C3: Will of Devouring
At first, there was nothing special about it.
[System Notice: Source Restoration in progress…]
[Dimensional Core Repairing… Physical Vessel Rewriting…]
[Remember this site's domain name; the best tool for following Taiwanese novels, super smooth.]
—
In less than a minute, a faint dizziness rose in Xi An's mind.
It wasn't pain.
It wasn't discomfort.
It was—
Warmth.
—
A subtle intoxication spread from deep within his body, like diluted alcohol flowing through his bloodstream.
Then—
It intensified.
—
Heat surged through his limbs and bones, seeping in like water soaking into dry soil.
Muscles relaxed.
Nerves softened.
Consciousness blurred.
—
It felt exactly like being drunk.
—
"…Tch…"
Xi An staggered.
He couldn't even make it back to his bedroom.
With his last bit of clarity, he forced himself into the bathroom, gripping the edge of the bathtub—
Then—
Darkness.
—
[Savior Protocol Passive Trigger: Deep Recovery State Initiated]
—
This sleep—
Was heavy.
Dizzying.
Bottomless.
—
"…Sticky."
—
When Xi An woke up, he didn't know how much time had passed.
His body felt—
Strange.
—
He sat up slowly.
A thin layer of sweat covered his skin.
Not foul.
Not black.
But—
Oily.
Viscous.
Clinging to his body in a way that made him uncomfortable.
—
"…Ugh."
—
He flexed his fingers.
Then—
Looked at his left wrist.
—
The scar—
Gone.
—
Completely gone.
—
The grayish-brown mark that had accompanied him for over a decade—
Vanished without a trace.
—
"…Seriously?"
—
This scar had practically become a "family pain point," something he used to joke about charging readers extra for in paid chapters.
And now—
It was erased.
—
Xi An flicked his wrist.
—
Smooth.
Natural.
—
No hesitation.
No lingering fear.
—
In the past, even this simple motion carried a subconscious anxiety—
That something might snap.
—
Now—
Nothing.
—
"…Even psychological trauma counts as damage?"
—
He blinked.
—
The world—
Sharper.
—
Too sharp.
—
Edges, colors, light—
Everything felt overly defined, almost to the point of distortion.
It took him a few seconds to adjust.
—
"…Vision enhancement too?"
—
He exhaled slowly.
—
Then—
A different sensation.
—
Energy.
—
Clear.
Light.
Circulating through his limbs and bones.
—
He clenched his fist.
—
Strength flowed naturally.
—
No fatigue.
No sluggishness.
—
"…Feels good."
—
But—
A teenager's body was already full of vitality.
—
Was this real improvement?
Or just psychological?
—
"…I'll test it later."
—
Xi An stood up, stepped out of the bathroom, grabbed fresh clothes from the rack, and tossed his dirty ones into the washing machine.
Then—
Turned on the shower.
—
Warm water cascaded down.
—
His mind began to organize itself.
—
Two tasks.
400 currency.
—
Not enough for a ten-pull.
—
But—
Enough for one.
—
"…Let's see what this thing can really do."
—
He opened the panel.
Tapped—
[Gacha]
—
Light flashed.
—
A purple glow appeared.
—
"…Purple?"
—
This felt familiar.
In many domestic gacha games—
The first pull often guaranteed an SR.
—
"…Scripted? Or luck?"
—
He focused.
—
The card appeared.
—
Attack +4
—
At that exact moment—
His body reacted.
—
A tightness spread through his muscles—
Like post-exercise congestion.
—
Not pain.
—
Fullness.
—
Power.
—
"…!"
—
Xi An stepped out, walked straight to the mirror.
—
His reflection—
Changed.
—
His chest and abdomen, once smooth and proportionate, now had defined muscle lines.
—
His arms—
Firm.
—
His shoulders—
Broader.
—
"…That fast?"
—
He ran his fingers down his torso.
—
Defined.
Angular.
Real.
—
"…So—"
"Source Restoration repairs the base…"
"And Attack…"
"Adds on top?"
—
[System Feedback: Attribute Enhancement Successful]
[Muscle Density Increased | Neural Output Improved]
—
"…Not bad."
—
He stepped out of the bathroom.
Didn't care about the dirty cement floor.
—
Dropped down.
—
Push-ups.
—
"…Let's test it."
—
He knew his body.
—
Weak constitution.
—
Low upper body strength.
—
Couldn't even do 20 push-ups.
—
Pull-ups?
Forget it.
—
"…Start."
—
1…
2…
3…
—
18…
19…
20…
—
"…Still going?"
—
21…
25…
30…
—
34…
35…
—
"…Okay."
—
He stopped.
