The wind roared across the jagged cliffs of the Blackstone Sect, carrying with it the distant echoes of clashing blades and the faint cries of cultivators training deep within the mountain.
This was a world ruled by strength.
A world where power decided everything.
Mercy was weakness.
Kindness was stupidity.
And the weak…
The weak were nothing more than disposable tools.
At the center of the outer disciple courtyard, a young man knelt on the cold stone ground.
His clothes were worn and dusty. Small cuts covered his arms, and dried blood stained the collar of his robe.
His name was Azrael Veyron.
An outer disciple of the Blackstone Sect.
Or rather…
A useless one.
Around him stood a group of disciples, their expressions filled with mockery.
They looked down at him the same way one might look at a stray dog lying in the street.
With disgust.
With amusement.
And absolutely no respect.
A tall young man stepped forward.
His robes were far cleaner than Azrael's, and the silver insignia on his chest gleamed under the afternoon sun.
His name was Darius Kane.
The strongest outer disciple in their group.
His cultivation had already reached the Spirit Awakening Realm, something Azrael had failed to achieve even after spending three years in the sect.
Darius crouched down and grabbed Azrael's chin, forcing him to look up.
"You're still breathing, huh?"
His voice carried a cruel amusement.
Azrael said nothing.
His dark eyes stared silently at the ground.
That silence only made the surrounding disciples laugh.
"Look at him."
"Three years in the sect and still stuck at Mortal Body."
"Even servants cultivate faster."
Another disciple stepped forward and kicked Azrael hard in the ribs.
Pain exploded through his body.
Azrael fell sideways, coughing violently.
The disciples laughed louder.
Darius shook his head in fake disappointment.
"You know, Azrael… I used to wonder how someone so useless even got accepted into the Blackstone Sect."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"But today I finally understand."
Azrael slowly raised his head.
"For what?"
Darius smiled.
"For sacrifice."
The word hung in the air like a blade.
Several disciples pointed toward the towering mountain behind the sect.
At its base was a massive stone gate leading into a deep black cavern.
Even from the courtyard, an eerie darkness seemed to leak from the entrance.
That place had a name every disciple knew.
The Abyssal Ruin.
A forbidden cave sealed centuries ago by the ancestors of the Blackstone Sect.
Rumor said it contained ancient monsters…
Cursed spirits…
And something far worse.
No one who entered had ever returned.
Darius patted Azrael's cheek lightly.
"The elders need someone to check the seal."
"And lucky for you…"
He stood up and gestured dramatically toward the cave.
"You've finally become useful."
The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.
Azrael felt his chest tighten.
For three years he had endured humiliation.
Beatings.
Starvation.
Mockery.
Every day he told himself the same thing.
Just survive.
Just get stronger.
But now…
He finally understood something.
This world did not reward effort.
Only power.
And he had none.
Two disciples grabbed him by the arms and forced him to stand.
Azrael struggled weakly.
"You can't do this."
"Watch us."
They dragged him across the courtyard while other disciples watched with indifferent expressions.
No one tried to stop them.
To the sect…
Azrael Veyron was already dead.
The journey up the mountain path took nearly an hour.
The further they climbed, the colder the air became.
The trees grew twisted and thin.
Even the sunlight seemed reluctant to reach this place.
Eventually they arrived at the entrance of the Abyssal Ruin.
Four enormous stone pillars surrounded the cave mouth.
Ancient runes glowed faintly across their surfaces.
Powerful sealing formations.
The moment Azrael stepped closer, a strange feeling crawled across his skin.
Something inside the cave was watching him.
Waiting.
Darius stopped a few steps away.
"Alright."
He gestured lazily.
"Throw him in."
The disciples hesitated.
Even they looked uneasy staring into the endless darkness of the cave.
From within came a faint whispering sound.
Like countless voices murmuring together.
One disciple swallowed nervously.
"Are you sure the seal is stable?"
Darius rolled his eyes.
"You're not the one going in."
He walked up to Azrael and leaned close.
"You should feel honored."
"You're helping the sect."
Azrael glared at him.
"If I survive…"
His voice was quiet but filled with hatred.
"I will kill every single one of you."
For a moment there was silence.
Then the disciples exploded with laughter.
"Did you hear that?"
"The trash thinks he'll survive!"
Darius shoved him toward the cave entrance.
"Then survive first."
Azrael stumbled forward.
The ground beneath his feet crumbled.
And suddenly—
He was falling.
The last thing he saw was the shrinking circle of daylight above.
Then darkness swallowed everything.
Azrael slammed into the cave floor with a violent crash.
Pain shot through his entire body.
For several seconds he couldn't breathe.
The ground beneath him was cold and damp.
When he finally forced himself to sit up…
He realized something terrifying.
The cave was completely dark.
