"Nightmares belong to the Night, to the darkness. Voidlings that embraced the power of the dark might have bee stronger, sometimes unstoppable, but they will never see the light of a star again if they wish to live. It is the price they will pay until their dying breath, and not even the System ge that.

  Beware of the Nightmares that stalk the Night, my young friend, for they will never leave you alone ohey spot you in the darkness. They will pursue you for as long as they , and sometimes, they will dare to risk the searing burn of a star to finish off their prey, even if it means their death..."

  ~versatioween a master and a student, Uncharted Lands, 57th Outbreak

  As Leo's request reached the System, an onsught of notifications flooded his vision. However, before they could pletely drown him, he selectively pushed most of them aside, allowing the messages to filter in gradually. He had learhe hard way not to grant the System uricted trol — it only led to unnecessary headaches.

  o add any more suffering for my mind to bear. Leo grimaced, feeling the aches ing from all over his body. Dev the two poli might have healed his worst injuries, but he was far from fully recovered.

  Gono drain a few Voidlings on my way back. I will his strength in case everything goes to shit... After all, who knew how his group would react to his very friendly appearance.

  Leo snorted and shook his head, fog oext hanging in front of him. I worry about them ter. For now, let's see.

  Awakened Human (Ranger LVL: 6) sin | Experience awarded | 34 Ether absorbed

  Awakened Human (Warrior LVL: 7) sin | Experience awarded | 46 Ether absorbed

  Leo's eyes grew wide. He expected some Ether from the dead duo, but nothing like this. Although, in hindsight, he probably should have expected something simir. There was, after all, a major differeween notifications when he killed other survivors and Voidlings.

  Absorbed instead of gained. It was the same with the man in the shack, but I had pletely ig back then... Leo's mind fshed to that day, to his first human kill. Now he had two more to add to his list.

  Don't go there again. Focus on what's important. He scowled. Hopelessly trying to make himself feel bad about the poli's death would help no one. Not that it worked anyway…

  Killing survivors apparently absorbed some — if not all — of their Ether instead of providing an already determined amount from the System. While a wele surprise in this case — more Ether could never be bad — this new information could create many problems ter on. If it didn't already.

  It is only the beginning, aher has already shown many different uses. And I bet I didn't even scratch the tip of the iceberg. Leo sighed, looking at his owher ter that appeared in the er of his vision.

  Ether: 97

  The more you have it, the better. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if survivors started killing each other to gather more as fast as they could. Humans are violent and greedy creatures, after all, and I doubt anything has ged in the face of extin.

  Perhaps it was a grim perspective, but Leo couldn't help but aowledge its truth. People were killing each other long before the Outbreak due to greed and various other factors. Now add to that the dangers of this new world, and he could only imagihe lengths some would go to eheir survival and accelerated growth.

  The only positive in this entire mess was the fact that no one knew how much Ether other survivors could provide until they killed someone. ly something to be happy about, but it was still better than nothing.

  And apart from self-defense, I doubt most people would actively try to kill others. But after this information bees publiowledge? Yeah, then shit will truly hit the fan, as they say…

  His own mind drifted to the trio waiting for him. While they seemed like a good bunch, Leo couldn't possibly know how they would react if they knew what he did. The same applied to any other survivor as, in the end, survival was all that mattered. How other people wao achieve it depended wholly on them.

  I just hope it won't bee a bloody battle royale between the living... Leo finally dismissed the kill notifications and brought forth the ones. He could worry about people sughtering each other ter.

  Progression blockade disabled. May you flourish and reaew heights, User.

  Level 11 reached. Css and Racial attributes have been distributed. Please assign your 3 free attributes.

  Wait, what? Already? Leo blinked, rereading the notification to make sure he wasn't halluating. It just didn't make any sense. Either my experience gain wasn't as locked as I thought, or somehow, those two gave me aire level.

  Leo really, really hoped it was the former. If the death of two, level six and seven, survivors could fuel his growth so much, theher wouldn't be the only iive towards killing other people. Attag others on sight could quickly bee a norm if that was the case.

  I would love to pick your brain right about now, Nikra... Leo called out, not even g about the fact that he was once again trying to depend on the Old One's knowledge. This issue could easily escate the bloodbath between survivors to levels that the absorption of Ether never could. Dependen Nikra, be damned.

