《Stargazers: World stage》


 History

    "Settle down, everyone." A lanky professor entered the classroom, beckoning to the students.


    "Hey, professor, I thought classes were already over," a student sitting in the middle of the class called out with an arrogant, defiant look, it was unknown whether it was because he just hated school or because the professor was merely an E-rank.


    "Yeah, teach. Isn''t it done?" another student chimed in.


    "Yes, do you lie now?"


    More students joined in, throwing a collective tantrum.


    Releasing a deep sigh, the professor pushed up his glasses and gave them a stern look. The room quieted under his gaze, and once he had their attention, he began,


    "I know classes are over, but this is important. For emphasis'' sake, I''ll give you a brief history of how the next two years of your life will go."


    "But we''ve heard that story a lot of times already," a girl raised her hand to protest, but the professor ignored her and continued.


    "It''s been 47 years since it all began. Suddenly, people around the world began awakening their abilities. For many, it was a way to escape a boring world however for those who didn''t awaken abilities, it was torture."


    As if on cue, everyone turned their heads toward the lone student at the back of the class, and the boy in question, Vahn, gave them a deadpan look that silently asked, "So?"


    "Oi, oi, isn''t he talking about you?" The same arrogant student mocked, earning laughter from his peers.


    Vahn merely glanced at him and then turned his attention back to the professor, and before the situation could escalate.


    "STOP," the professor ordered, silencing the room.


    "Student Valen, you shouldn''t pick on others." After a light warning to Valen, the professor briefly glanced at Vahn before continuing.


    ''Just my life,'' Vahn sighed inwardly, shaking his head. This was his daily reality, mocked for being among those who hadn''t awakened an ability. But he didn''t let it get to him. This wasn''t the first time, nor would it be the last.


    Pushing the thoughts aside, he listened to the professor.


    "Before any further developments could take place, they invaded us," the professor frowned deeply. It was as if he didn''t want to mention their name due to an in-built hatred, however, he still said it,


    "The demons."


    "They raided towns, cities, and countries, laying waste to citizens in droves. The world teetered on the brink of extinction. The remaining nations banded together to fight this common enemy, but our technology was useless. Bullets couldn''t pierce their tough skin, and our tanks were ineffective. We needed a solution, and that solution came from those who had awakened abilities. They were rallied to fight, forming what is now known as the World Defense Alliance."


    Maybe it was the professor''s storytelling, but everyone was now engrossed. They''d all heard this history before from their parents, only in bits and pieces, it was never this detailed. And that was intentional.


    "But there was a new problem. We had just awakened our abilities; we still needed time to master them and become strong enough to fight, our solution was too insufficient."


    "Then, like saviors, they came." The professor showed a smile he hadn''t displayed since entering the class as he spoke,


    Again, heads turned toward Vahn.


    "The Mysterious Family."


    "There''s no way, right?"


    "Yeah, he probably just dyed his hair that color."


    "Haha, he must''ve dyed it."


    "STOP." The professor halted the class again.


    "So, where was I? Yes. With their distinct dark purple hair and golden eyes, they offered their help. They taught us about abilities and how to enhance our technology, then disappeared. Some believe we chased them away; others say they abandoned us. But regardless, they helped us immensely. Because of them, we were finally able to stand our ground against the demons.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Though the battles were still tough, we gathered data on the demons, their ranks, abilities, and habits making it easier to classify and combat them. After ten years of brutal war, the blades of the Nine Supreme finally pierced the demon leader.


    But after defeating the common enemy, a new problem arose. The war had ended, and humans still had their abilities. Naturally, ambitions bloomed within the alliance. Civil wars erupted, and many factions splintered off. The alliance was more than enough to quell the rebellions, but the main focus of the alliance was the fear the demons would return, so a consensus was made; at a certain age, every citizen would spend two years in the alliance, training to master your abilities and to prevent another chaos from within..."


    Though he didn''t say it out, they weren''t only teaching them how to control their abilities, they were also teaching them to resist the overwhelming allure of ambition.


    A student raised his hand, breaking the professor''s explanation. "Professor," he called out.


    "Yes?" The professor replied, hoping for a reasonable question, however,


    "How likely is it for someone to survive there without any abilities?"


    The professor hesitated. "I... I don''t know," he admitted, which prompted another round of laughter from the class.


    Yet Vahn wasn''t moved by their words. He sat there, lost in thought, reflecting on the professor''s words.


    ''So, that''s how it was¡­'' He had heard the questions before, asked in various forms, always about his connection to the mysterious family. But Vahn didn''t even know who they were. Adults rarely spoke of it, bound by some kind of oath. Only now did he hear fragments of the story was he able to make the connection to how they were related.


    "And with that," the professor continued, "I wish you the best of luck in the next two years of your life." His smile seemed a little more relieved as he finished his lecture and left the room.


    "Woo¡­ school''s over!" The realization hit the students like a wave, and a cheer rang out from one of them.


    "Haha¡­ finally, I can join my brother''s faction," another said, excitement in their voice.


    "What? Hey, tell your brother to take me too!" came a playful retort from the back.


    As the others celebrated their freedom, talking about joining factions or making plans for the future, Vahn remained unmoved.


    Instead, he found himself surrounded by a different kind of attention.


    "Hey, how about we end this school year with a little beating?" Valor stood at the front of Vahn''s desk, cracking his knuckles with an arrogant smile.


    "Hehe, I think we should," one of Valor''s lackeys chimed in.


    "That''s right!" Another voice added from the back.


    The group behind Valor eagerly backed him up, but Vahn didn''t even acknowledge them. He simply grabbed his bag and stood to leave.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Valor stretched out his arm to block Vahn''s exit.


    Without a word, Vahn swiftly turned and, with a well-placed backkick, struck Valor square in the chest.


    ''Tsk...'' Vahn clicked his tongue, a little annoyed. He''d delivered a powerful kick, but Valor didn''t seem to be phased.


    "Oi, oi, is that all you''ve got?" Valor brushed off his clothes and lunged at Vahn.


    "This is how you do it." From his backhand, a sickly green light formed into a ball, which he hurled at Vahn.


    Vahn sidestepped with ease, the ball missing him entirely. But a follow-up punch came from his left. Vahn bent his head back, narrowly avoiding it, and then tackled Valor to the ground with practiced precision.


    "You fuck¡ª" Valor''s curse was cut off as Vahn delivered a crushing blow to his mouth.


    WHAAM!


    The first punch landed, and Vahn didn''t stop there. His fists moved with relentless force.


    WHAAM! WHAAM! WHAAM!


    The students who had once ignored the scuffle were now gathering around, drawn by the noise and the violence.


    "W-What the hell?" one student stammered.


    "B-Blood," another whispered, eyes wide in shock.


    "I-Isn''t that..." someone else started, but their words trailed off as they saw the severity of the situation.


    As Valor''s face became a bloody mess from the continued punches, cries rang out from the others.


    "S-Stop!" one shouted.


    "Are you trying to kill him?" another cried in panic.


    "Fucking maniac¡­" someone muttered, horrified at Vahn''s unrelenting assault.


    But Vahn didn''t stop. WHAAM! Another punch landed.


    Valor lay motionless, his body battered and bruised. But Vahn knew better than to assume he was finished. Ability users were more durable than they looked.


    "You think I''m weak, huh?" Vahn spoke flatly, not even looking at Valor''s bloodied face.


    "Apologize."


    WHAAM!


    "Apologize."


    With each word, he landed another punch.


    "Apolo¡ª"


    "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" A sharp voice interrupted the chaos.


    The students quickly scattered, and Vahn glanced toward the entrance. A professor stood there, flanked by a classmate.


    ''She reported me?'' Vahn shot the girl a glare before his eyes moved to the professor.


    "Vahn? What''s the meaning of this?" The professor asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and anger as he took in the sight of Valor on the floor.


    "Self-defense, sir?" Vahn responded coolly, his voice devoid of emotion.


    "Self-defense?" The professor''s face twisted with frustration. "You call this self-defense?"


    "It doesn''t make sense for a non-ability user to pick on an ability user, don''t you know that professor?" Vahn tilted his head, his voice calm and logical.


    The professor paused, at a loss for words. Vahn''s statement made sense, but it wasn''t something the professor could condone.


    "This is a civilized institution," the professor said sternly. "You will report yourself for punishment."


    "Yes, professor. But I hope he comes too." With that, Vahn turned and left the classroom without another word.


    The students were left in stunned silence. Vahn, the quiet, constantly bullied student, had just turned the tables in a shocking display of power.


    Had he secretly always been an ability user? The question lingered in the air, unanswered.

 Last time: First time

    In the dean''s office, a report flashed across the screen, drawing the middle-aged man''s attention.


    [Student Vahn Clay assaulted Student Valor Magoirt]


    He glanced at the report, then shifted his gaze to the two boys seated before him. His mind churned as he processed the absurdity of the situation.


    ''I wouldn''t believe it if I weren''t seeing it myself.'' The dean thought about the absurd situation.


    It wasn''t the students'' names that were unusual, it was the information beneath them.


    [Student Vahn Clay - Non-ability user. Student Valor Magoirt - Ability user]


    Typically, the reports involved ability users attacking non-ability users, and even then, the dean rarely had to intervene. This situation was different, and the fact he was handling it, meant it was the first time such an incident unfolded the other way around.


    ''Honestly, from the looks of it, Valor brought this upon himself,'' the dean mused, casting a glance at the bruised and bloodied boy sitting in silence.


    Then, his attention shifted to Vahn. The boy sat there with a calm demeanor, almost unnervingly composed, despite the potential for serious consequences, including expulsion.


    ''Could it be?'' A thought flickered through the dean''s mind. ''Is it possible...?''


    "Student Vahn," the dean spoke up, breaking the silence. "Have you... possibly awakened your ability?"


    Vahn''s slight surprise was evident, but he quickly recovered. "No, sir."


    It was a reasonable deduction for any intelligent person. Emotions play a major role in the activation of one''s abilities. The desire to protect, to avenge, or to triumph, these feelings could trigger an ability. And given the current circumstance, it made sense that the dean had considered the possibility.


    Both students had been sent here after quick check-ups at the clinic, and Vahn appeared untouched. In contrast, Valor''s battered body was a clear indication of who had won the altercation. It was well known that ability users had far more durable bodies than non-ability users.


    "Hmm," the dean sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright. Explain what happened."


    "It was self-defense, sir," Vahn replied flatly, repeating his earlier statement.


    "Self-defense, you say?" The dean shifted his gaze to Valor, waiting for a response.


    But Valor said nothing. He sat there in silence, his head down, clearly unwilling to speak.


    After five minutes of awkward quiet, the dean sighed again and turned to Vahn. "You''re free to go. I''ll handle this."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Vahn didn''t need to be told twice. He had nothing to hide, and it was clear that Valor had only himself to blame. Without hesitation, Vahn stood and left the office, not sparing another glance at the still-silent Valor.


    It was the last day of school, and the dean, perhaps feeling a sense of relief, decided to let the matter slide. As Vahn walked out of the building, he passed by the futuristic skyline of the city, gleaming towers of glass, levitating vehicles drifting a few meters above the ground, and people carrying weapons as a part of everyday life.


    The right to carry weapons was something the World Alliance had permitted for various reasons. The first was the belief that demons, though once defeated, hadn''t disappeared completely. If they ever returned, the citizens would need a way to protect themselves before authorities arrived.


    The second reason stemmed from human conflicts, once the common enemy was gone, people began using their powers to attack one another for personal gain.


    And lastly, what the demons left behind.


    Vahn continued walking; his thoughts focused on his next destination. After reaching the end of the street, he entered a high-rise building, taking the elevator up to the top floor.


    His apartment, Room 509, was exactly as he had left it; simple, functional, and sparse. A bed against one wall, a television mounted opposite, a small kitchen tucked into the corner, and a bathroom beside it. It was nothing extravagant, but it was his.


    The apartment was provided to him by the authorities, as he hadn''t earned it through his own efforts. As was typical for someone in his situation, Vahn lived alone.


    He stripped off his clothes and switched on the television, setting a pre-prepared meal on the stove to warm. As he made his way to the bedroom, he began his daily exercises, using the television as a mere background distraction.


    -In today''s interview, we have Josh Rander, a C-rank tanker also known as ''Earth shield''. How are you doing, Josh?


    -Very well, thank you.


    -Yes, now what do you think about-


    Suddenly the channel scrambled, then came back with,


    -Breaking news. There have been reports of a winged creature spotted near the port. With the sharp increase in the number of marked beasts, everyone is advised to stay vigilant.


    "Another one?" Vahn muttered as he stood from his exercise mat. This was the third such report this week.


    "Well, I''m sure they''ve got it handled," he said, brushing the thought aside as he finished his workout. He retrieved the now-heated food from the stove and sat down to eat, his mind drifting to the professor''s words earlier that day.


    The professor had mentioned the next two years of training in the World Defense Alliance.


    The World Alliance was a world-scale organization made up of various organizations, factions, and clans, who moved for a single goal, to exterminate the demons. After their extermination, their goal was, to prevent another demonic disaster.


    Although many defected from the alliance, the military remained a loyal and steadfast force. The military''s primary goal was to ensure humanity''s survival against future threats. But it wasn''t just the military''s resolve that kept people in the alliance, two of the world''s nine Supremes led the charge, offering a sense of security that drew many in.


    Vahn finished his meal, deep in thought. ''How will I survive?'' The question gnawed at him. He wasn''t foolish enough to think he could outclass the students he would meet in the alliance. That was why he had dodged every one of Valor''s attacks. If one of them had landed, Vahn would have been the one on the ground. And he knew that the people in the alliance would be far more dangerous than Valor.


    Yet, Vahn wasn''t the type to sulk or wallow in his perceived weakness. He knew he lacked abilities, but he compensated with knowledge. By watching videos on combat styles and practicing daily, he had honed his body to be fit and capable, even without powers.


    As he finished his meal, he pondered his next move. ''Should I try again today?''


    Without overthinking it, he rushed through his remaining meal, took a quick shower, and dressed in his tracksuit. With his mindset, he left the apartment, ready for whatever came next.

 Gilded Underground fights: Underdog

    Vahn left his room and stepped out of the building, his footsteps echoing as he moved quickly through the streets. Before he knew it, he had crossed to the next street, making a few turns along the way.


    Soon, he arrived at a building labeled ''Gilded Fitness.''


    The moment the door swung open, a bell chimed, alerting the bartender behind the counter.


    "Ah, Vahn!" the man behind the counter greeted with a smile, waving him over. "Come on in."


    "Marco..." Vahn smiled faintly and made his way to the counter.


    Marco was a D-rank ability user, but due to the weakness of his powers, he abandoned them and opened a fitness center, and maybe because they were similar in a way, they became friends.


    "Hey, I thought you were preparing for the alliance," Marco remarked, recalling that Vahn was of the right age to join.


    "Yeah," Vahn replied, "but I want to try again."


    "Try again?" Marco raised an eyebrow. "You know you can''t force it, right?"


    "I know," Vahn shrugged, his resolve clear. "I just want to test myself."


    Marco stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine, just don''t come crying to me if it doesn''t work."


    "When have I ever cried?" Vahn smirked.


    "Don''t make me remind you of your history," Marco shot back.


    As they exchanged brief words between themselves, they had moved from the bar to another room.


    Flick...


    The light flicked on as Marco led Vahn down a set of underground stairs. Without hesitation, they reached a large metal door at the bottom. A small keypad glowed in the dim light, and Marco entered a code. The door made a loud sound as it groaned open, but the sound was drowned out by the noise coming from the other side.


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    However, they didn''t mind it. It was like they knew it was meant to happen.


    "Let''s go," Marco said, leading Vahn through a narrow corridor. As they walked, Marco greeted several people. It was bound to happen, after all, Marco was among the organizers of what was currently going on.


    At the end of the corridor, Marco turned to Vahn and opened the door to the room. "Get ready here. I''ll go pitch you in."


    Vahn looked in the room, noting the opulence of the room.


    It was Marco''s, a space far more lavish than any apartment he had seen, though he hadn''t seen many fancy apartments in the first place. After appreciating the room for a moment, Vahn prepared himself. He was already dressed in his tracksuit, and all that remained was his mask.


    He pulled open a drawer and retrieved the mask, shaped like a dog. It was more than just a disguise; it was a necessity. His facial features were too unique, a result of his mysterious family lineage on him. Marco had fashioned the mask from a 20-mark beast''s hide, allowing Vahn to maintain his anonymity. And it had earned him a nickname in this underground fighting ring.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    As one would have guessed from the secrecy and the shouts when the large doors were opened, this was an underground fighting establishment, called Gilded Underground Fights.


    The Gilded Underground Fights was a place where ability users and non-ability users alike fought for money and status. While the fights were brutal, they offered a chance for advancement or awakening, something especially appealing to lower-ranked fighters.


    However, due to its nature, it was mostly attended by Non-ability, E, and D-rank ability users who either, wanted the chance to awaken, have been stuck in the same position for so long and wanted to advance, or wanted to make more money.


    The world of ability was one where the same way one could awaken their ability anytime, was the same they could progress through the ranks. So, if one could awaken or progress through the ranks and still get money after that, there was only a win-win situation and no loss.


    And with this establishment having had several records of fighters advancing through their ranks in the past, their reputation was at its peak. Vahn had long planned to join this underground world after his two years with the World Defense Alliance.


    But first, he had to survive those two years,


    Knock...knock.


    A voice called from outside the door. "Underdog, you''re up."


    That was him.


    ''I hope it works today.'' Vahn took a deep breath, left the room, and followed the staff member to the ring entrance. The roars of the crowd were already vibrating through the floor.


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    -HELLO GILDEDS, ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT FIGHT.


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    -I FEEL YOU TOO, GIVE IT UP FOR OUR RISING


    ''UNDERDOGGGGGG''


    "UNDERDOG"


    "WINNNN"


    "I BET ON YOU TODAY, PLEASE WIN"


    Vahn walked down a narrow walkway, the shouts and chants of the crowd ringing in his ears. As he neared the ring, he could see the stage ahead, with spectators lining both sides. He exhaled, focusing his thoughts, and stepped into the ring.


    -NOW, FOR HIS OPPONENT, E-RANK MELEE COMBATANT, PUNCHERRRR.


    The announcer boomed.


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    A middle-aged man, dressed like a mechanic with gauntlets on his hands, entered the arena to the cheers of the crowd.