Not the normal darkness of night.
This was deeper.
Heavier.
Like the darkness itself was alive.
Azrael slowly stood.
His breathing echoed through the cavern.
"…Hello?"
No answer.
Only silence.
Then—
A faint red glow appeared deeper inside the cave.
Azrael turned toward it.
And immediately froze.
Scattered across the ground were dozens of skeletons.
Human skeletons.
Old robes lay beside them.
Rusty weapons.
Broken rings.
Everyone who had entered this cave before him…
Had died here.
A chill ran down his spine.
"I need to leave."
He turned and began walking toward where he thought the entrance should be.
But after several minutes…
He realized something horrifying.
No matter which direction he walked…
The cave never ended.
It was like being trapped inside an endless maze.
Panic began creeping into his chest.
"No…"
"No, this can't be happening…"
Then—
CRACK.
The sound echoed sharply through the cave.
Azrael froze.
Something moved among the bones.
Another crack followed.
One of the skeletons twitched.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
It began to rise.
Azrael's heart nearly stopped.
"That's impossible…"
More bones began rattling.
One skeleton stood.
Then another.
Then another.
Within seconds, more than twenty skeletal figures surrounded him.
Their empty eye sockets turned toward him.
Hungry.
A chilling whisper echoed through the darkness.
"Liiiiiving…"
Azrael stumbled back.
The nearest skeleton lunged.
Its claws sliced through the air inches from his throat.
Instinct took over.
Azrael grabbed a broken bone from the ground and swung it like a club.
CRACK.
The skeleton's skull shattered.
But the rest of its body kept moving.
Another skeleton grabbed his arm.
Sharp fingers tore into his flesh.
Azrael screamed and kicked it away.
More skeletons rushed forward.
There were too many.
One claw ripped across his chest.
Blood spilled onto the stone floor.
Another skeleton dragged him down.
Cold hands clawed at his body.
Pain exploded through his mind.
So this was how he died.
Torn apart by monsters in a cursed cave.
His vision began fading.
Darkness crept across his mind.
Then suddenly—
The stone floor beneath him cracked.
A strange black symbol lit up under his blood.
Ancient runes flared to life.
The skeletons froze instantly.
A deep voice echoed through the abyss.
"Blood detected."
"Compatible host found."
A crimson screen suddenly appeared before Azrael's fading vision.
VOID DEVOURING SYSTEM
Status: Awakening
Host: Azrael Veyron
Compatibility: 97%
A final message appeared.
Do you wish to devour the void… and become its sovereign?
YES / NO
Azrael's lips trembled.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"…Yes."
The moment the word left his mouth—
The entire cave shook violently.
Dark energy erupted from the ground.
Every skeleton collapsed instantly.
Black power flooded into Azrael's body.
His veins burned.
His bones cracked.
Something ancient…
Something forbidden…
Was awakening inside him.
Far above the cave…
The sealing pillars began to tremble.
And deep within the abyss…
A new predator had just been born.
The moment Azrael whispered "Yes."
The world shattered.
A violent surge of darkness erupted from the ancient symbol beneath his body. Black energy twisted like living serpents, wrapping around his arms, legs, and chest.
Azrael screamed.
Pain unlike anything he had ever felt tore through his body.
His veins burned.
His bones cracked loudly.
Every muscle in his body felt like it was being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time.
The darkness poured into him endlessly.
It was cold.
Yet strangely powerful.
The skeletons surrounding him collapsed instantly as if some invisible force had crushed them.
The cave trembled violently.
Pieces of rock fell from the ceiling.
Azrael's body floated slightly above the ground as the black energy continued flooding into him.
Then—
The crimson screen reappeared before his eyes.
VOID DEVOURING SYSTEM
Host: Azrael VeyronCultivation Realm: Mortal Body — Stage 1Vitality: Critical
Abilities Unlocked:
• Devour Soul• Void Absorption• Forbidden Evolution
Another message appeared.
First Trial Activated
Devour your first prey.
Azrael collapsed back onto the stone floor.
His breathing was heavy.
The pain slowly faded, but something inside him felt different.
Stronger.
Darker.
Hungrier.
He slowly sat up.
The cave was quiet again.
But the silence didn't last long.
CRACK.
One of the skeletons suddenly moved again.
Then another.
The bones slowly began reforming themselves.
Azrael stared in shock.
The shattered skeleton he had destroyed earlier was rebuilding itself.
Bone fragments crawled together like insects.
Within seconds…
Twenty skeletal warriors stood again.
Their hollow eye sockets glowed with faint green light.
A whisper echoed through the cave.
"Kill… the living…"
Azrael clenched his fists.
His body still hurt, but the strange black energy flowing through him felt powerful.
He could feel it pulsing inside his chest.
Like a second heartbeat.
