Absolutely! Here's Chapter 3: The Marked Path, fully formatted for easy copy-paste into Webnovel Inkstone. It a
[Devourer's Path: Trait Tree Available]
You have consumed a relic. You have claimed your first kill. A path forgotten by the world now opens before you.
Choose a trait to shape your evolution.
• Ravenous Core (Passive): Gain energy and reduce Corruption Strain by feeding on mana-beast corpses.
• Resonance Pulse (Active): Detect relics and mana signatures within 100 meters.
• Threshold Wound (Passive): Inflict lingering, stacking damage with relic-infused strikes.
Seth stared at the glowing screen suspended above the beast's corpse.
A trait tree. For him. For what he was now.
This wasn't the kind of thing you got after some holy ritual in a temple or being chosen by a crystal. This was raw and real. Dangerous. It hummed like it wanted more from him — more kills, more blood, more devoured power.
He'd only absorbed one relic, and already the system was adapting to him. Twisting around his nature.
He glanced at his options.
Resonance Pulse would let me find more relics. Threshold Wound could make my strikes lethal.
But I need to survive first.
He clutched his bruised ribs.
"Give me something to keep going."
He focused on the first trait.
[Trait Acquired: Ravenous Core]
You may now feed on mana-warped remains. Devour. Adapt. Endure.
A sharp ache rolled through his stomach, like hunger intensified. His vision briefly tinted red — not out of rage, but instinct.
He knelt beside the mana beast's ruined body. The blood still hissed softly on the stone.
He placed his hand on its chest.
The moment he touched it, heat surged from his palm. The flesh blackened, curled, then shrank — collapsing inward. Threads of crimson mana unspooled and slithered up his arm.
He almost recoiled.
But didn't.
The warmth spread through his chest — not painful like Red Vein, but comforting.
[Vitality restored. Corruption Strain reduced: 3% → 2%.]
He drew a sharp breath.
It had worked.
He stood, steadier now. Stronger. The taste of the beast still lingered on his tongue. Bitter. Thick. But it had kept him alive.
He turned to the path leading up the Hollow. Stone steps stretched upward through the dark, slick with damp moss and ash.
Step by step, he climbed.
The tunnel was long, winding. Narrow walls. Jagged roots. Dead insects the size of dogs, curled up around dried relic crystals.
When he finally saw moonlight through the cracks above, it was like surfacing from drowning.
He dragged himself onto wet grass and gasped for air.
Cool wind kissed his skin. The scent of soil, mildew, and burnt pine filled his lungs.
The Witherpine Forest.
But something was wrong.
He looked up.
The stars were gone.
In their place, the clouds spun in slow, tight spirals. At the center, a massive sigil burned in the sky — circular, glowing blue, and turning like a great eye.
No… Already?
Seth ducked behind a boulder just as light pulsed overhead. The air began to hum — low and grinding.
Then came the voices.
"…Relic energy spiked here."
"Too far from cathedral influence. No registered Vessel activity."
"Unlicensed consumption, then. Dangerous."
"Send the Ashbrand. Burn the area."
He froze.
The voices were calm. Cold. Controlled.
Seth peeked over the rock.
Four figures moved among the trees in slate-gray robes, runes floating beneath their feet. Their boots never touched the grass.
Their eyes glowed faintly under silver hoods.
Inquisitors.
Behind them, the air split like a curtain — and something fell from the sky.
No — slammed into the forest floor.
Dust exploded. Trees cracked.
A giant rose from the crater — armored head to toe in ash-colored plate, red scripture carved down his chest. His left arm was wrapped in glowing chains, and a massive black greatsword burned on his back.
Ashbrand.
Seth's heart dropped.
They sent one of them? For me?
[System Warning: You have been marked by the Relic Authority.]
[Status: Illegal Devourer]
[Passive Effect: All relic-tuned enemies can sense your presence at short range.]
He gritted his teeth.
I didn't even get to leave the forest…
Then the Ashbrand raised his head.
And sniffed the air.
Seth's skin crawled.
[Warning: Relic-tuned hostile has detected trace corruption.]
[Hostile Threat Level: Overwhelming]
[Recommendation: Escape immediately.]
He ran.
Branches whipped past his face. Vines caught at his boots. The trees blurred around him.
The system pulsed behind his eyes.
[Escape Route Calculated.]
[Relic detection radius active — avoid northwest.]
He followed the thread. Heart pounding. Chest burning.
He didn't know where he was going. Only that he had to move.
Because something was hunting him.
And it wasn't just the Ashbrand.