2025-01-24 03:07:05Kael’s grip tightened on the bag, his pulse steady despite the threat looming before him. With his newfound ability to assess energy levels, he could feel Herold’s power radiating—a Gifted, and a formidable one at that.
“Still mad about the Vatalis bottle?” Kael smirked, blood dripping down his chin. “But why? It was never yours for the taking.”
Herold’s face twisted into a venomous snarl. “I fucking hate your kind,” he spat, stepping forward, the tension in his movements clear. “I can’t wait to taste your Vatalis, you Gifted piece of shit.”
Kael raised an eyebrow, almost amused. Herold despised Gifteds when in reality, he was one himself. “Tell you what,” Kael said, his voice low and calculating. “You can have the bag, but I still need my head.”
“Fuck you, you little piece of shit. Do you think you have the upper hand here?” Herold growled, his energy crackling as he prepared to strike.
Kael’s smirk faded, and for a split second, he stopped pretending to be fearless. His heart was racing, but he wasn’t backing down. “You know what? You’re right. I don’t have the upper hand. I have the upper KICK!”
Without hesitation, Kael kicked the bottom of the bag, sending it soaring through the air. In one fluid motion, he jumped, snatching it from mid-flight, and immediately sprinted away, the bag secure in his hands.
“See you around, Gifted,” Kael grinned back at Herold, his words dripping with defiance.
Herold’s roar of fury echoed in the cavern. “This isn’t over!” he shouted. “The bag has been taken!” His voice carried over the chaos, and the fighting prisoners halted their brawls to turn their attention toward Kael, joining in the chase.
But Kael was faster. With each stride, he distanced himself from the fury behind him, the rush of adrenaline pushing him to move even quicker.
[Host is advised not to run on a straight platform.] The system’s voice chimed in, calm and analytical.
“Noted,” Kael grunted, sweat beading on his brow as he pushed forward. Without missing a beat, he shifted direction, weaving through the open arena in a zigzag pattern. His enemies, now closing in, struggled to adjust to his erratic movements.
The zigzagging thing was working—at least he hoped it was. He had no clue how long he’d been running, but his legs were on fire, and his lungs felt ready to give out. Still, he kept going, forcing himself to push harder. If he could just put enough distance between him and the lunatics behind him...
That’s when the system decided to pipe up, calm as ever, like it wasn’t him doing all the work:
[Host has exited the red zone and is now outside enemy territory.]Kael almost tripped. “Oh, now you tell me!” he huffed, glancing back over his shoulder. He was in the clear, apparently—but it sure didn’t feel like it.
Stopping, Kael collapsed against a nearby tree, panting and gasping like his life depended on it. His chest heaved, and his sweaty fingers gripped the bag like it was the only thing tethering him to reality. For the first time since this whole nightmare started, he allowed himself to think. Did I really pull that off?
Sure, the system had helped, but it wasn’t like it did all the work. Kael had to rely on his own wits—his own desperation—and somehow, he’d stood up to a bully. Okay, so technically, he ran away. But still, it was different. So much different from what he used to do, what he used to endure with his brothers: their constant hate, their cruel taunts, their relentless bullying. For years, he’d taken it like a weakling.
The thought made something in his chest tighten. Why didn’t I stand up for myself back then? he wondered bitterly. Maybe if he had, none of this would’ve happened.
His spiral of self-reflection didn’t last long.
[Host is advised to keep moving. Threat level is moderate.]
Kael groaned, throwing his head back against the tree. “Yeah, well, tell that to my legs. I can barely stand right now,” he snapped, his voice a mix of exhaustion and frustration.
The system stayed silent for a while, and for some reason, Kael took that as a green light to rest. His body finally gave in to exhaustion, and he drifted off, leaning against the tree. Even in sleep, his grip on the bag remained iron-tight, as if letting go of it would undo everything he’d fought for.
But rest wasn’t a luxury he could enjoy for long.
From somewhere in the distance, a low, rumbling growl cut through the quiet of the forest, followed by the faint scrape of claws against stone. It wasn’t loud, but after everything he’d been through, Kael’s instincts were sharp enough to pick it up immediately. His eyes shot open, groggy but alert. “What the hell was that?” he muttered groggily, rubbing his face as he tried to shake off the haze of sleep.
