Chakra

Black Lands

William stood alone in the open clearing, the sprawling Ubuyashiki mansion barely visible in the distance.

He took a deep breath, crouching down to dig a shallow hole in the soft soil. Carefully, he placed a small, mysterious white seed inside and covered it with dirt.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a needle, pricking his finger as he muttered to himself, "Well, here goes nothing."

A single drop of blood fell, sinking into the soil where the seed lay buried. William straightened, waiting expectantly. Seconds ticked by, and he frowned in disappointment as nothing happened.

"...What now?" he muttered.

Rumble!!

Suddenly, the ground beneath him shuddered. He staggered backward as a tremor rippled through the earth, and small sprouts began emerging from the soil. His eyes widened as he recalled the system's warning: [Run away swiftly as if your life depends on it]

Without a second thought, William turned and sprinted, pouring every ounce of strength into his legs, using the concentration breathing technique to propel himself faster. The tremors grew in intensity behind him, and he didn't dare look back until they finally ceased.

Breathless, William slowed to a halt and turned, eyes widening in astonishment. "What the..."

In front of him towered an enormous tree, its branches stretching high above the surrounding landscape. Its sheer size was awe-inspiring, and he could almost believe he was looking at Yggdrasil, the mythical World Tree. But what captivated him even more were its blossoms—a sea of deep purple petals, like a massive wisteria, gently swaying in the breeze.

"...What the in the actual fuck," he whispered, awestruck.

As William look at the towering Wisteria God Tree, a refreshing energy emanated from it, filling the air with a new, invigorating essence. Drawn by the pull of this strange energy, he took a step forward and placed his hand on the tree's bark. Instantly, a translucent panel appeared before him:

[The Wisteria God Tree has released chakra energy into this world. Due to the host's origins from Earth, Qi cannot be utilized, but chakra energy is compatible. To train it, please utilize the Chakra Activation Technique.]

William's eyes lit up as he read the message, a grin spreading across his face. So this was his path to power—a cultivation method tailored to him but grounded in chakra, not Qi. He pulled up more details on the technique with a thought, and a new panel appeared:

[Chakra Activation Technique]

[Chakra activation aims to awaken and harmonize the seven main energy centers, known as chakras, located along the spine. These chakras govern various aspects of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The goal of chakra activation is to unblock and align these energy points, allowing energy to flow freely and fostering a harmonious synergy between mind, body, and spirit. This process will enable the user to access extraordinary abilities.]

[The seven major chakras are the Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown.]

Excitement surged within him as he absorbed the technique's explanation. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged near the tree, forming a meditative posture. His thumb and index fingers touched as he closed his eyes, allowing his breathing to deepen, steady, and align with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Visualize the chakra flowing through my spine… feel the energy awakening."

He took a deep breath, concentrating as he feels a tingling sensation.

"Start at the soles of my feet," he whispered. "Imagine the chakra rising, like a warm spring. Guide it upward, through the spine."

Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he focused, willing the energy to travel upward.

"Now… spread the energy throughout my body. Open the Muladhara, the Root Chakra, and let it take root to stabilize the balance and grounding…"

A warm, grounding sensation surged through him as he exhaled slowly, feeling the new, foreign energy settle into his body like a steady heartbeat. It was unlike anything he'd felt before—powerful yet calming, a pulse of raw potential that seemed to bring every cell in his body to life.

When he opened his eyes, his vision was sharper, his senses heightened, and his body felt lighter, bursting with a fresh, energized strength. Glancing around, he noticed the dark sky and the first hints of dawn peeking over the horizon.

"No way… did I meditate all night?" he murmured, blinking in disbelief as the first rays of sunlight crept into the clearing. "It felt like just a few minutes…"

The wisteria tree, a silent witness to his awakening, seemed to shimmer with a gentle light, as if congratulating him on his first step into cultivating.