Dave Durner was your average high school student—average grades, average looks, and an above-average addiction to instant noodles. On a rainy Thursday night, he dashed into the corner store for one last snack. Fate, however, had other plans.
As he reached for the last cup ramen, a drunk man stumbled in, slipped on the wet floor, and crashed into the shelf. Everything went flying. Dave didn't even get a chance to scream as a falling display crushed him under a cascade of metal and miso packets.
Darkness.
Then, a voice echoed in the void.
[Initiating Creation Protocol... Host soul detected… Scanning potential world… Transfer complete.]
When Dave opened his eyes, he was no longer human or had eyes or hands or a body.
[You are now a Void Core: Class - Unknown. Evolutionary Potential: Infinite.]
"What the hell?!"
His voice echoed inside his own mind.
[Welcome, Dave Durner, to the world of Erebos. Your path to dominance begins now.]
Floating in the middle of a shattered forest, glowing faintly, Dave realized one terrifying truth.
He was a floating orb.
And somehow... he felt hungry.
Dave floated inches above the ground, surrounded by broken trees and glowing mushrooms. His new orb-like body shimmered faintly, pulsing with strange energy.
[Skill unlocked: Absorption I – You can devour organic or magical material to gain energy or abilities.]
"Wait, I can eat stuff? Without a mouth?"
As if on cue, a rabbit-like creature with glowing antlers hopped into the clearing. It stared at Dave for a moment, then bared its fangs.
"Is that... a vampire rabbit?!"
The beast lunged.
Instinct kicked in.
[Absorption activated.]
The rabbit hit Dave—and was instantly pulled into him, torn apart in an eerie spiral of light.
[Lifeform absorbed. Basic traits gained. Energy increased. Passive Skill: Night Vision acquired.]
"I just… slurped a monster rabbit?!"
He didn't feel full. He felt powerful.
A thrill surged through him. Hunger wasn't just for food now—it was for evolution.
[Creation Protocol Objective: Devour, Adapt, Evolve.]
"Alright then," Dave muttered, his voice echoing inside the orb. "If this world wants to play rough…"
He began drifting forward, dark forest thick around him, pulsing with magic.
"…then I'm playing to win."
Dave floated deeper into the forest, absorbing anything that dared approach—glow bugs, slime worms, even a plant that tried to strangle him. Each absorption fed his core, filling a strange meter in his mind.
[Absorption Threshold Reached: Evolution Available.]
[Choose Evolution Path:]
Lesser Shadow Core – Gains stealth and darkness manipulation. Infernal Spark Core – Gains fire burst and explosive detonation. Mind Leech Core – Gains mental scan and basic psychic drain.
"Whoa. I get to choose what I become?"
He paused. Shadow sounded sneaky. Fire sounded dangerous. Mind Leech? Creepy but cool.
"Stealth might keep me alive longer…"
[Confirmed: Evolving into Lesser Shadow Core.]
Dark mist swirled around him, pulling his orb into a cocoon of black fog. When the mist cleared, Dave hovered silently, now coated in sleek obsidian light.
[You have evolved. New skills acquired: Shadow Glide I, Night Cloak I.]
He could now move faster, vanish into shadows, and cloak his presence.
Dave chuckled. "I'm basically a ninja marble now."
The forest trembled nearby. A howl echoed.
[Warning: Hostile presence approaching.]
Something big was coming.
And Dave was ready to feed again.
From the shadows emerged a towering beast—a wolf-like creature with fiery red eyes and fur as dark as night. Its howl shook the treetops, and the ground trembled beneath its paws.
Dave's orb pulsed with dark energy, his new skills sharpening his senses.
[Shadow Glide activated.]
In a blink, he vanished into the shadows, slipping between trees like a phantom.
The beast snarled, sensing something near but seeing nothing.
Dave whispered inside his mind, "This is a perfect meal... but I have to be smart."
He circled behind the creature, preparing to strike.
[Skill unlocked: Shadow Strike – Attack from darkness with enhanced damage.]
With a swift motion, Dave unleashed a shadow blade that pierced the beast's flank.
The wolf howled in pain but lunged wildly.
Dave barely dodged, absorbing the adrenaline of the fight.
[Beast weakened. Energy rising.]
The battle was far from over, but Dave smiled.
In this world, survival meant adapting—and he was just getting started.
As the wolf staggered, a glowing figure appeared—a slender humanoid made of shimmering blue light.
"Stop! This creature serves the Abyssal Lords," the figure said, voice echoing like wind through trees.
Dave floated cautiously. "Abyssal Lords? Who are they?"
The figure bowed slightly. "I am Sylas, a Guardian of the Void. I've been watching you, Dave Durner. Your power is unique, but the Abyssal Lords seek to control all life here. You cannot face them alone."
Dave's orb flickered. "Then... I need allies."
Sylas smiled faintly. "Then I will stand with you. Together, we may change this world's fate."
The wolf collapsed, its fiery eyes dimming.
Dave looked to Sylas. "Alright. Let's shake up this world."
Sylas led Dave to a hidden cave glowing with ancient runes.
"This will be your base," Sylas said. "Safe from prying eyes."
Dave inspected the cave. It was vast, with a strange energy that resonated with his core.
[Base system activated. Functions: Storage, Training, Research.]
Dave smiled. "Perfect. Time to level up."
He began absorbing minerals and magical essences inside the cave, feeling his power surge.
[Void Core Evolution in progress.]
Outside, shadows stirred. The Abyssal Lords were watching.
Dave clenched his core. "Let them come. I'll be ready."
Days passed as Dave trained and absorbed resources. His orb grew larger, more defined, and brimming with power.
Sylas appeared beside him. "The cave alone won't protect you forever. You need territory—a base to build armies."
Dave nodded, eyes glowing. "I want to claim that forest beyond the river. It's full of monsters but rich in magic."
Sylas smiled. "Ambitious. Let's begin."
They stepped out into the misty woods, where danger awaited.
Dave grinned. "This world won't know what hit it."
Dave and Sylas ventured deeper into the forest. The air crackled with magic, and strange creatures watched them silently.
[Warning: High-level monsters detected.]
Dave's orb glowed darkly as he activated Shadow Cloak, blending into the shadows.
Suddenly, a massive centipede-like beast surged from the undergrowth, its pincers snapping.
[Combat mode: Engaged.]
Dave dodged and countered with Shadow Strike, absorbing parts of the creature's energy.
[Territory Claim: Forest Edge – Initiated.]
With each defeated monster, the forest's magic began to bend to Dave's will.
"Step one of my empire," Dave whispered.
As Dave absorbed more creatures, a faint pulse emerged inside him.
[Void Core Mutation Detected.]
From the swirling darkness of his orb, a small shadowy figure took shape—a tiny creature with glowing eyes and razor-sharp claws.
[Minion Created: Shadeling.]
Dave stared, surprised. "A pet? A soldier? Or something else?"
The Shadeling bowed, then scurried beside him, ready to obey.
Sylas nodded approvingly. "This is only the beginning. Soon, you will command legions."
Dave grinned. "Good. I'm ready to build my army."
As night fell over the forest, Sylas summoned a glowing map projecting the territories controlled by the Abyssal Lords.
"They rule with iron fists, controlling powerful monsters and corrupted humans," Sylas said grimly.
Dave studied the map. "If I want to survive and thrive, I'll have to challenge them."
A cold chill swept through the cave.
[System Alert: Abyssal Lords aware of your growth.]
Dave's orb pulsed fiercely.
"Then the game begins."