CHAPTER 114: PRIMORDIAL OUROBOROS

On the impossibly large platform surrounded by universe-reaching pillars, a floating crystalline heart engulfed by a bloody mist within which swam some fleshy remains, suddenly appeared.

The heart was crushed, and then a mysterious force rippled outward. In what could only be described as miraculous, the bloody mist was pulled into itself, and soon a body was recreated...flesh, veins, muscles, bones, nerves, organs, skin, and finally, flowing dark hair. As finishing touches, the system conveniently wiped away the memories he had received upon his awakening, and anything related to its intervention.

Kael stood with his back still arched, and his mouth opened in a silent scream.

A short while ensued before his eyes suddenly snapped open. And as if that had been the trigger, the mysterious force holding him afloat in the void suddenly disappeared, his feet soon touching the surface of the platform.

Aside from his greatly lengthened hair that now waved behind him like a lion's mane, and his increased height that now reached almost two meters, there were no outward changes to his appearance.

A look of confusion colored Kael's features as he observed his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was enduring a chilling torture as he swallowed the core, and now he found himself in this strange place.

He couldn't even tell how vast the place he stood in truly was, for both the platform beneath him and the towering pillars stretched so far beyond his perception that their ends simply ceased to exist in his eyes. His mind couldn't even process that he was standing within the depths of space, where breathing and survival should have been normally impossible.

Just when he started wracking his brain to be sure he hadn't missed something, system messages suddenly appeared before him.

And what he saw made his breath seize.

[Congratulations! You have successfully awakened your Talent!]

___________

[Talent: Primordial Devourer]

Rank: ???

Description:

A supremely divine Talent capable of materializing itself to fight beside its user. Its true form exists beyond conventional laws, only manifesting fragments of itself through Avatars.

Beware...

Should an Avatar perish, the true body shall also suffer.

Abilities:

• Talent Detection:

Passively senses every Talent that exists within your perception.

Current Detection Radius: 1 kilometer.

Note: No Talent can remain hidden from your gaze.

• Divine Suppression:

All beings possessing reptilian bloodlines within your rank and one rank above are completely suppressed before your presence.

Targets two ranks above suffer 50% suppression.

Targets three ranks above suffer 10% suppression.

Beings possessing reptilian bloodlines naturally develop goodwill toward you.

• Primordial Assimilation:

You may devour the Talents of others. Every devoured Talent undergoes Primordial Evolution before becoming your own.

All inherited Talents are amplified tenfold.

There is no limit to the number of Talents you may possess.

• Primordial Ouroboros:

The living Avatars of your Talent. Each Avatar possesses independent growth and may increase its might, size, and authority through devouring powerful essence.

Even gods fear their hunger.

Even devils avoid their gaze.

Current True Length: 50 cm.

[System Warning]

Your Avatars have been sealed inside a special dimension where only you may interact with them. The moment an Avatar manifests within reality...

Calamity shall descend upon you...

...and upon everything you hold dear.

__________

The more Kael read, the more stunned he became. His mouth opened and closed several times, and he couldn't help but rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

After a while, a wry smile surfaced on his face.

'Now I know why this Talent had been so difficult to awaken...'

If it wasn't because of his good luck, how would he have ever known he would have to swallow the blood of a being to unlock his Talent?

Not to mention, how many would have been able to deduce the rest and actually pull through it?

Kael shook his head, and contrary to how anyone else would have acted, his eyes fell on the last system warning first.

'Hmm... is the system trying to suppress me again? What is all this nonsense about bringing a calamity?'

That thought had barely formed in his mind when something slimy slipped into his right ear.

Kael almost jumped out of his skin. He spun around quickly, a vigilant look surfacing on his face.

But he saw nothing except for the strange place he was in.

He couldn't help but frown at the sight.

'Did I imagine it?'

That familiar wet feeling suddenly appeared within his ear again, causing Kael to tremble like a startled rabbit.

The sight appeared quite comical to watch, and that was proven by the hissing sounds that sounded more like amused chuckles.

Kael froze for a moment before his eyes shifted to the side.

There, coiling out through his now mane-like hair, he caught sight of a small snake hissing and trembling in what seemed like delight while locking eyes with him.

Before Kael could react, something else suddenly rubbed against his left cheek affectionately, while another weight on top of his head suddenly registered in his mind.

'What the...'