In his past life, David's talent was above average, a spark of potential that never fully ignited. His luck, however, was a relentless curse, dragging him through a life of unfulfilled promise.
Yet there was a reason he endured so long, outlasting many who shone brighter. Beyond his cautious nature, a hidden gift emerged in his later years: his mental power.
Among fighters, a rare breed existed—spiritual fighters, masters of mind power.
This force, often called telekinesis, stemmed from an exceptionally developed brain. In the old calendar, such individuals were labeled supernatural, their abilities raw and untamed, lacking a system to harness their potential. They were dismissed as novelties, their gifts wasted.
It wasn't until the Great Shift that mental power was refined, evolving into a formidable force among fighters. Mind power was versatile, capable of bending metal spoons, guiding blades through the air, or shifting objects with a thought.
For trained fighters, it was a weapon, amplifying combat prowess with near-miraculous effects.
David was a spiritual fighter, though his mental power was modest and deeply concealed. Only after repeated trials in his past life did he awaken to its presence, a revelation that came too late to redefine his path. Even with this discovery, his strength remained limited, unable to spark the transformation he craved.
Now, reborn, David knew his gift from the start. He could wield it deliberately, honing it to sharpen his neural response—a key advantage that set spiritual fighters apart from ordinary fighters. Developing mental power early was critical; the sooner it was cultivated, the greater its future potential. At just under seventeen, on the cusp of high school graduation, David stood at the perfect moment to unlock this power.
If he succeeded, he could rise to become a formidable spiritual fighter.
Actively developing mental power was perilous for most. Without confirmed ability, the attempt carried a 99% chance of mental collapse, turning the reckless into fools.
But David was certain of his gift, granting him the confidence to proceed. The process required specific tools, available for purchase online.
Though his family scraped by, David had a computer at home, a clunky relic reserved for internet access.
Its startup was agonizingly slow, a product of the old calendar's outdated technology that grated on his nerves, accustomed as he was to the advancements of his later years.
Once it hummed to life, David sifted through memories, fumbling through several attempts to recall his old account. The computers in Frosthaven connected only to the northern LAN.
After the Great Shift, most satellites had crumbled into cosmic dust, leaving global communication to fighter forums. Ordinary citizens relied on signal towers within the city, linking to Frosthaven's local network.
Frosthaven housed 30 million souls, 20 million in the main city and 3 million in each of three satellite cities.
Eight to ten million were active online, each with a unique, fraud-proof account, enforced by the city's stringent laws. Few dared to challenge the system.
David's screen name was simply his own—David Holt. Logging in, he checked his funds: 5,500 yuan, a small fortune amassed mostly from scholarships.
Without it, his family's meager means would have left him stranded, rebirth or not. This money was his lifeline, a chance to seize his destiny.
He opened an online marketplace, a bustling hub where deals often yielded surprises. His goal was clear: find a mental power potion, essential for developing his abilities.
Such potions were rare, akin to the genetic potions required to become a fighter. Officially, they cost 7 to 8 million Dollars; even on the black market, they demanded at least 5 million—far beyond David's reach. His 5,500 Dollars was a drop in the bucket.
But a memory flickered, a fleeting chance from his past life. On the eve of the high school exam, a forum post had caused a stir.
A wealthy man, smitten with a woman, bought a mental potion for her, only to learn she didn't need it.
Spurned, he auctioned the 5-million-Dollars potion for a mere 100 Dollars, a dramatic gesture to prove his devotion, complete with screenshots. The post sparked heated debate—some mocked his foolishness, others envied the buyer who snagged a fortune for pennies.
Uncertain if the tale was true, David resolved to test his luck, to grasp this slim opportunity. His fingers flew across the keyboard, navigating the North Mall's shops and refreshing forum posts with relentless focus.
If his memory held, the potion post appeared today, though the exact time eluded him.
Other posts pulled at his attention, stirring long-buried memories. A red-eyed eagle with a crown of gold, massive as a fighter jet, perched atop Frosthaven's walls. A colossal bear—servant of a beast king—sighted near a satellite city in the northwest. Reports of Ironclad Academy fighters strong-arming local vendors. River monsters wreaking havoc, shattering a bridge along the main waterway.
Each post tugged at him, grounding him in this era, a world he knew intimately. With these memories, he could carve a path to greatness.
"David, come eat soon," Mary's voice called from the living room, warm and familiar.
He set the computer aside and joined his parents.
The meal was simple—stewed fish, buns, soy milk—but to David, it was a treasure.
Sitting with his parents, their faces etched with quiet hope, filled him with purpose.
Their surprise at his maturity, his ease in conversation, sparked pride in their eyes, fueling their dreams for his future.
After dinner, he returned to his room, heart pounding with urgency.
He couldn't afford to miss the post during that brief pause. Sitting down, he refreshed the forum three times, his breath catching as a new post appeared.
"My Goddess I gave you this potion. If you weren't someone special, I would've given it to someone else who truly needed it. It's worth millions, but I gave it to you just to see you smile."
The signature: Meteor Shower.
"Damn it! I know this guy!" David muttered, a spark of recognition flaring.
No one else might know Meteor Shower, but David did. It was Alex Reed, his classmate, his rival.