[Threat update: Beast-class entity detected. Host is advised to remain still.]
Kael froze. “Wait, what?” His brows knitted in confusion. “Shouldn’t I run?”
[Unlike the previous threats, beasts in this area are few but extremely lethal. Their abilities can match your current level-one Godspeed, meaning…]
Kael let out a sharp breath, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’m toast whether I run or not,” he muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes darted to the bag in his lap, the thing he’d risked everything for. “What about this?” he asked, shaking it lightly. “Anything in here that can help?”
[The bag’s contents can aid in fulfilling your basic human needs, but it is not adequate to defend against a beast in your current state.]
“Great,” Kael hissed under his breath, leaning his head back against the tree. “Just great. I get to die clutching a bag of snacks.”
Just as he shut his eyes, trying to steady his nerves, he felt it—hot, heavy breathing brushing against his skin. The shift was instant, like a flash. His entire body tensed, every hair on his neck standing on end.
Kael’s eyes snapped open, and what he saw froze the air in his lungs.
Towering over him was something beyond anything his mind could have conjured, a creature that looked like it had been ripped straight out of a nightmare.
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Godseed Ascension System 9
Its massive frame blocked out the moonlight, casting a chilling shadow over Kael’s trembling hands as he struggled to keep them steady. Its eyes—if they could even be called that—glowed like polished obsidian catching the light, fixed solely on him. The creature's muscles twisted beneath its shifting skin, as though it wasn’t fully anchored in this world. Every few seconds, a haunting, chittering sound rattled from its throat.Its mouth remained shut, but Kael could see the razor-sharp teeth hidden behind its lips—teeth that looked like they could pierce through steel. Clawed fingers flexed, and the grinding of its bones filled the air like the slow creak of breaking stone.Kael’s breath hitched as he fought to keep calm. Every instinct screamed at him to move, but his limbs felt as though they had been shackled by invisible chains, weighed down by sheer terror.Run.But where? His speed was nothing compared to this thing’s. If it wanted him dead, it wouldn’t stop until it had him. He
Godseed Ascension System 10
"Can you help me?" Kael asked, breathing heavily. His body ached, and his head pounded from hanging upside down for so long. His vision blurred at the edges, and the trap’s tight grip on his ankle made every slight movement unbearable. "Please, I don’t think it’s safe here.""It’s not," she answered casually. Her voice held no urgency, no concern. Then, she crouched down, inspecting the trap that had ensnared him. A lazy smirk curled on her lips as she traced the rope with a gloved finger. "You’re in the place of my potential dinner, so you’ll have to sit tight until they come find you."Kael’s breath hitched. "What the—? We just—""Just what?" she interrupted coolly, flicking her gaze back to him. "What happened back there was a simple business agreement. And unless you have something else I want, I’ll be using you as bait for my hunt."Frustration slammed into him. His limbs burned, his lungs struggled against the blood rushing to his head. Damn it. She was serious.His lips parted
Godseed Ascension System 11
[Ability acquired: Permanent Night Vision.]Kael blinked, and the darkness around him shifted. The once-impenetrable shadows melted away, revealing the forest in a dull, muted glow. Every tree, every twisted root, every shifting figure in the distance was suddenly visible as if bathed in a dim silver light.He exhaled sharply. “Well, that’s... useful.”[Host will no longer be hindered by darkness. Visual clarity increased by 70%. Detection of movement within a ten-meter radius enhanced.]Kael smirked to himself. At least the system had the decency to make up for its sudden absence. He pushed off the tree, his exhaustion still present but no longer crippling. Now, at least, he could see where he was going.Unfortunately, the new ability didn’t stop his stomach from churning. Hunger gnawed at him, twisting his insides into knots. He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore the sharp pangs. He knew there had been something tangible in that bag—something that could have helped. He almost regret
Godseed Ascension System 1