    The arena had the reputation of people increasing in ranks during fights and how that was done was, that they pitched someone from a lower rank who either wanted to awaken or increase their ranks against a higher rank person who just wanted quick money from the wins.


    They found a way to please and satisfy both parties...


    Soon, the two squared off, and the announcer shouted as he immediately left the ring, "READYYYY, GOOO!"


    Puncher lunged forward, throwing a powerful punch at Vahn. With a thought, Vahn sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow however considering his name, the punch impacted the ground with a deafening BANG, sending a shockwave through the arena.


    But Vahn didn''t hesitate or try to touch his already bleeding ear. He jabbed Puncher in the ribs, but the blow barely fazed him. However, it was expected,


    Without missing a beat, Vahn squatted and kicked Puncher in the back of the knees, and he grunted as he dropped to one knee.


    Vahn quickly moved behind him, landing several rapid blows to his back, each TWACK echoing through the arena.


    Finally, with one last strike, Puncher collapsed.


    "WHAT A MATCH!" The announcer sounded flustered but quickly regained composure.


    "AS EXPECTED FROM OUR UNDERDOG, BREAKING HIS RECORD FOR FASTEST FIGHT BY A NO-ABILITY USER!"


    The crowd went wild, cheering even louder than before. However, beneath his mask, Vahn sighed, looking up at the ceiling.


    ''Haa¡­I guess it didn''t happen again.''


    ...


    In the section of the arena reserved for VIPs, a woman watched the fight unfold, her masked face betraying nothing of her thoughts.


    ''Impressive,'' she mused, watching Vahn''s victory. ''A non-ability defeating an E-rank so easily... This one''s interesting.''


    Then a voice interrupted her musings. "Hey, Underdog, is it?"


    The masked woman''s head snapped toward the speaker who had called the name of who she had set her eyes.


    She was dressed in a striking red dress that matched her makeup, accentuating her beauty.


    Sensing the look, the woman in red glanced at the masked woman and smiled,


    "Looks like we have a competitor."

 Status of a cripple

    After the match, Vahn made his way back to Marco''s room, a bit exhausted. He opened the door to find Marco waiting, a skeptical look on his face.


    "Hey, are you sure you haven''t awakened your ability, but just don''t know it?" Marco asked, eyeing him critically. Vahn''s speed in finishing his opponents had increased with every visit, and Marco was beginning to wonder if something had changed.


    "I''m sure I haven''t," Vahn replied, shaking his head. If he had awakened, he would have felt different, but he still felt, human.


    "Hmm¡­" Marco stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You''ve been progressing faster than expected, though."


    Vahn''s eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. "Hey, what if I fought a D-rank next?"


    Marco''s eyebrows shot up. "What?"


    "Listen, hear me out. People need intense emotions to awaken, but I don''t feel that when fighting E-ranks. Maybe if I face a D-rank, the stakes will be higher, and I''ll feel that push I need."


    "Vahn, D-ranks are dangerous," Marco warned, his tone serious. "They''re faster, more adept with their abilities, and tougher. How are you going to get past that?"


    "That''s exactly what I need, those moments to be on the edge. I don''t need to win; I need to feel the rush."


    Marco groaned, clearly torn. After a moment of silence, he muttered, "Fine, but if you end up crippled, it''s on you."


    Vahn smiled slightly, grateful despite Marco''s grumbling. He knew Marco wasn''t entirely on board but still respected his decision to help.


    ¡­


    In a secluded corner of the arena, the masked woman observed the woman dressed in red.


    "Crimson Witch?" she blurted, recognizing the figure.


    The Crimson Witch turned to her with a playful smile. "Oh, you know me?"


    The masked woman''s mind raced with information. ''Crimson Witch assumed to be a high B-rank and the leader of the Crimson Corsairs. Why is she here, in a place like this?''


    "Why would the Crimson Witch be at an underground fight?" she asked, not able to contain her curiosity.


    The Crimson Witch seemed amused. "Curious? I just heard about it in passing and thought I''d check it out."


    She paused, then gave the masked woman a probing look. "Let me ask you something. Is this how the famous Void Collective gathers its information?"


    A slight rustling behind the masked woman signaled the movement of her hidden guards, but she raised a hand to signal them to stay back. Without a word, she continued to stare at the Crimson Witch, assessing her every move.


    The Crimson Witch shifted her gaze back to the ring unbothered by the hidden guards. "By the way, can you find out more about this ''Underdog'' for me?"


    ¡­


    Hours later, and after about 20 matches, it was Vahn''s turn again.


    The announcer''s voice boomed through the arena.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    -AGAINNNN, OUR VERYYY OWNN UNDERRDOOGGG


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    Upon getting to the area''s ring, the announcer continued,


    -OUR UNDERDOGG IS SOO HELLBENT ON AWAKENING, SO FOR HIS NEXT MATCH, WELCOME, D-RANK HEAVY BREAKERRRRR


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    Maybe because of the absurd situation and the difference in the levels, the skates in the betting were raised and the spectators didn''t care,


    "Take 1,000 silver"


    "Take 1 Gold"


    "Hey, move away, take my 10 Golds"


    They began shoving their currency card to the smiling faces of the betting officiators.


    Entering the ring after Vahn was a huge man, over 2 meters. He was shirtless and just wore a helmet.


    Before long, they were facing each other.


    -READYYYYYYY¡­.GOOOOOOOO


    The match had started,


    And without wasting time, Heavy Breaker immediately jumped into the air and spread his body wide,


    -IS HE ABOUT TO USE HIS HEAVY BREAKER CRUSHING STRIKEEE...HOW WOULD OUR UNDERDOGGG HANDLE IT?


    And he was falling back to the ground.


    ''Leaving the ring will get me disqualified, but this attack will leave me half-dead no matter where I run.'' Vahn''s brain was speedily thinking of a solution.


    ''Then, let''s risk it.'' With that last thought, he watched the heavy breaker landing without moving and put his back foot backward.


    -HAS OUR UNDERDOGG GIVEN UPP.


    "Moveee"


    "Idiot¡­"


    "What is he trying to do"


    The spectators were screaming at him to stop his madness and move, well most were getting annoyed because they had bet on him, however, he drowned all of their shouts. He only focused on Heavy Breaker landing on him with extreme focus.


    The speed of the descending Heavy breaker wasn''t to be underestimated as he was already above him.


    Vahn''s heart raced.


    Heavy Breaker was a massive man, over two meters tall, wearing nothing but a helmet and a pair of gauntlets.


    With a deep breath, he drowned out the crowd''s shouts turned to boos and insults as Vahn stood still, staring up at the descending giant.


    He focused all his energy on the timing.


    At the last moment, as Heavy Breaker plummeted, Vahn pushed off the ground with a sudden surge of strength. In a perfect flip, he soared above the massive fighter, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow.


    Banggggg...


    The force of the impact on the Heavy breaker landing back rattled the ring, sending shockwaves through the ground and snapping apart the ropes around the ropes.


    However, Vahn who had landed gracefully behind Heavy Breaker wasn''t fully spared. His body rattled heavily, however that wasn''t his focus.


    With intense determination, he spun around with his fists slamming into the back of the giant''s knees and spine in a rapid barrage of strikes.


    The Heavy Breaker crumpled under the relentless assault, and the crowd fell silent.


    After what felt like an hour of hitting, Vahn stood over the unmoving body of Heavy Breaker panting.


    "Haa... Haa..." His chest heaved as exhaustion and pain wracked his body.


    The announcer was speechless, and the audience gaped, unsure whether to cheer or not.


    ¡­


    In the VIP section, a glass clinked as it fell to the floor in shock. The Crimson Witch stood visibly shocked at the performance, likewise the masked woman, however, it was covered beneath her mask.


    "That was..." the Crimson Witch murmured; she was practically boiling with excitement. The fight had been nothing short of extraordinary.


    What Vahn had just done was incomprehensible, No one would have thought of that.


    -T-THE WINNER-


    "Gahhhhh¡­" However, the announcer was interrupted by Heavy Breaker''s scream as he stretched his hand and gripped Vahn''s leg.


    ''What?'' Vahn was wide-eyed as he was gripped by the leg. As one could guess, Vahn''s fighting style involved dodging all attacks because each of them could harm him.


    However, a grip like this was,


    The last thing he remembered was his back hitting hard against the floor.


    BANGGG¡­


    Silence¡­.


    The silence that followed the last sound was loud.


    Eyes were about to pop out at the situation, mouths were left hanging at the absurdity.


    How did the situation reverse in an instant?


    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    The crowd shouted more and cheered at the top of their lungs.


    This was the kind of plot twist they spent their money for, and although it was sad underdog might be crippled after this, as they had brought stretchers to carry him. It was among the risks people took to become awakened and powerful.


    In the VIP area,


    "T-That was¡­" The crimson witch could feel her blood boiling at the intensity of the fight she just watched, and the situation just got reversed.


    The masked woman was also frowning,


    ''Underdog will become a cripple after today. He isn''t an ability user; he can''t survive that kind of fall.'' She shook her head and sighed in pity.


    Just as he had been important to her a few hours ago, he was now useless to her.


    In this world of ability users, a crippled was even worse than a non-ability user.

 Misunderstanding

    Vahn''s eyes fluttered open, and immediately, everything came rushing back to him. The weight of his situation hit him all at once.


    "So, I became a cripple," he muttered under his breath, as he lay still. For the moment, he couldn''t feel any part of his body, but strangely, he took it with a kind of calm acceptance.


    The last thing he clearly remembered was his body crashing against the ring. He wasn''t an ability user, so it was a miracle he was still alive.


    ''And I still didn''t awaken,'' he thought, closing his eyes briefly. He had risked everything, and yet, it seemed he was no closer to his goal.


    He opened his eyes again, surveying his surroundings. The ceiling above him was familiar, and as he turned to the side, it hit him, his apartment. He didn''t need to see more to know it was home.


    ''Marco must have brought me back,'' Vahn thought.


    Almost as if on cue, Marco''s voice broke through the silence.


    "Vahn? You''re awake?"


    Vahn turned his head, finding Marco standing by his bedside with a nervous expression.


    "Y-Yeah," Vahn croaked, "What happened?"


    Marco hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice tense.


    "You broke half the bones in your body. They healed most of it, but¡­" Marco''s gaze lingered on Vahn, and Vahn didn''t need him to finish the sentence. It was obvious, his spine.


    Vahn sighed deeply. "How long?"


    "Three days," Marco replied.


    "Then...?"


    "Yes. Today is the day you''re supposed to report to the Alliance," Marco said, his tone a mix of concern and resolve.


    Vahn winced as he attempted to sit up, his body protesting with every movement.


    "Hey, hey, take it easy." Marco rushed to his side, offering support as he helped Vahn sit up.


    Once seated, Vahn surveyed his apartment. It felt oddly normal, despite everything.


    Sniff¡­ sniff.


    "Did you cook?" Vahn asked, realizing he hadn''t eaten in days.


    "Yeah," Marco answered, trying to hide the faint smile forming at the corner of his lips.


    Vahn chuckled softly. "I just realized... I haven''t eaten for the past three days."


    Marco chuckled, shaking his head. "You''re something else; you know that?"


    If there was one thing Marco knew about Vahn, it was that he hated to be pitied, and Marco was only just seeing the height of that hatred now. When he didn''t have any ability, he thought he was only saying those things because there was a part that felt like he would eventually awaken.


    However, the height of it was being crippled. There was no hope for anything else.


    Vahn had been sure of himself, certain that one day he would awaken his ability, but now? After being crippled, it seemed as though any hope of awakening had died with him.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Still, he bent down to receive the food Marco had brought and began eating.


    "Hey, take it easy," Marco warned, but Vahn was already too focused on eating to listen.


    "After three days of not eating?" Vahn shrugged, dismissing his concern.


    Marco watched him for a moment before asking the question that had been on his mind.


    "What drives you, Vahn?"


    Vahn paused, raising an eyebrow in confusion.


    "I don''t mean to pity you, but how do you not feel anything after everything that''s happened? I know you''ll still go to the Alliance when they call. What is it that keeps you going?"


    Vahn didn''t immediately respond, his gaze dropping to the floor. The silence stretched on for a while as he contemplated Marco''s words.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he opened his mouth to speak, but¡ª


    KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!


    The knock was loud and insistent, almost as if it was a command to open the door. Vahn and Marco exchanged a glance, there was only one group that would knock like that today.


    "I''ll get it," Marco said, standing up to answer the door.


    As soon as he opened it, a voice boomed from the other side.


    "I am Lieutenant Perdsk Versk. Time to vacate your apartment and report to the Alliance, Student Vahn Clay." The lieutenant''s eyes narrowed and looked down at his screen, then at Marco, and said,


    "You''re not Vahn Clay."


    "Y-Yes, please, you have to understand, we have a situation¡­" Marco stammered, trying to defuse the tension.


    "And what kind of situation would that be?" The lieutenant''s voice dripped with skepticism.


    "Vahn Clay is... crippled," Marco finished, his voice low.


    "That''s new." The Lieutenant tilted his head at the words of Marco. This was the first time he had heard this excuse.


    "Then, can I see the crippled?"


    "Oh, yes, yes." Marco stepped aside to let the lieutenant enter.


    Upon seeing Vahn lying in bed, the lieutenant didn''t seem convinced. He didn''t even glance at the hospital papers Marco had brought, instead focusing entirely on Vahn, who was staring back at him.


    ''Is he the one?'' The lieutenant wondered. The Alliance had reports on Vahn, though he had no idea what those reports contained. Something about this didn''t add up.


    "Just for confirmation," the lieutenant said, before lifting Vahn from the bed with ease.


    "I''ll stand you up."


    "Hgn..." Vahn winced but endured the pain as he was positioned on his feet.


    The lieutenant took a step, holding onto Vahn to steady him. Lo and behold, Vahn followed with a step of his own.


    "Hm?"


    "Eh?"


    Both Marco and Vahn were suddenly confused, unsure of what was happening.


    Vahn took another step, and then another. By the fifth step, the lieutenant released his grip, and Vahn stood on his own.


    "How...?" Marco couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    Vahn, now standing, took another step, this time without any help with his face displaying shock.


    The lieutenant blinked, staring at Vahn in disbelief. "But¡­ you can walk?"


    "W-Wait, you have to believe us, he was declared crippled!" Marco blurted out, panic creeping into his voice, and swung the hospital results.


    The lieutenant, now even more puzzled, sighed and decided to clarify.


    "Have you awakened yet?"


    If Vahn was crippled, then the only logical explanation was that he had awakened his ability.


    "No," Vahn responded, still trying to make sense of what was happening.


    ''I''m sure about it.'' There was another thing about Vahn. It was that he knew his body better than anyone. Well, it was better to say it was bound to happen for someone who had tried everything to awaken an ability.


    And currently, there was no way he had awakened.


    The lieutenant, now seeing something entirely unexpected, turned serious.


    "Student Vahn Clay, for attempting to avoid mandatory training, your punishment awaits you at the camp. As for you," he looked at Marco, scanned his face, and spoke, "Marcos Rudbell, for assisting a student in evading the process, you will be fined 10,000 gold. The fine will accrue weekly until paid in full at the nearest Alliance branch."


    "What?" Marco began to protest, but the lieutenant was already heading for the door.


    "You have 10 minutes. The vehicle is waiting outside."


    With that, the lieutenant left, and Vahn let out a small chuckle.


    ''Did we just get punished for something we didn''t do?'' Vahn thought, amused by the absurdity of it all.


    The situation, a complete misunderstanding, made him laugh, but what made it funny was Marco''s stunned expression.


    "You look like you''ve seen a ghost," Vahn teased as he turned and began walking toward the door.


    Marco shook his head in disbelief. "H-How can you walk? How is this even happening?"


    Vahn paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.


    "This might sound crazy," he began, "but I have a theory."


    "I''m listening," Marco said, curious.


    "What if¡­ I''m related to that mysterious family?" Vahn turned to Marco, his golden eyes flashing briefly with something fierce and untamed.

 World Defense Alliance : Camp 5

    "Wait, wait... you mean?" Marco stumbled over his words, his mind racing back to the enigmatic family that haunted whispers and rumors.


    The Mysterious Family.


    Not much was known about them. Perhaps the Supremes had more information, but to the public, their legacy boiled down to a few key details; striking dark purple hair, golden eyes, and the fact that they had once played a pivotal role in helping the Alliance adapt to the new world of abilities and its evolving technology. Then, without warning, they vanished.


    "But your last name?" Marco asked, frowning in confusion.


    "Does ''Clay'' sound original?" Vahn replied with a wry smile. Though it sounded like he was dismissing his surname, it was more of a casual musing on the possibility that lingered in his mind.


    "Hey, don''t throw your name away." Marco shot back.


    "Right. But hey, we don''t have much time," Vahn reminded him.


    "Oh, right. You can walk now, so I''ll carry your stuff."


    "Alright."


    Marco grabbed two medium-sized bags, and they left the apartment, descending the narrow staircase. Their conversation continued as they moved.


    "Okay, but what about the fact that you don''t have an ability?" Marco asked, glancing at Vahn with genuine curiosity.


    "Hmm... Honestly, don''t you find it strange that I haven''t awakened one yet?" Vahn replied, his tone reflective.


    Marco couldn''t argue with that. The lengths Vahn had gone to in pursuit of an ability were numerous and reckless. But Marco also understood Vahn wasn''t just chasing power; he was running from loneliness. Though he''d never admit it, that drive was what kept Vahn from falling into despair. Imagine if Vahn had simply sulked around, wallowing in self-pity. No, he couldn''t even imagine, that wasn''t who he was.


    Before they knew it, they had reached the ground floor. Parked across the street was a long, 72-seater bus, its engine idling.


    "Hey, Marco," Vahn began, a hint of concern in his voice as they both stared at the bus, "I think you should try to increase your rank during the two years I''ll be gone."


    "Wow, Vahn cares. The world must be ending," Marco teased, though he nodded thoughtfully. Reports of winged demons appearing sporadically across the region weren''t something to ignore.


    "And speak to your other organizers. You have enough money to start a faction. You get what I mean?"


    "Hey, I don''t remember you being older than me," Marco retorted. Though there was only a three-year difference, he was still older, right?


    "Yeah, see you later."


    With that, Vahn forced himself to carry his bags the rest of the way to the bus. ''It still hurts,'' he thought, wincing slightly. But it was far better than being a cripple.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ...


    After loading his belongings, Vahn boarded the vehicle.


