Lone Cultivator In Another World

"Please, do try."

"You've called us opportunistic. I can't refute that but let me explain how we came to that decision. You might not know this, but I was out cold for four days after the comet. Fortunately, due to our principal's timely actions, there were no casualties at EIS. I almost became an exception," Michael crossed his legs and leaned back, looking nonchalant.

He continued, "My friends changed the asteroid that was supposed to fall on the birds into the comet without my instructions. They basically saved us time, since I would've told them to do the same."

"So far, Michael, nothing you're saying projects a better image of you."

"That's because I'm not defending myself but explaining our way of thinking. Let me point out there are companies which go to far greater lengths to attract customers. We meant to give our players something they can relate to, nothing more."

"But," Abbie hammered on, "That came at an expense of the people, isn't that right?"

"Yes. Because they bought the game. How else would they play?"

That logic was irrefutable. Abbie coughed to win some time, but Michael already snatched the moment away from her.

"And tell me, what's so wrong about the inspiring message appearing in the game? The birds suffer the same fate as our world – they are hit by the comet. A colossal rock literally collapses on their heads. But, just like us humans, the birds get out from under the rubble. Their revenge isn't fulfilled, but they remain undefeated. Unbroken. Next time, they will be ready."

"Are you saying we should keep on living like before?"

"…No, I think that's impossible. Not because I'm trying to disparage the life-affirming moments our viewers have shared with their families and loved ones. It's because of the comet itself. I'm not gonna lie, my world turned upside down that day. I didn't think something like this was possible. Blacking out, both people and electricity? That's… difficult to come to terms with."

"Then can you tell me, what is the message you tried to put into the game's ending? The way you meant it?"

"That our world is not quite the way we thought," Michael uncrossed his legs and leaned closer to the camera. "Certain things we believed in turned out to be misconceptions. And that's fine. Because now we know more, we will be prepared. We can study this phenomenon, learn from it. In the end, I know humans will rise back from the ashes. We are not so easily beaten down!"

Abbie Thomas regarded the teenager with appreciation. That's how you tell a good story! He didn't fight back against her accusations but brought up counterpoints that shone a new light on his character. He appeared complex and smart. Truly a gifted child!

"Thank you for the clarification, Michael."

"No problem. May I also make an announcement?"

She waved her hand in an inviting gesture, "By all means."

The game designer plastered on a smile, "If what Abbie and I talked about here aroused your interest in the game, I have good news for you. Right at this moment the iOS version is being updated to eliminate a few small hiccups, and we're also uploading an Android version. Doesn't matter what phone you have, it probably supports the game. I encourage you to try it out."

When Michael learned about the interview and when it was supposed to air, he called his friends to invite them to sit in. However, he also discussed the possibility of uploading the updated game on Tuesday morning with Dimitri. With the programmer's OK, Michael used the publicity to appeal to thousands of potential players.

"And, same as before, my YouTube channel North Academy will give away codes that allow you to play the game for free. Last time, it was ten thousand. This time, there will be a hundred thousand codes, and they are released," he made a show of looking at his watch, "right now!"

"You really are opportunistic, Michael!" giggled Ms. Thomas.

"Can't take words out of a song, Abbie."

"Our guest, talented young game designer, Michael North. His popular mobile game Angry Birds is available for download on multiple platforms. Thank you for the interview, Michael."

"My p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e."

Abbie stood up and turned off the camera. But as she reached for it, the cultivator swooped in and snatched it away in one swift motion.

"What are you doing?"

"Let me help you carry it. Come on, Abbie," he collected the tripod and led the way.

The newswoman followed him obediently. But she soon understood he wasn't taking her to the exit. Instead, they entered a computer classroom. There were a few younger children, surfing the Web, gaming, doing research for homework.

Michael raised his voice a little and asked for someone to let him use a computer. After they recognized him, a number of students waved their hands and greeted Michael by name. One 7th-grader jumped up and dragged the cultivator to his desk.

Michael didn't make the connection because at the time he didn't have Glory's memory abilities. They famously worked only on what he encountered after buying them, but he met this boy long before that.

After his exam where Michael ridiculed Kamyshov and Apoll, which played right into their scheme to help Marco Reed enroll, he tried to jump again. Later, Glory hit him in the forehead, he spent an hour in a washroom and then listened in to fellow students who had finished the exam.

"Guys, come on. He did it for all of us, you know? He wanted to do something good, not to attract attention. If you ask me, you should be thanking him." Those words, the only ones spoken with gratitude, came from this small 7th-grader. This was the first time their paths crossed again in months.

With a thank you, Michael sat down and copied the footage onto a flash drive. Abbie stood there helpless, her nostrils flaring.

"Here. I applaud the stunt you pulled, I do. But you chose the wrong target. If what I see in the program is differs from what I have, if you edit it to make me look bad, I'll sue your show and you personally for defamation. Deal?"

Abbie received the footage with a huff and left the room. Michael shook hands with the impressionable younger boy and smirked when he saw the woman come back.

"Help me carry the tripod," she knitted her eyebrows.

"Sure!" as if just remembering to do it, the cultivator eagerly picked up the heavy thing and followed her.

If he judged her character well, she could try to exact petty revenge. The weekend episodes were reserved for heavyweights, and he was a one-hit-wonder in many people's eyes. So, Michael asked Dimitri to prepare the upload for Monday instead of Tuesday just in case.

Later that evening, young cultivator sat in his dorm room and received more and more imaginary boiling water into his body. Pain Tolerance made it easier to keep going for minutes without stopping. After two hours, a warm feeling spread through Michael's limbs as his level increased.

"Host, congratulations on reaching cultivation 1-stage, 9-star."

"Thanks. Open the shop for me, will you?"

Where once was Enhanced Hand-eye Coordination, the symbol of Enhanced Body Coordination was now glowing white. There were also two new abilities: Mental Freshness that promised to eliminate fatigue of the mind and Remembering Dreams. All three were non-upgradable, so Michael spent a few hundred glory points and purchased them all.

A jolt of electricity shocked him awake. All the weariness he saved up by the end of the day disappeared.

"Glory, that's stupid," grumbled Michael.

"Host?"

"Remembering dreams isn't that important to become available on 9-star. I'd make it a package deal with Mind Alarm Clock on level one."

"Usefulness of these abilities is different."

"Yeah? Then what about Mental Freshness? How am I supposed to go to sleep now that I feel like I've woken up a moment ago?" he nagged.

"…"

The cultivator scrolled through all the perks he'd purchased. 'There, [Mind Lullaby. Intermediate mental technique. Ability to fall asleep effortlessly.] Here goes nothing.'

He yawned.

'Good, it works. Let's see if I can remember my dreams tomorrow. Last thing, Glory, status.'

[Name: Michael North (Mikhail Severniy)]

[Age: 34 (14)]

[Cultivation: 1-stage, 9-star]

[Mental Power: 297]

[Life Force: 52]

[Energy Field (locked)]

[True Soul (locked)]

Michael smiled at his increased Mental Power and Life Force and closed his eyes. Tomorrow he would visit the hospital again with Anna and see if her mother's condition could be improved.

Michael's hundredth day in this new world ended just like that.

.