Stargazers: World stage

'Where am I?' Vahn's eyes flickered open, met by suffocating darkness.

The last memory etched into his mind was standing before the Major-General, receiving his sentence. After that, nothing.

'Mm?' He attempted to move, but his limbs refused to respond. Summoning all his strength, he forced a twitch, and the sound echoed.

CLANG… CLANG

'Chains?' Confusion seeped in as he realized his wrists and ankles were bound. 'Why am I here?' His so-called "crimes" didn't warrant such severe punishment, right?

Refusing to dwell on the injustice, he began to crawl, the cold, jagged floor scraping against his skin. After hitting an obstacle, he raised his hand to feel it. His fingers met something solid, metallic, long, immovable, with narrow gaps.

[A/N: This is not what you think.]

'A cell. So, this is where I serve my punishment?' Resigned, he slumped against the wall, attempting to rationalize his predicament.

But then…

"Hey, do you think this one will survive?"

"Tsk, don't ask me."

"Okay, what level do you think he can last?"

Vahn stiffened. 'Are they talking about me?'

Step… Step… Step…

The footsteps halted at the adjacent cell. The sound of keys jingling followed.

Clink… Clink…

"W-Where are you taking me?" A terrified female voice pierced the silence.

"P-Please, let me go!" another voice pleaded.

"Shut up," snapped one of the guards, and then… silence.

'Did they knock them out? Where are they taking them? What is this place?' Panic coiled around Vahn's chest as those questions kept coming to him.

This didn't seem like an ordinary punishment. This was something darker.

He yanked at his chains, muscles straining in vain. However, they didn't even show any signs of cracking, even with his newly obtained strength. It then dawned on him, 'These restraints are made for ability users.'

Such were only used for criminals with capital crimes, and how he ended up like this was unknown to him.

'What should I do?' He was considering escaping, however there was no opportunity at the moment for that. 'Should I wait?' That was the only reasonable choice he could make at the moment.

Reluctantly, he moved away from the bar of the cell and sat down, his back leaning against the wall.

Having nothing to do at the moment, his mind drifted to the notification he had received before he ended up here.

[YOU HAVE ABSORBED ESSENCE OF ???]

[ABSORPTION RATE: 1%]

The golden text flickered before his eyes. He stared at the texts for a while before refusing to admit. He remembered the beings from that cracked wasteland. Their powers were unfathomable, and considering he rejected them despite that meant, the one he got was better, right?

So, like he had always done in the past, he closed his eyes and tried to feel what was different about his body. He had already concluded his body was at the peak of E-rank, meaning he was trying to feel his ability in his body. 

So, he focused inward.

Normally, his body felt like an empty void, or it was better to say, it was like just darkness, but now, a faint white flame flickered within him, elusive yet present.

His excitement flared a bit but quickly regained himself. Then after watching it for a bit, he stretched forth his hand and reached for it…

BOOM!

An explosion of sensation erupted in his mind, snapping him back to reality.

'What was that?' He stared at his trembling hands. Then as if answering his question, 

[NAME: VAHN ???]

[PHYSICAL ABILITY: 13]

[INNATE ABILITY: DEVOUR]

[ABILITY: TELEPORTATION]

The golden notifications reappeared. This time, Vahn wasn't shocked by their presence but by their content.

'It doesn't say my last name. Could it be...' He remembered his conversation with Marco about the mysterious family lineage.

'So, Clay isn't my real name?' The thoughts of him having parents came, however he didn't remember having any memories like that. So, without a choice, he shoved the thought aside. 'I'll figure that out later.'

Focusing on his abilities, he muttered, "Physical ability: 13. That must be the boost from absorbing that essence." Yet something felt off. "If I am at the peak of E-rank, why is it just 13." If he was at the peak, then the next number would take him to D-rank, but 14 didn't sound like a number for the next rank, right?

"Or am I viewing it the wrong way?" He felt there was a possibility the ranks made by Earth were different from what this golden screen saw.

'Innate ability: Devour. I thought everyone had only one ability.' He frowned as confusion set in. But when nothing came, he smirked. He recalled how he used it in the desolate land. 'And if I can gain more essences this way...' His excitement surged, but he tempered it, 'One step at a time.' He didn't need to be told. Overconfidence could lead to untimely death.

Looking at the last, 'Teleportation'

'Teleportation,' he thought. 'What if I just imagine myself outside the ce…'

WHOOM!

"Eh?" Vahn spun around in disbelief.

After all, he was standing outside his cell.

'But is this not a chain to bound ability users? So why can I use my ability.' He was shocked but didn't wallow too much. This was a huge discovery, and it could even help him escape given the right time.

He clenched his fist, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. This was it, his first real step toward power.

But then…

Step… Step… Step…

Footsteps approached.

'Should I fight or wait?' His mind was spinning for answers, however, he chose the latter and teleported back into the cell. It was only minutes ago he resolved against being too overconfident, he was still bound, the place too dark to make any move, and finally, he needed to gauge who he was attacking. 

'Let's see.'

Two guards appeared, voices dripping with cruelty.

"Haa… those girls were useless. Did you hear them scream?" one sneered.

"Shut up and focus," the other snapped.

'So, this is some kind of experimental site?' Vahn's heart raced. 'Did the Major-General know about this?' However, there was no time for answers now.

He slumped and began feigning fear, "P-Please, don't come near me!" he whimpered, waving his hands frantically.

CLINK… CLINK

The cell door creaked open. The guard chuckled darkly. "Hehe, but they sure know how to beg."

As the man stepped closer, Vahn finally saw his captor's face…

"D-D-DEMON?" Real shock and fear marred his face.