Programmer Within a Cultivation World

Time seemed to stop. 

Abel's body went completely still. 

The shift was so sudden, so absolute, that even he himself had no idea what had just happened. 

Then, above his head— 

Something began to form.

As a ripple on a quiet lake, an uncanny power massed above him, an invisible force spinning itself into being. Flickers of shimmering blue filaments curled and wrapped, twisting lazily together like strands of silk drawn by an unseen hand.

The light gathered speed, coalescing into a misty, throbbing sphere. A gentle hum reverberated through the air, growing louder by the second—

Until—

*BANG!*

With the shattering of a sound barrier, the sphere burst. A shockwave burst outward, launching innumerable glittering particles into the air like floating fireflies.

The particles suspended mid-air, locked in place as if waiting for an order. Then, with macabre accuracy, they quivered—

Over Abel's still body, a new form began to take shape.

A ring.

It revolved slowly, its surface etched with strange symbols—magical writing that vibrated with a power that was not understood. And then, in an instant—

The ring whirled out of control.

The suspended particles, seeming to obey some intangible command, shook with such intense violence before being sucked in. Like a vacuum cleaner, the ring savaged them, drawing the last shred of blue light into itself.

As it digested the particles, its originally-misty form turned lustrous. The inscriptions upon it became distinct, their import a mystery but conveying an absolute power.

Then—

The ring dropped slowly, drifting just below the level of Abel's head.

Suddenly, it wrapped itself around him.

A clear covering was formed, encompassing him fully—

Like an egg, set to burst.".

Inside the shining cocoon, the symbols and letters lived, shifting and flowing like living body paint. They flowed along the face of the barrier, as if with their own will.

And then—

They transformed.

The symbols began to contort, changing into something else.

Chains.

They burst forth like iron cuffs, chaining Abel inside the see-through shell.

Yet, they did not harm him. 

The ghostly chains passed through his body, wrapping around his very soul, locking him in place like a prisoner within an ethereal iron maiden. 

Then— 

The inscriptions fused. 

The chaotic markings, wild and untamed, slowly converged— 

Merging into something grand. 

Something powerful. 

A shape took form. 

A peacock.

Its tail unfurled, huge and proud, with an aura of majesty. But unlike a normal peacock, it did not have the rich spectrum of colors.

It was blue.

The first feathers shone with brilliant light, but the others were mere dead shadows—

Waiting.

Incomplete.

Then, as if the ritual had reached its peak, the wall cracked.

A silent shockwave rippled outward, unseen yet felt. 

The tremor spread far, its reach subtle but significant. 

To most, it was nothing. A whisper in the wind. 

But to a select few— 

It was an omen. 

### ***Far Away, in a Frozen Wasteland…*** 

No snow fell here. No trees grew. 

Only ice.

A cold, dead tundra, immense and empty, stretching on endlessly like a cold desert.

In the depths of the high, icy mountains, something began to move.

A whisper, low but filled with mirth.

"After all this time… you finally think about making the world interesting again."

### ***Back in the Cave…***

Abel didn't move.

Utterly unaware.

Nothing had happened, as far as he knew.

The last he had remembered was indulging in the fruit, his brain briefly drenched in the taste. 

And now—

It was missing. 

Sticking out his tongue to wipe his lips into contentment, he yawned sleepily. 

"That was wonderful."

Becoming fresh, he was ready to take leave of the cave.

He headed for the exit when suddenly a queer feeling engulfed him. 

His brows contracted.

"What…? What happened to my body?"

He was supposed to be weak. Limp. Barely able to stand. 

Yet now— 

He walked effortlessly, as if nothing had ever been wrong. 

His strength had returned. 

His wounds had vanished. 

Abel's eyes widened. 

"Could it be… was that fruit a mythical treasure?"

A grin stretched across his face. 

Then—

He laughed. 

Soft at first. 

Then louder. 

And louder. 

"Hahaha…" 

"Haha…!" 

"HAHAHAHA!"

The sheer absurdity of his luck sent him into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He had stumbled upon something miraculous, something that not only healed him but restored his energy completely. 

"I can't believe it! Hah! Maybe my fate isn't so—" 

*ROOOAAARRR!*

Abel's laughter died in his throat. 

His grin froze. 

His face paled. 

The deep, guttural roar echoed through the forest, shaking the very ground beneath his feet. 

Abel's expression twisted. 

"Shit. I messed up." 

His instincts screamed at him. 

A shadow loomed. 

Then— 

*THUD. THUD. THUD.* 

The ground trembled as something massive emerged from the trees.

A beast. 

Towering. 

Menacing. 

Its body was the size of a bear, its fur black as smoke, streaked with glowing blue veins that pulsed with crackling energy. Twin horns jutted from its skull, arcs of lightning dancing between them. 

Its eyes— 

They blazed gold. 

Piercing. 

Predatory. 

Abel swallowed hard. 

"Is this… karma?"

As the beast let out another deafening roar, Abel barely had time to think. 

It charged. 

The earth cracked beneath its thundering hooves. 

Abel's body tensed. He had no time to hesitate. 

As the monster closed in, he threw himself to the side— 

*BANG!* 

The beast narrowly missed, crashing past him like a rampaging storm. 

But something was wrong.

Abel's vision blurred. His balance wavered. 

Then— 

*Splatter.* 

A mouthful of blood spilled from his lips. 

His breath hitched. 

His knees buckled. 

"Wha… what just happened…?"