Michael and Uriel stepped through the portal, emerging into a vast, open plain bathed in sunlight. The sky was a clear, brilliant blue, with the sun hanging high, casting long shadows over the landscape. All around them, teenagers and young adults gathered, each dressed in a wide range of attire—some in casual t-shirts and jeans, others in expensive armor or tailored suits. The diversity of clothing reflected the different backgrounds and experiences of the awakeners gathered here.
A hundred yards ahead, an imposing forest stretched out endlessly, its dense canopy casting an ominous shadow over the plains. The trees loomed tall, ancient and gnarled, their thick trunks blocking the view of whatever lurked within.
"So, what's your plan, human?" Uriel asked, her voice carrying a tone of both curiosity and concern.
"We'll enter the forest and search for the corpses of fallen awakeners and monsters," Michael replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "I have no fighting power or equipment, but this plan will give me both. Any objections, Miss Angel?" He asked with a hint of impatience, already starting to move toward the forest.
Uriel sighed, a look of mild disgust on her face. "No objections, but I don't relish the idea of stalking around like bottom feeders and scavenging like hyenas."
"I'll pursue strength at whatever cost is necessary," Michael responded, a sly smile playing on his lips. "If that's an issue, maybe I can request another angel to guide me."
"As if any of my siblings would bother with a menial task such as this," Uriel pouted, clearly irritated but resigned to the situation.
Michael remained silent, his focus sharpening as he activated his Divine Eyes, scanning the forest edge for any signs of battles that might have left useful spoils behind.
Three hours passed as they navigated the dense underbrush and towering trees, the sounds of distant growls and the rustle of leaves their only company. Finally, they stumbled upon a grim scene: two dead awakeners and a third, gravely injured, slumped against a tree, his breathing labored and shallow. He was a fire-type user, evident from the faint glow of embers flickering around his wounded arm.
In front of him, a large black wolf prowled, its eyes locked onto its prey. Despite his injuries, the awakener wore a fierce expression, hurling a fireball at the approaching beast. The wolf dodged to the left, then darted forward with renewed speed, jaws wide open for the kill. Just as it lunged, the awakener coated his remaining fist in flames and drove it into the wolf's gaping maw.
"Awwwwuuuuuuuu!!!" The wolf howled in agony, collapsing in a heap as its life drained away.
Michael and Uriel watched from a perch high in the trees, waiting for the right moment to claim their prize. As soon as the wolf fell silent, they dropped down and moved in swiftly.
"I can devour the stats of the three awakeners quickly, but I'll need you to extract the core from the wolf," Michael instructed, wasting no time as he knelt beside the first corpse. "We need to leave before more monsters arrive. The scent of blood will have attracted them by now."
"Who... hah... are... you?" The injured awakener wheezed, his strength fading fast.
"I'll put you out of your misery soon," Michael said coldly, not even sparing a glance back as he focused on devouring the energy of the dead.
Fifteen minutes later, Michael rose, having drained the two lifeless bodies. He turned to the wounded awakener, who was now barely clinging to life, his eyes glazed over in pain and despair.
"No hard feelings, but this is necessary for my survival and growth. Living with one arm isn't a life you'd want anyway. I've seen what happens to strong men who become crippled. It's a slow death of a different kind. Go with peace."
With a swift, precise movement, Michael grabbed a knife from one of the fallen companions and slit the awakener's throat, ending his suffering. Without hesitation, he began to devour the remaining energy.
"I hope you're able to break through to F-rank after this," Uriel commented, her tone reflecting a mix of practicality and the harsh reality they faced. "I hate seeing you so weak and vulnerable."
Six minutes later, Michael finished, his body tingling with the new energy coursing through him. "Let's get to higher ground. I'm betting the monsters will fight over the corpses, and we can pick off the survivors."
They climbed back up into the trees, finding a secure vantage point to observe the scene below. As they waited, Uriel couldn't help but glance back at the withered remains of the three bodies, now nothing more than dried-up mummies.
"Have you broken through to F-rank yet? Did you acquire any useful talents?" Uriel asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, the fire user's energy pushed me to F-rank, though there wasn't an overwhelming sensation like I expected," Michael replied, his eyes closed in concentration as he assessed his gains. "I did take his fire affinity. It was C-grade, so I was able to upgrade mine slightly."
"Of course there wasn't a grand commotion," Uriel explained. "You have the Ancient God Physique. You won't encounter bottlenecks until you reach higher ranks. Going from Mortal to F-rank was supposed to be as simple as breathing. But I'm glad you improved your affinity. The fire element could be very useful for us."
"For now, I'm not feeling hungry," Michael said, turning his attention back to the forest below. "We'll wait for the monsters to arrive and let them fight it out. In the meantime, I'll absorb the wolf's core."
He focused on the wolf's core, drawing in its energy while keeping a close watch on the surrounding forest. Hours passed, and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world into darkness. The forest came alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, their eyes glowing faintly in the shadows.
"Your physique also helps you sustain yourself by feeding on mana or energy," Uriel added, sensing Michael's growing confidence. "Even I'm just absorbing mana from the air to stave off hunger. It's not the same as eating, but it's enough to keep us alive."
As the night deepened, the first signs of movement appeared at the edge of the clearing. Michael's patience was finally rewarded as groups of monsters began to emerge, drawn by the scent of blood and the promise of easy prey. The creatures varied in size and form—some were small and agile, others large and lumbering, but all of them radiated a palpable aura of danger.
"And now the show begins, Uriel," Michael whispered, his eyes narrowing as he watched the monsters approach, his senses sharp and ready.
He mentally summoned his status screen, eager to see the results of his hard-won efforts.
[Name: Michael Corvinus]
[Rank: F]
[Talents:
Ancient God Physique [Partially Sealed]
Light Manipulation [Affinity: S] [Rank F]
Fire Manipulation [Affinity: C+] [Rank F → Rank E]
Gravity Manipulation [Affinity: F] [Rank F]
Lightning Manipulation [Affinity: C] [Rank F]
Devouring [Rank F]
Divine Eyes [Rank F]
[Stats:]
Mana Pool: 20 → 40 (+20)
STR: 5 → 11 (+6)
SPD: 6 → 10 (+4)
INT: 8 → 10 (+2)
DEX: 9 → 12 (+3)
A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he surveyed his new stats. The progression was slower than he might have liked, but the path to power was one that required patience and cunning.
From their vantage point in the trees, Michael and Uriel watched as the monsters began to clash, the night air filled with the sounds of growls, roars, and the tearing of flesh. It was a brutal and chaotic scene, but it was exactly what they had been waiting for.
With the shadows concealing them, they were content to let the monsters do the work, knowing that when the time was right, they would descend to claim the spoils of battle.
This was only the beginning, and Michael could feel the hunger for power growing within him, a hunger that would drive him to keep pushing forward—no matter the cost.