PROLOGUE: AT THE END OF THE ROPE
Dragged by two guards through the cold metal floor of the spaceship Aidan was barely conscious, he had been on one of the planets they had recently raided. He had been captured by one of the task forces of the Astralis Empire, one of the main factions of the whole universe, more than 15 galaxies under their rule.
When Earth's grace period ended, around 3 months after they received the System, the Earth started being invaded by High rankers looking to establish their territories and gather followers. After 120 years of fighting, Aidan was finally alone, most of his friends and family had fallen to this invasion, they were too behind in the leveling curve to do something about it, he even got himself a rare class the "Devourer", it let him absorb the energies of monsters and use their powers for himself.
"Hey old man, you got company" he heard one of the guards say before he was thrown onto the cell floor, he took a deep breath and looked at his Status window one more time...
[AIDAN WALLACE - Lvl. 432]
RACE: HUMAN
CLASS: DEVOURER (SR RANK)
HP: 102/32,400
MP: 0/26,000
STR 4102
DEX 3989
CON 7300
INT 3710
WIS 2750
CHA 6200
HABILITIES:
DEVOUR SOUL
MONSTER ASSIMILATION
HYBRID FORM
REGENERATION III
HARD SKIN IV
MONSTER RAMPA....
His vision started to get blurry seeing the long list of abilities and he dropped his head on the metallic floor, his thoughts went back to old times before the end of his world, letting himself drift into the nostalgia as he felt like shit, that was until the chuckle of the old man he got as cellmate drove him back to reality.
"They did a number on you, didn't they" the old man said leaning towards him to see the still-open wounds he had sustained when he struggled against his captors. the old man had long white hair that glowed against his purple skin, a single horn rising from his head.
Aidan groaned and slowly moved himself to sit against the wall facing his cellmate, while he tried to call his system screen the old man started to mock him "Oh system this, system that.... that why you are so miserable, you are just another slave to the system, a dog on a leash". Aidan was stunned for a bit, what else was he supposed to do? the system is how the universe works, that's how he gained power, how he became stronger...and despite it all, he was still powerless, "And what about you old man? You end up the same as me, what makes you any different?"
"Do you think this System trash is how things have always been? of course not! this is just a way for the superior beings to limit the growth of powerful individuals, they don't want any competition that's why they decide who gets what from the start" the old man let his words sink in Aidan before continuing, "Do you believe people get rare special classes just because they were special?...NO!... Those bastards behind the system know when an individual has potential for entertainment...".
"Then what am I supposed to do? Besides it's already over for us, the prisoners of the empire don't last long" The moment Aidan said this the old geezer's smile grew wide "That's where I come in, I have the key to our freedom and possible victory".
As they talked Aidan kept stealing glances at his status window, to his HP and MP bars precisely, they didn't even change a single digit...maybe the HP dropped a little, he didn't remember, realizing his manacles were suppressing his abilities he made up his mind towards the only option he had "Okay, what do you have in mind.... I'm in"
The old man stood up and sat beside Aidan on the floor "Excellent choice Aidan, at last I managed to convince you... it only took 3 regressions to convince you, but alas you weren't so fucked up in the other 2"
Aidan's mouth dropped in shock when he said regression...he meant going back in time didn't he? this was a golden chance, if he could go back he would change everything, he would be prepared, and he could save everyone. "Are you serious, can you do that?" he asked the old timer, then he showed Aidan 2 different stones, these were Astral Runes carved into a fragment of a Star Core, the runes glowing in iridescent light.
"Now let's do this before you change your mind," the old man said smacking one of the runes into Aidan's chest, the runestone glowed and started to merge with his body, he felt a white-hot heat coming from the stone proceeded by a feeling like getting his nerves ripped out of his body, his muscles went tense and he couldn't hear anything.
After 10 agonizing minutes that felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, and the many system warnings that popped into his vision crumbled into nothing as he suddenly felt some energy rushing through his body, like a new set of veins carved into his insides.
Aidan tried to prove this new energy coursing through him, but when he did, a toothy maw opened in his chest area, it was like getting dissected alive but it didn't feel painful, it was a small gray flame burned inside, "Ah a soul fragment, which monster is it?" the old man said getting curious to know, but when he inspected it his eyes widen in shock " A FRAGMENT OF SERAPHEL THE SKY BREAKER??!!!!" the old man panicked at his revelation, he quickly grabbed the remaining runestone and plunge it into Aidan's chest.
"You should go now, don't worry you will learn on the run," he said as the rune started to glow and envelop his body, Aidan didn't have any chance to ask for guidance on how to use the mana without the system's help. "Damn it old man what's the..." he couldn't even finish the sentence before his vision went dark and he felt his soul leave his body.