Chapter 5: The System's First Gift – A Growing Power
Kaiden's nights were ravaged. Even in slumber, weak embers of light and darkness whirled behind closed eyelids. The energies of his heavenly-demonic heritage churned on and on within him, a masterless storm he was still unable to control. Amid fantasies of his mother's sacrifice, he saw ephemeral glimpses of something else—ancient landscapes, arcane symbols, and ghostly voices that made him shiver as much as stabbed him with pang after pang of wistful yearning.
The *System*, as well, wasn't silent. It sounded as though it awakened alongside him, blipping out illegible messages and incomprehensible warnings. Kaiden did not grasp everything he didn't comprehend, but he could deny one thing: the *System* was now his.
The cold, biting morning air slapped his face as Kaiden stood in the ruined courtyard that was now his training ground. The broken pillars wore the scars of his last sessions—scorched spots from hellish fire, deep cuts from wild outbursts of divine power. He cinched the straps on his gloves and breathed steadily.
*Focus,* he instructed himself. *Master it.*
He braced his feet and spread his arms, focusing his power. Filaments of light and darkness wrapped around his fingers, their energies at odds as they touched. Sweat poured from his forehead as he struggled to maintain them in balance.
The *System* responded.
*New Ability Unlocked: [Celestial Spear].
The words lingered before his eyes, emitting a gentle light in the morning. Kaiden's focus wavered, and the energy in his palms accelerated randomly before it vanished. He pulled back, massaging his head.
"A spear…" he grumbled, swiping at his forehead with the back of his hand. "A sword? A shield?"
But there wasn't time for sarcasm. The writing on the screen changed, presenting a quick description of the power. It let him focus celestial light into a reliable weapon—malleable, accurate, and deadly if used properly.
Kaiden extended his hand, imagining the spear as the *System* had painted it. Nothing did occur at first. Frustration burned and he gritted his teeth. He couldn't fail here. Not now. He shut his eyes, having to take a deep breath.
The power complied.
It poured into his arm, pooling in his hand. When he opened his eyes, a narrow shaft of blinding light hovered over his palm. Its surface shone like hot gold, and its keen point flashed with a killing edge.
Kaiden's lips curled up into a weak smile. *Progress.*
---
The spear was light in his hands as he practiced, gliding quickly and freely. He twirled it carefully, feeling its balance. The sheen of the weapon illuminated the courtyard, sending long shadows across the ground as Kaiden looked for an imaginary enemy. Each blow and sweep of the spear became more instinctive, as if his body recalled something he'd never learned.
The *System* did not offer any additional advice, but Kaiden did not require it. He was lost in the beat of his training, every strike precise and controlled. When the spear finally disappeared, he stood there gasping but content. His skill was getting better, but slowly.
The sun rose higher in the morning, its rays slicing through the cold. Kaiden adjusted his satchel and stepped out of the courtyard, navigating the deserted streets of the Outer Ward. He couldn't fight indefinitely—not without bullets and supplies. His coin had expired days ago, and foraging only took him so far. It was time to get another job.
---
The bulletin board outside the destroyed tavern was as congested as ever. Kaiden read through the postings, his eye settling on one that looked promising:
*Rodent Extermination – 15 Silver. Old Warehouse, Outer Ward. Multiple Targets.*
It wasn't glamorous, but it would put food on the table. Kaiden tore the notice down and entered the tavern to accept the job. The innkeeper gave him a brief nod and handed him a rusted key.
"Lock the door when you're done," the man said. "And don't let any of 'em out."
Kaiden nodded and departed in silence, making his way towards the designated warehouse. It was not distant—a broken-down structure at the periphery of the ward, its walls hanging with decay. The odor of rot permeated from within as he swung open the squeaking door.
The interior was gloomy and humid, the air thick with mildew. Kaiden's training engaged the moment the situation presented. He entered the *System*, searching for dangers.
*Hostile Presence Detected: Ratkin Spawn (Low Threat).*
Kaiden's fingers quivered. He could hear them now—the scratching of claws on wood, the soft chittering of unnatural voices. These were no ordinary rats. They were moving with purpose, their glowing red eyes shining in the dark.
He moved deeper into the warehouse, his grip on the freshly forged *Celestial Spear* tightening. The creatures gradually crawled out, their bent bodies emerging from the mountains of putrid trash. They numbered a dozen or so, their mouths agape in snarls.
Kaiden's heart pounded, but he didn't waver. He charged, his spear hurtling through the air with lethal accuracy. The first Ratkin died in an instant, its body crumbling to ash as the spearlight engulfed it.
The others hissed and charged at him, their blows wild and uncontrolled. Kaiden twirled the spear in a wide circle, pushing them back. He dodged a claw swipe and stabbed back with a swift thrust, spearing another beast.
The fight was short and savage. Kaiden's concentration grew sharper with each blow, his movements smooth as he adapted to flowing with his attackers. The *System* beeped every now and again, monitoring his performance and adjusting his technique by infinitesimal amounts.
When the last Ratkin dropped, Kaiden stood amidst their bodies, his breath raking in and out of his lungs. The spear glowed and vanished as he let it go, and he stood alone, in the darkened, deserted warehouse.
*Mission Complete.*
*Experience Earned. System Updated.*
Kaiden sat back against a broken pillar, panting. The *System's* voice returned to him once more in his head, but this time announcing something different from before.
*New Skill Learned: [Infernal Chains].
He closed his eyes and let the description of the ability unfold like living memory. Flashes of darkness and fire, a means to bind—a capacity that would benefit his attack-style greatly. Fingers spread apart, Kaiden felt energy hum beneath skin.
The battle had been a small one, but it was evidence that he was getting stronger. With every win, however small, he was taking strides towards achieving control over the energy within him. For the first time since leaving Rynhill, Kaiden sensed a glimmer of hope.
---
That evening, he returned to the courtyard to test his new ability. The chains materialized with ease, their dark tendrils writhing in the air like living shadows. Kaiden willed them forward, watching as they coiled around a broken pillar and pulled it down with a deafening crash.
"Good," he muttered to himself. "I'll need that."
The isolation of his training was no longer so overwhelming. The *System* was ever-present, reminding, doubting. It was not sufficient to make up for what he had lost, but it was something.
As Kaiden stood in the ruins of his training grounds, the city of Aerisfall stretched out before him—a grand labyrinth of threat and possibility. He wasn't yet prepared to confront its worst. But with the *System's* grace and his increasing power, he would cut his niche in its underworld.
And he would find the gods who had taken everything from him.