    Surprisingly, or perhaps not, it was silent. The faces of the students around him reflected a shared, unspoken sentiment; none of them wanted to be here. But choice wasn''t a luxury any of them had.


    As he made his way down the aisle, he felt lingering stares following him. He knew why, but he ignored them, settling into an empty seat. With a glance around, he leaned back, closing his eyes. There was no point in staying awake.


    In exchange for sending their youth to the Alliance, a few conditions had been agreed upon. The first was Secrecy. The location of the camp had to remain hidden. With spies lurking in every organization, the risk of terrorist attacks was too great. Even the students themselves weren''t privy to the camp''s true location.


    Sleeping gas was ineffective against ability users, and stronger alternatives bordered on poison. So, the Alliance used illusions instead. They showed the students what they wanted them to see. With most of them being as weak as E-ranks, they wouldn''t even realize they were trapped in an illusion.


    Due to that, it led to bizarre conversations like,


    "Hey, so you live in a desert?"


    "No?"


    "We saw you coming from a desert house. No need to lie."


    The illusion was always active.


    ***


    In a dimly lit office, the glow of messages flickered across a screen on the table. A man glanced briefly at the top of the report.


    ''No ability? Useless.'' He lost interest immediately.


    And he wasn''t the only one. Across different locations, several others received the same message. Most dismissed it as soon as they saw those two words, No ability.


    However, a few of them thought differently.


    ***


    Vahn''s eyes snapped open, assaulted by an overwhelming wave of heat. He raised his hand to shield his face from the blinding sun, squinting at his surroundings.


    Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the lieutenant was already speaking.


    "Once you disembark, follow the instructions of the designated officers. Those assigned for punishments will receive their orders shortly. Welcome to the World Defense Alliance."


    With a crooked smile, the lieutenant stepped off the bus.


    "STEP DOWN FROM YOUR BUSES IN AN ORDERLY MANNER!" another voice barked.


    Students obeyed, filing out of the buses with reluctant precision.


    In the distance, Vahn saw a raised platform where five men stood, clad in military uniforms. No one needed to be told what to do next. They instinctively began moving toward the platform.


    The crowd grew quickly, swelling to over 3,000 students, with more buses still arriving. The noise escalated as the numbers doubled, a chaotic symphony of voices and footsteps.


    Vahn stood alone, not out of choice but a habit. His high school years had been marked by isolation and bullying, and those scars lingered. Besides, no one related to the bullied and he''d only endured it because of a promise he made to Marco years ago.


    But here, things would be different. He wouldn''t allow himself to be bullied, and here, he would try to make some friends.


    ''Should I?'' Testing himself, he reached out and tapped the shoulder of the person in front of him. His heart raced with immediate regret as the girl turned to face him.


    She was pretty in an understated way: pale skin, flowing black hair, and warm brown eyes. She wore a simple, flowing dress.


    "Hey."


    "Hi."


    "Vahn."


    "Carla."


    "Nice name."


    "Thanks!"


    Then Vahn ran out of what to say and stood, staring at her for a full minute that felt like years.


    ''Fuck, this is a disaster, Vahn thought, internally screaming. He prayed for something, anything, to interrupt the painfully awkward exchange.


    As if summoned by his desperation:


    "ATTENTION!"


    Vahn''s head immediately snapped toward the voice, grateful for the distraction. He didn''t catch Carla''s expression as she turned as well.


    "WELCOME TO THE WORLD DEFENSE ALLIANCE. THIS IS CAMP 5, WHERE YOU WILL SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS. NOW, YOU WILL BE CALLED IN BATCHES FOR NECESSARY PROCEDURES. CAPTAINS ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS CLASSES WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE REST."


    The five officers stepped down, replaced by others who began calling out names.


    The noise surged again.


    This time, Vahn knew better than to try striking up another conversation.

 Artificial Pdm

    After several names were called,


    "Martin Rolly, Jessica..., Carla Heister, and Randy Blake."


    Carla was selected among a group of ten. They moved behind the raised platform and disappeared.


    Ten minutes later, the next group was announced:


    "Danny Fawkes, Lily Dune... Vahn Clay."


    Vahn''s group, consisting of six girls and four boys, stepped forward. Upon reaching the designated area, they were instructed,


    "Stand over the markings on the floor."


    Looking down, Vahn noticed intricate engravings beneath his feet. Once everyone was positioned, the instructor crushed something that released a shimmering powder, spreading across the engravings.


    WHIRRR


    The markings glowed, and in an instant, their surroundings changed.


    ''Urgh...'' Vahn clutched his head, groaning softly. He glanced around, noticing no one else seemed affected.


    ''Is it an ability thing?'' he wondered.


    They were now in a stark white room. In front of them stood a formally dressed woman, tapping on a tablet.


    "Please pick up a phone and form a single line," she instructed without looking up.


    However, the students didn''t bother about her attitude, it was the fact they got phones. Immediately looking to the side, they could see another military personnel standing with a box at his front. Their excitement grew at the sight of the box filled with phones.


    The military personnel didn''t try to pick for them, he just stood there. ''Probably here to prevent theft,'' Vahn thought as he queued. When it was his turn, he picked up a phone and approached the woman.


    "Take it out," she said, finally glancing at him. After attending to five others, she reached Vahn.


    "Name, age, and ability?"


    "Vahn Clay, 17, and I don''t have an ability."


    A brief silence followed. Curious glances darted his way. Even the woman hesitated before returning to her tablet and after a short while.


    "Okay. Go through that door," she directed, pointing left, "The rest of you, that way."


    With a final glance at his group heading right, Vahn entered the left door.


    ¡­


    SWING...


    Heads turned as he stepped in. The room resembled a classroom, filled with other students.


    However, they weren''t his focus at this moment. Just from their faces, he could tell they were all non-ability users. Moody, depressed, sadness, fear-stricken, and lifelessness were what he saw on their faces, and he didn''t bother with them.


    If he, as a non-ability user could already defeat most E-ranks, and these people were here sulking around, he didn''t even look at them twice and put his head on the table at his front.


    And his attitude didn''t go unnoticed,


    "H-Hey" Someone called out to him; however, he didn''t even bother answering. He was bound to hear some depressing talk like, do you know how hard it was for me? Or If I had an ability? Something along that line, so he ignored him.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Vahn''s focus was on the reason they were gathered like this.


    The boy felt disheartened and returned to his seat.


    A few hours later, after a few more people entered, two military personnel entered however most didn''t recognize their presence until,


    "Now, you all here don''t have abilities but don''t be sad. It isn''t permanent."


    Ears twitched at the words of the military man.


    Maybe before they were thinking of half listening to whatever anyone was going to tell them; however, he had now gotten their full attention.


    Raising their heads, they saw a smiling military man and an expressionless one.


    The military man still smiling continued, "There''s a technology that can draw out that sleeping potential from you. It is called, ''Artificial PDM'', and that machine will be used to awaken you all." He then spread his hands out as if he was their messiah. And truthfully, some were already looking at him like that.


    Eyes of hope shone brighter than the sun as even the depressed sat up with their eyes almost popping.


    ''I get they are the alliance and all, but why would they do that.'' Even without anyone telling him, he knew this artificial awakening wasn''t the best method. However, that was his only chance at the moment. And he didn''t think the alliance would just give out resources, ''Do they want something from us?'' However, the more he thought about it he didn''t understand.


    Why would the Alliance offer this so freely? Vahn wondered, skepticism gnawing at him.


    "Follow me," the officer commanded, and the two military men led the way as the students rushed to follow them. If it turned out to be limited, they couldn''t miss the opportunity.


    They navigated a labyrinth of white hallways until they reached massive double doors.


    PSSSHHH...


    Steam hissed as the doors opened, revealing a colossal device resembling an advanced VR pod, wires sprawling like veins all over it.


    "Wow..."


    "This is the Artificial PDM."


    "I-I can finally¡­"


    Maybe because of the hope were getting from the device, they could speak well, with some even crying saying things like ''Finally''.


    Military personnel in lab coats entered a bit later and began activating the machine.


    WHIIIEEEE


    A few seconds later, the device hummed to life.


    The Artificial PDM was now fully functioning.


    "Now, who goes first." The smiling military man faced them again and asked.


    "Me¡­"


    "No, I said it first."


    "I got here first."


    After calming the crowd, the smiling military man pointed to the student beside Vahn and then winked at Vahn.


    ''What was that for?'' Vahn pondered; however, he didn''t put much thought into it and watched the student go up the machine.


    Then the student entered the pod.


    WIIIIIEEEEEEEE


    This time the sound was louder, and it lasted about 10 minutes before it stopped.


    Everyone was watching with much expectation. ''Will it work? Or not?''


    PSSHHHH


    The pod hissed opened, and the boy emerged.


    Standing a few meters before the little crowd of expectant gazes, he then stretched out his hand. Lo and behold, little sparks of fire flickered in and out. His eyes were wide open, tears were dripping.


    "I-It worked?"


    The room erupted in awe and cheers.


    "H-He became an ability user¡­"


    "I-I want to go next¡­"


    Maybe the first person was a test subject, however they all now wanted to enter the pod.


    ''Why are they only sparks?'' Vahn frowned a bit. He had expected it to at least cover his hand, however nothing was even better than those sparks, right? So, he didn''t voice his opinion and watched the progression.


    The same process was repeated, and this one came with his hand morphed into metal.


    "Woahh¡­"


    "Cool¡­"


    "¡­"


    At this point, they were looking at the smiling military man with pleading eyes to be chosen next, then he pointed at another person.


    This time, the girl came out with a seed in her palm, it was obvious what hers were.


    One by one, students underwent the process, each emerging with new abilities.


    ***


    In a well-lit office, holographic notifications floated above a desk. A man smiled as he accepted them. Suddenly, ten holograms of stern-faced officials appeared.


    "Major-General, what is the meaning of this?" one demanded.


    "We can''t use the PDM on just anyone. It''s limited."


    "This is too far"


    The Major-General remained unbothered.


    "Look at this," he said, displaying Vahn''s profile.


    "No ability. He''s irrelevant."


    "Yes, though he looks like them, but he isn''t"


    "..."


    The Major still remained calm and spoke, "Here me out, what if, just what if he is, it won''t hurt to check, right?"


    "Okay, then what of the rest."


    "They aren''t important."


    "¡­"


    "Haa, why are you people so narrow-minded, huh?" The Major General shook his head in disappointment.


    "Y-You dare¡­"


    "You can''t talk to us like that¡­"


    "¡­"


    The hologram officials displayed anger on their faces.


    "Even if they aren''t important, imagine what they would say about the alliance when they tell their friends later. In the future, they feel indebted to the alliance and join us and in the end, they would see us as not so bad. Besides, that thing only reveals half their potential, why do you care for that." He explained still with a smile on his face.


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    The others were speechless for a second, then one of them sighed and asked,


    "Are you going to use half for the boy too?"


    "Of course, not¡­" The major general replied and continued, "You know what, let''s watch it together." With a wave of his hand, the room where the machine was, appeared


    And at that moment, the smiling military man pointed at Vahn,


    "You."

 Useless & Bad gamble

    "You."


    The word echoed across the sterile room, sharp and decisive. It was Vahn''s turn.


    Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his footsteps muffled against the pristine white floor. The pod loomed ahead, a metallic cocoon humming softly with latent energy.


    Vahn climbed inside; the hatch sealing shut with a hiss.


    SHHHHHHH.


    Thick mist hissed from hidden vents, engulfing him in a dense, cold fog.


    Within moments, his vision blurred, the world around him fading into nothingness.


    WIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE.


    A high-pitched whine pierced the silence, and everything went black.


    When Vahn opened his eyes, he found himself standing on a vast expanse of dry, cracked earth. The sky was an endless canvas of gray, oppressive, and heavy.


    Confusion gripped him as he reached for his head, a sudden, sharp pain slicing through his thoughts. But just as swiftly as it came, the pain vanished, leaving only an eerie clarity.


    His gait shifted instinctively, as though his body recognized the purpose of this strange dream. He looked up and saw them.


    Suspended in the sky were beings of unimaginable power. Though he''d never seen them before, Vahn knew them. It was a strange situation, he suddenly knew something he had never seen.


    To the far right, a colossal dragon as vast as the moon unfurled its wings, each beat spanning hundreds of kilometers. Its scales were midnight black, and its golden, reptilian eyes burned with ancient fury. A single roar shattered distant planets into cosmic dust.


    Beside the dragon, a phoenix blazed with ethereal fire, its elegant neck arched in prideful lament, mourning its beauty wasted in this desolate realm.


    Next stood a slender figure, humanoid in form but radiating malevolence. A demon, born from the darkest, loneliest, and deepest abyss, who had devoured the seven kings of emotion to ascend as the Demon god and earned the name, Lucifer.


    Further along, was a being of pure light, divine and commanding. No, it''s being itself commanded divine to give way. Its ten pairs of wings shimmered like celestial blades, far surpassing the six wings known to archangels.


    A massive tree the size of a world towered beside them with its branches sprawling like continents. The World Tree is a source of boundless life force, capable of resurrecting the dead just by staying close to it.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Then came the Sun Beast, an entity that roamed the cosmos, devouring suns and extinguishing their light.


    The Void Beast followed a paradoxical creature that consumed everything, even itself, leaving behind an eternal hunger.


    A stone embodied the elemental forces, earth, fire, water, and wind, pulsating with raw, untamed energy.


    And there were more, countless mythical and incomprehensible entities, each radiating overwhelming power.


    But Vahn felt nothing for them.


    And immediately he made his request evident, the ground trembled as his silent rejection echoed across the barren landscape.


    Rumble....


    Followed by an ancient voice that rumbled through the air,


    ["Eschatos."]


    The earth cracked, and with a deafening roar, another figure emerged, a human.


    Vahn''s heart raced. His eyes locked onto the figure, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him as if he''d been waiting for this moment his entire life.


    Without thinking, he stretched out his hand and whispered,


    ["Devour."]


    ***


    Far from Vahn''s location, in a realm cloaked in absolute darkness, so profound it seemed to devour even itself, voices whispered,


    "Another one has come."


    "Which one?"


    "I don''t know."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Nothing left."


    "Tsk, a useless one then."


    Silence fell once more, as cold and eternal as the void itself. The next time a voice would be heard next was unknown.


    ***


    PSSSSSHHHHH.


    The pod hissed open. Vahn stepped out, greeted by skeptical stares and whispered complaints.


    "Finally..." one student muttered, rolling his eyes.


    "What took him so long?"


    "He was in there for over an hour..."


    Their voices blended into a chorus of discontent. But the military personnel watched him closely, their expressions tense. Even the usually cheerful officer wore a serious look.


    ''Two hours...'' the officer mused. ''Did he awaken something extraordinary?''


    Curiosity soon broke the silence.


    "Hey, what ability did you get?" someone asked, eager to see Vahn''s newfound power.


    Vahn nodded slightly, raising his hand with quiet confidence.


    However,


    Nothing happened. No ability, no effects on the surroundings, there was no change.


    A frown creased his brow. He tried again. Still, nothing.


    Confusion settled in. ''Wasn''t that the awakening?'' He clearly remembered devouring the human-shaped entity.


    So, why was there no change?


    Murmurs grew louder.


    "Don''t tell me... he still doesn''t have an ability?"


    Shock rippled through the crowd. He had spent two hours in the pod, longer than anyone else. Yet, he emerged empty-handed.


    The officer exchanged a helpless glance with the hidden camera, his earlier confidence dissolving into disbelief.


    And if one could realize, the control room where the holographic projection displayed Vahn''s failure was,


    "Are you telling me he still didn''t awaken?" someone blurted.


    The Major-General stared, his face unreadable.


    "Impossible. We pushed it to 100%, didn''t we, Major?"


    Silence.


    The Major-General didn''t respond.


    This was a gamble, a high-stakes bet that had now seemingly failed. He had bent protocols, and crossed lines, all for nothing.


    "What do we do now, Major?"


    Their voices blurred, fading into the background. The Major-General sighed, severing the connection, and cutting off the camera feed.


    At this point, the last of the people who still had a speck of hope lost hope in him. If he wasn''t an asset, they couldn''t care about him anymore


    But they were wrong.


    ***


    Unbeknownst to them, something had awakened within Vahn. Not a flashy ability or elemental power, but something deeper. Something ancient. Something primal.


    It stirred in the depths of his being, quietly, patiently.


    Vahn, oblivious to the disappointment around him, clenched his fist with renewed determination. ''This is just one of many things I''ve tried. I won''t stop here.''


    Yet, a nagging thought lingered.


    ''If I didn''t get an ability... then what did I devour?''

 New Roommates

    A few hours later, the artificial awakening process had concluded.


    Unfortunately, Vahn was the only one who didn''t awaken. The person who entered the pod after him was initially terrified, fearing the same fate, but she awakened successfully, boosting the morale of the previously disheartened non-ability users.


    Afterward, they were escorted back to the vast expanse of land where they had first arrived.


    "PICK UP YOUR LUGGAGE AND CHECK YOUR PHONES FOR YOUR DORMITORY ASSIGNMENTS," a soldier barked, his voice cutting through the chatter. The group complied swiftly.


    ''Dorm A, Room 103,'' Vahn read from his phone. The screen flickered and displayed a map guiding him from his current location to his dormitory.


    ''This makes things easier,'' he thought, dragging his luggage along the designated path. His phone beeped softly, signaling his arrival at the destination.


    ''Convenient, but it would''ve been cooler as a watch,'' Vahn mused. Looking up, he was greeted by the sight of a massive four-story building. Its height was typical, but its sheer width and length were staggering.


    ''It starts from Room 1, huh?'' he thought, pulling his luggage toward the entrance.


    "Isn''t that the guy who didn''t awaken?"


    "Yeah, he scared me. I thought it wasn''t going to work for me either."


    "Ha, guess there are levels even among us ''lows.''"


    The same people who had been anxious and downtrodden hours earlier now strutted with newfound confidence. Their words buzzed around Vahn, but he ignored them, his expression indifferent.


    ''That''s why I detest them,'' he thought, continuing without a glance back. He found it infuriating. It wasn''t the first time he''d witnessed such fickleness, pleading for empathy when weak, only to sneer at others the moment they gained power.


    ¡­


    Navigating the labyrinthine corridors, Vahn finally reached Room 103 on the first floor.


    ''Oh, right¡­ roommates,'' he realized, not exactly thrilled by the prospect. But it was something he''d have to endure.


