Seeds of Hope

Roman woke abruptly and looked around to try to get his bearings. "Where am I?"

There was nothing in sight but tall waist-height grass, a large cluster of trees to his left, and a large walled city to his right.

As soon as he saw the city a bulb went off in his mind and he got excited.

"I was actually Isekai’d…no truck-kun this time though.” He said and looked around as the excitement started building. He got to his feet, almost expecting his intro music to start but hearing nothing but nature around him as the wind danced through the grass.

He stood there for several long moments waiting to hear something.

"I mean, the world isn't supposed to be this quiet, is it?"

He looked at the large walls, expecting maybe some sort of warning horn or something to herald his arrival but there was nothing. Just eerie silence that seemed to be choking out the world.

"Hello!" He yelled out when he walked through the gate and still saw nobody. The inside of the city was a mess, it looked like he was walking through the aftermath of a war. Bodies strewn all over the place, pools of blood...just pure destruction and...death.

"W-what happened here?!" He whispered to himself, taking in everything around. He had never seen anything like this. He came from a peaceful time...yeah there was still violence but nothing on this scale. He was used to people getting gunned down by the police, by family, by neighborhood thugs but had never seen chunks of people strewn across the ground. He could take seeing a dead body with a few holes but not...in six pieces.

He threw up...all over his shirt.

Soon he couldn't hear the eerie silence as his heart started assaulting his eardrums, making its presence known and the harder it beat the harder it was for him to control his emotions until finally, he was a mess on his knees in a pool of vomit heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Get it together, get it together, get it together, getitogether, getittogether." He kept muttering to himself, his whole body violently shaking as the panic attack rampaged through him. This went on for about 30 seconds until he remembered something his mom used to tell him.

"Whenever you are stuck and feel like you're losing control just remember to pray. Seek out your Jesus and He will calm your heart and mind." She said smiling down at him and kissing him through space and time.

He dragged his mind back around and focused forward, picturing it like a massive steering wheel and turning it until he found the bright light in the corner of his mind that he honestly had been neglecting recently. once it got there it clicked and he gained a small bit of peace, enough for him to say the words.

"Dear heavenly Father..." he prayed and the more he said the more his mind calmed until he slumped to the ground and took deep breaths.

"Thank you," he finished the prayer and stood up. He glanced around, searching for anything useful—someone who could help or perhaps even some water to clean himself. After about ten minutes of walking through the devastated city, stepping over the bodies of humans, horses, and even a few strange-looking creatures that might have been pets, he noticed something. Some of these creatures resembled oversized, furry felines, with whiskers and ears that reminded him of the stray cats he used to feed back in his neighborhood.

Eventually, he stumbled upon a well, though it was draped with a dead body. "I'm so sorry," he murmured as he pushed the body aside to access the water. He pulled up the bucket and, to his relief, the water was clean—none of the blood had tainted it. He sniffed it cautiously and took a tentative sip.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed. It was the best water he’d ever tasted, refreshing him to his core. He took his time washing off before searching the nearby bodies for something to hold the water in. Given the medieval feel of the place, he doubted he’d find anything like a Yeti bottle; more likely, they would have leather water skins. The stone and wood buildings, the people dressed in tunics and iron armor, armed with swords, shields, pitchforks, and spears—all confirmed that he was in a medieval world.

After some searching, he found a leather bag slung across one of the corpses. It seemed suitable for now—until he reached inside and his hand kept going, up to his elbow.

"Magic bag! Awesome!" he exclaimed before reality hit him again, and he sobered. He tried to search the bag, but his hand continued to sink deeper.

“Maybe I need to give it a command or something? Inventory. Bag. Status.” He tried various commands, and finally, when he said “Status,” a blue window appeared in front of him.

Status

Name: Roman

Race: Human

Age: 19

Title: [World Walker]

– World Walker is a title earned by traversing the cosmos to arrive on another world capable of sustaining life and with access to the System. This title is currently incomplete; the user has only the lite version. Levels and stats are unavailable.

Title: [Exponential Growth]

– The user’s growth in all areas increases exponentially. All activities completed by the user are influenced by this title until the body can no longer sustain it. Once this limit is reached, the user must improve their body’s constitution and vigor for continued growth.

Title: [Cultivator's Body]

– The user has the ability to enhance bodily functions through cultivation.

“Uh… that’s it? A bit more detail would be nice!” Roman muttered in frustration. The titles on his status screen seemed sparse. The World Walker title appeared to be incomplete, leaving him without access to stats or levels. But as he looked closer, his initial disappointment turned into excitement. The synergy between the other two titles—Exponential Growth and Cultivator’s Body—was incredible. With the right training and hard work, he could push his limits far beyond the ordinary.

Having read countless cultivation novels and gamelit books, the concept of cultivating to grow stronger was familiar territory for him. Traditional cultivation involved meditation and specific breathing techniques, but he had none of those at his disposal. He’d have to figure it out on his own.

