Chapter Four: First Step To Power
By the time Kael reached home, the sun had already begun to set, casting long shadows across the quiet streets. His steps were slower now, not because of exhaustion, but because his mind was still trying to grasp everything that had happened. The humiliation at the Academy, the accident, and now… the system. It all felt unreal, like he had stepped into a different life without warning.
His house was modest, tucked away in a quiet part of the city. The door creaked softly as he pushed it open, stepping inside. The familiar scent of home greeted him, but it did little to ease the storm within him.
Instead, he moved straight to his room, closing the door behind him as he leaned against it for a moment.
"System…" he muttered under his breath. Almost instantly, the glowing interface appeared before him, responding to his call immediately. His eyes scanned the display as new information unfolded.
[Host: Kael Veyar]
[Host Status]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 4]
[Speed: 4]
[Agility: 10]
[Battle IQ: 3]
[EXP: 10]
Kael stared at the numbers, his brows knitting together slightly. His strength and speed were low, lower than most trained students but his agility stood out, noticeably higher. Still, it wasn't enough to make him stand out in a real fight.
Then his gaze shifted downward.
[Special Abilities]
[Weave Corpses (Lv.1)]
[Spatial Teleportation (Lv.2)]
His eyes widened slightly. "Teleportation…?" he whispered, disbelief creeping into his voice. That alone sounded powerful far beyond what most beginners could hope for.
And the other ability… Weave Corpses.
Kael frowned slightly, unsure what to make of it. It sounded… strange.
But a faint smile slowly formed on his face.
For the first time since the Academy, something inside him felt… hopeful. Maybe his awakening hadn't been a failure after all. Maybe it had just been something different.
But that hope didn't last long.
His eyes scanned the interface again, more carefully this time. Then he noticed it.
No offensive skills. The small spark of excitement dimmed slightly.
"So I can move around… but I can't actually fight?" he muttered, his tone uncertain. If that was the case, then he was still weak. Still unable to stand against anyone like Diel.
As if responding to his thoughts, the system flickered.
[New Tasks Available]
Kael straightened slightly as the words appeared.
[Task 1: Weave a dead corpse]
[Reward: +5 EXP]
[Task 2: Apply to the Guild of Awakened]
[Reward: +5 EXP]
Kael stared at the tasks, his mind already racing. The second one was simple enough joining the Guild was something most awakened individuals eventually did. But the first…
Weave a dead corpse.
"Don't really know how this works but it got to be something good right?"
His gaze shifted toward the window. Outside, the faint sounds of insects filled the evening air. Slowly, an idea formed in his mind.
"…An ant should work, right?"
Moments later, Kael found himself crouched outside, staring at the ground. It didn't take long before he spotted one a small ant, lifeless and unmoving near the edge of the path.
He hesitated for a moment.
"This is… weird," he admitted quietly. But still, he extended his hand slightly, focusing on the skill.
"Weave Corpses."
A faint, dark glow flickered around his fingers, subtle yet violent. The air seemed to shift slightly as the energy flowed from him toward the tiny body.
For a brief second, nothing happened. Then the ant twitched. Kael's eyes widened as he leaned closer. The tiny body began to move, its limbs jerking unnaturally before stabilizing.
Then, slowly… it began to change.
Its size increased.
What had once been a tiny insect grew larger, its body hardening, its form becoming more defined and menacing. Within moments, it had transformed into something entirely different a creature far larger than a normal ant, its presence carrying a faint but noticeable aura.
A new display appeared before Kael.
[Weaved Unit: Ant Soldier]
[Rank: D]
[Description: A low-tier combat unit with minor offensive capability. Loyal to the host.]
Kael stared in complete shock.
"…No way…"
The ant moved slightly, responding to him, as if awaiting instructions. It wasn't just alive, it was his.
A slow grin spread across Kael's face. This… this was different. This was something else entirely.
His heart began to race, excitement replacing the despair that had once filled him. If a simple ant could become something like this… then what about larger creatures? Stronger corpses?
The possibilities flooded his mind.
"I can get stronger…" he whispered, his voice filled with growing determination. "Stronger than all of them…"
Diel's face flashed in his mind.
Then Ceres.
His expression darkened slightly.
"I'll make them regret it…" he said quietly.
The sound of the front door opening pulled him from his thoughts.
"System please cease the ant." Kael pleaded in anxiety. Immediately the ant shrunk into nothingness.
A moment later, his older sister stepped into view. Sheila, at twenty-eight, carried herself with calm confidence, her presence warm yet firm. Her bright red hair and her red eyes and smoth body could easily send any man to the heavens from pure beauty. Her curves were placed accurately.
Her eyes softened the moment they landed on him.
"Kael…" she said gently. He didn't respond.
She walked closer, studying his face, the silence telling her more than words ever could.
"I heard what happened," she continued softly. "Ceres came by earlier."
At the mention of her name, Kael's expression tightened, but he remained silent, his gaze dropping slightly.
Sheila sighed quietly before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Listen to me," she said, her tone steady but kind.
"This isn't the end for you. Not even close."
Kael didn't look up.
"You've always been stronger than you think," she continued. "Maybe things didn't go the way you wanted today, but that doesn't mean your future is decided."
Her voice carried a quiet certainty that made him pause.
"You'll find your own path," she added gently. "And when you do… you'll surprise everyone."
Kael remained silent, but this time, his thoughts weren't as heavy as before.
Because deep down. He was happy that he still had someone who loved him no matter what he ended up as.
But he wouldn't make her worry so much for he had already taken the first step.