Mortal Ability: Endless Hunger
[Ding!]
[No.777 System Awakened]
'Eh?! Huh?' Anos tilted his head when he heard a mechanical voice echo inside his mind.
'Isn't this a little bit too late?' he thought as a blue virtual screen appeared before his eyes.
'If only the system had awakened earlier… maybe I wouldn't have died to that ninja in my first life—or the cruel deaths in the others.' His heart trembled at the memories, body shivering from the torture he endured.
"Anos, what's happening?!" Celestia Ruth panicked as her son's small body shook in her embrace.
[Do you want to bind the system with your soul?]
[Y/N]
Anos clenched his tiny fists, stealing a glance at his mother's worried expression.
'She's panicking…' he thought before shaking his head and focusing back on the glowing screen.
[Do you want to bind the system with your soul?]
'Yes. I accept.'
[Confirmed]
[Processing…]
[1%...49%...69%]
[Error??? Detected]
[Failed to bind…]
'What?! Error? Failed?!' Anos blinked, his heart sinking.
[Three Souls Detected. Searching for solution…]
'Three souls…' His eyes dimmed. He had died and reincarnated three times in a row.
[...]
[Solution found: Fuse three souls into one.]
[Do you want to fuse your souls?]
[Y/N]
'Yes.'
A hollow emptiness inside him suddenly filled as warmth spread through his chest.
[Processing…]
[1%...70%...100%]
[Generating Enhanced System Mode]
'Something's changing… but I can't tell what.'
[No.777 System Successfully Bound]
[You have gained three innate abilities:]
Imitation Spiral EyeDivine Light of HealingEndless Hunger
[Ding!]
[Due to conditions, Imitation Spiral Eye and Divine Light of Healing are sealed until the host reaches four years of age.]
'Ah… okay,' Anos sighed inwardly. 'Three skills, and two are sealed… Figures. And Endless Hunger? That name explains too much…'
'System,' he called. A screen shimmered back into view.
[Yes, host.]
'Can I name you?'
[You can, host.]
'Then… Zara.'
[Renaming System…]
[System name updated: Zara]
'Alright, Zara. Show me your functions.'
The screen shifted, revealing four options:
[1. Status]
[2. Map]
[3. Quest]
[4. Fusion]
'Quest and Fusion…?' Anos frowned.
[Quest: Generated based on host's situation or desire. Rewards include system points and additional bonuses. Quests may be freely accepted or rejected.]
[Fusion: A unique feature of Enhanced Mode. Fuse techniques, skills, items, bloodlines, etc., by consuming system points.]
'Not bad. Better than I thought.'
'Open my status.'
[Name: Anos (Fourth Life)]
[Age: 3 months]
[Title: Reincarnator]
[Martial Spirit: Not yet awakened]
[Innate Abilities: Imitation Spiral Eye, Divine Light of Healing, Endless Hunger]
'Reincarnator, huh…' His lips curved bitterly. The memories of his past deaths gnawed at him.
[Title: Reincarnator]
[Type: Passive]
[Grade: Rare]
[Description: One who has walked through repeated cycles of death and rebirth.]
[Effect: Luck +25%]
Twitch.
Anos's mouth twitched. 'Increase luck? That's a damn joke. All my lives ended horribly. This title feels like mockery.'
He sighed again.
Celestia Ruth, watching him quietly, asked, "Are you hungry?"
"Mama?" Anos instinctively nodded—then froze, realizing he had answered too quickly.
She sat down in a nearby chair, loosening her clothes. Anos's eyes widened.
'Ah… even after three months, it's still… glorious.' His thoughts spun as she guided him to her chest.
'Hungry—?! Why do I suddenly feel so hungry?!'
[Mortal Ability: Endless Hunger Activated]
[Ability Description: By consuming souls, the user can absorb skills and attributes of the target. In exchange, the host suffers from uncontrollable hunger, only eased by constant nourishment of souls.]
[Due to low grade, hunger and absorption are minimized.]
'…What a terrifying ability.'
Celestia Ruth flinched faintly. 'Strange… even though it's only a little, my spirit energy is being drained by Anos.'
She focused her senses, checking his condition.
'The energy nourishes his body—but disappears the instant it enters his stomach. It's as if his body is a bottomless void.'
"His stomach… is like an endless hole," she murmured.
Anos released a small burp, the glow in his eyes fading as the hunger receded.
'Finally.'
The two locked gazes, then Celestia Ruth chuckled softly at his adorable expression.
'We're already far enough from Soul Haven,' she thought.
'Maybe… we can stay here for a few years.'
Her eyes scanned the little house. "Home," she whispered. "This house will be enough for us, right?"
Anos nodded lightly.
Celestia Ruth smiled warmly, brushing his cheek. "That's my son."