Michael studied the information, noting the ranks and affinities of his talents. The partial seal on his Ancient God Physique and the low ranks on all his talents reminded him of how much work he had ahead of him. But there was potential here—immense potential, if he could unlock it.
(Alicia, do you know what a nine in dexterity means? Is it good for someone my age?) Michael asked, trying to break the silence and his own thoughts, putting on a pitiful, childlike smile.
Alicia glanced at him briefly before answering, "Ms. Taylor at the orphanage said that regular humans who awaken early won't have any stats that surpass ten unless they're geniuses aiming to attend Worldview High in California. Of course, mana is different—they usually awaken with one hundred or more in their mana pool, while we awaken with around forty on average."
(Basically, all of my stats are trash except for my Light element's S-rank affinity.) Michael thought, frowning slightly.
(Yes, without years of medicinal treatment and training like those geniuses, your physique is the only reason your stats are even close to ten. Only when you reach ten or more in a stat are you considered F-rank. E-rank requires fifty or more, and D-rank is one hundred or more. C-rank is where an awakener is considered somewhat powerful, and that hurdle is at two hundred or more in a stat.) Uriel explained, her tone carrying a hint of satisfaction that Michael was starting to understand how the world worked.
"Alicia, can we take the back way to the orphanage? I could use the extra air and time to think," Michael asked, projecting a feeling of being unwell, leaving Alicia no choice but to accept his suggestion.
"Sure, let's turn down this alley. We can go the route no one ever takes, so you won't have to worry about the noise either," she replied, her tone softening.
(She's surprisingly considerate,) Michael mused, realizing the previous owner of his body and Alicia must have been close, like siblings. Her initial scolding had been replaced by concern, especially after realizing he might have memory loss or brain damage.
After another twenty minutes of walking, they were cutting across alleyways that looked damp and deserted. It was a stark contrast to the busy streets and storefronts from earlier. The buildings loomed above them, casting long shadows that made the alleys feel claustrophobic. The only sounds were the distant hum of the city and the occasional drip of water from a nearby drain.
As they turned into a particularly narrow alley, Alicia tried to break the silence. "Mikey, are you okay? And what's up with that white kitten? It's been f—"
CRACK!
Alicia's body crumpled to the ground, her expression frozen in a mix of concern and confusion. Michael stood behind her, his face a mask of neutrality as he stared down at her lifeless form.
"You seemed kind, and because of that, I'm sorry I had to do this to survive. I have no excuse, and I know this makes me a terrible person, but I truly apologize," Michael murmured, his voice devoid of emotion, yet tinged with a hint of regret.
"What the hell are you doing, human?!" Uriel's voice, usually calm and teasing, was now filled with shock. She hadn't expected this turn of events. She had planned to gradually manipulate Michael into using his devour ability, but she hadn't thought he would take such drastic action on his own.
"Enough. Tell me how to devour her ability, and then tell me where we can find the nearest dungeon." Michael's voice was cold, resolute, leaving no room for argument.
"You're devour ability is Rank F. To use it, you'll need to grab both of her eyes and absorb the mana directly from them. The process may take some time, so you'll need to concentrate for however long it takes," Uriel instructed, still reeling from the suddenness of Michael's actions. She wanted to question him about Alicia, but his demeanor told her he wasn't in the mood for explanations.
"Do I have to dig them out?" Michael asked, hoping for a different answer but knowing what was likely coming.
"That would be the wise decision. It could take hours or minutes to devour them. It's better to dig them out now and find a safe place to complete the process. It may be messy, but remember, things will be like this from here on out, so let's go." Uriel's voice was firm, and Michael could sense the underlying acceptance of what needed to be done.
Thirty Minutes Later
Michael sat under an overpass, his legs crossed, with two eyeballs resting in his bloodstained hands. The red-streaked hoodie he wore concealed most of the mess, but the evidence of his actions was clear. Next to him, Alicia's body sat slumped against the wall, her face marked by dried blood from her tear-streaked eyes.
Michael had known he would need to lay low after such a gruesome act. The alleys had provided the necessary cover, and now he could focus on the next step. Uriel had been silent after guiding him through the process, a silence that weighed heavily on Michael's mind.
