Eight hours passed.
The sun rose once more over the city of Vireldra, casting golden rays against the rooftops and creeping through the window of Room 7 at The Broken Chalice Inn.
But Ezra Carter did not stir.
He lay motionless on the bed, eyes shut tight, breath shallow.
Because he was dreaming.
—
The world around him screamed.
Tires screeched.
Glass shattered.
Flames danced across twisted steel.
Ezra was trapped in the memory. Again.
His parents were in the front seat—his mother's scream echoing, his father's arm reaching back to shield him. Their car spun through the darkness of a rainy highway.
"EZRA!!" his father shouted.
"DAD! MOM!!" Ezra screamed back, reaching out.
Then—impact.
Fire.
Silence.
"Ezra..." a voice whispered.
"You can't save them."
"You're a failure."
"You couldn't save anyone."
The dream shifted. Now he saw his parents again—laughing, smiling, full of warmth. A perfect memory. And then, in an instant, twisted wreckage and lifeless silence.
Then nothing. Only blackness.
A black void.
Ezra stood alone in it, a weight pressing on his chest.
"Who's there?!" he shouted. "Why are you saying these things?!"
A chorus of voices responded. Low, distorted. Familiar yet alien.
"We are always here."
"We see your guilt."
"We feel your fear."
"We know what you hide."
Red eyes blinked into existence across the void. Hundreds. Thousands. Blinking, glowing, unblinking. Watching. Everywhere.
Ezra's eyes widened.
"No—what is this?!"
"You can't run."
"You can't hide."
"You are always seen. Always judged."
Ezra backed away, spinning, but the eyes multiplied.
"Stop it!" he yelled. "Leave me alone!"
The void thickened.
From within, a figure emerged.
It was him.
An exact copy, wrapped in black mist, eyes glowing a deeper, unnatural gold.
"You... You're me," Ezra whispered.
"No," the void-Ezra said, stepping forward. "You're me."
Ezra's throat tightened. "What are you?"
The shadow smirked. "I'm what you buried. What you won't face. What you fear becoming."
"You survived. They didn't."
"You know, deep down, that you couldn't save them."
"You couldn't save anyone."
"I am your punishment."
"No!" Ezra shouted. "I could have saved them! If I—if I did something—"
"They screamed for you. And you survived."
Ezra's fists shook.
The void version laughed. "You're just the one who walked away."
"You were never chosen. Not for your world. Not for this one."
"You are empty. And the emptiness knows."
Ezra ran toward the figure and punched with all his strength—
His fist passed through.
The shadow laughed again, circling him like a predator.
"You know what to do..." it whispered.
Ezra stood still, trembling. "What…?"
The shadow's grin widened to something unnatural, inhuman.
"You need to forget. Let go of everything."
"Do one thing."
Ezra clenched his fists. "What... what thing?"
The voices answered in unison.
"DEVOUR EVERYTHING."
Ezra's eyes widened.
"You… You're Devour?!"
The void-Ezra chuckled. "Yes."
"We are Devour," the voices whispered, echoing around him.
"We are hunger."
"We are always watching."
"We want."
"We need."
"WE EAT."
The red eyes blinked in rhythm with the voices.
"Devour the light."
"Devour the weak."
"Devour the guilt."
"Devour it all."
The void-Ezra melted, his form twisting and unraveling into a sea of black-violet tendrils.
The mass surged forward.
Ezra screamed and tried to run.
The tendrils wrapped around him, dragging him down, wrapping tighter, drowning him.
"DEVOUR EVERYTHING!"
Ezra's voice echoed—
"No! No, no, no—!"
The void consumed him.
—
Ezra bolted upright in bed, gasping.
He clutched his chest, his breathing ragged, sweat dripping from his forehead.
He looked around—his room. The warm light of morning. A world not yet burned.
He pressed his back against the headboard, trembling.
"…It was just a nightmare," he whispered. "A horrible nightmare…"
But the word Devour still echoed inside him.
And somewhere, in the corners of his mind, he knew—
It was never just a dream.
Ezra sat upright in his bed, sweat still clinging to his brow.
He stared blankly at the far wall, the nightmare's echo still swirling in the corners of his mind.
"It was just a dream," he said softly. "It means nothing."
