learning

Ashen inquired, "Is there no way for you to reveal this to me?"

The old man replied, "Indeed, I have the ability to do so, but it requires a cost."

Ashen pressed further, "And?"

The old man elaborated, "If I'm to share this information and bear the cost, I expect you to offer fair compensation in return."

"And what kind of compensation do you want?" Ashen inquired.

"Well, for your current circumstances, I don't believe you have the means to compensate me," said the elderly man. "However, I see potential in you; you possess the talent and the capacity to become a powerful person. Let's consider this an investment. I will provide you with the information you seek, and in the future, when you're strong enough, you'll return the favor with a service as compensation."

Curious and cautious, Ashen asked concerned about the possibility of being deceived. "What kind of service will I need to provide in the future? "

As if reading Ashen's thoughts, the elder reassured him, "Don't worry, kid. I have no intention of deceiving you. We will formalize our agreement through a cosmic contract that binds our souls – the most important part for us. If either of us attempts to deceive or lie, the consequence will be death. Furthermore, I can specify in the contract that the service you'll render in return should be of equal value to the information I provide."

"Well, if this is the case, then I agree," said Ashen after careful consideration and finding no apparent flaws in the agreement.

"Good," said the man. With a flick of his hand, a roll of paper materialized from thin air. The paper bore the appearance of having aged for hundreds of thousands of years, yet it remained uncorrupted, exuding an aura of ancient mystery. "Read it, and if you are satisfied, you can sign at the bottom of the paper to seal our agreement."

As the elder finished speaking, the roll floated toward Ashen's hand. He accepted it and began to read through the contents. After a few minutes, Ashen concluded that it was a remarkably detailed contract, perhaps the most detailed one he had ever seen, and he had come across many in his time.

The contract states briefly that Zenithar, the name of the elder, will provide Ashen with information and guidance, and in return, the latter will return the favor with a service that has the same value as the information he received.

"I didn't find anything wrong with the contract, but how do I sign it? Do you want my signature?" asked Ashen.

"Do you remember the feeling you had when you put your hand on the ball? Place your finger in the execution block and try to mimic it, and everything else will happen naturally," instructed Zenithar.

Ashen didn't fully understand the elder's instructions, but he followed them nonetheless.

After a few seconds had passed, a strange sensation coursed through Ashen's hand, and the same violet pattern that had appeared on the magical ball before reappeared, this time as well.

Afterward, Zenithar placed his finger on his execution block, and a second later, a golden pattern emerged. However, this pattern differed greatly from Ashen's. It was far more intricate and exuded an aura of mystery and mysticism. But it also seamed full of cracks.

As Ashen gazed at the complexity and beauty of this pattern, he became absorbed by it. Lost in its intricate design, he suddenly felt a sharp blow to his forehead.

"Ouch, where did that come from?" asked Ashen, irritation evident in his tone. He raised his hand to find that Zenithar had flicked him with his finger.

"This is the first thing I will teach you. What you were looking at is called a soul symbol. It's akin to a fingerprint in your world; it can't be copied or forged—it's a unique pattern for each individual. If someone weaker gazes upon the soul symbol of someone much stronger than them, they can easily fall into an illusion, much like what happened to you, " explained Zenithar.

Ashen pondered and then asked, "And why does your symbol look much more impressive than mine?"

Zenithar replied, "Because the soul symbol is an indicator of a person's power. Power in this context can encompass talent, fortune, destiny, or simply strength."

Ashen finally comprehended why Zenithar was willing to assist him and invest in him, even though they had just met. He was on the verge of seeking confirmation when Zenithar's voice filled the silence.

"Yes, what you're thinking is correct. I decided to help you after I saw your soul symbol," Zenithar confirmed.

"And this brings us to your question. The people in this city are aware of the cosmic system. I can't divulge too much, but you should understand that your world is but a tiny stage for a much grander performance. I can explain further when you've attained sufficient strength. If you wish to know more, you must become stronger.

