The faint glow of a dying candle danced on the weathered walls of the small countryside church. Rows of simple wooden pews stood empty, their presence solemn and heavy in the dim light. The faint hum of cicadas outside mingled with the soft murmurs of a tired priest saying his evening prayers. Nestled in a shadowed corner near the altar, a boy of five sat cross-legged, his dark eyes fixed on the faint shimmer of the candlelight. His name was Edil Estrada, and though young, the emptiness in his gaze spoke of a life already marked by loss.
Edil's parents had passed just a year prior, victims of an unknown illness that had swept through their municipality like a silent storm. The church had taken him in, offering what little solace they could. Though the priests and nuns were kind, their resources were scarce. Meals were often plain, and warmth came more from their prayers than the thin blankets Edil huddled under at night.
He spent his days helping with chores, tidying pews, and lighting candles. At night, he stared out the high, stained-glass windows, watching the stars. He wondered if his parents were among them, silently watching over him.
On some evenings, Father Ignacio would sit beside him, speaking gently about faith and resilience. "The world is vast and harsh, my child," the priest would say, his voice weary but kind. "But even in the darkest corners, light always finds a way."
Edil didn't reply much. He nodded, clinging to those words without fully understanding them.
The Bali Family: A New Kind of Suffering
At the age of five, Edil's world shifted again. A family came to the church, claiming they wanted to adopt him. The Bali family seemed kind at first—a man with a broad smile, a quiet wife, and their son, Roger, who was ten at the time.
"He'll be a good helper around the house," said Rogelio Bali, the patriarch, as he handed Father Ignacio a generous donation.
At first, Edil felt hope. The Bali household in the nearby city was larger than anything he had ever seen, with high ceilings and polished floors. But the warmth of the house was a facade, much like the smiles the family had shown at the church.
Within days, Edil learned his role: a servant. Rogelio was a stern, often violent man, quick to anger. His wife, Layla, turned a blind eye to her husband's cruelty, her focus solely on their son, Roger. And Roger? Roger delighted in tormenting Edil, treating him like a personal punching bag.
"You're here because we let you be," Roger sneered one afternoon, shoving Edil into the dirt of the backyard. "You're nothing without us."
Meals were sparse for Edil, often just scraps left over from the family's dinners. His chores were endless, his body often bruised from Rogelio's harsh discipline or Roger's bullying. Yet, amidst the pain, Edil's resolve began to harden. Each cruel word, every strike, forged a silent promise within him: one day, he would rise above them.
The Cataclysmic Event: The World Turns
The year Edil turned seventeen, the world shattered.
It began with an earthquake, a tremor so violent it seemed as if the earth itself was tearing apart. Buildings crumbled, the sky turned an unnatural shade of crimson, and a deafening roar filled the air as fissures split the ground. Fires erupted across the city, and monstrous beasts—creatures of nightmare—emerged from the cracks.
Edil was in the middle of his chores when the quake struck. The Bali family scrambled in panic, their shouts incoherent amidst the chaos. Edil bolted for the door, adrenaline overriding fear.
As he ran through the crumbling streets, dodging falling debris and panicked crowds, a voice unlike any he had ever heard echoed in his mind.
"Congratulations, Edil Estrada. You have been chosen."
He froze. Around him, the world was falling apart, yet the voice's calmness pierced through the chaos.
"You are the recipient of the Attribute System, a gift to thrive in the new era. Collect attributes from all living beings. Strengthen yourself. Evolve. Rise above."
Before he could respond, a glowing interface appeared before his eyes, translucent yet vivid.
[Attribute System Activation]
Name: Edil Estrada
Attributes Unlocked: Strength, Speed, Endurance
Special Skills: Skill Duplication (Rank 1)
Energy Absorption Mode: Enabled
Edil barely had time to process the information before a monstrous roar pulled him back to reality. A massive, wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes and jagged fangs leapt from the shadows, its claws slicing through the air as it charged toward him.
Instinct took over. Edil dodged, narrowly avoiding the beast's strike. As he stumbled back, he felt something—a surge of energy, raw and untamed, coursing through his body. The Attribute System's interface flashed again.
"Energy Source Detected. Absorb?"
Without thinking, Edil shouted, "Yes!"
A brilliant light engulfed the beast as it collapsed, its energy transferring to Edil. He felt his body grow stronger, his movements quicker, his senses sharper.
For the first time in his life, Edil felt powerful.
Closing Scene: The Promise of Power
Standing amidst the ruins, Edil looked at his hands, trembling not with fear but with exhilaration. The Bali family, the years of abuse, the helplessness he had endured—all of it felt like a distant memory.
"They will regret everything," he muttered, his voice cold and resolute. "I will rise. I will become the most powerful being in this world."
Above him, the sky burned red, signaling the dawn of a new era.