But deep down, he wasn't convinced.
Morning light filtered through the window, casting gentle rays across the wooden floor of Room 7. Ezra turned his head toward it.
A new day, he thought. Time to get moving. First mission. First step.
He got out of bed and stretched his arms and shoulders, the soreness from the spider battle still lingering. He dressed quickly—black and silver coat, fingerless gloves, boots laced tight.
After adjusting his jacket, he left his room and walked down the hall.
The inn was quiet, filled with the low hum of morning activity. As he descended the stairs, the first thing he saw was Granz behind the counter, cleaning mugs and wiping the surface with practiced ease.
Granz looked up, eyes narrowing at Ezra's approach.
He gave a nod.
Ezra returned it.
"You're not much of a talker, I see," Granz grumbled. "Are you hungry?"
Ezra opened his mouth to respond, but his stomach growled loudly before he could speak.
The moment hung for a second.
Granz raised a brow, then smirked. "Sounds like a yes. I'll get you breakfast, boy."
Ezra nodded awkwardly. "Yes. Thanks."
"Good. Let me go put in your order, son."
Granz disappeared into the kitchen.
Ezra sat down at a nearby table, resting his arms on the surface. While he waited, his mind wandered.
What kind of missions are available for someone like me? Herb gathering? Pest extermination? Escort runs?
He sighed and leaned back slightly.
A few minutes passed before Granz returned, carrying a wooden tray.
"Here's your breakfast."
He placed the tray in front of Ezra: a hot plate of spiced eggs, roasted root vegetables, and fresh bread with honey butter, alongside a small clay cup of herbal tea.
Ezra nodded. "Thanks."
He began eating slowly, methodically.
Granz returned to the counter, cleaning another set of mugs—but every so often, he cast a glance toward Ezra. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
A few minutes later, Ezra finished eating. He stood up and gave Granz another nod.
"Thanks."
"No problem, kid. Stay sharp out there."
Ezra stepped out of the inn, blinking into the morning light.
He turned toward the familiar road leading to the Iron Fang Guild and began walking.
Let's see what today has waiting for me.
—
A few minutes later, he stood in front of the guild's massive double doors. He pushed them open and stepped inside.
The familiar hum of conversation greeted him. Laughter. Shouts. Metal clinks. The smell of leather, steel, and baked goods.
As the doors closed behind him, heads turned.
Several adventurers paused their meals or missions to glance his way.
"That's him…"
"...the kid who passed the evaluation yesterday."
"Used some kind of dark magic... a punch that glowed."
"Creepy eyes, but he handled that spider like a pro."
Ezra ignored the whispers and headed straight for the reception desk.
Lysette looked up from her paperwork. She smiled as she recognized him.
"Welcome, Ezra. How can I help you today?"
Ezra stepped closer. "Mission."
Lysette gave a small, approving nod. "Of course. You'll want to head to the mission board over there. F-rank section only—for now. Pick one that suits you."
Ezra nodded and turned toward the board.
He walked up to it, scanning the rows of parchment posted in tidy sections, each mission labeled by rank and colored wax seals.
The F-rank section had a dozen or more notices.
Ezra leaned in, eyes scanning them one by one.
—
Mission #017: Pest Removal
Target: Kill ten horned burrow rats.
Location: Sewer Access Tunnel 3B
Reward: 5 silver coins + rat tails (per bonus)
Mission #022: Herb Gathering
Target: Collect 12 Nightshade Roots
Location: Eastern Forest Glade
Reward: 6 silver coins + bonus per clean sample
Mission #031: Courier Task
Target: Deliver sealed parcel to merchant Dalia in South Market
Time Limit: Before sunset
Reward: 4 silver coins
Mission #044: Escort Duty (Shared)
Target: Accompany novice merchant caravan to local village
Departure: 10 AM sharp
Reward: 8 silver coins + travel meal
Ezra stood in silence, reading each one carefully.
Let's see… he thought, What's the best first step for someone like me?
Ezra stood quietly before the mission board, his eyes scanning the parchment slips pinned to the F-rank section.
He paused as one particular notice caught his eye.
