**Race:** Human
**Essence Core:** Edge Seekers (Beginner)
**Soul Essence:** [0/500]
**Relics:** None
**Ether Shadows:** None
**Attributes:** [Talentless], [Doomed to Die], [Cursed], [Ether Sense]
**Essence:** Doomed Ghost
**Essence Rank:** Awakened
**Essence Abilities:** [Flickering Surge]
The boy slowly closed his eyes, his exhausted body slipping into a troubled sleep. Before him unfolded an abyssal void, where he was surrounded by obscure symbols, resembling a mysterious set of letters. He tried to grasp their meaning but quickly realized he couldn't read. Yet, like an echo in the night, an ancient voice whispered, guiding him to understand what was happening. Listening to this voice, the boy was surprised to learn that he had indeed passed a trial, becoming one of the chosen, and even gained an ability.
**[Flickering Surge]**
**[Rank 1/4]**
**[The Doomed Ghost can make his body momentarily transparent, creating a faint flickering effect. This flickering allows him to briefly evade a single physical attack or slip through a weak obstacle (such as a thin door or a grate). The ability is limited in time and distance.]**
Shock gripped him, and excitement washed over him like a wave. He had always heard of people with paranormal abilities but never thought he would become one of them. Thoughts about who created this system raised more questions. Could it be the work of a god? But there were so many gods in this world—how could he find the true one? And what if believing in this god would grant him even more abilities?
But he had no time to ponder for long. His heart was racing as he began examining his attributes.
**[Talentless]**
**[You will find it difficult to absorb and develop your abilities and skills.]**
The boy felt a heaviness in his chest.
The next description sounded like a sentence.
**[Doomed to Die]**
**[Death will pursue you wherever you go.]**
In despair, he clenched his fists. Why? What had he done to deserve such a fate? Why did this world unleash so much misfortune upon him?
Calming himself, albeit with difficulty, he moved on to the next attribute.
**[Cursed]**
**[You have terrible health.]**
This news wasn't surprising. He had been battling illnesses since childhood, and now this curse was officially tied to him.
Finally, he looked at the last attribute.
**[Ether Sense]**
**[You can sense ghosts and the undead.]**
The sadness weighing on his heart began to lift. This attribute could prove extremely useful. Though what ether shadows and relics of the past were, he had no idea. He replayed the information about his abilities and attributes in his mind, then slowly opened his eyes.
He was high up in a tree, in the middle of a dense forest. His body was clad in old, tattered clothes stained with blood. Around him stretched a scorched landscape, with dreary fields visible in the distance, which he avoided for obvious reasons. Staying in this place was dangerous, as people often passed through, and the boy decided to move west, where he believed it would be safer. Of course, there were settlements in other directions, like the south, where safety was guaranteed, but he didn't want to skirt that terrible field—it was too risky a move, and he wanted to leave that horrible past behind.
He moved with extreme caution, trying not to attract attention. During his journey, he attempted to use his ability, but no matter how hard he tried, nothing happened. He simply couldn't figure out how to make it work.
His primary goal was to find a human settlement where he could seek refuge and begin mastering his new ability. But he had no idea where to find such places and had never traveled before. His gaze often lingered on ordinary things that amazed and frightened him at the same time. Soon, exhaustion overcame his body. Weak and emaciated, it couldn't handle even a few kilometers of travel. Night was falling, and he still hadn't found shelter.
Hunger and thirst began to overwhelm him. Just one day, and he was already on the edge.
The road seemed increasingly dangerous, but in reality, it was just fears conjured by his weary mind. The surroundings remained quiet, with no signs of monsters. Finally, the boy found a suitable tree and, climbing it, settled on a branch, hoping he wouldn't fall during the night. But instead of the long-awaited sleep, he was awakened by a rustling on a nearby tree.
At first, he didn't understand what was happening, but when he looked closer, he noticed something strange. On the branch sat a creature resembling an owl with humanoid features. Feathers, wings instead of arms, and something like a beak from which blood dripped. Shock gripped him. How could he forget about his "Doomed to Die" attribute? He was easy prey for this creature, but owls were known for their caution. The boy remained still, trying to keep his composure and thinking of a plan in case of an attack.
He examined the creature, trying to gauge how dangerous it was. But what he saw next made his heart stop. On the surrounding branches sat dozens more of these creatures.
His breath quickened, and cold sweat ran down his back. Without hesitation, he made a decision.