Reeve stood amid the broken remains of lesser monsters, the air thick with fading mana. One by one, their bodies dissolved into black motes as Gluttony devoured them completely.
But this time… it was different.
> Nyx (System):
Absorption complete.
Abilities acquired.
—Residual data detected.
Reeve frowned.
"…Residual data?"
As the last monster vanished, something else flowed into him—faint impressions. A blurred fear. The instinct to dodge. The timing of a strike.
Not skills.
Memories.
Reeve's breath slowed.
"So it's not just power anymore…"
Nyx's tone shifted—sharper, more cautious.
> Nyx:
Gluttony is evolving.
Limit-Breaker Stage: Initiated (Incomplete).
You are beginning to absorb combat instincts, behavioral patterns, and tactical reflexes.
Reeve's eyes gleamed.
"…So if I eat enough—"
> Nyx:
—You may inherit minds not meant to be held.
For a moment, Reeve felt it.
A monster's rage.
A predator's joy.
A gnawing hunger that wasn't his.
His head throbbed—but he forced it down.
"Not yet," he muttered. "I'll start small."
---
A Familiar Presence
As Reeve moved through the outskirts of Grimfang Wastes, a surge of heat rippled through the land.
Mana twisted.
The air burned.
Reeve stopped.
"…That presence."
Ahead of him—standing atop scorched earth—was the being he had avoided before.
The Fire Elemental God's Clone.
A blazing humanoid form of living flame, eyes like miniature suns. The ground beneath it had melted into glass.
Reeve smiled slowly.
"…I was just thinking about you."
The elemental turned.
BOOM — its aura exploded outward.
Reeve stepped forward instead of back.
Interesting…
Five shadows detached from him.
Five Clones.
They spread out instantly, surrounding the elemental.
The Fire God Clone raised its arm—
INFERNAL LANCE
A torrent of compressed flame shot toward Reeve.
The moment it was about to touch him—
Reeve whispered calmly.
"Gluttony."
The flames vanished.
Not extinguished.
Swallowed.
The elemental roared as black chains of hunger wrapped around its body, dragging it into the abyss within Reeve.
Inside Reeve's mind—
A battlefield erupted.
The Fire Elemental fought back.
Its will burned, slashing at Nyx's containment layers, trying to incinerate Reeve's consciousness itself.
> Nyx:
Warning.
Target resistance: EXTREME.
Primordial-grade authority detected (Fragmented).
Reeve staggered.
His vision split.
For a second—he wasn't Reeve.
He was flame.
He was rage.
He was endless burning sky.
"Not… yours…" Reeve growled, teeth clenched.
"…This is my hunger."
Gluttony tightened.
The abyss closed its jaws.
CRACK—!
The elemental screamed—
Then silence.
Reeve dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
> Nyx:
Capture successful.
However… processing will take time.
Fire Elemental abilities and divine traits are sealed.
Reeve wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed softly.
"…Worth it."
A Crimson Presence
Footsteps approached.
Elegant. Calm.
Seraphyne emerged from the shadows, moonlight reflecting off her silver hair and crimson eyes.
She looked at the scorched land… then at Reeve.
"…Congratulations," she said gently. "You just did something even Demon Lords hesitate to attempt."
Reeve smirked. "Guess I'm getting reckless."
Seraphyne smiled—but there was concern behind it.
"…Or you're stepping into something far deeper."
Before Reeve could reply—
The world shifted.
The ground beneath him pulsed with unfamiliar mana.
Dark stars flickered at the edge of his vision.
> Nyx:
Unidentified space resonance detected.
Destination locking…
Reeve's heartbeat slowed.
"…Nyx?"
> Nyx:
Next phase approaching.
Welcome—soon—to Astra Nox.
The shadows swallowed him whole.