[Enhancing abilities…]
[E-Rank 'Gluttony' has evolved into: S-Rank 'Devour'.]
[F-Rank 'Analyze' has evolved into: SS-Rank 'Omnivision'.]
---
Grimm froze.
For a heartbeat, his mind blanked. Then disbelief twisted into a grin — slow at first, then wider, until it split into a bright, almost manic smile.
You've got to be kidding me…
He'd expected the EX-Rank talent Infinite Boost to be broken, but this?... This was absurd. This was beyond overpowered.
His useless E-Rank talent had evolved into an S-Rank one.
And the government-issued Analyze skill that everyone got for free? Now SS-Rank.
A disbelieving laugh escaped him — low at first, then bubbling into unrestrained amusement.
"Ha… hahahaha!"
He couldn't hold it in. The sound filled the small cabin, echoing faintly off the wooden walls.
When the laughter faded, he raised his hand and tapped the glowing windows hovering before him. They expanded instantly, revealing the details.
---
[Devour]
— Talent Rank: S
— Description:
A forbidden power that consumes all things to fuel the user's growth. Every object, creature, or essence devoured grants fragments of its strength, abilities, or attributes. The quality of what is obtained depends on the target's rank, nature, and energy composition.
---
[Omnivision]
— Skill Rank: SS
Abilities:
(B) Enhanced Analyze: View detailed information on targets. Highlight weak points through focused observation.
(S) Energy Vision: Visualize energy flow within living beings, weapons, and the environment. Enables combat awareness even in total darkness.
(SS) Truth Break: Dispels illusions, invisibility, and false projections within your perception range. Outlines hidden distortions, allowing precise targeting through obstacles.
---
Note: Higher-grade concealments such as divine fields, dimensional veils, or ancient artifacts may distort or blind your vision. Excessive usage can cause eye strain, dizziness, or neural backlash.
---
Grimm's eyes darted across the glowing lines, his pulse quickening with every word. The more he read, the harder it became to keep the grin off his face.
"This is… insane," he muttered.
He felt his heart hammering against his ribs, blood rushing like thunder.
A talent that lets me devour anything for power… and another that lets me enhance them.
He let out a shaky breath, chest rising and falling with raw excitement.
"If this isn't broken, I don't know what is…"
He clenched his fist, feeling his veins hum with energy. But the moment he did, something else struck him — his body felt different.
He looked down at his hand. The skin seemed firmer, smoother, healthier.
He flexed his arm. The motion felt effortless, like his body had been rebuilt from the inside out.
Driven by curiosity, he turned toward the mirror by the cabin wall.
The reflection staring back made his heart freeze.
The man in the glass looked like him — but wasn't him.
His once-lean frame was now sculpted with sharp, defined muscle.
His posture was steadier, his eyes clearer. Even his skin seemed to radiate a faint vitality that hadn't been there before.
It wasn't just improvement. It was transformation.
Was all of this because of the reconstruction that occurred within the void earlier?
Curious, he called up his stats.
---
[Grimm]
Rank: Wood
Level: 1 [0%]
Profession: Locked (Generating Quest)
Talent: S-Rank Devour
Innate Talent: EX-Rank Infinite Boost
Vitality: 100%
Mana: 100%
Stats:
-Physical
↳[Strength: 8 | Endurance: 6 | Agility: 9]
-Mental
↳[Intelligence: 5 | Focus: 3 | Perception: 7]
---
He blinked. "...Wait, what?"
The numbers were the same. But the power in his limbs told a different story.
Even without testing, he knew he'd grown stronger. He could feel it in his core — sharper reflexes, denser strength.
Maybe… the weight ratio increased? Maybe the numbers don't reflect stat weight anymore.
It was the only thing that made sense.
He exhaled, dismissing the screens. There would be time to figure that out later.
For now, he needed to know where he was.
With a soft creak, the wooden door opened.
Warm sunlight spilled in, painting the cabin floor in gold. Grimm squinted, raising a hand to block the glare.
And then he saw it.
Outside stretched a bustling village surrounded by shimmering barriers.
Wooden cabins like his dotted the area in neat rows.
Young awakeners — all about his age — milled about, checking their system screens, chatting, or forming parties in different spots, all preparing for their adventure.
The air buzzed with energy — with new beginnings.
A faint notification appeared before Grimm's eyes.
[Welcome to Newbie Village #3.]
[Profession Assignment Quest Generating… Please wait.]
