"They finally mao vince me to go to a therapist. Well, more like Lily did all of the job while the Hales were just nodding along. The first visit didn't go bad per se, but I'm not so sure about opening up to some random stranger. I practically made the man fight for every single sentence... Holy, I'm not too sold on the idea. I am gettier on my own, I don't need a therapist. Unfortunately, I still o go to awo visits. That's what I promised Lily..."

  ~ Fourth entry, Leo's Journal

  Devour (Epic)Bread and butter of every creature that rose from the pits of the Void. This evolved version of e is why Voidlings are meant to be feared. Now go and devour; this is only the beginning.Effects:Grants the ability to e Essence from your enemy, be it dead or alive. Offers a slight ce to permaly absorb power from fallen foes. You ow replenish your reserves and heal yourself using the devoured Essence.

  First Epic ability I see, and it doesn't disappoint. Healing, charging my reserves, and stealing power. Leo rubbed his brow, his eyes still a bit wide. Even if the ce is small, this part alone makes this evolution worth more than anything I had previously seen.

  This could be the edge Leo he power to rise above the mohat stalked the Earth. Hell, even if he only absorbed something once every hundred beasts, it would still be worth it.

  The ability to heal and replenish his energy was also a priceless gift. No more resting after each fight just because Leo's reserves couldn't handle another battle. No more stant pain c through his body that always begged him to let it rest.

  No, with Devour, Leo could eliminate all of those problems. Well, at least to some degree. There is no way that an ability like this doesn't have some drawbacks or limitations.

  Or so Leo thought. The System always gave him some warnings regarding the misuse of his abilities. Ahere was nothing wrong with Devour. Maybe it will only warer I acquire it? Holy, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case...

  Leo sighed, the evolution menu dissolving in front of his eyes. It was tempting, so tempting to evolve right away and cim the power of the Void for himself. But should I?

  While the Void evolution easily presented Leo with many advantages, it also had a few drawbacks, at least in his current situation.

  Leo had no clue how the process of evolving even worked. It could take hours for all that he knew, and a full of hostile Voidlings wasn't a pce to leave himself vulnerable. Of course, Leo could choose an evolution from the menu to see if it gave some kind of warning before proceeding, but he didn't want to risk it.

  Apart from that, Leo had two more s that were somewhat reted. The loss of his humanity and the unavoidable physical ge.

  He had already lost so much during the st few days, and Leo wasn't too sure how much more he could handle. He kept going because he had to, but was he prepared for aep... No, not a step, but a deep dive into this new reality?

  Leo possessed a way out of this, an obvious ohe Risen Human evolution would let him hold onto his dying humanity for a little bit longer. It could even heal his curse, something that even now terrified Leo from time to time.

  Yet, could he really take the easy way out?

  No, no matter the choice, the Void will always be a part of me, Leo closed his eyes, his hand h above his left breast. I 't run away from this, nor do I truly want to. If this is to be my path, then so be it. Just... Just not now. I need a bit more time.

  Time to both fully accept the iable ge and to find the first part of his family. Only a few hours passed sinikra's shard ged him forever, and Leo wa least a few more to get familiar with everything that had happened. Besides, it would be wise to at least check out the sed evolution from the inal three.

  I'm pretty close to reag the requirements, so there is no harm in waiting a bit. Leo o himself. And it would be o find some sane humans before undergoing any physical alterations. Who knows what I will look like after evolving.

  Leo hoped the first evolution would keep him at least with a humanoid appearaoo much ge at once didn't seem like the best of ideas. Especially when he already had so mu his shoulders. Getting used to airely new body wasn't on Leo's list of priorities for now.

  Whatever, Leo slumped against the anic wall. No use ihinking this. I have a few hours to kill before the sun rises, and I would rather not develop a depression...

  Now, let's see. It has been a while since I checked this.

  Name: Leonardo Brown

  Title: Nikra's Legacy

  Evolution Stage: I - Tainted Human

  Css: Assassin | LVL. 9

  Job: Hunter

  Rank: F+

  Might Tier I (13) | LB: 15

  Grace: Tier I (25) | LB: 11

  Vision: Tier I (14) | LB: 6

  Mind: Tier I (20) | LB: 0

  Soul: Tier I (13) | LB: 9

  Ether: 70

  Traits: Assassin's Grace (on), Tainted (Unon), True Affinity: Shadow (Rare)

  Mutations: Heart of the Void (Beta)

  Racial Skills: Universal Linguist (Unique), Identify (Unique), Essence trol (Unon), Drain (Unon)

  General Skills: Dagger Mastery (on), True Stealth (Unon), Vital Strike (on), Reinfort (Unon), Kiss of Death (Unon), Hunter's Pulse (Rare)

  Nikra's Legacy. Leo grimaced as the title tio taunt him. Life was plicated enough even before he had acquired it. Now... Well, now Leo could hardly find the correct words to describe what his life had bee.

  Before his trip to the Void, his family and Voidlings were all he had to worry about. And now, with this title, Leo probably gained more ehan he did during his entire life. Hell, he had no clue who those people even were.

  And isn't that a disturbing thought…

  At least I'm getting more and more from attribute efficy. Leo thought with a sigh, f his attention back to the status. Seven additional points, if I'm ting correctly. Yet, all of them are still in Tier I, even after Grace reached twenty-five. I wonder...

