Cursed Devourer

The towering ivory walls of Vel Ryn's Grand Library loomed before Malik, its enchanted glass windows reflecting the rising sun. The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by a vast hushed silence, the kind that only existed in places of sacred learning.

The scent of aged parchment, enchanted ink, and candle wax filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of mana-infused wards embedded into the walls and bookshelves. Floating crystal lanterns illuminated the towering shelves, their soft glow casting shifting shadows across the marbled floors. It was breathtaking—a temple of knowledge, far beyond anything Lochma's dusty archives had ever achieved.

"This is what a library should be," Malik mused, stepping further inside.

Yet, before he could take another step, a sharp voice stopped him.

"Ahem."

Malik turned to find a thin, elderly elf seated behind the front desk, his silver-rimmed spectacles perched on a sharp nose. His robes were immaculately pressed, and his sharp emerald eyes studied Malik with thinly veiled suspicion.

"Entry requires a fee of five gold," the elf stated, his tone crisp. "Payment must be made before access is granted."

Malik exhaled through his nose. He had seen how currency worked in this world and even had a small amount on him before… but he had left it at Marithia's last night.

"Figures," Kairo muttered in his mind. "You finally lay with a woman and immediately forget your money. You're already a terrible husband."

Malik rolled his eyes. "Sometimes, I wonder what dragon tastes like."

He wasn't about to walk all the way back just for a handful of gold. Instead, he did what came naturally—adapting.

Casually, he reached into his sleeve and willed his shifting ability into action, subtly replicating the exact texture, weight, and composition of the gold coin he had once held.

It took less than a second to materialize, and with the same lazy smirk, he flipped the fake coin onto the librarian's desk.

The elf barely glanced at it before nodding and waving him through.

"Welcome to the Grand Library of Vel Ryn. Please respect the rules."

Malik strode past the desk without another thought, his eyes already scanning the vast collection of ancient knowledge before him.

Kairo snickered.

"You just scammed a library."

"Not a scam if they never notice," Malik replied.

"I like this new you."

Malik smirked but didn't respond, already moving deeper into the rows of towering bookshelves.

The sheer scale of the library was staggering. Hundreds of thousands of books, tomes, and scrolls stretched before him, each offering a glimpse into the fabric of this world.

Malik grabbed a random book from the nearest shelf and flipped it open.

Words blurred past his vision, paragraphs dissolving into pure meaning, entire chapters absorbed in seconds.

Book after book, topic after topic.

This was his first true opportunity since coming into this world to truly study it, to dissect its structures, power dynamics, and secrets. His intelligence stat, already higher than his other stats, allowed him to read at an absurd speed—flipping through pages in mere seconds, absorbing and storing information like a machine.

"You're skimming entire books faster than I can process what they're about," Kairo remarked, clearly impressed.

Malik chuckled but kept flipping through the pages. "Then keep up."

It wasn't long before he found a detailed geopolitical map of the world. Seven dominant nations, each with their own governing systems, cultural structures, and military strengths.

Solviran Empire – Militaristic, expansionist, and disciplined. A powerhouse built on conquest, with a well-trained army and a rigid hierarchy that rewarded strength and loyalty.

Xethis Dominion – A land ruled by war mages and beastkin clans, where dominance was decided by raw power. Their soldiers wielded destructive magic, and their warriors possessed unnatural physical abilities.

Holy Kingdom of Valtor – A religious empire, ruled by a monarchy that claimed to have been chosen by the gods. Their influence was vast, and their divine warriors were considered among the strongest holy spellcasters in existence.

Althera – The elven homeland, a place of mysticism and nature-bound magic. Governed by an ancient council, they held vast knowledge of arcane arts and had strong political influence despite their preference for isolation.

Dornathal Union – A federation of merchant-states, controlling the wealth and trade routes of the world. While they lacked military might compared to the empires, their influence through gold, contracts, and information networks made them incredibly dangerous.

Uldran Wastes – A land with no true ruler, filled with exiles, mercenaries, and outlaws. Strength was the only currency here, and its inhabitants were some of the most hardened survivors in the world.

