Chapter Two: The Key to Inheritance
The flames ignited the Ghost Tower immediately. Chu Fan snapped back to his senses at the sound of wailing, realizing that fire was raging everywhere around him. Yet, engulfed in this sea of flames, he felt no discomfort; instead, he could distinctly sense the strength within his body draining away at a terrifying speed.
The Grade One Cursed Spirit was reduced to ashes beneath the ferocious blaze.
[You have slain the Grade One Cursed Spirit, the Ghostly Maiden. You are rewarded with one white chest, one blue chest, and one gold chest. Rewards have been automatically deposited into your inventory.]
[For successfully killing the Grade One Cursed Spirit, the Ghostly Maiden, your Devourer talent has been triggered. You gain one point of Agility.]
[With the disappearance of the Cursed Spirit within the Ghost Tower, you have completed the main quest: Ghost Tower Trial.]
[World Difficulty: lv.3. Main Quest Difficulty: lv.10 (Hell). Ghost Tower Trial completed successfully.]
[Your Chosen One status is now officially unlocked. Chosen One missions will be available starting in the next world.]
[The main quest is complete. You will leave this world and return to the Chosen Paradise in ten seconds. Please prepare.]
The wooden tower began to collapse. Chu Fan could hear anxious voices outside, frantically calling for help to put out the fire.
Then, his consciousness faded, and his figure left this world.
※※※※※※
When Chu Fan opened his eyes again, he found himself in a place filled with light—nothing but empty, radiant space, devoid of any furnishings.
[Teleportation complete. The Chosen One has returned to their exclusive room.]
[This room is independent and secure. No one may enter without the Chosen One’s permission.]
[The Chosen One has successfully returned to the Chosen Paradise. Task rewards are being calculated.]
Derivative World: Jujutsu Kaisen, World Level: LV.3
Ghost Tower Trial Difficulty: lv.10 (Hell)
World Fluctuation Rate: 1%
Number of Completed Missions: 1 (Ghost Tower Trial)
As the quest difficulty exceeded your Chosen One level of LV.9 and reached Hell difficulty, rewards are tripled.
World fluctuation rate recalibrating...
World recalibration complete. Distributing rewards.
Rewards received: 6 attribute points, 15,000 Chosen Coins (threefold the original reward).
Comprehensive Rating: A+ (Because the Chosen One relied solely on personal strength and did not seek aid from natives of this world, single-handedly slaying the Ghostly Maiden, the rating is increased from A to A+.)
Chosen One level +2, upgraded to lv.3 (Grading system ranges from F- to SS+. Comprehensive rating is calculated based on total world fluctuation rate, mission count, and difficulty.)
Chosen One’s Trial complete. Reward: Legacy Key.
“May I ask a question? What exactly is a Chosen One, and why did you send me into that derivative world?” Chu Fan knew he now had three chests in his inventory, but was in no rush to open them. Instead, he voiced his query.
He remembered only having breakfast when, for no apparent reason, a massive truck hit him and left him on the brink of death. In his fading consciousness, the Chosen Paradise detected his Chosen One talent.
Then, he was forcibly bound, awakened, and teleported into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, only to be assigned a mission so deadly it could be called a certain-death Hell difficulty quest.
Though the task was hellish, Chu Fan, granted a second chance at life, naturally wanted to struggle for survival and see if he might seize some opportunity.
But while hope was beautiful, reality proved cruel. The resting place of a Grade One Cursed Spirit was far beyond what someone of ordinary physique could handle.
Had it not been for the sudden appearance of the Fate System, giving him a last-minute lifeline, he would have perished twice within those three days.
Thus, Chu Fan desperately wished to understand what the Chosen One truly meant.
[As Chosen One No. 10246 has been detected to possess the Chosen One talent, you were thus healed and sent to undergo the trial.]
[The Chosen One is an identity that can only be officially unlocked after completing the trial.]
[Once your status is unlocked, besides main quests, you will also receive Chosen One missions and designated Hunt missions, which distinguishes you from Fated Ones.]
Hearing this answer, Chu Fan realized that the so-called Ghost Tower Trial was, in truth, a Chosen One’s trial. There must be others like him, but considering the difficulty of the trial he faced, their numbers could not be great.
“So what is the world fluctuation rate?” Chu Fan pondered and asked again. He’d heard of world fluctuation and recalibration but didn’t understand their meaning.
[Insufficient permission for Chosen One No. 10246 at your current level. Access denied.]
The Chosen Paradise replied promptly and without mercy.
Chu Fan realized that many of his questions about the Chosen Paradise would remain unanswered for now, as he clearly lacked the authority to know more.
So, he changed tack, asking a question the Chosen Paradise was likely to answer.
“One last question, then: what is the Legacy Key?”
After all, this Legacy Key was a reward from the Chosen Paradise; surely, it would at least explain its use.
[The Legacy Key will automatically match you with a legacy highly compatible with your talent. Simply wield the Legacy Key to activate your legacy.]
This time, the Chosen Paradise did provide an answer.
Chu Fan instantly understood—this was essentially a class change. He took out the Legacy Key.
The key emitted a purple glow.
Chu Fan’s eyes grew empty as he sat there in a trance.
His consciousness entered a vast, boundless grand hall. Before him stood eight monumental statues, awe-inspiring and grand.
Some statues depicted human forms, some demonic, some angelic, others the graceful silhouettes of women, and still others were bizarre, terrifying stone figures.
The entire hall exuded a solemn majesty that made Chu Fan unwittingly tense.
“Inheritor, there is no need for fear, nor any need for anxiety.”
A voice, melodious as an angelic chorus, rang out, soothing Chu Fan’s nerves like a gentle breeze warming the world.
The voice emanated from the tall, elegant female statue.
As the voice spoke, the other statues seemed to awaken in turn.
Though there were only eight statues, Chu Fan felt at least five of them scrutinizing him.
“Talent aligned. Our legacy can continue.”
“Another suitable inheritor has arrived.”
“Whether to harmonize or to overturn the rules is up to you.”
“Overcome all obstacles and adversaries—meet us at the summit.”
“Inheritor, remember our shared title: Avatar of the Ultimate.”
Each statue’s voice echoed throughout the great hall. With the final words, Chu Fan felt himself acknowledged. All eight statues opened their eyes simultaneously.
A wild, overwhelming energy surged into his body, accompanied by excruciating pain, as though his entire being was being torn apart.
Chu Fan’s consciousness blurred as he returned to his private room in the Chosen Paradise.
[Detected: Chosen One’s vital signs are about to experience severe anomalies. Proceed with bodily repair?]
“Rep...pair...” Chu Fan, gritting his teeth against the searing agony and dizziness, managed to utter the slurred command.
With his answer, a white glow enveloped his body.
A sense of warmth dispelled the pain, leaving him suffused with comfort. His mind relaxed, and sleep beckoned.
But in the next instant, another wave of agony wracked his body, jolting him awake.
His Chosen Coins were draining rapidly, streaming away at a rate of five hundred per second.
“Ugh—ah...!”
His anguished cries of pain echoed through the entire exclusive chamber.
The torment lasted a full fifteen seconds.
When it finally faded, Chu Fan collapsed on the floor, his body drenched in cold sweat as though he’d been submerged in water.
During the Ghost Tower Trial, his nerves had been stretched taut.
Now, having endured pain that felt like dancing on the edge of death every second, his spirit was utterly exhausted.
Once the pain vanished, Chu Fan’s mind completely relaxed, and he drifted into sleep.