“I won’t kill,” Kael said, his voice steady despite the fear racing through him. “I won’t stoop so low as to become a murderer…” He locked eyes with his younger brother. “Like you.”The punch came faster than Kael could inhale. Jericho growled in his face, his fists trembling with rage. He was tempted to mount Kael and pummel him until his vision blurred. “You think you’re better than us, huh?” Jericho sneered, shoving the barely recovered Kael to the ground. He crouched to Kael's level, a low chuckle rumbling in his throat. “The reason you’re nothing but a bottom feeder in the strongest family in Galancia is simple: you’re weak. Pathetic. Useless. It’s not because of your so-called morals—you just don’t have the power to kill, even if it were handed to you on a platter.”Kael wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve and slowly stood. “You’re right. I am weak,” he said quietly. “But I’m happy.”He turned to leave, but Jericho lashed out, kicking Kael’s l
Godseed Ascension System 2
Kael knelt beside Salene’s lifeless body, trembling hands stained with her blood. The hollow ache in his chest burned hotter with every breath. He wanted to do something—anything—but there was nothing he could do to bring her back. He was no god.“Monster,” Kael whispered, his eyes darkening as he rose to his feet, shaking with fury. “I will kill you!”With a roar, he lunged at Magnar, anger raw and desperate. He aimed for the patriarch’s throat, swinging the knife wildly, but Magnar was faster. A hand crackling with dark energy met Kael mid-air, sending him hurtling across the hall. He crashed onto the marble floor with a sickening thud, his bones displacing.“You think that’s enough to kill me?” Magnar sneered, wiping invisible specks of dirt from his sleeve. “You are nothing but a mere mistake. You can’t touch me.”Kael stood up, blood dripping from his mouth and nose. “I won’t stop,” he said, staggering toward Magnar.The patriarch smiled, a predatory glint in his glassy eyes as h
Godseed Ascension System 3
Kael’s body hung limply, wrists bound to the cold iron rod behind him. Blood pooled beneath him, dripping steadily from the gaping wound in his abdomen where the devil angels had driven their blades multiple times. The air stung with the acrid scent of iron and sweat, mingling with the silence of a predator’s den.He had been captured moments after his arrival, ambushed by survivors desperate to lure their prey. Now, he dangled like fresh meat in their cruel trap.Kael’s vision blurred, the edges darkening as his body screamed for release. But in the depths of his shattered mind, the faces of his children burned like brands. Their cries. Their helplessness.“I can’t... die... here,” he rasped, voice barely more than a whisper.[Warning: Host life functions critically low.][System integration at 35%... Stabilizing.]The monotone voice echoed in his mind, distant against the roar of pain. Kael’s lips curled into a weak smile, bitter and defiant. Even in death, I’m haunted by whispers.
Godseed Ascension System 4
Kael’s body vibrated with raw energy as the system coursed through him. His muscles burned, but he forced himself to stand. His desperation to survive outweighed the pain. The Mebitor lunged, its pincers snapping with enough force to crush a rock. Kael leaped, barely dodging the attack. He paused briefly, staring at his hands. The speed at which he moved felt foreign. He had never felt this kind of power before. Everything was sharper, clearer… better. [Godseed infusion active: physical enhancement initiated. Host current power level: 50%.] [Chances of victory: 50%.] Kael clenched his fists, feeling energy crackling through his fingers. But it wasn’t enough to defeat the Mebitor. It was only enough to survive—if he played it right. The beast roared again, its many legs slamming into the ground, causing tremors. But Kael stood firm. His heart pounded as he took a stance, ready to fight. He surprised even himself with his audacity. The power surging through his body was intoxi
Godseed Ascension System 5
Kael’s heart pounded in his chest as he ran. He couldn’t afford to look back. His legs burned with every step, but his instincts pushed him forward. He had no idea where he was going; all he could see was the dense greenery of the thick forest ahead.Behind him, the devil angels were yelling in fury. The bottle he had thrown fell faster than they could catch it. Kael could hear the pounding of their feet as they drew closer.[Warning: Host energy at 10%. Survival chances decreasing. Immediate action required.]“Not now, whatever you are,” Kael cursed under his breath, pushing himself harder. He dodged a low-hanging branch, the sound of his ragged breathing filling his ears.He knew he was in serious trouble, especially after breaking the vitalis of that monster. Everything was happening so fast. Only a few days ago, he had lost his family and expected death. Now, he was fighting to survive in a prison world.The ground beneath him was uneven and rocky, threatening to trip him, but Kae