    Pushing the door open, he took in his new living space: two bunk beds on the right, desks and chairs on the left, and a bathroom door nestled between them, that was all.


    "Oh, you''re the last one to arrive," a voice greeted him.


    Vahn turned to see a slim boy perched on the top bunk. He had brown eyes, matching brown hair, and skin with a warm, earthy tone. The other two roommates remained silent: their faces obscured by indifference.


    "You''re Vahn, right?" the boy asked.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Vahn frowned slightly. "How do you know that?"


    The boy waved his phone. "They sent us a list of our roommates."


    "Oh," Vahn replied, pulling his luggage further into the room. He claimed the empty lower bunk beneath the brown-haired boy.


    "Name''s Dhyte," the boy introduced himself with a grin.


    Vahn tilted his head. "Dhyte?"


    "No, Dhyte, with a ''Y''," he corrected.


    Vahn nodded and began unpacking his clothes.


    "Hey, since we''re all here, why not get to know each other? You know, abilities, goals, that sort of thing," Dhyte suggested cheerfully.


    Silence.


    Undeterred, Dhyte continued, "Okay, I''ll start. I don''t fully understand my ability yet, but I can release this mist that holds people down for a bit." He demonstrated, a bluish mist swirling above his palm.


    Vahn''s eyes narrowed.


    Vahn felt familiar with the mist that was hovering around his hand. He felt like he had seen it somewhere before.


    ''Yes, it was that dream. It was among those beings I saw.'' That was the only reason he could have felt familiar with the mist.


    ''What was it again, something s-shard.'' Then it clicked, however, the words slipped out unconsciously, "Moon shard."


    "What?" Dhyte looked puzzled.


    "Nothing," Vahn muttered, refocusing on his unpacking.


    Surprisingly, another roommate spoke up. "William. My ability''s called Machine. I can create any machine out of thin air." He raised his hand, conjuring a replica of their standard-issue phone.


    Vahn nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Most people don''t realize it''s like an exchange," William continued. "Small stuff like this phone is easy, but for bigger things, like a tank, I need to trade materials. I usually use energy cores, but even then, it''s limited by my imagination, and¡­"


    "SHUT UP."


    The third roommate finally spoke, his voice a harsh bark. He leaped from his top bunk, towering over the others with his massive frame. Over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, with features that seemed too mature for his age.


    "From now on, I''m the leader of this room. You''ll do as I say," he declared, flexing arrogantly.


    Vahn blinked, turning to Whyte for confirmation about such brazenness however Dhyte looked just as baffled.


    "If you want to speak, ask for permission," the brute sneered.


    William wasn''t having it. "You can''t order us around," he snapped, summoning small flying machines that hovered menacingly.


    "And what will you do about it?" the bully mocked.


    Without hesitation, William fired.


    Pew...Pew...Pew...Pew


    However, the brute''s arms morphed into metallic shields, effortlessly deflecting the projectiles with a dull clink.


    "Is that all?" he laughed, lowering his guard as bullets bounced harmlessly off his reinforced skin.


    Frustrated, William gritted his teeth at the helplessness of his ability.


    Then, blue mist seeped into the fray, binding the brute in place.


    "I can''t hold him for long. Aim for his head!" Whyte shouted, his hands trembling.


    William redirected his attack.


    "Hmm?" Sensing real danger, the brute roared, his body struggling against the mist and his head turned metallic just in time to deflect the shots.


    Clank. Clank. Clank.


    "Gahh¡­" Dhyte''s bond on the huge roommate got released and he began panting.


    And William''s shots stopped. He had put a lot into the last attack; however, it didn''t work.


    "See? I give orders, you follow," the brute jeered.


    "H-Hey, aren''t you going to help too?" Whyte gasped, glancing at Vahn.


    "Hmm?" It was as if the huge roommate just remembered there was a fourth person and looked in his direction.


    "Yeah, I was just making sure." Vahn looked up slowly, his golden eyes flashing.


    ***


    In the dark and brittle darkness where one would never expect anything to happen to happen for the next years suddenly came active again.


    "Someone has left¡­"


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    The people here obviously knew it wasn''t the new user they were talking about, they had left his topic, hence the reason they were speechless. What this meant was,


    Someone had left their domain, and while it wasn''t a crime to leave, it was a matter of who left.


    RUMBLE¡­


    The darkness shook, alerting the people to the presence of someone, and with a calm voice none of them dared to disobey,


    "Leave it."

 Trouble

    While William and Whyte were busy fending off their aggressive roommate, Vahn methodically scanned the room.


    Among the compromises the world made for their younger generations to attend the force alliance for two years. The first was the location to be largely unknown, and the second was,


    Not monitoring the movements and dealings of their younger generation. Meaning no means of monitoring students in certain places, especially in the dormitories.


    His instincts urged him to check for any hidden abnormalities. But before he could complete his sweep, the fight had already ended in defeat for William and Dhyte.


    ''Metal?'' Vahn assessed the situation swiftly. Physically, he was still human, and logically, his fists should shatter against a metallic opponent. However, his last battle had been against a D-rank adversary who had nearly crippled him, yet he had managed to survive, barely.


    Though he wasn''t one to complain about the methods of winning, it was clear he would have won. However, what of this huge roommate,


    With calculated precision, Vahn dashed toward the hulking roommate. The giant sneered, expecting Vahn to aim directly for his reinforced head.


    "Foolish," the brute mocked.


    But Vahn was anything but. At the last second, he diverted his punch, driving his fist deep into the roommate''s unprotected stomach.


    Thwack!


    "Guh!" The massive boy doubled over; the wind knocked out of him. Instinctively, he lowered his guard, exposing his face.


    "Now you''re the fool," Vahn murmured, his fist colliding squarely with the brute''s jaw.


    Smack!


    The force sent the giant staggering backward. Vahn didn''t let up. He grabbed the brute''s head, yanked it down, and slammed his knee into the already bleeding nose.


    The boy crumpled to the floor.


    Without hesitation, Vahn straddled him, his fist rising and falling in ruthless succession.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Twack. Twack. Twack.


    "You know what, you take orders from me now," Vahn hissed between blows.


    Blood pooled beneath them; the giant''s face was nearly unrecognizable.


    Still, Vahn didn''t stop.


    "H-Hey, V-Vahn, I think that''s enough," Dhyte''s trembling voice finally broke through the haze of violence. He reached out hesitantly from his bunk.


    Just as Vahn prepared to strike again¡ª


    DOOM!


    A sound like a distant war drum reverberated through the room.


    Vahn froze mid-punch, his body paralyzed. His eyes widened in confusion.


    "What?" he whispered, glancing down. The brute was unconscious, clearly not the source.


    ''Gahhh!'' A searing pain exploded within him, a cascade of agony that spread from his skull to his very bones. It felt like his organs were being twisted, crushed, and torn apart all at once.


    Through the haze, he managed to glance at Dhyte, whose hand was still outstretched.


    "No, no, no! It''s not me!" Dhyte frantically waved his hands, panic etched across his face.


    But Vahn couldn''t process the words. The pain was all-consuming.


    "Gahhhh!" He collapsed, convulsing violently.


    "W-What''s happening to him?!" William shouted, dropping from his bed.


    "I don''t know! I swear, I didn''t do anything!" Dhyte stammered, scrambling for his phone. "I-I think there''s an emergency contact on here!"


    Vahn''s body trembled uncontrollably, sweat pouring from his pale face.


    "Then call it!" William barked, hovering nervously.


    Beep... beep... beep.


    Dhyte''s fingers fumbled over the screen, drenched in sweat.


    "Found it!" he exclaimed, just as William cried out,


    "Wait¡­ he stopped moving."


    Dhyte turned, his heart sinking. Now, Vahn lay motionless, his chest eerily still.


    "I-Is he dead?" Whyte whispered, his voice shaking.


    William didn''t answer. Instead, he conjured a small circular device and pressed it against Vahn''s chest. And a compact monitor materialized in his palm.


    Beep... beep... beep.


    "He''s alive," William sighed, collapsing to the floor. "Stable¡­ for now."


    Suddenly, a groan echoed through the room.


    "Urgh..."


    The brute stirred.


    Without exchanging a word, Dhyte released his mist, ensnaring the boy, while William created a taser.


    Bzzzt!


    The brute collapsed again, unconscious. Who knew what he would do once he woke up, they couldn''t even match him. If Vahn was awake, maybe they would have left him, however, he too was out.


    "For fuck''s sake, it''s just the first day," William muttered, dragging his hands down his face.


    "Let''s move Vahn to his bed," Dhyte suggested. They both agreed and carried him gently, leaving the heart monitor device in place.


    "Should we take him to the clinic?" Dhyte asked, glancing between Vahn and the brute.


    "No. It''ll cause unnecessary trouble. Barion''s an ability user. He''ll wake up soon, but Vahn¡­" William trailed off, unable to finish the thought.


    And unfortunately, at that moment, Vahn''s phone received a notification.


    Bleep¡­


    [Student Vahn Clay, report to the location sent to you for your designated punishment. You are to report within the next 30 minutes.]


    ¡­


    Five hours later,


    "Urghh..." Vahn groaned, his eyes fluttering open.

 Finally & First day

    Vahn awoke with a pounding headache, his senses dulled and his mind clouded. Blinking against the dim light filtering through the dorm window, he groaned and propped himself up on one elbow. His hand instinctively went to the side of his head, trying to soothe the throbbing pain. As he sat up fully, he noticed something attached to his chest, a small, circular device softly beeping with each faint pulse of his heartbeat.


    "What''s this?" he muttered, ripping the heart monitor off with little care.


    "Oh? You''re awake," Dhyte''s voice broke through the haze. He sat at the edge of his bed, his face etched with worry.


    "What happened?" Vahn asked, his voice hoarse.


    "That''s what we should be asking you," William replied from across the room, arms crossed, his expression serious. "After beating Barion, you suddenly started convulsing."


    Vahn opened his mouth to respond, but a sudden golden interface flashed before his eyes.


    [YOU HAVE ABSORBED ESSENCE OF ???]


    [ABSORPTION RATE: 1%]


    His breath caught in his throat. "What?" he whispered, staring at the message in disbelief.


    "Is something wrong?" William stepped closer, his posture tense, ready for anything.


    "No, nothing," Vahn waved him off, masking his confusion. Then, with a curious glance, he asked, "Can you see anything in front of me?"


    William exchanged a wary look with Whyte. "What are you talking about?" he replied, his brow furrowed.


    Vahn exhaled sharply. ''So, they can''t see it,'' he thought, calming himself. ''This screen... only I can see it.''


    He focused on the message again. ''Absorbed essence?'' His mind drifted back to the pod from earlier that day to the mysterious being he''d encountered. He had assumed the process had failed, but clearly, it hadn''t.


    ''Is it triggered by fighting?'' The theory seemed plausible, though strange. And the "1% absorption rate" piqued his curiosity. He clenched his fist, feeling a subtle yet undeniable difference in his strength.


    ''I''ve definitely gotten stronger.'' His heart raced with excitement. He had always yearned for an ability, and now, it was finally his. He was surprised. Among the things he did to get the ability was regularly check his body for any changes, and now he could feel the difference between his previous body and his current.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He clenched his fist and opened it again. The way his hand moved was different and he didn''t need anyone to tell him, he had awakened.


    ''So, what is my ability?'' Smiling at the thought of finally awakening, he began thinking of what his ability could possibly be. ''So, do I think of using it?'' He closed his eyes and thought of using his ability.


    However, nothing happened.


    "Hey, William, can I ask you something?" Vahn broke the silence.


    "Hmm?" William responded, tilting his head slightly.


    "How do you use your ability?"


    William chuckled. "Are you seriously asking me that?"


    Vahn nodded, unfazed.


    "Oh, you were serious? Well," William sighed, "it''s like instinct. In the same way you don''t think about chewing your food, you just do it. You know what you can do, and you release it."


    Vahn absorbed the explanation and focused on his hand again. ''Maybe it''s a physical ability.'' The latent power he felt coursing through his body hinted at immense potential. He gauged himself to be at peak E-rank, perhaps capable of taking on a D-rank.


    ''Now, for my new goal, I should grow my ability to at least C-rank before this two years end.'' he resolved, his heart swelling with determination.


    "Nghn¡­"


    A groan snapped him from his thoughts. Barion stirred, his battered form struggling to sit up. William and Dhyte instinctively prepared for a possible confrontation, however, Barion merely glanced at Vahn before trudging to his bed without a word. He didn''t even clean off the blood on his body.


    Vahn watched him with mild interest, then reclined, letting sleep claim him once more. William sighed and climbed into his bed. Dhyte switched off the lights and the room descended into an uneasy silence.


    However, he couldn''t sleep that night due to the tense situation.


    ¡­


    The shrill ring of the alarm pierced the dawn quiet, dragging them from sleep at 6 AM.


    It was the first official day of classes at the Alliance.


    After quick showers and donning their black camouflage uniforms, the standard issue for Alliance military personnel, distinguished only by unique badges and intricate designs, the trio left their dorm.


    "Which class are you in?" Dhyte asked.


    "1-F," Vahn replied, glancing at his phone, which displayed his schedule and a map.


    Navigating through the sprawling campus, he arrived at his designated classroom after parting ways with Dhyte and William.


    The layout was typical: rows of desks, and a podium at the front. His eyes quickly locked onto a familiar figure.


    ''Carla.''


    She sat near the window, her demeanor cool and indifferent and the only vacant seat in the class was beside her. Steeling himself, Vahn approached.


    "Hey," he greeted.


    "Hi," she replied curtly, not sparing him more than a glance.


    Awkwardly, he took his seat, the tension palpable. Thankfully, the class was a bit rowdy, the cringe was less that way.


    Suddenly, an arm draped over his shoulder. "Just talk to her already," a voice teased.


    Vahn turned to see a tall boy with black hair and striking green eyes. "Who are you?" he asked.


    "Handel. Call me Han," the boy grinned.


    "Vahn," he replied, still confused by Han''s boldness.


    "I saw you yesterday. You''ve got no game, man," Han laughed, oblivious to Carla''s indifference.


    Before Vahn could respond, a commanding voice cut through the chatter.


    "SETTLE DOWN!"


    The room fell silent as a tall figure strode to the podium. Dressed in a similar uniform with an olive-green overcoat, his stark white hair contrasted sharply with his dark attire.


    "As we met yesterday, my name is John Martis," he announced, his voice sharp and authoritative. "Call me Professor Martis. I''ll be your class supervisor.


    "You''ve all heard the general history of demons, abilities, and their effects. But today, we begin exploring the truths hidden beneath that history."

 Offend me

    No one knew how, but one of the Supremes'' abilities worked like a restriction. With that power, information was massively controlled, from what could be passed and what could be said to others under the restrictions, under a certain age.


    Currently, all students are free from the restriction, however the moment they were to graduate the alliance, the restriction was placed on them.


    So, what the students were about to hear was first-hand information.


    "The demons were ranked according to the number of wings they possessed. A single pair was the weakest among them down to the five pairs who reigned as their leaders, it was the most formidable of their kind. With their demon leader, they ravaged the world until, through the combined might of beings now known as the Supremes, the demon leader was defeated," Professor Martis explained, his voice steady, resonating through the lecture hall.


    Vahn sat quietly, absorbing the information, his mind racing. ''Just five pairs...'' He couldn''t believe what he was hearing. What truly unsettled Vahn wasn''t the secrecy. No, it was the memory of the being he had seen within the pod, the demon bearing ten pairs of wings: Lucifer.


    Its power was beyond comprehension.


    ''They struggled to defeat a demon with only five pairs,'' Vahn thought, his chest tightening with unease. ''If that thing were real...'' The mere thought sent a chill down his spine. And that wasn''t all. Alongside that demon, he''d seen an angel with ten pairs of wings, radiating an equally overwhelming presence. How many more beings like that exist?


    Professor Martis continued, his tone unwavering. "After the final demon was slain, the battle was etched into history as the First Great War. What followed was a period of restoration and recovery. But the world was not at peace, as new threats emerged. These creatures were birthed from the remnants of demonic influence. These monsters, unlike the demons, were varied in form, characteristics, territories, and strength. The Supremes theorized that they were byproducts of the demons'' corruption, lingering echoes of chaos."


    The class listened intently as Martis detailed how these monsters came to be known as Marked Beasts. "These marked beasts then turned out to be more of a blessing than a new curse, and with time, we were able to group these new beasts. In time, more details will be passed. However, what you should know is abilities were also classified within these ranks, reflecting the power needed to confront such beasts."


    Pausing briefly to let the information sink in, Martis shifted the topic. "Now, regarding your abilities. Each of you possesses one, I presume. The source of these abilities we all have is something we call Est."


    A murmur spread through the class. Vahn listened closely. These were among the information they weren''t privy to.


    "Est manifests in various forms, which explains the diversity in abilities. As you progress in the Alliance, you''ll learn more about Est and its mysteries. For now, this basic understanding will suffice."


    The professor''s gaze swept over the students. "I believe you already know the reason you are in this alliance. So, I will just go ahead and speak. Honestly, we would rather have you in the alliance, but we wouldn''t also force you. Moving on, any announcements, maps, and schedules we have will be sent to your phones. Don''t lose it, punishments are attached to it." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Bring out your phones, you are all going to have to use your phones now." With a beep sound from Martis'' device, he continued, "Courses selections are now open. This year, you will undertake seven courses: three mandatory and four electives based on your preferences. Choose wisely. Changes cannot be made later. Any questions?"


    A student hesitantly raised his hand.


    "Yes?"


    Before the student could speak, the classroom doors burst open.


    Bang...


    Three military officers marched in, their presence casting an immediate pall over the room. The class fell into an uneasy silence, all eyes shifting between the soldiers and Professor Martis, who gave a slight nod of acknowledgment instead of asking questions. After all, it was a rule to not disturb a superior''s order.


    The officer in the center stepped forward. "Student Vahn Clay. For ignoring summons related to disciplinary action, your punishment has been escalated. You are to come with us."


    Vahn froze, confusion gripping him. ''What is going on?'' His mind raced as his classmates turned to stare. Han and Carla''s startled expressions had long betrayed his identity before he could even react.


    "Hey, what happened?" Han whispered, shaking Vahn out of his daze.


    Vahn forced a shaky breath. "It¡­ it must be a misunderstanding."


    Rising from his seat, he followed the officers without protest, ignoring the whispers and sideways glances trailing behind him. Carla''s gaze lingered longer than the others, her curiosity evident.


