JOHAN'S POV
As I lay on my bed, the same thought kept coursing through my mind over and over again. I looked toward the corner of the room and saw the only item left behind by my parents.
Staring into the room, I began thinking about my future—would I become a Hunter or a Seeker? I stepped outside to take a walk, and as I looked at the countless buildings around me, I was once again reminded of that day.
It happened ten years ago—the day my parents died.
After the war, I was brought here. Over the years, I watched the world change. But deep down, I promised myself I would grow faster, stronger.
I walked quietly along the edge of the road, blending into my surroundings, my mind drifting back to old memories.
This year, I'll be enrolling at Lancelot High, an academy for Epics. For some reason, even though I haven't awakened my ability, I was still allowed to enroll. Maybe it's because my physique has always been a grade above the Normals—even since birth.
While waiting for the official in charge of my transport, I decided to pack my things. Well… "pack" is an overstatement. It was more like staring at my pitiful belongings: some worn-out clothes given to orphans, and a single hairpin.
The moment I looked at the hairpin, a flood of memories resurfaced—ones I had buried under years of hardship.
"Only touch it when you turn sixteen," she always warned.
"Huh. So, what happens if I touch it now?" I once wondered.
Nothing happened, of course. I guess I expected that.
Of all the items my sister and I received after our parents died, this hairpin is the only thing I have left. Everything else just... vanished overnight.
The relentless wave of emotions caused me to accidentally snap the hairpin. The moment it broke, a cloud of black mist filled the room from nowhere. The air grew thick—too thick to breathe.
Within seconds, the lack of oxygen overwhelmed me. My breath grew heavier, my eyes struggled to stay open. I felt like I was going to die right there.
"Am I really going to die here?
Who will protect my sister?
Who will make the Heathens pay?"
These questions raced through my mind… until suddenly, a glowing message appeared in mid-air:
[Host has unlocked the Deity System]
[Bloodline is being integrated]
[System initializing… 1% complete…]
That was the last thing I saw before everything went black. I collapsed on the cold floor—confused, weak, and completely unaware of what had just happened.
Soldier's POV
I was assigned to Country Z to retrieve a new applicant for the Academy. Using the teleportation port, I arrived straight at the city's clinic center.
After locating the building, I searched every room but found nothing. I assumed he'd run away—like many others who never awakened useful abilities.
Annoyed, I forced open the final door. Inside, there was nothing but a bed, a small box… and a muscular, unconscious young man lying motionless on the floor.
At first, he looked dead. But my enhanced senses told me otherwise—he was alive, barely.
Without wasting time, I called for emergency transport and sent him to the nearest hospital. Once stable, he would be transferred directly to the Academy.
Johan's POV
I woke up feeling like I had just been struck by lightning. Every bone in my body felt like it was on the verge of snapping. But what confused me the most was the message I'd seen before passing out—still floating in front of me, glowing in brackets:
[Host's Deity System has been approved.]
[Bloodline integrated.]
[System initialized — 100% complete.]
[Do you accept the system? Yes / No]
Without much thought, I instinctively selected Yes. I didn't want to miss an opportunity to grow stronger.
The moment I accepted, my entire world turned into hell.
Pain beyond imagination flooded every nerve. My bones burned as if magma flowed through them—melting, then healing—again and again. My skin peeled and regenerated. My nails cracked, my teeth shattered. I tried to scream, but my throat refused to obey me—as if possessed by something else, it remained still and silent.
My body convulsed violently on the bed. Blood surged through my veins with such heat that I thought they might explode. My heart beat inhumanly fast. Inside my skull, it felt like dozens of nails were being hammered through my brain.
Am I going to die again?
Why me?
How much more can I take?
This was my second time facing death in just one day.
After what felt like an eternity—though only ten minutes had passed—the pain suddenly vanished. I gasped, my body refreshed. As I opened my eyes, another message appeared. Unlike the earlier ones, this one was darker, more sinister, the letters written in black:
[Host has been reborn.]
[Transformation complete.]
[System accepted.]
I felt different.
My body moved on its own, walking toward the hospital washroom. When I looked into the mirror, I couldn't believe what I saw.
It was me—but not me.
My face looked sharper, more handsome. My physique was more defined, muscular. My brown hair had turned jet-black, and my once-grey eyes now glowed crimson. I reached up to touch my face—was this real?
Then, another message appeared:
[Host can now access the system.]
[Access via thought or voice command. All features are integrated into the menu.]
I hesitated. The last time I interacted with the system, I almost died. But nothing could be worse than that torment, right?
"Menu," I said aloud.
The screen shifted:
[The Deity System]
Name: Johan Morby
Age: 16
Race: Human / Demon / ???
Level: 1
Leveler Point: 0.00 / 1000
Bloodline: Demon Deity Bloodline (???%)
Strength: 14
Agility: 10
Speed: 8
Energy: 6
Mission: None
Store: Locked
Skills: None
System Level: 1