The valley lay silent.
Only the whispering wind dared to move, carrying with it the scent of scorched earth and blood.
Xiao Wang stood in the center of the crater — a lone figure amid ruin — his robe torn, his face pale, his grip firm around the Devouring Sword.
A faint hum pulsed from the blade, slow and rhythmic, like a heartbeat that didn't belong to the living.
He stared at his reflection on its surface — a faint shimmer of gold flickering in his crimson eyes.
"So this… is the power of the system."
A faint breeze brushed past his ear — soft laughter, distant yet near.
[System Operational.]
[Primary Host: Xiao Wang.]
[Available Features: Status | Quests | Devour | Store | System Forge.]
[Would Host like to access System Menu?]
He blinked, still a little dazed. "You can talk?"
[Affirmative.]
[The Celestial Devourer System is bound to your soul. It will aid in your rise… or your destruction, depending on your choices.]
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Aid me, huh? Sounds like you've got an attitude already."
[Error: 'Attitude' not found in system dictionary.]
[However, sarcasm detected. Noted.]
He chuckled softly. "Smart mouth, too."
Before he could say more, the sword's aura surged — thick, heavy, alive.
The world dimmed, and his vision blurred.
[Initiating System Synchronization Trial.]
[Warning: Consciousness transfer in progress.]
"What— wait, you didn't even ask if I was ready—"
Then the ground vanished.
He fell.
Endless darkness stretched in every direction, swallowing him whole.
Then — light.
A crimson sea.
No, not water — blood. Endless, rippling, screaming blood.
Above it hung countless swords — broken, rusted, divine — suspended like stars.
Each hummed with dying intent.
A voice echoed across the crimson horizon.
"You have awakened the System, but you are not yet its master."
The voice was female — calm yet terrifying, as though the world bent to her tone.
Xiao Wang turned — and froze.
She stood upon the blood sea, barefoot, her long silver hair flowing like starlight. Her eyes were sharp and ancient, the same crimson shade as the Devouring Sword's aura.
She wore a simple robe, bound with a black ribbon, and a faint glow surrounded her form.
"Who… are you?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I am Heris, the sword's soul — your sword's spirit."
The words hit him like thunder.
"Spirit… of the Devouring Sword?"
"Yes. You wield my blade, and I wield your fate. Together, we either devour the heavens… or vanish into the void."
The air trembled around her. Each of her words carried a pressure that made the blood sea ripple violently.
"But before I accept you, you must prove yourself worthy. Hence — the First Trial."
[System Quest: The Devourer's First Trial — "Prove Dominance."]
[Objective: Defeat Heris, the Sword Spirit.]
[Reward: Full Synchronization | Sword Spirit Contract | ???]
Xiao Wang's brows furrowed. "Fight you? You're a sword spirit — aren't you supposed to help me, not kill me?"
Her lips curved faintly. "Help? If you cannot even defeat me here, you are unworthy to draw me in the real world."
Then she vanished.
A whisper — then a flash of silver.
The next moment, pain exploded across his shoulder.
He barely had time to dodge, his instincts saving him by a hair. Her sword — a mirror of his — had already drawn first blood.
She moved like a storm, her steps weightless, her strikes filled with divine rhythm.
"Come, wielder. Show me the hunger that devours gods!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as their blades met — lightning-fast slashes colliding midair. Every impact sent waves rippling through the crimson sea.
Xiao Wang gritted his teeth, parrying, twisting, dodging. His movements grew sharper, faster — guided by instinct rather than thought.
[Host's Vitality: 78%...]
[Warning: Energy drain accelerating.]
"She's reading my rhythm…" he muttered.
Then — the other voice spoke.
"Need help, idiot?"
Xiao Wang froze mid-swing.
"Not now!"
"You sure? She's about to turn you into sashimi."
He grit his teeth. "Stay out of this—!"
Heris appeared before him, her sword tip hovering just an inch from his throat.
"Is this all?"
Something inside him snapped.
Not anger — something darker, older.
A crimson pattern bloomed across his right arm — glowing veins of fire.
[Warning: Second Soul Resonance detected.]
[Authority Transfer 45%… 62%…]
His aura surged, wild and monstrous. The sea below erupted into waves of blood.
Heris's eyes widened slightly — for the first time, surprise flashed across her perfect calm.
"Ah… so the Devourer's other half still sleeps within you."
The voice — his twin's — echoed in his mind, low and amused.
"You handle the sword, I'll handle the flair."
"Fine!"
He launched forward — faster than sight.
Their blades met again, but this time, his swing tore through her defense. Heris staggered back, a shallow cut across her cheek.
She smiled — faintly, approvingly.
"That's it. That's the hunger I remember."
He pressed on, his aura expanding — consuming the blood sea, devouring even the energy around them.
[Skill Activated: Devourer's Pulse.]
[Absorbing ambient spiritual essence.]
With every strike, he grew stronger, faster, more focused. Heris's blade trembled against his.
Finally —
CRASH!
The clash exploded in a blinding flash of red and gold.
When the light faded, Heris stood still — her sword shattered, her form dissolving into motes of crimson light.
"Well done, master of mine…" she whispered, her voice soft, almost tender now.
"You have passed the first trial."
Heris smiled faintly, stepping closer — her fingertips brushed his cheek.
"Remember this feeling… The hunger, the balance between mercy and madness. Lose it, and you'll fall again."
Before he could answer, her body dissolved completely, merging into his sword.
[Trial Complete.]
[Reward Unlocked: Sword Spirit Contract — Heris.]
[System Feature: Sword Fusion Unlocked.]
[New Passive: Spirit Resonance (Enhances all sword-based techniques by 35%).]
The voice of the system echoed once more, smoother than before — no longer cold, but alive.
[Welcome, Host. I am now integrated with Heris, the Sword Spirit.]
"Wait— Heris, that's you, isn't it?"
[Yes. I now reside within the system's core. You may summon me at will.]
A faint warmth pulsed from the sword at his side — almost like a heartbeat syncing with his own.
He blinked, realizing the blood sea was fading, replaced by sunlight.
The real world returned — the ruined valley, the scent of rain, and his sword glowing faintly in his grip.
He exhaled, a shaky smile tugging at his lips.
"Not bad for a resurrection day."
"Oh, you call that not bad?" his twin's voice chuckled from within."You almost got cut in half. Twice."
"Shut up."
"Hey, I'm just saying — next time, let me drive earlier."
He ignored him, sheathing the sword. Heris's voice chimed softly in the background.
[New Quest: The Devourer's Second Trial — Soul Hunt Begins.]
[Objective: Locate and devour the first Fallen Beast within three days.]
[Reward: Unknown.]
He looked up at the sky, feeling the weight of it — the challenge, the promise."The second trial already, huh?"
"No rest for the hungry," his twin teased.
He smiled faintly. "Then we keep walking."
The wind carried his laughter into the horizon, where mountains kissed the clouds.
Somewhere beyond, countless sects whispered the return of a name long buried —The Celestial Devouring Sword Emperor.