WebNovels

Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 – "The First Soul, The First Sin"

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The hound lunged.

Its molten breath scorched the cracked concrete, flames licking at the ruins like hungry tongues. Each step it took shattered the ground beneath its claws.

Li Tianming didn't flinch.

His breath was ragged. His body was unfamiliar. But his eyes—those belonged to a man who had died once. And the dead did not fear dying again.

> [System Prompt: "Combat Initiated. Soul Extraction Mode: Passive."]

> [Warning: Host power level insufficient. Probability of death: 87%.]

"87%?" he whispered. "Then I'll bet on the 13."

He twisted his body sideways as the beast's claws tore through the air, grazing his shoulder. Blood spurted. Pain exploded through his nerves — but he smiled.

> Pain is a reminder. I'm alive again.

The hound roared and pounced again, this time faster, sharper.

But Tianming moved.

He didn't dodge randomly — he predicted.

Every move of the beast echoed in his memories. In his past life, he had fought creatures far worse, armed with nothing but a shattered spear and one lung. Compared to them, this overgrown dog was just a warm-up.

The moment the hound leapt, Tianming dropped, rolling beneath it, grabbing a jagged steel rod from the ruins.

> "Let's see if you bleed, mutt."

With a growl, he drove the rod upward — straight into the beast's underbelly.

The hound shrieked, spine arching. It thrashed, but Tianming held firm, eyes glowing with eerie purple mist.

> [Vital Spot Pierced – Fatal Damage Inflicted]

[Soul Extraction Activated…]

Suddenly, the world paused.

The sky dimmed. The sound of the beast faded as black wisps oozed out from its wounds — smoke-like, ethereal.

The Chaos System spoke again — this time, its voice echoed inside his skull, deeper… older.

> [Soul Signature: Alpha-Class Mutant Beast]

[Compatible Ability Found: 'Hellfire Core']

[Assimilating... Success.]

> [New Skill Unlocked: Hellfire Pulse]

[Trait Gained: Heat Resistance +10%]

The beast slumped.

Dead.

Smoke curled around Tianming's fingers as the soul vanished into his palm. His veins flickered momentarily, like lava flowing through crystal.

He stared at his trembling hands.

They were still stained with blood. Still weak.

But not powerless anymore.

> "This world broke me once…"

"Now I'll return the favor. Piece by piece."

A sharp ding rang out.

> [Level 1 Chaos Seed awakened.]

[Unlocking: Chaos Skill Tree…]

[Basic Combat Panel Activated.]

A holographic panel floated before him — translucent, glitching, full of locked skills, unknown stats, and a swirling black orb labeled "Soul Count: 1 / 999999."

> "That's how many I need?" he muttered.

> "Then I'll take a million lives if I must."

He looked ahead.

In the distance, the night glowed crimson — smoke and lightning rising from the shattered skyline of what was once Eastern Zhen, capital of the Dragon Empire.

The system chimed again.

> [Incoming Hostile Signature Detected]

[Scout Drone – Eagle Dominion Class Recon Unit]

[Engage or Evade?]

He cracked his neck, eyes narrowed.

> "I'm just getting started."

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