Rain poured heavily over the broken streets of the lower district, soaking the ground and turning it into cold mud. The sky was dark, the kind that seemed to press down on everything beneath it.
Zarek Kaine lay motionless on the ground.
His body was battered, his clothes torn and soaked through. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, slowly mixing with the rain as it spread across the earth beneath him. His breathing was weak, each breath more fragile than the last.
"Still alive?" a voice said, laced with mockery.
Three boys stood over him, their expressions filled with contempt. The leader stepped forward, crouching down before grabbing Zarek by the collar and lifting his face slightly.
"You really don't know when to quit, do you?"
Zarek tried to respond, but only a weak cough escaped his lips, followed by more blood.
THUD!
A sudden kick slammed into his side. Pain erupted through his entire body, sharp and blinding.
"Pathetic," one of the boys laughed. "No talent, no background, no strength… just trash pretending to matter."
Zarek's vision blurred as their voices grew distant. His body was growing colder, his breathing slower. The world around him began to fade, slipping away piece by piece.
Is this… how I die?
The thought barely formed before darkness crept in.
But then—
A voice echoed inside his mind.
Cold. Deep. Unfamiliar.
"Life force detected… critically low."
Zarek's eyes twitched faintly.
"Analyzing host…"
"Compatibility: 100%."
And then—
"Primordial Devour System… activating."
Zarek's eyes snapped open.
Something had changed.
The world felt different. The rain seemed slower, the air heavier. Even the laughter around him felt distant, as if everything had been pushed away from him.
A translucent screen appeared before his vision.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]
Host: Zarek Kaine
Status: Near Death
Condition: Critical
Emergency Protocol: Activated
Zarek stared at the screen, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.
"…What… is this…?"
The voice returned, firm and absolute.
"You have died once."
The words echoed in his mind.
"To continue existing… you must devour."
Zarek's expression changed slightly, his eyes darkening as he processed those words.
"Mission Assigned: Survive."
"Condition: Eliminate immediate threats."
"Reward: Unlock basic power control."
"Penalty: Death."
The boys were still there, still laughing, completely unaware of what had just happened.
The leader sighed in irritation. "Let's finish this. I'm tired of looking at him."
He raised his foot, preparing to bring it down and end Zarek once and for all.
But—
Zarek moved.
Slowly, he pushed himself up from the ground.
His movements were weak, unsteady, but he stood.
The leader frowned. "…What?"
Zarek lifted his head.
And for the first time—
There was no fear in his eyes.
Only calm.
Cold.
Empty.
"…You made a mistake," Zarek said quietly.
The atmosphere shifted.
The rain seemed heavier, the air tighter, as if the world itself was reacting.
For a brief moment, the boys felt something they had never felt before.
Fear.
A system notification appeared once more.
"Energy source detected."
"Begin Devour Protocol?"
Zarek paused.
Then, slowly, a faint, cold smile formed on his face.
"…Yes."