Astral Devourer: Rise of the Forbidden King

Chapter 2 – Devouring Werewolf System

Theo woke with a sharp gasp, his body jerking upright before his thoughts could catch up. For a moment, everything felt off. The room looked familiar, yet distant, like something he had forgotten how to belong to. Even his breathing felt strange, uneven, as if his body was no longer fully his.

“What… happened last night?” he muttered, his voice low and unsteady as his fingers pressed against his temples.

A dull ache lingered beneath his skin, slow and persistent, like something waiting.

It hit without warning.

The pain surged, sharp and violent, tearing through his head in a way that made his breath hitch. His body tensed, instincts kicking in before he could even think, as the pressure built all at once.

Memories slammed into him without warning.

Rain falling in heavy sheets, cold and relentless against his skin. The force of fists driving into his body, each hit stealing his breath. Billy’s face, twisted into something far darker than simple anger. The hard ground beneath him as everything slowly faded into nothing.

Theo’s breathing grew unsteady.

His fingers tightened slightly against his head as the truth settled in, heavy and unavoidable. That wasn’t a dream. It was real. Every second of it.

Instinct took over as his hand moved to his chest, fingers searching for something that should have been there without question. His breathing slowed for a second, like his body expected to find it.

The necklace.

His fingers met empty skin. He paused, confusion slipping in before he checked again, this time with more urgency. His hand pressed harder against his chest, moving slightly, searching like it could reappear if he didn’t miss a spot.

Nothing.

His pulse started to rise, each beat heavier than the last. It should have been there. It was always there. The absence felt wrong in a way he couldn’t ignore.

It was gone.

A tight pressure formed in his chest, sudden and suffocating, as panic began to surface, creeping in before he could push it back.

““Good morning, Theo Taylor.”

The voice was calm. Clear. It didn’t echo through the room or come from any direction he could trace. It settled directly in his mind, quiet yet unmistakable.

For a brief moment, everything stilled. His thoughts slowed, his breathing caught somewhere between steady and uneven as the weight of it sank in.

Theo froze.

For a brief moment, even his breathing stopped. His eyes moved quickly around the room, scanning every corner, every shadow, searching for something that didn’t make sense.

Before he could react, the door opened with a soft creak. An old woman stepped in.

Her frame was frail, supported by a metallic walking stick, yet there was a quiet steadiness in the way she carried herself. Her presence filled the room gently, easing the tension without effort. Her eyes rested on him with a calm warmth that felt strangely reassuring.

“I see you’re awake,” she said softly. “How are you feeling? Does anything still hurt?”

Theo hesitated.

The voice in his head. The missing necklace. None of it made sense yet.

“I… I’m okay,” he replied, his tone uncertain.

She poured water into a glass and handed it to him. Theo accepted it after a brief pause, his grip careful, almost cautious.

“Thank you.”

“I knew your parents,” she said, watching him. “Zack and Feria Taylor. It has been a long time. You’ve grown.”

Theo blinked, caught off guard.

“You… knew them?”

“You were very young back then. Six, perhaps,” she said. “Time moves faster than we realize.”

Something in her voice made it difficult to doubt her. The tension in Theo’s chest eased slightly.

“When I found you last night,” she continued, “you were badly injured. Bruises, cuts. It didn’t look like something you would recover from easily.”

Theo’s gaze lowered.

“…I was attacked,” he said quietly. “Someone from school.”

Saying it out loud made it feel heavier. After a moment, he slid off the bed and lowered himself to his knees, bowing his head.

“Thank you for saving me,” he said, his voice steady despite everything. “I don’t have much, but I won’t forget this. If you ever need anything, I’ll help however I can.”

The old woman watched him for a few seconds before letting out a soft sigh.

“You’re a good child,” she said gently. “But there is nothing I need.”

Theo shook his head. “let me help anyway. Weekends, after school… anything. I can clean, run errands.”

She raised her hand slightly, stopping him before he could continue.

“…Alright,” she said after a pause. “If it helps you feel at ease, I will accept.”

Relief showed faintly on Theo’s face. “Thank you.”

He hesitated before speaking again.

“When you found me… did you see a necklace? A wolf pendant?”

She shook her head. “No. But we can check again. I may have overlooked it.”

Theo stood immediately. “I would like that.”

By the time they returned to the scene, the rain had washed away almost everything.

Theo searched carefully, his eyes scanning the ground, the edges of the street, even the narrow gaps between cracks in the pavement. He moved slowly, unwilling to miss even the smallest detail.

There was nothing. No trace of it anywhere.

Eventually, he stepped back, his shoulders lowering slightly.

The old woman sat nearby on a bench outside a small coffee shop, watching him quietly.

“Did you find it?” she asked.

Theo shook his head. “…No.”