Latest Chapter
11
[Ability acquired: Permanent Night Vision.]Kael blinked, and the darkness around him shifted. The once-impenetrable shadows melted away, revealing the forest in a dull, muted glow. Every tree, every twisted root, every shifting figure in the distance was suddenly visible as if bathed in a dim silver light.He exhaled sharply. “Well, that’s... useful.”[Host will no longer be hindered by darkness. Visual clarity increased by 70%. Detection of movement within a ten-meter radius enhanced.]Kael smirked to himself. At least the system had the decency to make up for its sudden absence. He pushed off the tree, his exhaustion still present but no longer crippling. Now, at least, he could see where he was going.Unfortunately, the new ability didn’t stop his stomach from churning. Hunger gnawed at him, twisting his insides into knots. He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore the sharp pangs. He knew there had been something tangible in that bag—something that could have helped. He almost regret
10
"Can you help me?" Kael asked, breathing heavily. His body ached, and his head pounded from hanging upside down for so long. His vision blurred at the edges, and the trap’s tight grip on his ankle made every slight movement unbearable. "Please, I don’t think it’s safe here.""It’s not," she answered casually. Her voice held no urgency, no concern. Then, she crouched down, inspecting the trap that had ensnared him. A lazy smirk curled on her lips as she traced the rope with a gloved finger. "You’re in the place of my potential dinner, so you’ll have to sit tight until they come find you."Kael’s breath hitched. "What the—? We just—""Just what?" she interrupted coolly, flicking her gaze back to him. "What happened back there was a simple business agreement. And unless you have something else I want, I’ll be using you as bait for my hunt."Frustration slammed into him. His limbs burned, his lungs struggled against the blood rushing to his head. Damn it. She was serious.His lips parted
9
Its massive frame blocked out the moonlight, casting a chilling shadow over Kael’s trembling hands as he struggled to keep them steady. Its eyes—if they could even be called that—glowed like polished obsidian catching the light, fixed solely on him. The creature's muscles twisted beneath its shifting skin, as though it wasn’t fully anchored in this world. Every few seconds, a haunting, chittering sound rattled from its throat.Its mouth remained shut, but Kael could see the razor-sharp teeth hidden behind its lips—teeth that looked like they could pierce through steel. Clawed fingers flexed, and the grinding of its bones filled the air like the slow creak of breaking stone.Kael’s breath hitched as he fought to keep calm. Every instinct screamed at him to move, but his limbs felt as though they had been shackled by invisible chains, weighed down by sheer terror.Run.But where? His speed was nothing compared to this thing’s. If it wanted him dead, it wouldn’t stop until it had him. He
8
Kael’s grip tightened on the bag, his pulse steady despite the threat looming before him. With his newfound ability to assess energy levels, he could feel Herold’s power radiating—a Gifted, and a formidable one at that.“Still mad about the Vatalis bottle?” Kael smirked, blood dripping down his chin. “But why? It was never yours for the taking.”Herold’s face twisted into a venomous snarl. “I fucking hate your kind,” he spat, stepping forward, the tension in his movements clear. “I can’t wait to taste your Vatalis, you Gifted piece of shit.”Kael raised an eyebrow, almost amused. Herold despised Gifteds when in reality, he was one himself. “Tell you what,” Kael said, his voice low and calculating. “You can have the bag, but I still need my head.”“Fuck you, you little piece of shit. Do you think you have the upper hand here?” Herold growled, his energy crackling as he prepared to strike.Kael’s smirk faded, and for a split second, he stopped pretending to be fearless. His heart was
7
