The Blackhawk Shelter stood quiet under a starless sky, shrouded in an eerie calm. Sirius lingered in the center of an abandoned park, his figure illuminated by the dim glow of distant city lights. The once-thriving metropolis was now a memory, reduced to ruins by the chaos that had torn the world apart. He glanced down at his wrist, the worn face of an old watch ticking away. A relic from his father—who had disappeared without a trace years ago—the watch was one of the few remnants of his former life.
As the second hand crept toward midnight, Sirius braced himself, feeling a heavy mix of anticipation and dread. The night air seemed to thicken, a silence so profound it gnawed at his nerves. Then, the clock struck 12:00.
A sudden warmth surged through his body, filling him with a rush of energy that was both terrifying and exhilarating. His breath hitched as the sensation pulsed through his veins, swelling to an almost unbearable intensity. Just as quickly, it faded, leaving behind an aching emptiness. Sirius exhaled, his breath misting in the cold air, and slowly opened his eyes.
Before him floated a semi-transparent screen—the Awakening Panel. This was it. His heart pounded as he read the words that would define his future in this unforgiving world:
Talents:
Void Storage (F): Access to a pocket dimension for storing and retrieving items. Current capacity: small room.
Heightened Focus (F): Enhanced senses, focus, and reflexes.
Orion's Eye (A): 360° field vision, X-ray vision, and the ability to see talents, stats, strengths, and weaknesses of the target.
Predation (SSS): A hidden talent that allows the user to acquire the talents of defeated entities.
Sirius's pulse quickened as his eyes fixed on the final talent. Predation. An ability that surpassed even the highest rank, S and went beyond norms. He had never heard of such power—not even in the legendary records of the greatest hunters. His mind raced with the implications: unimaginable strength, yes, but also danger. If anyone discovered this... no, he couldn't afford to draw attention. He had to tread carefully, growing stronger in the shadows.
Steeling himself, Sirius decided to test his newfound abilities. The city's outskirts, abandoned after the first dungeon outbreaks, would be the perfect place. Few ventured there, and the ruins beyond the shelter's walls had become a haven for twisted creatures lurking in the remnants of the old world. His path led him through a forgotten sewer tunnel, its once-bustling corridors now damp, crumbling, and crawling with vines.
The stench of decay filled the air as Sirius moved cautiously, a flashlight in one hand and an obsidian dagger in the other. The tunnel stretched ahead, dark and foreboding, like the throat of some long-dead beast. He navigated its twists and turns, his heightened senses attuned to every subtle sound and shift in the air.
Then, a faint skittering broke the silence.
Sirius froze. His senses flared, pinpointing the source of the sound. Slowly, he raised his flashlight, revealing a giant black ant the size of a human hand. Its sharp mandibles clacked as it approached, the eerie glint of its beady eyes reflecting in the light.
He activated Orion's Eye, and instantly, the creature's stats appeared before him:
Giant Black Ant
Strength: 2
Agility: 1.5
Endurance: 2.5
Talent: Strength of Ten (F)
Weakness: Joint between head and thorax, poor eyesight
Sirius's lips curled into a grim smile. He knew exactly where to strike. With practiced precision, he lunged, his dagger aimed at the vulnerable joint. The blade sliced through, severing the ant's head in one swift motion. The creature twitched before collapsing in a heap.
A rush of energy surged through Sirius as his Predation talent activated. He felt the ant's essence merging with his own, and a new line appeared on his panel:
Acquired Talent: Strength of Ten (F)
Sirius felt a faint but noticeable increase in his strength. It was a small victory, but proof that his power worked. He bent down, prying open the ant's head and retrieving a faintly glowing orb—a low-grade beast core. He slipped it into his Void Storage, watching it disappear into the pocket dimension with a sense of satisfaction.
He pressed forward, his confidence growing with each step. More ants appeared, each falling easily to his blade as he exploited their weaknesses. Some dropped beast cores, which he collected greedily, while others disintegrated upon death. The thrill of combat was addictive, and Sirius found himself reveling in the power he had only just begun to harness.
Suddenly, something small and red caught the edge of his flashlight's beam. Sirius paused, intrigued. A tiny red ant scurried across the floor, nibbling on a beast core. It was insignificant compared to the larger ants, yet something about it piqued his curiosity. He activated Orion's Eye again.
Tiny Red Blood Ant
Strength: 0.03
Speed: 0.05
Talent: Essence Devour (A)
Sirius's eyes widened. An A-rank talent in such a small creature? The implications were staggering. Essence Devour could allow him to consume beast cores to enhance his attributes and talents—exactly the edge he needed.
Without hesitation, he crushed the ant beneath his boot. The moment it died, his Predation talent absorbed its essence, and a new line appeared on his panel:
Acquired Talent: Essence Devour (A)
His heart raced with excitement. This changed everything. He quickly retrieved one of the beast cores he had collected earlier, a small, faintly glowing gem that pulsed with energy. With a moment's hesitation, he placed it in his mouth. It dissolved instantly, sending a rush of power through his body. He felt his muscles tighten, his senses sharpen. His strength and agility both increased by a full point.
Eagerly, he consumed the rest of his beast cores. Each one amplified his power, pushing his stats higher. By the time he finished, he felt transformed, a new energy humming beneath his skin.
Sirius Starblade
Talents:
Void Storage (F)
Heightened Focus (F)
Orion's Eye (A)
Predation (SSS)
Strength of Ten (F)
Essence Devour (A)
Stats:
Strength: 9
Agility: 8
Endurance: 9
Vitality: 7
Physique: 13
Mental Power: 11
Mana: 15
Sirius smirked as he surveyed his stats, pride swelling in his chest. This was only the beginning.