She studied him for a moment. “It meant a lot to you, didn’t it?” He nodded faintly. “It was the last thing my parents gave me… before they left.”

Understanding softened her expression. “I’m sorry.”

Theo managed a small smile, though it did not quite reach his eyes. “It’s alright. Thank you for helping me look.”

They returned to her house not long after.

Before leaving, Theo bowed slightly. “Thank you again… Grandma Elizabeth.” She smiled gently at the name. “Take care of yourself, Theo.”

By the time he reached his apartment, the sky had cleared. The silence inside felt different now. It was still quiet, but not as empty as before.

Theo stepped inside and closed the door behind him, heading straight to the bathroom. He removed his damaged clothes and stepped under the shower, letting the warm water run over him.

That was when he noticed it. His injuries. They were still there, but far lighter than they should have been. The bruises had faded significantly, and the pain was almost gone.

Theo ran his hand slowly across his arm, frowning. “That’s… not normal.” He stood there for a few seconds before turning off the water.

After drying off, he lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Too much had happened. Too quickly.

“Good afternoon, Theo Taylor.”

Theo sat up immediately. “…Alright,” he muttered quietly. “I’m definitely not imagining that.”

There was a brief pause. The voice returned.

“Congratulations on unlocking the Devouring Werewolf System.”

Theo let out a short breath, something between disbelief and acceptance. “…And here I thought things couldn’t get any weirder.”

His eyes sharpened slightly. “…Who are you?”

“I am an AI assistant created to guide you through the system.”

Theo ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly as he tried to process it. “…How do I talk to you properly?”

“You must assign me a name.” Out of everything, that was the part that caught him off guard. “…Zero,” he said after a moment.

“Do you wish to set my name as ‘Zero’?”

“Yes.”

“Voice recognition confirmed. AI name set: Zero.”

Theo leaned back slightly, his expression tightening with focus. “…Alright. Zero, explain this system. What exactly is it?”

“Please ask one question at a time,” Zero replied calmly. “The Devouring Werewolf System is designed to help you grow and evolve. It enhances your body, tracks your progress, and provides tasks to accelerate development.”

Theo stared ahead, his grip tightening slightly against the bedsheet.

“…So I’m really a werewolf now.”

“No.” You are currently at the birth stage, you need to evolve to become a full-fledged Werewolf.

He exhaled slowly, the reality settling deeper. “…Show me something real.”

“Would you like to view your status?” He hesitated briefly.

“…Yes.”

A translucent white screen appeared in front of him. Theo instinctively leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he stared at it. Slowly, he reached out. His fingers passed through it like mist, yet the screen remained steady, unaffected.

It was real.

Status Window

Name: Theo Taylor

Race: Werewolf

Rank: Wolf Cub

Level: 1

EXP: 0 / 25

Class: None

Stats

HP: 10 / 10

Stamina: 5

Strength: 5

Speed: 5

Defense: 5

Attack: 5

Abilities: None

Skill Points: None

Theo let out a quiet breath. “…I’m weak.” “That is correct,” Zero replied without hesitation. “However, growth is possible.”

Theo’s gaze sharpened slightly. “…How?”

“By completing quests.” The screen shifted.

Daily Quests

Drink 1 litre of water

Reward: 5 EXP

Workout for 1 hour

Reward: 5 EXP

Theo studied it for a moment before standing. “Alright… let’s test it.” He walked to the fridge, grabbed two bottles of water, and drank steadily, his focus fixed on what would happen next.

A soft chime sounded.

Ding!

“Daily quest completed: Drink 1 litre of water.”

“EXP gained: 5.”

Theo blinked slowly. “…It actually worked.”

Something shifted within him, quiet but undeniable. “Next quest,” he said.

An hour later, his body felt like it was on the verge of collapse. Theo dropped to the floor, breathing heavily as sweat soaked through his shirt. His chest rose and fell unevenly, his muscles burning with every small movement.

“…I didn’t think I was this weak,” he muttered. “Your current body condition is below average,” Zero replied.

A tired breath escaped him, almost turning into a laugh. “Yeah… I figured.”

Another chime echoed.

Ding!

“Daily quest completed: Workout for 1 hour.”

“EXP gained: 5.”

Theo rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling as his breathing slowly steadied. It was faster than it should have been, and he noticed it immediately.

“…That’s new.”

He sat up gradually. His body still felt heavy, but not as much as expected. Something was changing. Little by little.

Theo leaned back against the bed, his gaze unfocused as the thought formed quietly in his mind. I can change this.

It was not loud. Not dramatic. But it was real. For the first time in a long time, it did not feel impossible.

His eyes slowly closed. And when sleep came, it carried a different weight. Not exhaustion. Not escape.

But the quiet beginning of something more.