Darkness. Cold, suffocating darkness.

  Xeran could feel his body fading, his consciousness slipping away. The st thing he remembered was standing atop a mountain of corpses, his sword drenched in divine blood. The gods had feared him. Betrayed him. Killed him.

  But death was not the end.

  A voice echoed in the abyss.

  [System Initializing…]

  A surge of energy coursed through him, pulling him from the void. His eyes snapped open, lungs gasping for air. He felt warmth, the sensation of earth beneath him. His fingers twitched, touching soft grass.

  He was alive.

  Xeran sat up, his vision adjusting to the sight before him. A massive moon hung in the sky, illuminating a dense, ancient forest. Strange, glowing insects floated in the air, casting dim light over the ruins of what seemed to be a forgotten temple.

  A translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes.

  —–––

  [Beast Devourer System Activated]

  Host: Xeran (Reincarnated)

  Race: Human

  Power Level: Low

  Abilities: None

  Quests: Survive

  —–––

  Xeran’s eyes narrowed. A System? He had heard of such things in myths, but now it was real. And it called him low level? He clenched his fists. He was once the strongest warrior, a nightmare to gods and kings alike. Being beled weak was an insult.

  Then, another notification popped up.

  [New Quest: Obtain Your First Beast Core]

  Before he could react, a low growl echoed through the ruins.

  Xeran turned his head sharply, spotting a creature emerging from the shadows. A Shadowfang Wolf, its bck fur blending into the night, eyes glowing like burning embers. Its body was sleek but muscur, its cws sharp enough to tear through steel.

  The beast was stalking him.

  Xeran exhaled, a smirk forming on his lips. “Perfect.”

  The wolf lunged.

  TO BE CONTINUED…