“Okay, focus,” he muttered, glancing around the desolate city. “First, I need to find somewhere safe.” Just because it seemed deserted now didn’t mean it would stay that way. While he hoped to encounter someone friendly, he wasn’t keen on running into hostile beings without a way to defend himself. Exponential Growth was great, but it wouldn’t help if he couldn’t protect himself right now.

He spotted a sword lying next to one of the bodies and picked it up. The weight felt awkward in his grip, but he resolved to make it work. Leaving the city, he approached a nearby tree and took a few tentative swings, imagining an enemy before him.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed as the message popped up. The more he swung the sword, the more natural it felt. Within a few minutes, he moved as if he’d been training with this blade for years.

Roman grinned. He wasn’t defenseless anymore. The increase in critical chance intrigued him, though he wasn’t sure how it would play out in actual combat. “I should probably test this on something,” he murmured, scanning his surroundings.

The forest around him was alive with vibrant colors and the melodic chirping of birds. It was stunning, and he realized with a start that he hadn’t noticed its beauty before. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the air was filled with the crisp scent of pine. It felt as though the world itself had just awakened, vibrant and full of life.

“How did I miss this?” he wondered aloud, his eyes widening as he took in the scenery.

After a few minutes of wandering, he stumbled upon a small clearing. A low, guttural noise caught his attention. Peering around a tree, he saw a strange sight: a small creature locked in combat with a large brown bear. He squinted, trying to make out what the creature was.

Now he could see the creature more clearly. It stood just over four feet tall, covered in thick fur from head to toe. Large canines jutted out from its upper jaw, and a bushy tail flicked behind it. I’ve never seen a bunny like this, he thought, watching the bizarre scene unfold. Despite its resemblance to a harmless rabbit, the creature’s sharp claws and teeth, combined with its quick, agile movements, indicated it was anything but defenseless.

Roman hesitated. He wanted to intervene but remembered that both animals were enemies. The bear might be dangerous, but this rabbit-thing was clearly no ordinary prey. He decided to wait, observing as the two continued their strange battle.

The bear lunged, swiping at the bunny, but the agile creature leaped out of reach each time. This dance of attack and evasion went on for about thirty seconds. The bear roared in frustration, unable to keep up with the smaller creature’s speed. Then, in a sudden shift, the bear’s body glowed red. It tilted its head back, releasing a roar that seemed to shake the very air around them.

The bunny froze, its body quivering. Roman’s heart clenched as he watched the bear charge, its jaws snapping down on the creature. It pinned the bunny with its massive paws, shaking its head violently, tearing flesh and fur. Blood sprayed across the ground as the rabbit’s life ebbed away.

“OH!” Roman gasped, a mix of excitement and fear coursing through him. The bear’s head snapped in his direction, and it let out a deafening roar that sent a shiver down his spine.

“Oh, crap!” He gripped the sword tighter, his knuckles turning white. “I guess now’s as good a time as any to try this out.” Steeling his nerves, he sprinted toward the bear, not entirely sure what he was doing but knowing he couldn’t just stand there.

He slashed at the bear’s shoulder, and to his shock, a glowing red bar appeared above the bear’s head. Is that its health bar?! He watched it decrease by a mere 1%. His attack barely scratched the beast, but it certainly got its attention. The bear dropped the bunny’s limp body, turning its bloodied maw towards him with a roar.

“Uh, oh!”

The bear charged, swiping a massive paw at Roman. He raised his sword in defense, the impact sending him stumbling back several feet. His arms ached from the blow, but the sword held firm, absorbing most of the force.

“What was I thinking?!” he shouted as the bear struck again. He barely managed to duck under the next swipe, the air whistling above his head as the claws passed by.

Shut up! he mentally screamed at the notification. He had no time for distractions. The bear lunged again, and he rolled away, narrowly avoiding its jaws.

“Come on, Roman... You’ve got this,” he muttered to himself, his confidence building as he found a rhythm in dodging the bear’s attacks. After each missed strike, he saw brief openings—a chance to counter. He waited for the bear to swing its left paw, then ducked and darted forward, thrusting his sword beneath the bear’s arm. The beast roared, swiping faster and with greater ferocity.

Roman backed off, his breathing heavy. He couldn’t afford to get cocky. Every time he dodged and struck, the bear’s movements grew more sluggish, blood pouring from its wounds. Minutes passed like hours as they fought, Roman dancing around the massive creature, avoiding its powerful blows.

Finally, the bear slowed, its massive chest heaving as it struggled to catch its breath. Blood matted its fur, and its once ferocious roars had turned to labored growls. Roman could see the weariness in its eyes, and he knew the fight was nearing its end.

Roman saw an opening and surged forward, swinging his sword upward. The blade connected with the bear’s chin, sending it reeling back. Seizing the opportunity, he rushed in, driving the sword into the exposed neck and out through the back. The bear collapsed with a heavy thud that reverberated through the ground, making Roman stumble slightly.

