From the earliest moments of my existence, it was as if a cruel destiny had etched a painful truth deep into my soul: life was profoundly unfair. I was reminded of this harsh reality by my playmates, classmates, teachers, even by my own father. "Damian is so odd!", "Stop acting strange, Damian!", and the countless instances of, "Shut up, Damian!", echoed in my mind, ringing like an unwanted melody from a broken music box. I was the outcast, the one they couldn't comprehend, the child who danced to his own tune, albeit a tune they saw as odd and disturbing.In this unjust world, some were blessed with charming faces, eloquent speech, and charismatic personalities that drew people towards them. Others were born with the golden spoon, their wealth and influence making them untouchable. However, what I had come to understand was that the greatest fortune of all was sheer luck, something utterly beyond our control. If you were born lacking in looks, wealth, or sociability, there was littl

During my tenure at the Sacred Hall, one of the most significant lessons I learned was the mechanics of the Demon Core 'explosion method.' This understanding was gleaned from closely observing the struggles of the Gifted, in their fierce battles against the Demons.Demon Cores are intriguing as they are the physical manifestation of a Demon's energy, condensed into a tangible form. This energy is distinctly demonic, and it inherently rejects any form of interaction with energy that originates from humans. Attempts to amalgamate these two contrasting energies have invariably led to an energy clash, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.Utilizing this knowledge to my advantage, I channeled my recently harnessed magic power, conveniently stored as 'MP', into each of the Demon Cores. This task was simplified by the fact that all of my possessions bear my unique 'Signature', enabling them to readily accept my infusion of Magic Power.The outcome of this strategic move was nothing short of

With an expression of distinct discomfort, a young woman groaned, "Urgh! I still can’t get used to this…” She seemed to be in her early twenties and was garbed in a form-fitting outfit studded with various pieces of survival equipment. Alongside her were four other figures, three males and another female, their clothes varied but their gear echoing the practicality of their apparent leader's.One of her crew swiftly admonished her, “It can’t be helped, also keep your voice down!” His voice echoed a little too loudly for his liking, earning him a swift, scathing glare from the leader. Sheepishly, he fell silent.“You’re the one making noise, stupid. Take your own advice…” she retorted, her voice trailing off as she scanned their surroundings. The scene before her was distressing, to say the least, with collapsed buildings and raging fires, but by now it was a familiar sight. The stagnant air was stifling, exacerbated by the sweltering sun and sporadic gusts of wind that only added to t

Chapter 4: An Unforeseen RevelationContemplating my next move, I recalled an intriguing strategy I had conceived for such situations. The approaching group was part of an expedition team, inherently implying their superior combat capabilities. My understanding of the expedition teams' ranking, courtesy of the knowledge I gained in the Sacred Hall, made me tread carefully. I had to assume they were on par with my strength, no matter their rank. One wrong move could give away my presence.The expedition team drew closer, their attire and gear strikingly different from what I had encountered before. Their lack of visible enhancements baffled me. The most potent energy I could sense emanated from the woman who seemed to be leading the group. Shrouded in mystery, their true strength remained an enigma. But the answers were imminent.With ten Skills at my disposal, a few of which I acquired after becoming a thief, I no longer needed to manually access my Subspace to use items. Conjuring th