F-RANK MISSION – HERB COLLECTION
Target: Collect 12 Nightshade Roots
Location: Eastern Forest Glade
Reward: 6 silver coins + bonus per clean sample
Requirements: Return with fresh roots; damaged or incomplete samples will not be accepted.
He reached out and plucked the parchment from the board.
Herb collection, he thought. Not glamorous... but I need to start somewhere. And it's a good excuse to get a feel for the land.
With the mission slip in hand, he turned and walked back toward the receptionist desk.
Lysette looked up from her station and smiled as he approached.
"Well, that was quick," she said. "What did you pick?"
Ezra handed her the parchment.
Lysette scanned it with a practiced glance.
"Nightshade roots, huh?" she said, nodding. "Simple and safe... relatively speaking. You'll need to collect at least twelve clean samples. No damaged roots, no substitutes. Bring them back in the provided satchel, and don't forget to keep them out of direct sunlight. They lose potency fast."
Ezra listened silently.
"You'll be heading to the Eastern Forest Glade," she continued. "It's a few kilometers out, just past the old hunter's trail. Be mindful of wildlife—nothing major, but still."
She paused, then her tone turned a bit more serious.
"Some parts of that glade border the Western Forest," she added. "That area isn't considered beginner-safe. Small monsters roam there—Horned Rabbits, Goblins, and Slimes. They usually stay deep within the western side, but if you wander too far off the path, you might run into trouble."
She slid a small leather pouch across the counter. "This has your gathering tools, identification tag for mission tracking, and a few sample herbs to compare. Use the knife to extract the roots cleanly."
Ezra took the pouch and nodded.
Lysette tilted her head. "Do you understand everything?"
"Yes," Ezra said simply.
"Then you're good to go. Good luck out there."
Ezra turned around and began walking toward the exit of the guild hall.
Lysette watched him go.
Herb gathering may not sound like much, she thought, but it's smart. Quiet. Low-risk. Let's see how he handles being alone in the field. But he better stay out of the western edge. One misstep near those woods...
A deep voice behind her interrupted her thoughts.
"So... the newbie picked his first mission."
She turned and saw Guildmaster Gorran Ironsoul approaching with his usual heavy-footed gait.
"Yes," she said. "He picked the Nightshade collection."
Gorran scratched his beard, smirking. "Good. That one will test his focus more than his blade. He'll be fine. Especially with that power of his."
—
Outside, Ezra moved through the city streets with quiet determination.
The morning crowd had grown denser, filled with merchants shouting their wares, guards on patrol, and early adventurers heading toward their posts.
Ezra weaved between them, his eyes set on the open gate that led eastward.
Time to see what the field has to offer, he thought.
Ezra approached the western gate of the city, where the towering stone walls loomed overhead and guards stood watch. Two gate officers stood near the gate, clad in chainmail and dark green tabards. One of them noticed Ezra approaching and stepped forward.
The officer narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? Why are you heading out this early?"
Ezra stopped a few feet away and held up his mission parchment.
"Guild mission," he said simply.
The gate officer took the parchment and scanned it.
"Herb collection, huh?" he muttered, nodding. "Heading into the glade. Looks in order."
He reached for a stamp and pressed it against the parchment, leaving an official mark.
"Don't go wandering off into the Western Forest too deep," the officer warned, handing the slip back. "We've had sightings of low-level monsters near the outer edge. But you're cleared. Good luck."
Ezra nodded. "Thanks."
He passed through the gate and stepped outside the city.
The world felt bigger beyond the walls. The city sounds faded behind him as the wind picked up, brushing his coat. Dirt crunched beneath his boots as he followed the winding road leading toward the treeline.
Alright, he thought. Collect 10 full bundles of Ironleaf. Metallic green, sharp edges. Grows near rock formations and flowing water. That's what Lysette said.
His boots struck against packed dirt as he walked, the sound mixing with chirping insects and distant birdsong.
Fifteen minutes later, he reached the edge of the forest.
The entrance to the glade stretched before him like a curtain of green. Towering trees shaded the ground. Shafts of light pierced the canopy, casting shifting patterns on moss-covered stones.
Ezra stepped inside.
The sounds changed—quieter, filtered through rustling leaves and distant water.
He walked cautiously, scanning the ground and underbrush. His eyes searched for clusters of green-metallic leaves.
