Riven pushed himself up from the floor, heart pounding like thunder in his ears. His hands shot out, gripping at the strange floating being as if holding it could anchor reality.
"I… I have an S-Class Gift?!" he blurted, disbelief and hope clashing in his voice.
The creature drifted out of his grasp, its tendrils curling like smoke as it hovered lazily in the air. Dozens of eyes blinked at different times — some narrowing, others widening — all fixed on him.
"No," it drawled, voice dripping with condescension. "S-Class is still a cage. A title made by humans to measure their tiny world."
It tilted its head unnaturally, a grin spreading wider than it should've.
"But if that's how you measure strength… tell me about these 'Gift levels' of yours."
Riven frowned. It was basic knowledge, but he took a breath and explained.
"F-Rank — useless tricks. E-Rank — minor stuff, good for daily life. D-Rank starts to matter in a fight. Then C, B, and A — real fighters, heroes, criminals. S-Rank and above? Those are history-book names."
His voice steadied as he spoke, the familiar ranks flowing out by memory.
"SSS-Rank… world-changers. SSSS — god-like. And XSS…" He hesitated. "…Transcendent. No limits. No ceiling. Just… broken."
The room felt colder when his words faded.
The being's tendrils coiled lazily as its grin widened, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. Then it laughed — a sharp, echoing sound that rattled his skull.
"Good," it said, voice echoing with amusement. "You've memorized your cages well."
It leaned forward, eyes flashing like a storm.
"Riven… you are not F. You are not S. You are not even XSS."
The creature paused, savoring the silence that followed.
"You are… Other."
Riven froze. The word alone made his stomach twist.
He knew what "Others" were — monsters that the government hunted on sight.
Beings that devoured Gift Users and stole their powers. Mindless beasts. Unstoppable predators. The enemy above all others.
And now this thing was telling him he was one of them.
"No…" His voice cracked, trembling with fear.
"No, I'm not— I'm not like those things!"
The being only chuckled. The sound wasn't laughter — it was broken glass grinding in his skull.
"Yeah, that was offensive," it said softly.
"Others are ruthless, but they'd find that comparison insulting."
Riven groaned, rubbing his temples as he sat back on the hospital bed. "You're insane…"
The creature ignored the comment.
"You're not inherently one of them," it said.
"But the thing that crashed into you — it awakened me. Your Gift. It killed itself doing it. So now, you're something new. Call out to it. See for yourself."
Riven's throat tightened. He didn't know if he wanted to see.
But curiosity — and dread — gnawed at him all the same.
He stood abruptly, almost tripping, and caught himself on the wall.
His steps carried him to the bathroom.
The mirror reflected a pale boy in a loose hospital gown.
His dark brown hair was messy, falling in uneven strands around a sharp jawline. The gown made his skin look almost warm against the sterile light.
His eyes — blue like the ocean but tinged with a faint reddish hue — stared back at him, heavy and uncertain.
His lips were parted slightly, soft, as if he'd just spoken a truth he didn't believe.
Even with the gown's collar sitting awkwardly around his neck, the shape of his throat and the faint lines of his collarbones stood out, giving him a fragile yet striking presence. His face carried a faint flush across his cheeks and nose,
making him look both feverish and delicate—like someone caught between strength and vulnerability. He breathed out softly, closing his eyes, trying to feel anything. Whispering, "Come out…"
He felt nothing at first, until a voice registered inside his mind, soft and maternal, like a mother speaking to her son.
"Hello."
Riven's eyes snapped open. His body jerked backward in shock, arms flailing as he stumbled into the door behind him.
The panel on the wall flickered, displaying a soft glow—the source of the voice—yet no physical form appeared. Heart hammering, he pressed himself against the door. "Wh… who's there?!"
"Xeno here," the voice said, feminine and kind. Riven hurried to his feet and looked back in the mirror. "Are… you an Other?"
"Yes… I am an Other," it replied softly.
Riven froze.
The word conjured images of mindless, merciless monsters—predators who devoured Gift Users without thought, hunted by the government. But this voice was different. Gentle, caring, human-like, wrapping him in warmth as his mother had once done.
"…You… sound… nice," he murmured, pressing a hand to the mirror as if reaching for her.
"I am," Xeno replied, laughing softly in a way that made him shiver with relief. "We just wish to be in peace…"
Riven sighed, palm to his face. "Let me guess… the government said you were here to help. Next thing you know, people are taken and used. You fought back… and were made monsters across the galaxy?"
"Actually… that's… scary correct. Were you there?!" Xeno replied, shocked by his accuracy.
"N-no," he said softly. His thoughts turned bitter. Humans didn't need reason, only excuses. Take a race that couldn't speak or defend itself, and twist the narrative until they were monsters.
He shook his head, smiling faintly. "So… um, how are you related to my Gift?"
"Well… when I crashed into your home and fused with your DNA, I turned you into half of what I am," Xeno said sweetly. Riven rubbed his cheek, listening intently.
"So I can control my body like your kind?" he asked, hope in his voice.
"Of course," Xeno replied warmly. "If I merge with your Gift fully, I can even make you a system. Like the ones from the stories you read."
"Do it! Do it!" Riven exclaimed, joy lighting his expression.