He waved the notification away with a flick of his hand.
Professions were essential to an Awakener's growth — shaping how one's power developed within the Tower.
But at the moment, it didn't matter.
Maybe before, he might have cared deeply about this moment. Once, he might've prayed for a rare profession to compensate for his weak E-Rank talent.
But now?
With Infinite Boost and Devour, professions no longer mattered.
Good profession, bad profession — the result would be the same. He would win regardless.
Grimm stepped down from the cabin porch and into the sunlight.
The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of grass.
The sky above was unnaturally clear — a crafted calm in a world designed to test humanity's limits.
Around him, the village buzzed with activity.
Hundreds of new Awakeners moved about the streets.
Voices filled the air — team leaders shouting for members, others advertising their specialties.
"Looking for a healer! D-Rank or above!"
"Anyone need a scout?"
"Anyone without a team, hurry up before registration closes!"
A few stragglers wandered nervously, clutching their weapons, hoping to join any group that would take them.
Grimm took a slow breath, letting the breeze wash over him.
"So this is the Newbie Village," he murmured, gazing around with mild curiosity.
His appearance caught the attention of a group nearby.
Five of them stood by a cabin — three boys, two girls — armed and equipped, clearly a pre-formed team. Their coordination and posture screamed experience… or at least confidence.
One of the boys, dark-skinned with short-cropped hair, nodded subtly toward Grimm.
"Who's that guy? He just spawned in, yeah? Doesn't look like he's with anyone."
"Seems so," said a girl beside him wielding a spear. "Solo type, maybe? The ones who challenge the Tower alone." Admiration tinged her tone.
Another — a tall, bald youth with metallic-gray skin, clearly their leader — snorted, jealousy flickering in his eyes. "A solo, huh? What's so great about them?"
The blond boy at the back, hair messy and eyes lazy, tilted his head. "He looks strong though. Should we try to recruit him?"
One of the girls with short red hair snorted. "Strong? You're joking, right?"
The leader turned toward her. "You know him?"
She chuckled. "Yeah. Classmate of mine — Grimm or something. E-Rank talent. Pretty useless, honestly."
"Oh? That so?" the spear girl said, her earlier admiration fading into disappointment. "Tch. Thought he might actually be worth something."
The leader grinned, arrogance glinting in his eyes.
"E-Rank, huh? Then he's perfect. We don't need more fighters, but he can be a porter. Even trash has its uses."
The others laughed quietly. It wasn't cruel, just casual — the kind of mockery born from habit rather than hatred.
Within the Tower, every Awakener had a small inventory space for essentials, but it was rarely enough for long expeditions. That was where porters came in — those too weak to fight but useful enough to carry supplies and leftovers.
The leader stepped forward, closing the distance with easy arrogance. He clapped a heavy hand on Grimm's shoulder.
"Hey, you," he said, grinning wide. "You wanna join our team? We're short on a porter."
Grimm turned his head slightly, an eyebrow raised.
"A porter?" he repeated, tone calm but edged with irritation.
"Yeah," the boy replied with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "You'll get a few kills to level up, and we'll toss you the scraps we don't need. Not bad, right? Considering your… talent."
For a heartbeat, Grimm just looked at him.
Then, slowly, a faint smile curved his lips. "No thanks."
He brushed the boy's hand off and walked past him.
The leader blinked, caught off guard, and blurted, "…What?"
"I said no," Grimm replied without turning around. "Carry your own bags."
Conversations along the street quieted.
Several nearby Awakeners stopped what they were doing to watch.
The boy's grin vanished, replaced by a dark scowl. "Oi. You think you're better than us? You should be grateful we even offered!"
Grimm stopped at the edge of the barrier marking the village boundary. The faint shimmer of energy reflected in his eyes as he spoke without looking back.
"Grateful?" His tone was calm, almost amused. "For being your mule and feeding off scraps? Sorry. I have better plans."
The words hung in the air, sharper than any weapon.
The leader's jaw tightened, pride stung. He wanted to shout something back, but Grimm was already walking away.
He understood perfectly well what the boy had meant earlier.
He hadn't even planned to let him join the team.
Tower mechanics made teamwork a shared system — experience was distributed based on contribution.
A weak member still earned growth if they contributed.
Which was why most teams refused to add just anyone: it meant fewer rewards for them.
So when that boy said, "I'll let you have a few kills," they were planning to use him as labor to carry their load and feed off their scraps.
But Grimm had better plans for himself.