The air trembled with divine light. A circle of golden runes spread across the ground, swallowing the entire square in an otherworldly glow.
Li Wei shielded his eyes as the world around him twisted. Just a moment ago, he had been a nobody—another struggling student walking home after a night shift. And yet, in the blink of an eye, he found himself standing among hundreds of strangers.
A palace of jade and crystal towered before them. Countless armored knights knelt beneath the throne, where a radiant figure sat—a godlike king with a crown of burning light.
"Welcome, chosen heroes!" the king's voice shook the heavens. "You have been summoned to this world to fight against the tide of demons! Each of you shall be granted a divine blessing!"
Excitement rippled through the crowd.
One by one, beams of light descended. A burly man roared as his body expanded, muscles swelling with power. "I… I received the Titan's Strength!"
A girl gasped as a sword of pure flame appeared in her hands. "A Divine Weapon!"
Cheers, laughter, tears of joy filled the hall as blessings descended upon every chosen one.
Every chosen one… except for Li Wei.
He stood trembling as the light passed him by again and again. No weapon, no blessing, not even a flicker of power.
"What? That weakling didn't get anything?" someone sneered.
"Hahaha! Did the gods make a mistake? Summoning trash like him?"
"Even ants are more useful than you."
Li Wei clenched his fists. He could feel the mocking stares stabbing into him like knives. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
The king's radiant eyes glanced at him once, filled with disdain. "Unfortunate. Not all are worthy of divine grace. Guards—throw him outside the palace. He will only slow the others down."
Before Li Wei could protest, armored hands seized him and dragged him across the floor. He was tossed out like garbage into the barren wilderness beyond the city's walls.
The gates slammed shut behind him.
Silence.
Only the cold wind remained.
---
Night fell. Li Wei's stomach twisted in hunger, but worse than hunger was despair.
"Why me…? Am I really that worthless…?" He staggered through the forest, his steps weak. The roars of monsters echoed all around.
Suddenly—grrraaaaah!
A wolf, its eyes glowing crimson, leapt from the shadows. Its claws raked across his chest. Blood sprayed.
"Aghhh—!" Li Wei fell to the ground, vision blurring.
The beast lunged again. His body screamed in pain, yet his mind screamed louder.
"I don't want to die… Not like this! Not like trash!"
And in that moment, something deep within him stirred.
Ding!
[ Ancient Devouring System has awakened. ]
Li Wei's eyes widened. A translucent screen appeared before him, glowing with runes of blood and shadow.
[ Condition Met: Near-Death. ]
[ First Ability Unlocked: Devour. ]
The wolf snarled and pounced—only for its body to freeze mid-air. An invisible force ripped its life essence out, streams of black light pouring into Li Wei's body.
Crunch!
The beast's body withered into nothingness.
[ Enemy slain. Ability extracted: Sharp Claw (Lv.1). ]
Li Wei's wounds closed. Strength surged into his limbs.
He gasped, staring at his hands that now glowed faintly with crimson light.
"This… this power… I can steal the strength of my enemies?"
The despair in his heart twisted into something new. Not hope. Not joy.
But hunger.
"If the gods abandoned me…" His lips curled into a cold smile. "Then I'll take everything with my own hands. I'll devour their heroes… their kings… and one day—"
His voice echoed through the night.
"—I will slaughter the gods themselves."
---
End of Chapter 1