Seo Jin's steps echoed across the stone pathway leading toward the academy's training grounds. A faint chill ran down his spine, though the air was warm under the afternoon sun. Something was wrong.
It wasn't the students sparring in the distance or the faint hum of mana that seemed to pulse from the surrounding environment. It was something deeper, something unnatural; perhaps a faint distortion in the air, like heatwaves on asphalt.
His pace slowed as he approached the clearing, his eyes narrowing at the sight ahead.
At first, it seemed like nothing. Just an empty patch of land surrounded by thick hedges. But as Seo Jin stepped closer, he noticed the shimmer, like a faint, translucent ripple cutting through the space like an invisible scar.
His heart sank. He'd read about this in Battleborn Academy.
A Rift.
Seo Jin glanced around, hoping someone else had noticed. The grounds were quiet, save for the distant sounds of training. No instructors. No elite students. Just him, staring at the anomaly that should have been sealed or detected long before it manifested.
"This isn't my problem," he muttered, taking a cautious step back.
But the Rift pulsed, a faint glow flickering along its edges. Seo Jin froze as the shimmer thickened, and a clawed hand emerged from the tear in reality.
Shit.
The rest of the creature followed: a hunched, goblin-like figure with sickly green skin and glowing red eyes. It was barely four feet tall, but its jagged teeth and sharp claws made it clear that size wasn't the issue.
The goblin let out a low growl, its gaze locking onto Seo Jin.
"Great. Just great," Seo Jin muttered, his mind racing.
He wasn't ready for this. He had no weapons, no combat experience, and barely enough strength to run a few laps without collapsing. And yet, here he was, staring down a monster that could probably rip him apart in seconds.
The goblin snarled, crouching low before springing toward him with surprising speed. Seo Jin yelped, diving to the side as the creature's claws slashed through the air where he'd just been standing.
He hit the ground hard, his breath knocked out of him as he scrambled to his feet. The goblin turned, its movements fluid and predatory, and Seo Jin felt a fresh wave of panic surge through him.
His eyes darted around the clearing, searching for anything he could use. A stick, a rock, hell, even a rusty nail would be better than nothing.
There.
A jagged piece of wood lay near the edge of the clearing, likely broken off from one of the training dummies. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
The goblin lunged again, and Seo Jin barely managed to roll out of the way, grabbing the makeshift weapon as he came up. He gripped it tightly, the rough edges biting into his palms.
"Come on, then," he muttered, trying to steady his breathing.
The goblin hissed, circling him like a predator sizing up its prey.
Seo Jin swung the wood clumsily as the creature darted in, managing to graze its arm. It screeched in anger, swiping at him with its claws and forcing him to stumble back.
The fight was brutal and messy. Seo Jin wasn't fast or strong enough to overpower the goblin, and every movement felt like it drained what little stamina he had.
But he had something the goblin didn't.
Desperation.
When the creature lunged again, Seo Jin feigned a stumble, letting it close the distance. As its claws slashed toward him, he shifted his weight, driving the jagged wood upward with every ounce of strength he could muster.
The goblin's red eyes widened as the makeshift weapon pierced its chest. It let out a choked snarl, its claws flailing weakly before it collapsed to the ground.
Seo Jin staggered back, his chest heaving as he stared at the motionless body. Blood that was dark and viscous pooled beneath it, staining the grass.
For a moment, the clearing was silent, save for the sound of his ragged breathing. Then, without warning, the Status Window appeared before him, glowing faintly.
[Devourer Activated]
Seo Jin froze as the words etched themselves across the translucent screen. His body tensed, a strange sensation spreading through his limbs, like ice and fire coursing through his veins.
"What the-"
The goblin's body seemed to dissolve, its essence drawn into a faint orb of light that hovered in the air before shooting toward Seo Jin. The moment it touched him, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees.
The pain was immediate and overwhelming. Seo Jin clenched his fists, his nails digging into the dirt as his body convulsed. It felt like something was tearing through him, rearranging him from the inside out.
And then it was gone.
Seo Jin gasped, his chest heaving as he slumped forward. He felt… different. Lighter. Faster. His vision sharpened, and the dull ache in his limbs faded, replaced by a strange energy that buzzed beneath his skin.
The Status Window flickered again, new text appearing:
[Speed Ability Acquired]
Seo Jin staggered to his feet, his legs trembling as he took an unsteady step forward. He glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers experimentally.
"I absorbed its ability," he muttered, a mix of awe and disbelief in his voice. "That's… that's insane."
He took another step, testing the newfound speed. His movements felt smoother, more natural, like his body was finally responding the way it was supposed to.
A grin spread across his face. For the first time since waking up in this world, he felt something other than fear or despair.
But the excitement was short-lived. Seo Jin glanced back at the spot where the goblin had fallen, the memory of its claws and teeth still fresh in his mind.
He'd survived, yes. But barely. And if that had been a low-tier monster, what would happen when he faced something stronger?
The thrill of his newfound power was tempered by the sobering realization that he wasn't invincible. Far from it.
As Seo Jin turned to leave the clearing, the Status Window appeared one final time, its faint glow casting eerie shadows across his face.
[Devourer Level: 1/???]
Seo Jin stared at the screen, his pulse quickening. There was more to this ability, with more potential and more danger. He wasn't sure what it would cost him, but one thing was clear:
He couldn't afford to stop now.
"Holy shit... I could get used to this."