After a few minutes of walking, he noticed a strange glimmer on the ground.
A faint blue substance glistened near a tree root. Ezra knelt and examined it.
A slime trail? he thought, uncertain.
Just then, he heard rustling in the bushes behind him.
He immediately stood and drew his knife, sliding into a battle stance.
Branches parted.
A blue, jelly-like creature bounced out into the clearing. It quivered as it moved, making a soft squelching sound.
Ezra narrowed his eyes.
A blob? he thought. No…
Then more rustling.
Eleven more blue blobs emerged from the brush.
A total of twelve creatures wobbled toward him, surrounding the glade's edge.
Ezra's eyes flicked between them.
"Appraisal," he said aloud.
Twelve translucent screens blinked into view in front of him:
Name: Blue Slime (F-Rank)
Type: Monster – Ooze
HP: 45
MP: 10
Strength: 6
Agility: 4
Endurance: 10
Skills: Split (Minor), Absorb (Low-Tier), Blunt Resistance
Description: A basic slime-type monster with a gelatinous body. Non-lethal unless grouped. Weak to sharp weapons, vulnerable to fire and ice. Low intelligence, attracted to moisture and residual mana.
Ezra's brows furrowed.
Twelve of them... This just got a little more complicated.
Ezra narrowed his eyes as he reread the blue slime stats hovering in front of him. The creatures weren't threatening alone, but their numbers and abilities gave him pause.
Weak, but persistent... Split, absorb, blunt resistance? They're annoying more than deadly—but still dangerous in a swarm.
He sighed through his nose. Guess I'll need to take this seriously.
Suddenly, all twelve slimes bounced at once.
"—Incoming," Ezra muttered.
The gelatinous blobs launched into the air using their basic Bounce skill, ricocheting off trees, rocks, and each other, flinging themselves at him from every angle.
Ezra ducked under one.
SWOOSH!
Sidestepped another.
THUD!
Spun under a third.
A fourth slime barely missed his shoulder.
He weaved between flying blobs like he was dancing through raindrops, but each dodge cost focus and breath. His feet scraped across damp leaves, and sweat trickled down his temple.
Too many angles... he thought. If I stop moving, I'm getting hit. But I can't keep this up forever either.
He vaulted over one bouncing toward his feet.
Two more launched from opposite sides. Ezra twisted midair, narrowly evading both as they collided behind him.
Think, think, he told himself. I need a strategy—something to thin them out. But I can't focus enough to plan.
A slime bounced off a tree and came at him from behind. Ezra felt the air shift and threw himself forward into a roll.
That one almost got me... he thought, panting. Can't use Web Threading yet—too many moving. If I miss, they'll rush me.
He deflected one with the flat of his knife, but it absorbed the blow, wobbling as it recoiled.
Another launched, and he dropped to the ground, rolling sideways to avoid it.
He stood quickly—only for a trio to descend on him in rapid succession. Ezra leapt backward, slashing through the air to create space.
It's like they're syncing up, he thought. One distraction, then another strikes. Smart for slimes... too smart.
Every second was a barrage. He sidestepped, spun, crouched, twisted. Sweat ran down the side of his face. His arms burned. His legs were tiring.
I can't— he started to think—
WHACK!
A rogue slime slammed into the side of his head, launching from behind a tree.
Ezra grunted as he hit the ground hard.
"Ugh—damn it," he growled, rubbing his jaw. "That actually hurt a little…"
He sat up slowly, blinking the sting out of his eyes. Around him, the slimes bounced lightly, preparing for another synchronized attack.
Slime balls are getting the better of me? Seriously?
He stood, and as four slimes charged toward him again, he raised his hand.
"Web Threading."
A burst of silver-white web shot from his fingers, wrapping around the incoming slimes mid-air. The web tangled them mid-bounce, slowing their momentum.
Ezra grabbed the threads, swung hard, and hurled the webbed slimes into a thick patch of trees.
THWACK!
The sticky strands adhered to bark and branches, pinning the slimes in place.
Ezra exhaled. "Not bad..." he muttered, eyes narrowing. "Let's see how long they stay stuck."
Just then, another slime launched itself at him.
