(Alistair's POV)
The room was silent now.
The scent of blood and burning abyssal energy lingered in the air.
Only one corpse remained.
The others?
Devoured.
Their bodies had been consumed by the abyss, reduced to nothing but fuel for my power.
And yet, as I examined my hands—slick with blood, trembling slightly from the aftereffects of battle—I felt calm.
I wasn't injured enough to collapse, but the pain wasn't something I could ignore either.
I let out a slow breath and activated Devourer's Authority once more.
The remaining energy within the bodies I had absorbed began to mend my wounds.
Abyssal mana coursed through me, thick and oppressive, pulling in what little vitality remained from my kills.
The torn muscles in my shoulder stitched back together.
The bruises along my ribs faded.
But abyssal energy was never gentle.
The healing was rough, like my flesh was being forcefully stitched together by unseen, jagged threads.
It worked. But it was imperfect.
Which meant—I needed something else.
I shifted my focus, calling upon Nature Magic.
A soft green glow wrapped around my fingers, seeping into my body, soothing what the abyss had forcefully repaired.
Where abyssal mana was forceful, nature magic was harmonizing.
It didn't just heal—it restored balance.
And within seconds, I felt my breathing steadying.
The sharp pain dulled to an ache.
The battle's toll faded.
And yet—despite all that power poured into me—
My skills didn't change.
My abilities didn't grow.
That's when I noticed it.
I opened my status window, scrolling to the notification log.
There was one thing I had to confirm.
Ding!
[You have consumed an enemy.]
[Effect triggered: Partial stamina and mana recovery.]
[No skills acquired.]
[You have consumed an enemy.]
[Effect triggered: Partial stamina and mana recovery.]
[No skills acquired.]
[You have consumed an enemy.]
[Effect triggered: Partial stamina and mana recovery.]
[No skills acquired.]
[You have consumed an enemy.]
[Effect triggered: Partial stamina and mana recovery.]
[You have gained a skill: Stealth.]
[You have consumed an enemy.]
[Effect triggered: Partial stamina and mana recovery.]
[No skills acquired.]
I frowned.
So that was how it worked.
Even though I had devoured five people, I had only acquired one skill.
Stealth.
It wasn't random, but it also wasn't guaranteed.
That meant I couldn't just rely on Devourer's Authority to get stronger.
I needed to be selective.
I needed to choose my prey wisely.
Only those with skills worth taking.
I had assumed I would gain something from every kill.
That was a mistake.
But at least now I understood.
I exhaled.
Lesson learned.
I turned my gaze toward the one body that remained.
The assassin I had refused to devour.
His corpse lay motionless, blood pooling beneath him, staining the floor.
His mask had fallen off—revealing a pale, scarred face.
But his expression was blank.
Even in death, he was a shadow.
****
I glanced around my apartment, taking in the ruin left behind by the battle.
The couch was torn apart, deep gashes slicing through the leather.
Blood had splattered against the walls, some still dripping onto the floor.
Deep claw marks from my abyssal tendrils had scarred the wooden furniture.
Even the air itself still felt tainted by the battle.
This place is a disaster.
I let out a long breath.
Cleaning up was not how I imagined spending the aftermath of an assassination attempt.
But I wasn't going to stay in a blood-soaked mess either.
I grabbed a cloth, dampened it with water from the kitchen, and started wiping down the bloodstains.
My sword remained within reach.
Just in case.
As I worked, my mind continued analyzing.
Five assassins.
A coordinated attack.
Yet none of them spoke. None of them hesitated.
They were elite.
Which meant someone powerful had sent them.
And I would find out who.
But first—
I had a mess to clean up.
***"
The days passed without incident.
No more assassins.
No more shadows lurking in the dark.
For now.
But I knew better than to believe I was truly safe.
I had killed an elite team of assassins. That meant whoever sent them knew of my strength now.
The next attempt wouldn't be as simple.
They would send someone stronger.
Someone I might not be able to fight off so easily.
That was why I couldn't stay here.
I had already taken too many risks remaining in one place for this long.
It was time to move.
My apartment was nearly restored to its original state.
The bloodstains had been scrubbed away.
The shattered furniture had been removed and replaced.
The only thing that remained was the final corpse.
The one assassin I chose not to devour.
He lay on the floor, his body preserved through magic to prevent decay.
His mask had been removed. His identity fully exposed.
He was a nobody.
Just another pawn in someone else's game.
But his body might hold answers.
And for that, I needed her.
As if on cue, I heard a soft knock on the balcony window.
I turned.
A figure in a dark cloak stood there, her presence like a fleeting shadow.
I walked over and unlocked the window.
She slipped inside without a sound.
Selena knelt before me, her expression unreadable beneath the dark veil covering the lower half of her face.
"You're alive," she said, her voice as calm as ever.
I arched a brow. "Disappointed?"
"Relieved."
I wasn't sure if that was a lie or not.
She stood, her gaze shifting to the corpse behind me.
"You left one alive?"
"No," I corrected. "I left one intact."
Selena hummed in approval. "Smart."
She stepped past me, examining the assassin's body with trained precision.
Her gloved fingers moved over his clothing, checking for hidden insignias, marks, or anything that could reveal his employer.
"You want an identity?" she asked.
I nodded. "And whoever gave the kill order."
Selena exhaled. "It won't be easy. This kind of work is done through untraceable contracts. But I'll find something."
She stood, the weight of her silent promise hanging between us.
Then she looked at me, her dark eyes sharp.
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I walked past her, grabbing my coat.
"Where are you going?" she pressed.
I met her gaze.
"The Grand Arcanum Academy."
A flicker of understanding crossed her face.
Then, she gave a slow nod.
"It's the safest place for you," she admitted. "Smart choice."
I wasn't doing this just for safety.
The Grand Arcanum Academy was a place where talent thrived.
It was where warriors, mages, and assassins trained to become the strongest.
And it was where I could continue to grow.
Selena studied me for a long moment.
Then, finally, she stepped toward the window.
She placed a single dagger on the table beside me.
"A gift," she said.
I picked it up, feeling the lightweight yet deadly balance of the blade.
Before I could say anything, she turned away.
Then, without another word—
She vanished into the shadows.
Leaving me alone once more.
And with that, my next path was set.
The Grand ArcanumAcademy awaited.
TO BE CONTINUE...