Chapter 3: The First Civilization and the Menu Selection

1. The Boundary of Ghost Valley

Mu Jin leaped across the rugged terrain of the Ghost Valley. Each time his feet touched the ground, massive boulders shattered like thin parchment, exploding into clouds of grey dust.

The predators hiding behind the ancient trees—beasts that had ruled these woods for decades—screamed in primal terror. They didn't see a boy; they felt the approach of an apex existence that defied the laws of nature.

It was a primitive awe, a biological submission to a higher power.

[Alert: Elimination of the region's top predator, 'Blood Demon Spirit,' confirmed.] [Minerva: The ecological balance is collapsing at an accelerated rate.]

“I don’t care,” Mu Jin replied, his voice as cold as a frozen blade. “They were the ones who tried to kill me first. I simply balanced the debt.”

To his eyes, the world was no longer divided into friends or foes. Everything was either an 'Energy Source' or 'Nutritional Intake.'

His stomach, which had been starving for a decade in a dark cell, screamed with a renewed fury. The single piece of jerky he had scavenged from the cliff was not nearly enough to fill the void within this monstrous new body.

[Hunger level: 98.7%.] [Warning: Cognitive stability is expected to decrease rapidly.] [Minerva: 12 minutes until forced Predation Mode due to survival instinct.]

“Hold it in,” Mu Jin hissed, clenching his jaw so hard it creaked. “We are almost at the settlement.”

The memory of consuming the energy of the Murim warriors—that horrific yet ecstatic sensation—endeavoring to overrule his logic. It was a taboo he had to suppress to maintain his identity as a human.

2. The Administrator’s Solitude

Standing at the peak of the mountain range, Mu Jin gazed into the distance. Thousands of blue data points flowed across his retinas, analyzing the terrain in 3D.

[Identification complete: Small village detected 15.4km ahead.] [Estimated population: 842.] [Signs of active commercial trade confirmed.]

“Minerva... will they welcome me?”

[Based on current data, the probability is less than 0.001%.] [Your current appearance resembles a blood-starved demon from the abyss.]

Mu Jin looked down at his reflection in a nearby mountain stream. Blood-soaked rags, matted hair, and eyes glowing with a sharp, unnatural silver light. He looked like a murderer who had just crawled out of hell.

He threw himself into the icy water. The bloodstains washed away, but the fundamental thirst deep within his chest remained unquenched.

“Cleaning the outside doesn't change what’s rotting on the inside,” he murmured, running again. A silver afterimage of Archeon trailed behind him, cutting through the horizon.

3. Encounter with a Strange Civilization

After three days and nights of uninterrupted travel, Mu Jin finally stood at the edge of the village. Faint lights flickered in the distance.

It was different from the eerie, phosphorescent glow of the Ghost Valley. This was 'Living Light'—a warm, amber hue that carried the scent of human life.

“Minerva, the wavelength of that light is... strange.”

[It is 'Living Light,' Administrator.] [A frequency that seeks rest.] [Unfortunately, it does not synchronize with your current brainwaves.]

Mu Jin let out a bitter smile. To someone who had lived as a test subject for ten years, a 'normal life' was a fairy tale. In his memory, humans were only demons who inflicted torture. But his hunger was now overwhelming even that trauma.

Growl—!

[Hunger level: 99.2%. Critical limit.] [Minerva: You will lose control unless organic matter is ingested immediately.]

He slipped into the village market like a shadow. The savory smell of oil and the sweet aroma of fresh dough awakened every sensory cell in his body.

4. The Temptation of the Steamed Dumpling

In the center of the market, clouds of white steam billowed from a large bamboo steamer. A woman lifted the lid, revealing rows of pure white, round treasures.

“Freshly steamed dumplings! Get your hot meat dumplings here!”

Mu Jin stopped in his tracks. His salivary glands exploded, and his stomach twisted in an almost unbearable pain.

[Analysis complete: Combination of high-density carbohydrates and animal fats.] [Recommended menu: Minimum 5 servings of King Dumplings.] [Status: Optimal for current physical recovery.]

“If I eat those... I might live.”

He approached the stall as if possessed. The woman flinched, startled by the sudden appearance of this haggard, silver-eyed youth.

“Oh my... young man? Are you ill? Your face is so pale!”

Mu Jin froze. It wasn't a hostile accusation or a glance of disgust. It was worry. The system struggled to process this unexpected variable.

[Alert: Unpredicted non-hostile social interaction occurred.] [Minerva: Insufficient data to respond to human kindness.]

“Dumplings... give me some,” Mu Jin rasped, his voice sounding like rusted gears grinding together.

The woman, looking sympathetic, wrapped two dumplings in paper and handed them to him.

“Here, eat these first. You can pay me later.”

5. The Principle of Equivalent Exchange

Mu Jin took the dumplings. The warmth traveled through his palms and into his soul. He carefully took a bite.

The soft skin broke, and a fountain of savory juice flooded his throat, soaking into his parched stomach.

[Physical synchronization stabilizing rapidly.] [Archeon Core output increased by 12.5%. Nutrient absorption accelerated.]