Ezra raised his arms in an X-guard, knife gripped between them. The slime slammed into him, testing his defense.
The impact was strong, but Ezra held.
"You're mine now, slime ball," he muttered.
He slashed—
—but the blade only knocked the slime back. It bounced harmlessly off its gelatinous body.
Ezra leapt back, reassessing.
They resist normal slashes. Even my knife can't cut them without something more.
A flicker of memory passed through his mind—the spider in the trial, the devour energy, the power that had surged through him.
He looked at the knife in his hand.
What if I infused it? Like before?
Ezra took a slow breath.
"Devour..." he whispered.
Black-violet runes flared to life across his forearm, spiraling down into his clenched fist and then into the blade.
His knife darkened, pulsing with a sickly glow, wrapped in a smoke-like aura of devour-infused energy.
The ground trembled slightly as five slimes launched toward him in unison.
Ezra didn't move until the last second.
"Devouring Strike!" he roared.
He slashed in a wide arc.
The blade hummed—then screamed as it tore through the air.
SHHRRAKK!!
All five slimes were severed cleanly in half.
Their cores split from their gelatinous bodies, the devour energy crackling through them like a hunger made manifest.
Ezra landed, crouched low.
The five slimes collapsed into puddles of blue goo.
He stood, eyes widening in surprise.
It worked.
That... worked perfectly.
He glanced up.
Three slimes still hung in the trees, webbed and squirming.
Four more waited below, wobbling uncertainly.
Ezra narrowed his eyes, gripping his devour-imbued knife.
He slid into his stance.
"Let's get this done."
Ezra gripped his devour-infused knife tightly, the black-violet runes still pulsing along the blade like veins of energy.
The four remaining slimes circled him slowly, wobbling side to side in their eerie, rhythmic dance. The three pinned to the tree squirmed violently in their webs, unable to escape.
Ezra narrowed his golden eyes.
Let's finish this.
He dashed forward.
"Devouring Strike!"
He slashed horizontally—
SHHRAKK!
Three of the slimes were split cleanly in two, their cores severed with a hiss of energy as devour magic disintegrated their life essence.
Before the last slime could leap behind him, Ezra spun mid-motion and hurled his glowing knife.
The blade flew through the air with a low whistle—
THWIP!
It pierced through the final slime's body and shattered its glowing blue core.
The blob lost shape and collapsed into a puddle of goo on the grass.
Ezra walked over calmly, retrieved his knife, and turned to face the tree where the remaining three slimes were webbed up.
Their gelatinous bodies trembled as they sensed what was coming.
He raised his knife.
"Devouring Strike."
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
One after the other, he sliced through the webbing and drove his blade into each slime's core, silencing them for good.
The battlefield was quiet again.
Ezra stood before the pile of twelve defeated slimes—webbing, goo, and ruptured cores now strewn in one place.
He looked down at the pile.
What should I do with them? Leave them? Burn them?
Then—
A whisper.
Faint, but clear.
"Devour them all..."
Ezra's body tensed.
His pupils dilated.
His golden eyes flashed red for a brief second.
Then back to normal.
He slowly raised his hand over the remains.
"Devour System," he said softly.
A black-purple vortex bloomed in his palm, swirling outward in a spiraling wind of hunger. The energy lashed out like tendrils and pulled the remains of all twelve slimes inward.
The pile of defeated monsters was swallowed by the vortex, one by one, dissolving into glowing fragments of essence.
WHOOMPH!
A bright pulse struck through his body as the final bit was consumed.
[Devour System: Assimilation Complete]
[You have leveled up!]
[Level +5]
[Current Level: 8]
Ezra blinked.
Level 8...? Just from those slimes?
A shimmering screen materialized in front of him.
Status Screen
Name: Ezra Carter
Age: 18
Race: Human (Otherworlder)
Level: 8
Class: Gluttony Mage
Titles: Summoning Accident, The Unchosen, Trial Survivor
Hunger Level: Stable
HP: 210
MP: 260
Strength: 21
Agility: 25
Endurance: 24
Mana: 290
Luck: 11
Charm: 8
Normal Skills: Appraisal, Web Threading
Ability Skills: Wall-Crawler Instinct, Poison Resistance, Mana Sense – Passively detects ambient mana sources and magical lifeforms within a limited radius. Useful for identifying hidden threats or tracking spell activity.
