A beautiful morning greeted the sleeping Jera. A bright ray of sunlight hit his face, gently nudging him awake. Slowly, Jera opened his eyes and mumbled to himself, "W-what happened…"
He quickly pushed himself up from where he had fallen face-first and noticed his HP now read 160/160. A small smile crept across his face—his HP had increased. It seemed leveling up automatically raised it, meaning he no longer had to invest stat points into vitality just to boost his health.
Jera rose to his feet and carefully looked around.
"I actually managed to sleep safely here… Does that mean there are no more monsters in this area after I defeated that Direwolf?" he muttered, deep in thought.
A system message appeared before him:
You absorbed the Direwolf's status.
STR +5, AGI +4, INT +10, VIT +8, DEX +2
Total Stats:
LEVEL: 15 [P]
HP: 260/260
MP: 80/80
STR: 24
AGI: 15
INT: 22
VIT: 16
DEX: 6
Unique Skill: Soul Absorption [i]
Mutated Skills: Rage – Maniac Devastation
Jera's gaze fell on the Direwolf's corpse—the same beast he had barely managed to kill. It hadn't vanished yet. He approached it, and another message appeared.
You have received the Direwolf's Fang – Can be used to create bladed weapons.
A single fang materialized in Jera's hand. The moment it fully formed, it dissolved into particles and was instantly added to his inventory.
At that moment, an idea sparked in Jera's mind—he was close to obtaining his very first weapon. But he had no idea how to craft it yet. He didn't have all the materials he needed, nor did he know what else was required.
"If the Direwolf Fang can be used to make a bladed weapon… then how do I actually turn it into one?" he wondered. He figured he might be missing some basic components.
With that thought, Jera decided to move on, not really sure where he was heading to. As he wandered, he spotted a beautiful tree with thick leaves and a tall trunk. He approached it and began walking around its base.
As he circled the tree, he noticed a small branch lying on the ground—likely fallen from above. He picked it up.
The moment his hand touched it, a system message popped up:
You have acquired the Enchanted Branch!
– Can be used for making handles of weapons.
While holding the branch, Jera suddenly remembered the Direwolf Fang in his inventory. He retrieved it, and it materialized in his left hand.
Another system message appeared:
You can craft the Rakkan Dagger with Mystical Enchant!
Do you wish to proceed?
(Yes / No)
This time, the system gave him a choice. Jera thought carefully. "If I choose yes, I'll finally have my own weapon. But if I choose no, it'll go back into my inventory, and maybe I can use it later with something better... Still, I need to survive. If I have a weapon now, my journey will be a lot easier."
He selected Yes.
The two items in his hands began to glow brightly—and then merged.
A new system message appeared:
You have acquired the Rakkan Dagger (ME) – Mystical Enchant
Rakkan Dagger (ME)
Damage +70
Penetration +20
Passive: Armor Buster +50
Enhances agility by 10% when held.
A dagger crafted from the fang of a White Direwolf. Capable of piercing armor and thick beast hide.
After Jera crafted his very first weapon, it materialized in his right hand. He stared at it in awe. It was a small dagger with a wave-like blade, shaped like a fang, and decorated with wolf fur near the handle. The moment Jera gripped the dagger tightly in his palm, his eyes suddenly glowed violet. He could feel a surge of power coursing through his body just by holding the weapon.
In that moment, Jera stored the dagger in his inventory and continued his journey. As he walked, he opened his inventory to check what items he had collected so far.
Basic Satchel Inventory
6x Sunfruit
6x Sharp Stones
1x Rakkan Dagger
1x Rogue Vein
Jera glanced at the rogue vein and thought to himself, "The system said this can be used to craft staffs… but… I wonder if I can use two different types of weapons? If I manage to craft a staff, will I even be able to use it?" He sighed deeply, troubled by the thought.
"It'd be a waste if I couldn't use a staff made from the rogue vein…" he muttered in disappointment.
"But whatever… I'll think about it later," he said with a smile, continuing through the forest of Biringan. Along the way, he stumbled across various kinds of fruits and vegetables that looked edible and could probably be cooked.
"Damn… I miss eating nutritious food… I've collected a decent amount of fruits and vegetables now… maybe I can cook something with them," he said cheerfully, then paused. "But if I'm going to cook… I need fire. And I don't have anything to start one with…"
He suddenly remembered how all his tools vanished when he entered Biringan.
"UGH, such a waste! If I still had my stuff, I wouldn't be struggling like this!" he groaned.
Jera suddenly stopped walking and looked around. "Wait… maybe basic survival still works here?" he thought, trying to recall how to make fire. "Right! I just need two branches and some leaves or hay to start one."
Immediately, he searched the area for branches and added them to his inventory.
