It was like storm breaking through bone. Dream's body convulsed, his back arching as if an unseen hand tore him apart from the inside. His muscles rippled, split, and then reformed, threads of sinew burning with molten fire. Bones cracked like shattering glass, each one breaking only to fuse again, thicker, harder, unyielding.
Blood spilled from his mouth, his nose, his eyes --- crimson rivers painting the black stone beneath him. His screams echoed in the void, muffled yet endless, until even his throat bled. The dungeon felt alive, listening to his agony, each spasm like a sacrifice demanded by the abyss itself.
And then --- silence.
Steam rose from his body. His chest fell still -- his frame lay twisted, trembling faintly, as though death itself had brushed past him but chosen not to take him. For a long moment, there was nothing but the faint drip of his blood hitting stone.
His eyes opened.
Not the eyes of a 20year old body who had entered this place. No--- these eyes shone faintly in the dark, their pupils contracting and expanding as if tasting the air, drinking in light where none existed.
Damian sat up slowly, every breath heavy, like dragging fire through his lungs. His vision sharpened, the faint shimmer of dust motes swirled before him, clear as though seen through glass. He could hear it too --- the subtle trickle of unseen water seeping through cracks, the flutter of a bat's wing somewhere in the endless dark. The void was no longer blind to him.
[ Congratulations: Host evolution was successful]
A translucent screen unfolded before his eyes, pale symbols dancing across its surface
[Status screen]
[ Height: 5'7---5'11
Name: Dream Crowne
HP: 1,000/1,000
Void Energy: 700/700
Race: Halfling
Affinity: Glass
Strength: *(+25)52
Agility: *(+25)48
Endurance: *(+25)36
Stamina: *(+25)41
Mind: *(+25)42
Skill: Passive -( Reveal)(lv.1)
Active- ( Wall)(lv.1)
Dream's gaze froze at the line. What's going on. He feels different, looking at his stats he sees huge jump in stats. Nothing made sense, He doesn't understand, all he remembers was his vision going blank and now his awake here.
"What's going on system?, what happened to the beast I was fighting earlier" His asked.
[ Host killed it]
"Killed it?, what do you mean... I thought I died"
[ You were close to dieing but the void helped you]
"Really?" He said with a disbelievingly tone but looking to his side he could see the dead corpse of beast which was weird cause usually they would just turn to ash after they died, although the predators did not turn to ash but he assumed it was probably because they had not been fully corrupted by the void. "Hmmm..." He had no words.
"I feel different, what's with the huge jump in stats "
[ You evolved, these changes are as a result of you're evolution]
" Evolve?, I do remember seeing that before. Does that also have something to do with this race thing. It doesn't say human"
[ Yes, in order to survive in the void. You must transcend human limitations]
" So what is the void turning me into, what I'm I becoming "
[ Something greater]
" Tell me system?, what I'm I becoming " he said getting serious "I feel like this body isn't mind and inspite of all these changes and surprises, I haven't felt any signs of fear or panick, i can't even tell if it's a good thing or not. I feel like I'm familiar with this place"
[ ....]
The system did not respond at first but then it spoke
[ The system plans on transforming the host into the next Void Emperor]
"Void Emperor?"
[ Yes]
" What is that, you want me to rule this void?"
[ Exactly]
" I told you right from the start, I want to leave this place" he said displeased
[ I understand host, and I promise you will but the system needs your help, there is something the system wish to prepare you for. If you disagree, it will take another trillion years in human time for another host to be found and by then it might be too late]
"...."
[ Please host... I need you]
Dream's eyes widened a little bit, he had never heard the system talk this way. "What I'm I to prepare for?"
[ War. War among dimensions, realms, and countless worlds]
"Wat?, I need to know more information"
[ ...]
The system did not respond "system?"
[ I'm sorry host but there's currently no more information. More information will be available after the system undergoes]
" How do I upgrade?"
[ On the host second evolution, the system will be upgraded]
" I see, How do I prepare for the war then?"
[ By evolving, the void wish to transform the host to the ultimate force against his enemies]
" Hmmm.."
[ After the host second evolution, the host will have access to his forces]
" Again with evolution, you really want me to evolve as fast as possible"
[ That is correct host, the faster you do the better]
" Alright then what is the next evolution requirement".
[ Goal Quest: Level 25]
[ Reward: Evolution, System upgrade]
" Just like that" he said the swiped to his status screen looking at it again. "Affinity: Glass?" His finger-tips brushed the air as if touching the word grand him understanding. Glass. Sharp yet fragile. Transparent yet unyielding.
A power both beautiful and deadly. He pulled himself to his feet. His frame felt different -- taller, braoder. His skin hummed faintly with energy, every movement sharper, as though his body has been reforged into a weapon.
"How does this work, system"
[ Your affinity runs on your void energy as long as you have void energy, you can summon your affinity]
" I see, activate the affinity"
[ Glass affinity: Active skill: Wall]
A huge glass wall erupted from the ground, standing a little taller than him, looking at it he could see his reflection, his eyes had turned slightly blue, his black hair now had strands of white hair. His skin pale but it was had to see the actual skin color due to the blood red moons red shine. His physique was lean and shredded, inhumanly so. He could barely recognize his own reflection.
" Is this me?"