Magic Skills: Acid Infuse – Coats fists or weapons with weak acid slime. Causes light armor corrosion and damage over time.
Unique Skills: Devour – Absorbs abilities, energy, and traits from defeated enemies. Evolves with each consumption.
New Mutation Skill: Slime Form – Grants temporary immunity to physical strikes for 4 seconds. Slashes pass through body. Can squeeze through gaps and avoid piercing damage.
Weapons: Devour-Linked Combat Knife
Items: Leather Gathering Pouch, Basic Rations, Guild Identification Badge
Ezra stared at the screen.
Then down at his hands.
His body… felt different. More fluid. Stronger.
The air around him shimmered slightly, as if reacting to his presence.
This is... because I absorbed the cores, he thought. These aren't just stats. My body is adapting.
He clenched his hand slowly, feeling the subtle elasticity in his joints.
Devour doesn't just give power—it rewrites me.
His golden eyes hardened.
What am I becoming?
Chapter Twenty: Thorns in the Glade
After clearing the field of slimes, Ezra exhaled slowly and turned his focus back to the mission.
I still need those herbs, he reminded himself.
Sheathing his knife, he began walking again through the lush undergrowth of the western forest glade. Sunlight filtered between branches above, casting faint golden rays on the forest floor. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, but Ezra stayed sharp. His steps were careful now.
As he moved further down the natural path, he heard something new—the gentle sound of water rushing.
A stream? Running water... That's where Ironleaf grows.
He followed the sound, and after a few minutes, reached the edge of a shallow stream. The water sparkled in the sun, flowing between smooth rocks and mossy banks.
Ezra scanned the area and spotted several tufts of green, serrated leaves growing near the water.
He crouched and picked up a few.
The metallic sheen of the leaves shimmered faintly.
"Ironleaf," he said aloud. "Sharp edges... heavy texture... exactly like Lysette described."
He slipped them into the collection pouch carefully, using the sample knife provided.
Not bad. If I keep this up, I'll hit ten bundles quickly.
He stood again and looked farther ahead. A narrow path of large rocks jutted upward into a small rise in the terrain. Between the stones and trees, the path looked promising.
Ezra jumped up onto one rock, then the next, climbing higher to get a better view.
At the crest of the rise, his eyes widened.
Dozens of Ironleaf plants blanketed the area ahead, growing wild in thick patches among stones and clusters of roots. Dew clung to the leaves, glistening.
"Jackpot," he muttered.
Just as he stepped forward to gather more, something snapped in the air.
WHIZZ! WHIZZ!
He heard something sharp slicing through the air.
Ezra's instincts flared—he looked left, spotted the trajectory—
"Web Threading!"
With a flick of his hand, web shot out toward the nearest tree.
He was pulled instantly toward the trunk, landing on a thick branch just as several needle-like projectiles embedded themselves where he had just stood.
That was close, he thought, breathing hard. What kind of attack was that?
He scanned the area where the needles had come from.
Then he saw it.
A large, muscular rabbit—nearly the size of a small wolf—stepped from behind a bush. Its fur was dark brown, but along its spine were bristle-like quills that shimmered with needle-tipped edges.
Its crimson eyes locked on him.
Ezra narrowed his gaze.
A giant rabbit… with spines?
Then—
Three more hopped into view, flanking the first.
They all stared up at him with twitching noses and unsettling focus.
Ezra raised his hand.
"Appraisal."
Four translucent screens appeared:
Name: Thornhide Rabbit
Type: Beast – Forest Variant
Rank: F+
HP: 120
MP: 40
Strength: 18
Agility: 28
Endurance: 16
Skills: Needle Launch, Burrow Dash, Thorn Spines (Passive)
Description: A territorial rabbit beast mutated by mana exposure. It launches hardened spines from its back in bursts. Extremely agile. Travels in small groups. Dangerous if cornered.
Ezra frowned.
Needle Launch, Burrow Dash... and they're fast. This just got a lot more complicated.
He stood tall on the branch, eyes fixed on the advancing beasts.
So much for a peaceful herb-gathering mission.
To be continued...