Basic Satchel Inventory
6x Sunfruit
6x Sharp Stones
1x Rakkan Dagger
1x Rogue Vein
7x Wild Cabbage
1x Red Pepper
8x Tree Branches
Meanwhile, on Earth…
As Jera continued his journey through the forest of Biringan, the situation on Earth was changing rapidly. Humanity was beginning to adapt to the presence of divine fragments—pieces of godlike power that fell from the skies—and the mysterious Vessels that hosted them.
The Vessel Hunter Organization Association (VHOA) had been tirelessly monitoring the activity of every known fragment. Through intense study and observation, they discovered a crucial phenomenon: whenever a Vessel dies, it releases two types of Divinity Crystals, and the fragment within their body emits a sudden, radiant light. That same fragment then ascends into the sky, only to fall once more in search of a new host. The cycle of divine possession, death, and rebirth continued—unrelenting and unpredictable.
As days passed, Divinity Crystals became the foundation of new industries. It wasn't just VHOA that thrived anymore. Markets began to appear, specializing in the creation and trade of Artifacts forged from Divinity Crystals. These artifacts were sold at extraordinarily high prices, affordable only to the wealthy elite or established Vessel Hunters with government support. The demand was immense—and so was the danger.
Soon, VHOA formally declared that being a Vessel Hunter could now be considered a legitimate profession. This opened doors for many individuals without formal education or degrees, granting them an opportunity to earn a living by hunting Vessels and maintaining peace in their respective regions. Governments, in collaboration with VHOA, compensated these hunters generously. The Philippines, along with every other nation that housed a VHOA branch, followed the same global policies to standardize Vessel Hunter operations.
A Vessel Hunter's salary depended entirely on their Rank, which was measured through their Divinity Essence levels. But even with the promise of high pay, VHOA never downplayed the reality: being a Vessel Hunter was an incredibly dangerous job. Every mission could be their last.
VHOA also made an important public announcement. They revealed that Artifacts forged from Divinity Crystals could be hazardous, not just to ordinary people but even to trained Vessel Hunters. Every artifact carried a power threshold, and if someone used one that exceeded their own Divinity Essence level, the artifact would backlash—causing severe bodily harm or even death.
Through global news broadcasts and official channels, VHOA warned the public and all active hunters:
"Artifacts are not toys. Respect the power they carry. Understand your limits. One mistake could cost you your life."
Back at the Biringan
As Jera pressed on through the dense foliage of the Biringan Forest, something glimmered in the distance. He squinted through the canopy—and there, standing tall and radiant under the sun, were towering structures that looked as if they were made entirely of gold.
"W-Wow… those buildings are huge… and they really look like they're made of gold," Jera whispered in awe. "But… they look completely abandoned…"
It was then he realized—he was close to the forest's edge.
Half an hour later, Jera finally stepped out of the forest. The sudden openness felt surreal after three grueling days beneath the trees.
"I finally made it out… three days in that forest, huh? But... why do these buildings look so old, even though they're made of gold?" he wondered, his eyes scanning the silent skyline. "Is anyone still living here…?"
As he wandered through the empty streets, a sudden System Message appeared in front of him:
You have reached Biringan City
Biringan City was created by Lord Kiza. Lord Kiza is the God of Absorption and was worshiped by the people of Biringan.
Jera froze. "Wait… God of Absorption? Isn't that what the system said I was a Vessel of?" he asked himself, mind spinning with questions. "But… why is the system showing me this now? What is it trying to tell me?"
Continuing deeper into the golden ruins, Jera noticed something unusual—a towering statue in the distance. Curious, he approached.
It was a massive figure, robed in flowing black, its face obscured by a hood—only a shadow could be seen within. The aura around it was heavy, divine.
Another System Message appeared:
The Statue of Kiza
The statue used by the residents of Biringan to worship Lord Kiza.
As Jera read the message, a violet light suddenly surged in his eyes. The world around him vanished in a blink.
He was no longer in Biringan.
Instead, he stood in a vast void, an endless space of darkness and energy. From the emptiness, a figure emerged—the very same form as the statue he had just seen. The figure stepped forward and spoke, its voice echoing across the void.
"Welcome to my world," said the being, calm and powerful.
Jera took a cautious step back. "W-Who are you?!" he asked, startled, the overwhelming presence of the figure pressing down on him.
"I am Kiza. The God of Absorption. One of the Twelve Gods who govern the universe," the being answered, walking slowly toward him. "There's no need to be afraid."
Jera could barely breathe. The air was thick with divine energy.
"I am you. I am your power," Kiza continued. "And I will be the path that leads you to strength unmatched by any being. I know what you've been through—even before you arrived in this world. Your pain, your struggles, your sacrifices… I have seen it all."
