Chapter 2: The Divider

Chapter 2: The Divider

A warm surge of energy flowed within him, fighting back the exhaustion, though his tiredness was far from normal. It only rose the more he clung to the power.

It barely took a minute to slay the wolf, yet it almost made him cough up blood. His heart wrenched inside his chest, feeling like a suffocating death. His energy didn't run out, but he simply overdrew too much of it.

How could he have forgotten the cost of overdrawing more power than he could handle? Well, considering how he forgot almost everything, that simple fact felt rather insignificant in the grand scheme of his amnesia. Besides, with his mind deranged and the rush of power, he was a little too excited to care about drawbacks.

Thankfully, it wasn't a complete waste—with the overdraft of power, he was able to open an aperture.

"Hmm, aperture," he said. "I know what they are."

At least he wasn't completely clueless, though he figured he was missing a lot of information about them.

The one aperture he opened was in the middle of his left palm. The dark spiral mark seemed alive now, still stinging slightly with an icy sensation. As he stared at it longer, more information about the aperture came into view via a system notification.

[Opened Aperture: The Palace of Toil Integrated Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

Fatelock: Void Prison Realm.

Integrated ability: Left Hand of Calamity.]

[Left Hand of Calamity:

As an ability stemmed from the Void Prison Realm, it gives the user access to void energy and the capability to manipulate it.

Note: Your spiritual capacity is under 5%. The optimal spiritual capacity required to wield Void energy freely is 50%.]

That wasn't all. He learned a skill as well.

[Congratulations! You have learned Imbuing.]

[Imbuing: Normal - 1%

Imbuing spiritual energy can magnify the effect of any weapon or tool. The magnification of power is not limited to sharpness, toughness, mass, or magical power.]

Created out of a broken fate lock, The Divider lost some of its properties. However, it is still a growth item that can reach Unique rank in time. This sword adapts to the wielder's ability, molded by their very soul.

Merits:

+10% Strength and Spirit

+40% Reinforcement

+40% Amplification

Soulsucker: Absorbs deceased creatures' soul energy to strengthen the blade. PS: The sword is bonded to the user. Its destruction will cause severe soul trauma to the wielder.]

"Wow, certainly didn't expect this." Warden couldn't help but say. "Wait, doesn't that mean this sword was specifically built for me?"

Knowing he wouldn't get answers to any of his questions, he shrugged and dismissed the prompt. He started swinging again, this time channeling power through his opened aperture. Warden plunged [The Divider] into the tree, further amplified by the void energy. Before he realized it, the blade was halfway through the trunk. At this rate, it would collapse any moment.

"Shit!" he cursed, lunging to his right.

A rattling echoed as the gigantic tree collapsed with a thunderous boom, brushing past him by mere inches. Oddly, he felt more excited than terrified. What the hell is wrong with me?

The answer was simple: Power was just too enticing.

Warden's thoughts screeched to a halt as something flew from the wreckage, shooting toward him at tremendous speed.

A giant beetle? His mind barely registered as his arms instinctively swung the blade. The sword sliced through the giant beetle in one full arc. Dark purple blood sprayed through the air as the bisected insect crashed to the ground.

"Well, that was easier than I expected," he mumbled, a warm feeling spreading through him... until most of it was absorbed by his core.

[Copper grade Energy harvested!]

[+0.4 Strength]

Warden wiped his blade clean on the grass and sheathed it. Suddenly, dozens of giant beetles swarmed his position, buzzing angrily around the collapsed tree.

He drew his sword and braced himself.