His hands trembled as he stared at the two books—his ticket to power.
"Forsaken Aura…"
He reached for the first book, its cover dark and pulsing with an eerie energy. The moment his fingers touched the surface, the System's voice echoed in his mind.
[Do you wish to absorb the Forsaken Aura?]
[Warning: This process is irreversible.]
Kael didn't hesitate. "Yes."
The book disintegrated in his hands, turning into pure, swirling energy. Suddenly, an invisible force ripped through his body.
Endless streams of power flooded into him.
His veins burned like molten fire, his muscles seized, and his bones vibrated with raw energy. His vision blurred, colors shifting as an overwhelming force rewrote his very existence.
Then—
A pulse erupted from his body. A deep, dark aura radiated from his skin, twisting and writhing like living shadows. It was unlike any aura he had ever seen—neither pure nor tainted, but something… forbidden.
[Forsaken Aura Acquired.]
[The rarest form of Aura, once lost to history, now resides within you.]
Kael clenched his fists. He felt it—power flowing through his body, amplifying his strength, his speed, his presence. This was what it meant to have an Aura.
"I'm not weak anymore."
But he wasn't done.
He turned his gaze to the second book—Forsaken Powers. His heart pounded as he placed his hand on it.
[Do you wish to access the Forbidden Archive of Powers?]
"Yes."
The book flared with an ominous glow before hundreds—no, thousands—of golden texts appeared in front of him, each one containing a different power once wielded by humanity.
Kael's eyes widened.
Every power known to man was here.
From elemental control to the laws of space and time—abilities that only the strongest warriors wielded were now laid before him.
The System spoke once more.
[As the first Forsaken, you may choose one power for free. Choose wisely.]
Kael swallowed hard. This was it. His first true step toward power.
He scrolled through the countless abilities, his mind racing.
Fire Manipulation – The ability to conjure and control flames at will.
Shadow Step – The power to move unseen within darkness.
Titan's Strength – Grants overwhelming physical power beyond human limits.
Voidwalker – The ability to step between dimensions.
Blood Requiem – The power to absorb and use the strength of fallen enemies.
Time Severance – The ability to manipulate time itself in short bursts.
And so many more.
Kael's hands trembled as he hovered over his choice. This would define his future.
"Which one should I choose?"
Kael scrolled through the endless list of powers, his mind overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Each ability was incredible—raw elemental mastery, the power to bend reality, the strength to crush mountains with a single blow.
But then…
Something strange happened.
A name flickered at the very bottom of the list, one that didn't match the others. The text was warped, shifting, as if the System itself struggled to contain it.
[???]
Kael frowned. "What is this one?"
The moment he asked, the System responded.
"Ah… I knew I chose you for a reason."
The text stabilized, revealing the name.
[Forsaken Genesis]
Kael's breath caught in his throat. Unlike the other powers, this one had no description, no explanation.
"What does it do?" he asked cautiously.
The System's voice was different this time—almost… reverent.
"Forsaken Genesis is the power that should have never existed. It was sealed away, forgotten by time itself. It does not grant a single ability, nor does it enhance one aspect of your being."
"It grants you the power to learn everything."
Kael's eyes widened.
"Everything?"
"Yes. With Forsaken Genesis, there is no limit. Every ability, every power, every force of nature or divinity—all of them can be yours. You are not bound to one skill, one path, one destiny. You are the Forsaken, and your power is infinite."
Kael felt his heart pounding in his chest.
"Infinite power…"
The System pulsed with a final message.
[This choice cannot be undone. Do you wish to obtain Forsaken Genesis?]
Kael exhaled slowly.
The world had abandoned him. His family had cast him aside. He had been weak his entire life.
But not anymore.
"I accept."
The moment the words left his lips, the screen exploded in radiant black light. A surge of energy unlike anything Kael had ever felt flooded his body, warping his very soul.
His vision blurred, his bones shifted, and his aura erupted in spiraling tendrils of raw, chaotic energy. His very existence was being rewritten.
And then—silence.
Kael gasped, clutching his chest. His mind felt… different. More aware. It was as if the very fabric of power itself was now within him, waiting to be unraveled.
The System's voice returned, softer this time.
"You are now the sole wielder of Forsaken Genesis. Your journey begins now."
Kael clenched his fists, his new power pulsing beneath his skin.
"No more weakness. No more being left behind."
For the first time in his life, he wasn't just surviving.
He was ascending.