For hours, Malik devoured the knowledge hidden with the archives.
He read of the secret abilities that a small percentile of humans were born with- gifts that transcended normality. He read of the supernatural creatures that lurked behind the curtain of night.
Most of these individuals were either hunted down and silenced at birth... or absorbed into the government's elite forces. There was no escape. As told in one of the previous books he had read, the royal family had strange devices that could detect the birth of such beings.
Which begged the question- 'Do they know about the system?'
Malik read of the royal family, the true rulers of the world. However, different to what was commonly known about them, their bloodline carried blessings of power similar to ability users, but the price they paid was far darker than anyone would dare to imagine.
'What the fuck...' Malik thought, reading how the royal family committed mass sacrifices, killing their own flesh and blood, child or man, there was no differentiation. If they believed that it would increase their power, they would do it without hesitation. Bludgeoning, poisoning, hanging- they had tried thousands of brutal methods to see if they could increase the rewards in any way.
Malik felt sick to his stomach. He had seen horrible things, he had done some himself. However he had never read of such depravity.
"I can't believe they would go to such lengths..." Malik gawked, his faltering voice reaching the ears of Orlan, who had been seated since Malik began reading.
In response Orlan let out a small chuckle, seemingly amused at Malik's reaction. "What did I say about naivety? For someone so smart you still seem to lack understanding."
Orlan leaned back in the chair and adjusted his monocle before continuing. "Power is everything in this world Malik. With power you can do whatever you want and avoid any consequences. You just have to learn to accept the wrongdoings as part of your being. No one else can hold you accountable but yourself."
Malik gave Orlan a look of contemplation, still feeling uncomfortable but subtly understanding what he meant. 'If you want power you have to take it with you own hands. The fallout is your responsibility and burden to bare.'
Putting down one book and moving to the next, Malik started again. This one was titled 'Monsters.'
'Long before human civilization, the world had been ruled by beasts beyond comprehension- titans, demons, shapeshifters, eldritch horrors that had been sealed away by ancient sorcery.' The texts suggested that some still existed, slumbering beneath the earth, waiting for the day they could rise again.
Malik couldn't stop. He was addicted.
He read, and read, and read, his mind expanding with every revelation, the system eagerly swallowing everything that his eyes scanned within the texts.
999,877
999,889
999,898
999,915
The points raised rapidly. What may seem like small amounts were in truth huge leaps. Even 10 points would take him a day depending on the quality of information, but these books gave Malik much more than simple knowledge.
'[DING!]' At some point an alert sounded in Malik's mind.
[Congratulations! The Second Quest: 'Knowledge is Power' has been completed.]
[Please open the Status Window to claim your rewards.]
It had finally been completed. Yet Malik barely acknowledged it. He was engrossed in the books he felt so drawn to. He didn't even bother to check his rewards.
Not yet.
Instead, he forced himself to finish reading, to absorb everything he could whilst he still had access to this treasure trove.
Only when a few more hours had passed and the exhaustion of learning the impossible finally settled in did he stand.
Orlan watched him in silence, just as he had been doing since Malik began.
"You've changed," the old man murmured, his eyes narrowing as he tried to understand what he was seeing. "Whatever you found in those books- it has altered you..."
Malik exhaled, turning to meet Orlan's curious face. "The world isn't what I thought it was. You warned me, but i didn't expect it to be so drastic."
Orlan nodded grimly. "It never is."
Malik turned away. He had learned enough for now. 'The quest has been completed. I need to go home and discover what the next step is.'
Now, it was time to see what the system had given him.
Malik and Orlan exited the hidden chamber subtly. There were few people around at this time but it was better to be careful.
"See you around, kid." Orlan said with a genuine smile, one that hid the worry he felt beneath. 'I understand that he must be conflicted after reading so many truths. But why? Why do I feel like there is something more?'
Orlan really did care for Malik. Although he didn't openly say it, Malik was like a son to him, even through their short encounters. He admired Malik's will to learn, his insatiable hunger for knowledge. It reminded him so much of his younger self, before he was confined to live within these walls.
'Maybe that's why I showed him?' Orlan thought.
"You too old man. I will be back don't worry." Malik gave a warm smile before heading out the library, leaving behind a lingering silence that Orlan became engulfed in.
...
Malik sat in the quiet of his room, the dim lantern light flickering against the cobblestone.
His living conditions were subpar to say the least- Peeling wallpaper, a damp stench, and the odd cockroach that would scuttle along the decaying wooden floor. But this was what he had and he'd chosen to put up with it. Not like he cared anyway, he spent most of his time at the library with Orlan.
