Winterland

As Ash was relishing in the increased level of his mental strength, the solid ground beneath him disintegrated into shimmering particles, dissipating into the void.

"Woah!" Ash flailed his legs in slight panic.

A sudden realization dawned upon him as he found himself suspended in the vast expanse of the now dark empty space.

"Um, was this supposed to happen?" Ash said as he floated about.

There were no stars to guide him, no celestial phenomena to provide any sense of direction. It was a void devoid of light, stretching infinitely in every direction.

"Okaaay…"

Ash nervously chuckled as he literally couldn't see anything. The absence of light seemed to intensify, leaving him disoriented and unable to discern even the faintest glimmer.

'Maan, why does it have to always be dark or some similar shit!' Ash grumbled in his mind.

*Tick*

*Tock*

The sound of ticking echoed in his mind as time passed by in the empty space.

He quickly grew bored in the dark expanse and to cure it, he tried making up a few quirky jokes to annoy his friends.

"Hmm…" Ash lightly tapped his chin in contemplation.

*Snap*

"Oh!" He snapped his finger with shining eyes.

"Let's see…"

"Why didn't the astronauts have parties?"

"…"

"Because they always seem to space out…"

"…"

"…"

*Cough*

"I think I'm going crazy." Ash rubbed his head embarrassedly.

"…"

"Maybe…this one?"

*Cough*

Ash prepped his throat and commenced his second 'joke', "I told a moon joke once but no one laughed!"

"…"

"Guess it just went over everyone's head…"

"…"

"Ha…ha…"

A moment of silence had passed.

"Okay…"

*Inhale*

*Exhale*

"WHAT KIND OF STUPID TEST IS THIS? I'M SO FUCKING BORED!!" Ash yelled in frustration and boredom.

His voice, devoid of any response or echo, dissipated into the eternal emptiness, swallowed by the vast expanse surrounding him.

It was a peculiar sensation, conversing with himself in a world that appeared indifferent to his presence. The silence stretched on, amplifying his sense of solitude and igniting a flicker of unease within him.

*Tick*

*Tick*

With his increased mental prowess, it was easy for him to keep track of the time within his head. However, he couldn't be certain for how long he could sustain the tracking in his head.

In his perception, approximately three hours had elapsed since he began floating about in this god forsaken place.

*Sigh*

"Might as well meditate…"

With a steady breath, Ash settled into a cross-legged position, closing his eyes to shut out the darkness that enveloped him.

He focused on his breath, allowing it to guide him deeper into a state of meditation. As he took deep breaths, he felt the subtle energy within him awaken, pulsating and flowing through the intricate pathways of his body.

*Inhale*

He sensed a peculiar sensation, a subtle tug that seemed to beckon him from beyond the confines of his body. It was a gentle yet insistent pull, drawing his consciousness towards the enigmatic expanse that lay outside

*Exhale*

Curiosity mingled with a tinge of uneasiness as Ash contemplated this newfound situation. He didn't know what this entailed and the cause of it.

The dark expanse, previously an impenetrable void, now held an inexplicable allure. Ash hesitated for a moment, contemplating the risks and uncertainties that lay ahead, but an insatiable thirst for discovery and extreme boredom propelled him forward.

*Inhale*

Gradually, a profound sense of connection to the surrounding darkness enveloped him. It felt as though he was attuning himself to the very essence of the dark expanse that surrounded him.

It was as if invisible threads of energy wove through him, connecting him to the vast expanse of the unknown.

*Exhale*

It was as if his very being merged with the vast expanse, transcending the boundaries of his physical form. It was a weird feeling to say the least. It was unique, unexpected and fresh, like a dam had been broken down to let the water flow freely.

He sensed his body become one with the emptiness, his consciousness expanding to encompass the infinite void. His body shone with an ethereal blue glow, faintly illuminating the dark expanse surrounding him.

While he was in this altered unique state, an extraordinary transformation occurred.

The air surrounding him grew frigid, and a palpable chill permeated the space. The temperature dropped, causing a fine mist to form, swirling and dancing in the ethereal darkness.

As Ash's aura radiated with an icy coldness, it spread rapidly, emanating from his body and suffusing the empty surroundings.

The once bleak expanse surrounding him underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, the darkness giving way to a new transformation within his mindscape.

With the changes taking place, Ash was but compelled to open his eyes and witness the transformation taking place before his eyes.

A wintry wonderland unfolded before him as he found himself immediately standing upon a pristine field of glistening snow and ice, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Towering frost-covered trees lined the horizon, their branches adorned with delicate icicles that glimmered like crystals under a celestial glow. The air itself seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly luminescence, casting a soft, ethereal light upon the frozen landscape.