    Afterward, Professor Martis resumed his lecture as though nothing had happened. After all, it was a common occurrence.


    ¡­


    The military officers led Vahn to the top floor of the camp''s main building, stopping before a door marked ''Major General''. One of the officers knocked sharply.


    "Enter," a voice commanded from within.


    Instead of stepping inside, the soldiers gestured for Vahn to proceed alone.


    Swallowing his anxiety, Vahn pushed the door open.


    The room was lavish, more akin to a luxurious lounge than an office. Glass tables gleamed under the light of an ornate chandelier; golden-trimmed furniture was arranged meticulously around a grand mahogany desk. Behind it sat a man whose presence radiated authority.


    The Major General.


    Dark hair slicked back, sharp red eyes, and military regalia adorned with medals and insignias that marked his rank and achievements. Yet, his piercing gaze held something more personal, a restrained disdain. After all, he was the man who had gambled everything to let Vahn awaken and it ended in a failure.


    The major general frowned slightly so as not to reveal his full emotions. The truth was, he was already facing the repercussions of his actions, and it was still only in its beginning stages.


    Now, here is a question. What would one do if they were in a situation to punish their mortal enemy?


    Without a preamble, the Major General spoke. "Lying to an officer. Falsifying disability to avoid conscription. Ignoring disciplinary summons for over ten hours." He listed the accusations coldly. "Your punishment is one month in the dungeons, effective immediately."


    "What?" Vahn jerked in shock.


    "Take him."


    Before he could protest further, the soldiers re-entered, and everything went black.


    Later, the Major General''s secretary entered, a poised woman with sharp features, clad in a tailored suit.


    "You called for me, sir?" she asked.


    Without looking up, he ordered, "Terminate Vahn Clay''s enrollment. And locate his guardian or any known associates."


    The secretary hesitated, frowning. "Sir? I thought he was sent to the dungeons."


    The Major General gave a dark, twisted smile. "The dungeons are for those who haven''t offended me."


    A chill ran down the secretary''s spine. She nodded swiftly and left without another word, suppressing a shudder.


    Whatever Vahn had done, his days were now numbered, she thought grimly.

 Shocking reveal

    ''Where am I?'' Vahn''s eyes flickered open, met by suffocating darkness.


    The last memory etched into his mind was standing before the Major-General, receiving his sentence. After that, nothing.


    ''Mm?'' He attempted to move, but his limbs refused to respond. Summoning all his strength, he forced a twitch, and the sound echoed.


    CLANG¡­ CLANG


    ''Chains?'' Confusion seeped in as he realized his wrists and ankles were bound. ''Why am I here?'' His so-called "crimes" didn''t warrant such severe punishment, right?


    Refusing to dwell on the injustice, he began to crawl, the cold, jagged floor scraping against his skin. After hitting an obstacle, he raised his hand to feel it. His fingers met something solid, metallic, long, immovable, with narrow gaps.


    [A/N: This is not what you think.]


    ''A cell. So, this is where I serve my punishment?'' Resigned, he slumped against the wall, attempting to rationalize his predicament.


    But then¡­


    "Hey, do you think this one will survive?"


    "Tsk, don''t ask me."


    "Okay, what level do you think he can last?"


    Vahn stiffened. ''Are they talking about me?''


    Step¡­ Step¡­ Step¡­


    The footsteps halted at the adjacent cell. The sound of keys jingling followed.


    Clink¡­ Clink¡­


    "W-Where are you taking me?" A terrified female voice pierced the silence.


    "P-Please, let me go!" another voice pleaded.


    "Shut up," snapped one of the guards, and then¡­ silence.


    ''Did they knock them out? Where are they taking them? What is this place?'' Panic coiled around Vahn''s chest as those questions kept coming to him.


    This didn''t seem like an ordinary punishment. This was something darker.


    He yanked at his chains, muscles straining in vain. However, they didn''t even show any signs of cracking, even with his newly obtained strength. It then dawned on him, ''These restraints are made for ability users.''


    Such were only used for criminals with capital crimes, and how he ended up like this was unknown to him.


    ''What should I do?'' He was considering escaping, however there was no opportunity at the moment for that. ''Should I wait?'' That was the only reasonable choice he could make at the moment.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Reluctantly, he moved away from the bar of the cell and sat down, his back leaning against the wall.


    Having nothing to do at the moment, his mind drifted to the notification he had received before he ended up here.


    [YOU HAVE ABSORBED ESSENCE OF ???]


    [ABSORPTION RATE: 1%]


    The golden text flickered before his eyes. He stared at the texts for a while before refusing to admit. He remembered the beings from that cracked wasteland. Their powers were unfathomable, and considering he rejected them despite that meant, the one he got was better, right?


    So, like he had always done in the past, he closed his eyes and tried to feel what was different about his body. He had already concluded his body was at the peak of E-rank, meaning he was trying to feel his ability in his body.


    So, he focused inward.


    Normally, his body felt like an empty void, or it was better to say, it was like just darkness, but now, a faint white flame flickered within him, elusive yet present.


    His excitement flared a bit but quickly regained himself. Then after watching it for a bit, he stretched forth his hand and reached for it¡­


    BOOM!


    An explosion of sensation erupted in his mind, snapping him back to reality.


    ''What was that?'' He stared at his trembling hands. Then as if answering his question,


    [NAME: VAHN ???]


    [PHYSICAL ABILITY: 13]


    [INNATE ABILITY: DEVOUR]


    [ABILITY: TELEPORTATION]


    The golden notifications reappeared. This time, Vahn wasn''t shocked by their presence but by their content.


    ''It doesn''t say my last name. Could it be...'' He remembered his conversation with Marco about the mysterious family lineage.


    ''So, Clay isn''t my real name?'' The thoughts of him having parents came, however he didn''t remember having any memories like that. So, without a choice, he shoved the thought aside. ''I''ll figure that out later.''


    Focusing on his abilities, he muttered, "Physical ability: 13. That must be the boost from absorbing that essence." Yet something felt off. "If I am at the peak of E-rank, why is it just 13." If he was at the peak, then the next number would take him to D-rank, but 14 didn''t sound like a number for the next rank, right?


    "Or am I viewing it the wrong way?" He felt there was a possibility the ranks made by Earth were different from what this golden screen saw.


    ''Innate ability: Devour. I thought everyone had only one ability.'' He frowned as confusion set in. But when nothing came, he smirked. He recalled how he used it in the desolate land. ''And if I can gain more essences this way...'' His excitement surged, but he tempered it, ''One step at a time.'' He didn''t need to be told. Overconfidence could lead to untimely death.


    Looking at the last, ''Teleportation''


    ''Teleportation,'' he thought. ''What if I just imagine myself outside the ce¡­''


    WHOOM!


    "Eh?" Vahn spun around in disbelief.


    After all, he was standing outside his cell.


    ''But is this not a chain to bound ability users? So why can I use my ability.'' He was shocked but didn''t wallow too much. This was a huge discovery, and it could even help him escape given the right time.


    He clenched his fist, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. This was it, his first real step toward power.


    But then¡­


    Step¡­ Step¡­ Step¡­


    Footsteps approached.


    ''Should I fight or wait?'' His mind was spinning for answers, however, he chose the latter and teleported back into the cell. It was only minutes ago he resolved against being too overconfident, he was still bound, the place too dark to make any move, and finally, he needed to gauge who he was attacking.


    ''Let''s see.''


    Two guards appeared, voices dripping with cruelty.


    "Haa¡­ those girls were useless. Did you hear them scream?" one sneered.


    "Shut up and focus," the other snapped.


    ''So, this is some kind of experimental site?'' Vahn''s heart raced. ''Did the Major-General know about this?'' However, there was no time for answers now.


    He slumped and began feigning fear, "P-Please, don''t come near me!" he whimpered, waving his hands frantically.


    CLINK¡­ CLINK


    The cell door creaked open. The guard chuckled darkly. "Hehe, but they sure know how to beg."


    As the man stepped closer, Vahn finally saw his captor''s face¡­


    "D-D-DEMON?" Real shock and fear marred his face.

 True face of the world

    Standing over two meters tall, with crimson skin, deformed faces, horns protruding from their foreheads, and leathery wings that denoted their strength, these were the hallmarks of demons. Vahn never imagined he''d encounter one in this place.


    His feigned fear shifted into genuine shock.


    Demons? Weren''t they extinct? How was this possible?


    If this is an experiment lab, was I handed over to demons for experimentation?


    Did the Major-general know about this?


    If he knew, did he still send me here?


    These thoughts spun through his mind, he wanted to deny it but the answer stood right before him.


    "Surprised, huh?" one of the demons chuckled at his expression, his grin revealing jagged, yellow teeth. "But unfortunately for you, all demons are gone."


    Before the demon could elaborate, his companion growled, "Shut up."


    "A-All demons are gone?" Vahn stammered, still reeling as they dragged him out of the cell. His shackled limbs scraped against the floor, echoing ominously in the dim corridor.


    "So, if demons are gone... what are you?" He knew the answer in his gut but asked anyway, grasping at straws.


    "Oh, you''ll see soon enough," the demon replied, his grin widening.


    They soon entered a brightly lit chamber. Vahn squinted, raising his chained hands to shield his eyes. ''How long have I been in the dark?'' When his vision adjusted, the scene before him stole his breath.


    It resembled a grotesque laboratory carved into a cavern.


    Demons, or creatures resembling them were suspended along the walls, their wings limp and blood trickling into tubes. Likewise, some wore lab coats, extracting fluids with sinewy tendrils, while others restrained screaming humans, injecting them with glowing substances.


    Some experiments ended in grotesque failure; others survived, though barely but they continued. If one even looked well, among the demons wearing lab coats, humans were among them.


    Demons and humans screamed out alike. It was a mix of a scream for help, horror, and terror. Then there was the air, it was thick with the mingled stench of death and decay, bodies heaped in dark corners, their vacant eyes staring into nothingness.


    Vahn gagged, covering his nose. "What the hell is this?"


    "Wrong question," the talkative demon sneered. "This is a test site."


    Vahn wanted to turn his body away, however the silent demon blocked his way.


    "No, no, it goes like this. If you can survive, you join us and we can talk, but if you can''t, well sorry. But survive, I like you." The talkative laughed maniacally.


    Since he couldn''t turn his back, he decided to close his eyes. Everything the talkative demon was saying was just passing through his ears because he could escape if he wanted to.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    However, he didn''t just want to.


    Just in the seconds he viewed this place, he could literally see the humans'' pain. He was only a non-ability until recently, he couldn''t suddenly begin to behave like a god and ignore it. At least, he should try to save those he could.


    ''However, before then, I should ask.'' He opened his eyes again. This time, he didn''t act scared, he faced the shit show going on and asked the demon.


    Vahn''s instincts screamed at him to flee, yet he remained still.


    After a moment of silent observation, he opened his eyes, pushing aside the nausea. "Before you experiment on me, answer one question."


    The demon laughed. "Since I like you, I''ll bite."


    "Was the Major-General involved in this?"


    "Eh?" The demon reacted in a surprised and shocked expression, then his grin twisted into something darker. "What do you think?"


    A bitter sigh escaped Vahn. ''So, this is the true face of the world.''


    Before coming to the alliance, his life had been simple, school, Marco, going through tests to obtain an ability, and the occasional fights he did as ''Underdog''.


    He''d been blind to the horrors lurking beneath the surface.


    But not anymore.


    "I will kill you, Major-General." The vow echoed in his mind, fierce and unyielding. and unknowingly, he blurted it out.


    "What are you-"


    Before the silent demon could react, Vahn struck, driving his elbow into the creature''s face. The demon staggered, stunned by the sudden defiance.


    "What are you doing?!" the talkative demon reacting quickly roared and lunged with its clawed hands.


    ''Now.'' Vahn teleported behind him in a blink, slamming his chained fists together down with brutal force.


    Bang!


    The demon crumpled, groaning in agony.


    The silent demon recovered, pointing with trembling fury, and screamed at the top of his lungs, "HOW IS HE USING HIS ABILITY WITH THOSE CUFFS?!"


    Ignoring the outburst, Vahn teleported again, this time in front of the silent demon, delivering a double-fisted blow that sent the creature sprawling. He mounted the demon, fists pounding relentlessly.


    Bang. Bang. Bang.


    Blood spattered, and with a sickening crack, the demon''s skull gave way.


    Yet Vahn didn''t stop until the head was unrecognizable.


    "YOU BASTARDDDD¡­" The talkative demon, dazed but defiant, charged once more. Vahn teleported behind him, repeating the savage assault until the creature lay lifeless.


    Panting heavily, his face slick with blood, Vahn sat amidst the carnage. ''I¡­ I killed them.'' Vahn muttered between breaths, however, there was no guilt, only a grim acceptance.


    This was survival.


    Vahn had never killed before; however, it was one of the things he had prepared his mind to do. As a non-ability user living in an ability world, some people just needed to be killed, however, he hadn''t done it yet. And against a demon, he didn''t need to feel a shred of guilt.


    The smell was too much, however, he still needed to breathe so he just took in everything.


    ''Thankfully, this place is already loud and there are no cameras," he muttered and briefly looked around him. If any of these were in place he would have been surrounded by now.


    Wiping his face, he glanced at the corpses. A wave of nausea surged, but he swallowed it down, ''There''s something I need to try.''


    He extended his hand, closing his eyes, he muttered, "Devour."


    He immediately felt a change in his body. Opening his eyes to see the effects, his eyes widened as from within him, a monstrous form erupted, a misshapen, red mass with jagged teeth spiraling in impossible directions.


    RAAAAARRRRRR


    It roared, then descended, consuming the bodies in one grotesque gulp before retreating into him. And with Vahn''s still wide eyes, the creature entered his body, and the demons were nowhere to be found.


    Then,


    Pain followed, sharp and searing, but familiar. ''Just like last time.'' He groaned as he endured the pain, if there was one thing to note, it was the pain wasn''t as intense as it previously was.


    His body convulsed, then settled. Strength surged through his veins.


    A golden notification blinked before his eyes:


    [YOU HAVE ABSORBED ESSENCE OF ??? -> 1.5%]


    [NAME: VAHN ???]


    [PHYSICAL ABILITY: 15]


    [INNATE ABILITY: DEVOUR]


    [ABILITY: TELEPORT]


    Vahn flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound power. ''Can I really grow stronger this way?'' However, he decided not to remain shocked each time.


    With a deep breath, he pulled apart the chains binding his wrists. They snapped like brittle twigs, falling to the bloodstained floor with a satisfying clang.


    He stood up and began massaging his wrist while staring down at the still-undergoing experiment.


    This was just the beginning.

 Plan to Escape: Final Breath

    With the chains clattering to the ground, Vahn freed his legs and rubbed his wrists, feeling the faint ache of restraint fading.


    "Now, a plan," he muttered under his breath, scanning the dim, cavernous expanse for anything he could use as a weapon. But the demons had been cautious, no tools or sharp objects lay within reach of the ability users.


    His gaze shifted to the patrolling demons, each armed with brutal instruments: spears, swords, axes. Those would be his targets.


    ''But I can''t attack them head-on.'' Vahn wasn''t na?ve. The demons guarding this place were bound to be far stronger than the two he''d just fought.


    Suddenly, a guttural voice echoed through the cavern.


    "Oi, Punchy, where the fuck are you?"


    From the dark opening where Vahn had been dragged in earlier, a larger demon emerged, an enormous axe slung lazily over its shoulder.


    Instinct kicked in. Vahn teleported behind it, but the demon was fast, already swinging its axe backward.


    BANG!


    The axe smashed into the cave wall, sending shards of rock and dust flying.


    "Who are you?" the demon growled, its yellow eyes narrowing as it saw Vahn escape its attack and wasn''t bound by chains.


    Vahn stood his ground with rough breath; he had narrowly just escaped with another teleportation. "Your killer."


    ''Fighting barehand against an axe is foolish, so I should approach first.'' Vahn thought in his mind, no more words needed to be said as he lunged forward.


    The demon sneered, raising its axe high.


    Then the blade came down like a guillotine, slicing through the air with deadly speed.


    ''Now.''


    Vahn teleported just before the blade could cleave him, reappearing beside the demon''s arm. He punched the creature''s wrist with all his strength.


    PATT!


    The demon''s grip faltered, the axe deflecting sideways. Vahn jumped, scrambling to seize the weapon. His fingers brushed against the handle when he felt an intense heat.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "What¡­?"


    His eyes snapped to the demon''s mouth. A searing orb of energy, the size of a football, gathered, glowing ominously.


    "Shit!"


    He had forgotten. Since these demons were created from the bodies of the actual demons, he didn''t think they would be able to copy their ultimate skill.


    Vahn barely had time to teleport as the orb shot toward him. It grazed his side, and an agonizing scream tore from his throat as half his body turned black, seared by the blast.


    "FUCK!" He collapsed, writhing in pain. It was as if molten metal coursed through his veins.


    "Hahaha, who would have thought too," The demon laughed, striding forward after seeing Vahn''s condition, "You know, we''re no different from the old demons now. We lost our abilities but gained something better, the demon''s ultimate technique: Final Breath."


    "Fuck¡­Fuckk" Vahn screamed in pain. He couldn''t feel the left side of his body, and the demon was already approaching with another final breath gathering in its mouth.


    Vahn gritted his teeth, and roared, "LOSE? ME?" Summoning every ounce of will, he forced himself to stand on his right side.


    "What?" The demon faltered, surprised by the defiance and unwillingness to die.


    With a roar, Vahn teleported again, appearing right beside the demon''s head. Before it could react, he plunged his fingers into one of its eyes.


    PSTCHH!


    "GAHHHH!"


    Blood spurted as Vahn yanked his hand free, then stabbed his fingers into the second eye, tearing it out with savage fury.


    The demon dropped its axe, howling in agony. Vahn teleported to the fallen weapon, his body trembling from exertion and pain.


    "FUCK!"


    With gritted teeth, he lifted the axe and straightened his body, teleporting back to the blinded beast. With a final, rage-filled cry, he swung the weapon in a wide arc.


    BANG...


    Vahn collapsed heavily to the ground. A heartbeat later, the demon''s severed head thudded beside him.


    Breathing heavily, Vahn didn''t hesitate. "DEVOUR!"


    RAAAAARRRR


    The monstrous entity erupted from him with a roar, its maw consuming both the demon''s head and body. Agonizing pain seized him again, mingling with the lingering burns.


    "GAAHHH!"