Thinking about Orlan, Malik became concerned, 'Something definitely wasn't right. There is something he didn't tell me. I could feel it, even as a hunch- I know what he can be like, but this was entirely different.'
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
'Stop. I can ask him next time I visit. For now I have more important things to do.' Malik steeled himself, his hands trembling slightly- not from fear, but from the overwhelming sense of accomplishment he felt.
Then, he willed the system to display itself.
Just like the first time it had appeared, an illuminated black and gold screen materialised before him, shimmering with unknown energy that both comforted and scared Malik instinctually. The golden text began to unfurl, listing an array of information that Malik had long become accustomed to.
-------------------------------------
Name: Malik Thana
Age: 19
Race: Human
Level: 0
Stats(NEW!)=
Vitality - 5
Strength - 3
Agility - 5
Endurance - 4
Intelligence - 15
Mana - 0
Perception - 0
Charm - 1
Soul - 0
-------------------------------------
Missions:
[First Quest: 'Rite of Passage' - Completed
Rewards - N/A]
[Second Quest: 'Knowledge is Power' - Completed
Rewards - Stats Unlocked: Vitality, Strength, Agility, Endurance, Intelligence, Perception, Mana, Perception, Charm and Soul.
- New Title: "Seeker of the Forbidden." - +5 to Intelligence immediately.
+5 Intelligence per level.
- New Divine Artifact(Temporary): The Devourer's Adornments]
-------------------------------------
Malik's breath slowed.
Stats. Boost to intelligence. They were new to him but felt familiar. He could estimate from just a glance that 10 in each stat would be considered the peak of a healthy human, excluding mana, perception, charm and soul.
'Tch, lacking in everything but intelligence.'
Malik wouldn't pretend that he didn't feel a bit sour. Seeing that he was below average in most stats hurt his pride. But knowing that this was just the beginning he ignored the disappointment.
'A title that increases my intelligence as I grow. What a boon! It's just a shame that I don't know how to level up yet.' Malik sucked in a cold breath, his attention shifting to the last reward.
"And what do we have here? The Devourer's Adornments..." He voiced aloud, slowly trailing off as he focused on the reward.
'[DING!]'
The sharp alert came from the system and caught Malik by surprise.
And then, the system spoke.
[A gift for those who stand at the edge of their humanity. The Devourer's Adornments are symbiotic in nature, binding themselves to their wielder, enhancing them beyond mortal limits. A suit of knight's armour, black as night itself and forged in eldritch fire. Accompanied by a runic blade designed to carve through the souls of its enemies.]
Unlike the previous time's the system had communicated, it felt alive. It's voice something between mechanical and demonic, a grating sound that was somehow comforting to the ears, caressing Malik's soul as if it was the most precious gift.
It should have made Malik uncomfortable, but instead he felt at peace. It was a strange occurrence.
Malik soaked up the information left by the system, delving deeper through the status window, trying to discover why it had been tagged with 'Temporary.'
And soon, he found the reason.
-------------------------------------
[Third Quest: 'The Cost of Ascension.']
[Open.]
-------------------------------------
Malik stuttered, an anxious feeling growing in his heart, sweat beginning to form at his brow. He pushed the feeling aside forcefully, and mentally pressed 'open'.
Then, he read it.
And for the first time, true horror settled in his gut.
Stronger than his discoveries in the hidden chamber. More terrifying than the grusome death of his parents.
He couldn't speak. His breath hitched in his throat as he felt it tighten.
[Abandon your humanity. Embrace the void. Devour the souls of mortals, and rise beyond the limits of flesh, that which binds you to an existence without power.]
[The path of ascension demands sacrifice.]
Malik felt his body tremble.
'Devour the souls of humanity.'
This wasn't just another trial. This wasn't simply the path of knowledge that he was now accustomed to. This was barely about power.
This was a test in itself. A test of what he was willing to become.
His fingers curled into fists, nails digging so deep into his palms that they drew blood. His breath came in slow, controlled waves as he tried to temper his mind.
He had always sought strength, had always fought for a place in this world he felt rejected by. He always dreamed of having the ability to shape his own destiny, bow to none and stand at the top. It was an innate desire to rule. But...
Was he willing to burn the whole world to claim it?
Was he willing to commit deeper and darker atrocities than those he persecuted on this same day? Throughout his life?
"I don't know. Fuck." Malik exhaled slowly.
The Divine Artifact whispered to him, waiting, eager for Malik to accept its power. But he wasn't ready to make such a decision. He needed time and guidance. Something that he knew exactly where to go for.
'Tomorrow... Tomorrow I will seek the old man's wisdom again.'
But deep down, Malik already knew...
There was no answer he would be ready to accept.