I was walking down the long corridor.
The place wasn't noisy—but it wasn't normal either. Some students subtly stepped aside as I passed. Not out of outright fear, but hesitation… an unspoken wariness.
Brief glances. Whispers that died the moment they started. My name forming on lips that never quite spoke it.
I didn't care.
I kept walking at the same pace—neither faster nor slower. I wasn't thinking about them. My mind was occupied with something else entirely.
I decided to return to my room.
I wasn't in the mood to talk, nor to deal with anyone. What had happened in the hall a few hours ago still lingered in my head—not as a clear memory, but as a heavy shadow.
I entered the room and closed the door quietly behind me.
I set the sword aside, hung up my coat, then went straight to the bathroom. This time, cold water was better. I didn't need heat—I just wanted to clear my head.
I stood under the water for several minutes, breathing slowly.
When I came out, I sat on the edge of the bed.
The silence was thick.
And that was when the thoughts began to pile up.
---
Should I really keep going like this?
From the very beginning, I knew that interfering with the flow of events would change everything. But knowing that—and seeing the consequences—were two very different things.
I entered the academy… even though I was never supposed to be here.
I took Leander's position.
Then I took the sword.
Even without interacting much with the main cast, my mere existence had already started to shift the balance.
I took a deep breath.
"…I interfered too much."
I wasn't regretful.
But still…
I knew the coming events wouldn't remain the same. I was prepared for that in theory—but was I truly prepared in practice?
Then another thought surfaced.
Was that necessarily a bad thing?
The story I knew was far from perfect. Many people died. Many decisions were wrong. Maybe… it was only natural for the path to change.
"No problem," I muttered. "Interfering itself isn't a mistake."
The only real mistake… was losing control.
I raised my head slightly.
"Should I check my status?"
The words left my mouth without conscious thought.
"…Status."
And in the next instant, the familiar blue window appeared before me.
---
[Status Window]
Name : Nyx Firen
Age : 16
Rank : Awakened
CoreType : Superior Cor
Mana Capacity : 210 / 210
---
Elements
• Lightning
• Void (?)
---
Primary Attributes
Strength: C+
Agility: C+
Endurance: C
Vitality: C+
Perception: C+
Mana Control: C+
---
Secondary Attributes
Magic Resistance: D+
Recovery Speed: C
Mental Endurance: C+
---
Martial Arts
• Transcendent Blade Style
— First Form: Soul Pulse
— ?
— ?
— ????
---
Traits
• Mana-Harmonized Body (Hidden)
• Dual Eyes (Inactive)
---
Special Trait : Devouring
Status: Stable
Evolution Progress:
[■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□] 0.09%
(Completion at: 100.00%)
---
I stared at the window.
For a long time.
"…Damn it."
I was at the peak of Rank C.
I didn't need to analyze it further. The numbers were clear. One more step—and I would break through.
But that wasn't what caught my attention.
My eyes locked onto the last line.
Devouring — 0.09%.
"What the hell is this…?"
It hadn't been there before.
It wasn't part of the system I knew. There was no such trait in the novel.
Suddenly—
A moment of realization struck me.
I slowly turned my head and looked at the sword lying beside the bed.
I remembered.
The blood.
How it had been drawn from the bodies of Rank C monsters.
How it moved without light. Without sound.
"…Is this trait connected to the sword?"
That didn't make sense.
The sword wasn't supposed to have such an ability.
The special power I had given it in the novel was tied to **********
"So… why is this appearing now?"
And what would happen when the percentage reached 100%?
My heartbeat quickened slightly.
"Damn it…"
I stood up abruptly.
"I need some air."
---
I left the room and walked without a destination.
The academy was quiet at this hour. The sky was partly overcast, the air cold enough to sharpen thought.
I walked and thought.
Every step brought the same questions.
I knew events would derail. That was expected.
But a trait I didn't create? Didn't plan for?
That was different.
"I needed the sword's original ability…"
I paused briefly, then kept walking.
"So why did I risk my life in Valsmeer… only to gain some unknown power?"
I grabbed my head.
The exhaustion returned suddenly—not physical, but mental.
"Damn it…"
I ran a hand through my hair and let out a long breath.
Thinking any further was pointless.
The more I thought, the worse the chaos became.
"…I'll sleep."
---
On my way back to the room, I noticed someone familiar.
Leander.
He was in the training yard, alone, practicing relentlessly. Repeated strikes. Controlled movements. Absolute focus.
Sweat poured down his body—but he didn't stop.
I watched him for a few seconds.
Just as expected of the perfect protagonist.
"Well done."
I said it quietly, a faint smile barely forming.
Then I continued on my way.
---
I reached my door.
Opened it.
Entered.
I didn't even take off my clothes—just my shoes. I didn't turn off the light.
I fell onto the bed.
Exhaustion overtook every other thought.
_______
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