    This time, minutes passed before the torment subsided. Vahn examined his burned side. still scarred, but healing faster than expected.


    "I''ll avoid that next time," he muttered with heavy breaths, standing with effort. Yet, something was off. No notification. No power boost.


    He frowned, glancing at his healing flesh. ''Did it use the energy to repair me?'' That was the only explanation currently.


    Accepting the theory, he gripped the axe tightly.


    ''Now, with a weapon secured.''


    The path ahead was one where the back was towards the cell he came from, and the forward was down to the experiment site. However, he needed to save others. After fighting the demon with the axe, he realized he would need others to fight together.


    The sides were demarcations to other cells, and that was his destination. So, with the choice made, he tried to teleport beyond the demarcation ahead but failed.


    ''So, I can''t teleport past what I can''t see.'' He noted that in his mind and thought of another plan.


    It was a reckless one at that, however without hesitation, Vahn leaped over the demarcation, twisting mid-air, and teleported mid-fall into the next section.


    The demons there barely registered his presence before their heads rolled, severed by swift, precise swings of his axe.


    Thud. Thud.


    A girl, shackled and broken, stared in disbelief at the sight of her savior. Then when the monstrous creature emerged to devour the fallen demons, her shock turned to terror.


    Then that same savior approached her with a voice gentle despite the blood staining his skin. "Are you okay?"


    "M-M-MONSTER!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the cavern.

 Unexpected visitor

    After freeing the girl from her chains, calming her, and explaining the situation, she collapsed in relief.


    "But what was that monster I saw?" she asked, her voice trembling. There was more than just a monster; her innate instinct to flee surged upon seeing it.


    "It''s... my skill," Vahn replied, opting for simplicity. He couldn''t reveal the full truth about his innate abilities, but from her reaction, it was clear that whatever she had witnessed was dangerous. ''I should be careful,'' he thought, glancing at his left side, it still looked bad.


    "A-Are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face as she noticed his discomfort.


    "It''s nothing. But may I ask, how did you end up here?" His situation was a punishment, but he couldn''t assume the same for everyone else.


    The atmosphere suddenly got moody,


    "I-I was taking a walk with my boyfriend, and... when we reached an alley, he suddenly ditched me. Before I knew it, I was in some kind of cell," she recounted, her voice breaking with sobs.


    ''Then, she must have completed the alliance''s training,'' Vahn deduced, realizing she was likely over twenty. ''And her boyfriend was definitely working with them.''


    She raised her head and asked while cleaning her tears, "How did you get here?"


    "Misunderstanding," was all Vahn offered before moving to check the next compartment.


    "W-Wait, I can help¡­" She reached out to stop him, and when she had his attention, she added, "I can change myself." With that, she transformed into a demon.


    Vahn was taken aback by her ability, but that wasn''t all. As she opened her mouth, he could see her ultimate skill forming, but she canceled it and reverted to her human form.


    "This¡­" Shapeshifting was impressive enough, but copying skills were on another level. ''Wait, I can use her to get close to the machine and destroy it after saving everyone I can.'' With a clearer plan forming, he nodded. "We''re going to save everyone we can and try to escape."


    She nodded, determination glimmering in her eyes, and prepared herself.


    Vahn activated his previous technique to move to the next compartment, but it was empty.


    "W-We were late," the girl murmured, lowering her head in disappointment. The meaning was that the person had been experimented on.


    "Then we need to hurry," Vahn urged, prompting them to quicken their pace. With her agreement, they immediately moved to the next compartment.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ***


    The city was breathtaking.


    Towering buildings sparkled in the sunlight, reflecting vibrant colors onto the glass-like roads. Lush, exotic vegetation adorned every corner, while sleek cars glided gracefully through the air, and well-dressed civilians bustled about, attending to their daily affairs.


    Anyone who beheld this city would agree it was the most beautiful they had ever seen. If you asked any of the citizens, they would proudly declare it the most important and protected city in the world.


    This was the site the World Defense Alliance had chosen to establish after the long and grueling war. Built where the final demon fell, the city thrived on its core, aptly named First City.


    It represented humanity''s first victory over an external threat, a fitting tribute to their struggle. At the city''s heart stood an imposing structure, the headquarters of the World Defense Alliance.


    Soaring to a height of 1,000 meters and spanning 100 meters in width, it was the largest building the world had ever seen.


    On one of the highest floors, a meeting was underway.


    "The frequency of reports regarding the appearance of demons," was the topic dominating the discussion.


    "I''ve been hearing about this. Is it true?" a man at the far end of the table spoke, his gaze fixed on the flashing screen.


    The screen displayed various reports, and they were gathered to decide on a course of action.


    "Hmph¡­ here they come again with their ridiculous claims. The demons are gone," scoffed an arrogant middle-aged man without even glancing at the screen.


    "But we can''t deny their words. If they saw it, then they saw it," replied a thin man in glasses, his demeanor calm.


    The atmosphere in the room grew tense, voices rising in disagreement.


    Suddenly, a strong breeze swept through the room, silencing the chatter. The attendees instinctively turned their attention to the head of the table, where a man towards his old age in military attire, adorned with intricate designs and three stars on his uniform, sat.


    He was a lieutenant-general of the alliance.


    Despite his show of authority, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on a thin man at the end of the table.


    The man, feeling the weight of that gaze, trembled slightly before standing up. He bowed his head and began to speak, "I-I have reason to believe that while the demons are gone, they may still be lurking."


    "What do you mean?" the lieutenant-general frowned, intrigued but skeptical.


    "I¡ª" The man was about to elaborate when¡ª


    CRASHH¡­ CRASHH!


    A thunderous noise erupted, interrupting the meeting. All heads snapped toward the source of the sound, where a large hole had formed in the reinforced glass.


    "WHATTT¡­?"


    "This¡­?"


    "Who¡­?"


    The attendees reacted with shock, confusion spreading through the room. Even the lieutenant-general frowned; there had been no signs of a breach.


    WIOOOOOOOOOO¡­ WOOOOOOIIIIIIII!


    The building''s alarm blared, and the alliance''s personnel rushed to the scene.


    "I''m here."


    They froze at the sound of the light voice that echoed through the air. All eyes turned to the broken glass, but the voice came from behind them.


    Gulping nervously, they slowly turned to face the intruder. Without needing to be told, they recognized her strength. The core of the final demon powered the city and formed its protective barriers. The fact that she had bypassed all of that and shattered the reinforced glass, crafted from the strongest monsters'' cores was a testament to her power.


    As they turned, their eyes widened in shock.


    Before them stood the family that had aided them during their crisis, teaching them how to harness their abilities and helping them advance their technology before mysteriously disappearing. The only known traits of this family were their purple hair and golden eyes.


    And now, here was a woman in her mid-twenties, possessing the same striking purple hair and golden eyes, standing before them.

 Two tense situations

    "It''s been a while," the lieutenant-general said, his voice steady as he regained his composure first. He offered a light smile and a respectful bow, the least he could do for a family that had once helped them.


    The golden-eyed woman tilted her head in confusion. "Do I know you?"


    "You don''t, but we know you," the lieutenant-general replied, nostalgia washing over him. It had been over forty years since they had last seen this family, and now they were back. "We''ve actually been searching for your family to express our gratitude for all you''ve done for our world. We are eternally grateful."


    By now, the rest of the conference attendees had also gathered their wits, surrounding the room and waiting for orders to act.


    "Oh, in that case, can you do something for me?" The woman grinned widely.


    "We will do our utmost to help you," the lieutenant-general assured her, his expression remaining neutral. He suspected that this family''s appearance was driven by a need.


    "Now, I''m looking for someone." She closed her eyes and nodded.


    With a snap of his fingers, a man in a suit entered the conference room, holding a large tablet. He approached the lieutenant-general, bowed, and handed him the device, then turned to the golden-eyed woman, awaiting her instructions.


    What she said next stunned everyone in the room.


    "I''m looking for my brother¡­ Vahn."


    Once again, silence fell over the group.


    Among all those present, everyone knew Vahn. Though they had only asked him a few questions about his parents, they had been closely monitoring him for years. Unbeknownst to Vahn, not just anyone received government apartments; it was a means of surveillance.


    And, after years of observation, they had concluded that Vahn had no connection to the mysterious family. His lack of abilities, despite the use of their advanced technology, and the absence of any special qualities had led them to this conclusion.


    Yet now, they were confronted with a shocking revelation: the boy they had given up on was actually related to them.


    "You know him?" The golden-eyed woman''s gaze pierced through their frozen expressions.


    "Yes, we do." The lieutenant-general regained his composure and began tapping on the tablet.


    Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    A few moments later, a holographic map materialized in the air. "Vahn is in Camp 5¡­" The blinking indicator marked the location he was discussing. However, the lieutenant general''s expression darkened.


    ''What is this?'' he thought, scanning the screen.


    [Student: Vahn Clay]


    [Ability: Non-ability user]


    [Current status: Alliance termination.]


    [Reason: Presumed dead]


    He looked back at the golden-eyed woman, however she had vanished.


    "PUT CAMP 5 ON THE LINE, NOWWW!" he shouted, his voice filled with rage.


    ***


    As expected, the demons were not foolish. After rescuing the twentieth person, they were bound to realize something was amiss.


    Fortunately, Vahn had managed to save a user with healing abilities along the way. However, unfortunately, the more people he gathered, the harder it became to avoid devouring their corpses. If he did and they all made it outside safely, he would have a lot of explaining to do. So, he limited himself to teleporting, focusing on surviving their current predicament.


    Currently, the area they had reached was not a demarcation like the others.


    Instead, it was a spacious corridor from which dozens of demons emerged to face off against the twenty ability users who had banded together to fight.


    "These damned demons¡­" a large man at the forefront of the group of survivors gritted his teeth as he watched the creatures pour out.


    Surprisingly, Vahn was not leading the charge.


    Along the way, they rescued a massive man named Blade-Axe. He was a C-rank, and as others flocked to him after he revealed himself, he naturally took charge. And Vahn, who had initially led the group, found himself at the back.


    ''Is this what it feels like to have your spotlight stolen?'' Vahn chuckled at the thought, but he wasn''t upset. They were all trying to survive, and following the strongest was the best strategy.


    "Haa¡­ isn''t this wonderful?" a voice called out, drawing the survivors'' attention. The demons parted, revealing a man in a laboratory coat who walked by with a smile.


    "The struggle to escape, only to realize it is futile," he exhaled, shaking his head in mock pity.


    "You! Aren''t you a human? Why are you with them?" another member of the group shouted, gripping his spear tightly.


    "Good question¡­ now let me ask you back, who do you think all these demons were before?" He gestured to the throng of demons surrounding him.


    "No way¡­"


    "Haa¡­"


    "Impossible¡­"


    "H-How¡­?"


    "Hoo¡­ it''s still too early to be shocked," the man in the lab coat said, spreading his arms wide. In an instant, his coat tore apart, his body bulging and growing taller than the surrounding demons.


    "T-Two pairs¡­" a voice trembled.


    "H-Help us¡­"


    "Please¡­"


    "Hahaha¡­ as you''ve guessed, we have evolved the demon blood to help us retain our personalities while still being demons. Isn''t that wonderful? You could say we are the better, stronger, and smarter demons than the ones you know." The man laughed, little red waves emanating from him.


    ''This is nothing like the single-winged demons,'' Vahn frowned at the sight.


    It was obvious, they couldn''t fight this two-winged demon in their current state.


    "Haaa¡­ so I will give you a chance. If you can escape these demons and reach me, the final boss, you may go," he revealed, flashing a toothy grin.


    "AAAAHH¡­" One of the men turned to flee, but¡ª


    "ARRGHHHH¡­" The ground beneath him suddenly burned, melting away along with him.


    ''Final breath,'' Vahn grimaced, recognizing the cause of the man''s death.


    The two-winged demon had unleashed his Final Breath, a stronger, faster, and far more controlled than the one-winged version.


    "Now, now, we can''t have that. Without further ado, start!" With that, the man vanished, leaving them to face the onslaught of demons.


    The situation was too tense

 Missing

    After the two-winged demon departed, a wave of relief washed over everyone. At least they didn''t have to contend with that threat, at least not for the moment.


    Without hesitation, the man at the front shouted, "Attack!" He charged toward the nearest demon, swinging his axe with lethal precision, cleaving the creature in two before it could unleash its breath.


    Shng¡­


    Vahn watched in awe, realizing this was his first time witnessing a C-rank fighter in action. The man moved so quickly that Vahn could barely track his movements.


    With another swift swing, it appeared he was just casually swinging the axe, but¡ª


    Thud¡­


    The head of another demon fell to the ground.


    "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? ATTACK!" he bellowed at the stunned ability users, igniting their morale and prompting them to charge forward.


    "Haa¡­" One of the men beside Blade-Axe lunged at a demon with a battle cry, thrusting his spear. This time, however, the demons had regained their composure.


    The demons opened their mouths, gathering a red substance that shot forth.


    SHAAA¡­


    Then with known precision, the spearman dodged to the left and leaped into the air. ''Down,'' he thought instinctively, but he was still thrusting forward. The demon raised its hand to block, but something unexpected happened.


    Pshtsh¡­


    It was as if the spear had no effect, transferring its power downward and piercing the demon''s skull.


    The girl Vahn had saved first transformed into a demon and kept shooting out her final breath, but she stayed back to avoid any misunderstanding.


    Bang¡­


    A woman raised a glowing shield that blocked a breath from one of the demons, sending it back.


    ''So many abilities¡­'' Vahn smiled at the array of powers on display as he sprinted toward a demon. Once again, the creature opened its mouth and unleashed a breath.


    After facing this skill the number of times, he had saved someone, he had gotten used to it. So, faced with the oncoming attack, he teleported behind the demon''s head and executed a horizontal slash, beheading it.


    If he had almost died to these demons before, now he felt confident in his abilities. With his enhanced physical prowess, teleportation, and devour, he had become stronger than a winged demon.


    Honestly, everyone was performing admirably. So far, there had been no deaths, everyone present was at least peak E-rank, with the strongest among them being a C-rank.


    Yet, the demons continued to pour out.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Before long, loud explosions echoed throughout the area as the demons lit the surroundings with their breath attacks, and the ability users with their shouts and attacks, creating chaos.


    Vahn, positioned at the back of the group, decided to take advantage of the situation after carefully thinking about it. For one, he hadn''t devoured any demons since rescuing the fifth person, so while he was gaining experience fighting them, he wasn''t growing stronger and if he wanted to have a chance with the two-pair, he would have to.


    Secondly, he had a theory about why the two-winged demon had left. This situation was peculiar in many ways. First, how had the ability users managed to break free from the chains that bound their abilities? This implied someone had helped them, and being the smart type, he doubted it was Blade-Axe who had released them.


    The most puzzling aspect was that someone had used their abilities while ignoring the effects of the chains.


    And given the uniqueness of his skill, If Vahn used devour at any moment, the demon would have immediately known who it was, and he wasn''t strong enough to confront the two-winged demon at the moment.


    ''So, the two-winged demon may be looking for me,'' he concluded. If the demon had appeared in its demon form instead of the lab coat, Vahn would have devoured it without knowing its intentions.


    And, as for why he thought that, his deductions were straightforward.


    Why else would a cunning individual like that take the long route in a fight? It was because they wanted something out of it.


    So, amid the explosions, when the fight was at its peak and the explosions covered everywhere, he spread his arms and shouted, "Devour everything!"


    And everything went black.


    ***


    In a familiar, well-lit office, a knock interrupted the stillness.


    "Sir, there''s a problem." Without waiting for the major-general''s reply, the secretary entered, her expression filled with worry.


    "Yes?" The major-general responded in a calm tone as if nothing could disturb him. However, the urgency in his secretary''s face prompted him to tolerate her intrusion.


    "H-Headquarters are calling." She scanned her screen, anxiety evident in her voice.


    "What?" The major general immediately sat up, alarmed.


    "Y-Yes, they''re inquiring about the termination of Student Clay."


    "How?" The major general was bewildered.


    Everyone had lost interest in the boy, and he was among the last of them.


    Gulping, she continued, "T-They''re saying if anything has happened to him¡­" She shook her head, unable to finish.


    Whoom¡­


    With a wave of his hand, he snatched the tablet from her grasp and read what she couldn''t bring herself to say.


    [In the case of Student Vahn Clay''s death, Major-General Maslow Merwin, leader of Camp 5 of the World Defense Alliance, is to be rendered a grade 2 criminal under Act 2346 of the World Defense Law.]


    His eyes widened as he continued reading, but he wasn''t finished yet.


    [Should be brought in Alive or Dead. Reward: 1,000,000 Gold.]


    "Ha¡­ ha¡­ hahahahaha¡­" He tilted his head back and laughed, a sound that echoed through the office.


    "S-Sir?" The secretary was bewildered. How could he find humor in such a dire situation?


    "Haaa¡­" After a long, final sigh, his expression shifted as he turned to his secretary. "What will you do?"


    She remained silent, keeping her head bowed.


    Understanding her unspoken message, the major general felt a flicker of surprise and nodded. ''So, she will follow me, huh.'' Accepting the submission, he called out,


    "10, come out."


    Whirrrp¡­


    From a corner of the room, a creature blurred into existence.


    The secretary''s eyes widened in shock as she froze, every instinct screaming at her.


    ''W-W-What is that doing here?'' Panic surged through her as she recognized the creature, it was a demon. And not just any demon; this one was a three-winged demon.


    Then it clicked; the major general had summoned it.


    With great difficulty, she turned her head to look at him. He was smiling at her.


    "Don''t be too surprised. This is just the beginning. Then, it''s time."


    ***


    At the Alliance''s headquarters, a familiar voice broke the tension.


    "S-Sir, Major Maslow''s location has vanished; we can''t find him." The man who had previously handed the lieutenant-general the tablet spoke in a hurried tone.


    ''What are you thinking, Maslow?'' the lieutenant-general frowned at the report.


    Turning away from the shattered conference window, he asked, "What about the boy?"


    "He is... missing."

 Dragon & 3%

    In a familiar classroom, Professor Martis addressed his students. "Now, I believe some of you have checked the features of your phones. Think of your them like a baby; you must always protect them because important messages and announcements will be sent through them and failure to do so would attract punishment. Do you have any questions?"


    A hand shot up.


    "Yes?" the professor gestured to the student who had raised it.


    "Is it possible to know where Vahn is?" Han asked, his concern evident.


    "Hmm¡­" Professor Martis scrutinized Han for a moment before searching through his tablet. However, his expression darkened.


