The gun pressed cold against my temple.
"Any last words, boss?"
I looked up at Marco. My lieutenant. My right hand for fifteen years. The man I'd trusted with my life.
Guess that was a mistake.
"Yeah," I said. Blood dripped from my mouth. The first two bullets had done their job. "I'll see you in hell."
He smiled. Actually fucking smiled.
"Save me a seat."
The gunshot echoed through the warehouse.
Darkness.
Nothing.
Then...
Light?
Voices. Muffled. Like underwater.
"—crowning! I can see the head!"
"Push! You need to push!"
What the fuck?
I tried to move. Couldn't. Tried to speak. Nothing came out.
Pressure. Everywhere. Squeezing. Crushing.
This is worse than the bullets.
Then light. Blinding. Cold air hit my—
Wait.
No.
No, no, no, this can't be—
A hand slapped my ass.
I gasped. Tried to curse.
Came out as wailing.
Fuck my life.
"It's a boy!" A woman's voice. Excited. Proud.
"Let me see him." Different voice. Softer. Exhausted.
Warmth. I was passed to someone. Held against soft fabric.
"My baby," the soft voice whispered. "My beautiful baby boy."
This is real. This is actually fucking real.
Reincarnation.
Great.
Seven Years Later
"Kael! Kael, wake up!"
I groaned. Rolled over in the too-small bed.
Seven years. Seven goddamn years in this body.
"I'm awake, Mother."
The door opened. Serina peeked in. Dark hair falling loose around her shoulders. Soft eyes filled with that perpetual worry.
"Breakfast is ready. And you need to prepare for the awakening ceremony."
"I know."
"Are you nervous?"
Am I nervous about finding out if this body has magical talent? If I can cultivate? If I have any chance of not being murdered by my forty-six half-siblings?
"A little," I lied.
She smiled. Crossed the room. Sat on my bed.
"You'll do fine. I know you will."
I looked at her. Really looked.
She's useful. Protects me. Feeds me. Keeps the other concubines' children from killing me in my sleep.
Asset. That's all.
So why does her smile make something in my chest feel... warm?
"Thanks, Mother."
She kissed my forehead. "Now get dressed. We can't be late."
The awakening chamber was carved from black stone. Like everything else in Valdris City.
Two million people living in a mountain carved into a fortress. Everything's black stone and cold air and the constant threat of death.
Home sweet fucking home.
I stood in line with the other seven-year-olds. Forty-three of them. All children of the Patriarch or his concubines.
Most wouldn't survive to adulthood.
Cultivation's dangerous. Politics are worse.
"Kael Valdris."
I stepped forward.
Elder Theron looked down at me. Gray beard. Gold Core cultivation. Eyes filled with barely concealed disgust.
"Son of the fifth concubine," he said. Not a question. A statement of irrelevance.
"Yes, Elder."
"Place your hand on the awakening crystal."
I walked to the center of the formation. The crystal sat on a pedestal. Size of my head. Pulsing with dull white light.
Moment of truth.
Either I have talent, or I'm dead within a year.
I placed my hand on it.
Nothing happened.
Elder Theron's lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
"As expected. Another—"
The crystal exploded.
Not physically. But light—black light, wrong light—flooded the chamber. The formation beneath my feet blazed to life.
Elder Theron stumbled backward. "What in the—"
My hand burned. Not with pain. With hunger.
Text appeared in my vision. Floating. Glowing. Impossible.
╔════════════════════════════════════╗
║ AWAKENING COMPLETE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════╣
║ NAME: Kael Valdris ║
║ AGE: 7 ║
║ CORE RANK: Mortal Core - Early ║
╠════════════════════════════════════╣
║ TALENT IDENTIFIED: ║
║ DEVOURER'S MARK ║
║ RANK: UNIQUE - MYTHIC TIER ║
╠════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ABILITY UNLOCKED: ║
║ Soul Absorption [ACTIVE] ║
║ ║
║ WARNING: CORRUPTION SYSTEM ACTIVE ║
║ CURRENT CORRUPTION: 0% ║
╚════════════════════════════════════╝What. The. Fuck.
