The Awakening of the Devourer Core
The night sky above the ruined city glowed blood-red as if the heavens themselves had been wounded. Leon stood atop the fallen skyscraper, the cold wind whipping through his black coat, carrying the scent of death, ash, and something… hungry.
Below him, thousands of mutated beasts crawled through the city rubble—creatures born from the Apocalypse Virus. Their bodies twisted, limbs elongated, glowing blue veins pulsating with corrupted energy. They hunted everything—human, beast, machine.
But today…
They were hunting him.
And Leon—reborn with the Infinite System—was smiling.
---
A New Notification Appears
"System," Leon muttered, tightening his fist, "show me the new evolution path."
A blue hologram flashed before him:
> [You Have Unlocked: Devourer Core (Stage 1)]
A forbidden evolution. Highly dangerous. Greatly powerful.
Consume life → Become stronger → No limit.
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
"Devourer Core… That means I can absorb anything?"
The system responded coldly:
> [Anything that breathes, bleeds, or has energy.]
A thrill ran through him.
In his past life, humanity fell because no one possessed this power. The Apocalypse Virus spread faster than hope. Cities collapsed. Billions died.
But now?
Leon wasn't a victim.
He was the reset, the anomaly, the second chance.
"Good," he murmured. "This time… I'll devour the apocalypse itself."
---
The Beast Tide Begins
The building beneath him shook violently.
A massive roar echoed as a Titan-Class Beast climbed the ruined tower.
It was ten meters tall, covered in obsidian armor, with glowing lava-like cracks across its body. Its eyes burned with animalistic hatred.
Leon cracked his neck.
"No warm-up? Going straight for me? Fine."
The beast lunged.
For a moment, time slowed.
Leon saw its trajectory, its weak points, the energy flowing through its mutated veins.
His voice was calm:
"System—activate Shadow Burst Movement."
His body vanished.
The beast's claws slashed through empty air, slicing the rooftop like butter.
Leon reappeared on its back, hand glowing with dark energy.
"Let's test the Devourer Core."
He plunged his palm into its spine.
A scream shook the city.
A torrent of energy surged into Leon's arm like a storm of electricity and blood. His eyes turned red—deep, hellish red—as the creature shriveled beneath him, its muscular body collapsing like a drained husk.
> [You Have Devoured: Titan-Class Beast]
Strength +8,900
Agility +4,400
Vitality +12,100
New Skill: Titan Skin (Passive)
Your body becomes resistant to physical damage.
Leon exhaled slowly as the energy settled inside him.
"This power… I could never reach this in my past life. Now? This is only chapter 4."
He stepped off the corpse.
Below him—silence.
Thousands of beasts had stopped moving.
Their instincts screamed: the predator above them was no longer human.
---
A Shadow Watches Him
Far across the city, a pair of crimson eyes opened.
A woman, dressed in a torn military uniform, leaned on a cracked balcony, her pale legs shimmering under the moonlight.
Her voice was soft, seductive, dangerous.
"So this is the man who slaughtered a Titan with one strike…"
Her lips curved.
"I think I like him."
She disappeared in a flash.
Leon sensed something.
A whisper in the wind.
A killing intent mixed with curiosity.
A presence far stronger than the Titan.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Whoever you are… you're not human."
The system spoke again:
> [Warning: A high-level mutant has locked onto your location.]
[Rank: A+ Demon Variant]
[Recommendation: Prepare for combat.]
Leon grinned.
"Perfect. I needed a real test."
---
Flashback — The Girl He Lost
Before the battle, memories stabbed him like knives.
Her face.
Her smile.
Her hand slipping away as the apocalypse devoured everything.
Luna.
She died in front of him in his past life.
This time…
He would never let anyone he cared about die.
But revenge came first.
The world that killed her would burn.
And Leon would become its executioner.
---
The Demon Variant Arrives
The ground cracked.
A dark silhouette descended from the sky—long silver hair, crimson eyes, eight black tendrils floating behind her like demonic wings.
A stunning woman.
A monster.
A queen of death.
She smiled sweetly.
"Hello, human reborn."
Leon froze.
"You… can see it?"
Her smile widened.
"Your soul is marked by time inversion. You don't belong to this timeline. Fascinating."
Leon's killing intent exploded.
"Then you're my enemy."
The woman giggled like an angel.
"No. I'm your first harem member."
Leon:
"…what?"
She licked her lips.
"And your greatest nightmare."
Her aura exploded—buildings collapsed under the pressure alone.
The system screamed warnings:
> [Danger Level: Extreme]
[Probability of Death: 92%]
[Advice: RUN.]
Leon whispered:
"No."
He stepped forward.
"I don't run anymore."
The Devourer Core activated—black flames erupting around his body.
The Demon Queen's eyes widened.
"Oh… this will be fun."
The city trembled as the strongest mutant and the world's future apex predator clashed.
The apocalypse… had officially begun.