DING!
Alex was overwhelmed the moment he heard the sound; a flood of joy and hope filled him, renewing his faith in the future. No, it wasn't the voice of a famous poet reciting a verse, nor the broadcast of a top-tier performer in the cultivation industry. What stirred him so deeply... was simply a robotic ding.
"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! Thank you, God, thank you a thousand times! Finally—I can hear it! I can actually hear it!" Alex screamed in his mind. "But wait, if I can hear it... then where the hell is the rest of it? Was that it?" Just as he tried to grasp the complexity of what was happening, the voice that followed only confused him further.
"Ding! The system has detected emotional instability in the host. The host may ask the panel any desired questions. Maxiona Systems is always kind and reliable for its users :)"
Hearing that, Alex took a deep breath and tried to calm himself."You can call me Alex, no need to be formal. Now, can you please explain who you are and why I'm able to hear you?"
"Of course, Host. As you wish. While I do not possess a name per se, I am delighted to inform you that I am the latest model system from the Maxiona System Store. As for why I am here—congratulations! Your universe was randomly selected in the Millennial Cosmic Draw, held once every thousand years. Four systems were then randomly distributed across it. I am System 003, and I shall serve you until death... or eternity, sir."
Upon hearing this, all Alex could do was wonder if he had completely lost it. No treasure in the world had ever gifted him the ability to hear, and now, out of nowhere, all this was happening. He was in shock."Okay... then what exactly can you do?" he asked. Still, even asking the question felt unnecessary—Alex had already grown attached to the thing that gave him hearing. For someone who had lived his entire life without the pleasure of sound, this was a gift even greater than limitless power.
"Host, you may access my functions through the User Panel."
Hearing that, Alex immediately spoke internally with the same robotic tone,"User Panel."
USER PANEL
NAME: Alex Aliostar
AGE: 13
PHYSIQUE (strength, agility, endurance...): 10 (10 is the average human limit)
MIND (mental strength, spiritual endurance...): 10 (10 is the average human limit)
ESSENCE: 0 (0 is the average human limit)
CULTIVATION: -
TECHNIQUES: Ball Crusher
SPELLS: -
AFFINITIES: Sound (80%), Shadow (65%)
BLOODLINE: Lineage of the Sound God, Lineage of the Shadow Sorcerer
BODY: -
ATTRIBUTE POINTS: 5SKILL POINTS: 0
Seeing the panel, Alex let out a stunned sigh."What the hell? What's this bloodline nonsense? And what's with the 'body' and everything else?"
His reaction to the panel was pure astonishment. Especially when he saw the technique section. That... very peculiar technique intrigued him. Determined to learn more, he reached out and tapped on "Ball Crusher" on the semi-transparent screen.
TECHNIQUES: Ball CrusherDamn, man! At age six, you proved your unwavering determination to crush balls when you kicked your dad's straight on. The universe took notice, and decided this path was perfect for you. As a result, the system, with the universe's blessing, created this technique just for you.
EFFECT: All attacks to the balls deal 5% more damage.
After reading that, Alex couldn't help but wonder whether the universe itself had balls. If it did, well... maybe being the Ball Crusher was a viable career path after all.
"So... what can I do with attribute points?"
With no obvious way to use them on the panel, Alex asked the system directly."Hey System 003, tell me—what can I do with these?"
"DING! The system regrets to inform the user that he is already at the upper limit of an ordinary human and has not begun any cultivation path. Since essence cannot yet be developed, allocating attribute points may result in existential instability. The system strongly recommends the user begin cultivating either the Ancient Path of Sound or the Path of Shadow Sorcery."
Hearing that, Alex realized that his dream of becoming a musician might be over. But he also understood he couldn't afford to waste this gift. He made up his mind."I guess it's time to give up on being a musician," he thought.
"DING! The system is confused. Why would the host give up the ancient path of sound when his affinity is as high as 80%?"
That made Alex snap. In a burst of rage, he shouted with the robotic voice,"BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE DAMN EARS!"
"DING! The system still struggles to understand. Dozens of cultivation methods from your ancestral path are recorded that do not require ears."
"What the f—what do you mean?! Has this whole ear thing been pointless all along? How?! Why?! I've never heard a single word about this. If my dad had known, he definitely would've told me.HEY SYSTEM, STOP MESSING WITH ME!I'M SERIOUS—ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT EVEN IF I'M DEAF, I CAN STILL WALK THE PATH OF SOUND?"
"DING! Displaying cultivation guide that does not require hearing:
1. ROAR OF THE CELESTIAL DRAGON – The user roars with vocal cords that thicken and grow stronger with each level. This technique does not seek elegance or clarity; it embodies infinite chaos.
2. ANCIENT WAVEFORM BODY – The user exposes themselves to increasingly intense soundwaves at each level, molding their body toward untouchability. Shatter planets with a punch; shatter galaxies with its echo....
.
.
67. TYRANT OF THE DOMINANT SOUND – Don't speak. Don't listen. Just play. Play every sound—joy, sorrow, anger, grief—steal every vibration in existence.**
Tears streamed down Alex's face as an oversized grin broke across it. He couldn't hold it back. He began to cry—loud, messy, joyful sobs. That night, the servants passing by the hallway sighed in sympathy at the sound of someone crying for hours. They had no idea that inside that room, snot streaming from his nose and bouncing in pure excitement, the journey of the so-called Deaf Musician had just begun.
New dreams began to spin in Alex's mind, born from the power of hearing itself."Maybe this... is my beginning," he thought."Walking the ancient path of sound—maybe it's not just a path... but a chance to chase my dreams."
He no longer dreamed only of becoming a musician. Now, he felt the thrill of discovering the true power of sound. The future was uncertain—but this time, a light of hope burned in his heart.