The nearest skeleton lunged.
Azrael moved instinctively.
He dodged to the side and grabbed the creature's skull.
The moment his hand touched the bone—
Something incredible happened.
Black energy burst from his palm.
The skeleton began dissolving.
Its bones turned to dark mist and flowed directly into Azrael's body.
A system message appeared instantly.
Soul Devoured
Energy Absorbed
Cultivation increased
Azrael's eyes widened.
He could feel the power.
Warm energy surged through his limbs.
The exhaustion from earlier faded slightly.
Another skeleton attacked.
Azrael raised his hand again.
"Devour."
Black energy erupted from his palm.
The skeleton disintegrated instantly.
Another message appeared.
Soul Devoured
Cultivation Progress +2%
Azrael stared at his hands.
"…I can absorb them."
The realization hit him like lightning.
The system allowed him to steal power.
Not cultivate slowly like normal disciples.
But devour strength directly.
More skeletons rushed toward him.
This time Azrael didn't run.
His eyes glowed faintly with dark light.
"Come."
Three skeletons attacked at once.
Azrael stepped forward.
Black energy exploded from his body.
The creatures froze mid-attack as their bodies began dissolving.
Their souls were pulled into Azrael like a vortex.
The cave filled with swirling darkness.
More system messages appeared rapidly.
Soul Devoured
Soul Devoured
Soul Devoured
Azrael felt his body growing stronger with each absorption.
His wounds began healing.
His muscles felt lighter.
Faster.
Another skeleton slashed at him.
This time Azrael caught its arm easily.
His strength had increased dramatically.
He crushed the bone with a single grip.
Black energy devoured the creature instantly.
Cultivation Breakthrough
Mortal Body Stage 2
Azrael froze.
His heart pounded wildly.
He had just advanced.
Something that normally took months…
Had happened in seconds.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"So this… is the Void Devouring System."
More skeletons attacked.
But now Azrael moved like a predator.
He stepped between them effortlessly.
Each touch from his hands turned them into dark mist.
Each soul made him stronger.
Within minutes…
Every skeleton in the cave was gone.
The silence returned.
But this time it felt different.
Azrael stood alone in the center of the cavern.
His breathing was calm.
His body felt stronger than ever before.
The system screen appeared again.
VOID DEVOURING SYSTEM
Host: Azrael VeyronCultivation Realm: Mortal Body — Stage 3Souls Devoured: 23
New Skill Unlocked
• Void Sense
Azrael closed his eyes.
Suddenly he could feel everything around him.
The flow of energy.
The faint movements within the darkness.
And then—
His eyes snapped open.
Something deeper inside the cave was moving.
Something far stronger than the skeletons.
A heavy growl echoed through the abyss.
The ground trembled.
From the darkness ahead…
Two enormous red eyes slowly opened.
Azrael's instincts screamed danger.
A massive creature stepped into the faint crimson glow.
It looked like a twisted wolf made of bone and shadow.
Its body was twice the size of a horse.
Sharp bone spikes protruded from its back.
And its jaws were filled with razor-sharp fangs.
A system message appeared immediately.
Abyssal Bone Beast
Threat Level: High
Recommended Action: Escape
Azrael stared at the creature.
Then he slowly smiled.
"Escape?"
His eyes glowed with dark energy.
"No."
Black power began swirling around his hands.
"If devouring skeletons made me stronger…"
He stepped forward.
"…what will devouring you do?"
The Abyssal Bone Beast roared.
The entire cave shook.
And the first true battle of Azrael Veyron had just begun.
The massive Abyssal Bone Beast stepped forward slowly.
Each step made the stone floor tremble.
Its glowing crimson eyes locked onto Azrael Veyron like a predator staring at its prey.
Hot air escaped from its skeletal jaws with every breath.
The creature was easily three times Azrael's size.
A normal outer disciple would have already collapsed from fear.
But Azrael didn't move.
The darkness swirling inside his body pulsed like a living heart.
The Void Devouring System had already changed something inside him.
Fear still existed.
But now…
So did hunger.
The beast growled.
Then suddenly—
It lunged.
The creature moved far faster than its size suggested.
Its massive claws ripped through the air toward Azrael's chest.
Azrael reacted instantly.
He rolled sideways just as the claws slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
Stone shattered.
Fragments scattered across the cave floor.
Azrael quickly stood.
"That thing is fast…"
The beast turned again and charged.
Azrael raised his hand.
"Void Absorption!"
Black energy burst from his palm like smoke.
The darkness collided with the beast's skeletal arm.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then—
CRACK.
Small fractures spread across the bone.
The beast roared angrily and swung its tail.
Azrael barely jumped back in time.
The tail smashed into the cave wall, sending rocks crashing down.
Azrael's mind raced.
I can't fight it head-on.