The Abyssal Kingdom – A mystery. They isolated themselves from the world, and while rumors spoke of inhuman rulers, no concrete information existed.

Malik closed the book, his fingers lightly tapping against the leather cover.

"A world on the verge of war," Kairo noted. "Again, no surprises."

Malik exhaled. "This level of instability means power is shifting. There will be plenty of opportunities if I position myself right."

"And plenty of dangers if you don't," Kairo added.

Malik smiled knowingly. "Wouldn't be fun otherwise."

The next collection of books dove into mana manipulation, growth, and the nature of ranks. Malik already knew about the ranking system, but the details were fascinating.

Mana Beasts evolved through prolonged exposure to ambient mana, adapting to their surroundings and consuming higher life forms to increase their own power.

People, in contrast, had two primary ways of growing stronger:

-Absorbing mana naturally over time.

-Undergoing life-or-death experiences that force rapid adaptation.

Some individuals were born into higher ranks, but that did not mean they couldn't still grow. Even within a single rank, the difference between - and + was often the gap between victory and obliteration.

"As I told you before, even a small increase in rank is a massive difference," Kairo commented.

Malik shut the book and leaned back. "That means the system is built to favor those who push themselves beyond their limits. The weak stay weak, and the strong thrive."

"So in other words, we're at an advantage," Kairo chuckled.

Malik nodded. "Exactly."

Then, he picked up the next book—and what he found inside changed everything.

Malik had skimmed through nearly fifty books before his eyes landed on a passage that stopped him cold.

A neutral power, untouched by any kingdom. A hub of the strongest prodigies, separate from the influence of any empire, any war, any political faction.

The Grand Academy of Arcadia.

A place where the most gifted, ambitious, and dangerous individuals of the next generation gathered.

It was not ruled by any empire, yet it wielded influence rivaling the great nations. To enroll, one could not exceed Master+ upon entry. Any stronger, and they were deemed too advanced to learn there.

The entrance fee was one million gold. An absurd sum beyond the reach of most. A recommendation letter was mandatory, issued only by a high-ranking professor, the Headmaster, or an influential noble house/family. The entrance exam was a competition, held only once every 100 years.

And the next exam?

Six months from now.

On his 20th birthday.

A chill ran down his spine.

Kairo, usually quick with a snide remark, was utterly silent.

Malik stared at the words, his fingers tightening over the page.

This isn't a coincidence.

"…No way," Kairo finally murmured. "This… this was planned."

Malik remained still, his mind racing.

Nameless had given him the choice to reincarnate, but had it truly been a choice? Had he been led here from the moment he was reborn?

"This has to be deliberate," Kairo continued, his voice lower than usual, as if the realization unsettled even him. "Your rebirth, your timing, the fact that this exam happens on your exact birthday? It's too perfect."

Malik exhaled slowly. "He planned for me to enter the academy."

"But why? Why the academy, of all places?"

Malik leaned back against the bookshelf, closing his eyes. "Think about it. A place outside any empire's control. A gathering of the strongest young talents in the world. A structured system that tests the limits of strength and intelligence."

"It sounds like a proving ground," Kairo muttered. "For warriors, leaders… and maybe something else."

Malik narrowed his eyes, scanning the text again.

There was no mention of why the academy existed. No mention of who had founded it, nor why it remained independent despite possessing enough power to influence the world.

And the Headmaster's true identity?

Completely unknown.

Malik's fingers tapped against the book's spine. "The academy has been around for millenia, yet no empire has ever conquered it."

"No one even tries," Kairo noted. "Either it's untouchable, or no one dares to defy whatever power protects it."

Malik hated dealing with unknowns. But this—this was bigger than a simple academy.

"What do you think Nameless wants from you?" Kairo suddenly asked.

The academy wasn't just an option.

It was a directive.

Malik didn't believe in fate, but this? This had been orchestrated.

And yet, it didn't feel forced—not entirely.

Instead, it felt like Nameless had given him an open door, knowing that Malik, with his hunger for knowledge and strength, would choose to walk through it.

