafted long ago in another lifetime—one that transcended mere brute force or common ki manipulation.
He called it the "Fractured Reality Drill." Unlike conventional martial techniques that focused on raw power or speed, this method honed his perception to catch the faintest fractures in an opponent's defense—the subtle deviations, the tiny gaps in ki flow, the micro-movements that betrayed intent.
Kai's breath synchronized with his movements, his body twitching ever so slightly with controlled strain.
In this world, his current stats were pitiful for a martial artist:
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[Kai's Stats Panel]
Attribute
Martial Rank: Novice
Punching Force: 90kg
KI Capacity: 6/50
[Attribute Value]
Strength: 12
Speed: 15
Endurance: 20
Intelligence: 38
Perception: 42
Willpower: 45
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Kai's physical stats were far below average, leaving him vulnerable to nearly every other novice around him. Yet his mental faculties—intelligence, perception, and willpower—stood above normal, remnants of his past life's mastery.
His secret weapon was not raw power, but his methodical approach and the elusive Reality Fragment residing within him, an unknown anomaly no system had yet fully decoded.
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Kai's breaths came steady as he flowed through the motions of his Fractured Reality Drill, every movement deliberate, every muscle coiled like a spring. His body screamed for rest, but his mind remained razor-sharp.
Suddenly, a sharp ping echoed inside his vision.
[DAILY QUEST RECEIVED]
[Practice Fractured Reality Drill for 2 Hours Straight]
• Condition: Complete 2 hours of continuous training using the Fractured Reality Drill without breaks or interruptions.
• Reward: 15 stat points to allocate as you wish.
Two hours of unrelenting focus and strain was no easy feat, especially with his current weak state. But the reward was more than worth it.
He glanced at his stats panel:
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Kai settled into a deep breathing rhythm and began his drill once more.
The next two hours stretched into an agonizing test of body and mind. Sweat dripped down his brow. His muscles trembled. His vision blurred, yet he pressed on—every breath, every subtle motion, every sharp observation a step closer to mastery.
When the system finally chimed its completion alert, Kai slumped, exhausted but triumphant.
[DAILY QUEST COMPLETED]
"15 Stat Points Available for Allocation"
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Kai's fingers hovered over his mental panel, carefully weighing each attribute.
He knew the battlefield was brutal. Strength and endurance would help him survive. Speed and perception would keep him ahead. Intelligence and willpower sharpened his edge beyond physical might.
With decisive calm, Kai allocated:
• +4 Strength (to 16)
• +3 Speed (to 18)
• +3 Endurance (to 23)
• +2 Perception (to 44)
• +3 Willpower (to 48)
[Stats Updated]
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Kai stood, muscles weary but spirit ignited.
He felt a sudden rush as his system adjusted to the new allocations.
[STAT REALLOCATION SUCCESSFUL]
• Stamina fully restored.
• Strength increased to 16.
• Punching Force recalculated: 16 strength × base multiplier (approx. 7.5kg per strength point) = 120kg punching force (up from 90kg).
Kai flexed his fingers, feeling the difference instantly—his punches no longer felt feeble but carried a heavier, sharper weight.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered.
The path ahead was long and fraught with challenge, but for the first time, Kai felt the faint pulse of hope—an ember in the darkness.
Because the reality he grasped was his to shape.