Chapter 5 — The Power to Devour
The city felt quieter after the trial.
Not peaceful — never peaceful — but heavier, like the world itself was watching.
Ayaan stood in the middle of a ruined street, staring at the strange black symbol now etched onto his chest. It pulsed faintly, like a second heartbeat.
The reward of the trial.
Devour.
A power that allowed him to absorb the essence of defeated beings completely.
Even thinking about it made the energy inside him stir violently.
He spotted a wandering creature nearby — a small, wolf-like monster feeding on a corpse.
Its glowing eyes locked onto him instantly.
It attacked.
Ayaan moved faster.
His hand pierced through its skull effortlessly, ending the fight in seconds. As the creature collapsed, he felt something different this time.
A pull.
A hunger.
[Devour Activated]
Dark energy surged from the monster's body, flowing directly into Ayaan. Unlike before, the power didn't simply increase his strength — it merged with him.
Memories of the creature's instincts flashed briefly in his mind.
Hunting.
Killing.
Surviving.
The sensation disappeared quickly, but the feeling disturbed him.
He could absorb more than just power.
He could absorb existence itself.
[Stat Growth Detected]Strength IncreasedSpeed IncreasedEvolution Progress: 52%
Ayaan stared at his trembling hand.
"This power…"
It was dangerous.
Not just to others.
To himself.
Suddenly, shouting echoed nearby.
A group of survivors ran down the street, chased by several monsters. Unlike the terrified people he had seen before, these individuals carried weapons — metal pipes, knives, even makeshift armor.
They were adapting.
One of them noticed Ayaan.
"Help us!"
For a moment, he hesitated.
The System's law was clear — the weak would perish.
But he stepped forward anyway.
The battle ended quickly.
With his enhanced abilities, the monsters stood no chance. Within minutes, their bodies lay scattered across the ground.
Ayaan absorbed their energy silently.
The survivors stared at him with mixed expressions — relief, fear, and suspicion.
One man stepped forward.
"You're… not normal, are you?"
Ayaan didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because the man was right.
The group explained they had formed a small shelter nearby — a place where survivors gathered for protection. They spoke of organized teams, resource hunting, and rumors of powerful individuals rising across the city.
Humanity was rebuilding.
But differently.
Power determined status.
Strength created authority.
The new world was forming its own order.
As Ayaan prepared to leave, a sudden pressure filled the air.
A chilling presence descended.
Everyone froze.
From the sky, a massive creature landed atop a nearby building — far larger and more terrifying than anything before. Its body radiated overwhelming energy.
[Elite Creature — Rank D]Danger Level: Catastrophic
The survivors collapsed in despair.
Even Ayaan felt his body tremble.
This enemy was far beyond his current power.
Yet strangely… the symbol on his chest burned intensely, reacting to the creature's presence.
The Abyss within him resonated.
As if urging him to consume it.
For the first time, Ayaan understood the true nature of his path.
Endless evolution.
Endless hunger.
Endless conflict.
To grow stronger, he would need to face greater horrors.
And perhaps lose himself in the process.
He stepped forward.
Not as a human.
But as something becoming far more dangerous.