"So, what do we do?" Kairo asked.

"I don't know," Malik admitted, his voice low. "But I have to go."

"Even if it's a trap?"

Malik grinned, something sharp flashing in his eyes.

"Then I'll break it."

The academy was too important to ignore.

Even if Nameless had planned this, even if Malik was simply walking the path that had already been set for him—he would make it his own.

He slammed the book shut, his mind now set.

"So that's it, then? We're going?" Kairo asked.

Malik smirked. "We're going."

Because whatever Nameless's true intentions were, one thing was certain.

The academy was where the strongest would gather.

And Malik intended to prove that he belonged among them.

"Got a plan?" Kairo asked.

Malik closed the book, his thoughts starting to calculate the path forward.

If Malik wanted to compete in the academy's entrance exam, he needed to reach Master+ within six months to give himself the best chance possible.

Malik crossed his arms, already sorting the priorities in his mind.

First priority: Leveling up and reaching Master+.

At Advanced+, he was already stronger than most of the world's population, but it wasn't enough.

Malik, however, had a unique advantage.

His Soul Devourer trait granted him stat points every time he killed a strong opponent, on top of the standard level-up bonuses. If he killed enough powerful creatures, he could stack his stats exponentially.

That was a daunting task, but it wasn't impossible.

"You're aiming for an evolution rate that would take normal warriors decades," Kairo noted. "But with Soul Devourer, you might actually pull it off."

Malik shook his head. "I won't 'might' anything. I will do it."

Second priority: Absorbing powerful genes for his Primordial Shifter ability.

Becoming stronger wasn't just about raw stats for him. Malik's Primordial Shifter trait meant that he could alter his body, change his DNA, evolve beyond what should be possible.

He needed to hunt, kill, and absorb powerful mana beasts. The rarer and more mutated they were, the better his options for transformation.

If he could incorporate high-tier beast traits into his body, he could surpass even Master+ combatants in physical adaptability.

"You're going to be a walking nightmare soon," Kairo snickered. "I love it."

Malik exhaled through his nose, ignoring Kairo's amusement.

The stronger the creatures he absorbed, the more diverse and dangerous his transformations would become.

That left the next challenge.

Third priority: Earn one million gold in six months.

Even for a noble or a powerful adventurer, that was an absurd amount of money. And, Malik had no noble family to back him.

No connections to wealthy merchants.

And no interest in begging for favors.

He needed a job that paid well, offered combat experience, and granted him freedom.

Only one option fit all three requirements.

"Mercenary work," Kairo said.

Malik nodded.

Becoming a mercenary would allow him to hunt, fight, and earn gold simultaneously. He could take high-paying contracts that required him to kill powerful mana beasts. He would gain combat experience and rank up through battle. The mercenary network would give him access to dangerous locations he otherwise wouldn't reach.

"It's the best choice," Kairo admitted.

Malik smirked. "It's the only choice."

His objectives were clear:

1. Level up quickly. His Soul Devourer ability granted him rapid growth, but he needed stronger prey.

2. Absorb powerful DNA. His Primordial Shifter ability would allow him to gain new traits and abilities, making him more versatile.

3. Earn 1 million gold. The academy's entrance fee alone was a barrier, and Malik had no noble house backing him.

4. Find a sponsor. He needed a recommendation letter from either an influential noble, a high-ranking professor, or the academy's headmaster.

"Becoming a mercenary is the fastest way to do all of this," Malik concluded.

"Agreed," Kairo said. "It'll give you money, fights, and chances to evolve. All in one."

"As for the sponsor, we will figure something out closer to the time."

Malik's smirk grew sharper.

The path was clear.

First, he would absorb knowledge.

Then, he would visit the mercenary guild.

And after that?

He would carve his way into the Academy.

Malik closed the book with a quiet thud, his mind sharpening into focus.

The path was set.

Six months.

It was an insane goal. But Malik never aimed for anything less than impossible.

Malik stood, stretching slightly as he adjusted his robe.

"We head to the mercenary guild."

And with that, he left the library—his path set, his hunger for power sharper than ever.