    [Student data does not exist.]


    "Hmm?" He frowned, checking again, but the result was the same.


    "Is there a problem?" Han inquired, a frown forming on his face.


    "Yes, I can''t seem to find any information regarding that student. Strange¡­" He shook his head, dismissing the issue and continuing with his lecture.


    But Han''s mind was elsewhere. Like or not, Vahn had become a friend to him, and he was troubled by his absence.


    He briefly glanced at Carla, who seemed indifferent to the unfolding situation. As he was about to speak to her,


    Suddenly, a cacophony of footsteps echoed through the corridor, drawing their attention.


    A military officer entered the classroom and announced, "Emergency protocol 2."


    "How?" Professor Martis appeared to be the only one who grasped the gravity of the situation. To his surprise, someone else seemed to understand as well.


    Bang¡­


    "Carla?" Han tilted his head in confusion as Carla shot up from her seat, her expression suddenly serious,


    Then she muttered the cause of this protocol,


    "Demons,"


    And the weight of her words sunk in, causing panic to ripple through the classroom.


    "What¡­?"


    "You''re joking, right? the D-Demons are long gone!"


    "H-How?"


    "Why?"


    The students erupted into chaos.


    "SETTLE DOWN!" Professor Martis shouted, regaining their attention. He sighed deeply before continuing,


    "Yes, Emergency Protocol 2 means demons are attacking. You are to return to your dorms in an orderly manner. Move out"


    With that, the students rose and exited the classroom, following the military personnel outside.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Is it another invasion?"


    "I-I don''t want to die¡­"


    As they stepped outside, they merged with other students being escorted by the military back to their dormitory.


    "Hey, do you have a relation in the military?" Han asked Carla as they moved through the chaos.


    "I¡ª"


    Before she could respond, she froze.


    "What''s wrong?" Han asked as concern etched on his face.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    She just remained silent and looked up. Following her gaze, Han also looked up and gasped in shock.


    WHHOOOOOSSSHHHH!


    "What''s that?"


    "Such a breeze?"


    "What¡­?"


    A massive wind swept over them, forcing everyone, including the military personnel, to shield their faces. The military shouted at the students to get behind them and they frantically watched their surroundings for any change.


    Then, a colossal shadow loomed overhead, darkening the area as if it were nighttime. If they hadn''t known better, they might have thought it was an illusion or it was actually night.


    Then they looked up to see the source of the darkness: a gigantic creature, so huge that its wings easily eclipsed the entire camp. Its stark black body seemed to absorb light, and its glowing golden eyes inspired instinctual fear in anyone who laid eyes on it.


    If Vahn had been present, he would have recognized this creature immediately, it was a dragon.


    Under the astonished and terrified expressions of everyone present, the dragon glowed golden like the sun and vanished. It was as if the darkness had been a mere figment of their imagination, yet they couldn''t deny it as a figure was standing in the sky in the dragon''s place.


    With fearful faces, they watched as the creature descended slowly, landing gracefully on the ground.


    "Purple hair and golden eyes¡­" Carla murmured as if struggling to believe her own eyes.


    "Vahn?" Han asked, tilting his head in confusion. The moment he spoke, the creature snapped her gaze toward him, making his heart skip.


    The military personnel were finally regaining their composure, ready to shout commands, but before they could, she vanished and reappeared right in front of Han.


    "Gahh¡­"


    "Hup¡­"


    Han and Carla instinctively took a step back at her sudden approach.


    "Where is he?" she demanded, her eyes scanning the crowd before locking back onto them again.


    "I¡ªI don''t know! He was taken this morning!" Han spoke out of unwillingness as he felt an overwhelming urge to tell the truth.


    "Taken? Where?" She tilted her head in confusion.


    "I don''t know," Han replied, his voice trembling.


    Sniff¡­ Sniff¡­


    Then she sniffed the air and gazed at a particular direction.


    "HOLD IT!"


    The military had finally regained their bearings, retreated the students, and surrounded the trio. Despite their numbers, even the lieutenant in charge was visibly shaken, his voice quivering. "W-WHO ARE YOU?" he shouted.


    Boom¡­


    Without answering, she launched herself into the air with a resounding boom, sending everyone nearby stumbling backward as she disappeared into the sky.


    ***


    In an unknown underground location, a deafening roar erupted from a beast that had emerged from Vahn during the explosion. It surpassed the cacophony of the battlefield, drawing attention to the area, but the explosions and smoke still obscured visibility.


    "ARGHHHH¡­" The pain and ecstasy coursing through Vahn''s body were indescribable. He didn''t need anyone to tell him he had overexerted himself this time, and he regretted it deeply.


    ''My body feels like it''s breaking, fixing, and pumping me with stronger power.'' He rationalized it as a good thing, but the process repeated itself with the number of demons he was trying to absorb.


    ¡­


    As Vahn had predicted, the man in the lab coat was watching closely, observing the process with keen interest.


    He had been watching intently for any sign of something unusual. And from the very beginning, all that had changed was a strange loud roar accompanied by a solitary human scream.


    Unable to determine its source, he soared closer. "Where is it happening?" he wondered as his gaze fixed on the ground as he glided above the slowly fading smoke.


    "That individual will be an exceptional specimen. I wonder if he can handle ''that''," the demon mused to itself.


    Eager to disperse the lingering smoke, it flapped its wings vigorously, sending a gust of wind that swept the debris away.


    Whoosh¡­ As the smoke cleared, every eye in the area turned toward the lone boy, who stood at the center of the chaos, breathing heavily.


    Something strange had definitely occurred.


    All the bodies of the fallen demons and few humans had inexplicably vanished, leaving only the boy amid the ruin. How did they vanish? What did he do?


    "Haaa¡­ I finally found you. Now tell me, how did you do it?" The two-paired winged demon swooped down with a smile on his face, forcing the surrounding ability users to retreat.


    However, despite their wariness, they couldn''t tear their eyes away from Vahn. They too wanted to know? What was he?


    However, what did the Vahn before them focus on,


    A golden message that flashed before him:


    [YOU HAVE ABSORBED ESSENCE OF ??? -> 3%]


    "Just 3?" Vahn murmured, astonished not at the modest percentage, but at the potential and what he could do with it.


    Clenching and unclenching his fist, he glanced upward, silently questioning whether he should act, however it didn''t take long to decide.


    In that instant, the two-paired winged demon abruptly halted. The boy it had been pursuing and questioning suddenly vanished from his sight.


    Reacting swiftly, the demon turned just as a punch was hurled its way. However, Vahn was already at the next position with his fist against the demon''s face.


    Bang¡­ Boom¡­


    The demon crashed into the cave wall, debris scattering in a cloud of dust and smoke.


    Vahn exhaled, his fist clenching and unclenching in amazement. Just 3% was enough to deal with this issue. Without lingering on the feat, he teleported toward the gathering of ability users. In a fluid motion, he scooped up a sword from the ground, swung it a few times to gauge its weight, and advanced forward.


    "Arghhhhh¡­" A two-paired winged demon reappeared, its body now shrouded in red energy with streaks of blood marring its face. "I''LL KILL YOU!" it bellowed.


    "Yeah, sure," Vahn replied casually as he charged to meet the demon''s outstretched fist.


    In a brutal clash, his sword met the demon''s blow with a sickening explosion.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOM.

 Memories & Ability

    In the alliance''s headquarters, a tense conversation unfolded.


    "Sir, demons are suddenly appearing everywhere," the secretary announced as he re-entered the room, addressing the Lieutenant-General.


    "Demons?" The Lieutenant-General''s voice betrayed his shock. How could that be possible? Yet, he did not dwell on it, he kept his calm and responded.


    "How is the palace responding?"


    "They''ve already dispatched forces up to duke level."


    "Good. Send Legion 1, 2, 3, and 4."


    "Yes, sir." With that, the secretary departed.


    ''What on earth is going on?'' the Lieutenant-General sighed, puzzled by the unfolding events.


    ***


    In an unknown underground facility, another situation was unfolding.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOM!


    "Ughhh¡­" Vahn grunted as the sword he wielded recoiled harshly against his hands. The weapon had been too fragile to withstand the demon''s strike, transferring the full impact onto him.


    Without hesitation, he discarded the sword and counterattacked the first demon with his free fist.


    BOOOOOOM!


    Then, Vahn raised his right leg to deliver a swift kick. As the demon lifted its hand to block, Vahn teleported about ten centimeters ahead of his intended target and shot his leg forward.


    BANG!


    "Gurghh¡­" the demon grunted in pain, collapsing to the ground. It looked like it was blocking the wrong place.


    "Teleportation, huh." As the demon got up, it muttered while giving Vahn a death glare.


    Without responding, Vahn was already behind the demon and punching forward, however,


    ''Missed?'' Vahn was dazed as his hand went through the air.


    "Hahaha, abilities aren''t invisible, you know." The demon mocked as it adjusted itself and lunged at Vahn.


    ''It''s simple, when I don''t see him I will move in another direction.'' The demon smiled as he thought of the best way to counter it and clawed out to Vahn.


    Dodging the claw, Vahn shot his hand in an uppercut to the demon''s chin, however, the demon ignored the pain and went for a grappling posture.


    ''Dangerous'' Vahn hurriedly teleported out of the way. He hadn''t forgotten about the demon''s final breath, so he had to be careful of situations like that.


    They clashed against each other again. Their attacks spread through the cave, ripped some parts of it, and covered the air in explosions and smoke, however, neither backed down.


    Slowly and surely, the demon was getting used to Vahn''s teleportation as it moved in a completely random direction upon his disappearance, however, that didn''t mean he was always lucky.


    Sometimes, he was diving directly into the punch, sending him away like a broken kite, but Vahn decided against raining continuous attacks after that.


    The demon still hadn''t used its final breath once. Its own was faster stronger and more destructive.


    But what he didn''t know was, that ultimate also had its limit.


    And Vahn too, who had used his teleportation in different ways, wasn''t seeing any road to victory, and his ability was running out at a fast pace.


    ''Then, let''s try something else,'' Vahn thought as he stood and took a deep breath.


    With a hop, Vahn leaped skyward and teleported even higher. With full force, he descended back toward the demon, if one remembered, something similar had happened in the past.


    "FOOL!" The demon roared and opened its mouth wide. It was finally time.


    It planned to release its most powerful breath as Vahn landed, but he didn''t think that it was precisely what Vahn had anticipated.


    There was another thing about Vahn. He was willing to risk everything if it meant achieving his goal, just as he had done in the underground fight.


    SHHHWAAAAAAAAA


    As the demon''s final breath hurtled toward him, Vahn concentrated.


    All this time he had teleported in various ways, he had sort of raised his proficiency in it, and mastered teleportation well enough to manipulate it in other unconventional ways.


    His gaze wasn''t on the breath already searing him with its heat. No, his steely glare fixed on the demon, he stretched out his hands and shouted, "SWAP!"Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Whoom...


    "What-" In an instant, the demon found itself suspended in mid-air, disoriented as it faced its incoming attack and Vahn was at the demon''s previous location.


    "GAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" it screamed in agony as the full force of Vahn''s maneuver engulfed it as it fell to the ground.


    "That hurts¡­" Vahn exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow as he watched the demon burn alive.


    ''I did it¡­'' He clenched his fist.


    Suddenly, he felt like coming here had been more of a blessing than a curse to him. He could remember when he just found out he could teleport, it was only recently and it already felt like a long time, maybe because of the tense situations and fights he went through.


    ''Yes, and I will come for you.'' He still didn''t forget the person who put him in this situation, the Major-general.


    THUDD¡­


    With a heavy, resounding impact, the demon''s body collapsed onto the cold ground.


    ''Another meal?'' Vahn mused. Teleporting to the fallen demon, he inspected its condition.


    The creature lay motionless, its skin now uniformly black. In that moment, memories of the battle resurfaced. ''This demon never knew how to fight, it relied solely on raw power and its intelligence.'' Vahn mused and he couldn''t entirely blame it; after all, it was a scientist.


    Coughing weakly, the demon managed to choke out, "S-Save m-m-me¡­"


    "Why?" Vahn demanded without a shred of pity.


    "I-I¡ªI will t-tell you e-e-everything," it stuttered.


    "But I really need your remains¡­so," Vahn said apologetically, though devoid of true remorse, and stretched his hand.


    "Devour."


    RARRRRRRRRRRRRR!


    From within Vahn, a monstrous entity emerged, it was far larger than he remembered, and it consumed the demon''s remains in one ravenous gulp.


    A moment later, Vahn closed his eyes, enduring the searing pain that radiated through his entire body. Yet, as the agony subsided, he felt strength coursing through him, a strength greater than he had ever experienced from any previous demons combined.


    Then, a golden notification flashed before his eyes:


    [YOU HAVE ABSORBED ESSENCE OF ??? -> 5%]


    [NAME: VAHN ???]


    [PHYSICAL ABILITY: 25]


    [INNATE ABILITY: DEVOUR]


    [ABILITY: TELEPORT, ERASURE]


    "Twenty-five?" Vahn murmured in disbelief.


    The last reading had been thirteen; that meant his physical ability had nearly doubled. "And¡­ Erasure?" he wondered, confused. He had expected the ability to manifest as "Swap" or something similar.


    He mused at the gains, however, that wasn''t all,


    "Are these his memories?" He scanned his mind as the scattered fragments of memories surfaced, snippets from the two-paired winged demon, images of experiments


    where demon blood was mixed with human cells, and the unmistakable involvement of the Major-General.


    The final fragment revealed the layout of an underground experimental lab, exactly this one.


    "Is this world really like this?" Vahn asked himself bitterly. He was finally experiencing how the real world was, and honestly, he didn''t like it. He preferred the days he just focused on trying to awaken, however he wouldn''t avoid it.


    Since he had awakened, he knew he must move on and experience everything life had to offer, even if it meant confronting such horrors.


    It was time to let that peaceful past go.


    Before he knew it, Vahn reached the area where the remaining ability users were gathered.


    They had already subdued the leftover demons, but he paid them no heed; they held nothing that could enhance his strength.


    Ignoring the curious and wary glances, Vahn addressed the group, "Let''s kill the rest and gather the survivors."


    Like magic, Vahn had taken back the leadership position, and without much of a word, they followed; without even glancing at Blade Axe.


    It was time to clear the rest of the demons.


    One could say that the demons they fought were the soldiers and warriors, now it was time to kill the guards and other scientists.


    So, a plan was formulated.


    It was simple. Blade Axe and the ability users rampaged the demons while saving the survivors from the left flank of the underground.


    The warrior demons were dead, what chance did they have? Without a choice, the important scientists together with some of the strongest guards retreated to the right flank, however, they were met with an obstacle.


    Vahn.


    Thinking they could rush him, they unleashed their ultimate on him.


    That was when Vahn also used his new skill, Erasure.


    Like a lie, all of their ultimate vanished leaving both the demons and Vahn in shock. ''It really meant erase, like literally.''


    Smiling at the use, Vahn went in, and before seconds passed, he had punched holes through them.


    Before long, all the demons were cleared and the remaining bound were released.


    Tears and cheers of joy filled the air. They had all fought, survived, and taken their revenge.


    However, the next question came quickly: where was the exit?


    "Let''s save the rest and leave this place."


    Without overthinking or saying much, they followed Vahn through a winding corridor.


    Along the way, they rescued scores of people still trapped behind battered bars, their numbers now exceeded three hundred.


    After several twists and turns, Vahn encountered a massive set of double doors. It was the control room he had seen in his fragmented memories. Reaching out, he discovered a keypad embedded in the door.


    Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep.


    As expected of a scientist, in a four-coded password, it was five he used.


    GIIIIIIIII


    A low rumble heralded the doors sliding open to reveal a spacious chamber.


    "Pick up your belongings," Vahn instructed the crowd. Many eyed him warily; after he carried himself as if this were his home. But he paid them no mind, his thoughts consumed by the task at hand.


    Rarely, very rarely at that, when demons or marked beasts were killed, they dropped treasures. The scientist then thought of the possibility that the demons weren''t actually a calamity but like a step to progress through, however, he had no other clue other than the treasure Vahn was currently standing in front of.


    A book encased in glass, reminiscent of museum relics. However, unlike ordinary artifacts, this book pulsed with rippling energy, its surface alive with undulating ripples.


    ''The scientist never understood what this book truly was, so he never touched it.'' Vahn mused at the attitude of the scientist, he sought to understand rather than find out the consequences at a later date. Absorbing the essence of the demon scientist had imbued him with a sliver of understanding about the nature of this world. And now, with one treasure in hand, he could begin to piece together its mysteries.


    After entering another set of codes, the glass cylinder slowly opened with a soft, airy whirrr.


    ''Should I touch it?'' He asked himself, however, his action betrayed him. He was already making contact with it.


    WHIIRRRR¡­


    The sound escalated into a violent crescendo. The ripples, as if alive, detached from the book and enveloped Vahn completely.


    For the first time, he felt something other than pain, a profound, overwhelming sense of peace. A serene bliss washed over him, and he smiled.


    ''Is this possible?'' he wondered, astonished.


    All this time, he had believed that awakening an ability was meant to come from emotions or intense desires. Yet this book, this enigmatic relic, bestowed upon him an entirely new ability.


    Judging by the rippling aura, its essence could only be described as "Space."

 Family

    "Space, huh." That single word raced through Vahn''s mind, and immediately the golden display reappeared before his eyes:


    [NAME: VAHN ???]


    [PHYSICAL ABILITY: 25]


    [INNATE ABILITY: DEVOUR]


    [ABILITY: SPACE, ERASURE]


    ''It replaced teleportation with space?'' He mused, however he quickly understood. After all, teleportation had always meant shifting from one point to another in space.


    Afterwards, Vahn turned to find curious glances directed his way. Once everyone had finished gathering their belongings, their eyes had been fixed on him. He truly had been acting suspicious, however what could they do, he had help them.


    Ignoring their stares, he punched in a series of codes and pressed a button.


    GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII


    A deep rumble shook the control room, and a section of the ceiling slid open to reveal the sky.


    "Hahh¡­" someone murmured.


    "Finally¡­" another whispered.


    "Yessss¡­" a third voice joined in.


    The expanse above was as if the world itself were congratulating them, and only then did they truly grasp what they had faced.


    "Hey, I know we didn''t see eye to eye," Blade Axe said, bowing his head in sincere gratitude, "but that doesn''t change the fact that you helped us. Thank you."