"Impossible," Elder Theron breathed. "This reading... it's off every scale..."
The other children stared. Some in awe. Some in fear.
Most in jealousy.
Good. Let them be jealous.
Jealousy I can use.
I pulled my hand away. The black light faded. The chamber returned to normal.
Elder Theron stared at me with new eyes.
No longer disgust.
Fear. And greed.
"You..." He swallowed. "You will report to the training grounds tomorrow. Bronze District. Dawn."
"Yes, Elder."
"Dismissed."
I walked out. Kept my face neutral.
Inside?
I was grinning.
Serina was waiting outside. She rushed to me the moment I emerged.
"Kael! What happened? That light, I've never seen—are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"But what did—"
"I awakened. Mythic tier talent."
She froze. "Mythic?"
"Yeah."
"That's... Kael, that's..."
"I know."
She grabbed my shoulders. Looked me in the eyes.
"You need to be careful. Do you understand? Everyone will want you now. Want to use you. Want to—"
"Want to kill me before I become a threat. I know, Mother."
"Then—"
"I'll be careful. Promise."
She pulled me into a hug. Tight. Desperate.
"My baby. My clever baby."
I'm not a baby. I'm a reincarnated mob boss in a seven-year-old's body with a talent that literally eats people.
But sure. Let's go with 'baby.'
"We should go home," I said. "Before the others start asking questions."
"Right. Yes. Of course."
We walked through the clan compound. Black stone paths. Cold air. Guards everywhere.
Home.
For now.
Our quarters were small. Two rooms. Serina's bedroom. My bedroom. Shared common space.
Nothing like the main wife's palace. Or even the higher-ranked concubines' estates.
But it was ours.
"I'll make dinner," Serina said. "You must be exhausted."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
She smiled. Sad. Tired.
"Just... rest. Please."
I nodded. Went to my room. Closed the door.
Sat on the bed.
Stared at my hands.
Devourer's Mark.
Soul Absorption.
I can eat people. Literally absorb their power and skills and memories.
The corruption warning is concerning. But also...
Power. Real power.
This is how I'll survive. How I'll protect Mother. How I'll take everything.
A knock on my door.
"Kael?"
"Come in, Mother."
She entered. Carrying a tray. Food. Simple. But warm.
"You need to eat."
She set it on my desk. Looked at me.
"What is it?" I asked.
"You've... changed."
"What do you mean?"
"Since you were a baby. You've always been different. Too aware. Too... old."
Shit.
"I don't—"
"I'm not stupid, Kael. I know you're not like other children."
Silence.
"Are you going to tell anyone?" I asked quietly.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you're my son. And whatever you are, wherever you came from... you're mine to protect."
She knows. Or suspects. And she's still...
Something in my chest tightened.
"Thank you, Mother."
She kissed the top of my head. "Eat. Rest. Tomorrow starts your training."
"I will."
She left. Closed the door softly.
I looked at the food. Picked up the spoon.
First life: Orphan. Street kid. Mob boss. Betrayed. Dead at forty.
Second life: Bastard son. Concubine's child. Bottom of the ladder.
But this time?
This time I have a mother. Someone who cares. Someone worth protecting.
And I have power.
I ate slowly. Methodically.
The game's the same. Survival. Territory. Power.
Just different rules.
I can work with that.
That night, I dreamed.
Not of my death. Not of Marco's betrayal.
I dreamed of hunger.
Black. Endless. Consuming.
And in the hunger, I heard whispers.
"Devour."
"Consume."
"Grow stronger."
I woke in cold sweat.
Status window blinked in my vision.
╔════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PASSIVE EFFECT ACTIVE: ║
║ Devourer's Mark [HUNGER] ║
║ ║
║ Your soul hungers for power. ║
║ Kill to feed. Absorb to grow. ║
║ ║
║ First Absorption: LOCKED ║
║ Requirement: First Kill ║
╚════════════════════════════════════╝First kill.
In my last life, first kill was at sixteen. Street fight. Self-defense.
Vomited after.
How old will I be in this life?
I lay back down. Stared at the ceiling.
