West sat in silence.
The system interface hovered before him with three luminous options suspended in midair like doors waiting to be opened. The quietness of the room made his heartbeat more audible as it throbbed like a ticking time bomb.
Bloodline...
Transformation...
Summoning...
West leaned back against the couch, rubbing a hand over his face as he exhaled slowly.
"This isn't a game anymore," he muttered.
The system, as if responding to his hesitation, displayed another notification.
> [Awakening Selection Pending]
[ Please review details carefully. This choice is irreversible. ]
West straightened.
"Show me the details."
The interface shifted.
---
<[ Tier 1 Bloodline Awakening Voucher ]>
A detailed panel unfolded, displaying smooth flowing lines of text.
> Bloodline Awakening allows the user to awaken a singular innate bloodline, channeling its power through one primary branch.
This path focuses on refinement, specialization, and depth.
Once awakened, the bloodline may evolve along a fixed lineage, branching into related abilities over time.
Strengths:
• High long-term growth
• Stable power output
• Synergy-focused abilities
Limitations:
• Fixed path
• Slower adaptability
Best suited for those who seek mastery over one dominant power.
West frowned slightly.
Bloodline awakening was… clean, direct and powerful.
Most awakened he knew followed this route... not by choice.
Fire bloodlines.
Lightning bloodlines.
Physical enhancement bloodlines.
The kind of powers people respected.
The kind of powers gangs loved.
But also... predictable.
"If I go this route," West murmured, "I become another known quantity."
West shook his head slightly and waved his hand.
"Next."
---
<[ Tier 1 Transformation Awakening Voucher ]>
The interface shifted again, this time accompanied by faint, shifting silhouettes.
> Transformation Awakening grants the user the ability to partially or fully transform into a specific entity.
At Tier 1, only the base form of the transformation is accessible.
As the user ascends tiers, more advanced forms unlock, increasing strength, speed, and unique abilities.
Strengths:
• High burst power
• Intimidation factor
• Physical dominance
Limitations:
• Energy intensive
• Advanced forms locked behind higher tiers
Best suited for those who dominate through presence and raw force.
West's eyes narrowed. Transformation awakeners were feared.
Everyone remembered the first time they saw one.
A boy turning into something else...
Something that didn't look human anymore.
Power incarnate....
But West knew the downside.
Once transformed, you were visible...
People watched you more closely. You become a much easier target when you're bigger than everyone.
"And the higher forms are locked until Tier 2…" he muttered.
That meant it would take time to cultivate unless one had enough affinity stones.
West leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Last one."
---
<[ Tier 1 Summoning Awakening Voucher ]>
The room seemed to darken slightly as the final panel appeared.
Symbols flickered faintly displaying circles, runes, silhouettes of beasts and figures that never fully resolved.
> Summoning Awakening allows the user to form a contract with a summon from myth, legend, or unknown realms.
At Tier 1, the user may summon one entity.
The summon's strength scales with the user's tier and affinity.
Strengths:
• Versatility
• Independent combat capability
• Strategic superiority
Limitations:
• Limited summon count at low tiers
• High dependency on bond strength
Best suited for those who rule through influence rather than force.
West stared at it deeply.
Summoning was the most unpredictable path.
The least common... and potentially, the most dangerous.
"Spirits. Beasts. Gods…" he whispered.
There was no telling what a person would summon on their first try... it was completely unpredictable.
To make matters worse, if one summoned an entity that was too powerful and prideful to form a bond with, it might end up costing one's life.
The system added a final line beneath the description.
> Note: Summoning contracts vary. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
West let out a humorless laugh.
"Of course they don't."
He stood and paced the room slowly.
Bloodline was safe.
Transformation was brutal.
Summoning was… chaos.
West stopped near the window, staring out at the city lights below.
What did he want?
To be feared?
To be respected?
Or to stand above everything without being seen until it was too late?
He thought of Caleb.
Of the way gangs moved pieces on a board, sacrificing pawns without hesitation.
He thought of his newfound taste for domination, especially when it involved other men's partner. How was he going to keep that up if he wasn't powerful enough?
"I don't want to be someone's weapon," West said quietly.
He turned back toward the system.
"I want control."
He raised his hand.
His finger hovered inches from making a choice, when—
—CHIME.
His phone vibrated sharply on the table.
West paused and slowly, he turned and picked it up.
[ New message ]
He stared at the sender and noticed that it came from Aria.
> Aria:
I'm in front of your apartment.
West's eyes widened.
"What…?"
He moved quickly to the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to peer down.
And there she was.
Standing beneath the streetlight.
"Aria..." West muttered in awe.
She looked breathtaking.
She wore a form-fitting black crop top with thin straps hugging her shoulders, exposing smooth skin that gleamed faintly under the yellow light. A short skirt clung to her curved hips, ending high enough to make it impossible not to notice her long legs, accentuated by ankle boots that gave her posture a subtle sway.
Her pink hair was loose, cascading down her back beautifully and covering a bit of her beautiful face. Her lips were lightly glossed and her eyes were lined just enough to draw attention without looking overdone.
She looked a little nervous but also excited.
West's heartbeat spiked.
"…You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
His phone buzzed again.
> Aria:
I hope I'm not bothering you.
West swallowed.
He glanced back at the system interface still hovering in the room.
Three paths to choose from...
But
Temptation at his door.
He closed the curtain slowly, exhaling through his nose as his lips curved slightly at the edges.
"Guess the universe doesn't want me choosing just yet," he murmured before heading towards the door.