Xeno's form swirled around him, tendrils of shadowy energy curling like liquid smoke. Countless eyes glimmered with warmth as the fusion began. A soft, luminous light pulsed from his chest, spreading warmth through his body. Shadows crawled beneath his skin—not cold or painful, but alive and aware.
"Focus, Riven," Xeno whispered in his mind. "Feel me. Let me guide you."
Riven closed his eyes, exhilaration running through him. He could sense the Veil around him, the hidden threads of reality twisting and responding to his new power. A soft chime echoed in his mind: Ding ding.
A panel appeared, stats, numbers, and symbols flickering to life. Skill slots, energy gauges, and placeholders for abilities waited. The system pulsed with life, black and purple hues swirling like electrical veins.
"Hello… Riven Watts," the system's melodic voice said, intimate and knowing.
"Your… the system?" he whispered.
"I am your system," it replied. "Your Gift… refined. Your abilities… monitored. Your potential… limitless."
Riven's chest tightened with awe. Limitless…?
"You can call, consume, and integrate other Gifts into yourself. Over time, you will evolve them, combine them, adapt them. You are a living conduit of Gifts,"
it explained. He pictured it like an ocean: the more Gifts he absorbed, the more he changed, yet remained the same.
Glancing at the clock, panic surged. "Crap… I'm late!" He lunged for the chair with his clothes, tugging them on, slipping out of the gown into familiar attire.
Grabbing his phone, he sprinted down the hall, mind buzzing with the alien fusion and the infinite possibilities it promised.
At Tech & Bond, a hub of tinkering and repairs, he slid into his chair, sweating.
"Nothing…" he sighed, checking emails. A cold drink was placed on his neck, making him jump.
"The hell?!"
A man, towering at 7'10" with long blonde hair and pointy ears, chuckled. "Yep, two feet the other day."
"Man… did you get taller?" Riven asked, blinking.
"I was the great Titan of Destruction before this life," the giant said with a grin.
"Sure… and I'm a Titan of Creation, buddy," Riven muttered, laughing quietly.
The giant patted his shoulder. "I heard you had a problem at home? What happened?"
"My roof caved in. I'll tell you the rest at my place, okay, Jane?" Riven replied. Jane shrugged and headed off, promising drinks.
Riven's eyes drifted to his desk. "Status window."
STATUS WINDOW – RIVEN WATTS
Race: Human (Partial Other)
Class: Veil-Touched
Gift: Devourer of Gifts (Base: Telekinesis)
Rank: Unclassified
Potential: Transcendent
[STATS]
Strength: 20 | Agility: 25 | Endurance: 60 | Intelligence: 30 | Willpower: 30 | Veil Energy: 100%
Traits: Half-Other Physiology; Veil Connection; Instinctive Calculation
[SKILLS]
Basic Telekinesis (F → E rank); Veil Storage; System Integration
Riven rubbed his face, eyes widening at an email: A clan wants specialized work… Church Clan…
He knew the Church Clan—filthily rich, powerful, ruled by the Holy Mother. Could this be a trap? Blood pack for their Gift? He almost rejected it.
The system chimed quietly.
"Take the mission and receive a daily spin. Reward upon completion."
Riven hesitated, then pressed accept. "…Screw it. Let's gamble." He jabbed the SPIN button.
The wheel roared to life, spinning so fast it blurred into a storm of purple and black light. His heart pounded as it slowed… slowed… slowed… CLACK. CLACK. CLACK. CLACK. CLACK. CLACK. It landed on—
"Yes! Yes! Infinite stren—"
The arrow stopped at charm.
Congratulations! You have obtained: Minor Passive Charm (Rank F → Evolvable)
Riven's face drained of color. He sat back in his chair, staring at the floating text like it had personally insulted him.
"…Charm. I got—charm. What the hell am I supposed to do with charm? Flirt clients to pay more?"
The system hummed pleasantly.
[Passive effect: Your presence becomes slightly more appealing. People may be more inclined to trust or notice you.]
Riven slammed his forehead against his desk again. "Great. Fantastic. Just what I needed. Now I'm a damn perfume commercial."
The system only flickered back with:
[Reminder: Every skill, no matter how small, may evolve. Even charm.]
He groaned into his sleeve. "Yeah, sure. I'll just charm my way through an alien war."
He paused and thought it over—maybe he could use it to get paid more. He chuckled and stopped, then groaned. "Fuck face!"
The system beeped gently in his mind.
"Correction: Passive Charm has nothing to do with physical appearance."
Riven peeked through his fingers. "…Wait, seriously? What does it do?"
The system pulsed again, as if nodding. "Affirmative. Passive Charm influences perception. It shifts how others feel toward you, not how you look."
Riven slowly lowered his hands from his face, staring blankly at the glowing text. "…So, let me get this straight. I can look like a sleep-deprived raccoon that got run over by a bus… and people will still like me more?"
"Correct."
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "…That's messed up. Useful… but messed up."
For a moment, he didn't speak to anyone—not even his friend waiting outside—because he needed to process this first. The words wouldn't come until he fully understood what he'd just unlocked.
Riven laid his head down and just sighed.
—End of Chapter 2—
A/N: 👋