As for the residents here, they are divided into various classes. Some seek peaceful lives, while others represent factions and scout for talent. Some are here due to previous agreements, seeking to obtain something, and others search for heirs to their legacies, among other purposes. The crucial thing is to be cautious with your soul symbol; not everyone here is good enough to engage in a fair contract with you."

Ashen wore a serious expression as he absorbed Zenithar's words. He had a deep sense that something much larger than himself and his world was in motion, from the start he had doubts about what Zenithar just told him and now, the latter words only confirmed his concerns.

"But why should I hide my soul symbol, though? Wouldn't it be beneficial to display my power and talent so people won't provoke me?" inquired Ashen.

Zenithar replied, "Your words would be correct if you were merely a talented individual. However, the talent you possess is exceptional, to the point that calling you a 'monster' would be an understatement. From observing your soul symbol, I can easily surmise that you possess at least an X-rank talent, correct?"

Ashen confirmed, "Yes, that's correct. What's the issue?"

"The issue is that for billions and billions of years, the highest talent achievable for a new world is SSS-rank; that's already considered the pinnacle. Individuals with such a talent will reach the peak as long as they don't fall at the start. However, you have defied that norm. You might not fully grasp the meaning of your talent rank, but for others, it holds immense significance.

If those people were aware of your existence, nothing would stop them from reaching you. And trust me, they will not be very friendly with you. Death will be your smallest problem at that time. Thus, you cannot openly reveal your soul symbol to anyone until you've reached at least the first rank. As for having an X talent in the start, I will advise you to take it with you to your grave " Zenithar explained.

Ashen couldn't shake off the shivers that coursed down his spine at the thought of the most powerful people in existence chasing him for the secrets in his body.

"Alright," he replied with a newfound caution. "I'll be extremely careful with my soul symbol."

"Good," Zenithar acknowledged. "And if you ever need to use your soul symbol for a particular reason, simply think of a white, simplified version when you manifest it. It will generate a much simpler symbol."

Ashen nodded in understanding and then asked, "Could you provide more details about the disasters and what we should expect?"

Zenithar considered the question and replied, "Certainly, this is something I can discuss. First and foremost, you should understand that the cosmic system doesn't favor any particular race; as long as you are a rational being, you have access to the cosmic system. So in the first disaster, the cosmic system will offer the other races an opportunity to establish a foothold in the new world."

"But, the only rational race on Earth my planet is human," Ashen remarked.

Zenithar responded, "That's true for now. However, after the first disaster begins, any other creature – be it zombies, animals, or even plants – will experience a tremendous increase in power and evolve rapidly and as a result of the increase in power, their intelligence will increase too. As I mentioned before, the cosmic system operates fairly. During the first month of the disaster, you'll have the opportunity to enhance your powers. As long as your race successfully overcomes the disaster, they'll gain much more than they lose – power, equipment, skills, and knowledge."

Curious, Ashen inquired, "What about the next disaster?"

"You don't need much information about the next disaster, as it's very critical and will require a huge service from you. However, let me offer some advice. If you wish to secure the best possible outcome, you should aim to eliminate the other races as fast as possible. This will earn you a higher rating when the cosmic system evaluates your performance and grant you more time to prepare for the next disaster moreover when you win you will obtain information about the next disaster which will give you an advantage over the other sections.

To achieve this, I recommend cooperation with your own people. Don't worry; you won't necessarily need to conquer the entire world to be deemed a victor. The cosmic system will partition your world into sections, each section can be governed by only a single race. You can pass through other sections for now, but once the first disaster commences, you will be unable to leave your designated division. " Zenithar explained.

"Thank you for your advice. What about tower points?" Ashen inquired.

Zenithar replied, "You can obtain information about tower points from the system; there's no secret method. If I were in your position, I wouldn't waste time wandering around; I'd focus on increasing my power."

"Alright, one last question before I go to select a class. Any suggestions?" Ashen asked.

Zenithar considered for a moment and then responded, "Well, I specialize in melee combat, but you should choose the class that suits you best. Don't stress too much; the system will explain everything. Now, go and train, and don't make me regret investing in you."

With that, Ashen nodded in agreement and left the store, making his way to the ascending room, while learning about the ways to acquire tower points on his way