The rising sun illuminated a world where the social order had already collapsed, leaving only the living dead called zombies, who began to decay naturally as time passed.
Their skin peeled, rotting flesh decomposed, and their sluggish movements were increasingly hindered by natural decomposition, making them less threatening to the agile.
Only remnants of human civilization would wear out and deteriorate without regular human maintenance—buildings cracked, streets overgrown with wild grass, and rusted vehicles becoming monuments to silent destruction.
Azlan didn't know if there were any humans besides himself still alive. So far, he had tried to find survivors in Suginami District, Tokyo, Japan.
However, even through the airways thanks to his Longinus-class Sacred Gear, Divine Dividing, he only found a teenager named Aki Tomoya, who provided no clues beyond his tragic death.
After that, he decided to let everything run its natural course. Azlan was no longer obsessed with finding other humans. Albion's presence within his soul had become an antidote to the loneliness that haunted him. He wouldn't go insane; he had a purpose, a mission to become strong.
"Huuu... I'm ready."
On the rooftop of the convenience store that had become his base, Azlan sat cross-legged in a meditation position. He wore his simple athletic suit, mentally and physically prepared to receive the knowledge inheritance Albion had promised: Senjutsu.
[During the information transmission process, it will cause discomfort such as dizziness and headaches. Prepare yourself, Azlan.]
Albion's warning echoed in his mind, serious and full of attention.
"A person who cannot sacrifice anything will ultimately gain nothing. I've understood this principle for a long time." Azlan answered firmly, his eyes tightly closed. "As long as this pain gives me a path to greater strength, it's worth it!"
[Hahahaha... Good, Good, Good! This is your path to supremacy!]
Laughing with satisfaction at his host's answer, Albion immediately sent knowledge directly into Azlan's brain, a flow of information like an unstoppable flood.
As mentioned before, Albion always saw the memories of the humans who became his hosts, including their lifetime of knowledge. To him, that knowledge was useless. After all, he was already dead with only his soul remaining, trapped in a Sacred Gear without physical needs.
But for Azlan, who had no systematic training methods, this was an infinite treasure trove.
"Ngh..."
Albion's warning was no joke—Azlan truly felt pain in his head as if undergoing medical surgery without anesthesia.
Information about Senjutsu—how to sense natural energy, channel it through chakras, and unite it with body energy—flooded his mind like hot needles piercing every cell.
His body trembled violently, his forehead dripped with sweat, his breathing unstable like someone running out of air. However, Azlan didn't let a groan of pain escape from his lips that he bit until they bled, his teeth holding back the roar that wanted to come out from between his lips.
He endured all the pain beyond the upper limits of human tolerance in silence. His back remained straight, his resolve unwavering. Azlan had experienced deeper pain—losing family, gunshot wounds, starvation—and this was the price to pay for power.
[Admirable determination. You will surely become a great person, Azlan. I believe it.]
Albion's praise sounded distant, like an echo from the end of a long tunnel. Azlan didn't hear it clearly; his entire being was focused on withstanding the storm in his head and trying to comprehend a fragment of the ocean of knowledge being transferred.
About five minutes that felt like an eternity, the flood of information finally stopped.
"Haah... Is it... finished...?"
Azlan's voice was weak and hoarse. His body went limp, lying weakly on the cold concrete. He felt empty, as if all his energy had been drained for that process.
[Rest. It's time to digest all the Senjutsu knowledge.]
Albion suggested gently, knowing full well the burden his host had just borne.
"..."
Azlan didn't even have the energy to answer. His eyes closed, his chest rising and falling irregularly.
(So this is Senjutsu, huh? As expected from China with its 5000-year history. Their cultural heritage is truly profound.)
His mind was filled with admiration as he digested the basic introduction to Senjutsu that had just been transferred into his mind. The knowledge felt vast and deep, rooted in complex ancient philosophy.
Senjutsu was merely a general Japanese term used to refer to the art that supposedly could guide and perfect someone into becoming a Xian (Sage), a legendary being like fairies and genies in Asian myths who were immortal and possessed extraordinary supernatural powers.
Although the validity of methods to truly achieve Xian status was still debated, the origins of Senjutsu were undeniably closely tied to Chinese Taoism and Tai Chi Chuan, an art focused on harmony with nature and the flow of universal energy.
What distinguished Senjutsu from Western magic or occultism was its emphasis on Ki—the intrinsic life energy that flowed within every living being.
Senjutsu wasn't about manipulating external elements, but about mastering the flow of this Ki within oneself and in one's surroundings. A practitioner could use Ki to strengthen their body internally and externally, or even influence the life around them, such as making plants bloom or wither with a touch of energy.
(A Sage... Can I reach that realm someday?)
Azlan's thoughts drifted to that possibility. Suddenly, his resolve hardened.
(No! It's not a question of whether I can or not, but I must!)
He could see Senjutsu's great potential based on just its brief introduction alone.
He yearned to become a Sage!
This was no longer just about survival; this was an ambition to transcend limits, to become something greater than a fragile ordinary human.
Sages were a special and rare group of humans, referring to those who had achieved a constitution and lifespan equal to supernatural beings through hard practice and training based on their mastery of Ki.
The knowledge explained that Sages were an extremely rare and special group of humans. They were individuals who, through hard practice and discipline in mastering Ki, had achieved a physical constitution and longevity equivalent to supernatural beings.
Those who succeeded in perfecting this teaching would experience "ascension" transcending the limits of ordinary humans and reaching an existence similar to, yet different from, Gods or Buddhas.
The results were extraordinary: a Sage possessed physical abilities far beyond most supernatural beings. They could survive very long without basic needs like eating, sleeping, or even breathing, and became nearly immune to natural elements.
Most Sages mastered unique abilities like teleportation and flight—something very appealing to Azlan. Even an imperfect or inexperienced Sage was said to be as strong as a Satan-class Devil (Devil King), while the strongest and most perfect were considered messengers of the Gods themselves.
The knowledge even mentioned the pinnacle of human achievement in Senjutsu: between the Tang and Song Dynasties, eight of the strongest Sages were known as the Eight Gods, who acted as representatives of the Chinese Gods. Their power and condition were said to become increasingly solid as time went on.
In Azlan's heart, a new determination formed: he would master Senjutsu. He would walk this path, no matter how difficult, to become a Sage.
This would be his own power, the pillar that would support him toward the supremacy he craved!