“That was way too close,” he gasped, dropping to his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. His entire body trembled from the adrenaline and exertion. Images on his mistakes throughout the fight flashed through his head…while the chin hit helped expose the throat…that wasn’t where he was aiming if he was being honest.

Just as he tried to regain his composure, a strange mist began to rise from the bear’s body, swirling toward him. It happened so quickly that he barely had time to react before the mist surged into him, filling him with an overwhelming sensation. It was like having a huge meal and then, despite being full, eating a rich dessert on top of it. His stomach twisted as if it might burst.

I’m gonna puke! he thought frantically, his mind scrambling for a way to cope. Then he remembered his titles. I need to cultivate! But how? He tried to recall what he’d read in the books. Cultivation usually involved drawing in energy, but he had already done that. What came next? Move the energy around the body, strengthen the meridians and core, right? But he hadn’t even created a core yet. How was he supposed to start?

Dropping to the ground, he squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to focus inward. His heart pounded like a war drum, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel his body trembling as he desperately tried to visualize his inner workings. Slowly, faint tendrils of energy began to appear in his mind’s eye, swirling in his chest like a chaotic, writhing nest of serpents. Sweat dripped down his brow as he reached out mentally, trying to grasp the energy, but his imaginary hand passed right through them.

“No, no, no!” he growled, his frustration mounting. His whole body felt like it was on fire, every nerve alive with the pulsing, uncontrollable energy. He looked down and saw that his hand was made of light, flickering and unstable. Panic surged through him. I can’t even hold on to it! How am I supposed to control it?

He forced himself to breathe, to concentrate. Slowly, he tried to solidify his hand, compacting his energy until it felt more substantial. His pulse raced as he extended his hand again, trembling as he reached for one of the writhing tendrils. This time, his fingers closed around it, and he almost screamed as it squirmed in his grasp like a live wire, shocking him with each pulse. It felt wrong, alien, like trying to hold onto pure lightning.

“This feels so weird,” he whispered, his voice shaking. Every instinct screamed at him to let go, but he gritted his teeth and began coiling the tendril around itself, forming a tighter and tighter spiral. His head throbbed, and his vision blurred, but he kept going, grabbing another tendril and twisting it around the first, each one joining the others until he held a tightly wound ball of energy. It vibrated violently in his hand, sending jolts of pain up his arm. His whole body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside.

“Come on… come on!” he muttered desperately, his heart racing out of control. He took a deep, shuddering breath and pushed inward with all his strength, trying to compress the chaotic ball of energy. It fought him every step of the way, pushing back with a force that made his bones ache. His hands began to glow brighter, the ball of energy humming louder and louder until it felt like the sound was tearing through his skull, resonating with his very soul.

His mind felt like it was splitting in two, the pressure building to an unbearable level. The humming grew into a deafening roar, his vision turning white as if he were being consumed by the energy itself. Panic clawed at him, and he bit down on his lip, forcing himself to keep going. I have to control it. I have to…

The energy surged, wild and uncontrolled, threatening to tear him apart. He screamed, the sound lost in the cacophony inside his mind. Every muscle in his body tensed as he pushed harder, forcing the energy to compact further, his teeth grinding together as he struggled to contain it. Just when he thought he couldn’t take it anymore, that he would explode from the pressure, something inside him shifted.

With a sudden, almost audible click, the chaos transformed. The ball of energy, once a raging storm, now purred softly, a gentle, soothing vibration spreading through his body. The agony melted away, replaced by a warm, calming sensation. His breathing slowed, and he let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.

He’d done it. Somehow, he’d managed to control the energy. For now.

Grinning like a fool, Roman released the compressed energy. He watched in awe as the shining orb floated in the air before him. It spun slowly at first, then drifted down from his chest level until it settled into his solar plexus. Once in place, it began to spin faster, the purr turning into a powerful, steady hum that radiated through his entire being.

The sensation was incredible, unlike anything he’d ever felt. It was as if pure power was flooding his body, rejuvenating him from the inside out. He couldn’t help but picture that iconic scene from a superhero movie when a certain man of iron created a new element to power his suit.

Roman opened his eyes, feeling completely transformed. The energy pulsing from his chest was like a beacon of strength and vitality. He had no idea how he ended up in this world or what awaited him, but for some reason, the fear and confusion had faded. He felt calm, almost accepting. Whatever happens, happens, he thought.

Then he heard a soft voice, clear and commanding. Move.

It was so familiar that he jumped, glancing around to see who had spoken. Then he remembered. It was a voice he would never forget, one that had been a constant presence in his life. Smiling warmly, he realized he was being guided, just as he had been so many times before. It had been a long time since he’d gone to church or opened his Bible, but that voice was unmistakable.

He stood, unsure of where he was going or what he would find, but with faith in his heart, he took a deep breath and, without hesitation, moved forward.