My System Devours Immortals

The Elder's Confession

Elder Shen was waiting.

The old man sat in his chamber, tea untouched, eyes fixed on the door. He didn't look surprised when Cris walked in.

"You know," Elder Shen said.

"I know you've been hiding things. I know you've been watching me since before I found the ring. I know you want something."

Elder Shen nodded slowly. "Sit."

"I'll stand."

"Then stand." The elder poured himself tea. His hands were steady. "Ask your questions."

"What are you?"

Elder Shen smiled. Not kind. Tired. "I'm a survivor. Like you. Like everyone who's ever crossed the Court and lived."

"You're not Court."

"No. I was. Once." He took a sip. "I was an archivist. A keeper of records. I read things I shouldn't have. Learned things the Court wanted forgotten."

"About the Devourer."

"Yes." Elder Shen set down his cup. "And about what it was made to fight."

Cris waited.

"Ten thousand years ago," Elder Shen said, "the first immortals discovered something beyond the heavens. Something hungry. Something that consumed worlds. They called it the End."

"The Devourer was the weapon."

"The only weapon. They forged it from the bones of dead gods. They gave it a will. A purpose. Destroy the End, or die trying." Elder Shen's voice dropped. "It failed. Not because it was weak. Because the Court betrayed it."

"Why?"

"Because the Court made a deal. They offered the End a bargain. Serve us, and we will feed you. The End accepted." Elder Shen looked at Cris. "The Court has been feeding worlds to the End for ten thousand years. The Devourer was sealed to keep it from interfering."

Cris's blood ran cold. "The Court serves the End."

"The Court is the End's servant. The sects are its farms. And the disciples—" Elder Shen stood. "The disciples are its food."

"He's telling the truth," the system said. "The serpent's memories confirm it."

Cris stepped forward. "Why did you help me? If you knew what I carry—"

"Because I want the Devourer free." Elder Shen's eyes burned. "I want the End destroyed. I want the Court to pay for what they've done. For ten thousand years, they've fed innocents to a monster. My family. My sect. My world. All of it. Fed to the End."

"You want revenge."

"I want justice. There's a difference." The elder walked to the window. "The Devourer is the only weapon that can kill the End. You are its host. Its weapon. Its hope."

"And if I fail?"

"Then everything ends. Every world. Every soul. Every star." Elder Shen turned. "No pressure."

Cris laughed. Short. Bitter. "You should have told me."

"You weren't ready. You were a cripple with a ring. Now you're Core Formation. Now you're ready."

"Ready for what?"

"The Court knows about you. They've sent a Hollow. But the Hollow is not the real threat. The real threat is what comes after." Elder Shen reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll. "This is a map. The Court has a fragment of the Devourer. A piece they've kept hidden for ten thousand years. If you can take it—"

"I'll be stronger."

"You'll be one step closer to becoming what you were meant to be."

Cris took the scroll. It burned in his hand. Power. Purpose.

"Why should I trust you?"

Elder Shen smiled. "You shouldn't. Trust is weakness. But I'm not your enemy. I'm your ally. For now."

"For now."

"Until one of us becomes too dangerous." The elder turned away. "Go. Prepare. The Hollow arrives in two days. Survive it, and we'll talk again."

Cris walked to the door. Before he left, he paused.

"One more thing. Elder Han. Is he lying to me?"

Elder Shen was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke.

"Elder Han is many things. A coward. A failure. A man who ran when he should have fought." He looked at Cris. "But he's not a liar. He's the closest thing to a friend you have."

Cris left.

---

Gunna was waiting outside.

His face was pale. His hands were shaking.

"You heard?" Cris asked.

"The whole thing. The Court. The End. The Devourer." Gunna swallowed. "It's a lot."

"It is."

"So what do we do?"

Cris looked at the scroll. Then at the ring. Then at the sky.

"We get stronger. We kill the Hollow. We take the Court's fragment." He smiled. "And then we kill a god."

Gunna stared at him. Then he laughed. Nervous. Terrified. But real.

"You're insane."

"Probably."

"But I'm with you." Gunna straightened. "Someone has to make sure you don't get killed."

Cris almost smiled. Almost.

"Fine. But if you die—"

"I won't. I'm too mediocre to die." Gunna grinned. "Villains don't bother with mediocre people."

They walked toward the training grounds. Two days. One Hollow. One chance.

Cris looked at the ring. The hunger inside him was patient. But it was growing.

And so was he.