Doesn't matter. This world's more dangerous. I'll probably have to kill someone just to survive training.
Survival of the fittest.
And I plan to be the fittest.
Dawn came too early.
Serina woke me. Had breakfast ready. Simple rice porridge. Dried meat.
"Eat quickly. You can't be late."
"I know."
"Do you have everything?"
"Mother, I'm going to training. Not war."
"In this clan, training is war."
She's not wrong.
"I'll be fine."
"That's what you always say."
"Because it's always true."
She smiled. But worry never left her eyes.
"Just... be careful. Please."
"I will."
I finished eating. Stood.
She grabbed my hand.
"Kael."
"Yeah?"
"Whatever happens today. Whatever they make you do. You're still my son. You understand?"
Why does she look so worried?
"I understand."
She hugged me. Quick. Tight.
"Now go. Don't be late."
The Bronze District training grounds sprawled across the eastern section of the clan compound. Open spaces. Practice rings. Weapon racks.
And blood stains. Lots of blood stains.
Comforting.
I wasn't the only new arrival. Fifteen other children stood in the courtyard. All seven years old. All just awakened.
All eyeing each other like predators.
"Line up!"
The instructor was a mountain of a man. Scarred face. Missing left ear. Silver Core cultivation.
We lined up.
He walked down the line. Studying each of us.
Stopped in front of me.
"You. You're the Mythic talent."
"Yes, sir."
"Kael Valdris. Fifth concubine's son."
"Yes, sir."
He stared at me. Long. Hard.
Then moved on.
"Listen up, brats!" he barked. "I'm Instructor Gareth. For the next three years, I own you. You eat when I say. Sleep when I say. Bleed when I say. Understood?"
"Yes, Instructor!" we chorused.
"Good. Now. Today we establish the pecking order."
Here we go.
"Combat assessment. Each of you will fight three matches. Winners advance. Losers... well. You'll see."
He pointed to the practice ring.
"First match. Kael Valdris versus..." He consulted a list. Smiled. "Viktor Valdris."
Of fucking course.
A boy stepped forward. Bigger than me. Older-looking. Probably held back a year for this exact purpose.
Viktor. Second concubine's son. Bronze Core already.
They're testing me. Seeing if the Mythic talent is real or just a fluke.
We entered the ring.
Instructor Gareth raised his hand.
"Rules are simple. Fight until one submits or can't continue. No killing. Everything else is fair game."
No killing. Right.
Because that rule's definitely enforced.
"Begin!"
Viktor moved. Fast. Bronze Core speed.
Caught me in the stomach. Air exploded from my lungs.
I hit the ground. Hard.
"Too easy!" Viktor laughed. "Mythic talent my ass!"
Okay.
Enough.
I rolled. Avoided his follow-up kick.
Swept his legs.
He fell. Surprised.
I was on him instantly. Fist to his face. Once. Twice.
He blocked the third. Threw me off.
We both stood.
"Lucky shot," he spat.
"Was it?"
He charged again.
Bronze Core versus Mortal Core. He's faster. Stronger. Better trained.
But I've got thirty years of street fighting experience. And a mob boss's instincts.
I didn't meet his charge head-on.
Sidestepped. Let his momentum carry him past.
Drove my elbow into his kidney.
He gasped. Stumbled.
I swept his legs again. This time followed him down.
Knee on his chest. Hand on his throat.
"Submit," I said quietly.
"Fuck you!"
I squeezed.
"Submit. Or pass out. Your choice."
His face went red. Then purple.
Finally, he tapped my arm.
I released him. Stood.
Instructor Gareth stared.
"Winner: Kael Valdris."
The other children looked at me differently now.
Fear. Respect. Hatred.
Good.
Let them fear me.
Viktor coughed on the ground. Glaring.
"This isn't over," he wheezed.
"Wasn't planning on it being over."
In my last life, I learned early: Beat a man once, he'll come back. Beat him twice, he'll bring friends. Beat him three times...
He doesn't come back.
I walked off the ring.
Two more fights to go.
Let's see what else this world has to offer.
End Chapter 1