Astral Devourer: Rise of the Forbidden King

Morning light slipped through the thin curtains of a small apartment on Midway Street.

Theo Taylor slowly opened his eyes.

For a moment he stared at the cracked ceiling above his bed. The room was silent except for the distant sound of traffic outside.

He pushed himself upright.

His body was thin and slightly frail, the result of years of poor meals and constant stress. Thick black curls framed his pale face. Behind his glasses, his eyes looked tired for someone his age.

Theo swung his legs off the bed and stood.

Another day.

He moved through his routine quietly. A quick shower. Brushing his teeth. Combing his hair.

Soon he was dressed in the standard Bedrock High School uniform. A white shirt, black trousers, and neatly polished shoes.

He grabbed his bag and stepped outside.

The morning air was cool as he began the familiar walk to school.

Bedrock High School stood tall in the center of the district.

Students filled the courtyard in small groups, laughing and chatting while they waited for class to begin.

Theo walked past them quietly.

A few students glanced at him.

Some whispered.

Theo kept his eyes forward and continued walking.

Classes passed slowly.

Equations covered the board as teachers explained complex theories. Pens scratched across notebooks as students copied notes.

When the final bell rang, most students rushed out of the building.

Theo went somewhere else.

The library.

He sat near the back surrounded by physics textbooks. His pen moved steadily as he solved problem after problem.

The physics test was on Monday.

Theo intended to score full marks.

Hours passed.

Eventually he packed his books and stepped back into the corridor.

Earlier that afternoon.

Three students stood near the lockers.

Billy Barker leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

Two others stood beside him.

James Parks. A Level 2 earth ability user.

Paul Heid. A Level 2 metal ability user.

Billy himself was stronger than both of them.

A Level 3 wind ability user.

Students nearby kept their distance.

Billy's gaze followed a familiar figure walking down the hallway.

Theo.

Billy's expression darkened.

"Look at him," Billy muttered.

Theo walked past them without saying a word.

James snorted. "Still acting like we don't exist."

Billy clenched his jaw.

Despite having no abilities, Theo was always the top student in class. Teachers constantly praised him.

Some even compared other students to him.

Including Billy.

The memory made Billy's hands curl into fists.

Paul noticed and smiled slightly.

"You know," Paul said quietly, "final exams are coming."

Billy glanced at him.

Paul continued casually. "If Theo scores well again, some powerhouses might notice him."

Billy's eyes narrowed.

Paul leaned closer.

"And if that happens, you won't be the only one they look at."

Silence followed.

Paul shrugged.

"Unless something happens to him first."

Billy said nothing.

But his gaze remained fixed on Theo's back as the boy disappeared down the corridor.

Theo walked toward the library.

The corridor buzzed with students preparing to leave school.

As he passed a group of ability users, someone stuck out a foot.

Theo stumbled forward.

Laughter erupted behind him.

"Watch where you're going, genius," one student mocked.

Theo steadied himself and continued walking.

A moment later cold water splashed across his back.

His uniform clung to his skin as more laughter echoed through the hallway.

"Oops," the water user said with fake innocence.

Theo tightened his grip on his books and kept moving.

Then a blur shot past him.

A speed user slammed into his shoulder.

Theo crashed into the library door.

His books scattered across the floor.

Pain flared across his cheek as his glasses nearly slipped off.

More laughter followed.

Theo slowly gathered his books.

He had learned long ago that reacting only made things worse.

Without saying a word, he stepped inside the library.

At the far end of the corridor, Billy watched the scene unfold.

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

James noticed.

"Looks like everyone enjoys picking on him," James said.

Billy didn't reply.

But his satisfied expression said enough.

Evening arrived before Theo finally left the library.

He glanced at the clock above the entrance.

7:45 PM.

The school was almost empty.

As he stepped outside, a voice called out.

"Theo!"

He turned.

Miss Jessica hurried toward him from the library entrance.

She was the school librarian, a warm woman with soft white hair and kind eyes.

Her brows furrowed when she reached him.

"You're still here again," she said.

Theo lowered his head slightly.

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

She sighed and tapped his forehead gently.

