Was Azrael hallucinating from all the potions? He doubted his vision, blinking hard and forcing his eyes to scan the same information again—once, twice, three times.
But it didn’t change.
Even though he couldn’t decipher the symbols, he could somehow understand every single word, his Inborn Trait was listed clearly:
Inborn Trait: [Heir of Death]
Inborn Trait Rank: [Divine]
Inborn Trait Description: [Born untouched by both Life and Corruption, the world couldn’t decide if he belonged to either. In the end, Death claimed him as its own. As its sole heir, he wields and devours both the Purity of the Divine and the Corruption of the Abyss. Whether he chooses a side or walks the edge between them is a unique path only he can follow.]
"A unique path?" Azrael murmured, puzzled. "I can use Corruption? But... isn’t that meant only for monsters? How would I even progress?"
He was both excited and cautious. While he had a Divine Inborn Trait, he had unique progression, meaning that he wouldn’t be able to rely on the now-known information about the progress of humans.
’This explains why I have both Purity Rank and Corruption Rank,’ he mused, scanning the rest of the data.
Ascension Level: [Marked]
Ascension Description: [Marked for great things, still yet to achieve any. Your devotion is yet to be proven.]
Purity Rank: [Chosen]
Purity Progression: [1/100]
Purity Description: [Chosen by the system, a flicker of divinity resonates in your soul, you are purer than any Forsaken.]
Corruption Rank: [Warped]
Corruption Progression: [0/100]
Corruption Description: [A slight taint resides in your soul, not enough to corrupt you... for now.]
’As far as I know, humans can raise their Ascension Level only when closing Rifts, while to progress their Purity Rank, they have to kill monsters.’ He recalled the general information that was available to the public, ’So... how the hell did mine go up to one?’
Azrael’s eyes narrowed in a realization, ’Wait. Is it because I killed Chosen? It did say I devour Divinity... So to raise my Purity Rank, I have to kill people with systems? While to raise Corruption, I kill monsters?’
That was bad. Really bad.
If what he suspected was true, progressing either side meant losing a piece of himself. The Corruption Description was clear the more it increased, the more twisted he’d become. He couldn’t just slaughter monsters without consequences... not if it meant becoming one.
While to raise his Purity Rank, he had to kill other Chosen. Ironic in a way to become purer, he had to commit murder.
His frantic thoughts were interrupted by an explosion in the distance.
’Shit, the Rift—completely forgot,’ he thought, eyeing the toppled body of the Chosen.
The idea of looting it crossed his mind, yet Azrael stopped himself. These Chosen were full of all kinds of tricks. What if something was rigged? Tracked?
That way he would basically be outing his position.
A rustle in the nearby bushes jolted him. Without hesitation, Azrael turned away and slipped into a silent sprint.
’At least the monsters in the area would eat the body, erasing any evidence that I was ever here,’ he analyzed, thinking about his next steps.
’The monster corpse gatherers don’t really care for their members, so they wouldn’t give a damn about the three men I killed. If I don’t show my nose there, they will soon forget about me as well.’
An exhausted smile appeared on his face, his legs running at a steady, ruthless pace. ’In other words, every possible trace is taken care of. Job’s done,’ Azrael concluded.
With his mission complete, he headed straight for home—the old, quiet place he had shared with the old man for years.
"Just you wait," he whispered, "it’s time I finally repay you for everything."
Azrael didn’t stop even for a second, nor did he look back. He jogged with speed that was far faster than his usual one, the benefits of having a system were already more than clear.
Several kilometers later, he reached the humble place he called home.
It was tucked near the poorest region of the area, where Rifts threatened to open at any moment. But it had one great advantage, no surveillance.
"I am back!" he announced, bursting into the small house.
His gaze stopped at the full-body mirror near the door. A long crack ran through the upper right corner, but it was intact enough for him to catch his reflection.
Sweat clung to his pale skin, white hair damp and messy. His black eyes glowed with exhausted excitement.
"So soon?" a voice called back from beyond the small living room. Following the voice, Azrael reached the old man.
He always called him ’old man’ even though he didn’t really look old. He just acted that way: distant, strict, unreadable.
"Yes," Azrael grinned. "Your theory was right. I really did gain a system."
"Not surprised. Well, it seems my job is done." The old man stood, walking toward the exit.
Azrael blinked. "Where are you going? I thought we were going to celebrate?"
"Why would I do that?" The man replied, voice flat. "I’ve done all I had to. You’re on your own now."
"What?" \n(o)v.e\l.com
"I’ve already contacted the authorities. Let them know you’re a System User. A representative will come for you soon. Train you. It’s time to say goodbye."
A flicker of disbelief crossed Azrael’s face. Then anger. Then pain.
"Oh, is that so?" he snapped. "You think I’ll just enter the elite world and leave behind the person who raised me? Who fed me? Who taught me my values—even though you’re not even my parent? I refuse. You’re coming with me, no matter what. You’re the only one I care about. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you to rot here."
The man paused mid-step.
"I can see you have a system. But you’re not familiar with how to use it. I suggest you practice the few skills you have," he said simply. "You don’t want to seem like an... outsider."
’What does that mean? Why is he acting ?’
He’d learned long ago that the old man’s words often carried hidden meanings.
Opening the system interface again, Azrael remembered the one skill every System User had and one he had ignored until now, [Inspect].
Its description was pretty basic: [Allows you to take a peek at humans’s and monsters’s basic stats.]
’Why would I need to use that?’ Azrael wondered, gaze stopping at the old man that had his back turned to him.
’He is the only one that I can use it on... Is this what he was trying to tell me?’
Having a feeling that this was the case, he used the skill. It was pretty basic; he just had to think of using it.
Then he froze, a chill running down his spine, as everything he thought he knew unraveled in an instant.
Danger Level: [Calamity]
Corruption Rank: [Twisted]