The Forest of Darkness.
Kael had only been walking for a few minutes, but the atmosphere seemed to be suffocating him.
There was no wind.
No birdsong.
Only a silence that sent shivers down his spine.
The trees towered like dark towers, obscuring the moonlight. Every step Kael took sounded too loud, as if someone were listening from the shadows.
"I… must stay calm," he whispered to himself.
But he knew he was lying.
No normal human could remain calm in a place like this.
Kael held a small knife in his hand. It even looked ridiculous—a kitchen knife against a C or D-Rank monster. He knew that if he encountered even one…
He didn't stand a chance.
But returning to the village wasn't an option.
If he died, at least it would be his choice.
The Smell of Blood
Soon, Kael caught a whiff of a sharp metallic odor.
The smell of blood.
His heart pounded.
He looked down and saw the wet ground—a deep dark color, slightly sticky.
Fresh blood.
It had only been a few minutes.
Kael took a half step back.
"This isn't good…"
But before he could think anything else—
GRRRR—RRAAAAH!
A ferocious growl echoed from the bushes ahead. And from there, a massive creature two meters tall emerged, its black fur spiky, its jaws filled with long fangs.
Direwolf.
But its size and aura… at least D-Rank.
Kael froze.
The direwolf stared at him with glowing red eyes.
Slowly, the creature lowered its body, preparing to pounce.
Kael felt all the strength in his legs and arms disappear.
He was going to die.
"No… no… I—"
The direwolf jumped.
Kael screamed and reflexively raised his small knife.
But compared to the monster's speed, his movements were like a snail's.
In an instant:
CRAAASH!
Kael was thrown against a tree trunk.
The air in his lungs was completely knocked out. His back felt broken, and his vision blurred.
"Ah… hah… kah…"
His ribs felt cracked. His right arm felt numb. His small knife had fallen several meters away.
The direwolf growled, blood dripping from its teeth.
It slowly approached, savoring Kael's fear.
Kael tried to crawl.
It didn't work.
The creature was getting closer.
Before Kael could completely give up, a low voice echoed from the depths of the forest—
"Interesting. You smell… of emptiness."
Kael froze.
The direwolf stiffened, turning its body toward the voice.
All the bushes moved… then stilled.
Then, something stepped out of the darkness.
A thick, black mist pulsed like a living creature. Its chill pierced his bones.
Kael immediately sensed one thing:
This… was no ordinary monster.
The direwolf crouched, its fur standing on end in fear. But the mist moved swiftly like a shadow… and then—
CRUNCH!
There was no other sound.
There was no resistance.
The D-rank direwolf—the monster that had nearly killed Kael—disappeared as if swallowed by the darkness. Flesh, bones, soul… everything was completely absorbed.
Kael's jaw dropped.
He didn't even have time to blink.
"W-Why… what is…"
The black mist stopped in front of Kael.
Then it slowly morphed into a small humanoid silhouette—similar to a spirit, but with piercing purple eyes, as if gazing into Kael's very soul.
Kael felt goosebumps from head to toe.
The black spirit spoke, but its voice was like the echo of many other voices.
"A human without mana…"
"I haven't seen anything like this in hundreds of years."
Kael tried to get up, but his body couldn't take it.
"Y-You… were you the one who saved me…?"
The spirit approached.
Its cold aura made it difficult for Kael to breathe.
"I don't care about your life. I'm just hungry."
Kael paled.
"So… you're a monster too?"
The spirit chuckled.
Its laughter sounded like the sound of shattering glass.
"I was something before the term 'monster' was coined by the world system. I am… a Spirit Devourer."
Kael froze.
The name sounded like a legend some old adventurer had told him:
An ancient creature that could consume mana, souls, elements, anything.
A creature impossible to tame.
Kael knew he should run.
But there was no way.
The spirit stared at him, as if examining his entire body.
"…Interesting. You're empty. No mana. No elements. No connection to the System."
Kael looked down.
"I know. I… have nothing."
The spirit leaned in closer.
"That's what makes you… worthy."
Kael tensed.
"What do you mean?"
"Your body is empty. That means I can enter. We're… compatible."
Kael swallowed.
"W-what do you mean… enter…?"
The spirit's purple eyes flashed.
"A contract."
Contract in the Darkness
Kael tried to back away, but his back was pressed against a tree.
"A-A contract? What about… me?"
"Because I'm hungry. And you… are the only vessel that can hold me without breaking."
Kael froze.
"If you accept, I will give you power. If you refuse…"
The spirit glanced at the direwolf's blood remaining on the ground.
"…I'll eat you first."
Kael trembled.
He knew this was a life-or-death choice.
But he also knew:
Without any help, he would die tonight.
With or without the direwolf, this forest was full of far more terrifying monsters.
"If I accept… what happens?"
The spirit raised its hand.
"We share. You fight, I eat. You thrive, I'm full. Simple."
Kael let out a shaky breath.
"But… I have no mana. I'm even an F-Rank."
In an instant, the spirit was right in front of his face.
"That's why you're perfect. Without the world's system limiting you… I can create my own system within you."
Kael stared at it in shock.
"System…?"
"The Devour System."
The room trembled slightly.
The words felt like an ancient mantra.
Kael closed his eyes.
He had no choice.
He would die if he refused.
And if he accepted…
"I… accept."
The spirit smiled, the purple light growing brighter.
"Good."
She pressed her hand to Kael's chest.
"From now on, you… are mine."
System Awakening
Kael's entire body felt like it was on fire.
It was as if dark energy was seeping in through his pores, tearing, reforming, and reweaving his entire body.
Kael screamed.
The spirit seeped in like a black mist, penetrating his skin and bones.
Within his mind, a system voice unprecedented in Archeon's history echoed.
[A Forbidden Contract Has Been Formed]
[Initializing The Devour System…]
[Warning: This System Is Not Recognized By World Protocol]
[Override Successful]
[Welcome, Kael Vernius]
[Title Unlocked: The Empty Vessel]
Kael fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
But—he was alive.
The spirit appeared beside him in a small form.
"Well done, human. Now… you are my master."
Kael raised his head slowly.
"My master…? But aren't you the stronger one?"
The spirit smiled in an inscrutable way.
"I am the Devourer. I need a vessel. Without a human body as an anchor, I will disappear again for thousands of years."
It pointed at Kael.
"You are my vessel. That means you are the master of this contract."
Kael couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I-I… have powers?"
The spirit emitted a black energy, then disappeared into Kael's body.
"Let's see what you're capable of… Vessel."
Status That Changed the World
Kael raised his hand.
The system's voice sounded again.
[Devour System Activated]
Name: Kael Vernius
Job: Commoner (Hidden Evolution Path)
Rank: F → E (Forcibly Enhanced)
Mana: 0 → 15 (Devour-Generated)
Skills:
Devour (Unique) Convert (Unique) Evolve (Unique)
Kael froze.
"W-what… is this…?"
The spirit laughed softly in Kael's mind.
"First power: Devour. You can consume the energy of dead monsters, their skills, even their elements."
Kael stared at his trembling hands.
"This… is the strongest power I've ever seen…"
"Not yet. This is just the beginning."
Kael raised his head, staring into the depths of the forest.
For the first time in his life…
He no longer felt like a burden.
He was no longer a zero.
He was an anomaly.
And the world of Archeon…
wasn't ready for his birth.