Each breath Ash took appeared as wisps of frost in the air, creating an enchanting display of his connection to this transformed realm.

*Thud*

*Thud*

Amidst the stillness, he could hear the faint echoes of his footsteps on the frost-kissed ground, accompanied by the occasional distant sound of crackling ice.

The sensation of cold wind brushing against his skin awakened his mind, invigorating him with a newfound clarity and resilience.

In this surreal winter realm within his mindscape, Ash stood as the embodiment of the frost, his presence commanding and serene.

*Sigh*

"So, all I had to do was meditate in that stupid space?" Ash shook his head with a small smile, as he embraced the coldness that enveloped his mindscape.

"Hmm…" Ash prodded his cheek as he pondered, "Is the icy transformation because of my physique?"

"Or…something else?"

Amidst the tranquillity of this wonderful winter-land, Ash's attention was drawn to a peculiar sight.

There, encased in a majestic pillar of ice, was his soul manifestation. It appeared both familiar and distant, its blank form partially obscured by the frozen veil that encapsulated it.

"Is my soul doing alright?" Ash spoke as he made his way to the frozen manifestation. He reached out a hand, delicately touching the ice that held his soul manifestation, like a womb holding a baby.

A slight wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows as he muttered, "Well…it seems to be doing fine."

'But why though?' Thoughts danced in his mind as he contemplated the significance of this strange scene.

*Sigh*

With a gentle transition, Ash shifted his conscious from the captivating wintry mindscape back to the outside world.

As he opened his eyes, Ash found himself seated in the centre of the cultivation room. He observed that the mat he was cultivating on had signs of icy coating.

He took a moment to ground himself, allowing his senses to expand beyond to what it couldn't before.

"Awesome!" Ash rubbed his hand gleefully.

"System, please display my status." Ash requested the system.

[Ding]

[Name: Ash

Age: 17

Race: Human

Title: None

Cultivation Realm: Natal Realm (Apex Points - 23)

Energy Points: 414/2600

Bloodline: None

Physique: Heavenly Frost Physique

Element Affinities: None

Weapon: Eternal Frozen Scythe (???)

Passive Skills: Heavenly Ice Body (1st Level), Heavenly Hailstorm (1st Level), Heavenly Frost Veins, Heavenly Ice Laws (Locked)

Skills: Hail Strike, Mirage Flow (1st Stage), Winter's Reap]

-Back in Bryan's cultivation room-

"System." Bryan spoke, his voice filled with a sense of curiosity and contemplation, "I have a few questions to ask you." He paused for a moment, allowing his thoughts to settle before continuing.

[Please go ahead.]

Bryan nodded and asked, "Do you have any clue why there was a spear in me?"

[The spear is the result of the intended test made by your Apex Point.]

Although the answer was satisfactory, Bryan found it quite hard to believe that it was simply the result of a test. Bryan couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the spear's presence than a mere test.

"If it was simply a test, then why did the spear appear in my mindscape? I thought it was impossible for other beings or foreign objects to peer or appear into someone's mindscape." Bryan carefully asked his question.

The system responded, shedding light on the matter.

[Due to the nature of the 23rd Apex Point, your mindscape became the designated testing ground. As your Apex Point is intricately linked to the aspects of the soul, your mindscape, where your soul manifestation resides, became the focal point. Additionally, since the Apex Point is an integral part of your body, the usual restrictions imposed by a mindscape are nullified in this case.]

Bryan's eyes shone with understanding, as a part of his lingering doubts slowly cleared up. The complex aspect between his 23rd Apex Point and his mindscape fascinated him.

"Alright, last one."

"Even if I understood the complex intricacies between the 23rd Apex Point and the soul, there's one thing that perplexes me. How was my soul manifestation able to wield the spear? I know for a fact that it felt different from the test, like something pulsated deep within me when I saw my manifestation hold that spear." Bryan frown deepened as he posed his final question.

[…]

[It can be attributed to the cryptic force known as fate.]

"What…" Bryan scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. He wasn't expecting the answer to his final question to be that.

"Fate…?" Bryan drawled as he tried to comprehend what the system had said.

'Fate, the concept is both mysterious and compelling, but it is definitely beyond my scope of understanding.' Bryan was immediately filled with a mixture of wonder and trepidation. The notion that something beyond his control could intertwine with his own path intrigued him and also left an unsettling feeling.

"Hmm…"

Seeking further clarification, he quickly asked the system once again, "System, could you elaborate more on your previous answer?"

[Negative. You are currently not strong enough.]

The system's response, however, was concise and disheartening.

Bryan's face fell slightly, realizing that in the end, it was again up to strength and power.

"Well…" Bryan shook his head, and a small smile plastered on his face.

"Only the 24th Apex Point is left now!"