What is this world?

I study my profile, eyes locked on the name and level that I have in this world.

I'm still in denial that I'm an entirely different man here. I'm rich. I'm strong. I'm a leader.

Everything that is the complete opposite of what I am-- was once was.

[Ivan Carson]

[Level 71]

What is the maximum level? 100?

If so, I am very close to being the top. It would make sense why Kate told me that I have a title to keep and protect.

[Title: The Undying]

Hmm. Does that literally mean I don't die? Well this entire world is run by a gaming system.

Probably reviving potions and second lives are a thing too.

[Type: Ardent]

[Role: Fighter]

There are no little 'i's to click what [Ardent] means. It's just there in my profile like it's supposed to mean something to me.

This world is not exactly complicated considering I love playing games where I'm from.

But starting from the top is harder than starting from the bottom.

*beep!*

The sound startled me. It's like I am wearing earbuds when the beeping alerted me.

<Your HP is fully restored!>

<Your mana is fully restored!>

Two notifications at once. I see the red icon on my panel, I click on it.

[HP: 60,000/60,000]

[Mana: 15,000/15,000]

Hmm, come to think of it. I have a limited set of skills. I browse back to check my skills.

[ELEMENTALS]

|> Slot 1: [Fire Mastery: Level 49/50]

|> Slot 2: [Water Mastery: Level 31/50]

|> Slot 3: [Unlock Slot]

|> Slot 4: [Unlock Slot]

[[ Ascend Elemental Skill ]]

[[ Unlock more Elementals ]]

I have fire and water. What a weird combination. Looks like I am more focused on fire. How do I use that? I wish there were instructions.

"Ivan?" Kate calls my name.

Up until this point I am not used to being called Ivan or me being used to calling her Freja.

"How are you catching up so far?"

She's been making sure that I am faring well with the entire system here. I asked to be alone but being alone did not help me progress.

"Managing." I tried to sound like I have complete control over my issue.

But she can tell that I don't.

She sits down with me in my bed and summons her panel, she does her thing again swiping and tapping so fast and a book materializes on her lap.

Kate shows me the book written in a foreign language.

"This is the basic manual of everything you should already know."

Then she threw the book behind her and it disappears in thin air. I was amazed but she squeezed my cheeks to fixate my eyes on her.

"So let me sum it up for you in the simplest way I can."

"Yush puwease." I managed to say and she let me go.

"This is a Cultivation World. It means everything you do is run by attribution, leveling up and choices."

"A Cultivation World?" I have never heard of that before.

"Your life, your power, your fame— it's all dependent on what you've cultivated."

I see. Is it because I'm a gamer in the other world that I became a professional in this world? But then I glance at Kate.

Her very existence destroys my theory.

Kate plays video games with me not because she's good at it. She plays it to have fun and sometimes to humor me.

So how can she be any higher than Alex?

"You read a book, you gain an attribute. You endure pain, you earn an attribute. You make major choices in life, you receive more attributes."

Knowledge. Endurance. And what in the world is 'major life choices' supposed to be?

"What is the goal here then? Cultivate to be stronger for what?" I ask.

"To be stronger for power or fame. To be wiser for money or personal gain. It depends on what <Path> you want for yourself."

I see.

"There are over a hundred attributes to cultivate. Imagine a SIMS role-playing free-form open world kind of setting."

Possibilities are endless if that's the case.

"Well if you put it that way, I definitely get it." she speaks my language now! How touching.

"What am I cultivating for?"

"You forgot even that?" she seemed shocked.

I want to be honest with her as much as possible. Considering her patience to teach me about this world will keep me alive here.

"Don't answer that." she adds before I can reply.

Good. Because I am not sure how I can explain that I came from another world, I was stabbed by a mugger and I wake up here.

"I'm honestly unaware what you are really fighting for, Ivan."

Her answer surprised me.

"But I know you wouldn't want to lose your title."

My title? [The Undying] title? Why is that so important to me? Is it just a cover? Am I not fighting for Jensen in this world?

I wanted to ask about Jensen but I need to set my priorities straight. I am barely hanging by a thread with the rules here.

The least I could do is focus on what's in front of me.

"So what's yours? What are you cultivating?" A nice change of topic.

"We agreed not to talk about it."

Oh.

She isn't open to me in this world? So she really isn't my best friend here. Just someone who works for me.

Kate stands up from the bed.

"Now that you've learned Chapters 1 through 10. Let's learn the next one."

"That's Chapters 1 to 10?! Already?!"

"Yes."

Good thing she summarized it for me already.

She noticed I am still a bit stunned by that. Like the information has overloaded my brain. It did. It's a lot to process.

"Say, do you want to pick which lesson we learn next?" she offered.

"Well..."

Just like the last time. I can't control my lips again. It trailed off on its own. Against my will.

I expected that choices will pop out like before and it did!

Boxes appeared containing a set of choices.

>> Hidden Option <<

[[ Let's learn the Elementals ]]

[[ I want to see my skills ]]

[[ Can we go through the tabs shortly? ]]

What is a Joker Option? That's new.

Oh, there's a little 'i' to accompany me. I click on it immediately.

> [Hidden Option] is a mystery option that a User can choose. It may only unlock when the skill [Backer] is unlocked. <

Hmm, that means it's not option for me then.

The Elementals, that's the fire and water mastery earlier. I'm surely interested to learn that one.

The skills. That has to be the [[ARDENT SKILLS]] tab that I haven't checked yet.

Hmm, maybe it's wise to go through the tabs first before I get too excited with anything else. After all, Kate is teaching me the basics. I should go for something more basic.

My priorities are divided. Which one should I go for first?

************

[Backer] skill represents the Top Fans as mentioned in the A/N. It will unlock once we have enough active readers.