  At this point, Leo uood most of the System's inner ws regarding status. However, the meaning of the tiers o his attributes still escaped him. her fog on them nor Identify helped here. He'd have to wait until one of his attributes finally asded higher. Maybe then the System might be generous enough to provide Leo with some information.

  Wishful thinking, He chuckled quietly as he sed the status window once again. Only a few days, and it has already ged so much. How will you look after a month? A year?

  Shaking his head, Leo dismissed the window and brought up another one. He had almost fotten about it at this point.

  Install: Touch of age (Rare):An install-type item created as the result of the aftermath of an Essence explosion that intermingled with the souls and blood of multiple Voidlings. The ensuing age directed the overflow of Esseowards the formation of the first Install item oh.Limit Break: +6 Might and Vision, +2 Grace. Passive: First Circle - Blood is the answer (79%).

  I guess sughtering my way through a Rift Passage full of strong Voidlings is one way to quickly fill this up. Leo mused as he tapped the passive a few more times. Still nothing. Well, only one way to find out what it does. Shouldn't take too long to get it full.

  Despite Leo's curiosity about the item, he was also a bit hesitant when it came to fulfilling the passive's requirements. 'First Circle' almost screamed that it wasn't the end of the road. If the item required blood in its current state, what could it possibly want in the stage?

  Flesh? Essence? Leo grimaced as a frown spread on his face. I do the tter, no problem, but flesh? A shudder suddenly ran through his body. Yeah, I should probably leave it for now. Specutions like this never lead to anything good.

  As the window faded away, Leo's mind began to wander. So many thoughts occupied his mind, but none remained in focus for lohan a few seds, not without Leo's permissio, even then, one subject brought baother and then another.

  That's what happens when you push all of your problems away, you idiot. Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. I really need some human pany, or I will go insane... For now, I o do something; anything will do at this point.

  He could, of course, head out and pick a fight with some Shadow Tails. Was it wise? Not in the slightest, and Leo would rather not risk any injury before dawn. He had had enough of those already.

  Suddenly, the status window fshed before Leo's eyes, and he groaned as the realization hit him. Right, I have just the thing to occupy my time. It seems I'm more tired than I feel, not that I do much about it. Anyway...

  Another menu materialized with Leo's silent and, and he wasted no time seleg the right option. Alright the's see what you got for me.

  Hunt. Huermination. Find the ir of Collectain. Find and harvest the Core of a . Leo blinked. Huh, a bit more tha time I checked. I wonder if some of those jobs are avaible for multiple professions. Probably.

  Shrugging, Leo chose the extermination job.

  ExterminatiohSy 50 Voidlings. issioned by: System. Time Limit: 5 Earth daysRewards:5 Ether Fres, on item reted to the User's jobDo you wish to accept?

  Rewards are different than before. No idea what the fres are, though. Leo noted, scratg his . No harm in finding out, and I will never say no to a free item that might be useful.

  Yes. With that simple and, the System once agai Leo alone. Only the muted raging of the beasts reached his ears; for once, Leo was grateful. He might have fallen asleep without the stant noise. Even the there for minutes, slightly swayi and right until a sihought pierced through the sound.

  Shit, definitely more tired than I feel, Leo shook his head, trying to clear his mind of a fog that threateo e him. Focus. What had the Traveler said? Right... 'Think about the element you possess a enpass you.'

  Leo groahis is going to be fun…

  At once, Essence surged through his body, spreading the familiar tingliiohe skin of his arms. Just like Leo expected, the energy fought his and initially. Thankfully a moment of tug of war resolved the issue for the time being.

  Leo tsked. My trol is still shit. Gono work on it ter... Now, how do I let shadows enpass me? Maybe something simir to the Pulse?

  Without aer idea, Leo shut his eyes and filled his mind with visions full of shadows and darkness. He let them drown him, never losing focus of the Essehered in his arms.

  Let's try it.

  A sihought pushed the visions of shadows into the waiting Essence. In unison, every bit of energy spshed against the wave of mental power, and Leo's eyes snapped open as his arms suddenly fell to the ground.

  "What the fu..." He murmured when his arms refused to move, no matter how hard he tried. Hell, even the glow of his cursed arm weakened.

  My Essence is still there. Leo narrowed his eyes as he poked around the energy. It felt stronger and darker, much darker. Did I just glue myself?

  Moving his Essence carefully, Leo watched as the shadow underh his healthy arm wiggled left and right. Frowning, he gave it a single and.

  Separate.

  Immediately a shudder ran through Leo's entire body as the weight on his arms disappeared. Slowly, he raised them both and watched with a growing grin as the shadows beh stayed in the same pever trying to follow after his limbs.

  Alright, now let's try this. With a siug, Leo's Essence obeyed like an eager dog. It slithered up his body, c him in a thin yer of shadowy mist, not uhe ohat the creatures of this wielded.

  The moment the mist spread to his right arm, Leo gave it another and while pushing more Esseo his affinity. Like before, the fog was eager to please and quickly expanded in his palm.

  At this point, Leo's grin almost split his face, yet his gaze still remained glued to the shadow palm. Or rather to the long, semi-transparent bde lying on it.

  Iing.