Then, something shifted. Michael felt a subtle change in the air, as if the space around him had thickened with energy. He looked up to see Uriel—still in her kitten form—staring intently at Alicia's body. Her small form began to glow, radiating an ethereal light that pulsed with an almost divine frequency.
"Uriel... what are you doing?" Michael asked, a mix of curiosity and unease creeping into his voice.
Uriel didn't respond immediately. Instead, the light surrounding her grew brighter, more intense, until her small body was almost indistinguishable within it. The light then coalesced into a single streak, a beam of energy that shot forward and entered Alicia's lifeless form through her mouth, nose, and eyes.
Michael watched, transfixed, as Alicia's body began to react to the influx of divine energy. Her fingers twitched, her chest heaved as though she was drawing in a breath, and the pallor of death seemed to recede, replaced by a subtle warmth.
The reanimation was eerie, almost unnatural, but at the same time, there was a certain grace to it—a melding of divine power with mortal flesh. As the process continued, Alicia's body sat up slowly, her movements deliberate and controlled, as if testing the limits of its newfound life.
When she finally opened her eyes, they were no longer the soft, concerned eyes of the girl who had cared for Michael. They were sharp, knowing, and filled with an intelligence that was unmistakably Uriel's.
"Now, human," Uriel spoke through Alicia's lips, her voice carrying the same tone of authority it always had, "concentrate on the feeling of hunger. Channel your mana to satiate that feeling. Then you'll understand how your ability truly works. If you can activate it, remember to focus on devouring until the hunger is satisfied."
Michael nodded, still processing what he had just witnessed. The shock of Uriel's possession of Alicia's body was quickly overshadowed by the need to complete the task at hand. He closed his eyes, focusing on the gnawing emptiness in his stomach, the primal need to feed. As he activated his devour ability, he felt the mana in the eyes flowing into him, feeding him, merging with his own energy. His eyes burned as if they were being consumed by fire, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain, remembering Uriel's advice to concentrate.
Unbeknownst to him, his deep blue eyes turned a vivid red as the process continued. Time slipped away, the world outside forgotten as he focused solely on devouring. The sky darkened as night fell, and when Michael finally opened his eyes, the city was bathed in the soft glow of streetlights and distant neon signs.
Uriel, now inhabiting Alicia's body, lay sprawled on the dirty ground as if lounging on a luxurious couch, her eyes half-lidded with boredom. "About time you finished, slowpoke. That took over four hours, you know? So, how are your eyes? Did it work?"
Michael blinked, the world around him sharp and clear, as if he were seeing everything for the first time. The alleyway seemed to glow with an ethereal light, and he could sense the flow of mana around him, the hidden energies that pulsed through the city. "Yes, it worked. These eyes… they're incredible."
Despite the guilt that gnawed at him for what he had done, Michael couldn't deny the exhilaration that surged through him. He had taken his first real step towards power, and the path ahead was clearer now. He didn't want close, intimate connections with people who seemed like family. It was better to sever ties now before things got complicated. But deep down, he knew that this was just a convenient excuse. He had killed Alicia for her eyes, and no amount of rationalizing would change that.
"All that's left now is to check my status."
He mentally called up his status screen once more, eager to see the results.
[Name: Michael Corvinus]
[Rank: Mortal]
[Talents:
Ancient God Physique [Partially Sealed]
Light Manipulation [Affinity: S] [Rank F]
Fire Manipulation [Affinity: C] [Rank F]
Gravity Manipulation [Affinity: F] [Rank F]
Lightning Manipulation [Affinity: C] [Rank F]
Devouring [Rank F]
Divine Eyes [Rank F]
[Stats:]
Mana Pool: 20
STR: 5
SPD: 6
INT: 8
DEX: 9
Michael felt a surge of satisfaction. The Divine Eyes had been added to his talents, their potential now his to unlock. "It worked. I can feel their power."
Uriel smiled faintly, her borrowed face not quite matching the expression. "Good. You're on your way now. But remember, this is only the beginning. The path ahead will demand much more from you."
Michael nodded, his resolve hardening. The contest had truly begun, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. No matter what it took, he would survive and emerge victorious.