“......!”

It was a taste that brought tears to his eyes. It was the essence of 'Civilization,' fundamentally different from raw meat or cold elixirs.

But Mu Jin looked at his empty hands. He had never learned how to receive anything for free. In his world, everything had a price paid in blood.

“I have no money. But I will do this instead.”

He stepped toward the furnace. He had already calculated that the fire was too weak, causing the dumplings to cook slowly.

[Thermal Energy Amplification Protocol: ON.]

Mu Jin placed his hand on the base of the furnace. The silver energy flowing through his veins transformed into a blue flame.

WHOOSH—!

The fire turned a brilliant blue and surged upward. The water boiled explosively, and the scent of dumplings blasted through the market like a storm.

“Good heavens! What kind of magic is this?!”

The merchants scrambled back in shock. Mu Jin stood up calmly and dusted off his rags.

“I optimized the fire. It won't go out for a while.”

6. Forced Data Injection: Fragments of Civilization

On the roof of an abandoned shrine at the edge of the village, Mu Jin sat with the extra bag of dumplings the woman had insisted on giving him.

“Minerva. You said you came from Archeon. Did the people there eat dumplings like this?”

[Citizens of Archeon transcended physical consumption.] [All nutrients were injected directly into the bloodstream as nano-particles.]

Mu Jin smirked, taking another bite of the warm dumpling.

“Inefficient. To give up the joy of chewing and swallowing.”

[In terms of efficiency, Archeon is superior.] [However... the 'Happiness' levels in your brain are surpassing all previous data.]

Minerva’s voice grew solemn.

[To further increase your understanding of this environment, I will now force-inject lower-level knowledge data.]

“Inject...? AAAAGH!”

Before he could protest, a powerful electrical signal surged from his neck down his spine, striking his brain. It felt as if a thousand books were being poured into his skull at once.

[Synchronizing calculation units...] [Concepts: ‘Engine,’ ‘Fuel,’ ‘Efficiency’—Injection complete.]

The pain was momentary. But now, concepts he had never heard of took root in his mind like instincts.

“Is this... what you call an Engine?” Mu Jin placed a hand on his chest. The core was an engine that generated its own power.

[Correct. The martial artists of this world push their internal energy like a handcart.] [But you, Administrator, possess a state-of-the-art engine that detonates energy.]

Mu Jin felt a shiver of realization. The martial arts the masters sought were merely 'exhaust fumes' from a great machine, imitated by primitives.

“The old men of the Alliance were just spinning wheels by hand.”

[Accurate. Now, you only need to trample over those outdated carriages.]

7. Why Me?

Mu Jin clenched his fist. Silver sparks flickered between his fingers. He now knew instinctively how to control this power.

“But Minerva. Why me? There were children with better talent than me.”

[The analysis is simple.] [Your ‘Deficiency’ resonated with Archeon’s ‘Completion.’]

“Deficiency?”

[The system was built on perfect logic. But there is a realm logic cannot reach.] [It is the 'Illogical Obsession with Survival.'] [That vicious killing intent— the refusal to die even when your heart stopped— is what woke the ancient machine.]

Mu Jin’s eyes grew cold.

[Only the one who has fallen to the absolute bottom has the right to climb to the absolute top.]

“For a machine that claims to be logical, you sure talk like a philosopher.”

8. Uninvited Guests: The First Collection

Just as Mu Jin was about to stand—

“Hey, you. The scruffy brat.”

A rough voice came from below the wall. Men in tattered clothes with malicious eyes. Village thugs.

“I heard you turned the furnace fire blue at the market.” “Why don't you show that fancy trick to our boss?”

Mu Jin didn't answer. Instead, he opened the system window on his retinas.

[Target detected: 5 humans.] [Combat power: Immeasurable (Too low).] [Note: All targets possess a certain amount of cash.]

“Minerva, how many more dumplings can I buy with the money they have?”

[At current prices, approximately 32 servings.]

A cruel smile spread across Mu Jin’s lips. He leaped lightly from the roof and landed before the men.

“You want to see a trick?”

Silver light exploded from his entire body. The Archeon engine roared to life, heating the air around him to a sear.

“My tricks are expensive.” “Give me everything in your pockets. Now.”

He sat under the eaves of the shrine, flipping a coin.

Clink—

The metallic sound echoed quietly in the night.

“Minerva.”

[Yes, Administrator.]

“They called me ‘Number One.’”

His fingers tightened around the coin.

“But I am no longer their tool.”

A pause.

“I need a name.”

[You are referring to a personal identifier.]

Mu Jin exhaled slowly.

“Something that defines me.”

[Calculating optimal designation based on survival instinct and behavioral patterns…]

The system window flickered.

Then—

Two characters appeared in his vision.

武
進

[Mu Jin.]

“A name meaning one who advances without stopping… correcting the very root of martial force.”

The sound resonated deep within his chest.

“…Mu Jin.”

He repeated it once.

Then again.

“Good.”

From that moment on—

“I am Mu Jin."