The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a dim glow over the dilapidated streets of the Game World. The night was thick with anticipation, as every child who had reached the age of five was about to experience the most significant event of their lives—their awakening. For the children of the slums, this was not just a rite of passage; it was a chance to escape poverty, to break free from the shackles of their grim existence.
In a small, makeshift hut constructed from discarded materials, Max sat with his three siblings. The air was thick with tension, their excitement barely contained as they counted down the minutes to midnight. Max, the eldest, was especially quiet, his thoughts far away as he stared at the cracked walls around him.
His sister, Lia, who had just turned five a few days earlier, looked up at Max with wide eyes. "Max, do you think we'll get strong powers? Strong enough to leave this place and never come back?"
Max forced a smile and ruffled Lia's hair. "Of course, Lia. We'll get powers that will make everyone in the city look up to us. You'll be able to eat just like everyone, just like you always wanted."
Lia's eyes sparkled with hope, but there was still a shadow of doubt in her expression. "But what if... what if we don't get anything good? What if we're stuck here forever?"
Max's heart ached at her words. He had the same fears, but he couldn't let them show. He had to be strong for his siblings. "We'll be fine, Lia. We're together, and that's what matters. No matter what happens, we'll face it together."
Their middle brother, Cael, chimed in, his voice trembling slightly. "I heard that some kids get powers so strong, they can join the martial sects right away. They get to leave the slums and live in the big cities with clean water and real food. Do you think that could be us?"
Max glanced at Cael, who had always been the most optimistic of the group. He wanted to believe it, but the reality of their situation weighed heavily on him. "Maybe, Cael. We just have to stay positive and be ready for whatever comes our way."
Their youngest brother, Finn, sat silently in the corner, clutching a worn-out toy made from scraps. He looked up at Max, his big eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope. "Max, what if... what if I don't get anything at all?"
Max moved closer to Finn, wrapping an arm around him. "You'll get something, Finn. Everyone gets something. And whatever it is, we'll make the best of it. We'll protect each other, no matter what."
As the clock ticked closer to midnight, the four siblings huddled together, their hands clasped in a tight circle. The air in the hut was thick with their collective anxiety and anticipation. This was the moment they had been waiting for, the moment that could change their lives forever.
Then, at exactly midnight, a soft glow began to envelop the city. From every corner of the slums, children cried out in awe and wonder as the awakening began. The light grew brighter, more intense, bathing the city in a warm, golden hue. It was a sight that filled the hearts of the children with hope, a promise of something better.
Max felt a surge of energy coursing through his body, a sensation both foreign and familiar. He opened his eyes, and a panel appeared before him:
Name: Max (Broken)
Level: 1
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 11
Ability: Forbidden Body (Broken) (0.1/1000)
Description: Can take beatings and absorb energy, turning it into power. The more power absorbed, the stronger Max becomes, but he cannot wield magic power, mana, or other forms of energy—only pure destructive power.
Curses: Curses of the Maiden World, Curses of Celestial Gods, Curses of the Demon, Curses of the World of Benut, and more, combining into the Curses of the Universe(an ultimate curse belonging to a being purely made for destruction)
Max stared at the panel, his heart sinking. His system was broken. The words "Forbidden Body" and "Curses of the Universe" echoed in his mind, filling him with a deep sense of dread. What did this mean for him? What kind of life could he lead with such a system?
Before he could fully process his own awakening, he heard gasps from his siblings. Lia's voice was the first to break the silence. "Max, I... I got something amazing!" She was trembling with excitement. "I can heal! And not just heal—I can absorb life and give it back!"
Cael followed, his eyes wide with shock. "I got the power of poison! I can control toxins, create them from nothing... This is incredible!"
As the last remnants of the glowing light faded from the sky, Max and his siblings remained huddled together in their makeshift home. The excitement in the room was palpable as they each experimented with their newfound abilities. Lia's eyes glowed with a warm light as she demonstrated her healing power, Cael's hands crackled with poisonous energy, and Finn tentatively manipulated the blood and bones around him.
Finn looked up at Max with a shy smile, his eyes reflecting a mixture of wonder and uncertainty. "I can control blood and bones, Max. I don't really understand it yet, but... it feels powerful."
Max forced a smile, hiding the turmoil in his heart. "That's amazing, all of you. You've all got incredible powers. We're going to be okay."
Lia and Cael were still buzzing with excitement, but they turned their attention to Max, their faces bright with anticipation. "What about you, big brother?" Lia asked, her eyes wide. "What power did you get?"
Max hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of his own system's inadequacy press down on him. He looked at the panel again, where the words "Broken" and "Curses" loomed large. Swallowing his fear, he decided to protect his siblings from his own despair.
"I... I got a powerful body," Max said with forced confidence. "It's called the Celestial Body. It gives me extraordinary strength and resilience."
His siblings' eyes widened in awe. "Celestial Body?" Cael repeated, his voice filled with admiration. "That sounds amazing, Max!"
Max nodded, though inside he was battling a storm of doubt. The truth of his own system felt like a heavy burden, but he couldn't let his siblings see that. He had to be strong for them. He had to give them hope, even if it meant lying about his own potential.
As the night wore on, the sounds of children discovering their new abilities filled the air. Laughter and shouts of joy echoed through the streets, mingling with the soft hum of anticipation that had settled over the city. It was a night of dreams being born, of possibilities unfolding, and Max watched his siblings with a bittersweet mixture of pride and worry.
The light of the awakening had illuminated the city, but for Max, the future remained shrouded in darkness. His own power was far from the promise he had made to his siblings. The words "Broken" and "Curses" on his panel were a constant reminder of the obstacles he faced. What kind of future awaited him with such a system? Could he really make something of himself with this broken power?
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his own despair and the responsibility he had taken on. Despite the crushing uncertainty, Max was determined to protect his siblings and find a way to turn his curses into strength. They had all been given a chance tonight, and he refused to let his own limitations hold them back.
As the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, Max looked at his siblings, who were now drifting off to sleep, exhausted but happy. He watched over them with a sense of fierce protectiveness, vowing to himself that no matter what it took, he would make their lives better. He would find a way to overcome his broken system, to rise above the curses that plagued him.
The night had marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one filled with both promise and uncertainty. For Max, it was a chance to prove himself, to turn his darkest fears into a source of strength. He had to succeed—for his siblings, for himself, and for the hope of a better future.
As he lay down, the weight of the world on his shoulders, Max closed his eyes, letting the quiet resolve settle in his heart. He would not let his family down. He would find a way to make their dreams come true, no matter the cost.