Godseed Ascension System

5

Kael’s heart pounded in his chest as he ran. He couldn’t afford to look back. His legs burned with every step, but his instincts pushed him forward. He had no idea where he was going; all he could see was the dense greenery of the thick forest ahead.

Behind him, the devil angels were yelling in fury. The bottle he had thrown fell faster than they could catch it. Kael could hear the pounding of their feet as they drew closer.

[Warning: Host energy at 10%. Survival chances decreasing. Immediate action required.]

“Not now, whatever you are,” Kael cursed under his breath, pushing himself harder. He dodged a low-hanging branch, the sound of his ragged breathing filling his ears.

He knew he was in serious trouble, especially after breaking the vitalis of that monster. Everything was happening so fast. Only a few days ago, he had lost his family and expected death. Now, he was fighting to survive in a prison world.

The ground beneath him was uneven and rocky, threatening to trip him, but Kael couldn’t afford to stumble. His vision blurred, but he forced himself to focus on the path ahead. Where it led, he didn’t know, but anywhere was better than being caught by the barbarians chasing him.

[Host’s best chance: Find shelter before the body shuts down. Locating nearby safe zone… analyzing.]

“Stop analyzing and just help!” Kael snapped, on the verge of losing his mind.

He burst through thick trees, the forest swallowing him whole. The shadows seemed to close in as the devil angels' shouts grew louder and his body slowed.

[Location found: Abandoned cave. Host will have limited protection.]

Kael’s eyes widened as he spotted the entrance to a dark cave ahead. It was a long shot, but it was his only option. He turned sharply and darted into it, his muscles spasming in protest.

[Warning: Host body instability detected. Immediate rest needed.]

Kael gritted his teeth, crawling deeper into the cave, not knowing what might be waiting for him inside. He collapsed occasionally as he moved, but something urged him forward. That decision turned out to be the best he’d ever made.

The devil angels regrouped outside, frantically searching for their prey. They completely ignored the cave, knowing every cave in Lorodia had an occupant one had to fight to claim. Surely Kael wouldn’t risk entering one. How wrong they were.

Kael’s consciousness began to slip away, the system’s warnings fading as his body finally succumbed to exhaustion.

[Ding… Survival reward trial activated.]

[Task: Confront and overcome weakest memory.]

[Reward: Full system integration and recovery.]

Unaware of the happenings around him, Kael drifted into unconsciousness as the world shifted. The cave walls dissolved into a blinding white void, and a scene from his past unfolded before him. He found himself in his younger teenage body, cowering before his father.

It was a scene he knew too well. Even as he relived it, the fear, trembling, and emotional chokehold were as overwhelming as before. Kael had always feared his father, enduring his abuse while desperately trying to please him.

“You little piece of trash! How dare you embarrass me like that? Why didn’t you fight back?” his father thundered.

“Of all memories, you chose this…” Kael mumbled to himself, unable to stop his younger self from crying.

Roku kicked him to the floor, pressing his boot on Kael’s head as if trying to crush it. “What do you have to say for yourself?!”

Kael whimpered in pain and fear. This was one of his worst childhood memories. That day, there had been a fight between his siblings and their cousins. His cousins, older and gifted, had overpowered his brothers. To make them stop, Kael had agreed to kneel and beg. Unfortunately, Roku and his brother had witnessed the humiliation.

The system’s voice interrupted the memory:

[Task: Stand up to your father before the marking. Face your fears or perish.]

Kael’s mind flashed to how Roku had stood idly by as his grandfather murdered his wife. That memory shattered him. His teenage body morphed into his older self, his form rippling like lightning in a storm.

“No more,” Kael growled. “No more weakness.”

He pushed himself up from under his father’s foot and stood. His fists clenched, his heart pounding in his chest. He was no longer that weak boy.

The image of his father twisted, transforming into a shadowy figure with glowing eyes. It lunged at him, but Kael roared and met it head-on, throwing punch after punch fueled by all his pent-up rage. Within seconds, the shadow dissolved into nothingness.

[Trial complete.]

[System integration continued...]

[Reward: Full recovery and access to Level 1 Godspeed, Vitalis Sight, Minor Soul Shield.]

As the void dissolved, Kael found himself back in the cave. His wounds began to heal, his body faintly glowing with electric blue light. He felt stronger and more alive than he had in days.

The system spoke once more:

[Welcome, Inheritor. The path to ascension begins now.]

“What are you?” Kael asked, his voice low.

[I am your Godseed system,] the system replied, its tone calm and indifferent.

Kael frowned. “Godseed? That’s not an answer. What does it mean?”

[I am a fragment of divinity embedded in your soul, inherited through your bloodline. A spark of godly power left dormant until you forced it to awaken.]

Kael froze, his mind racing. Divinity? Bloodline? It felt like a cruel joke. “Divinity? Me? Forced it awake? That doesn’t make sense. Are you saying I’m some kind of god?”

[You are not a god—yet. You are a descendant, a godseed born with the potential to ascend. The godseed within you is the key to claiming that path. Your awakening was triggered when a dormant gifted transferred their powers to you.]

Kael’s heart sank. “What are you saying? Di-did my wife give me her powers instead of saving herself?”