Not because of exhaustion—
But because his palms hurt from the rough cement.
—
He stood up.
—
"…Confirmed."
—
A 4-point increase—
Nearly doubled his output.
—
This wasn't improvement.
—
It was transformation.
—
Xi An's eyes lit up.
—
Even accounting for low base stats—
This level of growth—
From a single pull—
Was absurd.
—
"…So even if I just do daily missions…"
"I can actually become…"
—
"…Homelander."
—
But—
Different versions.
—
Careful Superman.
Playboy Superman.
Careless Superman.
Happy Superman.
—
"…Depends on my mood."
—
He glanced at his remaining currency.
—
240.
—
"…No rush."
—
He suppressed the urge to pull again.
—
"Patience."
—
He was only fifteen.
Still growing.
—
No need to rush into becoming a monster.
—
After washing his hands—
He walked out.
—
The electronic calendar read:
11:30 AM.
—
"…About an hour."
—
Deep sleep.
—
Good quality.
—
Grandmother still hadn't returned.
—
Makes sense.
—
In the countryside—
There was only one electric tricycle.
—
Grandfather had to finish the banquet—
Before picking her up from church.
—
"…This time period…"
—
Xi An leaned against the wall.
—
The happiest phase.
—
His father—
Still healthy.
—
Second uncle—
Business looked good.
—
Third uncle—
Profiting both ways.
—
Fourth uncle—
Boss newly promoted.
—
Everyone—
Thriving.
—
"…Golden period."
—
Even the village atmosphere—
Different.
—
No one brought up his grandfather's past anymore.
—
The refugee orphan.
—
Now—
Just "Old Xi."
—
Respected.
—
People chatted warmly.
—
Relatives called during New Year.
—
"…Face matters."
—
The poorer you are—
The more you protect it.
—
Xi An checked the time.
—
"…Let's cook."
—
Countryside lacked many things.
—
Money.
Appliances.
Labor.
—
But—
Never vegetables.
—
Green peppers.
Eggs.
Potatoes.
Green onions.
—
Enough.
—
He started cooking.
—
Two stoves.
One large.
One small.
—
Plus—
Gas stove.
Induction cooker.
—
All running.
—
Twenty minutes.
—
Two dishes ready.
—
Placed in the steamer to keep warm.
—
Then—
He cleaned the hall.
—
Cleared the clutter.
—
Just as he finished—
The sound of wheels outside.
—
He turned.
Entered the kitchen.
Brought out dishes.
—
The door burst open.
—
Two boys rushed in.
—
Dirty.
Messy.
Loud.
—
"I'm playing first!"
"No, me!!"
—
"…Sigh."
—
Xi An grabbed them by the collars.
—
Lifted them.
—
Easily.
—
"…Huh."
—
The strength—
Still surprising.
—
For a moment—
A violent urge surfaced.
—
"Facebreaker."
—
"…Control."
—
"Stand properly!"
"Look at your clothes!"
"Don't you know how to use the washing machine?!"
"Pull up your pants!"
—
"Play games all you want—"
"But stay like this—"
"I'll confiscate the console!"
—
Grandfather smiled quietly.
—
Grandmother glared.
—
The boys froze.
—
"Always playing! Look at your brother!"
"He got into No. 1 Middle School!"
"You two are next!"
—
"Especially you, Xi Zhen!"
"If your grades are still bad—"
"Yanjing won't be fun!"
—
She walked in—
Then stopped.
—
"…Who cooked?"
—
"I did."
—
"Let's eat."
—
"…!"
—
Her face lit up.
—
Pride.
Joy.
—
She tried to suppress her smile—
Failed.
—
"…Good!"
—
"I'll put Little Rui down first."
—
Xi An shook his head.
Took the child.
—
"Wash your hands."
"I'll handle it."
—
After putting the child down—
He plugged in the tricycle.
—
Then—
Sat down to eat.
—
Two dishes.
Two buns.
—
Normal rural appetite—
Huge.
—
But today—
—
"…Hungry."
—
System.
Rebirth.
Enhancement.
—
Everything—
Stimulated appetite.
—
He ate.
—
Fast.
—
Then—
—
[System Trigger]
—
[In this new life, you have comprehended the truth:]
["Three parts training, seven parts eating."]
[To slay demons—one must devour beyond demons.]
—
[Devouring Path Unlocked (Fragment)]
—
[Task Triggered!]
—
[Consume 3 portions within one hour]
Reward: 100 Currency
[Consume 5 portions within one hour]
Reward: 200 Currency
[Consume 10 portions within one hour]
Reward: 300 Currency
Title: "Will of Devouring"
—
"…Oh no."
—
Xi An froze mid-bite.
—
"…I started eating too early."