  Yet, the answer never came. Whatever lied between him and the Old One was fully closed now, and Leo feared it could be a while before that ged.

  Should have expected that. Leo scolded himself. She wouldn't be saying goodbyes if I could talk tht after evolution. Fuck... Maybe she tired herself out by bringio my soulscape and watg over my body in the real world…

  That was the only possible reason for the radio silehat Leo could think of. After all, right before the evolution, Nikra spoke to him a few times over the span of one day. With his e to the shard and Void improved, it should have been even easier if what she told him was true.

  That must be it. I just hope you won't be resting for long, Nikra. Leo sighed before fog on the end of the st message.

  Three points, hmm? I didn't really have a ce to check properly yet, but if my trol really was hit, then I might as well fix it right away. Besides, you ever have too much trol…

  As Leo firmed the assig of his three points into Mind, energy suddenly flowed into all three pilrs. Soul, Body, and Mind ignited in a rush of power that he had almost fotten about with everything happening during the st day.

  Not even a day had passed since my st level-up, and I had already missed the rush... Man, this get addig really fast.

  This thrill of tinuously growing power was a double-edged sword, but holy, Leo couldn't care less about it. Yes, the addi had the potential to cause some problems, but this was also the new way of life. So as long as the rush of power didn't pletely take over the mind of a survivor, it shouldn't be too bad.

  And I guess I just ji, but what's new? Leed and summohe following notification.

  Full description of your new species unlocked. Dispying updated information now.

  Prime Night Hunter (Stage II)Hunt. Kill. e. op, little Akirian. You are the Huhat stalks the Night. You are the Prime that leads your kind. As the first and the st, be ready and fight until there is nothi.Effects:Tainted evolves into Void-borne. Grants Low-end Akirian Physiology trait. The potency of your Essence has been enha the price of slightly lowered trol. Heavy physical evolution involved. All Effectiveness: +15%. +1 Might, +3 Grace, +1 Vision, +1 Soul, +1 Mind, +3 Free Attribute points per level. Natural Mutations: Unlocked

  That's much better. Though I didn't really learn anything new, it's a nice firmation of Nikra's words... Well, better this than nothing. Let's see, !

  Low-end Akirian Physiology (Rare):Whatever you were before, fet about it; you are an Akirian now, little one. Rise your head and enjoy the bes of a species with no equals. This is just the beginning of a very long road.Effeatural resistance against the Void's harsh ditions slightly improved. Your body is noable of withstanding Void Storms below C-Grade. Basic body funs enhanced. You ow sustain your body with Essend flesh of your enemies. Due to your unique physiology, you are now more vulnerable to Ether ons.

  Holy shit, that's a lot... Leo thought, eyes wide. Natural resistance is always wele. I have no fug clue what a Void Storm is, but thanks anyway. Body funs improved, great, whatever that really means. I'm gonna pass oing the flesh of my enemies, but Essence? Why not.

  At st, Leo's gaze fell to the final listed effect, a loud gulp eg through the room. Even though he probably shouldn't have, the presence of a disadvantage in the description surprised him a bit. He might not know where one could get aher on, but it definitely added even more value to the mysterious energy.

  However, despite this not-wele information, Leo couldn't help the snort that escaped him. Ironic. Vulnerable to the energy I'm colleg. Gono find out if oher ons are my weakness or if any form of it cause me harm…

  "More and more questions..." As those words left Leo's mouth, he froze as the low, gravelly tone of his voice echoed in his ears. It was almost like he was trying to growl the words out.

  What the fuck? Who the hell has repced my vocal cords with a demon?!

  Clearing his throat a few times, Leo tried once more. "Hello?"

  However, to his disappoi, nothing ged, and his voice remained unaltered. Not that Leo ever had a distinctive or unique voice, but the thought of his vocal cords being pletely ged within the span of an hour was definitely enough to weird out anyone who would hear about it.

  Well fuck, you sure aren't making this easy, System. Couldn't even leave my voice... He chuckled, the sound just as raspy and low as his voiot only will people attack me when they see me, but now they will probably run the moment they hear my, pretty much, demonic voice.

  Leo sighed heavily. Great... This for sure will make expining everything to Dyn, Tyler, and Laura easier.

  Chaos65