The skeletons earlier were weak.
But this creature…
It carried real power.
The system screen flickered before his eyes.
Enemy Level: Mortal Body Stage 5
Current Host Level: Mortal Body Stage 3
Combat Difficulty: Extreme
Azrael wiped blood from his lip.
"Good."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"If it's stronger…"
He clenched his fists.
"…then devouring it will give me even more power."
The Abyssal Bone Beast charged again.
This time Azrael didn't dodge immediately.
He waited.
The creature's claws slashed down.
At the last second—
Azrael stepped inside its attack range.
His hand slammed directly onto the beast's ribcage.
"DEVOUR!"
Dark energy exploded from his palm.
The beast froze.
Its bones began vibrating violently.
Black cracks spread across its body as the system tried to absorb it.
But the creature roared and forced itself free.
Its massive jaws snapped toward Azrael's head.
Azrael ducked.
The fangs barely missed him.
Still…
The devour ability had worked slightly.
Small fragments of bone had turned into dark energy and entered his body.
A system message appeared.
Partial Devour Successful
Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Progress +3%
Azrael's eyes lit up.
"So it works."
He just needed more contact.
The beast roared again and slammed its claws down.
Azrael leapt backward.
But suddenly—
The ground behind him collapsed.
He slipped.
For a split second his balance broke.
The beast seized the opportunity.
Its jaws closed around Azrael's shoulder.
CRUNCH!
Pain exploded through his body.
Blood splattered across the stone floor.
Azrael screamed.
The beast lifted him off the ground like a rag doll.
Its fangs dug deeper into his flesh.
Azrael's vision blurred.
If this continued…
He would die.
But then—
The Void Devouring System suddenly activated.
Host Life Threatened
Emergency Function Activated
Void Overdrive
A violent surge of dark power exploded from Azrael's body.
The beast was blasted backward instantly.
It slammed into the cave wall with a thunderous crash.
Azrael dropped to the ground, breathing heavily.
His entire body was now surrounded by swirling black energy.
His eyes glowed crimson.
The pain in his shoulder faded slightly.
The system voice echoed again.
Void Overdrive Active
All abilities increased for 30 seconds
Azrael slowly stood.
The darkness around him twisted like a storm.
The Abyssal Bone Beast growled and charged again.
But this time…
Azrael moved first.
He dashed forward faster than before.
His palm struck the beast's skull.
"VOID DEVOURING!"
The darkness exploded.
A massive vortex formed between Azrael and the beast.
The creature roared as its body began breaking apart.
Bone fragments turned into black mist.
The beast struggled violently.
But the vortex grew stronger.
Stronger.
Stronger.
Finally—
CRACK!
The beast's skull shattered.
The entire creature collapsed into dark energy.
The vortex swallowed everything.
The energy rushed into Azrael's body like a tidal wave.
His veins burned with power.
A cascade of system messages appeared.
Abyssal Bone Beast Devoured
Massive Energy Absorbed
Cultivation Breakthrough
Mortal Body Stage 4
Another message appeared instantly.
Cultivation Breakthrough
Mortal Body Stage 5
Azrael dropped to one knee.
His entire body trembled.
The power flowing through him felt overwhelming.
His wounds began healing rapidly.
Even the deep bite mark on his shoulder slowly closed.
The system screen appeared again.
VOID DEVOURING SYSTEM
Host: Azrael VeyronCultivation Realm: Mortal Body Stage 5Souls Devoured: 24
New Skills Unlocked
• Void Step• Abyss Aura
Azrael slowly stood.
His breathing stabilized.
He looked down at his hands.
Black energy danced across his fingers.
"This power…"
He could feel it clearly now.
He was no longer the weak outer disciple who had been thrown into this cave.
He was something else.
Something dangerous.
Then suddenly—
The cave trembled again.
A deep rumbling sound echoed through the abyss.
Azrael looked deeper into the darkness.
At the far end of the cave…
A massive stone door slowly revealed itself.
Ancient runes covered its surface.
The energy coming from it was terrifying.
Even stronger than the Bone Beast.
The system suddenly displayed a warning.
Ancient Abyss Gate Detected
Hidden Dungeon Discovered
Reward Opportunity Available
Azrael stared at the door.
His heart beat faster.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"So this cave…"
"…was never just a prison."
It was a treasure.
A place filled with monsters.
Power.
And endless things to devour.
Azrael stepped toward the massive gate.
The darkness around him followed like loyal shadows.
Far above the cave…
The sealing pillars of the Blackstone Sect cracked slightly.
The elders inside the sect hall suddenly looked toward the mountain.
Something had awakened beneath the Abyssal Ruin.
Something dangerous.
Something forbidden.
And they had just thrown the worst possible person into it.
Azrael Veyron.
The future Void Sovereign.