The Scroll of the Deity's Presence

Fang mentally reached for the third scroll. Immediately, a repulsive force pushed back against him. Gritting his teeth, he persevered and reached forth into the dark void of his mind. The pressure grew crushing and the very air around Fang began to ripple rapidly. Forcing his way forward, he lunged for the scroll. His hands clutched it and the pressure stopped abruptly. Grinning slightly, he began to assimilate the scroll's contents.

A flash of pain ran through his mind. Then, there was a massive rumbling sound. His brain began to rumble and distort. Space twisted and the skies ruptured in defiance of the heavens. Screaming in pain, Fang clutched his mind.

He howled with the wild abandon of a beast of the night as sharp spears of mental intent stabbed through his brain and pervaded the very depths of his consciousness. And then the pain stopped.

Fang lay on the floor for a while, gasping as the pain slowly dissipated. Cursing the system for the tenth time, he sat back up again. This foolish protagonist's life was truly not for him... if not for that order from the systemic deity, he wouldn't have gone through this cruel and unusual punishment.

Closing his eyes, he attempted to execute the skill. Immediately, layers of pressure pushed on the space around him. Dust floated upwards and was smashed down ruthlessly to the ground. A gentle thrumming sound could be heard, emanating from Fang's body. He opened his eyes and looked around, puzzled. He could feel no difference as to the pressure in the room.

Fang stood up. Immediately, he was assaulted by waves upon waves of gravitational pressure.

"This...," he began, exultation in his eyes.

He had received a skill that could manipulate gravity! Excitement evident on his face, he leaped about the room, slowly adjusted to the monumental pressure of the room. After doing so, he deactivated the ability. Smiling with unrestrained emotion, he left the room for an early meal.

Returning to his training area, Fang began to practice and meditate upon the third scroll. Techniques that manipulated the fundamental laws of the universe were notoriously difficult to comprehend. Meditating upon this newly learned technique, Fang slowly increased his understanding of the laws of gravity and magnetism. Slowly, his mind began to fill with knowledge and theories to test. Smiling to himself, he eventually exited meditation and went to sleep.

Fang woke up the next morning to find that the sun was up, bright and warm. Yawning, he slowly prepared himself for the boring day that was to follow. Preparing his tools, he walked outside to his farms. He began to till the land, raking and plowing in a monotone manner, as was his daily routine.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves could be heard. It was a thunderous noise, clapping the ground as if a horde of horses were going to storm the village. Frowning, Fang stood up. He went towards the entrance of his house, exited the house, and closed the door.

A tall man, astride on a chestnut brown horse held up a scroll. He began to proclaim in a loud and brash manner.

"Hear me peaceful citizens of this valley!" he thundered.

"I come with no ill intention!"

"According to the Emperor's decree, I have come to inform you of the Yearly Selection!"

"In this selection, the representatives from each part of the empire with compete with each other!"

"The winner of this contest will receive bountiful rewards!"

"The winner will also get the chance to become the Emperor's personal aide!"

And with that message, having been delivered, the envoy turned around and rode out of the valley with his posse of warriors.

The townspeople gazed at his retreating figure with puzzled gazes, but shrugged and moved on with their lives. After all, there were no cultivating geniuses that could possibly have a chance of becoming the Emperor's aide amongst them.

Fang chuckled. He had no desire to become the Emperor's aide nor to participate in the competition. But....

Their valley was situated between two large and impassable mountains. Should anyone wish to pass through, they had to go through the valley. This would mean that cultivators from the further edges of the Empire would be going through their valley...which would mean that he would be finding plenty of good food in the coming days. Licking his lips, he went back to continue his work, thinking about all the systems he was going to devour.