Kiza placed a hand gently on Jera's right shoulder.
"I've watched you suffer. Day after day. Battle after battle," he said softly.
"Then… why me?" Jera asked, finally calming down. "Why did you choose me?"
"I didn't choose you," Kiza replied. "You chose me."
Jera's eyes narrowed. "Why is Biringan City abandoned? What happened to the people who worshiped you?"
Kiza's voice grew somber. "The moment I disappeared—a decade ago—chaos spread across the city. Without my presence, the people of Biringan began to fight amongst themselves. Eventually, they vanished. Scattered. Each trying to survive in their own way."
"Then… why did you vanish?" Jera asked again, confused.
"I became you. I became the system. I became your power," Kiza answered. "I had to vanish in order to become what you needed. But don't worry… even after you leave Biringan, we will meet again, Jera. This is not the last time."
"W-Wait! I still have so many questions!" Jera shouted, but the void around him began to glow brighter, until all he could see was light.
And just like that—he was back.
Jera blinked. The golden streets of Biringan surrounded him once more. The towering buildings, the silence, the statue—all real. And yet everything had changed.
He now understood who was behind his power.
And perhaps more importantly…
He already know that he could return to Earth again.
After Jera returned to reality and regained his consciousness, he couldn't help but think about everything Kiza had said. He hadn't expected that there were twelve Gods in the universe—an information that took him by surprise. Kiza didn't mention whether these Gods were dangerous or not, leaving Jera clueless and uncertain about what kind of beings they might be.
"Twelve Gods, huh? So they really exist in this world I've come to… but who are they? I don't know any of them… Are they Kiza's allies?" Jera muttered to himself while staring up at the massive statue of Kiza.
Another question lingered in his mind.
"How are we supposed to meet again, Kiza? You didn't even tell me when… or where."
Confused and filled with curiosity, Jera continued walking.
As he made his way down the golden streets of Biringan City, surrounded by towering golden buildings, he spotted a grand palace in the distance. The palace, like the rest of the city, was made of gold but had accents of black. In the center of the palace courtyard stood a large fountain.
It felt like a good day to explore, and Jera's curiosity led him toward the palace in the heart of the city.
"Whoa… this palace is massive. The gate alone is huge… it's as big as the one I saw back on Mount Huraw before I got transported to Biringan…"
He paused mid-step, his eyes drawn to a familiar statue by the palace gate.
"Wait… this statue… I've seen it before…"
Two enormous dragon statues stood on either side of the gate, just like the ones that guarded the entrance to Biringan. Jera squinted at them, a strange feeling washing over him.
"Their eyes… there's no light in them anymore. But back at the Biringan gate, they looked alive—ready to kill me at any moment."
He whispered to himself, slowly piecing things together.
It was then he realized—maybe the statues had only moved back then because Kiza was still present. Now that Kiza had become the System, perhaps their power had faded with him.
Brushing aside his thoughts, Jera continued walking toward the enormous gate of the palace. He no longer felt threatened by the statues since they remained still, lifeless. He stepped forward with more confidence.
As he approached, he noticed something odd—the door to the palace looked… new. Unlike the ancient-looking buildings outside, this golden door seemed freshly made. Carefully, Jera pushed it open, and a slow creaking sound escaped from its hinges.
CREEEEEEKKK…
He stepped inside, cautious yet mesmerized. What greeted him was beyond anything he imagined.
The interior of the palace looked untouched by time—immaculate, pristine, almost brand new. Nothing like the worn, abandoned structures outside. The contrast was stark.
Jera stood in awe, thinking to himself, This place... it's like time never moved in here.
Inside the grand library of Kiza's palace, a woman named Mira sat quietly, absorbed in a book. Loyal to her master, Kiza, she was no ordinary servant. Mira was born from Kiza's own power—a creation infused with divine essence.
Her strength registered on the level of a Global S-Rank Vessel Hunter. Though not built for brute force or large-scale combat, her agility was unmatched. A hidden blade rested at her waist, and her speed rivaled that of an average assassin-type S-Rank. Mira was one of Kiza's most trusted—his right hand, and one of the Three Royal Guards of Biringan Palace.
She possessed a rare and fearsome ability known as Revival Fury—a power that could resurrect the fallen, heal any disability, and restore even lethal wounds in an instant.
She was silent. Calm. Focused. Until—
A chill ran down her spine.
Her eyes flicked to the door.
Without a single sound… it opened by itself.
No knock.
No presence sensed.
Just an eerie creak and the unsettling stillness that followed.
Mira stood slowly, her hand hovering over the blade at her side. Her eyes narrowed, sharp as a predator's.
No one should've been able to open that door.
No one.
Not unless they were—
A shadow stepped through.