The Villages of Eldrath were silent that night — silent, except for the sound of hunger.
Inside a half-burned hut, a boy sat by the corner, staring at the cracked walls. His name was Kael, an orphan with nothing but scars and cold eyes.
He hadn't eaten in two days. His body trembled from weakness, yet his mind refused to die.
As he reached for a dry piece of bread, a small mouse scurried out from a hole, trying to steal it.
Kael sighed. "Even rats want to eat me alive…"
Out of instinct, he grabbed a broken knife beside him and threw it.
Thunk!
The mouse twitched once and fell.
And then—
> [Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host.]
[A living being has been slain.]
[Initializing… Blood Reaper System…]
A red interface flashed before Kael's eyes. His vision blurred for a second, then stabilized.
Floating text glowed in front of him, cold and mechanical.
───────────────────────────────
Blood Reaper System — Online
Name: Kael
Cultivation Level: Mortal (Lower)
EXP: 1 / 100
Exp Storage: 0
Skills: None
Abilities: None
Techniques: None
Weapons: None
Equipment: None
System Shop: Locked
───────────────────────────────
Kael froze. His breath quickened. "A… system?"
> [EXP Rule Activated.]
Kill = EXP
Pill Consumed = EXP
Spiritual Energy Absorbed = EXP
EXP can be used to buy Skills, Abilities, Equipment, Weapons, and Pills in the System Shop.
> [Quest Unlocked!]
Kill 5 Living Beings to Unlock System Shop.
Reward: Access to Grade 1 (Lower) Shop Items.
Kael's eyes widened as he read the glowing lines.
"EXP… from killing?" he murmured. "Even… a mouse?"
He looked at his hands — thin, shaking, desperate — and then at the dead mouse.
If one mouse gave him power, what about bandits? Beasts? Humans?
A faint, crimson mist swirled around his fingers. His body, once weak, suddenly felt alive.
He smirked coldly.
"Kill for strength… so be it."
Kael wiped the blood from the mouse onto his hand.
"This world took everything from me," he whispered. "Now, I'll take everything from it."
The System's voice echoed again, low and calm:
> [Blood Reaper Path — Initiated.]
Outside, thunder rolled in the night sky, as if the heavens themselves sensed the birth of a monster.
And in that forgotten slum, the boy who killed a mouse took his first step toward godhood.