Chapter 5: Chapter 5: A Strange Sight
A wave of dread washed over Aiden as his gaze fixated on the "Primordial Curse" ability.
Even the repugnant notion of devouring another being to steal their essence, as described in the "Primordial Predator" ability, paled in comparison to the horror that gripped him now. This curse seemed designed with a singular, cruel purpose: to condemn him to perpetual blindness, a living nightmare stretching endlessly until the day he drew his last breath.
Consumed by this distorted information, the other abilities of the Primordial Devil bloodline faded into the background. Stats and potential power held little significance compared to the looming threat of losing the only sight he had ever known.
This wasn't just sight in the physical sense; it was the ability to experience the world in a way he only dreamt of before entering this strange new reality.
Anger flared within him, a emotion ignited by the injustice of it all. He muttered under his breath, a string of incoherent curses directed at some unseen force, perhaps fate itself.
With a forceful gesture, he slammed the notification panel shut, but his hand just passed through it, and hit on the burrow tree wall.
He quickly opened his stats, and looked for the only ability that granted him the vision.
Finally, his gaze landed on it.
[Devil Truth of Misery (Rare): a potent ability possessed by the Royal Devils. It allows them to perceive the world through a lens of raw, unfiltered emotions.
Grants the user Misery's Monochrome Vision.
Warning: Due to the internal factor affecting the ability, it will soon be lost in the sea of user consciousness.
Time remaining: 15 days.]
Dejection settled upon Aiden like a leaden cloak. It seemed fate was determined to snatch away any semblance of sight he held. First, the "Eye of Truth" granted by the System, then the evolution into this new, fleeting ability.
He again slumped the wall, a bitter taste of despair coating his mouth. Fifteen days. That was all he had left to experience the world in its vibrant detail. After that, navigating this strange and hostile world would be an even greater challenge.
This bloodline, he realized with a heavy heart, was not the blessing he had initially hoped for. It was a double-edged sword.
As he stared into the blackness, a single, desolate thought echoed in his mind, 'This wasn't the power I was hoping for.'
The threat of losing his sight again pushed Aiden's other abilities out of his mind.
The thought of losing his sight again, of being plunged back into an endless void, felt like a crushing weight on his chest.
Yet, the primal need for survival forced him to act. He had to gather food before the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving him vulnerable in the unknown dangers of the night.
The sun was sinking, casting long shadows across the forest floor, and the vibrant world around him began to fade into a tapestry of muted grays.
His newly awakened bloodline offered no immediate advantage, no surge of strength or means of protection.
Moreover, Aiden possessed no inherent strength or defense. His extraordinary vision, the only beacon in the encroaching darkness, was also destined to vanish.
With a resolute sigh, he pushed aside the leaves that camouflaged the entrance of his burrow. A sliver of sunlight pierced through, briefly illuminating his face before dissolving back into the surrounding shadows.
Emerging from the burrow, Aiden cast his gaze upon the majestic tree.
He noticed something on it.
Previously, he hadn't noticed the three vibrant flowers adorning its branches, each one distinct in texture and color, though the colors themselves remained a mystery to him. This peculiar distribution of just nine flowers on such a large tree filled him with a nagging curiosity.
However, The sight was both captivating and frustrating - three breathtaking flowers on a single tree, yet not a single fruit in sight.
His gaze settled on a curious sight. A strange insect with an elongated, segmented body, resembling a pair of conjoined worms with two heads, was feasting on the flower's nectar.
As he watched, the flower's petals suddenly snapped shut with lightning speed, imprisoning the unsuspecting insect.
A moment later, it reopened, releasing the creature, now half-devoured.
The insect tumbled to the ground, its body seemingly lifeless. But to Aiden's astonishment, the creature's body began to regenerate, the missing parts knitting themselves back together within minutes.
"Unbelievable," Aiden murmured, a flicker of awe mixing with amusement.
With a newfound wholeness, the creature again scurried towards the tree without looking at the Aiden who was just a few meters away from it, its sights set on another flower.
"Perhaps a little on the dim side, though," he added as the creature, seemingly oblivious to his presence, continued its journey towards another flower.
He watched with a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, as the creature repeated its suicidal culinary endeavor.
He surveyed the base of the tree, searching for any sign of fruit, his only source of sustenance.
He recalled his childhood, his strict vegetarian upbringing, and the shock he experienced when he learned at the age of seven that some humans also consumed animals as food. His parents, kind and gentle souls, had instilled in him a deep respect for all living creatures, explaining their vegetarian lifestyle as a way to avoid harming any being.
However, He also recalled a time at the age of seven when he'd heard the cry of an abandoned kitten outside his house, its tiny body shivering in the cold. His pleas to adopt the creature were met with a firm and quick refusal as if they are afraid of something.
Aiden never fully understood his parents' reasoning.
Driven by hunger, Aiden decided to venture deeper into the forest, heading east towards the majestic tree with the wooden slab. He sensed a muted landscape of emotions in that direction, hoping it might lead him to safer ground.
He was already far from the Majestic Tree but still he don't find anything.
As Aiden ventured further, he spotted a strange creature unlike any he had ever encountered, even in his childhood imaginings inspired by an assortment of animal toys.
It was about half his size, the creature gnawed on the bark of a nearby tree, its small stature incongruous with its large, sharp teeth.
As soon as it noticed Aiden, it scrambled up the nearest tree with surprising agility, finally settling on a branch and peering down at him with wide, curious eyes.
Aiden, initially startled, lowered his guard slightly upon seeing the creature's fear. But his momentary ease turned to horror as he noticed the wooden block the creature had been gnawing on. The once solid wood was dissolving at an alarming rate, replaced by a bubbling, frothy mass.
"Poison!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with panic as he cautiously backed away, his wooden staff clutched tightly in his hand. The creature, still perched on the branch, continued to stare at him with its unnervingly reptilian eyes, its confusion deepening as Aiden beat a hasty retreat.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone