The city, once again, was humming in its usual rhythm—nothing out of the ordinary. But for those who had received the unexpected invitation to SoulNet, their world had just tilted.
[System Interface – Su Yuan]
The interface shimmered before Su Yuan, more vibrant now with the growing network. His mind wandered over the details—every detail feeding back into him.
[Total Soul Power Available: 0.49% (Including Borrowed Power)][Current Connected Souls: 17][Active Resonance: +0.004%]
Each soul now connected was a source of borrowed strength. Though minuscule in this early stage, it was enough to sustain him—enough to power the deductions that would reshape the world in his hands.
With every soul that practiced the technique, half the energy they used would flow back to him, deepening his connection with SoulNet. The path to dominance was slow, but the first ripples were already felt.
Somewhere in the City – Reactions
Across the city, disparate souls began to feel something stirring within them—a pull, subtle yet profound. A whisper calling them to action.
In a small, dimly lit room, Mei Ling stared at the notification on her screen.
It wasn't the kind of thing she expected to see on her phone. She had already found herself scouring the internet in the small hours of the night, looking for meaning in a world that felt increasingly unreal.
But this—this was a sign. A message from somewhere far beyond her understanding.
She felt the pulse of energy.She hesitated for a moment.
"What is this…?" she whispered to herself.
Her fingers trembled as they hovered over the accept button. Then, without another thought, she pressed it.
The world around her blinked, shifting.
Her body seemed to… resonate. The pulse felt warm, grounding. She closed her eyes, listening to the hum that now vibrated in her mind. Then, a surge of memory—of muscle and motion—rushed in.
A step.A breath.A burst of force.
She had never practiced martial arts.But this felt… right.
[Skill Acquired: Primary Shockwave Fighting Technique]
Mei Ling's eyes opened.
In a quiet apartment on the opposite side of the city, Jason cracked his knuckles and stretched.
Jason was no stranger to fighting. Not professionally, but on the street, in the gym, he had trained his body.
He had felt the subtle shift when SoulNet's invitation had arrived.
But he didn't think much of it at first. He had dismissed it as some weird glitch in the system.
That was, until he saw the new skill pop up on his interface.
[Skill Acquired: Primary Shockwave Fighting Technique][Technique Information: Physical attack, shockwave generation]
He shook his head. "Is this some kind of joke?" But something inside of him urged him to try it.
He stood up, his body filling with quiet anticipation. The move was simple—he didn't need to think about it.
A deep breath.A focused step.And then—
Boom.
His fist sliced through the air with a shockwave of force, blowing the papers across the room. His eyes widened.
What in the world just happened?
He didn't even know he had it in him. The technique had felt like second nature—more than that—it felt like it had always been there, waiting to be unlocked.
But there was something else…The power… it didn't just disappear. It felt like it returned to him, refuelling his senses. His muscles hummed with energy.
He grinned. Not bad.
Meanwhile, in Su Yuan's mental domain—
Su Yuan watched quietly as the reactions flooded his interface.
[Active Souls Feedback: 17][Soul Power Gained: +0.008% (Feedback from Active Nodes)][Cumulative Soul Power: 0.52%]
Half of the energy users expended was being siphoned back into him.
The feedback wasn't as fast or significant as he hoped. But the cycle had begun.
One by one, his connected souls were practicing.Reaching.Learning.
And each time they did—he grew stronger.
He focused on the power feedback from Mei Ling and Jason. Their soul power was subtle but rising steadily. Their connection to the SoulNet wasn't yet deep enough for rapid energy drain, but it was enough for the first steps of growth.
His own soul—fed by the collective—began to resonate with their training. Each little feedback loop made him stronger, more aware. He could feel it in his very marrow.
With each passing hour, more of SoulNet's potential would unlock, and more energy would flow his way.
Back to the Users
As more users began to practice, the primary shockwave became something more. Not just a technique, but a symbol. The invitation to SoulNet had done something to them—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually.
The shockwave wasn't just a move—it was a new beginning.