"I am finally awakened." Zephyr said to himself without any excitement because he already knows that his life will turn hell, yet a blinding hunger suddenly devoured his emotions.
"Heh, let's go. We need to see how strong you've become," Maw said after sensing what going on Zephyr's mind
"Yeah… I just hope it's not disappointing."
Maw's expression cracked. His face clearly screamed, "Are you mocking me? I am the conquerer, devourer and inevitable!!!"
But Zephyr didn't notice he was already opening the door.
As he stepped outside, he froze.
A beautiful girl stood before him.She was around 5'8", with raven-black hair cascading down to her waist. Her deep blue eyes were mesmerizing, as if they could seize the very soul of whoever dared to look. Her blue dress flowed elegantly, perfectly complementing her ethereal beauty.She was flawless.
"What are you staring at?" she asked.Even her voice carried a strange, enchanting allure.
"Uh… sorry. I got distracted. I—I gotta go!"Zephyr bolted.Just a little distraction… yeah, just a little!
"Hoh… the boy got starstruck. How pathetic," Maw sneered.
"Fucking hell… no way!!!" Zephyr replied
"Hahaha." Maw just laughed whole heartedly
Zephyr really did look pathetic—5'7", messy black hair, and a frail, skinny build. Still… his face wasn't bad. With a bit of refinement, he could pass as decent.
He reached the ground floor and headed straight to the counter.
"So, you really awakened.Congratulations, Zephyr!"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Oh! You should replenish your energy first. Head left—you'll find the cafeteria."
"I don't have any money."
"Don't worry. As an awakened, you're granted certain privileges. Food is one of them."
His eyes lit up."Thank you!! I'm not missing this!"
"…A harsh life in the outskirts, huh?" Lily murmured. She understood that kind of hardship, which was why a trace of pity lingered in her gaze. But there was nothing she could do—she was merely someone with a modest position.
"Food!! Food!! Food!!!" Zephyr screamed internally, practically delirious with excitement.
After a short run, he arrived.
"Whoa…"
The cafeteria was massive—far beyond anything he had imagined.
He ordered everything listed. He couldn't really read, but as long as it was edible, it didn't matter.He sat at a round table, countless dishes laid out before him.And then—He devoured everything.No restraint. No hesitation.
Some people cast disgusted glances his way, but Zephyr didn't care.
This was bliss.Why ruin it?
"A rat who got lucky, huh." A voice echoed at the cafeteria
"Disgusting." It was followed by disgust by someone
"I've lost my appetite. I can't eat near filth like that." A man stood up not wanting to eat any longer...
Most of them came from the border, while others belonged to the inner core.
People with privilege had far greater chances of survival compared to any outskirt "rat."
Discrimination was natural here.They believed themselves superior simply because of their origins.
Zephyr didn't give a damn.He continued his feast.
Maw, however, grew curious his mind weaving something amusing.As Zephyr reached for another dish, it suddenly vanished.
A maw opened in his palm and swallowed it whole.
Only Zephyr noticed.No one else saw a thing.
"Maw… how did you do that?!" he asked inwardly.
" Just a simple trick. I couldn't help it you're indulging while I'm forced to watch. That's hardly fair, don't you think? Hehe." Maw said while looking at the other dishes with sparkling eyes
"You do know wisps aren't supposed to eat, right?"
"Ordinary ones, yes. But I am far from ordinary, hehe..."
"Yeah… yeah…" Zephyr muttered
mentally, already exhausted by Maw's smugness.
"Hoh… Zep. Some irritating pests are approaching."
Two boys and a girl walked toward him.
"Hey, rat. First time here?" A boy wearing a leather armor with his average looks said
"What a foul stench… how revolting," the girl said, pinching her nose.
"Hahaha, she's right," one of the boys laughed, clad in light armor.
Zephyr merely glanced at them before continuing to eat.
They weren't worth his attention.
"Don't ignore us!" the armored boy snapped, slamming his hand onto the table, making it tremble.
"This rat's got some nerve! Do you even know who we are?!" the girl screamed, t
Zephyr slowly lifted his gaze, irritation flickering in his eyes.
They ruined his meal.But what could he do?Nothing.He was still weak...
"No. And I don't care who you—"
Before he could finish—A fist slammed into his face.
His body was hurled like a ragdoll.
Bam!!
He crashed against the wall with a deafening impact.
"Arghh—!..."The blow came too suddenly.Blood streamed from his nose, his face twisted in pain.
"Hah! Pathetic. Know your place."They began to approach him again, but a voice cut through the air.
"What's going on here?"It was her.The same girl from earlier.
"This fool was being arro—"The boy froze mid-sentence.
All three of them did.Their faces turned pale.
Standing before them… was the heir of a Great Clan.
In her presence, they were nothing.
Insects...
To lie to her was to defy the Great Clan itself.And that—Was a death sentence.
They knew their limits. That's why they only preyed on the weak.But this… this was different.They could die here without even understanding how.
The girl's gaze shifted to the bloodied boy.
She recognized him.
'Hmm… the boy from earlier…'
"I trust you're not lying," she said softly, smiling.
Yet beneath that smile...Lurked something far more dangerous.
She stepped toward Zephyr.
The three immediately panicked and fled. Survival instinct overrode
everything.
She placed her hand gently on his forehead.
A faint glow emerged.
His broken face began to mend flesh knitting itself back together at a visible pace.
"…A harsh life, isn't it?"Zephyr heard what she said but didn't reply.
He didn't need to.
His thoughts were in chaos.
Something deep within him was stirring—awakening.
A violent hunger,A force raging like a collapsing star.
Yet...He suppressed it.
Maw's grin widened, stretching into something monstrous.
Yes...This was what he needed.
Not a weakling but something that could burn...
That punch?It could have been avoided.With Maw's power, evasion would have been effortless.
But Maw didn't said anything about it.
He chose not to.
Because relying on power too early would only hollow Zephyr out.
He needed suffering,he needed humiliation,he needed something to ignite the abyss within him.A darkness only Maw could perceive.
"Hehehe… that's right, Zephyr...Embrace that hunger…
Let it consume you…"