Chapter-20:Mark of the Devourer
Morning came.But Raj didn't feel it.No warmth.
No calm and No clarity.
Only—Weight.He stood in front of the mirror.
Silent.Still.Watching himself.At first glance—
Nothing had changed.Same face, Same eyes.
Same expression.But—Not quite.His gaze lingered.
Focused.There.For a fraction of a second—
His reflection… lagged.A delay.Barely noticeable.
But real.
Raj narrowed his eyes."…Again."He leaned closer.
The mirror stayed normal.Perfect.Still.
Then—flicker.For a split second—His reflection smiled.But he didn't.Raj stepped back instantly.
No panic.Just awareness."…So it started."
His fingers lifted slowly.He examined his hand.
Nothing visible.No marks, No scars.But inside—Something was different.He could feel it.
A pressure.Not external.Not physical.
Deeper.Like something had settled under his skin.
Watching.Waiting.
The system flickered faintly.
Slower than usual.
Almost… cautious.
[Status Update]
→ Unknown Trait: Unstable
→ External Mark: Active
→ Influence Level: Minimal (Increasing)
Raj read it once.Then again."…Minimal."For now.
That was the key.He closed his hand."…Then I control it before it grows."Simple.Direct.
Necessary.The training hall was active.
Students moving.Talking.Pretending things were normal again.But Raj noticed—They kept distance.
Not obvious.But real.Subtle steps back.Lower voices.Avoided eye contact.Fear hadn't disappeared.It had evolved.The moment he entered Silence spread.Not complete.But enough.
He ignored it.As always.His focus was elsewhere.
Inside.On the change."…You look worse."
The girl's voice.Direct.Unfiltered.Raj glanced at her.
"…Define worse."She didn't hesitate."…Unstable."
The same word again.
Raj smirked faintly."…That's becoming a pattern."
She didn't smile."…I'm serious."A pause.
"…Your presence feels… heavier."Interesting.
He tilted his head slightly."…You can feel it?"
"…Not clearly."She crossed her arms.
"…But something's off."Raj didn't deny it.
Because—She wasn't wrong.The smiling boy joined them."…Whoa…"He leaned in slightly."…Okay yeah, I feel that too."A grin.But less playful than usual.
"…What did you do this time?"Raj looked at him.
Calm."…Improved."The tall boy approached.
Silent.Observing.His eyes stayed on Raj for a moment longer than usual."…You changed."
Not a question.Raj met his gaze."…So did you."
A neutral answer.But the meaning—Clear.
Everyone here was changing.Just at different speeds.And Raj—Was accelerating.Training began.
Standard drills.Movement, Combat, Coordination.
Raj joined.But—Something was off.His movements were sharper.Faster.More precise.But—Less controlled.Not physically.Mentally.A student rushed toward him.Attack incoming.Predictable.
Raj stepped aside.Perfect timing.
Then—Instinct kicked in.His hand shot forward—
—GRAB.Contact.
The system activated.
[Condition Met]
But this time—Something else moved.The mark.
It reacted instantly.Faster than the system.
Deeper.Hungrier.Before Raj could regulate—
It pulled.Hard.Too hard.The thread snapped into existence—Thicker and darkerThe student froze.
"…W-what—"Energy surged.Violent.Uncontrolled.
Raj's eyes widened slightly.Too much.He tried to stop it.But—There was resistance.Not from the target.From inside him.Take more.The thought wasn't his.Not entirely.His grip tightened unconsciously.The student dropped to one knee.
"…I—I feel—"
Raj's breathing slowed.Dangerously calm.More.
The pressure built.
The system flickered wildly.
[Warning]
[Over-Extraction Detected]
That—Snapped him back.Control.He forced it.
Cut the connection—SNAP.The thread broke.
Instant, Violent.The student collapsed.Unconscious.
Silence.The entire hall froze.Everyone stared.
Raj stood still.Processing.His hand trembled—
Just slightly."…That wasn't planned."
The girl stepped forward immediately.
"…You almost drained him completely."
Her voice—Sharp.Real concern.The tall boy's eyes narrowed."…That wasn't your usual control."
The smiling boy didn't laugh this time."…Yeah… that felt different."Raj exhaled slowly."…It was."
No denial, No excuse.Just truth.
The system flickered.
[Trait Activation Detected]
→ Devour Instinct (Passive – Unstable)
Raj's eyes darkened slightly.Devour.So that's what it was.Not just stealing.Not controlled extraction.
Something deeper.More aggressive.More… absolute.The girl stared at him."…What happened?"
Raj looked at her.Then at his hand.Then—
Back at them."…It tried to take over."Silence,Heavy.
The words settled.The tall boy stepped closer.
"…Tried?"Raj met his gaze."…And failed."
Confidence.But not arrogance.A statement.
For now.Later—Raj stood alone again.Upper level.
Near the windows.Looking out.The academy grounds stretched far.But his focus—Was inward.
Devour instinct…Mark…Unknown trait…Pieces.
Incomplete.But forming.He raised his hand slowly.
Focused.Not on a person.Not on energy.
On the mark itself."…Let's test it."
The system flickered.
Hesitant.
[Self-Analysis Attempt]
The moment he pushed deeper—Something pushed back.Not violently.But firmly.Like a boundary.
A limit.Raj smirked faintly."…So you have rules too."
Good.That meant—It could be understood.
Controlled.Eventually.Footsteps approached.
Slow and Familiar.Raj didn't turn.
"…You've been busy."The Null-Type.
Of course.Raj replied calmly."…You've been watching."A pause."…Of course."
The Null-Type stepped beside him.
Looking out as well."…You triggered it early."
Raj's eyes shifted slightly."…So you knew this would happen.""…Not exactly."A glance.
"…But I expected something."Raj exhaled softly.
"…It tried to take control."The Null-Type nodded.
"…That's what it does."A pause."…It doesn't steal like you.""…It consumes."The word felt heavier now.
More real.Raj's gaze hardened slightly.
"…And it marked me."Silence.Then—
"…Yes."No hesitation.No denial.Raj tilted his head.
"…Can it take over?"A real question.Important.
The Null-Type didn't answer immediately.
Then—"…If you let it."Raj smiled faintly."…I won't."
The Null-Type looked at him.Carefully.
"…Everyone says that."A pause."…Until they stop being themselves."Silence.But Raj didn't react.
Not emotionally.Not outwardly."…Then I'll be the exception."A simple answer.But absolute.
The Null-Type watched him for a moment longer.
Then—"…Maybe."Not agreement.Not denial.
Just—Possibility.That night—
Raj stood alone again.Same mirror, Same silence.
Same reflection.He stared at himself.Unblinking.
Waiting.Then—flicker.This time—Clearer.
His reflection moved.Before he did.A slow smile.
Not his.Darker.Wider.Wrong.Raj didn't react immediately.He watched it.Studied it.
"…So you're still there."The reflection tilted its head slightly.Mirroring—But not matching.A whisper echoed.Not from outside.Not from inside.
From somewhere deeper.Grow.
Raj's eyes sharpened."…On my terms."
The smile in the mirror widened.Just slightly.
Then—Gone.Everything returned to normal.
Perfect.Still.Raj exhaled slowly.No fear.
No panic.Only—Focus."…Then let's see who wins."
He turned away.
The system pulsed-Stronger, More complex.
More dangerous.Because now—Raj wasn't just fighting others.Or the system.Or the unknown.
He was fighting—Something inside him.
Something growing.Something waiting.And the worst part—It wasn't trying to kill him.It was trying—
To become him.
[Chapter-20 Ended]