"You study too much. It's already late."

"I'll head home now."

"You better," she said. "And be careful."

Theo nodded.

"I will."

Miss Jessica watched until he passed through the school gate.

The sky had turned dark.

Thunder rumbled overhead.

Rain began to fall.

Within minutes it was pouring.

Theo sighed softly and continued walking.

His uniform quickly became soaked.

Streetlights flickered along the road. Most people had already gone home.

To shorten the walk, Theo turned down a narrow side path.

The area was poorly lit.

Rainwater pooled across the cracked pavement.

Theo walked faster.

Then he heard it.

Footsteps.

Behind him.

His chest tightened.

Theo looked back.

Three figures stepped into the dim light.

Billy.

James.

Paul.

Theo's heart began to pound.

He ran.

Wind roared behind him.

A violent gust slammed into his back.

Theo stumbled forward.

Before he could recover, the ground trembled.

Stone shot upward from the earth.

A massive wall blocked the path ahead.

Theo tried to stop but slipped on the wet pavement.

His body slammed into a metal street pole.

Pain exploded across his shoulder.

Before he could rise, the metal pole twisted.

It bent like a living snake and wrapped around his arms and chest.

Theo struggled.

The metal tightened.

Billy approached slowly through the rain.

Water ran down his face as he smiled.

"Theo," Billy said.

Theo stared at him.

Billy stopped a few steps away.

"I've always hated you."

Wind gathered around Billy's fist.

"You're weak. No ability. No power."

His smile widened.

"Yet teachers act like you're better than everyone."

Theo said nothing.

Billy's fist shot forward.

The punch slammed into Theo's stomach.

Air burst from his lungs.

Another punch followed.

Then another.

Each strike carried the force of Billy's wind ability.

Theo's vision blurred.

Pain spread through his entire body.

James and Paul watched silently.

Minutes passed before Billy finally stepped back.

Theo hung limp against the twisted metal.

Blood mixed with rainwater as it ran down his face.

Billy spat on the ground.

"Let's go."

The three of them disappeared into the rain.

Theo slowly collapsed onto the pavement.

Cold rain continued to fall.

His body refused to move.

With trembling fingers he reached inside his shirt and pulled out a necklace.

A small wolf-shaped pendant rested in his palm.

It was the last thing his parents had left him.

They had gone to fight in the war against the Vikons.

They never returned.

Theo's vision dimmed.

"Mom... Dad..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"Looks like I'll see you soon."

The full moon cast its silver light across the pendant. Slowly, it began to glow faintly.

Then, without warning, warmth spread through the metal, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Theo blinked, his vision blurred. The heat pressed against his skin, gentle but insistent, as if the pendant itself was alive.

A sudden shimmer ran through the wolf engraved on the pendant. Its eyes flared red, glowing brighter with each passing second.

Theo’s chest tightened as the red light spread across his arms and legs. The glow pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, faster, stronger.

Then, he felt it. Something invisible tugging at his very core. Slowly, his feet lifted from the ground. His body hovered, trembling, suspended in the silver moonlight.

Power surged through him in waves, warm and electric. Every nerve seemed alive. His senses sharpened. Every sound of the night, every whisper of wind, every distant rustle became painfully clear.

The energy coursing through him intensified. His vision swam. His knees buckled. His arms trembled uncontrollably. The warmth of the pendant burned deeper into his chest, spreading through every fiber of his being.

Theo’s hands clawed at the air, desperate to hold himself steady, but the surge was too strong. His lungs screamed for breath. His heart pounded violently.

And then, darkness.

His body went limp. Theo slumped midair, the red light in the wolf’s eyes fading slowly as he collapsed to the ground.

The last thing he felt was the warmth of the pendant against his chest, like it was watching over him even as he lost consciousness.

A cold, mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.

"Requirements met.

Bloodline recognized.

Werewolf System unlocked.

Wolf Cub System activated.

Rank: Wolf Cub.

Level: 1.

Abilities: None."

Theo’s eyelids closed fully. Darkness swallowed everything.

The red light faded completely, leaving only a faint warmth pressing against his chest.

Silence followed.