    One by one, the remaining ability users followed his lead, bowing their heads in appreciation.


    Vahn felt a small surge of satisfaction, at least they acknowledged his contribution. With that, they began ascending from the cave.


    ''The Alliance would surely want to see this'', he mused. The ability users would undoubtedly report their discoveries and bring the news back to headquarters, so it was best to leave this underground lab as it was.


    As the last of them emerged, Vahn climbed the stairs and finally stepped out into the open.


    "Haahh¡­" he exhaled deeply, marveling at the sight of the world bathed in light. For reasons he couldn''t quite explain, simply seeing the sky filled him with gratitude.


    Looking around, they found themselves in the midst of a vast forest.


    Suddenly, an old man among the survivors spoke up, his voice trembling with familiarity.


    "I know this place. Follow me."


    Before long, the crowd trailed behind him, and they arrived at a modest village.


    "Isn''t this Coplim?" a woman asked hesitantly.


    "Yes," replied the old man, though his face showed no sign of joy.


    Instead their attention were on the military men in uniform patrolling the village with grim expressions.


    "W-What happened?" Blade Axe frowned and stepped forward to investigate.


    As they were facing their own situation, Vahn found himself in an entirely different predicament. Out of nowhere, a disembodied voice echoed around him:


    ["Come"]


    A surge of unseen force pulled at him. His eyes widened in shock as he struggled in vain against it.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ***


    "Urghh¡­" Being dragged without resistance left a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Regaining his composure, Vahn strained to see who was behind the mysterious pull. When he finally caught sight of the culprit, he froze.


    ''Purple hair, golden eyes¡ªlike mine. Is that¡­?'' A sudden, inexplicable longing overwhelmed him.


    "We finally meet, Vahn," the woman said softly, a smile playing on her lips.


    After staring in shock for what felt like an hour, he exhaled and spoke, "Haah¡­ so it was true," his voice was thick with emotion.


    "What are you talking about?" she tilted her head. Ever since the alliance headquarters, they had been acting like they knew each other.


    "I was only about 20% sure before," Vahn confessed, "but recently, that certainty grew to 70%, and now it''s 100%."


    After another deep breath her asked, "So tell me, what is our relationship?"


    With a gentle smile, she pointed at him. "You¡­ are our youngest."


    Boom!


    It was as if an explosion had shattered his mind.


    ''Youngest?'' The word was reserved for siblings, and if she said "our," that meant there were more.


    "How many?" he stammered.


    "Five. I was the youngest until you arrived," she explained, clasping her hands together as if relieved to have escaped that fate.


    "So, I have parents?" Vahn echoed, his voice barely a whisper as he pointed to himself.


    "Of course. You''ll get to meet them soon," she assured him.


    "But, why am I here?" Vahn asked, perplexed. If he had siblings and parents somewhere else, why had he been left in this place?


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t answer that," she said in a pained tone. "Besides, we hardly ever see them, they''re always busy with work."


    "What work?" Vahn pressed.


    "You know, our family is like a vast empire. Even I barely see the others."


    "Hmm¡­ alright, I''ll accept that excuse once I see the empire for myself," he replied, inwardly yearning for any tangible proof.


    "You''ll love it," she promised, her smile returning.


    Vahn sank to the ground, sighing deeply. He had awakened, grown stronger, and uncovered the truth about his family, now there was a sense of satisfaction in him.


    "Alright, now it''s time to pay up," he said, extending his hand toward his newfound sister.


    "What?" she replied, startled.


    "You know, I have seven family members, and I haven''t received a birthday present in 17 years," Vahn said, making an incredible face.


    "What?" she gasped, stunned by his sudden change in demeanor.


    Then something happened,


    TSHTSH¡­ TSHSTH


    With a sound like space tearing apart, two objects fell beside Vahn.


    "Nice¡­" he murmured with satisfaction, thinking they were gifts from his sister. He picked them up to inspect them.


    However,


    ''That wasn''t from me¡­'' she whispered, looking skyward in disbelief. She knew only of two individuals capable of such feats.


    "Nice, a sword." Vahn said, holding up a slender, silver sword nearly two meters in length. At first glance, it appeared plain, but upon closer inspection, intricate runes adorned its blade, however they were so dim they blended with the silver.


    ''That sword¡­'' she murmured, discomfort evident in her eyes. It wasn''t the sword''s beauty that troubled her; it was the implication. If these objects came from the source she suspected, then it meant they knew she had left.


    "Did they let me?" she wondered silently.


    Vahn then dropped the sword and picked up the second object. "A cloth," he noted and It was plain black.


    "So, what can it do?" Vahn asked, turning to his sister, who still wore a lost expression.


    Snapping out of her reverie, she replied, "Try it on first."


    Listening to her, Vahn ripped apart what was left of what he wore. As he draped it over himself, as if reading his mind, it transformed seamlessly into his favorite tracksuit.


    Vahn''s eyes showed surprise, however it wasn''t over.


    "It''s a defense treasure and also has a space pocket."


    After getting the ability Space, he had an idea of how a space pocket would look like. So placing his hand inside, he could clearly feel the extra dimension within.


    "Woww..." Vahn couldn''t help but exclaim at the effect.


    "Vahn..." His sister called out, and getting his attention, "Those weapons aren''t from me," she said honestly.


    "What? Then¡­" Vahn''s eyes widened.


    "They''re from Father and Mother," she revealed.


    "Eh?" Vahn was shocked. "Wait, how did they do it? No wait, how strong are they?"


    "Well, imagine those monsters you saw in that barren land," she said, smiling as she sat down.


    "Yes, Wait¡­ What?" Vahn''s mind raced, recalling the terrifying sensations of those creatures, and she was saying there were more like them and alive, "Is that possible?"


    "Oh, you should meet Grandfather," she said.


    "Grandfather? We have one?"


    "Of course, there''s even Grandmother¡­"


    Thus began a conversation about their mundane family matters, lasting what felt like an entire day.


    ***


    Far away, in a small, dimly lit room, a man and a woman sat cross-legged in meditation.


    Every so often, tears welled in their eyes as they smiled softly, a rare display of emotion from two otherwise formidable beings.


    One couldn''t help but wonder what could elicit such a response from these monsters.


    The answer, it seemed, was painfully obvious.


    ***


    After the siblings had spoken without pause for what felt like an entire day, their conversation finally reached its natural end.


    Vahn had learned everything there was to know about his family, and without further words, they all understood it was time to part ways.


    "It''s time, huh?" Eselie sighed, gazing up at the sky.


    "Right. We have things to do," Vahn replied.


    "Yes, and before I go, I should tell you¡­" For the first time, her voice turned somber.


    "This world is running out of time, you''ve spent too long in the first stage."

 World Stages

    ¡°What?¡± Vahn visibly trembled at the sudden revelation. He had sensed the seriousness in her voice, but this was beyond anything he had expected.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Eselie confirmed. ¡°Every world has 50 years to clear the first stage, and your time is running out.¡±


    Vahn¡¯s mind raced. ¡°It¡¯s been 47 years¡­ and the year is ending.¡± His voice grew more tense as he calculated the implications.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°But first,¡± he said, trying to steady himself, ¡°what is the first stage?¡±


    What the scientists had theorized wasn¡¯t far from this, but they never truly understood it.


    ¡°Stages are like levels of a world,¡± Eselie explained. ¡°And for every first stage, the inhabitants must complete it themselves.¡±


    The pieces started falling into place. ¡®So that¡¯s why when they trained us, they never actually fought for us.¡¯


    ¡°Once a world clears its first stage, it moves to the second stage. The difficulty increases, but so do the opportunities. New lands emerge, stronger inhabitants can populate them, and the resources become far richer.¡±


    Vahn''s eyes widened. This was information the Supremes should have been hearing, not him.


    ¡°You¡¯re probably wondering why I¡¯m telling you this, right?¡± she asked, reading his thoughts.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Well, think about it. What happens to the person who clears the stage?¡±


    Realization struck him.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Eselie continued. ¡°They receive a reward.¡±


    His mind whirled. If the universe itself was granting rewards¡­


    ¡°Once a world reaches the third stage, things change. Then you have the right to travel between worlds.¡±


    Vahn¡¯s breath caught. ¡°So¡­¡±


    Eselie smiled. ¡°Yes. When that time comes, come visit us.¡±


    A goal began to take shape within him. His purpose had been unclear before, but now¡­


    ¡°Alright, but first, how do we clear this stage?¡± That was the immediate problem.


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    ¡°Each stage has two scenarios,¡± she explained. ¡°This world has already gone through one.¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. The demons were the first scenario.¡±


    ¡°Then the second scenario must be¡­ the marked beasts?¡±


    ¡°Is that what you call them? Well, yes, those beasts are the second scenario.¡±


    ¡°So, do we defeat some kind of boss monster?¡± Vahn asked.


    ¡°No,¡± she corrected. ¡°You have to find the core that spawns them.¡±


    Vahn frowned. ¡°Wait, they¡¯re being spawned?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You need to locate the guardian beasts, defeat them, and take the core.¡±


    His mind reeled. This knowledge would make things so much easier.


    ¡°One last thing,¡± he added. ¡°If we take the core, won¡¯t the monsters stop spawning? That¡¯s our main energy source right now.¡±


    Eselie shook her head. ¡°Just like how people are using demon blood as a resource, the core will integrate into your world. Once you take it, you can replant it to continue producing monsters.¡±


    ¡°So, the world really is like a game,¡± Vahn mused.


    Eselie grinned. ¡°And don¡¯t you just love it?¡±


    A genuine smile crossed his face. ¡°So, we really are family, huh?¡±


    At just 5% power, he had already surpassed C-rankers. With his new space manipulation and erasure abilities, even B-ranks might not pose a challenge. Before he knew it, he would be outmatching the Supremes.


    His future had been uncertain, but now it was clear: Earth was just the beginning.


    ¡°But I should warn you,¡± Eselie said, smirking. ¡°Our next meeting won¡¯t be like this.¡±


    He knew what she meant. They were going to fight on their next meeting.


    Vahn chuckled. ¡°Looks like elder sister doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Her right eye briefly shifted to a reptilian slit as she released a fraction of her power.


    Kugh¡­


    Vahn¡¯s body trembled, bones creaking under the pressure. A part of him was in awe. ¡®So, this is my family¡­¡¯


    If the day he awakened had been the best day of his life, then this was a close second.


    ¡°See you later, youngest,¡± Eselie said with a final smile.


    Darkness overtook his vision.


    Meanwhile¡­


    ¡°Can you explain what happened?¡± a military officer asked, eyeing the crowd behind him.


    ¡°A boy¡­¡± Battle Axe turned to look for Vahn, but he was gone.


    ¡°A boy?¡± The officer raised a brow.


    ¡°Yes, you have to believe me. A boy saved us.¡± His eyes darted around, still searching.


    ¡°Alright,¡± the officer sighed. ¡°Can you describe him?¡±


    ¡°It was dark, so I couldn¡¯t see much, but I know he had golden eyes.¡±


    ¡°Golden eyes?¡± The officer¡¯s tone sharpened.


    ¡°Y-Yes.¡± Battle Axe grew uneasy at the shift in atmosphere.


    ¡°Was he alive?¡±


    ¡°Of course! And he was strong too.¡±


    The officer pulled out his radio. As he walked away, he began speaking in hushed tones.


    At the Alliance Headquarters


    ¡°Sir!¡± For the first time in two days, the secretary rushed in with a smile.


    The Lieutenant-General, who had been standing motionless, finally turned. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Vahn has been found alive! Survivors from a demon cave kidnapping reported seeing him.¡±


    ¡°Good¡­ So that¡¯s what he¡¯s been up to? Demons?¡± The Lieutenant-General shook his head in disappointment.


    ¡°And the battle situation?¡±


    The secretary grinned. ¡°The soldiers are saying these aren¡¯t demons, just training dummies.¡±


    The Lieutenant-General chuckled. ¡°Good. Tell them to finish up. After that, we report to the General.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Jon''s eyes fluttered open in an unfamiliar room.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±


    A voice called out, and Vahn turned to see a nurse smiling at him.


    ¡°Student Vahn Clay, you¡¯re fully healed. You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± He blinked in confusion and asked, ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in the school clinic of Camp 5.¡±


    Vahn exhaled deeply and sank into the pillow.


    ¡®I¡¯m back.¡¯

 Trust

    ¡®I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m back.¡¯


    Vahn had considered leaving school after everything that had happened, but it seemed his sister had other plans for him. And, strangely enough, he understood her reasoning.


    ¡®Do it with friends, right?¡¯


    He thought about the people he had met at school. Could he even call them friends? His roommates were an exception, but things were still awkward with Carla and Han, the last person he had spoken to.


    Then, as if struck by a realization, he remembered the weapons his parents had given him and immediately started searching for them.


    ¡®Where is it?¡¯ He frowned after checking his surroundings.


    ¡®Wait, she said it can change to my desired shape, right?¡¯


    Glancing at his uniform, a black camouflage suit, he hesitated before reaching into his breast pocket. His hand kept sinking deeper than it should, and then¡ª


    ¡®So, this is it?¡¯


    Vahn marveled at the hidden dimension within his clothing. Experimentally, he thought of the sword, and in an instant, he felt its weight in his palm. However, he didn¡¯t draw it after all, weapons weren¡¯t allowed unless they were heading for an outing.


    ¡®Haa¡­ now what should I do?¡¯


    With his belongings secure, he relaxed. But his moment of peace was short-lived.


    ¡°Student Vahn, you have visitors,¡± the nurse called out.


    ¡®What?¡¯


    Vahn was genuinely confused. Who would visit him?


    ¡°Wow, I thought you were dead.¡±


    There was only one person who would greet him like that, Han.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s work to do,¡± Vahn replied without looking at him.


    ¡°Why do I feel like I¡¯m about to regret this?¡± Han muttered under his breath.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    The next voice made Vahn glance up. To his surprise, Carla stood there, her pale skin and dark hair making her presence even more striking.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t expect me, did you?¡± Han chuckled, glancing at Carla in shock.


    ¡°Um, yeah¡­ Thanks,¡± Vahn scratched his head awkwardly.


    ¡°Yoo, why didn¡¯t you thank me?¡± Han huffed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need it.¡±


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    ¡°Do you even know me?¡±


    ¡°We just click, don¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ and why didn¡¯t you tell me you have a dragon sister?¡± Han shook his head.


    ¡°You saw her?¡± Vahn was genuinely surprised. That meant she had appeared in the school.


    ¡°But strangely, no one remembers except us.¡± Han pointed at himself and Carla.


    ¡®She did it on purpose.¡¯ That was the only logical explanation.


    ¡°Where did they take you?¡± Carla asked.


    ¡°This is going to sound crazy, but those demons. They aren¡¯t real. They¡¯re humans injected with demon blood.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Ehh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too shocked yet. Apparently, there¡¯s more to this world than we know.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ is this the bad feeling I was getting?¡± Han asked, rubbing his temple.


    ¡°Definitely. But let¡¯s leave here first.¡±


    Since the nurse had cleared him, Vahn left the clinic with Han and Carla.


    His next destination? The cafeteria.


    He hadn¡¯t realized it until now, but he hadn¡¯t eaten in what felt like forever. The energy he had absorbed from his battles had sustained him, but it wasn¡¯t food.


    However, just as they were about to enter the cafeteria, they were stopped by a peculiar pair of twins. The boy had blue hair and white eyes, while the girl had white hair and blue eyes. What made them even stranger was their physiques, the girl was muscular, and the boy looked frail.


    ¡°Vahn Clay, I¡¯ve been wanting to meet you,¡± the boy said. His voice carried an air of intelligence.


    ¡°Who?¡± Vahn asked, unimpressed. His stomach had no patience for distractions.


    ¡°My name is Dante, and this is my sister, Darla.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Dante and Darla, can we talk inside?¡± Vahn pointed at the cafeteria.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    And just like that, they all entered the cafeteria together.


    ¡ª


    After an unknown number of days without proper food, Vahn wasted no time collecting his meal, along with Han and Carla¡¯s. As he ate, he looked at Dante, signaling him to start talking.


    ¡°The truth is our family has been in hiding¡­ thanks to your family.¡±


    Vahn nearly choked on his food. ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯ve been monitoring you since we first heard of you.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Not just us, the alliance, too.¡±


    Dante proceeded to reveal all the ways the alliance had been keeping tabs on him. From his apartment to his school, they had even bent the rules for him to awaken.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Hey, can you pick another reaction?¡± Han groaned.


    But Vahn ignored him. ¡®I was watched that much?¡¯


    ¡°And the third truth?¡± Carla pressed, sensing more to the story.


    ¡°We¡¯ve always suspected there was more to this world than what we see. But now, it¡¯s confirmed. Your sister¡¯s presence proved that.¡±


    ¡°So, you want to join?¡± Carla summarized their intentions in one sentence.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Dante grinned.


    ¡°But why?¡± Vahn asked, still skeptical.


    ¡°As I said, my family was forced into hiding because of yours.¡±


    ¡°Is that a good thing?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You can¡¯t imagine what we¡¯ve developed with the limited resources we had. Imagine what we could achieve by following a descendant of your bloodline.¡±


    ¡°Alright, shock me. Tell us one thing you¡¯ve made.¡± Han challenged him.


    ¡°A teleporter.¡±


    Boom.


    Their minds exploded.


    ¡°Will you allow purchase?¡± Carla, ever the pragmatic one, asked immediately.


    ¡°I can give it to you for free. And not just that, everything else we¡¯ve created, as long as you let me in.¡±


    Gulp.


    The offer was tempting. If a teleporter was something they considered scrap, what else did they have?


    ¡°How can we trust you? You¡¯re suddenly giving us everything?¡± Han questioned, cautious.


    ¡°Then how about I give you information instead?¡± Dante countered.


    ¡°What kind of information?¡±


    ¡°The Supreme kind.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°First, as you may already know, people have been injecting themselves with demon blood. But there¡¯s another group of non-ability users implanting beast parts into their bodies. And they gain abilities from it.¡±


    ¡°Marvelous,¡± Han muttered in fascination.


    Carla shook her head, while Vahn simply nodded. Wasn¡¯t that even better than demon blood?


    ¡°Second¡­ one of the Nine Supremes is dead.¡±


    Boom.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°How?!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The trio violently stood, their shock evident. Vahn had stopped eating the moment he heard the word ¡®teleporter.¡¯


    ¡°So, do you trust me now?¡± Dante smirked.