I woke up buried in garbage. Not a metaphor. Actual, smelly, rotting trash. My wrist throbbed as I tried to push myself free, flinching from the sharp jolt of pain. With a grunt, I kicked my way out instead, plastic and scraps tumbling away as I crawled out of that makeshift grave.
Crows flapped around me, squawking like they owned the place. I chucked a stone at them, just to feel like I had some control over something. They scattered, and I went back to doing what I'd been doing every day—looking for food in a world that had thrown me away.
I found a half-decent piece of bread. Bit of mold, yeah, but edible. Took a bite and sighed. "Winter's gonna suck. My last shelter got torn down for some damn factory." I rubbed my arms. "Guess I could try the bakery. They toss out a lot of leftovers... but those bullies might be lurking again. Hmph, worth the risk."
Even though it was just a kilometer, I felt winded like I'd run a marathon. "Damn body. If it weren't for this weakness, I could've made it to nationals…" I shook my head. No use thinking about that now. My legs barely worked anymore, let alone ran.
I watched the street before crossing to avoid those guys. No sign of them. Good. I hopped into a dumpster near the bakery and waited, quiet, hidden. Every once in a while, they'd check the area before the shop tossed their leftovers. I didn't wanna get caught—again.
Now you might wonder, why bully a guy who smells like garbage? Simple. They had nothing left. Like me. But I guess it's easier to beat down someone who used to be something. Before I ended up here, I was an orphan, yeah—but also an athlete, on track for national-level running. Then, out of nowhere, my body started failing. My strength, my speed... all gone. No explanation, no cure.
I got my hands on some stale pastries and a couple bottles for water. That should've been it. But life's got a twisted sense of humor.
As I was crossing the street, a car sped by. I paused.
Then—bam.
I felt the push before I saw who did it. One of the bullies. Shoved me right in front of the car.
I didn't have time to scream. Just one thought passed through my head:
"Guess this is it. Not a peaceful death… but close enough."
Screeeeeech.Crack.Black.
...
I don't know how long I was out. But when I opened my eyes again, I wasn't in the street. I wasn't in my city. I wasn't… anywhere I recognized.
Blood. Wind. Pressure.
I blinked against a bright sky—but not my sky. This one had two suns.
And in front of me—two people. No, monsters in human skin, clashing with strength that made the air explode around them. Each punch sent shockwaves rippling through the trees. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't even move.
Then... light. A flash so blinding it burned into my brain.
When it faded, everything around them was gone. Like someone hit "delete" on a fifty-meter chunk of reality. The two figures stood frozen, bodies intact, unmoving. Dead.
I staggered toward them, not even feeling my injuries. Just... awe.
Their eyes were gone. Hollow sockets stared at nothing.
I should've run. I didn't. Curiosity won.
I poked one with a stick—no response. So I got closer. That's when I saw the rings—one black like a void, the other glowing blood red. Just like in the stories.
And yeah, I used to read cultivation novels. Back on Earth, they were fun fantasy. But this? This was real. That fight? That power? No way that was science. It was too... wild.
I picked up both rings. Played with them a little.
And then—bam. Headache. The worst pain I've ever felt. I dropped to my knees, groaning without a sound. After what felt like an hour, it stopped. I looked down.
The rings were on my fingers.
"What the—? I didn't wear them… did I?"
Then, something even weirder. Red particles—life essence?—floated from the dead bodies into the red ring. My stomach turned. But I couldn't look away.
Was this a dream? Some strange coma delusion?
No. The cold dirt under me, the smell of blood, the burning suns above—this was real.
"I… died," I muttered. "That car hit me. I should be dead. So why am I here? Did I transmigrate? Wait—this is my body. Not a new one. Mine. Just stronger."
I tested it. Tugged on a thick clump of grass—ripped it clean from the ground. I punched a tree—put a hole in it.
Stronger than I'd ever been, even at my peak. No limits. No fatigue.
"Okay… okay. So this is real. And this is a cultivation world. Holy crap."
I looked around at the destroyed battlefield. Mountains torn apart. The scale of power was terrifying. I wasn't even an ant compared to those two.
"I should get outta here," I mumbled. "If they had enemies, someone might come looking. If they had a clan… I'm toast."
I thought about looting their bodies but shook my head. "Nah, not worth it. Rings are enough. If they're tracking those too, I'm already screwed."
I turned toward the forest. It was midday, so I had time to find shelter before dark. Hopefully.
As I walked, I thought about testing more of this power. One punch could probably level a small building.
I crouched, ready to jump.
"Alright... let's gooo—"
WHOOSH!
"AHHHHHH—BOOM!"
I crashed straight into the ground. The crater was... impressive.
I coughed. "Okay. That was fun. But maybe next time… climbing is smarter."
Eventually, I scaled a tree and spotted a city in the distance. Weirdly advanced-looking. But those two warriors? Their gear looked ancient. Nothing made sense yet.
"I'm not going there yet," I muttered. "No idea who I am here, no memories of this place. Could get captured or worse."
For now, hiding out in a village sounded smarter. Gather info. Understand my powers. Survive.
"I wanna live a peaceful life… but I'm kinda feeling like breaking stuff too," I grinned. "So, peaceful life... with a side of chaos. That's the goal."
High above, far beyond the clouds, a presence stirred.
A power that watched from the stars… silently observing.