Kael sat on the cold stone floor, his chest rising and falling heavily. The glowing screen in front of him pulsed softly.
[Stat points acquired]
[XP: 0 → 50]
[Stat Points Available: 5]
His body still ached, but there was something different now. A feeling of potential. The System had given him a path forward.
"Alright… if I can level up, then that means I can grow stronger."
The glowing text shifted.
[Stat Upgrade Cost: 10 XP per point.]
Kael frowned. That meant he couldn't upgrade anything yet. I need more XP…
As if responding to his thoughts, the System spoke.
"You require power. You require knowledge. I have left behind two gifts for you. Find them."
A new message appeared.
[New Objective: Retrieve the Forsaken Skill Books.]
- Forsaken Aura (The rarest form of Aura, a power once lost to history.)
- Forsaken Powers (The forbidden knowledge of every Aspect ever wielded by man.)
Location: Further within the dungeon.
Kael's heart pounded. Every power known to man? That was impossible. Even the strongest warriors could only wield a single Aspect.
"Why would you leave something so powerful behind?" Kael asked.
"Because no one was worthy of them. Until now."
A shiver ran down his spine. He didn't trust this System—not fully. But if this was his chance to fight back against the world that had abandoned him, he had to take it.
Gritting his teeth, Kael pushed himself to his feet and pressed forward.
The deeper he went, the colder the air became. The stone walls seemed to breathe around him, and eerie whispers echoed through the darkness. Then, he saw them.
A group of Abyssal Wraiths—at least four of them. Their hollow eyes gleamed hungrily as they turned toward him.
[Abyssal Wraith – Level 5]
[Abyssal Wraith – Level 4]
[Abyssal Wraith – Level 6]
"Shit."
Kael knew he couldn't take them all head-on. The first Wraith had nearly killed him, and he didn't have any weapons.
But then, a faint glow caught his eye—a pedestal further into the room. Two books rested upon it, radiating a strange, otherworldly energy.
"There!"
The moment he moved, the Wraiths attacked. Kael ducked, barely avoiding a slash aimed at his throat.
Kael didn't have time to think—only to act. The Wraiths lunged at him, their ghostly claws slashing through the air. He rolled beneath one's attack and dashed toward the pedestal, the books glowing like beacons in the darkness.
[XP: 50]
[Stat Points Available: 5]
"I need strength. Now!"
Without hesitation, he willed the System to allocate his points.
[Strength: 2 → 4]
[Agility: 3 → 4]
[Endurance: 2 → 3]
[Perception: 1 → 2]
The moment he did, his body reacted. His muscles felt denser, his legs lighter, and his senses sharpened.
"It's real," Kael realized. I can feel it.
A Wraith swiped at him again, but this time, Kael dodged with ease. He countered by grabbing a loose stone and hurling it with his newly enhanced strength. The rock blasted through the Wraith's head, making it screech and falter.
But the others were closing in.
"No time!"
Kael sprinted toward the pedestal. The Wraiths followed, their shrieks deafening. Just as he reached the books, one of the creatures lunged—
Kael dived forward, snatching both books mid-air and rolling across the floor. He barely escaped as the Wraiths' claws slammed into the stone where he had stood.
[Objective Complete: Forsaken Skill Books Retrieved.]
[+100 XP Earned.]
[XP: 0 → 100]
Kael scrambled to his feet, gripping the books tightly. The Wraiths hissed, their forms seething with rage. But then—
They stopped.
The moment Kael touched the books, a powerful, unseen force pushed the creatures back. The dungeon itself seemed to reject them. The Wraiths let out distorted cries before retreating into the shadows.
Kael stood there, panting.
"They… ran?"
Then, the System's voice echoed in his mind.
"The weak flee before the Forsaken."
A new message appeared.
[New Evolution Requirement: Forsaken Underling.]
- Reach 25 in all stats to evolve into a Level 2 Forsaken Underling.
Kael's grip on the books tightened. This was more than just power. This was the start of something bigger.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't nothing. He was on the path to becoming something greater.