The sun hung low over the Kingdom of Eldoria, casting a golden glow on the massive Awakening Square. Thousands had gathered—nobles in silk robes, commoners in ragged tunics, all eyes fixed on the towering crystal obelisk at the center. It pulsed with ethereal light, a beacon of fate. Today was the Day of Awakening, when sixteen-year-olds received their Systems—the divine gifts that defined their lives.
Kael Veyr stood in line, heart pounding but face blank. At sixteen, he was thin, with messy black hair and eyes that seemed too old for his age. Orphaned at ten when monsters raided his village, he survived on scraps, odd jobs, and the pity of strangers. No family. No friends. Just survival.
"Next!" the priest barked.
Kael stepped forward. The obelisk hummed, its light scanning him like a predator assessing prey.
The crowd held its breath. Systems were everything. Warrior Systems granted superhuman strength. Mage Systems unleashed elements. Rare ones like Beast Tamer or Alchemist could make you rich. Even basic ones like Farmer meant a steady life.
The light enveloped Kael.
A cold voice echoed in his mind.
[Awakening Initiated.]
[Scanning Soul... Complete.]
[System Assigned: Devourer – Rank F (Lowest Tier).]
[Abilities Unlocked:
Devour (Level 1): Consume organic or inorganic matter to gain minimal energy.
Hunger Sense (Level 1): Detect consumable matter within 1 meter.
Stat Boost: +0.001 to all stats per consumption (limited to trash-grade items).]
The square exploded in laughter.
"Devourer? What is that, a garbage eater?"
"Rank F? Even the beggar's dog has Rank D!"
"Kid's done for. Might as well join the sewers."
Kael stared at the blue screen floating in his vision. No fanfare. No glowing effects. Just plain text.
The priest snorted. "Move along, trash. Next!"
Kael walked off the platform, head down. Whispers followed him like shadows.
"Poor bastard. His life ends here."
He didn't respond. He just left the square, weaving through the mocking crowd.
The kingdom thrived on Systems. They leveled up with quests, kills, or crafting. Strong Systems meant power, wealth, status. Weak ones meant slavery or death in the monster-infested wilds.
Kael returned to his shack in the slums—a leaky roof, a straw bed, and a single stool. He sat, summoning the screen again.
[Devourer System]
[Level: 1]
[User: Kael Veyr]
[Stats:
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Vitality: 3
Intelligence: 5
Will: 6]
[Abilities: Devour (Lv.1), Hunger Sense (Lv.1)]
[Devour Log: Empty]
[Note: Consume to grow. The hungry one becomes the hunter.]
He picked up a piece of rotten apple from the floor—the only "food" he had.
His hand hovered over it.
A faint black mist leaked from his palm.
The apple withered, dissolving into gray dust that flowed into his skin.
[Devoured: Rotten Apple]
[+0.001 to all stats]
[Energy Gained: 0.1/100 to Level 2]
Kael felt a tiny tingle in his body. Barely noticeable.
0.001.
He laughed—a bitter, hollow sound.
"This is it? Eat garbage to get... more garbage?"
He stood up, frustration boiling.
The system voice echoed again.
[Hunger Sense activated. Consumable matter detected: Grass outside shack, 0.0005 energy each.]
Kael kicked the door open. Outside, a patch of dry grass swayed in the wind.
He crouched, hand on the ground.
Black mist spread.
The grass shriveled, dust absorbed.
[Devoured: Dry Grass x10]
[+0.005 to all stats]
[Energy Gained: 0.6/100 to Level 2]
Again, a slight warmth.
Not enough.
Never enough.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
The system note flashed: "The hungry one becomes the hunter."
He glanced at the forest beyond the slums—the Forbidden Woods, full of low-level monsters. Guards patrolled to keep commoners out, but Kael knew a back path from his scavenging days.
He grabbed a rusty knife from the shack—his only weapon.
"Let's see what this Devourer can really do," he muttered.
The sun dipped below the horizon as Kael slipped into the shadows.
The woods were dark, branches like claws. Kael moved quietly, Hunger Sense guiding him.
A rustle.
A small Slime—Rank F monster, jelly-like, no threat to anyone with a real System.
But Kael had nothing.
He lunged, knife slashing.
The Slime jiggled, countering with a weak acid spit.
It burned Kael's arm.
Pain shot through him.
He gritted his teeth.
"Devour!"
Black mist erupted from his hand, enveloping the Slime.
The creature shrieked as it dissolved.
[Devoured: Slime (Rank F)]
[+0.05 to all stats]
[New Ability Fragment Absorbed: Acid Resistance (Lv.1) – 1% resistance to acid damage]
[Energy Gained: 5/100 to Level 2]
Kael gasped.
The burn on his arm faded slightly.
0.05.
Ten times the grass.
And an ability.
His eyes widened.
"This... this is it?"
Another rustle.
Two Slimes this time.
Kael smiled.
The hunger grew.
He charged.
Knife slashing, mist devouring.
[Devoured: Slime x2]
[+0.1 to all stats]
[Ability Fragment: Acid Spit (Lv.1) – unlocked at Level 5]
[Energy Gained: 15/100 to Level 2]
Pain, blood, but strength building.
Kael wiped sweat from his brow.
The forest seemed less threatening.
A growl.
Something bigger.
A Wild Wolf – Rank E, fangs bared.
Kael's heart raced.
Hunger Sense screamed: Consumable – high energy.
He gripped the knife.
The wolf pounced.
Kael dodged – barely.
Claws grazed his shoulder.
Blood flowed.
He countered, knife stabbing the flank.
The wolf howled.
Black mist surged.
It wrapped the wolf's wound.
The beast struggled, but the mist drained it.
[Devoured: Wild Wolf (Rank E) – Partial Devour]
[+0.2 to all stats]
[Ability Fragment: Enhanced Senses (Lv.1) – 5% better hearing/smell]
[Energy Gained: 35/100 to Level 2]
The wolf collapsed, half its body gray dust.
Kael panted, wounds healing slowly.
"This system... it's not trash."
He looked at his hands.
Black mist lingered.
The hunger deepened.
He heard footsteps.
Guards?
No.
A group of adventurers – Rank D, laughing.
"Look at this kid. What are you doing in the woods, trash?"
Kael froze.
They had Systems.
Glowing screens above their heads.
Warrior. Archer. Healer.
Kael's system whispered.
[Hunger Sense: Consumable matter detected – Unused Skill Fragments. Devour possible if target is weak-willed.]
Kael smiled.
The adventurers didn't notice.
They advanced, weapons drawn.
"Hand over your loot, kid, or we'll take it."
Kael's mist stirred.
The hunt began.
[Chapter 1 End]