Dayal ran through the dark woods. His heart was pounding, not with fear, but with a strange, dark excitement. He could feel the stolen energy of Rohan circulating in his body. It felt wild and powerful.
[Ding! Warning!]
[The Forbidden Devouring System is hungry. If you do not Devour a 'Grade 1 Treasure' within 24 hours, the System will consume your own life force.]
Dayal stopped. "What? I just devoured a Level 3 cultivator's energy!"
[System Reply: Stolen Qi is for Leveling Up. The System needs 'Essence' from items to stay stable. Do not forget, Host—this is a Forbidden path.]
Dayal cursed under his breath. He was no longer a victim of the disciples, but he was now a slave to this system. He needed a treasure.
The only place to find a Grade 1 Treasure was the Sect's Outer Storage Hall. It was heavily guarded.
"If I get caught, I die. If I don't go, the system kills me," Dayal whispered. "Fine. I will steal from the thieves who stole my life for years."
He used the shadows to move. Because his body was now Level 4, his steps were silent. He reached the back window of the Storage Hall. Two guards were talking near the door.
"Did you hear? Rohan was found unconscious in the forest. His cultivation is gone! The Elders are furious," one guard said.
"Who could do that? Only a monster could suck someone's Qi dry," the other replied, shivering.
Dayal waited until they turned their backs. He climbed through the window. Inside, the room was filled with herbs, low-level spirit stones, and old weapons.
His eyes landed on a glowing red fruit in a glass box—a Fire Spirit Fruit.
[Ding! Grade 1 Treasure detected: Fire Spirit Fruit.]
[Potential Gain: 500 XP and Fire-Element Resistance.]
Dayal smashed the glass. The alarm bell started ringing instantly. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
"Intruder!" the guards shouted from outside.
Dayal didn't run. He grabbed the fruit and shouted, "Devour!"
The red fruit melted into a liquid flame and rushed into his mouth. His skin turned bright red. He felt like his blood was boiling.
[Ding! Devouring Fire Spirit Fruit...]
[10%... 40%... 80%... 100%!]
[Success! You have gained 'Fire Breath' Skill!]
[Level Up! You are now Level 5!]
The door burst open. Five guards rushed in with swords drawn.
"Dayal? The trash disciple?" the lead guard gasped. "How are you here? Drop the treasure and die!"
Dayal looked at them. His eyes were now glowing with a faint red light. He felt the heat rising in his throat.
"I am not dropping anything anymore," Dayal said.
He opened his mouth, and a blast of hot flames erupted, forcing the guards to jump back in terror. This was no longer the weak boy they knew. This was a predator.