Kael crouched behind a jagged rock, his breath hitching as his sharp senses, amplified by the system, picked up faint footsteps and low whispers ahead. He cautiously peered through the darkness, straining to make out the figures.They looked human, but something about them was disturbingly off. Their bodies emitted unnatural steam, and their eyes gleamed with a crazed intensity, as if they had been abusing some narcotic. One of them flexed hands that ended in jagged claws. Kael’s stomach churned—these weren’t ordinary prisoners.“What are those?” he whispered internally, his heart pounding.[Humanoid prisoners affected by the mutations of this place and prolonged exposure to Vitalis crystals. Host is advised to avoid engagement in the current state,] the system responded.“Great,” Kael muttered under his breath, the sarcasm doing little to soothe his fraying nerves.His eyes darted around, searching for any route that might keep him out of sight. The drop zone was tantalizingly close,
6
The system paused, its tone shifting to one of measured neutrality.[Affirmative. Your wife made an irreversible choice in her final moments. Her dominant gift was transferred to you, ensuring your survival. The energy she gifted was sufficient to awaken your full potential.]Kael’s chest tightened as the weight of the revelation crushed him. “She… she gave up everything… for me?” His voice broke, the storm within him roaring.[Correct. Without the blast of gifted energy, your godseed would have remained dormant, and you would not have survived the events that followed.]“Why?” Kael’s fists clenched at his sides. Guilt gnawed at him like a relentless predator. He suddenly felt as if he had a hand in his wife’s death. “Why didn’t she save herself? Why waste it on me?”[It was not wasted,] the system replied, its voice calm and resolute. [Your wife’s gift could never unlock on its own, unlike your godseed, which would have activated over time due to your unique bloodline. In the given c
5
Kael’s heart pounded in his chest as he ran. He couldn’t afford to look back. His legs burned with every step, but his instincts pushed him forward. He had no idea where he was going; all he could see was the dense greenery of the thick forest ahead.Behind him, the devil angels were yelling in fury. The bottle he had thrown fell faster than they could catch it. Kael could hear the pounding of their feet as they drew closer.[Warning: Host energy at 10%. Survival chances decreasing. Immediate action required.]“Not now, whatever you are,” Kael cursed under his breath, pushing himself harder. He dodged a low-hanging branch, the sound of his ragged breathing filling his ears.He knew he was in serious trouble, especially after breaking the vitalis of that monster. Everything was happening so fast. Only a few days ago, he had lost his family and expected death. Now, he was fighting to survive in a prison world.The ground beneath him was uneven and rocky, threatening to trip him, but Kae
4
Kael’s body vibrated with raw energy as the system coursed through him. His muscles burned, but he forced himself to stand. His desperation to survive outweighed the pain. The Mebitor lunged, its pincers snapping with enough force to crush a rock. Kael leaped, barely dodging the attack. He paused briefly, staring at his hands. The speed at which he moved felt foreign. He had never felt this kind of power before. Everything was sharper, clearer… better. [Godseed infusion active: physical enhancement initiated. Host current power level: 50%.] [Chances of victory: 50%.] Kael clenched his fists, feeling energy crackling through his fingers. But it wasn’t enough to defeat the Mebitor. It was only enough to survive—if he played it right. The beast roared again, its many legs slamming into the ground, causing tremors. But Kael stood firm. His heart pounded as he took a stance, ready to fight. He surprised even himself with his audacity. The power surging through his body was intoxi
3
Kael’s body hung limply, wrists bound to the cold iron rod behind him. Blood pooled beneath him, dripping steadily from the gaping wound in his abdomen where the devil angels had driven their blades multiple times. The air stung with the acrid scent of iron and sweat, mingling with the silence of a predator’s den.He had been captured moments after his arrival, ambushed by survivors desperate to lure their prey. Now, he dangled like fresh meat in their cruel trap.Kael’s vision blurred, the edges darkening as his body screamed for release. But in the depths of his shattered mind, the faces of his children burned like brands. Their cries. Their helplessness.“I can’t... die... here,” he rasped, voice barely more than a whisper.[Warning: Host life functions critically low.][System integration at 35%... Stabilizing.]The monotone voice echoed in his mind, distant against the roar of pain. Kael’s lips curled into a weak smile, bitter and defiant. Even in death, I’m haunted by whispers.
