Devourer: Echoes of the unwritten

[Scene: Underground Shelter – Late Night]

Lightning flashed outside.

The rain hadn't stopped in two days.

Inside the ruined shelter, Kaito sat shirtless, blood-soaked wrappings around his arms. His tail curled beside him, twitching like it had a will of its own.

He stared at the crimson shard floating above his hand—a glowing chunk of pure energy.

[Core Mutation Fragment: Type – Blood]

[Fusion available. This action is irreversible.]

"Side effects: Mental drift, stat instability, memory flare."

Proceed with fusion?

Kaito's heartbeat slowed. His voice was a whisper:

"If I hesitate now… I die later."

YES.

[Scene: Core Fusion Sequence – Mindspace Realm]

The world disappeared.

He stood in a space of blood and shadow—pulsing veins snaking across the sky. The Blood Core floated ahead of him like a sun, leaking streams of red energy.

Suddenly, a voice—not the system.

Something older.

"You would dare absorb the Blood of the Forgotten?"

A figure stepped from the red mist.

A silhouette with horns, ancient armor fused with bone, and six burning eyes.

Kaito clenched his fists. "Who are you?"

The being raised a gauntlet.

"I am what you will become. Or what will consume you."

FLASH!!

[Scene: Fusion Begins – Chaos Eruption]

The Blood Core surged into Kaito's chest.

CRACK!!

He screamed, falling to his knees.

Veins burst across his body, glowing red. His skin shifted—took on a dark metallic sheen, like liquid armor.

[FUSION IN PROGRESS…]

[BLOOD CORE SYNCHRONIZATION: 37%… 59%… 84%…]

[WARNING: Host approaching Berserk Limit]

[Cutscene: Flashback Overload – Memory Break]

Suddenly—visions.

His childhood.

His mother smiling.

His father disappearing into a dungeon.

Then…

Blood.

Him, younger, crying alone in a hospital room.

Then—his first kill.

A rat-beast in an alley. He had cried then, too.

"Why… am I seeing this now?" he gasped.

"You must remember your weakness before you accept power."

[Scene: Real World – Shelter Quakes]

The entire building shook as red lightning burst from Kaito's body.

His tail split—into two jagged, blade-like appendages.

The markings across his chest pulsed, forming a circular glyph.

He rose.

Eyes glowing crimson and violet.

And when he spoke—his voice echoed in layers.

"Blood… shadow… hunger… mine."

[Scene: Status Screen – Updated]

[STATUS – UPDATED]

Level: 13

Class: Devourer [Hidden – God-Class Seed]

Evolution Stage: 1 (Core Mutation 2/4)

New Mutation: Blood Core Integration

– Blood Adaptation: Absorbs spilled blood for minor regeneration

– Pain Nullification: 50% resistance

New Skill: Crimson Surge (B)

– Converts HP into pure burst damage

– Can ignore defense for 3 seconds

Passive: Predator Instinct – Enhanced to Tier 2

Instinct Override: 18% (Critical zone)

[Scene: Outskirts of Mid-City – Same Night]

Elsewhere, in a dark cathedral built into a mountain's side…

Five figures in cloaks knelt around a glowing map.

At the center, a red pulse blinked—Kaito's new signature.

"The Blood Core has chosen a vessel," one said.

"And it's not one of us," another growled. "A scavenger, no less!"

The leader—tall, masked—spoke low.

"Then we will reclaim it."

He lifted his hand. A strange, bone-like brand glowed in his palm.

"Send the Crimson Paladin."

[Scene: Reina's Apartment – Midnight]

Reina stared at the bounty papers again.

"What did you become, Kaito…?"

She checked her holoscreen.

Guild Alert: High-level anomaly in East District. Devourer confirmed.

Her eyes widened.

"He's still alive…"

She grabbed her spear from under the bed.

"Then I'll find you—before they do."

[Scene: Kaito – Rooftop, After Fusion]

Rain hissed as it hit his skin.

He stood shirtless in the storm, hands open, watching lightning reflect off his claws.

The hunger was worse now.

His thoughts sharper—but colder.

Memories felt… distant.

His own name echoed like someone else's.

"Kaito…"

He said it out loud.

"Still me… Still in control."

His system pulsed:

[Core Mutation 2/4 – Stable. Next Target: Ember Seraph Core (S-Class)]

[Quest: Consume or Die]

– Location: Unknown

– Time Limit: None

[Final Scene: Distant Mountain – Deep Dungeon Cracks Open]

Somewhere far from the city, a massive dungeon door cracked open. Lava spilled from inside. A winged figure—burning like a phoenix, eyes glowing gold—rose from the magma.

"Who dares touch my fire…"

It stared into the distance.

Toward Kaito.

Toward what was coming.