"Weak as a newborn space-chicken... Talent worse than dog excrement..." Tasin read the System Evaluation again, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. The initial elation vanished, replaced by pure, unadulterated fury. He'd been looked down upon his whole life for his slow cultivation, but this? This was a whole new level of insult!
He had the sudden, violent urge to grab the floating pink-dressed avatar and hurl her straight out the window of his 30th-floor apartment. Calm down, Tasin, calm down, he chanted internally, taking deep breaths. She's your System. Your only hope. Don't screw this up on day one.
Forcing his rage down, he plastered a smile onto his face, though it felt stiff and probably looked hideous. "Right then," he said, his voice strained. "So... uh... System. Do you have a name? Or should I just call you System?"
The little girl avatar tilted her head. [My designation is Multiplier System Unit 734. However, for ease of communication, you may refer to me as Iris.]
"Iris," Tasin repeated. "Okay, Iris. Nice name." He leaned in conspiratorially, his awkward smile still fixed. "You know my name already. Tasin. But hey, since we're going to be partners, maybe... you can call me Dad?" He winked, trying for charm.
Iris's avatar seemed to blink slowly. [Dad? Are you experiencing cognitive decline, Host? Based on biological markers, you are barely an adult. Furthermore, your current maturity level suggests 'annoying younger brother' would be a more accurate descriptor. Calling you 'Dad' would be... illogical and frankly, quite disturbing.]
Tasin's smile twitched violently. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. He ignored the barb. "Okay, fine! Forget 'Dad'! Let's just... let's multiply something! How does it work? What do I need to do?"
[Before you proceed,] Iris interrupted coolly, [I must clarify the operational parameters. Due to... unforeseen complications during my deployment, the multiplication function has certain restrictions.]
"Restrictions?" Tasin asked, a knot forming in his stomach.
[Correct. Currently, the maximum multiplication factor is limited to one hundred times (x100). Furthermore, the multiplication function can only be activated once per standard 24-hour cycle.]
"What?!" The word ripped out of Tasin, laced with disbelief and anguish. "Only a hundred times? Once a day?! Are you kidding me? You... you told me it was unlimited! You built up my hopes! I was thinking I'd be drowning in treasures, burying my enemies in multiplied artifacts! You... you deceived me!" He clutched his chest dramatically, mimicking a heartbroken sob. "My dreams! Scattered like cosmic dust! You cruel, cruel little girl!"
[Your theatrics are noted and disregarded,] Iris stated flatly. [However, acknowledging the discrepancy between theoretical potential and current operational capacity, compensation protocols have been activated.]
"Compensation?" Tasin stopped his fake crying instantly.
[Affirmative. In addition to the primary Amplification function, I possess a secondary function: Resource Conversion and Acquisition. Put simply, I can recycle almost any item, energy signature, or even abstract concept like 'luck' into quantifiable Recycle Points. These points can then be used in the Exchange interface to acquire various items, skills, techniques, or information available within my database.]
Recycle? Exchange? Tasin's mind raced. Multiply... Recycle... Exchange... A loop!
"Haaa..." A slow grin spread across his face, this time genuine. "Hahahaha! YES! So I can multiply something valuable 100 times, then recycle the copies for points, and use those points to buy something even better? Hahahahaha! No one can stop me now! This is even better!"
Iris's avatar remained impassive, but a fleeting thought, undetectable by Tasin, crossed her core programming: If I hadn't risked partial data corruption to integrate that stolen Recycle module during the escape, you wouldn't have this function at all, you clueless Host.
[Your laughter is... grating,] Iris's voice cut into his celebration. [Cease the auditory disturbance. I require a period of integration and rest following the binding process. Familiarize yourself with the interface and the contents of your Storage.]
Before Tasin could respond, the little pink avatar shimmered and flew directly towards his forehead, phasing into his skin between his eyebrows. Just before vanishing completely, her voice echoed one last time in his mind: [Check the Newbie Gift Package.]
And then, silence. She was gone, though he could feel a subtle, cool presence deep within his consciousness.
Shaking his head to clear it, Tasin focused his intent. "System, show me my interference again."
The familiar blue screen appeared.
Host: Tasin Ahmed
Age: 24
Cultivation: Tier 1 Sense (Mid Level)
Skills: [Basic Meditation]
Technique: [Cosmic Pulse Circulation (Basic)]
Storage: [Newbie Gift Package x1]
Recycle Points: 0
His eyes immediately locked onto the Storage slot. "Open the Newbie Gift Package!"
