*Ha!*
Startled, Zar shot up like a grounded sword, his shaky eyes darting around before focusing on his rough hands. Shock overtook him.
"What… What just happened to me…?" he questioned, flexing his hands and gauging his surroundings, only to find that both his hands were still there and that he was now inside a shallow Kicking Rabbit's burrow. "Did I not die?? And is this not where I was 24 hours ago!? What the hell is happening right now!??"
Just then, a blue and golden illusory screen flashed in front of his face:
*Ding!*
[Congratulations, Dear Host, you have awakened with the greatest of Systems! The Infinite Beast Evolution System!]
[As a greeting gift—and for the sake of the Host's continual survival—the System has gifted and expended a single year of the Host's lifespan to rewind time by 24 hours!]
[Next 24-hour time rewind will cost the Host 10 years of lifespan, but fret not, for if it really came down to it, those ten years would be automatically expended if the Host could not do it himself!]
"It's that voice again! Really—what in the fuck is going on here!??"
Very rarely did he ever lose control of his emotions, but right now, Zar was genuinely freaking out. His pupils darted around, attempting to locate the origin of the voice, only to realize it was coming from inside his head.
[It's best you don't overreact, Dear Host. It can be terrible for your health, ya know?]
[Also… You have company (≧▽≦)]
"???"
Suddenly!
A large rabbit foot crashed through the dirt roof of the shallow burrow Zar was in, aiming to break his neck with a single, swift motion—quick and deadly!
His instincts kicked in, prompting him to roll over, just barely dodging the furious rabbit kick. However, in the very next instant, the Kicking Rabbit's anger got the better of it, and it smashed through the burrow, demolishing its home.
Escaping, Zar dashed out of the burrow before it fully collapsed. He then spun on his heel, coming face-to-face with a three-meter-tall, bipedal rabbit whose fuzzy expression had severely twisted in anger.
Zar's eyes widened in surprise.
But not because of the appearance of the giant rabbit…
[Kicking Rabbit (Mid-Rank 1): 6/27/65 Years (Age/Lifespan/Lifespan Limit)]
What was he looking at right now??
Was he seeing things!?
Before he had time to think the matter over, the livid Kicking Rabbit burst forward, grass sweeping up beneath its huge padded hind legs. Appearing a few feet away from Zar, it coiled its powerful muscles and—
Smashed down!
However, past the initial surprise, Zar faltered no more. He raised his right hand, blurred, and then reappeared on a thick tree branch hanging above the Kicking Rabbit.
SPURT!
A massive gash split down the middle of the Kicking Rabbit, blood pouring out in gallons. Life gradually faded from the beady black eyes of the Demon Beast—a creature feared even by Body Refinement Realm Cultivators.
With a plop, the gory corpse of the Kicking Rabbit hit the grassy ground. Blood leaked everywhere, staining the grass a grim shade of crimson.
"Now then," Zar muttered as he went to extract the Demon Core, using his hands like a gutting knife. "What was that voice and that light thingy—"
Speaking of the devil:
*Ding!*
[Congratulations, Dear Host, you have slain your first living being, reaping its lifespan for yourself!]
[You have successfully seized a 3-year lifespan from a 'Kicking Rabbit' - (Middle-Body Refinement)]
[Opening Host's System Interface!]
"You're doing what now??"
*Ding!*
Taking Zar's emotions on an even more turbulent ride, a large blue and gold screen flashed before him:
[Infinite Beast Evolution System]
[Name: Zar ????] - [Godling]
[Lifespan: 15/134]
[Beast Master Rank: None]
[Spirit Root: Inferior Tier- Five Elements Spirit Root (can invest lifespan to evolve)]
[Cultivation Level: 2nd Stage Qi Condensation Realm (can invest lifespan to evolve)]
[Cultivation Technique(s): Wild Primal Arts (Partially Mastered) (can invest lifespan to evolve)]
[Named Beasts: None]
[Total Contracted Beasts: 0/10] - (can increase maximum limit using lifespan)
[Average Beast Cultivation Level: Nonexistent]
Seeing his age made Zar feel a bit forlorn, for he had no idea if that was actually how old he was. After all, he didn't even know when exactly he was born.
Though, of more pressing concern was the magical thing that had quite literally appeared out of nowhere. Zar tried swatting at it before cautiously backing away, but looked confused when his hand passed through it as though nothing was there.
Repeating the action a couple more times, he only became progressively more puzzled.
"What is this thing??" he questioned skeptically. "Is it the spell of some powerful wizard!?"
Recalling stories of wizards who plagued the land like monstrous scourges, Zar's stance became more defensive. He circled the mysterious floating screen, attempting to discern its identity.
*Ding!*
[You can stop doing that, Dear Host, and you should know that I'm not here to harm you. In fact, we've linked with each other on an Ordinance of Destiny! Call it Fate or something meant to be, but the fact still remains: we're now partners, and my only purpose for existence is to improve your strength!]
Pausing, Zar said, "Improve my strength…? You can do that??"
[Mhmm! (^^) Try investing lifespan in your Cultivation, and you'll understand what I'm talking about!]
"Invest?"
[See the blue and golden light before you? That's called a System Screen, and on it, you'll find various aspects of your existence listed. Locate the one with your Cultivation Level next to it, then tippy-tap that invest button!]
Zar hesitated, furrowing his brows.
[Why so cautious? If I wanted to kill you, don't you think I would've done so already?]
Zar's hesitation subtly subsided at these words. He knew little about the World of Cultivation, but even he, with all his ignorance, understood that whatever this 'System Screen' was, it was something beyond the realm of Core Formation.
Turning time back by 24 hours—what sort of concept was that…?
Staying his hand no further, Zar extended his right index finger, tapping the illusory blue screen. A grand light radiated outward from him a moment later, astonishment written all over his face.
[1 year of lifespan has been invested into improving your Cultivation Level!]
[You spent 1 year cultivating, but because your Inferior Five Elements Spirit Root held you back, you couldn't make a breakthrough.]
[Innate Energy has slightly increased!]
Wave after wave of surprise washed over Zar's countenance—he couldn't believe what he was feeling. Although it didn't match up to a year of actively seeking out Demon Cores, it was still better than a month's worth of hard work!
"This…" he muttered. "Can I really become stronger with this…?"
[Yes! All you have to do is ceaselessly seize the lifespan of other living things! Whether it be Spiritual Plants or Demon Beasts, as long as it lives, you can steal its lifespan for yourself!]
[Though, be aware that the simulated cultivation of the System does not represent the equivalent for if you were to cultivate irl. After all, various aspects like Pills, atmospheric Qi-Density, etc speed up the cultivation process a lot. Something which the Infinite Beast Evolution System can't do… yet]
[Also, try walking up to that Demon Beast you killed.]
"???"
Zar didn't understand the purpose of such a request, but he still did what the System told him to. Nearing the drained Kicking Rabbit corpse, he stopped in his tracks when a familiar blue screen expanded before him.
But this one was different.
[Arise?] - (Cost: 3 Years of Lifespan)