Kirish walked through the neon-lit streets of the city, the cool night air hitting his face. Despite the successful 40,000 W
transaction sitting in his digital wallet, his instincts were screaming.
He knew that in a world like Blue Orbit, money and power never came without a tail.
'System, check the surrounding 500 meters. Is anyone tracking my signal?'
["Scanning... No physical tail detected. However, your digital footprint was pinged by a Level-3 Encrypted Node three minutes ago. Someone is digging, Owner."]
Kirish's eyes narrowed. 'Priyanka.' He didn't blame her. In her position,
it would be foolish not to verify the identity of a mysterious master who appeared out of nowhere with an "Original" martial art.
But he had to ensure that what she found was exactly what he wanted her to see.
He returned to his small apartment, the silence of the room a stark contrast to the buzzing energy of the Martial Hall.
He didn't turn on the lights. Instead, he sat by the window, watching the gargantuan Blue Planet in the sky.
It looked like a silent, frozen god watching over the world.
'System, if a high-level hacker like Ruan tries to access my past, what will they find?'
["They will find the records of the 'Original' Kirish—a mediocre student with a low Qi rating and a tragic background. However, if they dig into your recent 'System' transactions, they will find nothing. I have redirected all outgoing signals through the Void Protocol. To the world, your money is appearing from untraceable overseas dividends."]
"Good," Kirish whispered. "Let them chase a ghost."
The next morning, Kirish woke up at 6:00 AM. His body felt lighter, more responsive. The 1,800 Qi rating was finally beginning to settle into his bone marrow.
He decided it was time to test his 'Magician' potential. He couldn't rely on the 'Light Axe' forever; in this world, those who could command the elements were the true apex predators.
He opened the System Shop.
"I need a basic elemental affinity test. And don't give me the cheap one that explodes."
["Hmph. For 5,000 W, I can provide the 'Primordial Affinity Sphere.' It won't explode, and it will reveal your hidden potential for all seven elements."]
Kirish gritted his teeth as the money was deducted. A small, obsidian-colored orb appeared in his hand. It felt ice-cold, vibrating with a frequency that made his teeth ache.
He gripped the sphere tight, channeling a thread of his blue Qi into it.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the room was flooded with a blinding light. The orb didn't just change color; it began to cycle through them with violent speed.
Red for Fire.
Brown for Earth.
Green for Wind.
Blue for Water.
But then, the colors merged, turning into a terrifying, abyssal Violet.
["WARNING: Rare Affinity Detected. Lightning... and a secondary trace of 'Void' element. Owner, your luck is truly disgusting. The Void element hasn't been seen in the Alif region for three centuries."]
Kirish stared at his hands. Violet sparks danced between his fingertips, crackling with a hunger that felt familiar. It was the same hunger his 'Blue Star' orbit possessed.
Suddenly, his wrist-device chimed. It was a message from Priyanka.
"Master, I've practiced the twelve steps all night. I think I've hit a wall. Can we meet two hours early at the Arena? I'm willing to pay double for the extra time."
Kirish smirked. The 'Greedy System' wasn't the only one who knew how to make a profit.
"Early sessions are 6,000 W per hour,"
he typed back.
"See you in thirty minutes."
As he left his apartment, he didn't notice a small, metallic drone—no larger than a fly—perched on the edge of the roof across the street.
Thousands of miles away, in a dark room filled with glowing monitors, Ruan leaned forward, his eyes reflecting the violet sparks captured on the drone's feed.
"Found you, little ghost," Ruan whispered, a manic grin spreading across his face.
"Lightning and Void... you're not just a martial artist. You're a jackpot."
The hunt was no longer just about a sister's curiosity. It was now a game of high-stakes espionage.
[To Be Continued...]
World-Building Note: The Elemental Tiers
Common: Fire, Earth, Wind, Water.
Rare: Ice, Nature, Metal.
Legendary: Lightning, Light, Shadow.
Mythical: Void, Chaos, Time.
Kirish has just unlocked a Mythic
al-tier affinity. How will he hide this power from the world while teaching a high-profile student like Priyanka?