[Ding! Opening Newbie Gift Package...]
[Ding! You have received: 1000 Recycle Points!]
[Ding! You have received: Skill Book - Starvein Breathing Method (Advanced)!]
[Ding! You have received: Ocular Implant - Gaze of Providence!]
[Items have been placed in Storage.]
His Storage updated instantly:
Storage: [Skill Book - Starvein Breathing Method (Advanced)], [Ocular Implant - Gaze of Providence]
Recycle Points: 1000
Starvein Breathing Method? Gaze of Providence? Tasin's heart thumped with excitement. He focused on the eye implant first. A description appeared.
[Gaze of Providence]: An Ocular Implant integrated with the Host's spiritual sea. Allows the user to perceive deeper truths and hidden information.
Functions:
Status Inspection: View the basic status panel (Name, Age, Cultivation Level) of targets below Tier 3. Accuracy decreases with target's power or interference.
Data Analysis: Perform a detailed scan (requires conscious effort and minor energy expenditure) to reveal Techniques, Skills, Identity Markers, hidden affiliations, and relative Luck Value of targets. Success rate and detail depend on cultivation difference and target's countermeasures.
Weak Point Detection: Identify structural or energetic weaknesses in objects and beings.
See stats? Techniques? Luck Value?! This was invaluable!
[Ding! Ocular Implant - Gaze of Providence detected. Bind to Host?]
"Yes! Bind it! Now!" Tasin commanded eagerly.
Instantly, he felt a phantom presence overlaying his vision. A surge of complex information flooded his mind, followed by a sharp, stinging pain behind his eyes, like needles probing his optic nerves. He gasped, clutching his head as his vision blurred, filled with shifting golden light. The pain lasted only a few seconds, but it was intense.
Then, it subsided. He blinked, his eyes watering slightly. The world seemed... clearer. Sharper. He felt like he could count the individual dust motes dancing in the sunbeam slanting across his room. Focusing his intent outwards, towards the city beyond his window, he felt a strange expansion of his senses. He couldn't literally see miles away yet, but there was a potential there, a feeling that with focus and energy, his sight could pierce incredible distances and barriers.
He dismissed the system interface, still buzzing from the new ability. Next, the cultivation technique. He focused his intent on the Skill Book in his storage.
[Starvein Breathing Method (Advanced)]: A sophisticated technique for absorbing and circulating cosmic energy, significantly more efficient than basic methods. Establishes finer energy pathways resembling stellar veins within the body.
Advanced was good, way better than his current 'Cosmic Pulse Circulation (Basic)'. But then, he remembered Iris's primary function. His one multiplication use for the day...
A greedy glint appeared in his eyes. "Iris?" he called out tentatively into his mind. "You there? I know you're resting, but... that Starvein Breathing Method. Can you... multiply its quality by 100 times?"
A distinct pulse of irritation emanated from the cool presence in his mind. [...Must you interrupt my integration cycle for such trivial requests immediately after receiving instructions?] The voice was laced with annoyance. [Fine. Designate the target.]
"The Starvein Breathing Method! Multiply its quality! Max power!" Tasin urged.
[Acknowledged. Initiating x100 Quality Amplification on 'Starvein Breathing Method'. Consuming daily multiplication charge.]
He felt a subtle drain, not of his own energy, but as if a reservoir connected to him had just been tapped. A brilliant light seemed to flash behind his eyes, coalescing around the concept of the breathing technique.
[Ding! Quality Amplification complete. 'Starvein Breathing Method (Advanced)' has been upgraded.]
[You have obtained: High-Grade Cultivation Technique - Nebula Heart Sutra!]
Tasin checked his storage again. The 'Starvein Breathing Method' was gone, replaced by a new, far more impressive entry.
[Nebula Heart Sutra (High-Grade)]: A profound cultivation sutra that guides the user to absorb ambient cosmic energy, refine it through pathways mimicking stellar nebulae, and nurture a powerful foundational core. Accelerates cultivation speed significantly and enhances energy purity.]
"Nebula Heart Sutra! High-Grade!" Tasin practically vibrated with joy. He jumped up and down, pumping his fists again. "Hahaha! YES! This is it! My journey starts NOW!"
This is the finish of chapter