The moment Kael stepped closer to the table, a system window appeared in front of him.
[Poison of Rebirth]
[Well done, Kael Williams. You made it this far. That's… mildly impressive.]
[As a reward, you now get the privilege of drinking the Poison of Rebirth.]
[Yes, it looks terrible. No, that is not a mistake.]
[This delightful mixture was created by one of the finest alchemists in the Royal Dominion. Try to appreciate the craftsmanship before you start judging it.]
[Once consumed, it will awaken your latent trait… assuming you actually have one.]
[If you don't…..well, that would be unfortunate.]
[Important: You must drink all of it.]
[Every. Last. Drop.]
[Leaving even a little behind may result in partial awakening… or no awakening at all.]
[Take your time.]
[We will be watching.]
Kael read it once.
Then again.
And then slowly looked down at the bowl.
"…This?" he said flatly, pointing at the thick, bubbling sludge. "This is the work of your 'greatest alchemist'?"
He leaned slightly closer, squinting at it as if expecting it to suddenly improve.
"It looks like something that crawled out of a sewer and gave up halfway through life."
He straightened, shaking his head in disbelief.
"And you want me to drink it. Not happening."
The bowl continued to bubble as if teasing him.
Kael exhaled, then began pacing around the room, one hand running through his hair as he thought it through. "Alright… okay… let's think about this," he muttered, glancing back at it every few steps. "Awakens trait. Sounds important. Probably necessary."
Another glance.
"…But that looks like it'll kill me."
He swallowed. Walked past it again. Came back.
Paused.
Leaned in.
The smell hit him instantly.
"—Ugh—!"
Kael recoiled, turning his head sharply as he gagged, one hand covering his mouth. "Nope. Nope, absolutely not."
He stepped away quickly, coughing, his eyes watering slightly as he tried to clear the stench from his senses.
"That is not meant for human consumption," he muttered, pointing at it like it had personally offended him.
He stood there for a few seconds, breathing through his sleeve, then looked back at the system window still floating calmly in front of him.
"…Latent trait," he repeated under his breath.
His expression shifted and his annoyance was replaced with focus.
"Yeah… I don't really have a choice, do I?"
With a resigned sigh, Kael walked over to the side and leaned the trident carefully against the wall. He then reached up and pulled off his shirt, tossing it aside without much thought, as if that would somehow make this situation more manageable.
He rolled his shoulders, stretched his arms slightly, and cracked his knuckles.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, pacing once more, though this time slower. "You've done worse."
He stopped in front of the table again, staring down at the bowl like it was a personal challenge.
"Just drink it," he said under his breath. "Don't think. Just do it."
A pause.
"…And don't throw up halfway through."
He took a deep breath taking all the smells, straightened slightly, and leaned forward, bracing himself as if preparing to dive into something far worse than a fight.
"Okay," he whispered.
"Let's do this."
Kael stared at the message for a few more seconds, then slowly looked back down at the bowl.
"…I hate you," he muttered.
There was no response from the system.
He exhaled, rolled his shoulders once, and then reached forward before his mind could change its decision. His fingers wrapped around the edges of the bowl, lifting it carefully. It was heavier than he expected, the thick liquid inside shifting sluggishly, the surface bubbling as if reacting to the movement.
"Don't think," he told himself under his breath. "Just drink."
He brought it closer.
The smell hit again. It was strong, rotting and unbearable. Kael's face twisted immediately, but this time he didn't pull back.
Instead, he tilted the bowl. And started drinking.
The first contact nearly broke him.
The liquid was thick, far thicker than water, sliding slowly into his mouth with a texture that made his entire body revolt. It wasn't just the taste….it was everything. Bitter, sour, something far worse underneath, something that didn't belong anywhere near a human tongue.
"—ghk—"
He forced it down. Didn't stop. Didn't breathe properly.
He kept drinking.
The liquid poured into him in heavy gulps, coating his throat as it went down. Something solid brushed against his lips. His mind immediately went to the floating insects inside it.
He didn't look. Didn't want to know.
Another gulp.
And another.
His face contorted with every swallow, eyes squeezed shut, his entire expression screaming protest as he forced himself to keep going. The bowl tilted higher, the thick sludge sliding faster now, chunks and fragments mixing into the flow as he swallowed everything without pause.
There was no hesitation, just sheer will. By the time the last of the liquid slid down his throat, Kael lowered the bowl slowly, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to breathe through it.
For a second there was nothing.
Then it hit.
A violent urge surged up his throat, his body rejecting everything he had just forced into it. Kael doubled slightly, one hand gripping the edge of the table as his stomach churned.
"Don't—" he muttered, teeth clenching hard. "Don't you dare—"
His face twisted, eyes watering, throat tightening as he fought the instinct.
"Not after all that—"
He swallowed it back. A shudder ran through him as he forced himself upright again, breathing heavily, his gaze dropping back to the bowl.
It was almost empty. A thin layer still clung to the sides.
Kael stared at it.
Then slowly looked back at the system message.
Every. Last. Drop.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He leaned forward again.
And started licking. Slow at first.
Then faster, determined, dragging his tongue along the inner surface of the bowl, scraping off every remaining trace of the foul liquid. His face twisted with every motion, expressions shifting between disgust, regret, and pure suffering as he forced himself to continue.
"—this is—ugh—this is inhumane—"
Still, he didn't stop.
He turned the bowl slightly, reaching different angles, making sure nothing remained. Even the smallest streak was cleaned away, his persistence bordering on absurd as he committed fully to the task.
Finally, he pulled back. The bowl was spotless.
Not a single drop remained.
Kael stared at it for a moment, breathing hard, then slowly set it back down on the table.
"…I regret everything," he said hoarsely.
[Excellent work.]
[Truly. That was… disturbingly thorough.]
[Most candidates hesitate. Some cry. A few pass out.]
[You licked the bowl clean.]
[Noted.]
[Awakening will begin in 10 seconds.]
[A countdown has been provided for your convenience.]
A new window appeared in front of him, a timer ticking down from 10.
Kael slowly placed the bowl back on the table, staring at it for a second as if questioning his life choices, then straightened and stood there in silence.
"…I want that on record," he muttered. "I was forced into that."
The countdown continued.
5… 4… 3…
Kael took a breath, bracing himself.
2… 1…
The moment it hit zero, his stomach churned violently.